Parent Handbook
Parent Involvement
Parents are welcome at the daycare, as it is an important part of personal growth for the child(ren). Parents are invited to come and observe, share ideas and see what their child(ren) are learning. The child(ren) would love the opportunity to show their parent(s) around the classroom.
All parents with child(ren) enrolled at the daycare required to perform three hours of volunteer time, within a six month period. This parent involvement allows the daycare an opportunity to complete fund-raising activities and work bees, which directly improve the time each child spends at the daycare.
Parent volunteer hours will be calculated in June and December. Parents who do not fulfill their volunteer requirements will be charged $30.00, which will be payable on the first day of the month.
Enrolling in Churchbridge Daycare
Parents are required to complete a number of forms prior to their
child(ren)'s attendance at the daycare. The forms required will be kept in the child's file. These forms include:
•
Child Care Agreement
Child Care Agreement•Emergency Information Card
Emergency Information Card•Health and Social Resume
Health and Social Resume•Subsidy Application, With Verification of Income or Schooling
Subsidy Application, With Verification of Income or Schooling•Transportation Release
Transportation Release•Permission of the Application of Sun Screen and Insect Repellent
Permission of the Application of Sun Screen and Insect Repellent•Parent Volunteer Agreement
Parent Volunteer Agreement•Picture/Video Release Form
Picture/Video Release Form•Parent Information Form
Parent Information Form* Please notify the director of any changes in address, telephone numbers, martial status, place of employment, schooling, and income immediately.
When bringing your child to the daycare for the first time, please insure
he/she has the following items properly labeled:
* Change of clothing to be left at the daycare
* Indoor shoes to be left at the daycare
* Diapers - minimum required 8 / day
* Proper outerwear - jackets, mitts, toque, boots, & ski pants
* Blanket and pillow for nap time
Churchbridge Daycare Co-operative is not responsible for lost or broken items. Parents are asked to leave all toys, at home.
The daycare will not resume responsibility for damage to or loss of eyeglasses
and hearing devices of children participating in activities at the daycare. However, staff will provide appropriate supervision of these items.
Children will be served a snack at 9:00am, Lunch at 12:00pm, and another snack at 3:30pm. Parents MUST inform the daycare staff of any food sensitivity or food allergy that the child has. Parents are responsible to inform the daycare if their child has a change in their food sensitivity or food allergy. Separate meals will only be provided if the child has a food sensitivity or food allergy to the food that is being served on that day.
Churchbridge Daycare is a Peanut & Nut Free Center.
Arrivals and Departures
Children MUST BE ACCOMPANIED into AND PICKED UP in their appropriate room within Churchbridge Daycare by an adult. The daycare does not accept responsibility for a child unless he/she is properly handed over to a staff member. Please be sure to give any special instructions regarding your child(ren) to the staff at this time.
Parents or adults dropping off and picking up a child, must sign the child(ren) in and out of the daycare through our automated check in system Procare at the front entrance.
When picking up your child(ren) be sure to advise a staff member that
your child(ren) is leaving. The staff will then sign your child out of the room and report any information regarding your child's day. Parent then must sign their children out at the main entrance.
Parents should notify the staff if someone other than them will be picking up their child(ren). If you are away please let the staff know who will be responsible for your child(ren) during your absence, along with their address and telephone number. Under NO circumstances will a child be allowed to leave with an adult unless:
a) It is the parent(s) with custody
b) It is an emergency contact person
c) Parent provides written or verbal notice if they are giving permission for someone else to pick up their child(ren).
To ensure all children’s safety, parents and alternate caregivers picking up children from the daycare must be able to provide identification upon request at the time of pick-up. In the case that a staff member does not know the parent or alternate and identification cannot be produced staff will not release the child(ren to the person picking them up.
Churchbridge Co-operative staff will not release the child(ren) if the person picking up the child(ren) is inebriated and incapable of seeing to the child(ren)'s safety.
Hours of Operation
Churchbridge Daycare is open from 5:45 am until 6:30 pm, Monday to Friday. The Daycare is closed on all statutory holidays. Statutory holidays will be posted on the door of the main entrance.
