Parent Handbook
Welcome
to The
Kinder Garden Preschool and thank you for considering us to be your official
child care provider. We have
developed this handbook as a reference guide to ensure that there are no
misunderstandings about the care we provide for your child.
Please
read this handbook carefully, and feel free to discuss any questions that you
may have.
COMMUNICATION
Communication
is essential to the success of your child’s care.
When we accept a new family into our environment, we like to be sure that
we can share openly any concerns or questions that may arise.
We believe in an open door policy and encourage parents to
feel free to call and check on your child's day if you have any concerns.
Individual
progress reports are completed twice a year and parent/teacher conferences are
scheduled accordingly to discuss your child's development. We encourage parents
to take advantage of these opportunities as it allows us to share information
and provide a curriculum that best suits the needs of your child. The
Kinder Garden Preschool will publish a monthly newsletter on our website that
will explain some of the activities we are doing, our current curriculum themes,
events that will be happening during that month, and any other pertinent or fun
information that may be of interest to you. You are always welcome to contribute
to our newsletter.
ENROLLMENT
POLICY
Parents who are interested in enrolling their child with us are encouraged to meet with our director and have a tour of our facility. This allows you to see our centre and us to explain our program and policies to you. A non-refundable registration fee of $25.00 (per family) is required in order to secure a spot for your child. Prior to your child starting, it is necessary for all registration forms to be completed and returned to us. There are no exceptions. This will ensure that your child will get the very best possible care. The forms are as follows: Registration, Rate Agreement, Emergency Information, Emergency Contacts, Consent for Emergency Treatment, Child Pick Up Consent, External Preparations, and Permission to Photograph.
You
are required to keep us informed of any change in addresses, telephone numbers,
and other pertinent information listed on any/all of the above forms. If you
have any questions regarding the completion of these forms, please feel free to
ask.
HOURS
OF OPERATION
Normal hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. We offer a full day, part day and after school program. Your specific hours will be outlined in your Contract and Rate Agreement. We require two weeks written notice if you need to change your enrollment hours. We require as much notice as possible if your child will not be attending or will be late arriving. Please keep in mind that we do occasionally accept children for drop-in care. This service is provided as a courtesy to all registered parents who may require care on their unscheduled days and is dependant on the availability of space on any given day. Daily fees for extra days will apply.
Fees
One time registration fee
of $25.00 per family
Full Day
$25.00 per day
After School
$15.00 per day
Part Day
$18.00 per day
PAYMENT PROCEDURES
The
specific rates are outlined above and stated in the Rate Agreement. Payment
is due in advance and is payable at the first of each month or no later than
drop off time on the first contracted care day of each week. Other
arrangements must be in written form and signed by both parties. If this day is
a holiday, payment is expected on the previous day. If you go away on vacation,
payment is due BEFORE you leave. There will be no change in fees for absence
due to holidays, snowstorms, vacation or illness. A
fee of $5 per
day will be charged for each day
that payments are late. Repeated late payments may be grounds for termination.
You will have a minimum of two-week's notice of any increases in your child care
fee. All fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.
NSF
CHARGES
If
paying by check, please be advised that if a check is returned for any reason
parents are liable for an NSF fee in the amount of $30.00. If checks have
been returned two times, checks will no longer be accepted for 12 consecutive
months.
PAST
DUE ACCOUNTS
If
your childcare account remains unpaid for any reason, be advised that your
account will be reported to the Small Claims division of the Provincial Court.
You will be required to pay for court costs, interest on the amount due
at a rate of 2% per month, calculated to the day payment is received.
If funds are not paid in full as per the court order, we will attain an
additional order whereby your wages will be garnished until your account is
cleared.
ABSENCES
There will be no refunds or adjustments made to your child care fee for your time missed due to illness, holidays, vacation, storm days, or days off. We require you to let us know by 9:00am if your child is going to absent.
PERSONAL BELONGINGS
There will be lots of opportunity for children to share toys from home on “show and tell” days otherwise we would like to request that toys not be brought from home. Children can have a difficult time sharing with others, and it is even harder with their own special toys. Special blankets or soft toys for nap will be kept in kit bags or cubbies until nap time. We will not be responsible for any loss or breakage of your child's personal items. All personal items must be clearly marked with the child's name.
ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES
Children sometimes find arrival to be a stressful time and benefit from having an established routine. We encourage parents to maintain a routine by establishing a consistent time for drop off and pick up of your children. When you arrive, you must inform a teacher and have your child signed in. Likewise, it is important for staff to know that you have arrived to pick up your child so that they may be signed out for the day. This is for your child's safety and it allows us to maintain an accurate record of your child's attendance.
In the event that you need to have a person, other than who has been specified to pick up your child, we require that you notify us ahead of time. We require the person’s name, their relation to your child and the time they are expected to be there. Please inform this person that they will be required to show picture ID before we can release the child into their care. We do not mean to offend or complicate the issue, however, for the safety of your child and for our peace of mind, we must make this request. We will not let a child leave without a parent's verbal permission, even if that person is listed as one of your designated pickup people.
ILLNESS
Community Services, Public Health and staff of the Kinder Garden Preschool expect that children will arrive each morning healthy enough to participate fully in our program. Staff will do a visual check of children each morning to ensure that they are able to attend. We ask that you respect our staff, children and parents by not sending your child to daycare if they are not well. Should your child present with any of the following symptoms throughout the day you will be called to pick them up. Children are to be symptom free for 24 hours before they are able to attend or as otherwise dictated below by the Department of Health.
SYMPTOMS REQUIRING REMOVAL OF CHILD FROM CHILD CARE
Vomiting:
Children
should
be kept home and free of symptoms for 24 hours before returning
Unexplained
Rash: Children
will be sent home with a rash and may return after being examined by a doctor
and diagnosed as non communicable
Fever: Fever is defined as having a temperature over 98.6°F taken under the arm, over 99.5°F taken orally, or over 100.4°F taken rectally. A child needs to be fever free for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to childcare; that means the child is fever free without the aid of Tylenol or any other fever reducing substance.
Diarrhea: Runny or watery stools, or 2 or more loose stools within last 4 hours Must be free of symptoms for 24 hours before returning.
Runny
nose:
Your child may be brought to care if he/she has a common cold (slight cough,
clear runny nose, occasional sneezing). Discharge of any color other than clear
is not acceptable in childcare and indicates an infection.
Conjunctivitis
(Pink Eye):
Children will be sent home and must receive treatment for 24-48 hours before
they are able to return. Symptoms
must no longer be present in order to return as Pink Eye is extremely
contagious.
Head
Lice:
A child must receive treatment for 7 days and hair follicles are to be free of
nits before your child is permitted to return to care.
Pinworm:
Treatment 24 hours prior to returning to care
Bacterial
Infections: Treatment
is to be given 24-48 hours and child is to be symptom free prior to returning
Chicken
Pox: Children will be sent home and may not return until poxs are crusted
over and are not seeping. This is
usually 5-7 days after onset.
Your
child will not be accepted into childcare if he/she has had any of the above
symptoms within the last 24 hours. A sick child should be allowed to recover
fully after an illness so that the health, safety, or well being of the other
children in our care is not jeopardized.
If you are unable to remain at home with your sick child it will be necessary for you to make substitute child care arrangements at your own expense. If your child becomes ill while in our care, you will be notified immediately. You are required to pick up your child within 60 minutes of notification. If you cannot be reached then your emergency contact will be called. If your child is out ill regular fees still apply. We reserve the right to determine when a child should be sent home due to illness.
Children may return to care 24 hours after symptoms of illness end or with written authorization from your doctor stating the name of illness and when child may return to group care. Please notify us as soon as possible when your child becomes ill so that we may notify the other parents.
If your child is thought to have a communicable disease, you will be notified and asked to pick him/her up. He/she will be isolated from the other children and given special attention and comfort until you arrive. Your child will be accepted back into care only when he/she is no longer contagious. All other parents will be notified of the possibility of a communicable disease and what symptoms to watch for.
MEDICATIONS
Both nonprescription and prescription medications, ointments, and creams can be given to your child if needed. Parents are required to fill out the proper forms and to supply all medications in their original containers. All written instructions shall be valid for six months unless a shorter time period is designated by the physician, dentist, or parent. These must be labeled with the child's name. NO EXCEPTIONS! When administering nonprescription medication we will not exceed the manufacturer's recommended dosage unless we have written instructions from the child’s physician to do so.
MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
In case of EMERGENCY, we will administer the necessary first aid. In a case whereby an ambulance is called, your child will be transported to the hospital designated on your Consent for Emergency Treatment form. YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY. You are responsible for all costs involved in emergency medical treatment, including emergency transportation, if required.
