It is our school policy that parents are always welcome into the classroom to see what we’re getting up to. We consider our doors open to parental input and involvement. If you do wish to spend some time in the classroom, we ask parents to consider themselves as guests in their child’s space. However, we ask please for parents to be discreet and softly spoken (whispering where possible) even at drop off and pick up time.
To our newest recruits, these may be the first steps outside of the home environment. Despite the warm welcome of the activities waiting in the classroom, the animals needing to be fed and petted and the row of teachers itching to get going, so many new faces and a new environment can be very frightening and a few tears of separation are expected.
To help with this transition, we would encourage parents to attempt as brief a drop off as possible purely because experience tends to show that settling occurs quicker and smoother this way. This is not cast in stone however, and if it is felt that settling would be assisted better if a parent were to stay for a while, this too can happen. All we want at this time is for your child’s first days at Little Trotters to be as calm and inviting as possible. These are big steps for these little people.
To parents of returning students, where possible may we request a swifter drop off. We hope by now to be encouraging skills of independence. Between us; teachers and parents, let’s work together ge
tting the children to put their own lunches in the fridge, putting their own fruit in the bowl, placing their own water bottle on the tray. This is especially prevalent in the oldest class, ideally, parents…a little kiss farewell at the door and we’ll take over from there. This all contributes to a calmer, more productive start to the morning.
The teachers will be known on a first name basis. We endeavour to keep a high level of communication with parents on daily happenings, progress, funny anecdotes, and possible areas of concern. Where deeper concerns lay, requiring a little more time and privacy, please do not hesitate to arrange a meeting to discuss matters at length.
On the subject of maximum communication, we would ask to be informed of any changes in home life as we can then be more appreciative and understanding to any possible behavioural changes at school. All matters concerning your child are confidential.
Project Themes:
Each week we will cover a different project theme. There will be signs posted on each classroom door detailing this. As with any commencing school term we will use the first week as a settling time, time to get to know one another, our environment, and to implementing classroom ground rules.
Sickness:
Children who are carrying illness in its contagious stage (and head lice) are not permitted to attend school. The school maintains the right to send children home whom we do not feel well enough to attend.
‘Sign In/Sign Out’ Sheet:
At the front door of each classroom is a ‘Sign In/Sign Out’ folder. It is imperative that every child is signed in at arrival time on school premises, and signed out at departure time on school premises. Please do so even in the middle of the day if your child leaves and then returns after a doctors visit or swimming class etc… We do not call a daily register due to the broad period of drop off time throughout the day, so this is our only way of knowing exactly who is present in each class at anyone time. Be informed that in cases of a fire or other emergency procedure, this is the list we will grab to be sure all are present. Thus stressing the vital importance of signing your child in…AND out.
Please be reminded of your responsibility to let the school know if you are not available at the usual home or work number so that we can locate you otherwise.
In the event of somebody other than the usual parent/caregiver picking up your child we ask (insist) you let a member of staff know first as well as write and initial this instruction on the daily ‘Sign In’ sheet.
Getting Messy:
Our approach at Little Trotters is to pull up your sleeves and get stuck in! When doing arts & crafts, baking, planting seeds, toiling earth, tending to the animals and the rest… we are 
very likely to get a bit messy! Though we will provide overalls for certain activities, can we please ask parents to select clothes for their children with consideration to the amount of mucky stuff we’ll be getting up to ‘Sunday best’ may not always be appropriate. We are unable to guarantee they’ll stay splodge free.
Can we also request children wear ‘easy access’ clothes? These are clothes the children are able to assist with putting on and taking off. We ask for your child to have a change of clothes at school too, just in case.
Keeping Lunch Packs Chilled:
There is a refrigerator in each classroom. Please ensure your child’s lunch pack is washed regularly.
Peanut Allergies:
Each new school year, we assess to find out if any children attending Little Trotters are allergic to nuts. This is the policy; you are allowed to include nuts in your child’s packed lunch unless you are informed otherwise.
Fruit:
Along with a packed lunch each day, please provide your child with a piece of fruit. Upon arrival, your child will place his/her fruit in the fruit basket. At an appropriate time a small group will be chosen to help one of the teacher’s chop, slice and create a mixed fruit salad to be served at mid morning or mid afternoon snack time. This will be supplemented with additional munchies. We hold group meal/snack time with great value. We consider this a time to be well nourished, well mannered and sociable.
Water Bottles:
We ask all parents to provide their child with a water bottle (Juice cup). Upon arrival, your child will place his/her bottle on the ‘drinks tray’. This follows them outside during playtime so they have water available whenever they are thirsty.
Food, Glorious Food…
We wish to promote healthful eating amongst these little people. Let’s nourish them well. They are after all what we feed them. We ask (implore) therefore that in lunch packs, sweets, chocolate and cookies be replaced with healthy alternatives.