The daycare is open for 12.75 hours each day, but it is suggested that children not to be left at the daycare for the entire day, as children need quality time with their parent(s) and guardians. If extended hours are needed please schedule dates with the Management Team at least week ahead of time.
Fees
Child care fee policy:
Invoices will be issued each month and fees are to be paid by the 15th day of each month. Payments can be left with the management team or put into the parent drop box outside the office. Payments can also be made electronically through internet banking at most Saskatchewan Credit Union's.
A $25.00 charge will be applied to all NSF returned cheques.
Late Fee policy
1.Invoices are dated and shown as due on the first of the month, as per your signed childcare agreement.
Invoices are dated and shown as due on the first of the month, as per your signed childcare agreement.2.You have until the 30th of the month of issue to pay your invoice. After such a time an interest fee of 2% per month (24% per annum) will be charged to the outstanding amount until the invoice is paid.
You have until the 30th of the month of issue to pay your invoice. After such a time an interest fee of 2% per month (24% per annum) will be charged to the outstanding amount until the invoice is paid.3.If the invoice is not paid by the 15th of the following month it may result in a suspension of services until the account is brought up to date.
If the invoice is not paid by the 15th of the following month it may result in a suspension of services until the account is brought up to date.4.Unpaid accounts will be reviewed by the board and may be turned over to a collection agency if not settled within a month of suspension of services.
Unpaid accounts will be reviewed by the board and may be turned over to a collection agency if not settled within a month of suspension of services.*** If an account is sent on collection the parents deposit will not be refunded. If the parent continues to use the services of the Churchbridge Daycare after the account has been paid in full, a deposit will once again need to be made and daily cash payment of services will be required until daycare management deems the parent would once again qualify for credit.
Late pick - up fee policy;
Parents leaving their child(ren) at the daycare past daycare closing time of 6:30pm will be given a 15 minute grace period and then will be charged $1.00 per minute. This charge will be added directly to the monthly fee. Should you require your child(ren) to remain at the daycare longer than stated on your childcare agreement, please make arrangement with the Management Team when dropping you child(ren) at the daycare.
Cancellation Policy:
If you have booked your child into daycare, you have until Wednesday of the prior week to cancel any days for the following week. Failure to canel within these timelines or non attendance will result in 8 hours being added to the monthly total for each child in question.
Each child will be eligible for 2 sick days per month.
Parents will be charged a supply fee of $20.00 per month if they do not bring an adequate supply of diapers, wipes, milk and formula for their children.
Subsidy
Saskatchewan Social Services provides a childcare subsidy for eligible parents using government licensed child development facilities. The subsidy is based on the parent's income, the number of children in the family, and the child care fee. Subsides are paid directly to the daycare.
Subsidy forms can be obtained from the director upon request. For more information regarding childcare subsidy call Cindy Mucha at 1-306-787-4167.
Health and Safety
Minor Accidents:
The child care workers will administer simple first aid in the treatment of minor injuries, which occur at the daycare. All staff is required to obtain and maintain, in good standing, a St. John Ambulance Safety or Red Cross, Oriented First Aid Level B certificate and CPR. All injuries are reported to the parents, through written injury form, on the same day the injury is sustained.
Serious Accidents:
In event of a serious accident or medical problem, where the child
requires immediate attention, the child will be taken to the hospital
immediately, accompanied by a staff member. Parents or emergency
contact person will be contacted immediately and directed to the hospital.
Fire Drills:
Fire drills are conducted regularly at the daycare, to familiarize the children
with the sound of the alarm and evacuation procedures. The daycare
requires that the children have and wear shoes at all times, in event of a
fire or fire drill.
Child Abuse and Neglect Policy
All children facilities are legally required to report suspected cases of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, or neglect which may endanger the safety and well-being of a child.
Because of this requirement Churchbridge Daycare Co-operative reserves the right to document and report any evidence indicating child abuse or neglect.
Behavior Management
Staff at Churchbridge Daycare uses a variety of behavior management methods. These include the following:
Praise
PraiseRespectful communication
Respectful communicationEstablishing consistent expectations
Establishing consistent expectationsPositive verbal guidance
Positive verbal guidanceSetting appropriate limits
Setting appropriate limitsRedirection of focus
Redirection of focusGuidance and Discipline
Children are encouraged to solve their difference by talking with one another in a non- threatening, non- violent and non- aggressive manner. Should a child hurt another child, he / she will be responsible for comforting and consoling the hurt child (providing the injury is not serious), with the guidance of a staff member. He / she will then be required to offer an apology.
