Hours & Rates

Hours & Rates

     My daycare is open: Monday to Friday – 6:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.

    I am licensed for 8 children; not more than 5 under 6 years of age, of whom no more than 3 will be under 2 years of age.

 Statutory Holidays Observed: (daycare closed, payment still required) 

Vacations taken: (payment not required)

• Summer - Two weeks, usually taken early - mid July.

• Manitoba Child Care Association's Annual Conference - Thursday & Friday at the end of May

Financial Arrangments

¨         All parent fees are paid in advance. A minimum 1 week’s fees, per child, is due prior to the first day that care is to be provided.  Late payment fees of $5.00/day may be charged on overdue accounts.

¨       Fees will be charged in full for the time that the children are absent due to illness or vacation.

¨       Fees will not be charged when the Family Child Care home is closed due to illness or vacation.

¨       Fees will be charged when the Family Child Care home is closed for Statutory Holidays.

¨          A late fee will be charged at the rate of $5.00 per 15 minutes or portion thereof for late pick-ups not previously arranged with the provider. This fee is due and payable at the end of the day that the parent is late in picking up the child(ren)

¨       The fee charged will be at the rate of

• $28.00 per day for infants under 2 years

• $18.80 per day for preschool children aged 2-6 (including those attending nursery or kindergarten).

• $9.60 per day for school age children attending school (grades 1-6).

• $18.80 per day for school age children on inservice or holidays.

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Health & Nutrition

HEALTH

 How Sick Is Too Sick To Come to Daycare?

 - A temperature of 101F/38.5C or over.

 - Vomited that morning or the night before.

 - Diarrhea (green or yellow watery stool).

 - A rash that has not yet been diagnosed as not being contagious.

 - Impetigo, ringworm or pinworm.

 - Any communicable disease (e.g. measles).

 PLEASE NOTE: I do not have a "sick room" where your child can go if not feeling well, therefore your child must be well enough to participate in the usual activities and be around all other children in order to attend.

 A NOTE ON CHICKEN POX:

As stated in the Manitoba Health Notice (August/98) it is no longer necessary to exclude children with chicken pox to prevent infection of others. However, children will need to stay at home if they have a rash which is oozing, and/or if they are sick, i.e. feverish, uncomfortable and generally not well enough to partake in the usual activities.

A note from the child's Doctor may be required to confirm that the child is able to attend day care.

Parents will be called to pick up their children if I find lice &/or nits on them during child care hours. Children cannot return to our family child care home until they have received treatment with a lice killing shampoo AND all nits have been removed from the child's hair.

 I will only administer prescribed and/or patent medication under the following conditions:

-The parent has given written permission - forms available on request.

-The parents bring the medication.

-The medication is supplied in its original container in the case of patent medicine, or a container supplied by the pharmacist in the case of prescribed medicine which should be properly labeled.

I may request that a child be on any antibiotics for one full day before returning to daycare. This is to allow time for any reaction to the antibiotic to occur before re-entering the daycare.

If a child becomes ill while attending at daycare, I will contact the parent or alternate who will then pick the child up.

The parents will take responsibility for alternate care arrangements for their child (ren) when the child (ren) is (are) sick.

The parents will allow me to call the child's doctor if emergency medical or surgical care is needed for their child. I will make every effort to contact the parent or designated alternate before any action is taken.

I will notify the parents within 24 hours if a communicable disease breaks out in the Family Day Care home. The parents will notify me within 24 hours if a communicable disease breaks out in their home. In some cases the public health nurse will also be notified.

I agree to work cooperatively with parents and health care professionals in carrying out all treatment plans.

In the event that an ambulance is required for the child, the parents will be responsible for the charges incurred. There is a separate Emergency Transportation Permission form to be filled out and signed.

If repeated observations of the child indicate a health problem, the parent will be notified and a subsequent follow-up by a health-care professional would be encouraged.

Upon enrollment the parents will indicate on the Child Information Form any significant health history, i.e. allergies, asthma, chronic ear infections, hearing problems, developmental issues.  I will use this information to ensure that a healthy and developmentally appropriate environment is available to your child. This information will be kept confidential.

NUTRITION

Infants will be held for their bottle feedings until such a time when they can hold the bottle comfortably themselves. Infants are not left alone with their bottles.

Young children will be encouraged to feed themselves. Assistance will be given until hand-mouth coordination is sufficient for them to be independent.

All children are required to sit while eating and drinking.

The children are offered food and encouraged, not forced, to eat. If the child chooses not to eat they will be offered food again at the next scheduled snack or meal time.

I provide lunch and two snacks for the children who are here at the scheduled meal times.  If your child is not here for the meal, it will not be provided for them at a later time, they will eat at the next scheduled time.

The parent will supply any special/extraordinary foods required by the child (ren) for health or religious reasons. 

I have a four week revolving menu. The current week number is posted on the board at the front entrance. Parents are supplied with a printed copy of the menu.

