Mount Scopus ELCs are adopting a new ELC management system from the start of 2023. This will consolidate and simplify the collection of all the mandatory information that is required from our families, and make it easier for our educators to access and use when caring for your children.

A link to the new online form will be sent in the coming weeks. All required information must be completed and submitted by the date advised. 

NB: If the required documentation is not received in time, your child will not appear on a class list. No child will be able to commence kinder until all required details have been submitted.

ELC policies

When completing the required documentation you will be asked if you have read and accept the policies an procedures of the ELC. You can find them listed below.

Early Learning Centre (ELC) Specific Policies

Once a child commences, the College will assess whether a child should repeat a year, in consultation with parents, based solely on the child’s development. A child’s date of birth is not a factor considered by the school when recommending whether repeating a year level is necessary or not.

If parents wish their child to repeat when the advice from the school is not to do so, then we cannot guarantee there will be a place for a child to repeat Upper Kinder. If we are able to offer a place for a child to repeat when it is not recommended by the school, then parents may be liable to pay additional costs in lieu of government funding for that kinder place if the funding is withheld. 

Some children with specific learning difficulties such as those with autism, speech issues and the like, would not necessarily benefit from repeating a year. Targeted support strategies may better assist with the child's development. 

If you do have any issues concerning you about your child’s readiness or support that you believe will be required then please contact Enrolments so we can discuss strategies with you. 

Toileting skills and expectations

We expect that all children starting kinder will be toilet trained during the day, including at nap time. Having children who are not yet toilet trained affects the quality of the program as the educators are taken away from the children’s learning and development. In a class of up to 25 children, an average of five to ten minutes per accident has an ongoing impact on the learning of the child leaving the group, as well as the entire class as learning  activities are interrupted.  

• If your child has not acquired independent toileting skills when commencing Lower Kindergarten please discuss this with your child's teacher as early as possible so a support plan can be put in place. 
• Parents will work in collaboration with staff and the Director of the ELC to ensure your child is supported.
• If you are concerned or need support with toilet training please contact your maternal child health nurse, Continence Victoria or your general practitioner for advice. 

At Mount Scopus we want to see our children flourish. Our aim is for children to not only develop their intellectual skills but also their social and emotional wellbeing. This is the time that they begin to learn valuable social skills and use them to build meaningful relationships. We want children to become resilient, sociable and confident learners.

When considering class placements at GBH, we take a long term approach. We know from experience when a group of familiar children start together, the first few days are comforting but this can often lead to social exclusivity and the inability to make new friends in the long term. For this reason we do not seek to place cousins in the same class.

We shall endeavour to put your child with one familiar friend, but where possible, shall not place entire social groups together. 

With this in mind, we ask you to complete a child profile form and include the names of up to three children your child is familiar with (if available) who will be entering Mount Scopus in 2023 in the form. 

This form should also be completed for children enrolled at FKI even though there is only one class as the information provided will be helpful as the educators get to know each child. 

Please click here to access the form for Upper Kinder entry and complete by Friday 11 November.

Requests for a specific teacher, even based on experience with an older child, will not be considered. Parents can write an e-mail to the ELC coordinator, Shana Upiter stating relevant information that may include not being placed with a relative, any specific learning requirements needed for their child or any information relating to the social/ emotional needs of their child.  

Our aim is for our children to develop their resilience so that as young adults they will have the skills to adapt to the ever changing challenges of life, coping with inevitable setbacks, losses and disappointments, but be able to return to a state of emotional well-being.

Upper Kinder children will commence the year with a half day on Day 1, being Wednesday 1 February. The children will finish at midday so will not be required to bring lunch with them. 

From Thursday 2 February children will attend for the full day as per the kinder program operating hours. 

Aftercare is available from Day 1. 

Beforecare commences on Day 2. 

Beforecare and aftercare 

The school offers casual beforecare and aftercare. There is no charge for Beforecare, which runs from 7.30am. 

Aftercare sessions include activity workshops which operate on a term by term basis. The cost is included for the Long Day Care packages or is available to book on an ad hoc basis or for the term for children booked for the Kinder Program only.

Beforecare runs from 7.30am; aftercare is available until 6.00pm Monday to Thursday and 4.00pm or 5.00pm on Friday depending on the time of year. 

A late collection fee is payable per block of 15 minutes if the child is still on the premises after the stated closing time. We encourage parents and carers to arrive no later than 15 minutes prior to closing to allow for handover and collection. 

Casual bookings can be booked in via the parent resources section of the App from mid-January; ensure you have downloaded the app by this time. Bookings must be made or cancelled no later than 2pm on the day of care in the case of last minute changes, but of course, earlier notice is appreciated and bookings can be made for the term ahead. 

Activity workshops are ordinarily run every day in aftercare and are advertised prior to the beginning of each term break . These includes activities such as  Soccerwise, musical theatre or yoga. Even if your child would not ordinarily attend aftercare, you can book them in. 

