what you should know about kindy Groove
The aim of Kindy Groove is to provide an alternative, fun format to compliment and build on what is already being taught by caregivers at childcare and at home.
Kindy Groove utilses the "Arts" as a valuable learning tool by covering the following Key Learning areas:
- Arts & Creativity:Through the world of dance, the aim is to develop the children's musicality, creativity self expression and curiosity
- Health & Physical: Dance promotes fitness, flexibility, equilibrium and helps to improve co-ordination & gross motor skills.
- Language & Communication: Extending vocabulary
- Mathematical: problem solving & counting
- Courage: Promoting confidence & self esteem
- Social & Personal/Behavioural: During the classes we introduce theatre etiquette in both performance and observation skills. These involve taking turns, which help to teach patience, courtesy and co-operation, courage and responsibility
- Following each class a brief note is sent home describing what we did that day. This is to help parents share the experiences with the children.
- Most of all, we hope the children enjoy the classes as much as we do.
Kindy Groove Inclusion Policy
Kindy Groove aims to be an all inclusive programme, providing every child with equal opportunities and access to valuable learning experiences by encouraging children to participate as a group. This assists in covering the key learning areas of arts, communication and social development and eliminates the isolation of any child.
While the focus of the classes is to have fun, Kindy Groove provides the opportunity to expand children’s concentration and listening skills, increase confidence and self esteem and enhance social and emotional development, by teaching the following:
Acceptance - you don’t always get to choose, ‘you get what you get & don’t get upset’
Cooperation - sharing
Collaboration - being part of a group
Courtesy & Respect - towards the teacher and our friends
Patience - waiting for our turn
Tolerance - overcoming frustrations
Appreciation - of different types of music and of each other
Equality & Humility - I am not more important than my friends
Gratitude - recognising that someone has done something for us
Responsibility - understanding consequences
By engaging all of the children in a group, Kindy Groove allows them to have fun with their friends and make them feel like a valued member of the class, regardless of their ability, gender, cultural background or socio-economic status and preparing them for life’s future challenges
Kindy Groove Child Safe Policy
Kindy Groove is committed to protecting the safety of all people within its programs and events. All people, regardless of age, gender, race, culture, abilities and family or social background have equal rights to this protection. All people have the right to be respected and valued as well as feel emotionally, physically and spiritually safe at all times. Our policy has been developed to uphold this commitment to safeguarding and to adhere to National and State legislation.
This Policy applies to all staff, including director, teachers, or anyone working on behalf of or in association with Kindy Groove.
The purpose of this Policy:
To protect children, young people and vulnerable adults who receive Kindy Groove services. To provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guides our approach to child protection; Kindy Groove believes that a child or young person should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.
Our Policy aims to:
• Minimise the risk of abuse, misconduct and the misuse of positional power • Ensure that all cases of suspected abuse and misconduct are reported and handled thoroughly • Ensure that all people are respected and valued.
Statement of Commitment to child safety
Kindy Groove is committed to children, young people and vulnerable adults by providing an environment that is physically, emotionally and spiritually safe. Kindy Groove is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people and will endeavour to provide a safe and supportive environment for children and young people by the following safeguarding measures: Recruitment processes (screening, selection, interviews etc.), WWCC, Training, Induction, Supervision and Reviews
a. The following values reflect the culture that we are committed to promoting within Kindy Groove; Due diligence, Integrity, Duty of Care, Transparency, Inclusivity, Respect, Teamwork.
This Policy reflects legislation and guidance that seeks to protect children, namely:
National Legislation • National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children “Protecting Children is Everyone’s Business” 2009 – 2020 (Commonwealth of Australia) State Legislation • Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic.) Working With Children Checks • Working With Children Act 2005 (Vic.)
We recognise that: • the welfare of the child is paramount, and is everyone’s responsibility as outlined in the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children • all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse • some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues • working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other organisations/agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.
WE COMMIT TO a safe recruitment of teachers. We will screen all prospective teachers in our programs, before they are appointed. (i.e. relevant Working with Children’s Check/police check and first aid certificates). (standard2)
b. Have a clear Code of Conduct. We will adopt and implement a Code of Conduct for all leaders and volunteers, including boundaries of behaviour and expectations of interactions with children. (standard 3)
c. Continuing training and support for teachers. We commit to ongoing training, supervision and support for teachers (standard 4)
d. Responding to allegations of risk of harm (abuse) and serious misconduct. All teachers will report disclosures or suspicions of child abuse, according to our procedure. We will listen to and believe children who raise concerns. We will ensure that procedures are clear and appropriate in responding to allegations of abuse. Where an allegation of misconduct is made against a person in the organisation in relation to a child, we will prioritise support to the child. We will seek appropriate support for the person implicated to protect the safety of the child as the paramount consideration. We will understand the processes of responding to disclosures of abuse and harm including self-harm. We will ensure that appropriate training takes place to recognise and respond to indicators of abuse and neglect and receive support for all involved in the disclosure (including the teachers/volunteers). We understand that responding to abuse is not limited to children, but also includes adults within our programs who may be vulnerable at any given time where abuse could be present and that everyone understands the most appropriate steps to take in supporting our vulnerable people within our community. (standard5)
e. Provide an open safe environment. We will continue to offer our clients a say in the programs and the activities in which the children in their care participate by valuing and including their ideas and encouraging regular feedback about our programs.
We will continue be accountable and transparent by supplying documented lesson plans to our clients and families of participants. We will create a child-friendly environment, allowing people to raise their concerns and offer suggestions for improvements.
At the discretion of our clients and with respect to the privacy of all individuals, we will receive relevant and appropriate information relating to the program participants, including children’s health and family situation, to ensure that we are able to care for their physical and emotional needs and adapt our programs accordingly. (standard 6)
g. Understand and value diversity. We will be mindful in our approach for all programs to be inclusive for all people. This includes adapting programs for anyone with a disability to receive access to various programs, as well as provide adequate training for teachers. We will be sensitive to those from ‘Culturally and Linguistic Diverse’ (CALD) backgrounds and those within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with our programs, information, support and services. As well as upholding respect to all cultures and encourage the participation of all people and recognise their unique contribution to our community.
h. We will promote empowerment of children by listening, believing and respecting all children.(standard7)
NB: Victoria has guiding legislation around responding to allegations of abuse. Please be familiar with legislative requirements e.g. in VICTORIA there is a “Failure to Disclose” offense which was introduced in October 2014.
Abuse: Abuse and neglect includes but is not limited to:
- Physical Abuse - Emotional Abuse - Family Violence - Sexual Abuse - Grooming - Neglect Child: a person who is under the age of 18 years (e.g.: The Commission for Children and Young People Act 2012, Victoria).
Client: (a) the organisation or individual who has contracted Kindy Groove, i.e. Childcare centre, Kindergarten, Playgroup, Playcentre, school, library, corporation or any other contractee or contracting party. (b) a parent or legal guardian who brings their child to a Kindy Groove class or event.
Disclosure: a disclosure occurs when someone informs a person in authority/leadership (or a trusted adult) that they have been subject to abuse or knows of abuse. A disclosure may or may not be an allegation or a notifiable circumstance, but it is the responsibility that person to investigate and take any appropriate action.
Vulnerable Person: a person who may be considered to be susceptible to abuse or exploitation based on factors such as their health status (physical or mental), age, grief, previous experience of abuse, social isolation or financial hardship. In this sense vulnerability can be temporary or permanent.
We are committed to reviewing our Policy and good practice annually.
This Policy was last reviewed on: 30/10/2019