This is an annex to Senate Decision no. 2024/14 dated 18.07.2024..

Republic of Türkiye

ISTANBUL SABAHATTIN ZAIM UNIVERSITY

Kindergarten Directive

PART ONE

Introductory Provisions

Purpose

ARTICLE 1 - (1) The purpose of this Directive is to regulate the procedures and principles concerning the establishment, administration, education, duties and operation of the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Kindergarten.

Scope

ARTICLE 2- (1) This Directive covers the principles concerning the education, research, development and practical activities provided at the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Kindergarten, as well as its administration, duties and operation.

Legal Basis

ARTICLE 3 - (1) This Directive has been prepared on the basis of Article 14 of Law no. 2547 and paragraph (e) of Article 15 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Department of Medico-Social Health, Culture and Sports Affairs of Higher Education Institutions, which was published in the Official Gazette no. 18301 dated 03/02/1984 by the Council of Higher Education and entered into force.

Definitions

ARTICLE 4 - (1) In this Directive;

  1. Kindergarten: refers to the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Practice Kindergarten,
  2. Child: refers to children aged 36-72 months receiving pre-school education at the Kindergarten,
  3. Support Staff: refers to the cooks and service personnel working at the Kindergarten,
  4. Director: refers to the Kindergarten Director,
  5. Board of Trustees: refers to the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Board of Trustees,
  6. Teacher: refers to the teachers carrying out education and teaching services at the Kindergarten,
  7. Department of Personnel Affairs: refers to the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Department of Personnel Affairs,
  8. Rector: Refers to the Rector of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
  9. SKS: refers to the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Department of Health, Culture and Sports,
  10. University Staff: refers to the personnel employed on a permanent basis at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University
  11. University: Refers to Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
  12. Parent: refers to the mothers and fathers receiving services from the Kindergarten,

shall have the meanings set out above.

PART TWO

Aims and Working Principles of the Kindergarten

Aims

ARTICLE 5 - (1) The aims of the Kindergarten are;

  1. To enable the students of the University's Faculty of Education Pre-School Teaching undergraduate programme to carry out their teaching practice.
  2. To provide pre-school education during working hours in a manner that supports the development of children aged 36-72 months, with priority given to the children of University staff.
  3. In line with the general aims and fundamental principles of national education, to provide the basic knowledge that will enable the pre-school children of University staff to grow up as individuals who have completed their preparation for primary education, who take part in cultural, artistic and sporting activities, who possess aesthetic values and environmental awareness, who can internalise and develop their own culture, and who respect different cultures.

Principles

ARTICLE 6 - (1) At the Kindergarten;

  1. Contemporary educational programme models based on the Ministry of National Education Pre-School Education Programme are implemented, helping children to get to know themselves and to develop their abilities, and enabling them to grow up as self-confident individuals who are at peace with themselves and their environment and able to communicate correctly and constructively.
  2. In educational activities, the ages, developmental characteristics and individual differences of the children and the opportunities offered by the environment are taken into account.
  3. Children are enabled to acquire healthy basic habits such as self-care, nutrition and sleep.
  4. Efforts are made to ensure that children grow up as self-confident, self-expressive and self-sufficient independent individuals with a well-developed sense of self.
  5. In pre-school education plans, values education activities are implemented that support the development of feelings such as love, respect, tolerance, solidarity, sharing, cooperation and mutual assistance.

Working Principles

ARTICLE 7- (1) At the Kindergarten,

  1. Full-day education is provided. It is essential that enrolled children attend the kindergarten regularly.
  2. Education is provided in mixed-age groups and/or according to age groups.
  3. The number of children in a class is determined according to the characteristics of the education groups and, as a rule, may not exceed 20.
  4. The work schedule of the kindergarten staff is prepared and implemented by the kindergarten director.
  5. Delivering children to and collecting them from the Kindergarten, as well as their transport, is the responsibility of the parent.
  6. Between 1 and 31 August, kindergarten services are suspended for preparation for the new academic year, pest control, painting, maintenance and renovation, and parents do not make any payment for this month.
  7. The kindergarten may be closed in cases such as epidemic diseases, extraordinary circumstances arising in the physical conditions of the kindergarten, or the suspension of University activities by decision of the Rectorate.
  8. In cases where the kindergarten must be closed, education may, where possible, continue online with the approval of the Rectorate.

Working Hours

ARTICLE 8 - (1) Within the framework of the working hours applied at the University, the daily operating hours of the Kindergarten are also between 08:30 and 17:30.

