Family Handbook & Policies

A LITTLE ABOUT VAL'S BUTTERFLY GARDEN CHILD CARE

My name is Valerie Griffin and I own/operate Val’s Butterfly Garden Child Care. My childcare has been in operation since October 2004. I am fully committed to the field of childcare and believe that we are all responsible for making this world a safe and nurturing place for children. I’ve been a member of a number of organizations that promote advocacy for early childhood education & for children.

The mission of Val's Butterfly Garden Child Care is to ensure that each parent has the peace of mind that your child is being properly cared for in a safe, nurturing, stimulating and fun environment while they are in my care. This is best accomplished through open communication and clearly defined policies. The policies in this handbook were written with these goals in mind. While here, your child will always be treated in a respectful and caring way. All children are taught to treat others as they would like to be treated and all adults are to adhere to that policy while in my home as well. Manners and kindness are emphasized while in my home.

I believe that children learn through play and benefit from a structured yet flexible schedule. Educational activities are based on the individual interests and needs of each child. It is through play that your child will learn a myriad of skills & life lessons that will endure throughout their lifetime. I take a hands-on approach and encourage children to get involved in all aspects of the day. Whether they are mixing muffin batter, learning to create their own play dough, helping to wash the paint pots, collecting nature specimens for a closer look or engaging in problem solving with their peers.... children will be given opportunities to explore their environment and discover their potential. It is the mission of Val's Butterfly Garden Child Care to provide outstanding care. Through professional development and the feedback of families, I am committed to the ongoing improvement of the service that I provide.

ENROLMENT POLICY

There are several forms that I must have completed and in my possession before I can assume the responsibility of caring for your child. No exceptions. This is to ensure that your child will get the very best care possible from me. The forms are as follows:

*Contract and Rate Agreement Form
*All About Me Form
*Medical History & Emergency Contact Card
*Non-Prescription Medication Record Form
*Photo Release Form
*Discipline and Touch Policy Form
*Travel and Activity Authorization Form
*Acknowledgement of Policies Form

You are required to keep me 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.

ANTI-BIAS

I will not discriminate in relation to admission on the basis of race, creed, colour, national origin, religion or sex, age or ability. I believe that differences are to be valued and I integrate anti-bias concepts into my programming for the children.

TRIAL PERIOD

The first two weeks of care are considered a trial period. Part-Time families will have a 1-month trial period. During that time the parent or provider may terminate the childcare agreement with 24 hours notice. No pre-paid fees will be credited upon cancellation during the Trial Period. During these two weeks, if either the provider or the parent terminates from care, fees are due up to and including the final day of the second week. After the trial period, a two-week's written notice is required by either party to terminate the agreement (See Termination Policy). If the parent terminates, with just cause, after the initial “trial period” the deposit will be used toward their last week of care.

Your registration fee is not refundable if services are cancelled during your Trial Period.

*If the contract is terminated before the two-week period is up, by the provider for non-compliance with this agreement/contract and the points herein, then the parent WILL LOSE THEIR DEPOSIT.

HOURS OF OPERATION

Val’s Butterfly Garden Child Care is open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Your specific day of care will be outlined in your Contract and Rate Agreement. Any hours outside of these hours can be discussed at the time of either the phone interview or home interview. Hours beyond my 8-5 timeframe are subject to availability, please don't hesitate to ask.  I require parents to outline a scheduled 9 hour day of care.  If you need a longer contracted day, please ask.  An additional fee applies.

I require two-week's notice if you need to change your enrolment hours. I also reserve the right to terminate if the new hours will not work well for my childcare business.

If your child does not arrive by your contracted drop-off time, I will assume your child is not attending, unless alternate arrangements have been made. If I am not available after that time, it is your responsibility to find alternate care for the day.

In order for me to be the best provider that I can be, it is important to have adequate time to spend with my family. I plan my family activities around the times you have told me at the beginning of care. It is unfair to them if I am waiting for a child to be picked up when we have plans and need to be elsewhere. Thanks for your help and consideration in this. During incidents of something uncontrollable such as an accident or impassable road, I do understand and no fee would be charged in that circumstance, this is under my discretion.