SUPPLIES
You
are responsible for supplying diapers, a full change of clothing (including
socks and underwear) appropriate for the weather, and any other supplies that
your child may need. You may bring a whole package of diapers to be stored in
the change table (we will inform you when your supply runs low.) You are
required to supply a blanket for your child to be kept at The Kinder Garden. All
blankets and bedding will be laundered every Friday. Good clothing is not
recommended. Soiled clothing will be sent home and a clean change of clothes
should be brought back the next day. If there is a special occasion that calls
for special clothing, please send the special clothing with your child and we
will help them clean up and get dressed prior to your arrival. All items need to
be labeled with your child's name. You must maintain these items at all times.
There will be emergency items on hand in the event that a child is not prepared
that day. This is however, not to
be meant as regular use for items that you do not posses.
If there is an item that is continually used by your child, they will
assume the borrowed item and the replacement value will show up on your bill the
following pay period.
DAILY SCHEDULE
Young
children enjoy a structured schedule that allows for flexibility. A schedule
helps the day to flow more smoothly, allow the children to anticipate coming
events, and aids in achieving a variety of goals. We will adhere to a written
schedule to the best of our ability, keeping in mind that anything can happen
when children are involved. There will be times when adjustments will be made to
the schedule.
MEALS
All menus are posted at the front entrance and meet or exceed the daily requirements of Canada’s Food Guide. The Kinder Garden provides two daily snacks and a full home cooked lunch on a daily basis. You are responsible for feeding your child if he/she will arrive at childcare after a mealtime. NO EXCEPTIONS. Except for special occasions, and when requested, please do not send any food, drink (this includes a morning sippy cup), or candy with your child. Mealtime should be a pleasant; therefore, children are always offered food but are not forced to eat it. We will encourage each child to try one or two bites of everything, and they must eat a little of everything before given seconds of something. Sometimes they are surprised by what they like! If a child refuses to eat their meal, there will be no food served until the next designated meal/snack time. We will not administer a modified diet to your child, unless food allergies warrant it.
CLEANLINESS & HYGIENE
We
will maintain strict cleanliness and hygiene standards. Children's hands are
washed before and after meals and after toileting. Paper towels will be used for
drying hands, so children do not have to use the same towel. Washable mats will
be used for naps. Each child has a separate nap mat, with sheets, blankets and
pillows that are washed weekly (unless soiled, then they are washed as often as
necessary.) Children use separate cups, plates, bowls and eating utensils. High
chair trays, tables, etc. are disinfected with a bleach water solution after
each use.
NAPS & QUIET TIME
All
children are required to lie down for a rest period in the afternoon. All
children must nap, rest, read or play quietly during this period. Rest time
gives everyone a much-needed break and
allows children to get up refreshed and ready to play for the afternoon.
Play is hard work for little bodies and children to benefit from a quiet
period.
Staff will not use excessive means to keep children awake during this
period at parents request.
We are able to limit the time your child sleeps if necessary but again
will not use excessive means to get them up. Without rest time, some
children become argumentative in the afternoon, short-tempered with others, and
not really happy when they go home in the evening. We will provide nap mats and
child-sized blankets. If your child has a special blanket or stuffed animal that
he/she sleeps with, please label it and send it along.
TOILET
TRAINING
Toilet
training will be done in a relaxed manner with the cooperation of the family. If
potty training is begun when your child is ready, the task is easy and quick.
When we agree that the time is right for your child and until he/she is totally
successful in his/her toileting, he/she should wear clothes that promote their
independence. In addition, your child must have two complete changes of clothes
(don't forget the socks!) The best items are shorts and pants with elastic
waists, or dresses. Try to avoid really tight clothing, pants with snaps and
zippers and belts, and overalls. These are difficult for children to remove
"in a hurry." Do not bring your child in panties or underwear until
he/she has Naptime and bedtime control established.
We
ask that you begin toilet training at home during a weekend or vacation. We will
follow through and encourage your child while in our care. The child must be
kept in pull-ups at all times. Putting a child in diapers part time, and
training pants part time, can be confusing and delay the training process.
Please keep in mind that the activity level here can distract your child from
responding to an urge to use the potty, more so than at your home. Therefore, we
will continue to use diapers or pull-ups until your child can and will announce
that he/she must use the bathroom (not just at home, but here, as well) and can
control his/her bladder and bowels for a few minutes beyond that announcement.