(2) The Kindergarten is closed at weekends and on public holidays.

(3) In order not to disrupt the daily education programme, it is essential that children are brought to the kindergarten by 09.30.

(4) If a child has not been collected by their parent after the kindergarten's closing time, an educator assigned by the kindergarten administrator waits at the Kindergarten with the child until the parent arrives, and in the meantime attempts are made to reach the parent using their contact details. If the parent cannot be reached, the child is handed over to a relative approved by the parent at the time of registration. The name, surname and other contact details of this relative are requested from the parent during registration.

(5) Children are not admitted to the kindergarten for daily, half-day or hourly periods.

PART THREE

Registration and Admission Procedures

Registration and Admission

ARTICLE 9 - (1) Registration and admission procedures for the Kindergarten are carried out according to the following principles:

  1. In the admission of children to the Kindergarten, priority is given to the children of staff currently employed on a permanent basis at the University.
  2. Registration applications are accepted for children who have completed or will complete 36 months as of September of the year of registration and who have not completed 72 months.
  3. Kindergarten registration is carried out in two stages: pre-registration and final registration. Pre-registration applications are made between 1 and 31 May.
  4. Parents wishing to enrol their children complete the pre-registration application form prepared by the Kindergarten and submit it to the Kindergarten Directorate together with the other required documents. The application date is the date on which the pre-registration application form and the relevant documents are submitted to the kindergarten.
  5. Final registrations are carried out during August. After final registrations for the Kindergarten have been completed, if the kindergarten's capacity permits, the admission of children who turn 36 months old and have completed toilet training continues until the end of December.
  6. Applications; are evaluated by a commission chaired by the Head of Department and consisting of the Kindergarten Director, a Kindergarten Teacher, a Child Development Teacher and a Psychologist or Guidance Counsellor. The pre-registration list drawn up as a result of the evaluation is sent to SKS for the approval of the Rectorate. The scoring system set out in the attached table is applied in the evaluations.
  7. The pre-registration and final registration dates approved by the Rectorate are announced through various channels (e-mail, notice board, website, etc.).
  8. If the pre-registration applications for the children of University staff exceed the kindergarten quota or if scores are equal, a lottery is held. Information on the place and time of the lottery is sent one week in advance to the e-mail addresses provided by the parents of the children who will take part. The lottery is drawn on the specified day, at the specified place and time, in the presence of the parents concerned. As a result of the lottery, principal and reserve registration lists are drawn up.
  9. Parents who gain the right to final registration at the Kindergarten are required to complete in full the requested documents and the forms describing their child's developmental characteristics and to submit them to the Kindergarten Directorate. Parents who do not meet the application criteria or who do not complete the registration procedure on the final registration date lose their right to registration. In place of parents who lose their right to registration, admissions continue from the reserve list in order of ranking.
  10. If two siblings or twins have applied in the scoring evaluation or the lottery, and one of the siblings gains the right to final registration or is drawn in the lottery, the final registration of the other sibling is also accepted.
  11. As a result of the evaluation or the lottery, registrations to the Kindergarten begin with the principal list; if this list is not filled, the final registrations of those on the reserve list are carried out. If there are still vacancies in the Kindergarten quota, registration applications from University staff who were unable to pre-register and therefore could not take part in the evaluation or the lottery are accepted until the end of the final registration period.

PART FOUR

Determination of Fees, Withdrawal, Attendance, Suspension of Registration and Special Circumstances

Determination of Fees

ARTICLE 10 - (1) Kindergarten services are subject to a fee, and the monthly education fee is determined by the University Board of Trustees and announced by the Rectorate.

(2) The monthly education fee determined comes into effect as of September.

(3) Kindergarten fees may be set as a single rate for University staff, or they may be set separately according to the staff member's position and status (academic staff, administrative staff, etc.), for the children of employees of organisations located on the University campus and for other parents. Decisions on these matters are taken by the Board of Trustees upon the proposal of the Rectorate.

(4) Parents are obliged to notify the kindergarten directorate of any change in their status. From the date of the change of status, the monthly school fee is adjusted according to the parent's new situation and the outstanding balance is collected in full.

(5) For the children or grandchildren of staff who have retired from the University, if fees differ according to status, the fee determined for faculty members applies; if a single fee has been set, 25% above the determined fee is applied.

(6) Kindergarten fees are paid monthly at the beginning of each month. For permanent staff, kindergarten fee payments may also be collected by deduction from their salary.

