SUGAR AND SPICE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
Since 1987 we have grown and established ourselves as one of the leading Early Childhood Development Centres in the Western Cape of Southern Africa. We are firm believers in a sound academic background from a young age. This is achieved in a fun and playful environment where every aspect of your child is developed with love, consistency and enthusiastic encouragement.
We have 5 classrooms, all catering for the different age groups. Each programme is specifically designed to provide a stimulating agenda for all children. A big part of our curriculum is the Letterland reading programme. This starts at the age of 2 years. These children start the very basics, thereafter, each class takes the programme a step further. Children are continually observed and developmental areas assessed. A comprehensive report is provided at the end of the school year.
Our staff are fully qualified and specialists in Early Child Care and Education, they are the backbone of the Centre and update their training regularly.
Sugar and Spice is registered with the Department of Basic Education. I employ the correct ratio of teachers/assistants to children as stipulated by the City of Cape Town: Environmental Health By-Law No. 13333 of 2003
AGE GROUPS
We cater for all children between the ages of 1 year to Grade R.
All classes follow their own stimulating daily programme which encompasses all learning areas, cognitive, language, auditory, movement, body-space integration, gross and fine motor co-ordination, emotional, social and play, science experiments and the ever popular Letterland reading programme.
FIRST TIME AT SCHOOL!
It can be a harrowing experience leaving your child for the first time at a new school. This can often prove quite stressful for parents, who leave the school in the mornings in a worse state than their child! Settling into a new environment and making bonds with new carers takes time. We encourage parents to talk to their children about all the nice things he/she will be doing and the friends he/she will make. Settling into the daily routine happens very quickly and we encourage parents to call us at any time to see how their little ones are doing
We create a very homely atmosphere at Sugar and Spice.
OPERATING HOURS
Our operating hours are from 7.30am - 5.15pm Sharp! Monday to Friday. We encourage all children to be at school by 8.30am and no later than 8.40am. Thereafter we have breakfast and start our daily programmes. We close for 15 working days during the Christmas holiday break and public holidays. We do not close for school holidays.
SCHOOL FEES
Our fees increase between 6% and 10% at the beginning of each year. On admittance we require one month’s fees as a deposit (this can be split over 2 months). Parents must give one calendar months’ notice when leaving Sugar and Spice and the deposit is then used for their final month at school. If a parent leaves the Centre without giving notice, we retain the months deposit to cover costs. School fees are payable by the 1st of every month. For qualifying parents we have a fee assistance programme.
APPLICATION
For further information please send the name and exact age of your child/children to sugarspice@mweb.co.za or Whatsapp to 066 1305 807
SAFETY/ SECURITY OF CHILDREN
The education, welfare, safety and happiness of every child in our care is our most important responsibility. A child will never be allowed to leave the premises with a stranger or person not depicted on the application form. Parents must always telephone us with the name and description of the person collecting your child.
For additional security we encourage new prospective parents wanting to view Sugar and Spice ECD Centre to contact us providing their details and when they will be visiting. Previously we would encourage parents to just pop in to view the school at any time, however, times have changed, child trafficking/kidnapping is on the increase throughout the world and we must be vigilant at all times. We need to know exactly who is on the premises at all times.
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
We provide a selection of extra-curricular activities e.g. Ballet, Karate, Monkeynastix, Soccersize and Speakwell. Fees are paid directly to the instructors.
FUNCTIONS
A Christmas party is held in December. Music, refreshment’s, magician, Christmas songs and graduation ceremony take place but the highlight is Father Christmas with his sleigh of presents. The Christmas party is a non-religious event where all children can take part.
We have an annual “Art Exhibition" where parents view a collection of arts and crafts created entirely by their children.
Throughout the year, various entertainment companies visit our school; puppet shows, dental, health, wild animals, snakes and reptiles, birds of prey, fire department and theatre presentations. All of which have an educational and fun aspect to their themes.
We have a professional photographer who takes photos of our children twice a year and our Graduation pictures at the end of the year.
POTTY TRAINING
Potty training starts in the Bunny Class and is normally completed in the Panda and Dolphin classes. Adequate small toilets and hand washing facilities are positioned throughout the school and a nappy changing area with potties is situated near to the younger classrooms. We only use disposable nappies at Sugar and Spice. Parents provide their own nappies which are labelled and kept at school.
FOOD
We provide a hot breakfast at 8.30am. Please provide a healthy lunch and snack for your child, we will heat meals up when required. Please do not pack food that contains MSG, tartrazine, preservatives or GMO’s. Any sweets or ‘bad food’ will be sent home. We have a Halaal kitchen.
We all bake on Fridays which is a highlight of the week. Birthday parties are celebrated in the classrooms or in the garden. A list of ‘Good Party Food’ ideas will be given to you.