OPEN DOOR POLICY

I maintain an open door policy for parents. This means that you are always welcome to call or drop in to see your children at any time during regular childcare hours. For safety reasons, it does NOT mean that the door is always unlocked. If we are not on the premises, a sign will be posted at the front door stating our location so you can easily find us. If the front door is locked, please use the side gates to access Val’s Butterfly Garden Childcare from the backyard entrance. The window at the base of the hill beside the house can be knocked on to let us know if you need any assistance to open the gate.

SUPPLIES

Parents must provide the following as applies:

It is easiest if a large pack of disposable diapers is here at all times (Diapers are kept in each child’s individual diapering bin), pull-ups for potty trainees (potty training pants that are disposable ONLY), 2 boxes wipes, minimum. I also need a change pad cover with your child’s name written on it (I used kushies pad covers for my children), one FULL change of seasonally appropriate clothes (more for babies & toddlers), appropriate outdoor coat/jacket, boots, hat, mittens, snow pants/waterproof rain pants, bottles of formula clearly labelled with child’s name, date, and must have cap to prevent contamination (please do not add cereal or medicine to formula!!), baby food jar with seal intact, hairbrush or comb in resealable bag with child’s name & sunscreen.

I will provide a basket for your child’s belongings and storage space for their toiletry items.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS

Val’s Butterfly Garden welcomes toys, games or movie’s from home on a limited basis. Sometimes children feel proud to bring something from home to share with their friends. I am not responsible for any loss or breakage of your child's personal items, so keep treasured items at home. All personal items must be clearly marked with the child's name. Little ones may naturally have a difficult time sharing with others, and it is even harder with their own special toys. If a child has brought a toy from home and is not able to share it, they will be expected to save it in their cubby. Exceptions being their security item which they are not required to share and may keep with them for comfort and naptime.

FEES, CHARGES & TAXES

Your fees will be contracted in your Fee & Rate agreement form. Monthly fee’s are due prior to the first week of the month in the form of post dated cheques made payable in two week increments. Fees are to be post dated payable on the Friday before each week of care. Val asks that post dated cheques for the month are handed over in advance of the month. All fees must be paid directly to Valerie Griffin or Paul Lamanna, from your hand to her/his hand. If it is not received by pick up time on the Friday before the first day of the month, there will be a $10 late charge for the first day & a $5 per day late fee until paid in full. Weekly fees are unaffected by Act of God closings such as snow, your child’s absence and holidays. Please make arrangements with me if your child will not be in attendance.

Security Deposit: A deposit equal to 1 week of care per child is due upon the signing of the agreed contract. If the decision is made to cancel by the parent(s) at a future date, before the child begins attending the Provider’s childcare, the deposit is forfeited.

This deposit will be applied to the last 1 week of care given by the Provider. (The last week of the 2-week notice). Your notice may not end mid week. The last week must be paid in full for the full week of contracted days. Also this deposit can be applied to any late fees or overtime or NSF Cheque charges accumulated by the parent(s). These fees will only be deducted with the parents notice via a handwritten/computer-generated note, dated and signed by both parties.

Each family must pay a $25 registration fee per child upon enrollment. This is to defray the costs of advertising, supplies and other expenses involved in running my business.

All cheques are to be made payable to Valerie Griffin. If a cheque is returned to me for non-sufficient funds or for any reason, you will be required to pay a $20 service fee and all additional fees that I may incur as a result of the returned cheque. A cash payment of the due fees as well as the penalty charges incurred is due the following day. Childcare services will be immediately halted until full payment of the weekly fee and NSF charges has been made, in CASH. In addition, I reserve the right to require all future payments in cash, or I have the option of terminating care immediately.

Any children dropped off prior to their contracted drop off time, or picked up later than their contracted pick up time will be charged a late fee: $5.00 for the 1st 15 minutes and $1 a minute each additional minute. Pick up person will sign off in my log. If this occurs in a consistent manner, our agreement can be terminated at my discretion.