(7) A 25% discount is applied for each child to the children of staff working at the kindergarten and to University staff who have more than one child enrolled at the kindergarten.

(8) As of the day the student is enrolled at the kindergarten, the fee is calculated and collected on the basis of the remaining days of the month. As of the day the student leaves the kindergarten, the number of remaining days is calculated and a refund is made from the monthly school fee.

(9) In the event of the parent's military service, assignment abroad or outside the province, or health problems of the child, registration is suspended as of the date on which this special circumstance is documented and upon the application of the parent concerned. No fee is charged to the parent during the period of suspension.

(10) In the case of absence, whether excused or unexcused, arising from the parent or the child, the fee collected is not refunded.

(11) Special expenses such as social activities (excursions, theatre, etc.), additional lessons, course lessons and the purchase of workbooks within the scope of the kindergarten education programme are charged to the parent.

Withdrawal Procedures

ARTICLE 11 - (1) A parent wishing to withdraw their child from the Kindergarten is obliged to notify the kindergarten directorate of the withdrawal request by written petition. Withdrawal from the Kindergarten is carried out according to the rules set out below:

  1. If a parent who is a member of the University staff leaves their post for any reason, the child's enrolment is also terminated within one month at the latest.
  2. In the case of a voluntary change of school, the parent is obliged to notify the Kindergarten Directorate of the withdrawal request by written petition two weeks in advance.
  3. If it is established that the parent has deliberately made false statements in the information and documents declared and submitted during the admission process, the child's enrolment at the school is terminated. The matter is reported to the Rectorate so that action may be taken against the person concerned.
  4. If, contrary to the principles laid down in this Directive, a parent fails to comply with the operation and order of the kindergarten and, despite being warned, deliberately continues not to comply, the child's enrolment at the school is terminated.

Attendance and Absence

ARTICLE 12 - (1) It is essential that the child's attendance is ensured in a way that does not disrupt daily education at the Kindergarten.

(2) The parent of a child who is absent is obliged to notify the Kindergarten Directorate of the reason for the absence.

(3) The parent of a child who is absent from school for 10 consecutive days without an excuse is warned by the Kindergarten Directorate via e-mail, and the enrolment of children who do not attend school for 30 days despite this warning is terminated and their fees are not refunded.

Suspension of Registration

ARTICLE 13- (1) Parents who are members of the University staff may suspend their child's registration for a period of four months in the event of temporary assignment abroad or within the country, long-term health problems documented by a medical board report, or the parent's military service. The child's suspension period may be extended for a further four months if the excuse continues.

(2) In cases such as the child's illness or surgery, registration is suspended provided that this is documented and that the period stated in the supporting document is at least three months.

(3) In order to assess children who are observed to have difficulty adapting to the Kindergarten and who are anticipated to require special education, a referral is made to a health institution or a Guidance and Research Centre by the joint decision of the Kindergarten Director, a Child Development Specialist, a Psychologist and the child's teacher. In accordance with the report obtained from the medical board or the Guidance and Research Centre, registration is suspended for the period stated in the report for children for whom it is deemed inappropriate to continue attending school.

(4) No fee is charged to the parent during the suspension of registration, and the child's right to a place is reserved. However, provided that it is valid only during the period of suspension and that the parent concerned agrees,

a reserve student may be admitted for a temporary period.

Special Circumstances

ARTICLE 14 - (1) In order to prevent contagious diseases at the Kindergarten, a sick child is not admitted to the kindergarten until the symptoms of the illness and its contagiousness have passed.

(2) The parent is obliged to inform the Kindergarten Directorate of their child's illness. A child who has taken a break due to illness may return to the kindergarten with a physician's report stating that there is no objection to their attendance.

(3) Parents are obliged to notify the Kindergarten Directorate of any changes of address and telephone number.

(4) The parent of a child with a special education diagnosis is required to cooperate with the Kindergarten Directorate.

Appointment and Duties of the Kindergarten Director

ARTICLE 15 - (1) The Kindergarten Director is appointed by the Rector from among persons who are graduates of university undergraduate programmes in Pre-School Teaching or Child Development, who meet the requirements for teaching and who have at least five years of teaching experience.

