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Policy and Procedures:
Days and Hours of Operation My daycare is open Monday -- Friday, contracted with your working hours, with the exception of days off listed on the monthly calendar. Please notify me by 8:00 am if your child will not be attending for the day or if you will be late in arriving. Our day is scheduled around everyone's expected arrival time. Please let me know if you will be early, so that I may have your child ready for pick-up.
Fees for Childcare Before your child is admitted into daycare, or to hold a future spot, a signed contract with first weeks fee must be paid. All payments must be received every Friday by your departure time. Should your child fail to attend on a Friday you are still required to ensure that full payment is received. Failure to pay will be cause lost of child placement. Should daycare be closed for a holiday on a Friday all payments must be received on last day of that week's operation, by your departure time. At no time will childcare be provided unless full payment has been received. Check or cash payments only. *There are no refunds in fees for absences due to a child's illness or any other reason. Full fees are required regardless of whether or not your child attends. I will not substitute hours for hours missed. * If your child is not in attendance due to vacation, the total amount owed for the time of absents is due BEFORE you leave. Your fees are my entire income, which includes taxes. Beyond that, your fees pay for insurance, training, food, toys, equipment, art supplies, and all of the other items that your child will use. Unlike other forms of self-employment, family childcare is very restrictive. There is no room for growth. The state dictates the size of my business. I cannot take time off for appointments or obligations without careful planning and covering of my responsibilities. I hope this helps with understanding the rates and the reasoning behind my payment policies.
Late Payments If the fee is not paid when due, the lost of the child's placement is immediate.
Returned Checks There will be a $50.00 charge for all returned checks, plus any charges that incurred to myself and/or my bank accounts.
Overtime I will charge an overtime rate of $5.00 per child per every 15 minutes that you are late to pick up (16 to 30 minutes late, you owe $10.00 per child.) So please make sure you have a person as your backup, to pick up your child(ren) on time. Calling me to inform me that you will be unavoidably late does not waive your late fees. Late drop off does not constitute late pick up. These rules will be strictly enforced. The above late fees will also be charged to you if another person is suppose to arrive to pick up your child and is late. (Late charges must be paid in full before child can return to daycare).
Arrivals and Departure A sign in / out sheet must be signed daily. It is normal for some children to have difficulty separating from parents, or cry when being dropped off. Please be very brief during drop-off times; the longer you prolong the departure the harder it gets. A smile, cheerful good-bye kiss, and a reassuring word that you will be back are all that is needed. In my experience, children are nearly always quick to get involved in play or activities as soon as parents are gone. Please be assured that if your child is having a difficult time settling down and is crying for a prolonged period of time, I will contact you. Please be very brief at pick-up times also. This is a time of testing when two different authority figures are present (the parent and the provider), and all the children will test to see if the rules still apply. Please help show your child that you respect me, the rules of my house, and my property by reminding them that the rules still apply when you are around. When you are here with your child, you are expected to discipline your child when their behavior warrants it. If you do not correct him/her, I will enforce my rules, and this is likely to cause a conflict. Children will NOT be permitted to leave with anyone that is not on the authorization form, without prior notice and proper ID. Children will be released to an adult only; please do not send your older children to get your child. Please bring your child dressed (in weather appropriate clothing) and ready to begin their day. If the weather is nasty outside, please drop off and pick up children at daycare entrance door. This will keep the floor (where the children play) in clean condition.
Adjustment Period All children enter my childcare on a two-week trial basis. I have found this to be a very important time period. This allows a parent and I as the provider to watch and see how well the child will fit in. In my experience I have found it gets worse before it get better. Once the child learns that they are in a safe and loving environment they will adapt quickly.
Termination of care by Parent Should you no longer require my day care services, please notify me at least 1 full childcare week in advance, in writing with an explanation. If I do not receive notice, you will be charged for 1 full week. Your notice allows me to fill the opening, and it is vital to my day care.
Termination of care by Provider I may terminate our childcare contract immediately for any of the following reasons (but not solely limited to): *Failure to comply with the policies set forth in this book. *Failure to comply with the contract. *Destructive or hurtful behavior of child that persists even with parent cooperation in stopping the behavior. *Recurring non-payment and/or late payment of childcare fees. *Failure to show up for 3 days in a row without any communication. *Failure to complete required forms. *Inability to meet the child's needs without additional staff.
