About our Journey
I purchased The Gingerbread House in Mowbray in 2000 and so my life as a daycare owner began. The Gingerbread House was a big Daycare accommodating 94 children and was open Monday to Friday from 6am – 6pm. I was thrown into the deep end from the beginning and had to learn very quickly how to manage a daycare. After 8 years I realised that I wasn’t truly doing what I wanted in that I had very little interaction with the parents and barely knew the children in my care due to the size of the school. I finally had to make a very difficult decision and in 2008 sold the Gingerbread House with the idea of starting something small in a home away from home environment. This was not an easy decision and a piece of my heart is still in Mowbray at The Gingerbread House.
I took over Smart Start in 2008 when it was situated in Northway Pinelands and accommodated 8 children aged 2 – 5. In the following year I introduced a nursery and it wasn’t long before the premises were too small and Smart Start had to move. In 2010 I purchased my own property in Crassula Way Pinelands and the daycare has grown in leaps and bounds since then. Smart Start now has 5 classes accommodating children from 3 months – 4 years old. We are truly a home away from home where we are all considered family and I have that personal interaction with all parents and more importantly a special bond with each child who attends the daycare.
A few months ago, I was offered a space at Conradie Park for one of three daycares that will be required once the project is complete.
Conradie Park is a new housing development and is located near the main arterial routes and the Mutual and Thornton railway stations in Pinelands. Once completed, Conradie Park will be home to numerous businesses, two private schools, three daycares, retail centre, medical facilities and beautiful parks.
We have decided to embark on this new adventure and our journey begins on 1 November 2021.
Julie Christiansen
Owner / Principal
I took over Smart Start in 2008 when it was situated in Northway Pinelands and accommodated 8 children aged 2 – 5. In the following year I introduced a nursery and it wasn’t long before the premises were too small and Smart Start had to move. In 2010 I purchased my own property in Crassula Way Pinelands and the daycare has grown in leaps and bounds since then. Smart Start now has 5 classes accommodating children from 3 months – 4 years old. We are truly a home away from home where we are all considered family and I have that personal interaction with all parents and more importantly a special bond with each child who attends the daycare.
A few months ago, I was offered a space at Conradie Park for one of three daycares that will be required once the project is complete.
Conradie Park is a new housing development and is located near the main arterial routes and the Mutual and Thornton railway stations in Pinelands. Once completed, Conradie Park will be home to numerous businesses, two private schools, three daycares, retail centre, medical facilities and beautiful parks.
We have decided to embark on this new adventure and our journey begins on 1 November 2021.
Julie Christiansen
Owner / Principal
OUR STAFF
Cubs (3 - 17 months)Phumla Kungwayo
Cubs (3 - 17 months)Vuyiswa Sihlali
Squirrels (4 & 5 year olds)Reas Flores
Owner / PrincipalJulie Christiansen
Penguins (18 - 24 months)Sheryldene Hall
Cook/CleanerLucia Mabunzana
Parents Handbook
Kids will be kids, and that doesn’t change just because they’re at day care. Teachers have to deal with their fair share of tantrums, hitting, disruptive behaviours, arguments between kids and general mischief but we will always have a plan in place to deal with behavioural issues in a constructive way.
Discipline Policy
Maintaining discipline with a group of small children is primarily managed through cheerful adult leadership. Spanking or hitting, harsh language, shame and degradation, withholding or forcing food and punishment for lapses in toilet training are NEVER used. Teachers focus on noticing and praising good behaviour rather than the bad behaviour. We achieve this by having positive behaviour charts, praise, high-fives and handing out stars for good behaviour. The more positive attention a child can get, the higher the chance that the child will want to continue that behaviour.”
Meals & Snacks
The ECD promotes healthy eating and therefore ask that parents do not send sweets, gum and junk food for snack times. PLEASE DO NOT SEND FOOD ITEMS THAT CONTAIN NUTS OR MAY CONTAIN TRACES OF NUTS
FAQS
Please note that no medication will be administered without written instructions from the parent in the message book. The name of the medication, dosage & times to be administered is to be written each day and not once off for the next few days / week etc.
No verbal instructions to be given.
Should the child have a temperature whilst at school, the parents will be contacted first before Panado is administered.
No verbal instructions to be given.
Should the child have a temperature whilst at school, the parents will be contacted first before Panado is administered.
Enrollment
An application form must be completed and returned along with the registration fee prior to the child attending.
A non - refundable registration fee of R750.00 is required upon registration.
The fee is R2750.00 per month
Fees are payable over the full twelve (12) month period.
If you pay the full annual fee in advance, you will receive an 8% discount.
Fees are paid in advance and on the 1st of every month.
EFT payments are preferable but please be reminded that should you not bank with Standard Bank – fees are to be paid earlier (3 days) allowing time for payment to clear and reflect in the ECD’s account by the 1st of the month.
Two months written notice is required when you wish to withdraw your child from the ECD centre. If you wish to remove your child from the ECD in the last term, you may do so on or before the 1st October (haven given notice 1st August). If you choose to take your child out of the ECD centre after the 1st October, you will be liable for November and December full fees.
If your child is absent or sick or you are taking a family vacation during the year you will still be liable for the full fees for the month.
Banking Details
Name: Smart Start Daycare
Bank: Standard Bank
Branch: Pinelands
Account No: 271184973
A non - refundable registration fee of R750.00 is required upon registration.
The fee is R2750.00 per month
Fees are payable over the full twelve (12) month period.
If you pay the full annual fee in advance, you will receive an 8% discount.
Fees are paid in advance and on the 1st of every month.
EFT payments are preferable but please be reminded that should you not bank with Standard Bank – fees are to be paid earlier (3 days) allowing time for payment to clear and reflect in the ECD’s account by the 1st of the month.
Two months written notice is required when you wish to withdraw your child from the ECD centre. If you wish to remove your child from the ECD in the last term, you may do so on or before the 1st October (haven given notice 1st August). If you choose to take your child out of the ECD centre after the 1st October, you will be liable for November and December full fees.
If your child is absent or sick or you are taking a family vacation during the year you will still be liable for the full fees for the month.
Banking Details
Name: Smart Start Daycare
Bank: Standard Bank
Branch: Pinelands
Account No: 271184973
CONTACT US TODAY
To enroll your child.
