Preparing for ELC

We trust your child/ren are excited to start their learning journey here at Portside Christian College Early Learning Centre and that the 'unknown' will soon become familiar. We look forward to our time together as we start learning our routines and getting to know each other.

Our team consists of wonderful, caring, knowledgeable Christian Teachers and Educators who love to work alongside children and parents. Our educators are all qualified with a Masters in Early Childhood Education and Care, a Certificate III/Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care or a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood.

Phone 08 7071 4888

After Hours: 0499 500 385

Email: elc@portside.sa.edu.au

ELC Handbook

Our ELC Handbook contains everything you need to know about starting your child’s journey at Portside ELC.

Click the here to view the ELC Handbook.

Orientation Visit

Parents and ELC children are asked to attend an Orientation Visit either the week before they commence or as part of our transition pathway at the end of each year.

The purpose of these sessions is to meet your childs Learning Leader, and get to know each other in a relaxed environment prior to starting in the classroom.

Children and Parents (only one parent required but both welcome) are to attend this visit. To support your child in commencing to build a strong attachment to their care environment, we do ask that siblings do not attend where possible please.

Where

Meet in the ELC

What we will give you

Medical Risk Minimisation/Communication Plan (if applicable)
Medical Conditions Policy (LDC35)

What to bring to ELC

Drink bottle/Lunch box. We highly recommend, no wrappers or packaged foods known as a "nude” food. To promote our work in sustainability, we do ask families to pack foods without wrappers.
Hat (labelled)
Gumboots (labelled)
Fruit (whole or cut), snack (no nuts) for snack time and lunch (fresh is best)
Spare clothes in backpack-full set (only Navy logo free/ELC uniform) – each to be clearly labelled
Wear the ELC uniform
Library Folder
Any medication required *please see Medication section for full information

It is strongly recommended that children do not bring toys to the ELC as they tend to get lost, damaged and cause upsets. The ELC has a large range of educational toys and games that are available to children.

For more information on what to bring, please refer to the ELC Handbook.

Preparing for Your Child’s First Day

ELC Dates

The ELC is open from Monday 12 January to Thursday 10 December 2026.

The Centre is closed on Public Holidays plus a 4 week closure over the

Christmas/New Year period.

2027 Dates

Opens Monday 11 January
Closed Monday 18 January

Closed Monday 19 July
Closed from Fri 10 Dec for summer break

For more information about College Term Dates please click here.

ELC Program

The ELC is open from 7:15am - 6:00pm.

Our program runs as follows:

Morning Program

7:15am – 8:30am

Breakfast is served between 7.15am and 8am.

Educational Program

8:30am - 3:30pm

Please arrive at 8:30am or earlier.

Afternoon Program

3:30 pm – 6:00 pm

A healthy afternoon snack is provided after 4.30pm.

We appreciate families collecting before 6pm to allow our team to finish work on time.

Meet our Team

We encourage you to look through the staff photos in the ELC Handbook with your child, helping them become familiar with the friendly faces who will be caring for and supporting them at Portside ELC.

Uniform

For information on how to order uniform, either new, second hand or via our private Facebook group, please click here.

ELC Fees - Setting up your Xap Account

You will receive an email inviting you to activate your Xap account up to 8 weeks before your child’s start date at Portside ELC.

Once your account has been created, you can download the Xap Smile app, available for both Apple and Android devices.

What is Xap used for?

Xap is our ELC management system and is used to:

Process ELC fees and applicable government Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
Sign your child in and out of the ELC
Record your child as absent
Manage authorised nominees who can collect your child
Maintain important enrolment information

Before Your Child Starts

Once your Xap account has been activated, please ensure you:

Provide the CRN for both the parent/guardian and child connected through Centrelink
Provide your direct debit details
Add any additional nominees authorised to collect your child
Upload your child’s Immunisation History Statement, available through Medicare via myGov
Complete the required declaration

Your child cannot commence at Portside ELC until all required information has been completed in Xap.

Need Help with myGov or Centrelink?

As myGov is your private account, Portside ELC is unable to access your account or assist with account-specific enquiries. For assistance, please contact Services Australia directly on 13 61 50, Monday to Friday, 8.00am–8.00pm, or visit the myGov website.

Before Contacting Services Australia

If you are experiencing difficulties connecting your details, please check that:

The primary guardian’s CRN and date of birth have been entered correctly.
You have connected your account to Portside Christian College Early Learning Centre.

For more information on setting yourself up with Xap Childcare Software, please click here.

Be involved in your child's learning

You will receive an invitation to activate your Storypark for Families account, please note this is different to Xap.

We use Storypark for Families to involve you in your child's learning and allows Guardians and Carer's to see what their children are doing every day as well as communicate with their childcare centre.

Families can receive notifications and photos of their child's sleep, food, and daily activities. Guardians and Carer's can also comment and chat with their child's educators, much the same way as other social media platforms, only it will be private and through the secure Storypark platform.

Storypark for Families can be downloaded from the App store on both Android and Apple Devices.

For more information on Storypark, please click here.

Medical

MEDICAL CONDITION - not requiring medication to be administered at ELC

If your child has a medical condition, please ensure that our Administrator is aware and provide all relevant paperwork so that the staff can follow a suitable management plan. The paperwork to be completed is:

Medical Action plan from your doctor
Medical Conditions Risk Minimisation/Communication Plan (available from ELC)

MEDICAL CONDITION - requiring medication to be administered at the ELC

If your child has a medical condition requiring the administering of medicine, please ensure that the Administrator is aware and provide all relevant paperwork so that we can follow a suitable management plan. The paperwork to be completed is:

Medical Action plan from your doctor
Medical Conditions Risk Minimisation/Communication Plan
Medication Permission form to administer

Medication needs to be clearly labelled with a pharmacy label on the medication and packaging then given to the Administrator before your child's first day. For the care and safety of children, this process must be completed before your child can participate in our learning program.

MEDICATION ONLY - short course (ie antibiotics)

If your child requires medication to be administered while they are at the ELC, please ensure that the Administrator is aware and provide all relevant paperwork. The paperwork to be completed is:

Medication Permission form from Doctor or Pharmacist

Medication needs to be clearly labelled with a pharmacy label in an enclosed bag and given to our Administrator on their first day of attendance.

FIRST AID

If at any time your child feels unwell or has a minor injury, they will be looked after by the ELC team who are qualified to assess or treat your child. A First Aid treatment form will be made available to you which will explain the care given to your child for your understanding and signature upon pick up.

Families will receive an Incident form to site and sign on the day of incident, and notify the Director if the child has been seen by a Medical professional.

If your child is unwell and cannot stay at the Centre, a staff member will contact you to arrange for pick-up within the hour from the ELC.

For more information on medication and first aid, please see the ELC Handbook.