Fee’s may be subject to a premium rate which will be agreed upon and contracted. Daily fee’s are offered for families accepting a full part-time position of 2 or 3 regularly contracted days a week thereby filling a space or half of a regular space. For single contracted days or irregular schedules , the fee’s are slightly higher.

I claim my fees as income and provide each family with a detailed tax receipt at the end of each tax year. This will be prepared in January each year or when services are terminated and given to you upon your request. You may request a statement at any time.

ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES

Children are to arrive clean (meaning no over-night diapers please) dressed and fed (unless arriving just before a mealtime). 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. When a smile, cheerful good-bye kiss, and a reassuring word that you will be back are made routine, your child will grow to understand what to expect from “goodbye time” and build confidence that you will return.

I will try my best to send your child home with a clean diaper, and would appreciate the same consideration when you drop off. During arrivals and departures, I expect you to reinforce my rules, but if you do not, I will remind your child that their behaviour is inappropriate (when necessary) and take action to correct, if needed. Please be responsible for your child during drop off and pick-ups.

I prefer that there are no pick ups or drop offs during the designated daily quiet time 12:30-3:00, but if it is necessary please be as quiet and brief as possible. Children who arrive during quiet time will be expected to remain quiet (they may play/read quietly) until quiet time is over, so that others will not be disrupted from their naps. Do not allow your child to run out to your car while you are still inside or while you are in my backyard! The safety rule is "No going outside without your parent." If this does occur when you are on my property, you assume responsibility of your child’s safety and well-being.

Only a parent, guardian or other authorized person may pick up your child. If a person shows up to pick up your child and is not on your emergency contact/authorized persons list, they will NOT be allowed to remove the child from my home and late fees will apply if necessary. If someone other than the parent is to pick up the child, please notify me ahead of time. A verbal notice is fine on that day if this person is on the list of people who are authorized to pick up your child. If the person is NOT on that list, I MUST have written permission to release your child. Please inform emergency contacts, or people designated to pick up your child, that if I do not know them, I would require photo identification. This is simply a measure taken for your child's protection. I 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, so please keep me informed.

CUSTODY/DOMESTIC CONCERNS

As your childcare provider, I need to be made aware of any and all concerns regarding your child. If there is a custody situation and one parent is not allowed to pick up the child, I need to have a copy of the court order on file here. Without that, I will have to release your child if the parent arrives. Also, if you are concerned that a person may attempt to remove your child from my care without your authorization, I need to know that as well so we can best decide how to handle the situation and not place anyone in harms way.

CHILD ABUSE

As a childcare professional, I am required to report any form of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of any child in my care. I have been trained in the recognition of all forms of abuse. If I see any suspected signs of abuse, I will notify the child’s parents immediately both verbally and in writing, along with a full description of the symptom. I will document the same for my own files, and contact the Children’s Aid Society if necessary.

If anything happens to your child while in my care, I will tell you how the injury was sustained as soon as possible. This is both to keep you informed and to also protect my self from mistaken suspicion of abuse. I will complete an accident report for your reference that will be kept in my files.

ZERO TOLERANCE

Please do not come to my house under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or any medication that impairs your ability to operate a vehicle or care for your child. If you do, I cannot legally keep your child from you, but I will contact the authorities.

PETS

This is a pet free home. This year we bid farewell to our adored cats Oscar and Lola. Please be advised that although we are now a pet free home, there may be traces of dander.

SIGNING IN & OUT

I log when parents drop off & pick up each day. This gives me a written record of the child's attendance, hours, and the person who brought/picked up the child each day. I sign the time you are walking out of the door with your child. Some families take a great deal of time to leave at the end of the day, and the time that you are walking out is a better reflection of the length of time that your child has been here.

ABSENCES

There will be no refunds or adjustments made to your child care fee for your time missed due to; holidays, or days off outside of your contracted vacation days. A place has been reserved for each child that cannot be filled on a short-term basis. Your daily fee will be applicable in order to maintain current enrolment with Val’s Butterfly Garden Child Care.