Year to date taxes You will receive a receipt at years end or at the end of your child(ren) enrollment at the daycare for tax purposes.
I take up to 3 Pd Training days per year. (CPR/First aid - 2 State Trainings per year) you will be notified as soon as I know the dates.
Child Absences There will be no refunds or adjustments made to your childcare fee for your time missed due to illness, extended holidays, or days off. A place has been reserved for each child that cannot be filled on a short-term basis.
Parent/Child Holidays/Vacation Leave The Provider must be notified 2 weeks in advance of personal vacation time. Payment in full vacation length is required for this leave on the last day attending childcare to hold the placement for child. Payment is as follows… Week 1 - Full Payment Week 2 - Full Payment Week 3 - ½ Payment Thereafter - ½ Payment Long-term illness absents are same as above
Provider Absences I the Provider will make every attempt to be in service each day yet, there may come an occasion when a family member or I become ill, a funeral or family emergency, notice to parents will be as early as possible. I am NOT one to just use these days at will; they are for personal and emergencies only. These days will be pro-rated on next payment due date. Substitute care is the responsibility of the parents. I strongly suggest that you have a family member, a friend, or a substitute provider lined up for the times I am closed due to illness or emergency. If I must be away for a short time (1 - 2 hours), backup care will be provided by one of my substitute providers. My substitute provider is authorized to carry out the terms of this contract.
Provider Holidays/Vacation Leave Paid Holidays and Non-Paid Holidays A monthly calendar will be sent home (a month in advance) So you will see dates of Paid Holidays and Non- Paid Holidays. If a holiday falls on a Saturday, it will be observed on a Friday…If a holiday falls on a Sunday it will be observed on a Monday. Substitute care is the responsibility of the parents. VACATION: I the Provider take 3 weeks vacation per year. Dates will be set by per calendar year, and will be sent home on the up coming months calendar. These days will be unpaid, with the exception of a holiday being included in the vacation time. Substitute care is the responsibility of the parents.
Back up care In the event of provider illness, vacations, or personal time off, it is the responsibility of the parent to arrange alternate care.
Training / Habit Breaking As the childcare Provider, I will not start or stop any childhood habit without talking it over with the parents first. I may be able to let you know from the child's actions when they may be ready for a change, the Provider and parents working together will make the transaction of change smoother. Once you start something you need to stick with it or it will make for long and cranky days, at childcare and home.
EXAMPLES: Passé: NOT ALLOWED…after chewing starts Food: Please do not rush this, their little systems can't handle big changes all at once, be patient. Bottle: At about 1 year old, they are walking and the bottle is hanging out by the nipple in their teeth. This becomes a hazard to the mouth. Potty: This is another area that cannot be rushed. Around 2-21/2 yrs. old Is a good time…they can say potty or other related words with knowing the meaning. I am happy to assist in potty training. It is best for you to initiate potty training over a 3-week period, before I attempt to start training here. This makes it more at ease for the child. Please do not begin training before your child is ready. If potty training is begun when your child is ready, the task is easy and quick. When the time is right for your child and until he/she is l totally successful in his/her toileting, he/she should wear clothes that promote his/her independence. The best items are shorts and pants with elastic waists, or dresses. Try to avoid really tight clothing, pants with snaps, zippers and belts. PLEASE NO OVERALLS. These are difficult for children to remove "in a hurry". Please send 2 extra outfits while potty training.
Birthdays & Parties Each child's birthday is his/her "Special Day." I will buy the child a gift that is from all of us. It will be the your responsibility to provide a cake, cupcakes, or treats for your child's special day. I will let you know which day we will celebrate. I also have holiday parties occasionally throughout the year. At Christmas time, parents are asked to purchase and wrap a gift up to $10 value to be presented to the (children will draw names) for our Christmas party.
Activities The main goal of this Daycare is to have fun, improve social skills, and encourage creative expression. I will utilize a variety of activities to accomplish this goal. Free play, reading, arts and crafts, music/singing, dancing, puzzles, and educational TV/videos numbers and ABC, are just some of the activities we will be doing.
Items brought from home I do not encourage this, however, if your child brings a toy from home, I do require that they share it with all the children. Some children are just not ready to share their special toys. Please make sure your child understands that they must share their toy. If it becomes a problem, I will put the item away until time for pick up. Do not bring toys with small parts, and please limit the amount of toys by two. I cannot be responsible for lost or broken toys brought from home. Children's Clothing & Supplies All children, regardless of age or toilet skills must have a full change of clothes at daycare. SPRING & SUMMER: Please provide sunscreen. AUTUMN & WINTER: Dress your child according to the weather; snow suit, hat, mitts, and boots (layers work well on "iffy" days).