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Safety & Supervision

SAFETY

   I will release the child (ren) only to those individuals identified by the parents or listed on the child’s enrollment form.  Any person that I have not previously met may be asked to show identification.

   In the case of parental separation or divorce, I do not have the right to deny access of the child (ren) to either parent unless I have in my files a copy of the custody agreement &/or the restraining order. Please be specific.

   As per licensing regulations and guidelines, I am trained in Emergency First Aid and Infant and Child C.P.R.  My training is updated regularly as required.

   Emergency evacuation routes are posted at the front door. The children are familiar with these routes and procedures as we go over them monthly. In the event that we have to leave the house we will go to the emergency evacuation location and the parents will be contacted.

  Any and all changes in telephone numbers, addresses, etc., for yourselves and your designated alternates must be reported as soon as possible.  If your contact info is not updated I will be unable to notify you in case of emergency.

   I strive to make my home, its contents and my yard as safe as possible for all the children in my care. For this reason, when infants &/or toddlers are present there may be some restrictions applied to the toys and equipment used by the older children, e.g. Lego, marbles, etc.  If children bring toys from home they will be asked to play with them in a specific location or leave them in their cubby.

  Cleaning supplies, medications, sunscreen, insect repellent and other hazardous products are kept in locked storage cabinets out of reach of children. 

SUPERVISION

 Infant and Preschool Children

  Children are supervised at all times. Whenever possible, I am in the room with the children under my direct supervision. When direct supervision is not possible, I am within hearing &/or sight distance and am readily available to attend to the children.

   When toilet training, preschool children will use the potty or toilet in the basement washroom.  I take all preschool children downstairs during scheduled potty breaks.  Outside these scheduled breaks, either the children in the playroom or the child in the washroom may briefly be indirectly supervised.

  When children are napping on the 2nd level, direct supervision is not possible. When necessary a monitor will be used to hear the children.

  During outdoor play I remain outside with all children under six years of age.  On rare occasions older preschool children who have demonstrated the ability to behave appropriately with indirect supervision have been permitted to play outside with the school-age children.  I require that the parent(s) sign a indirect supervision form before this can be allowed.

 NOTE: When ever possible I will accompany nursery and kindergarten children to and from Glenelm School as it is school policy to have a responsible adult do this, I ask that the parents designate an alternate for times when this is not within my ability.  If no alternate is designated and I am unable, the child will not attend school.

 School-age children

   School-age children who attend my family child care home are not accompanied by me to and from school. School-age children are expected to go to and from school via the specified route. If it is required or desired, the parents are responsible for arranging this transportation and/or supervision.  I am not responsible for children walking to and from school once they leave my yard. They are encouraged but not required to walk together with other children in my care.  If a child fails to return to my home within a reasonable amount of time of leaving the school, I will contact the school. If the child's whereabouts are not known I will contact the parent or alternate immediately.

  While in my care, school-age children are supervised to protect their health and safety, according to their development, age and temperament. This means that they may be allowed outside in the back yard while I am inside with the younger children.  Most often I am within hearing distance and I visually check on their activities at least every 15 minutes.

   Written permission will be required to allow children to leave my home, i.e. to visit friends, to attend after school programs etc.

 All Children

  If there is any time when the behaviour or actions of a child jeopardizes the safety and well being of themselves or others, indirect supervision privileges will be suspended.

  Supervision of a child is the parent's responsibility while the parent is in my home or yard. I am responsible for each child between the time that a parent or alternate leaves at drop off time and the time a parent or alternate returns to pick up their child.

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Behaviour Management

Discipline is not the same as punishment.  Discipline involves a continuous process of guiding behaviour and is offered while acceptable behaviour is occurring, as well as before, during and after unacceptable behaviour may be displayed.

I use a number of positive guiding techniques with the children. I encourage children to solve their own problems. I do not tolerate violent &/or aggressive behaviour (physical or verbal) in my childcare. Physical punishment, such as spanking, is never used.

 The Children will learn to:

If there are consistent problems, I will document the time, date, location and circumstances. I will then make arrangements to meet with the parents to discuss these problems and to come up with a plan of action. If the indicated undesirable behaviour continues, the parents will be asked to withdraw their child.

**Note**

I will not discipline a child for behavior that did not occur while the child was in my care.  If a parent has restricted a child’s activities at home due to their behavior at home I will not carry on punishments/restrictions unless I have a similar problem behavior while the child is in my care and the restriction is appropriate. 

Likewise, even though I inform a parent of problems that may have occurred during the day, I do not want or expect the parent to discipline the child at home.  Discipline looses it’s effectiveness if it is not directly connected to the behaviour.

Sharing the behaviour/consequences information enables consistent discipline between home and daycare.