If your child becomes ill during care and a call has been placed for you to pick them up, full payment is still required. Ideally you will call ahead and keep your sick child at home to prevent me from inevitably having to call you to come and pick up your child. Children want their own Mommy &  Daddy and the comfort of their own bed instead of the childcares. If you don’t know if your child is too sick to attend, check out Val’s Butterfly Garden Illness Chart for Parents or give me a quick call. If they cannot participate in our daily activities they should be at home. We spend a lot of time outdoors in all weather, and it’s not fair to the healthy children/families or me. Granted sometimes children becoming ill is not convenient for parents but you wouldn’t want your healthy child exposed either. Remember clear runny nose is ok; once it becomes thick/colored they need to be home.

Although I will make every attempt to be available each day, there will be occasions when another family member or I are ill and I am unable to provide service. You will be notified as soon as possible of any personal or family illness, funeral, or emergency. It will be your responsibility to obtain substitute care on such occasions and to arrange payment to the substitute. If I am unable to provide care for any of these reasons, I will credit your next week of care day per day if they go beyond my contracted paid days off. 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.

BACK-UP PROVIDER

Each family must have a backup provider that they can call in the event that I need to close. Family childcare is an illness prone profession and my family will and does get sick. If that happens, I will close to prevent the illness from spreading further. This is to help your family, not hurt you. Please ensure that you have back-up care available to you. I can never know when to expect an emergency or when my family or I may become ill. The amount of notice I can give you is never known, and I may have to call you in the wee hours of the morning. Please be prepared so fewer conflicts arise. This is your responsibility.

My back up providers are:

Rose Lamanna: My Mother In Law whom I trust to no end and has a wonderful rapport with children. With years of experience with her own three children, she also regularly cares for the children of her very extensive family and friends. As a doting Grandma, Rose also comes here for regular visits.

Shirley Sullivan: My Mother whom owned and operated her own home based childcare for over 20 years and has also been an integral contributor to such web resources as www.kidtips.com and www.child-caretips.com when they were online. She is also a regular visitor here, and the children call her “Meema”.

Paul Lamanna: My husband who contributed numerous hours over the years as a volunteer for YMCA Children’s Services in the Childcare classrooms as well as coaching children's sports teams. Did I mention that he is also an exceptional Daddy?

DAILY SCHEDULE

Young children, toddlers and babies 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. Please ask about my email update journals, these journals are completed on a ‘can-do’ basis. Refer to our Daily Schedule page to see an open ended summary of how our day unfolds.

MEALS

I offer nutritious well-balanced meals for lunch and snacks. If your child will be arriving after meal time please be sure they are fed as I do not serve meals outside of my scheduled times. I believe mealtime should be a pleasant time; therefore, children are always offered food but are not forced to eat it. I do encourage each child to try one or two bites of everything, and they must try a little of everything before given seconds of anything. Sometimes they are surprised by what they like! We eat at designated meal/snack times, so if a child refuses to eat at a meal time, they will have another opportunity to eat during the next designated meal time, not before.

Except for special occasions and when requested, please do not send any candy, gum or any other individual snack food or drink. We must be very respectful of food allergies!

CLEANLINESS & HYGIENE

I do my best to maintain strict cleanliness and hygiene standards. Children's hands are washed before and after meals and after toileting. I wash my hands frequently and also use antibacterial gel. Infants sleep in separate playpens, with clean sheets used only by them. Children use separate cups, plates, bowls and eating utensils that have been washed in the dishwasher and dried on the heat setting. High chair trays, tables, etc. are disinfected with a bleach water solution after each use. Toys are disinfected on a regular basis.

TOILET TRAINING

Toilet training will be done in a relaxed manner with the cooperation of the family. If potty training begins when your child is ready, the task is easy and quick. If a parent undertakes the task of potty training when they want it to happen, the task is arduous for all concerned. Thirty months of age is a good rule of thumb to start checking for signs of readiness. Children may have successes earlier which is generally understood to be an adult led success. 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 and shoes!) 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, overalls, and onesies. 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.