Infants Parents are responsible for providing diapers, diaper wipes, formula (ready made and please bring enough), bottles (with name), baby food ( no dry boxed cereal….moist jar only), and other necessities. I also require 3-4 outfits to be left.
Meals Breakfast is served as soon as child arrives, up until 8:30 am, lunch is served around 11:30 pm and afternoon snack around 2:30 pm. Children are always offered all the food group items but are not forced to eat. Children who choose not to eat will not be able to eat until the next meal or snack time. All meals meet the state and federal standards for children. This means that the state regulates daycare providers to insure that children are feed healthy, balanced meals and snacks. If you expect your child to arrive at the end of a meal or just after, please feed them before you come. We have a schedule to keep. Also, please understand that if they are here for mealtime they will be served even if you already fed them. Once I stop serving for that meal/snack I am done. If your child is a picky eater please don't be alarmed if they are hungry at the next meal. It's not that they didn't receive a meal, they just didn't like what we were having that day. I cannot and will not feed "mac and cheese" everyday, even if that is what they only want to eat. Parents are responsible for providing food for children on a special diet.
Nap All children are required to rest, sleeping is not mandatory, but the children must remain quite and on their mats, they will not be allowed to bother the other children at rest. Young children need their rest to function correctly through the day. Although our naptime may vary depending on our activities on a particular day, usually it is from 1:00pm - 3:00pm. Your child needs to bring a nap blanket that can be left here and it will be cleaned on a weekly or as needed.
Discipline My philosophy is that you use discipline to teach a child. I achieve this through love, consistency and firmness. I stress two main patterns of behavior: respect for other people and respect for property. The children are explained the rules of the childcare home frequently so they are all familiar with the guidelines. Please keep in mind that there will be disagreements between children. Young children, especially, who are not adept at communication; have a hard time expressing their feelings. Sometimes they hit or throw toys, etc. Although teaching children appropriate behavior is what I will be doing, remember that this behavior is normal in most cases. The following methods of discipline will be used;
Encourage children to solve problems themselves Intervention and discussion Re-direction to another play area Loss of privileges Time out
If I feel there is a chronic behavioral issue that needs attention, I will let you know so that you and I are handling it in the same way and your child has continuity in discipline between our homes. These types of behavior might include such things as biting, chronic hitting, etc. Together we will try to find a solution. If your child's behavior prevents me from being able to properly care for the other children, you will be called to remove your child from daycare. 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. Contract will be terminated. As a home care provider, I have a responsibility by law to recognize and report any evidence of child abuse-physical, emotional or neglect.
House and Property
House Rules: These rules are reminded and enforced to ensure the safety of everyone in the home. These rules apply to all children, weather they are kids in care or visitors. These rules are for keeping our home clean and in good repair, not only for us but also for your children to play in.
Proper use of toys and equipment is required at all times for safety reasons and maintenance. Age appropriate toys and equipment are available for all ages. NO running or roughhousing in the home. NO biting, hitting, pushing, shoving or any undesirable physical contact. We will respect the space of others. Name calling to hurt others feelings are not allowed. Smoking is not allowed in the house. There is an ash bucket located on the porch. Child Care Home Property: Please remember that this is not just a place of business, this is also my home. My family and I take great pride in our home and personal property. I would never dream of letting my child destroy anything that belonged to you or your family. Please give me the same respect. Examples … please do not allow children in… rock gardens … do not allow them to pick flowers or play with yard decorations or any seasonal decorations… please keep them off the tables and out of the trees. Thank you for your cooperation on this.
Damages While I do realize there will be wear and tear on all the childcare equipment, if your child intentionally damages any of the toys, furnishings, equipment or property, through destructive behavior or roughness, you will be liable for the damages over the sum of $50.00.
***** The next part of this handbook is all about "Health", please read all of the information very carefully:
IMMUNIZATIONS Kentucky law requires that all children enrolled in childcare must have signed, and up-to-date immunization forms kept on file at the day care. These must be completed before your child can be admitted into my day care. If immunization records are not kept up to date, Public Health may be contacted. Further delay may result in termination of enrollment.
