Opening Hours

7.30AM – 6.30PM Monday to Friday,
MCFC is open 51 weeks in the year, on all days that Monash University is open including Labour Day, Queen’s Birthday and Cup Day
We are closed on Good Friday, Easter Monday and a period between Christmas and New Year. Fees are not payable on public holidays that the centre is closed.

Group Care

It is our policy to maintain relatively small group size with a high ratio of qualified staff and assistants.

Management
MCFC is controlled by a voluntary Committee of Management elected by parents, so there is direct input by parents in centre policies.
Users of MCFC must become members of the Co-op in order to access care.
MCFC is an ideal service for those who want a say in policies that will directly benefit their children. As members of a not-for-profit organisation parents can have confidence that all income is directed to maintaining a high quality program. There are three working bees a year in which the parents are expected to contribute.Various fundraising activities are also organised in which the parents are encouraged to participate.
The Management Committee welcomes involvement from all members.

Program
Monash Community Family Co-Operative provides care & educational programs based on individual development & needs for children aged 3 months to school age.
Our program is accredited by the National Childcare Accreditation Council as a high quality program. It is carried out by experienced qualified staff, and supported by child care assistants.
The 4-5 ‘Kinder’ is a funded Preschool program.
Extensive natural outdoor playing areas compliment the program.
MCFC supports inclusion of children from diverse backgrounds e.g. with English as a second language, and those with additional needs / disability. We can assist parents access support services to ensure an inclusive environment.

The child's program planning procedures include:

• Setting up of individual communication books. These contain all the child's daily routine info and can be taken home each night.
• Individual children's folders are clearly on display in each room.
• Feedback sought from parents on a regular basis
• Staff organised interview nights to discuss the child's program with parents

Kitchen

Fees include nutritious hot lunches and snacks prepared daily in our kitchen from fresh produce. The weekly menu is on display in each room with feedback forms available. Staff provide the cook with feedback about quantities, children's likes and dislikes. Parents' comments are also welcome and help to improve the quality and variety of food served to the children.

We welcome parents bringing in food for special occasions (policy). Each room has a number of children with special dietary needs, so it is important that parents plan for the occasion with room staff. All food must be delivered to the kitchen where a 'food from home' form must be filled in detailing a list of all ingredients.

• Food offered to the children is based on the pyramid food guide: Full cream dairy products are used.
• No canned baby food is offered
• No sugar or salt is used in cooking
• Desserts are based on milk and fruit
• Alternative foods are prepared for children with individual dietary needs, e.g. infants' educational diet, allergies, vegetarian, cultural
• Milk, soy milk and water are the only drinks offered
• All meat is from a Halal Butcher

A typical weekly menu may include the following:-

Sunsmart Policy (MCFC is a Sunsmart accredited centre)

Australia has a very high incidence of skin cancer due to exposure to the sun. Hence, during the peak period of October to April children must wear hats that protect the face, neck and ears when playing outside. If children do not have a hat they will be encouraged to play in a shaded area. The centre has a number of spare broad rimmed or legionnaire type hats available for children to use, should they forget their hats. Staff will apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF30 on children's skin according to product instructions before children go outside. Staff will also set up play areas with adequate shade for all children to play in a protected area.

Last updated 9/8/2006