Your child's readiness is something we can discuss because consistency between
your home and preschool will be very important. This is a special time for your
child, a sign that he/she is growing up. Toilet training should be a good
experience.
ACTIVITIES
& CURRICULUM
The
main goal of this child care centre is to have fun, improve social skills, and
encourage creative expression. We will utilize a variety of activities to
accomplish this goal. Free play, reading, arts and crafts, music/singing,
dancing, dramatic play/pretend, puzzles, and educational programming are just
some of the activities we will be doing.
We
provide a school readiness program from September through June for children ages
4 - 5 at no additional cost to you. Some of the activities include arts &
crafts, music, math, science, stories, games, as well as letter, shape, color,
and number recognition in a monthly theme format. The monthly activity schedule
is posted by the front door.
BIRTHDAYS & PARTIES
Each
child's birthday is his/her "Special Day." A gift will be purchased
and given to the child that is ‘from all of us.’ We would ask that you
please refrain from dropping your child off with their new birthday gift from
you. A new toy is hard for any child to resist playing with and is
especially hard to share.
INDOOR
& OUTDOOR PLAY
Indoor
play: We will have a variety of age-appropriate toys for indoor play. Toys will
be rotated on a regular basis so
that the children do not become bored. Younger children have less-developed
organizational skills and can get easily frustrated or upset when there are too
many toys to choose from. It is also more difficult for them to help with clean
up, when there are toys everywhere. For this reason, during free play times,
each child will be encouraged to put
one thing away before starting with a new activity.
Outdoor
play: We will be playing outdoors every day that weather permits. Please make
sure that your child is appropriately dressed for outdoor play at all times. Our
activities will include taking walks, backyard playground (swings), water play
(sprinkler), bike/toy riding, and more. We will be outside twice a day for a
period of 30 to 60 minutes each time as the weather/hot and cold dictate.
BEHAVIOR GUIDANCE
Providing
children with a developmentally appropriate program that engages and challenges
their abilities reduces the likely hood of conflict.
Giving children the opportunity to make choices within teacher directed
boundaries, avoids inappropriate behavior and teaches children the social skills
necessary to be successful with their peers.
When a conflict does arise, the following methods of behavior
guidance will be used:
• Encourage children to solve problems themselves, use their words
• Intervention and discussion
• Re-direction to another play area
• Loss of privileges
• Time away
If
there is a chronic behavioral issue that needs attention, we will let you know
so that we are handling it in the same way and your child has continuity in
discipline between child care and home. These types of behaviors might include
such things as biting, use of bad words, chronic hitting, etc. Together, we will
try to find a solution. You may be called to remove your child if his/her
behavior prevents us from being able to properly care for the other children. If
the problem continues, other arrangements for the care of the child will have to
be made, for the safety and well being of all. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES will there
be any spanking, physical abuse, verbal abuse, name-calling or isolation used.
Neither food nor sleep will ever be withheld from children as a means of
punishment.
CHILD
ABUSE
As a child care provider, we have a responsibility, by law, to recognize and report any evidence of child abuse; physical, emotional, or neglect. This is strictly for the benefit of your child.
HOUSE RULES
The following rules are enforced for the safety and well being of everyone:
There will be no running permitted inside. There will be no acts of violence. This includes but is not limited to; hitting, pushing, biting, kicking, grabbing, spitting or punching. No climbing or standing on chairs. No foul language. Food will be eaten in designated areas only. Respect self and others. Willful destruction of property will be charged to the parent
We have a written fire evacuation plan and practice a fire drill with the children at least once each month. In addition, we occasionally incorporate fire safety curriculum into our program.
TERMINATION POLICY
We reserve the right to terminate for the following reasons (but not limited to):
•
Failure to pay
• Lack of
parental cooperation
• Failure
of child adjusting to the child care, after a reasonable amount of time
• Physical
or verbal abuse of any person or property
• Our
inability to meet the child's needs
• Serious
illness of child
• False
information given by parent either verbally or in writing
We require a minimum of two weeks written notice when terminating and we will extend the same courtesy. The two weeks will be paid in full, regardless of whether or not your child is in attendance. We reserve the right to give written notice of immediate termination where there are extreme circumstances that affect the well being of our staff or other children in attendance.
REVISIONS TO HANDBOOK AND CONTRACT
There will be a yearly revision to this handbook and the accompanying contract. All families will sign a new contract each year. We reserve the right to make changes in rates and policies, as deemed necessary