(2) The duties of the Kindergarten Director are as follows:

  1. Plans, organises and implements the education plans and academic activities to be carried out at the Kindergarten, in cooperation with the teachers at the beginning of the academic year.
  2. Determines the distribution of kindergarten staff, defines their duties and responsibilities, supervises them and informs the SKS Department.
  3. Monitors developments in education and evaluates the results in order to improve the quality and efficiency of education.
  4. Plans and follows up the work relating to the cleaning and nutrition services of the Kindergarten.
  5. Corresponds with the relevant units regarding the use and maintenance of the kindergarten buildings and facilities and the taking of the necessary measures to ensure the internal and external security of the kindergarten; submits an activity report on the matter to SKS.
  6. Makes the arrangements relating to the educational processes required for the education of children who need special education.
  7. Cooperates with the relevant units for the provision and preservation of educational materials.
  8. Reports extraordinary situations relating to the Kindergarten to the relevant authority.
  9. Ensures that the laws, regulations, directives and other orders published in written, printed or electronic form by the relevant authorities are announced to those concerned. Takes the necessary measures regarding the implementation of the legislation.

Teachers and their duties

ARTICLE 16 -(1) Persons who have graduated from the Pre-School Teaching or Social Work departments of associate and undergraduate programmes at universities, or who have graduated from the Child Development Department and completed pedagogical formation training where the Education Commission deems it necessary, serve as teachers. Teachers are obliged to carry out the duties set out in laws, statutes, regulations, directives, orders and programmes. Kindergarten teachers are required to be present for full-day education in the groups for which they are responsible.

(2) The duties of the teacher are;

  1. Prepares and implements daily and monthly plans in accordance with the education programme.
  2. Prepares the educational materials required for activities. Ensures the preservation, maintenance and repair of tools, equipment and educational materials.
  3. Carries out monitoring and assessment work concerning the children, keeps records and prepares reports. Shares these with the relevant units.
  4. Keeps an assessment file for each child. Records the student file information together with the development report prepared on the basis of the information in the assessment file.
  5. Takes part in the school's general educational activities.
  6. Takes measures for the education of children who need special education. Plans and implements Individual Education Programmes.
  7. Attends the meetings held for the conduct of education and teaching operations.
  8. Observes the children in their group and ensures that children who may have special circumstances are referred to the relevant units in cooperation with the Child Development Specialist, Psychologist/Psychological Counsellor/Guidance Counsellor and the Kindergarten Director.
  9. Carries out other duties assigned by the Kindergarten Director.

Subject Teacher

ARTICLE 17 - (1) The subject teacher is an expert experienced in their field. Subject teachers are responsible for carrying out classroom activities in areas included in the education programme such as chess, movement education, foreign languages, music and visual arts.

(2) The subject teacher draws up an education programme that runs in parallel with the Kindergarten's programme and submits it for the approval of the Kindergarten Director. Provides guidance to families regarding children who develop a special area of interest.

(3) Carries out monitoring and assessment work concerning the children, keeps records and prepares reports. Shares these with the Kindergarten Director and the teachers at regular intervals. Prepares a report at the end of each term and submits it to the Kindergarten Director.

FIFTH SECTION

Other Institutional Duties and Services

Parents' Meeting

ARTICLE 18 - (1) A parents' meeting is held at the beginning of each academic year, at the beginning of the second term, at the end of the year and whenever deemed necessary. At the parents' meeting, matters such as the developmental and educational status of the children, the programmes implemented, and the expectations and requests of families are discussed.

Child Assessment

ARTICLE 19 - (1) During the education programme, assessments are carried out using various assessment tools such as standardised tests, observation and record-keeping in order to get to know and evaluate the children. With the parent's permission, video recordings, audio recordings and photographs may be taken in order to monitor the children's development over time. However, these may not be used for any other purpose without the parent's consent. A child assessment report is prepared from the records, information and documents together with the Kindergarten Director, the Child Development Specialist or Psychologist/Psychological Counsellor/Guidance Counsellor and the teacher.

Declaration of Acceptance

ARTICLE 20 -(1) A parent who enrols their child at the Kindergarten declares in writing that they accept in full all the conditions and working principles set out in this Directive.

SECTION SIX

Miscellaneous and Final Provisions

Cases Not Covered by These Principles

ARTICLE 21 - (1) In cases not covered by this Directive, the provisions of the relevant laws and legislation apply.

PROVISIONAL ARTICLE 1- (1) For the 2024-2025 Academic Year, pre-registration applications to the kindergarten will be made between 02 and 20 July 2024.

Entry into force

ARTICLE 22 -(1) This Directive enters into force on the date it is adopted by the University Senate.

Execution

ARTICLE 23- (1) The provisions of this Directive are executed by the Rector of the University.

Annexes: