CURRO CASTLE NURSERY SCHOOL CONSTITUTION

CURH05PO

SCHOOLS

DATE

COMPANY SECRETARY

CEO/COO & COMPANY SECRETARY

CEO & COO

CURRO HOLDINGS

INSERT DATE

INSERT INITIALS

INSERT INITIALS

INSERT INITIALS

CURRO HOLDINGS

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1. CONSTITUTION PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to establish and describe the operational constitution of nursery schools managed by Curro Holdings Limited, herein referred to as Curro and/or the Company, under the Curro Castle nursery school model and brand category. This policy further describes the operational structures of the nursery schools, including the higher level management structures associated with a group of schools listed as a public company on the JSE and the internal management structures of the nursery schools.

2. STATUTORY APPLICATIONS All provisions contained in this constitution will be subject to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and all other relevant national and provincial legislation and its regulations as published from time to time.

3. NAME OF THE NURSERY SCHOOL This is the constitution of [nursery school name].

4. STREET ADDRESSES 4.1 Head office Curro Holdings Ltd 38 Oxford Street Durbanville, 7550

4.2 Nursery school [Nursery school street address]

5. POSTAL ADDRESSES 5.1 Head office Curro Holdings Ltd PO Box 2436 Durbanville, 7551

-35.2 Nursery school [Nursery school postal address]

6. NURSERY SCHOOL MISSION AND OBJECTIVES Curro Castle nursery schools are either acquired or constructed by Curro and are fully developed and managed by Curro. Statutory information for Curro can be obtained from the Curro head office.

As part of the management model of Curro, the nursery schools subscribe to the following aims and business of Curro:

6.1 Provide independent nursery school education in English and Afrikaans. 6.2 Programmes addressing learning, teaching, training and curriculum support, governance, whole nursery school development and safety and security at and through the nursery schools. 6.3 Organising, managing and administering the training of educators.

7. AFFILITATION All Curro Castle nursery schools are/will be registered with the relevant departments of social development.

8. VISION Curro Castle nursery schools are independent nursery schools.

Curro Castle nursery

schools are founded with the main purpose of delivering quality nursery school education to whoever wants it, within an educational supportive environment which is child friendly, which promotes positive discipline and creative thinking and is based on Christian principles.

The Curro Castle nursery schools’ vision is to offer children a balanced education through sustained individual attention within clearly defined parameters of discipline where shared values, including Christian principles and creative thinking, develop dynamically so that, in the adult world, including the world of work, children can become what they want to become.

-4For this vision to be realised, the nursery school must provide the necessary facilities and infrastructure, recreational areas, educational material and qualified, well-trained educators to fulfil the educational tasks.

9. CURRO CASTLE NURSERY SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL MODEL The Curro Castle nursery school model provides education in the: • Reception phase

3 months to 5 years

• Foundation phase

Grade R (independent nursery schools)

The nursery school represents the Curro Castle nursery school brand which is one of the school brand categories managed by Curro.

9.1 The list below summarises the different school brand categories managed by Curro:

9.1.1 Curro schools: Primary, high or combined schools with a maximum of twenty five learners per class, unless contractually agreed differently. Schools could be single, parallel or double medium with English and Afrikaans as languages of instruction. All single medium schools have English as the language of instruction. (See language policy). 9.1.2 Curro Academy schools: Primary, high or combined schools with a maximum ratio of one educator for every thirty five learners per class. English is the language of instruction. 9.1.3 Meridian schools: Primary, high or combined schools with a maximum ratio of one educator for every thirty five learners per class. English is the language of instruction. 9.1.4 Curro Castle nursery schools: Nursery schools catering for children aged 3 months to 5 years. English and Afrikaans are the languages of instruction. 9.1.5 Educator training colleges.

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10. OBJECTIVES 10.1 General educational objectives The nursery school offers a specialised nursery school curriculum developed by Curro. The entire curriculum is implemented by means of a management plan which includes quality management, curriculum management, extra-curricular management and internal and external communication. A complete set of internal policies guide these operations and the management plan includes the constant review of all the operations as well as a system of feedback into the planning for the following year. This system is followed stringently, is never complete and is reviewed regularly.

