I have included in this manual some general information on how situations are handled in my program. I find it very productive if we have a basic understanding on some general points. I am approaching my responsibility as your childcare provider as a licensed professional, and will always put your child first while they are in my care.
I. PHILOSOPHY
I got involved in child care through my disgust with and incompetence of, the child care available to me as a working parent. I found that for the most part, children were parked in front of a television all day long, and I was paying for the t.v. to be my babysitter. I personally have witnessed abuse and neglect in some daycares, (unlicensed, operating illegally, etc. ). I don’t think I need to tell you how that made me feel! I couldn’t help but wonder how my son was being treated when I was at work!
I eventually quit my job, received education and training, and went to work in the childcare profession. I have worked in many different areas involving children, both paid and volunteer. The position where I found my niche was working in the before and after school program for Anne Arundel County Recreation & Parks.
I had another child, and opened an in-home school age program in my home which I have been operating for 6 years. Now I’m very excited to be opening my first commercial school-age center. I hope to “raise the bar” for before and after school day care programs in this area.
If you ever have any concerns or suggestions, please feel free to speak with me. I am open to trying new things and would also like to know what the children enjoy or dislike about their time with me. Please remember, I have been in your shoes!!
Thanks!! Wendy
II. HOURS OF OPERATION
School Year: *6:30am to Bus Pick Up
*Bus Drop Off to 6:00pm
Full Days (School Year) and Summer Reading Program: 6:30am to 6:00pm
III. ACTIVITIES
From time to time, we will plan an outing. Field trips are big fun! During the summer, at least one outing per month will be scheduled. (Prepare yourself- it’s usually A LOT MORE!) All activities will require a signed permission slip from a parent or guardian. *Please Note: Activity/Field Trip fees are an additional charge, as they are special events and also must be paid in advance.
IV. SCHOOL CLOSINGS
A. Teacher in-Service Days/Conferences: Childcare will be open. There will be an additional charge of $15.00, as your fee is for before and after school only.
B. Winter/Spring Breaks: Childcare will be open; (with the exception of Scheduled Holidays, which are listed under Section IV). There will be an additional charge of $15.00/day, as your fee is for before and after school only.
C. Snow: This can be a confusing and frustrating mess. If school is closed due to 4”, (four inches), of snow, childcare will be closed, otherwise, we will be open. There will be a message on the phones in the event of a closure to clarify the situation and e-mail alerts if you supply your e-mail address and register for them.
D. Ice: This will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Ice is far more dangerous for my staff to get into work. If there is a school closing during ice, the odds are good that childcare will be closed. There will be a message on the phones in the event of a closure to clarify the situation and e-mail alerts if you register for them.
E. Heat: Childcare will be open as long as we have electricity and air-conditioning. Outside activities will be canceled.
F. States of Emergency: Childcare will be closed. What is this? Some examples are…Hurricanes, Federal or State Security Issues. Any time that the government declares we should not be on the roads or traveling due to an approaching threat.
G. Power Outages: Childcare will be closed in the event of long term power outages, due to health and safety issues. In the event of a power outage during childcare hours and the electric company estimates the power to be out for more than 1 hour, we will call you to come and pick up your child.
V. LATE OPENINGS/EARLY DISMISSALS
Childcare is open during late openings and early dismissals. There is no additional fee for this service.
If there is an early dismissal due to inclement weather, children may come to childcare on the bus until parents can get here safely from school/work. Please make the necessary arrangements to get here in a timely manner. Late fees still apply on these days.
VI. HOLIDAYS
1. Childcare will be closed on the following days for holiday:
· New Years Day
· President’s Day
· Good Friday & Easter Monday
· Memorial Day
· July 4th
· Labor Day
· Thanksgiving
· The Day after Thanksgiving
· Christmas*
· The Day after Christmas*
* In the event that a paid holiday Christmas falls on a weekend (Saturday or Sunday) , the following business day childcare will be closed.