I ask that you begin toilet training at home during a weekend or vacation. I will follow through and encourage your child while in my care. I use preventative measures such as regular visits to “try to go”, where the child must sit and “see if anything is ready to come out”. Visits to the potty are not a choice, but it’s okay if nothing does come out. Children are praised for trying. When a child is ready, the process should go pretty quickly. If your child does not have immediate success, he/she will be put back into diapers, and after a respite, the process will be attempted again. The child must be kept in pull-ups or 5-ply training pants 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, I 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 our homes 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.

NAPS &  QUIET TIME

All children are required to lie down for a rest period in the afternoon. 12:00-2:45. All children must nap, rest, read or play quietly during this period. Children will be resting on their beds for 1 full hour; those who do not sleep will be offered a quiet activity after an hour of quiet rest time. Rest time gives everyone a much-needed break during the day. Without rest time, some children are argumentative in the afternoon, short-tempered with others, and not real happy when they go home in the evening. Naptime is my only opportunity to take a break, clean up after lunch, etc. If your child has a special blanket or stuffed animal that he/she sleeps with, please send it along. I would ask that you please avoid picking up or dropping off your child during naptime, as it disturbs the other children's rest period. Please send a favourite blanket for your child to sleep with on Monday, the blanket will be sent home to be washed on Friday. Older children may enjoy a quiet movie during rest time.

Infants nap at varying times and their schedules will be accommodated. Somewhere between 12 and 18 months, children usually drop down to one nap per day. At this time, I will attempt to put them on the scheduled nap/rest period.

ACTIVITIES &  CURRICULUM

The main goal of this childcare is for children to have fun, improve social skills, and be given opportunities to explore their environment and discover their potential. I 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 TV/videos are just some of the activities we will be doing. Music helps to develop young brains and will play a strong role in day-to-day activities. We may have special music activities and may also play music during other activities, for example, during arts and crafts or meal times.

INDOOR &  OUTDOOR PLAY

Indoor play: I provide a variety of age-appropriate toys for indoor play. Toys may be rotated or placed temporarily out of use 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, because it is so overwhelming to them. For this reason, during free play times, children are encouraged to tidy up their activity before choosing a new one. They will be shown how to put those things away before selecting something else.

Outdoor play: We play outdoors frequently. Please make sure that your child has outdoor clothes (appropriate for the weather) available at all times. It only takes one child dressed inappropriately for the weather, to keep everyone else from enjoying an outdoor experience. Our activities will include taking walks, backyard playground (climbers, slides, balls, water tables), water play (sprinkler or wading pool in summer), bike/toy riding, and more. During spring and fall, our outdoor play will probably range from 20 - 45 minutes, and in the summer it may be two hours or more long (maybe not all at once). Our daily outings for school drop offs and pick ups also provide us with outdoor time with our friends.  We are also fortunate to boast a “gross motor” or large muscle playspace indoors! Our basement has plenty of open space for physical games, and dramatic play area’s for those cold, extremely hot or rainy days!

BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT

My behaviour management philosophy is that children need guidance, understanding, and a few easy-to-follow rules in order to learn appropriate behaviour. It is our policy to help children learn appropriate behaviour by establishing clear limits, explaining those limits in a positive way when it is necessary for a child to understand why the limit is there, and by using a combination of behaviour management strategies when dealing with behaviour. I achieve this through consistency.

The following behaviour management strategies are used:

· Encourage children to solve problems themselves


· Intervention and discussion/problem solving


· Re-direction to another play area


· Loss of privileges


· Time out to play independently with a quiet activity

I stress two main patterns of behaviour: respect for other people and respect for property. Our 3 simple rules, posted in each of the areas used by the children, encompass our philosophy: (1) you may not hurt yourself (2) you may not hurt others, and (3) you may not hurt things, furniture, toys, etc.