Workshops need to be booked in for the whole term. Even if you have selected the Long day care or Extended care fee structure for your child you will still need to book them into the specific activity workshops if you would like them to participate. 

Holiday program (cost included in Long Day Care program option)

Mount Scopus offers holiday programs for ELC children after they have commenced kinder. Although generally run at each campus sometimes these will be held at one campus based on the maintenance needs of the College, varying between FKI and GBH, with children from each campus kept together to ensure they are with other children who are familiar to them. 

Holiday programs open for bookings approximately two weeks prior to the holidays. Our OSHC Coordinator works hard to provide a wonderful variety of activities and incursions for our kinder-aged children each holiday.

The holiday program complements our kinder program to ensure that our ELCs are open for 48 weeks per year. The ELC is closed for two weeks over the Summer break, all Chagim including the whole of Pesach and gazetted public holidays. Outside of school term, the holiday program operates at all other times including all staff development days. Refer to the College calendar by clicking here.

Prices for casual OSHC bookings are available on the relevant fee schedule each year.  The fees for the school year will be finalised  early in December, approximately six weeks prior to the year commencing.

Please diarise the relevant dates outlined below. More detailed information will be sent in advance of each event. 

Children

The orientation opportunities are designed to ensure that by the time they commence kinder next year, children feel comfortable in the environment and have been provided with the chance to make social connections. 

Children entering into Upper Kinder will be invited to come for a transition visit in a Lower Kinder class in late November. This will help familiarise them with other children who they will be in class with next year and assist educators with class placement by observing positive connections. Please email Denise Kain with any specific date requests otherwise you will be contacted with a suggested date.

Class lists will be provided prior to the holidays to allow parents to connect and scheduled playdates. Parent contact details will be available on Parent Lounge. 

When you receive your teacher’s photos with your class list, put them up where your child will see them and use their names often in conversation. Let their names and function become part of your regular conversation at home.

Prior to the start of kinder next year, an appointment is scheduled for each child individually to come with their parent/s to meet their general and Jewish studies teachers. This provides the time for teachers to learn about each child and any specific likes or dislikes that they have. Allowing time for this meeting helps to smooth the transition into kindergarten. These will take place on Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 January 2023.  This information will be included with the class list information. 

You will also be given a College sunhat (and kova for boys) at this interview, which will be kept at Kinder. If these are lost then parents will need to purchase a replacement from the campus office.

Booking the pre-commencement interview

Kinders will be utilising the online booking system to assist you in securing your preferred interview times with teachers. Families are asked to access the system through the Parent Lounge area on the Mount Scopus Memorial College website www.scopus.vic.edu.au. 

Bookings will be open from 6.00am on Wednesday 18 January 2023 and will close on Wednesday 25 January 2023 at 4:00 pm.

When you log into Parent Lounge, you will see the module button flashing green indicating you can ‘Book Now’. Prior to that date the module will appear as ‘Scheduled’.

Please see the Websites, Apps and Portals section for more information on Parent Lounge. Your login credentials will be sent later in the year.  

NB: If you have problems logging into Parent Lounge please try from a desktop, laptop or tablet, rather than from a mobile phone. You can use the Parent Lounge link on the top bar of this page. For any further problems call Nicki at GBH on 9900 4600.

Parents

Nor are parents forgotten. 

An information and orientation session is scheduled for Thursday9 February, 2023. This will provide the opportunity to meet other parents in the class and meet the teachers in your child's class.                                                   

Once the year commences teachers and the school communicate with parent through a number of digital Apps:

The Toddle App is a digital portfolio showing both group and individual learning. 

Teachers and admin post notices to the Scopus App regularly updating them on upcoming events, giving vital information.

Each campus posts a newsletter weekly which can also be found on the App.

It is important for parents to keep up to date with these notices as this is a main communication forum. 

See the Websites, apps and portals tab for more information.

New Parents Welcome

First time parents at Mount Scopus in all year levels will be invited to our New Parents Welcome sessions scheduled to be held just prior to school commencing. In 2023 this is scheduled for the evening of Thursday 2 February, 2023. This allows the opportunity to meet some of the College Leadership Team, as well as other new parents. Invitations will be sent in December. 

New in 2023, parents will use the Xplor 'Home' app as follows in our ELCs:

• complete the required documentation 
• can be used for contactless sign in and out of the room
• can be used to request bookings for after care and holiday program

Further information will be provided in due course.

The other tools are outlined below. 

Our ELCs  are licensed as Approved Long Day Care Centres through Mount Scopus Memorial College Early Learning Limited (ABN 44 611 377 881). By submitting the Centreink CRN (Customer Registration Number) for you and your child when requested we are able to process the government subsidy for you if your family is eligible. 

This information will be requested via the Xplor child registration form in the coming weeks. If your child has not yet attended child care you may need to apply to Centrelink to determine your eligibility so factor this into your lead time.

Centrelink pays all subsidies directly to a child's ELC which reduces the out-of-pocket fees paid by families. 

