Nature-Based Childcare in Albany, Ellerslie & Whitford

Natural Steps is licensed for children from 3 months to 5 years old. We encourage parents to put their children on the waiting list as soon as possible.

When your child is getting dressed for the day, please remember, they will be running, jumping, get paint and glue on their clothes and can get wet and muddy.

Each day your child will need to bring

• A NAMED special bag (school bag).
• Two changes of NAMED clothes.
• A NAMED drink bottle (with water). The drink bottle is to go home with your child every day and returned the next day clean and with fresh water.
• NAMED shoes that are easy to get on and off by the child.  (Some children bring slippers for inside play)
• In summer a NAMED sunhat that can be left at the kindergarten.
• In winter a NAMED raincoat, NAMED woollen hat and NAMED gumboots.
• Children that are being toilet trained will need extra changes of clothes and extra spare underpants/nappies.
• Children in nappies please bring nappies in daily.

“THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS BAD WEATHER, ONLY BAD CLOTHES”

At times, when it is raining, we do go on walking excursions and play outside - wearing our raincoat and closed in shoes (gumboots are referred). Also, in our carpentry area shoes have to be worn at all times.  Please note we do not keep spare clothing at the centre as sharing clothing is not in our practice. Should your child run out of clothing you will be phoned.

Unless your child has special diet requirements, Natural Steps is able to provide a balanced diet for all the children, therefore no food is required from home. Please see the Manager if your child has special diet requirements. 

Water is the best drink to quench thirst. All parents are requested that they daily provide their child with a portable drinking bottle for them to use in their classroom. The drink bottles are to go home with the child every day and returned the next day clean and with fresh water.

Natural Steps employs a full-time cook to prepare and serve nutritional meals during the day. We are subject to a National Programme 2 under the Food Act 2014. Our menus run on a weekly cycle and are reviewed every 6 months.

• No chewing gum, lollies or food that contains NUTS are permitted into the centre. WE ARE A NUT FREE CENTRE
• A copy of the weekly menu is displayed at the centre and daily recorded at the children’s sign in station.
• We request that children arrive to the centre dressed and have had breakfast and are ready to start the day.
• We recognise that celebrating a child’s birthday is a special occasion. Please see your child’s teachers on how birthdays are celebrated at the centre.

Yes we do. Each centre has its own structure. Please see the manager for further information.

The centre closes at 5.30pm. Please call us if you are running late so we can let your child’s teacher know. There is a late fee of $20.00 for the first 15 minutes and $1 per minute onwards.