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Privacy & Communication

PARENT/PROVIDER COMMUNICATION

 A meeting between the parent(s) and myself may be arranged at a mutually appropriate time. These meetings may be necessary to clarification or review of the policies, update information, discuss the growth and development of the child, and address any problems that may have arisen.  These meetings can be initiated by the parent(s) or me. I believe that the parent is the primary caregiver of the child and therefore I will work closely with them in the best interests of the child.

Information about the children and their day will be exchanged with the parent at pick up time.  Any information and/or questions not appropriate to discuss in front of the children or other parents can be shared by phone in the evening or between 1:30 and 2:30 in the afternoon.  I also keep a written journal for each preschool child to document their moods, eating habits and activities throughout the day as well as notes for necessary supplies. 

I have an answering machine and call display. If no one answers your call please leave a message and I will get back to you.  We may be outside or I may be busy and unable to get to the phone.  I also have e-mail and check for messages several times each day.  If you have access to email at work feel free to leave me a message if you may be a few minutes late picking up your child, or if you have a question you would like answered.  

Parents will be informed ahead of time (if possible) if an alternate caregiver (substitute) will be caring for the children.  The white board at the front entrance is used for notices regarding special events, closure dates, changes to the posted menu, and any other messages for ALL parents. 

I will not take responsibility for loss of or damage to any personal belongings (toys, games, clothing, etc.) that the children bring to the daycare.

PRIVACY

All personal information collected is for daycare use only.  No information will be disclosed to a third party unless prior written permission is obtained.

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Miscellaeous

PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF TIMES

   In my childcare home the children’s schedule is the busiest between 9:00 am and noon. 

   Music & movement, art activities, outdoor play, circle & story time and outings are planned for this time.  Pick-ups and drop-offs during this period are disruptive and unfair to the other children forced to wait while I am otherwise occupied.

   All visits to the daycare are discouraged at naptime (1:00-3:00 pm) to ensure that rest time for the children is not disturbed.

   Please try to arrange pick-ups and drop-offs for before 9:00 am and after 3:00 pm.

   If you have a scheduled appointment (doctor, etc) and must pick-up or drop-off at an alternate time then please try to pre-arrange a time that is convenient for all.  This will allow your child time to greet or say goodbye to their friends without disrupting activity or nap times.

   If you start work late or finish early you are still encouraged to allow your child to attend for the full day to get the greatest benefit from the day’s programming.

   Transitions from one activity to another or one location to another are difficult and often stressful for young children.  I try to make our daily schedule as predictable as possible to avoid situations that may cause undue anxiety for the children. 

   Your cooperation in adhering to our schedule will help to make each day an enjoyable experience for all of us.

Potty Training

Potty training is a self help skill that every child must learn eventually but “when” is the big question.  This important milestone in a child’s life cannot be achieved before the child is developmentally ready and willing to take and active role in the potty training process.  Successful potty training requires a child to be physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially ready to begin the process and cannot be decided based on the child’s age.

I've heard the story "My mother-in-law said all her children were potty trained by the time they were one."  In reality, potty training is a gradual process. A child who has mastered this skill will be able to… realize they need to use the potty, take themselves to the potty, undress, urinate or have a bowel movement, wipe themselves, pull up their pants, flush the toilet and wash their hands – all by themselves.  As long as the child still needs assistance with any of these tasks they are not fully potty trained. Most children will be fully trained between 3 and 4 years of age.

As with any new skill, mastering potty training requires a lot of effort and for that reason it should not begin while the child is still adjusting to something else. i.e. a new apartment, new daycare, new sibling, etc.  I also discourage starting potty training during the summer.  We have many more daily outings, the older kids are home from school and our routine is more spontaneous.  At home there is more activity too -- vacation time, relatives coming to visit, special events etc.  These disruptions in routine can have a very negative effect on potty training.  Potty training is easier during the winter when everyone has returned to a normal routine and there is more time to focus on the process.

In my childcare home when a child is about 2 years old I will send a letter home with their parents and include a list of readiness questions. Starting potty training before the child is ready only makes the process take longer and everyone gets frustrated.  Parents who are eager to have their child begin potty training can begin by encouraging their child to dress and undress themselves – this will help during potty training.

Once a child has demonstrated the necessary readiness skills we can begin by introducing the potty.  At first this will be done at diaper changing times when the child will be invited to sit briefly on the potty with not other expectations.  If the child shows any resistance they will not be coerced. “Potty time” is part of our daily routine and I encourage parents to make it part of the child’s home routine too – potty before meal time, potty before going out, potty before bedtime etc.      

Once potty training has officially begun we DO NOT put the child back in diapers except for naps and bed time.  I will send a second letter home with parents and include a list of acceptable clothing during potty training.  Pull-Ups are diapers and will not be used as underwear – instead I suggest using thickly padded underwear and plastic pants.  “Special” underwear will not be used to as a threat or reward for potty training failures or successes.  Parents will be required to supply at least five complete sets of clothing for their child to be left at daycare and replaced daily as they become soiled.

I realize this seems like a lot of work for all but with dedication and consistency the process does not need to take long.

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