If I feel there is a chronic behavioural 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 behaviours might include such things as biting, use of bad words, chronic hitting, etc.

Together, we will try to find a solution, however, children who cannot be managed using these measures and are consistently presenting a discipline problem for the caregiver will be required to withdraw from care. 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.

DAMAGES

I believe that children should be taught respect for other people’s property, and if your child damages my property or another child’s property intentionally or because of excessive roughness, you, the parent, will be responsible for replacing it.

HEALTH POLICY

If you have any doubt to whether your child can participate in our daily activities, please keep him/her home. If your child becomes ill while you are at work, I will contact you and separate them from the rest of the group. You have 2 hours to pick your child up before I will contact one of your emergency contacts. If your child has been to the doctor for a reason related to illness or is taking a medication of any kind, I must be informed. This is not cause for exclusion, but enables me to give the best care possible.

This is a non-smoking home, and I allow no smoking in my house at any time.

SYMPTOMS REQUIRING REMOVAL OF CHILD FROM CHILD CARE
* Fever: Fever is defined as having a temperature over 100.1°F taken in the ear. 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.

· As for infants with fevers and/or diarrhea and as it pertains to teething, I will only accept a child with these symptoms back into care after the child has seen a doctor and a note is sent from the doctor stating that these symptoms are due to teething.

* Vomiting

* 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 colour other than clear is not acceptable in childcare.

* Runny and/or Crusty Eyes: Watery, matted, and/or red/pink eyes are not acceptable in childcare.

* Unexplained Rash

* Excessive Crankiness: Child is irritable, excessive whining or crying, wants constantly held, or requires more attention than I can provide without jeopardizing the health, safety, or well being of the other children in my care.

Your child cannot be permitted 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 other children in the group do not risk exposure and so that the child is able to fully participate in childcare activities. 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 my care, I will notify you 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. I 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 me as soon as possible when your child becomes ill so that I 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 when no longer contagious. All other parents will be notified of the possibility of a communicable disease and what symptoms to watch for. If someone in my family has any of the above symptoms, I will call you the previous evening, or as soon as I am aware of the situation, so that you may determine whether or not you want your child exposed to such symptoms. However, I reserve the right to ask you to make other arrangements if I feel the illness 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. 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 illness; beyond my 5 allotted paid sick days. However, I have set aside time in my schedule to accommodate your schedule and feel that I should be compensated for the time that I am available. Many times the childcare may get blamed for the illness of a child, meaning that I have "allowed" sick children to come here. Parents may not stop to think that when sick children are brought to my home, my entire family is also at risk of exposure. How would you feel if another parent brought their sick child and exposed your child? 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?

Further, there are times when a child is not that ill, but is terribly uncomfortable, and really needs some "one on one". At those times I strongly urge you to consider keeping your child at home. If your child is unable to participate in the normal activities of the daily schedule, then your child must stay home.

MEDICATIONS

Both non-prescription and prescription medications, ointments, and creams can be administered 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 the physician, dentist, or parent designates a shorter time period. These must be labelled with the child's name. NO EXCEPTIONS! I may not exceed the manufacturer's recommended dosage unless with written physician's instructions when administering non-prescription medication. I may not administer non-prescription oral medication for longer than 3 consecutive days. I may not administer non-prescription topical ointments, creams, or lotions for longer than 14 consecutive days when used for skin irritations. I am required to keep a bottle of Syrup of Ipecac in my First Aid Kit. I may administer this only when following verbal instructions of the poison control centre or a licensed physician. I must be informed when your child is on medication that has been administered at home.

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

In case of EMERGENCY, I will administer the necessary first aid. Your child will be transported to the hospital designated on your Emergency Transportation Authorization form. YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY. If an ambulance is called to transport your child, the cost of the ambulance will be your responsibility. I am prepared with emergency caregivers in cases of unplanned absences of short duration caused by unanticipated circumstances such as illness or accident. You will be notified when an emergency caregiver will be used. If an emergency caregiver cannot be located, you may be requested to pick up your children. You are responsible for all costs involved in emergency medical treatment, including emergency transportation, if required.