10.2 Nursery school phases and groups • Reception phase

Group 1

3 months to 12 months

• Reception phase

Group 1.5

12 months to 18 months

• Reception phase

Group 2

18 months to 24 months

• Reception phase

Group 2.5

24 months to 30 months

• Reception phase

Group 3

30 months to 3 years

• Reception phase

Group 4

3 years to 4 years

• Reception phase

Group 5

4 years to 5 years

• Foundation phase

Grade R

5 years to 6 years

10.3 Learner A learner must benefit from the curriculum and it is therefore necessary to assess each application for admission. Applicants are assessed according to the normal entry requirements and, if necessary, personal interviews are requested. Nursery schools do not make provision for learners with special educational needs, but a slow learner should not be regarded as such. Such a learner’s admission is considered after conducting an interview and completing admission tests. Schools do, however, have the right to expect all applicants to write admission tests.

-610.4 Commitments The nursery school is characterised by and committed to the following: •

Christian ethos and values

•

Child friendliness

•

Creative thinking

•

Positive discipline

•

Co-educational

•

English or English and Afrikaans medium

•

Controlled class sizes

•

Benchmarked curriculum standards

•

Holistic development

•

Value added programmes

•

Qualified and committed educators

•

Dynamic leadership and curriculum management

•

Half day and full day care

10.5 Educator The educators are the backbone of a nursery school. Only suitably qualified staff, registered or in the process of registering with South African Council for Educators (SACE), able to deliver the learning programmes expected of them and implementing the Curro Castle nursery school curriculum should be appointed. Vacancies are advertised on the website and from time to time in various newspapers and all appointments are made according to a specific procedure. The employment equity law and plan are considered with all appointments, taking the profile of the nursery school community into consideration. The chief operating officer appoints the Curro Castle nursery school principal at an independent Curro Castle nursery school. The Curro Castle nursery school principal appoints the rest of the staff. Where Curro Castle nursery schools form part of Curro schools, the executive heads are responsible for all appointments of staff and will utilise the appropriate members of staff to assist them in the process. All staff members who are appointed must sign an employment contract which protects the interest of the employer and employee.

-7Top performing educators should earn good salaries and this matter is always regarded as a high priority by Curro directors. Educators’ salaries are negotiated individually as part of their contract and are confidential. Disclosure of salaries is seen as a serious breach of contract and is dealt with in accordance with the applicable legislation and disciplinary policies.

Educator/child ratios at Curro Castle nursery schools will always be low. Educators therefore have the advantage of fewer children per class and should utilise this advantage. Nothing less than excellent teaching is expected at all times. This entails proper planning, preparation, execution, testing, recording and reporting as well as honouring the ethos of the nursery school and being loyal at all times. Sufficient support staff, administrative and other, should always be available to allow the nursery school to run smoothly within an environment which is conducive to learning. Stability in employee numbers, keeping employee turnaround as low as possible and keeping a fine balance between lessexperienced and experienced members of staff should always be a high priority with management.

10.6 Parents/guardians Parents/guardians are clients and should always be treated as such. A healthy, open, transparent and honest relationship between the nursery school and parents/guardians is non-negotiable. The most effective way to bring this about is through constant, effective and to-the-point communication. Parents/guardians pay for a service and want to see results. They want to see their children happy, safe and eager to go to nursery school in the morning. Ultimately they want to feel proud of the nursery school to which they entrusted their children.

Regular circulars, flyers, nursery school papers, etc. must therefore be distributed and the door of the Castle principal/head must always be open for parents/guardians should they have a need to converse personally.

A parent advisory committee (PAC) must therefore be formed to create a platform from which parents/guardians can support the nursery school. Parents/guardians must also always have access to educators should there be a need to do so.

-8Parents/guardians of enrolled children form part of the nursery school community. The doors of the nursery school management must always be open for parents/guardians should the need for individual or small group discussions arise.

10.7 Facilities Sufficient basic and appropriate facilities for the delivery of quality education must always be provided. In the case where it is not immediately possible, all efforts must be made to create these facilities as soon as possible. These facilities include buildings, sports facilities, learning materials and resources. The facilities must be maintained at all times, must be operational and must comply with the regulations, e.g. health and safety set by the authorities.