2. Childcare will close at 5:00pm on the following days, (Late Pickup Fees Apply beginning after 5:00pm).
· Christmas Eve
· New Years Eve
VII. FEES: ALL FEES ARE REQUIRED TO BE PAID IN ADVANCE.
Before and After School Fee.................................................*Please call
Full Day Fees (School Year Only).......................................... $15.00
Late Payment Fees (On Your Due Date).............................. $10.00 (After 8am)
Late Payment Fees (Until Paid in Full)...................................$10.00/day
Bounced Checks...................................................................... $25.00 + Additional Late Fees
Late Pickups............................................................................. $5.00 at 6:05pm
Late Pickups after 6:05pm...................................................... $5.00/minute thereafter
*Full Time Summer Rates....................................................... *Please call
Forgotten Lunch on Full Days.................................................. $5.00/child
Field Trips/Special Events....................................................... .Case by Case (most are around $10)
*Children must be enrolled for at least 2 weeks out of EACH summer month in order to be considered a full time client. (June, July and August) Summer attendees are guaranteed school year coverage.
A. Payment Policy: Fees are discussed and agreed upon prior to your child starting childcare. Fees are due on a set day either weekly, every two weeks, or monthly. ALL CHILDCARE FEES ARE PAID IN ADVANCE OF SERVICES, NO EXCEPTIONS. A contract is signed between all parties. Missed days will not constitute a refund. (i.e. Belinda was sick on Monday and Tuesday, can I get a discount? No.) Extended Breaks: (Thanksgiving Week, Winter Breaks & Spring Breaks, or any week long school closure) Regular rates remain in effect. Late fees apply.
B. Registration Fee: This is a non-refundable fee when you register your child for childcare. It is submitted with your paperwork and reserves your child’s space. If your registration is continuous, you will not be charged an additional fee, otherwise a $25 fee will apply with each session.
C. Full Day Care Fee During School: You are only responsible to pay for these days, if you use them; otherwise your regular weekly fee will apply. Advance registration is required for these days. On holiday closures and breaks there is a minimum of 6-8 children to attend.
D. Late Payments: A $10.00 late fee will be added for payments received after 8am on your due date. There will also be a $10.00 late fee assessed for each day thereafter until your fee is paid in full. Example: You select Monday as your due date. Your payment must be into the office before 8:00am on Monday, without exception, or it is considered late. Post dated checks for the following Monday will accepted on Friday. Or you may want to pick Tuesday as your due date. Failure to pay fees on time twice can result in suspension of childcare. If there is an issue, it is the parent’s responsibility to start a dialogue with me personally.
E. Returned/Bounced Checks: There will be a $25.00 charge for each bounced check. If it happens more than once, you will be asked to pay in cash. Additional administrative fees may apply. If a check is bounced, it also accrues late fees of $10/day on the weekly tuition it was meant for.
F. Late Pick-ups: There is an additional charge for late pickups. Childcare closes at 6:00pm. At 6:05pm there is a $5.00 charge, then $5.00 for each following minute. At 6:10pm we will start calling the contacts on your emergency list. You will be billed. I try to be reasonable here, if you call me ahead of time, and let me know that you are going to be late, I will honestly try to accommodate. There will be no mercy for a parent who doesn’t call at all. Two (2) late pickups could result in suspension of childcare.
G. Forgotten Lunch: If your child forgets their lunch on a full day, a lunch will be provided for them. Lunches will consist of a choice between a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich or Cheese Sandwich with chips and drink. The charge is $5.00.
VIII. ILLNESS
Children who are ill are not permitted to attend childcare. If your child is absent from school, they will not be permitted to attend childcare. In the event that your child becomes ill during childcare, every attempt will be made to contact you. After 15 minutes, we will try contacting your emergency list. Please notify staff in the event your child contracts a communicable disease such as measles, chicken pox, etc; or a contagious condition such as head lice, strep throat, conjunctivitis, impetigo, etc. If your child is absent three (3) or more days, please furnish a note from a physician that they are able to return to a regular schedule. A child who is not well enough to participate in normal activities should be kept home.