The CCS is not payable by Centrelink before the first day of physical attendance or after the last day of physical attendance either in the Kinder only or Long Day Care programs. Refer to Centrelink for full details of eligibility. 

As well as the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), families suffering temporary financial hardship or have a child at risk, amongst others, may also be eligible for the Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS). Further information is available via Centrelink. 

Tuition fees and fee policies

Fees and the fee policy are always available on the College website - click here to access - and will be updated each December for the following year.

Kinder program selection

In 2023 you will have the choice to select from two options which will be the same at both campuses; 

1. Kindergarten program only 
2. Long Day Care - 48 weeks (LDC 48)

If you select the Kindergarten program only then you will be able to book into Out of Hours School Care (OHSC) on a casual basis as needed. 

If you select LDC 48 then this is fully inclusive of beforecare, aftercare and  holiday program for all operating days. 

If your family is not eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) then you will need to pay the Tuition Fees in full to the College.

Both programs attract the CCS and ACCS for eligible families. 

Further information on these programs is available via the links below. 

Kinder program options FAQs 

Child Care Subsidy estimator

Your program selection can be made via the link on the bottom of the CCS Estimator page.

Direct debits, pre-payment and the CCS

If you are unsure as to the level of CCS that you will receive and wish to set up a direct debit for fees, then our Accounts department will work with you to determine a suitable direct debit payment, which can then be adjusted if necessary, once the subsidy amount is known. 

This can only be done until after the fee statements have been issued in January, so although we will claim the CCS on your behalf and apply it as a credit against your fees your fee statement will reflect the full fees being charged. A direct debit form will be sent with the fee statement where you can indicate the dollar amount of the CCS you expect to receive over the calendar year. That can be amended during the course of the year if there are any discrepancies or changes to the level of CCS you expect to receive. 

Families who are pre-paying their fees will need to phone Accounts after their statement has been received and advise them of their expected CCS amount, which will be factored in when calculating the pre-payment discount. 

Any enquiries regarding your family's eligibility or subsidy level should be directed to Centrelink. 

Government funding offset / 'Free Kinder' program

From 2023 the Federal Government will provide further assistance to families for children enrolled in a kinder program in a long day care setting to help with the cost of providing quality early learning. 

Mount Scopus kindergartens operate a kinder program in a long day care setting. 

This is known as the 'Free Kinder' program, although the offset is $2000 per child per year for kinder programs in a long day care setting. 

This offset applies for all children enrolled in our Upper Kinder program in either campus except for any child for whom the offset is being claimed at another centre in 2023. 

Parents/guardians will be required to complete a declaration form confirming they are not registered to receive the offset at another centre as part of the starting documentation.

The offset will be paid directly to the centre and applied as a clearly labelled credit on the fee statement in four quarterly instalments of $500 each (or on a pro-rata basis for children who are not enrolled for the entire year). The offset will be credited after the CCS has been applied (for eligible families), thus maximising the benefit. 

Free Kinder payments will not impact the CCS payments; it is additional to them. Families who are not eligible for the CCS will automatically receive the $2000 offset unless they fall into the exception noted above.

Other than completing the declaration form there is nothing that families need to do; the credit will automatically be applied. 

Summary checklist:

• complete and submit child profile form by Friday 11 November
• once requested, ensure all medical and emergency contact information is completed by the date requested. 
• download Toddle App by 13 January 2023
• download Scopus App and subscribe to groups from 9 January 2023
  
• book parent teacher meeting time on 30 or 31 January via Parent Lounge between 18 January and 25 January 2023

ELC Key Contacts

Once your child commences, the following are the key contact details you may require.

ELC Director:                                                       Shana Upiter                                   03 9900 4648     OR       0407 726 272      

OSHC Coordinator:                                                   Beny Zimberg                             bzimberg@scopus.vic.edu.au

Fink Karp lvany Campus:                                                                                              03 8554 4700

To contact campus administration

To contact all teaching staff

To contact all student support  staff

OSHC FKI                                                                                                                           0411 560 380

Szalmuk Family ELC at Gandel Besen House:                                                             03 9900 4600

To contact Campus  Coordinator                           

To contact campus administration

To contact all teaching staff

To contact all student support  staff

OSHC GBH                                                                                                                          0450 565 024 

Accounts:

Child Care Subsidy enquiries                                  Nikki Epstein                                   03 9834 0041

Tuition fee payments                                                                                                      03 9834 0026

Main Reception - Gandel Campus, Burwood:                                                              03 9834 0000  

For general enquiries at the College  

To contact financial and clerical administrative staff  

Principal’s Office:                                                                                                          03 9834 0005  

To contact College Principal only:                         Rabbi Kennard

Deputy Principals:  

Deputy Principal, Primary:                                   Greg Hannon                                  03 9900 4602

Deputy Principal, Director of Alter Family School of Jewish Studies and Ivrit

                                                                                 Matti Borowski                              03 9834 0003

Parents Association                                                                                                     03 9834 0160