10.8 Language The language policy of Curro Castle nursery schools is described in policy number CURH36PO.

11. OWNERSHIP OF THE NURSERY SCHOOL Curro nursery schools are acquired or constructed by Curro and are, in most cases, fully owned and managed by Curro. These nursery schools are positioned to serve communities where quality, independent nursery school education was previously unattainable as a result of financial barriers and/or location and/or accessibility. These schools are based on an exceptionally cost sensitive model to ensure the lowest school fees possible, without compromising standards.

12. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE 12.1 Governance structure A board of directors exercises full and effective control over Curro. The board of directors must consist of not less than four directors. The board of directors currently consists of five non-executive and four executive directors:

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Independent non-executive chairperson

•

Chief executive officer

•

Chief operating officer

•

Chief financial officer

•

Chief investment officer

•

Three other independent non-executive directors

•

Non-executive director (PSG Group)

12.2 Head office organisational structure

12.2.1 The executive committee (EXCO) which consists of: • Chief executive officer • Chief operating officer • Chief financial officer • Chief investment officer • Chief executive officer – Meridian schools • Marketing specialist • HR specialist • Chief executive officer – majority shareholder 12.2.2 Other committees are: • Operational committee • Construction management committee • Curriculum management committee • Information technology committee 12.3 Nursery school management structure Curro Castle nursery schools can either form part of a Curro school or be an independent nursery school. When forming part of a Curro school, the Curro Castle nursery school operates as a phase in the school and a phase head is appointed to manage the nursery school. The phase head reports to the executive head of the school.

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In the case of an independent Curro Castle nursery school, the nursery school is managed by a Curro Castle principal who reports to a regional head.

The following describes the management structure of independent nursery schools. Positions are filled as and when required and if the nursery school’s business model allows for it.

12.3.1

12.3.2

Nursery schools report into the following head office functions: •

Regional heads – business and curriculum matters

•

Regional accountants – budgets and financial matters

Nursery schools are managed by: •

12.3.3

Curro Castle principals – overall responsibility

All Curro Castle nursery schools have, other than the Curro Castle principal or phase head, the following staff members: • Grade R qualified educators where applicable • Early childhood development (ECD) practitioners • Nursery school assistants • ECD aftercare supervisors • Infant caregivers • Staff nurses • Administration, financial, kitchen and maintenance staff

12.4 Financial management structure The following describes the financial management structure of independent Curro Castle nursery schools. Curro Castle nursery schools forming part of Curro schools report into the financial management of the Curro school.

Overall financial management resides with Curro’s financial department. This department is managed by the chief financial officer (CFO).

Financial managers report into the CFO.

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Group accountants report to the financial managers with regional accountants in turn reporting to the group accountants.

The Curro Castle head is supported directly by a regional accountant responsible for a number of schools.

Each nursery school has further financial positions, depending on the size of the nursery school, such as bursars, accountants, debtors clerks and creditors clerks reporting to the Curro Castle head and regional accountant.

13. GENERAL NURSERY SCHOOL POLICY All relevant Curro Castle nursery school policies are available at the nursery school on request.

14. ADMISSIONS AND ENROLMENTS The procedure for enrolment should be adhered to at all times as explained by the admissions policy of the nursery school (CURH09PO) and also on the Curro Castle nursery school application for admission form.

Only complete application for admission forms with ALL the necessary supporting documentation will be accepted.

15. RELEVANT ACTS RELATING TO EDUCATION Curro Castle nursery schools operate within the boundaries of all the relevant acts relating to education of which the following are examples: •

The Constitution of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996)

•

Children’s Act 38 of 2005 and Children’s Amendment Act 41 of 2007

•

The South African Schools Act as amended (Act 84 of 1996)

•

The Labour Relations Act (Act 66 of 1995)

•

The Promotion of Access to Information Act (Act 2 of 2002)

•

Protection from Harassment Act 2010, No. 17 of 2011

•

Final Immigration Law 2014

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16. AMENDMENTS The individuals authorised to approve and review amendments to this policy are set out on page 1 of this policy.