Nutrition expert; Dr. Alex Richardson of Oxford University explains, “Too much sugar in children can lead to tiredness, ‘foggy brain’ inability to concentrate, irritability, nervousness, depression, allergies and intolerances and blood-pressure changes.” He continues, “Poor control of blood sugar, caused by swinging from highs and lows and back again is frequently reported in connection with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder”.
With regards to artificial food additives he mentions a particular investigation that looked at 277 three-year-olds and what happened when they stopped eating four particular colourings and a preservative (tartazine, sunset yellow, carmoisine, poneau and sodium benzoate) and then started again.
“Parents noticed a significant increase in their children’s hyperactivity and problem behaviours such as temper tantrums and poor concentration when they started having additives.” Dr. Alex Richardson. He says, “Before you even start, make sure they eat a good breakfast every day and include a small amount of protein (such as fish, chicken, cheese, nuts, beans or milk) at this and every other meal.” He continues, “At the same time, feed them a well-balanced diet, using fruit and vegetables instead of sweets to satisfy sugar craving.”
Cheers to good health in mind and body!
Name Belongings:
It is a great help if all belongings are labelled with your child’s name.
Baking:
We bake regularly here at school with the children. What we bake will either be eaten at school at snack time or sent home to be feasted upon. We pledge to bake healthier ingredients introducing a variety of flavours and goodness.
Birthdays:
We love the occasion of birthdays and welcome parents to bring in a birthday cake or individual cup cakes to celebrate the occasion with their friends. Is there any way we might be able to request healthier alternatives to the really ‘sugared up’ traditional cake… 
possibly; whole wheat, fruit or organic cakes instead? There is no need to provide a huge cake. We shall keep portion sizes minimal; in fact teaspoon size portions are quite sufficient.
Fire Safety Procedures:
In the event of a fire, a procedure of actions between staff members has been agreed upon. We shall have regular ‘Fire practice’ with the children so we are all familiar with the procedure. Fire alarms and extinguishers are checked regularly with the Fire Department.
Medication:
We are very willing to administer medication during the school day. Please write and initial instructions for administering medicine on the daily ‘Sign In’ sheet next to your child’s name in the ‘comments’ column. In addition, be sure also to draw attention to such a request verbally to one of the teachers. We ask that the medicine is handed over to a teacher so it can be stored in the medicine cabinet. On occasion in the past, medicines have been left in the children’s lunch boxes or bags accessible to other children.
Nappies/Diapers:
For those who are in nappies/diapers or who still are potty training we ask parents to provide these. We will provide wet wipes. It is not a school policy that children must be potty trained by any particular age. We wish to work with parents on this and understand entirely that training happens when the child is ready and not before. Studies show us that often three years of age is a better age for this.
Discipline:
In accordance with both the Rudolf Steiner and Maria Montessori, the teachers approach at Little Trotters is of kindness and understanding. Their approach will be softly spoken and calm.
In the case if antisocial or aggressive behaviour, we will initially approach the situation by means of gentle words and explanation whilst anchoring the child’s attention through assuring eye contact and hand holding, with closure of apology and hugs.
Where anti social behaviour continues, our next approach will be to physically remove the child from the scene or activity he or she is involved in, discuss again how to positively shape behaviour in that situation and at an appropriate time interval, invite the individual to re-join the group or activity.
If negative behaviour continues, we may feel the need to invite the child’s parents in for further discussion in the hope that as a team we can work together through different ideas to eradicate such behaviours. We all go through awkward phases which pass almost as swiftly as they appear. We do not use such words as ‘naughty’ or ‘bad’. Our approach is always positive.
Toys:
We really, really prefer that all children’s toys are left at home and not brought to school. Doing so creates too much distraction amongst the others. Again, this is not written in stone and where great comfort is brought from bringing in a favourite toy (especially during the settling period) this may be allowed. In the oldest class however, we will be much firmer on not allowing toys in the classroom.
School Fees:
School fees are payable at the beginning of each month. School fees not paid by the 10th of each month will incur a $25 late fee. (Fees are received each month regardless of attendance, even for the month of August when the school is closed for a few weeks)
One month’s notice is required should parents wish to withdraw their child from Little Trotters. A discount of 10% is given off the fee of the second child if siblings are attending Little Trotters during the same time period.
Bad Weather Procedures:
In the onset of poor weather to the degree of Tropical Storm Watch, Hurricane Warning or heavy rain fall, the school maintains the right to close. We take a very sensible line in these decisions and are never rash to close. However, we tend to follow the updated advice from the National Hurricane Committee and have to be aware that the school staff need to prepare the animals, the school premise and their own homes in times of more serious weather.
Nap Time:
If your child requires a nap, please bring a blanket for your child to use. Be sure to take it home weekly to be washed.