INSURANCE A copy for your insurance cards need to be kept up to date and on file at the daycare at all times.
Injuries I will make every effort to ensure the safety of your child while in my care. Unfortunately, minor accidents may occur. I will notify parents immediately of any illness or accident, which requires first aid treatment. In case of EMERGENCY, I will administer the necessary first aid. 911 will be called and your child will be transported to the nearest hospital. the cost of the ambulance will be your responsibility. YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY. If I cannot contact either parent, I will call the emergency contact numbers supplied to me to make the medical decisions for the child. You are responsible for all costs involved in emergency medical treatment, including emergency transportation. I Donna Graff, or my family will not be held liable for any sickness/injury of either parent/guardian or child while on these premises. Health/Illness Sick children…. expose other children, as well as the provider, to the spread of the illness. Moreover, sick children want care from their parent in the comfort of their own home. If other children become ill due to exposure to your sick child, either because he/she was returned to childcare before recovery or he/she was not picked up promptly upon notice of being ill, other families will be unnecessarily inconvenienced. If my family or I become ill due to exposure to a sick child, all of the children may need to arrange alternate care, and it is possible that I may lose a portion of my income. Because this is disruptive to other children and their families, as well as my own, your cooperation on this issue is extremely important. Obviously, it will not be possible to avoid the spread of all infectious illnesses. However, minimizing exposure, and providing good hygienic procedures in the childcare home are helpful means to limit and control the problem. The Health Department regulations prohibit the admittance of any child into a family childcare home that exhibits any of the following symptoms: Fever (101 f. or higher) - child needs to be fever free for 24 hours Diarrhea - child must be symptom free for 24 hours Vomiting - child must be symptom free for 24 hours Runny nose with colored discharge - Doctor/Health Dept. release needed Rash - Doctor/Health Dept. release needed Discharge from eyes or ears - Doctor/Health Dept. release needed Lice - child needs to be treated before return (no nits at all) at least 48 hours and Doctor/Health Dept. release needed Communicable diseases - chicken pox, measles, mumps, conjunctivitis (pink eye), influenza etc. -- All other parents will be notified of the possibility of a communicable disease and what symptoms to watch for. The child may return with a doctor's release only, stating that the incubation and contagious period is passed and the child is well enough to resume normal childcare activities. Also if there are any other siblings) in my care they cannot attend during the illness. If someone in my family has any of the above symptoms, I will call you as soon as I am aware of the situation. However, I reserve the right to ask you to make other arrangements if I feel the illnesses) in my family will hinder the quality of care for your child. If I specifically request that you find alternate care on any given day, then I will not require payment and the adjustment will be made on your next payment fee. However absences by your choice qualify as your sick or absent days and are to be paid as stated above. I do not expect to be paid when I am not available for care due to my/family illness. I will always respect your need to be at work. I ask, however, that when deciding if your child should be at home, you give consideration to the other children. Ask yourself how you would feel if another child were as ill as your child. Would you want your well child exposed to these symptoms? If your child becomes ill while in my care, I will make the determination as to whether or not the parent is to come for the child. Each case is different and new situations may arise, but in general, aside from obvious symptoms of illness (fever, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) if your child is acting sick, lethargic or too uncomfortable to participate in our normal daycare routine, I will be calling you to come get your child. Please know that when I make that call to you whenever I have done everything I can possibly do, and we have reached a point where parental care is needed. *I have the right to refuse to care for a sick child. If your child develops any of the above symptoms while in my care, you will be required to pick up your child immediately. If the parent cannot pick up the child within 15 minutes of my calling, then someone else must be notified to pick up the child. If you cannot be reached then I will call one of the other emergency listed contacts. If I have to call a parent to pick up a child that is too ill to participate in the day's activities the child will also be required to stay at home (24hours) the following day.
*There are no refunds in fees for absences due to a child's illness. Full fees are required regardless of whether or not your child attends. Medication Please note: A signed authorization form is required any time a provider gives medication of any kind to a child while in my care. Please give medication at home whenever possible (most are a 2 dose meds). Please do not send medication in a bottle or cup of milk, juice, etc. to daycare with your child. There is no guarantee your child will finish this drink and get all of their necessary medication. Medicine will only be given if it is the original container. Prescription medication will only be given if accompanied by written instructions from a licensed physician or dentist. Medication with the child's name and current prescription information on the label constitutes written instructions. Parents will supply all prescription and non-prescription medications.
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