FIRE SAFETY

I have a written fire evacuation plan and practice a fire drill with the children at times. In addition, I incorporate fire safety curriculum into my program occasionally.

FIELD TRIPS

I will let you know in advance of all special field trips, but local trips will be made from time to time without notice given. You may be requested to provide a car seat for the day and/or pay any fees associated with the trip. You will be required to sign a permission slip that I will carry with me. I also carry copies of the emergency forms with a picture of each child attached. In the event of an emergency away from the childcare home, your child will be cared for and you will be notified. It is not required that your child attends the field trip, but it will be your responsibility to find and pay for alternate care if you do not wish for them to attend. You still pay your regular child care fees. All children are buckled securely, or in child seats if required. If I know we will be taking a trip and need one for your child, I will let you know at drop-off. Field trips give us a better understanding of the world around us and enrich our learning experiences. It is for this reason, that I have had Toronto Zoo and Canada's Wonderland memberships in the past.

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION 
If your child requires transportation to and/or from school, we will use the route of least resistance. The group will be led by foot, or by vehicle by this route:

Leaving Vals house at 6 Calmar…

Turn Right onto Billingham Hts, Turn Right onto Birkshire, Follow Birkshire all the way to the school and back.

For each child in my care, You will need to provide me with a new booster seat or car seat that can stay in my vehicle for the duration of the school year. If you prefer to provide me with cash, then I can purchase one for you. It must be new to prevent injuries that may occur from a second hand carseat or booster seat.

Val will always carry a pouch with her cell phone when away from the house. You will be provided with several emergency contact cards so that you can easily find and use this number if needed.

MATERNITY/EXTENDED LEAVE

In cases of your potential absence due to maternity or extended leave from your job, I still require full childcare rate payments for the entire time of your absence to hold your child's position. In cases of maternity leave where you will be placing your new baby into my care, you will be required to fill out all necessary enrolment forms no less than two weeks prior to the baby's starting date.


TERMINATION POLICY

I reserve the right to immediately terminate for the following reasons:

· If a parent does not make scheduled payments

· If a scheduled payment cheque is returned for non-sufficient funds

· Failure to abide by my policies as outlined in this handbook

· Physical or verbal abuse of any person or property

· If a child becomes a danger to the other children

· Failure to complete the required forms

· False information given by parent either verbally or in writing

- Failure to inform me of when a child has been medicated prior to being left in my care

I reserve the right to terminate with notice for the following reasons (but not limited to):

· Lack of parental cooperation

· Failure of child to adjust to the childcare after a reasonable amount of time

· my inability to meet the child's needs

· serious illness of child or provider

I appreciate as much advance notice as possible when terminating, and will give the same courtesy in return. You are required to give two-week's written notice when you decide to terminate childcare. The two weeks will be paid in full, regardless of whether or not your child is in attendance. Your pre-paid security deposit will pay for the last week of care. If the Provider is not given a two-week notice the parent(s) will be charged for that two weeks of service and the deposit will then be forfeited. I will give two-week's written notice of termination for which full tuition is due, whether or not your child is in attendance. I reserve the right to give written notice of immediate termination where there are extreme circumstances that affect the well being of me or other children in attendance. In this situation, the two-week's payment of tuition is still required. Termination notice will not be accepted while provider or parents are on vacation. You may pay two-week's fees in lieu of two-week's notice.

If violations of our agreement occur, immediate termination of care will occur. No notice is required. Care will be terminated immediately. In this instance, all fees will be due immediately. Your deposit will not be applied to care, and will be forfeited. All fees will be due up to and including the full week’s fees that you are being terminated. Failure to pay your fees after termination will result in legal action being taken to recover my fees from you.

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. I reserve the right to make changes in rates and policies, as I deem necessary. You will be notified, in writing, of any changes that may occur. Every attempt will be made to give at least two-week's notice of change.
FEB 2010