If your child has a temperature of 100 or up, you will be contacted and expected to pick them up immediately. (This should never take more than 30 minutes from the time of the call).
Your child must be fever free (below 100), and vomit free for 24 hours before attending childcare. (This is without medication). YOU ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT FEVER/VOMITTING EPISODES TO STAFF. Abuse of this policy is unfair and dangerous to everyone and can result in dismissal from childcare.
IX. MEDICINE (per Title 13A State Board of Education, Subtitle 14: Child and Family Daycare, Chapter 02 Child Care Center Licensing, Regulation .49)
All non-prescription medication must be accompanied by medical authorization from the parent/guardian. It must be in the original bottle and labeled with the child’s name. Dates, times and dosages must be written down and signed by the parent/guardian. Except for acetaminophen and topical medications, only one dose of a non-prescription medication may be administered to a child per illness unless a licensed health practitioner approves the administration of the non-prescription medication and dosage.
All prescription medicine must be accompanied by medical authorization and written instructions from the parent/guardian. It must be in the original package and labeled by the pharmacy or physician with the child’s name and a valid expiration date. At least one dose of a prescription must have been given to the child at home ONE HOUR prior to coming to daycare.
X. INJURY
Should your child become injured during childcare, you will be notified. All major injuries will be documented. Only simple, basic medical care is provided. (i.e. ice pack for falls, band-aids for scrapes, etc.) If there is any question or concern, you will be notified of the situation.
In the event of a serious injury, 911 will be called and then you. PLEASE NOTE: A hospital will not begin treatment, unless life threatening or until a parent is contacted. A parent must be available in case of emergency. Please keep emergency information and contacts up to date!!
XI. DISCIPLINE
Should a child experience difficulty with the established rules, the following procedures will be followed:
1. Verbal Warning.
2. A trip to the “Thinking Chairs”.
3. Verbal Warning.
4. 2 minute timeout (if no timeout was given with verbal warning)
5. Parent notification- this can include a separation from the other children until
parents arrive. This will also be documented.
6. Parent Conference- we try to come up with reasonable solutions
7. 2 Day suspension from program, parents are still responsible for weekly fee.
8. Permanent Dismissal from childcare.
What are “Thinking Chairs”? Thinking Chairs are a new discipline idea that the staff thought up-this replaces time out, and, we have found, is more effective for changing behavior in a positive way. When a child does something wrong, they are sent to the “thinking chairs”. There is no time penalty involved, instead they only have to sit until they can answer 3 questions: What did I do wrong? Why was that wrong? What could I have done differently? As soon as they can answer these questions to a staff member, they may get up and return to play.
*PLEASE NOTE: If, at any time, I believe a child’s behavior is a physical threat to themselves or others, immediate suspension or dismissal from childcare will result. Verbal abuse/profanity is considered a serious infraction and will be treated the same as a physical threat.
XII. SNACKS & MEALS
Snacks are provided and included in your weekly fee. Meals are not included in your fee. Unless otherwise notified, please always send a portable lunch with your child for full days. Please do not send lunches that need to be heated up.
XIII. PARENTS LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES
In the event that your child should damage or break any personal property, you, the parent/guardian, are responsible for replacing and/or compensating the injured party.
XIV. CONCLUSION
Well, that’s it!! Hopefully, this manual has answered some of your questions or cleared up some concerns you may have had. Thank you for being a concerned parent and taking the time to go through this manual. We really believe that taking the time to get to know the Happy Days program can only help your child successfully transition into a new childcare environment. Over the next two weeks, we will begin our trial time period, and hopefully a good match will be made for everyone involved. Our objective is to provide a safe and healthy environment for good, clean fun!!
XV. FORMS
These forms are available for you to print and fill out. Items A & B are required for registration. Please have these completed for drop off of your child!
A. CHILD EMERGENCY FORM: (This is required for every child):