Should a child become unmanageable or over stimulated, that child shall
be given two warnings that if the behavior persists that he/ she will be
asked to find another activity to participate in. If the child does not redirect him/herself, the childcare worker will redirect him/her to a new activity.
Should the child continue to be unmanageable or over simulated, he/she
will be removed from the setting and will be supervised by a staff member,
until he/ she has calmed down and can control his/her actions. Should the problem continue, the child's parent(s) may be contacted for a meeting with staff and
management to develop a plan that will help assist in meeting the child’s needs
at daycare.
Illness
If a child becomes ill or exhibits symptoms of an illness, such as fever, vomiting or diarrhea, the Management Team shall contact the child's parent(s) or contact person. Be prepared to provide alternate care in the instance that your child(ren) becomes ill and you are unable to stay with him/her. The daycare will not assume responsibility for children who become sick at school.
Children who are to sick to go to school or go outside
are to sick to attend the daycare.
Churchbridge Daycare staff can only administrate medication to children, after a medication form has been completed by a parent and staff member. The daycare can only administrate non-prescription medication to a child for the maximum of three days; after which a current doctor's prescription is necessary.
Parents are required to inform the daycare of a positive diagnosis of any communicable illness with in 24 hours. The daycare will then notify all parents of the introduction of the particular disease. A child who has contracted a communicable disease must be excluded from the daycare until the infection period is over and the condition is cleared up. If a communicable illness is suspected by staff, the management team will evaluate the situation. If it is decided by the management team that a communicable illness may be present, parents or emergency contacts will be called to pick up the child, a doctor’s note stating that it is not a communicable illness may be requested by management before the child can return to daycare.
Churchbridge Daycare Co-operative has a no - nit policy in reference to lice. The policy is in affect to control the spread of lice with in the daycare. A child who has lice and / or nits will be sent home and cannot return to the daycare until properly treated.
Zero Tolerance of Staff Abuse
The Staff of Churchbridge Daycare Co-operative must be treated in a respectful and professional manner. Any abuse, be it verbal, physical or emotional, by a parent, will result in the immediate termination of all childcare agreements and the dismissal of all children belonging to the parent from the daycare. Further legal action may be taken.
Age Group and Child/Staff Ratio's
All staff members will be involved with all age groups of children. Structured program activities are offered each day. Children will be encouraged to participate, however are not forced to do so. Small and large group activities will be led by the staff of Churchbridge Daycare. Unstructured play periods are also provided each day. Churchbridge Daycare will use every opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities.
Churchbridge Daycare staff can have a maximum of 15 points each. The points system is calculated as per the following graph:
GroupAgePoints
AgePointsInfant6 weeks – 18 months5
6 weeks – 18 months5Toddler1 1/2 years – 2 1/2 years3
1 1/2 years – 2 1/2 years3Preschool2 1/2 years – Kindergarten Grad1.5
2 1/2 years – Kindergarten Grad1.5School AgeKindergarten Grad – 12 years1
Kindergarten Grad – 12 years1Staff & Parent Conflicts
Even with clear communication, and good rapport, parents and staff members will sometimes disagree. In the case of parent/staff conflict the Management Team will step in to help resolve the problem if a solution seems to be unreachable.
Three main reasons for conflict are:
a)Valid concerns about regulations or policies not being followed
Valid concerns about regulations or policies not being followedb)A disagreement on daycare policies
A disagreement on daycare policiesc)A misunderstanding of a comment or action
A misunderstanding of a comment or actionTo resolve the conflict, a meeting will be set up with the staff member and parent away from the children, by the Management Team. During the meeting both the parent and the staff shall have their turn to talk out their problem. In some situations the Management Team may have to meet the parent and staff member separately. No one can avoid conflicts, but many can be prevented or resolved by working together with parents as partners in the childcare arrangement.
Churchbridge Daycare Co-operative
