Toddle Inn Day Care Society“We care about children”

PARENT INFORMATION PACKAGE

PHILOSOPHY

Children are equipped with curiosity and a desire to investigate their world. We as child care professionals

capitalize on these qualities and develop as many creative opportunities to challenge the child curiosity

and simulate their interest.

We aim at setting a stimulating “stage” for the children to safely play, discover, learn and grow, our child

care program focuses on a creative environment as well as carefully thought our program with a

developmentally appropriate variety.

Each child is considered as an individual and we aim at understanding the child specific needs to facilitate

growth and development socially, physically, emotionally and intellectually.

GOALS

i. To provide a “quality” and affordable service to meet the needs of our rural community.

ii. To offer a program which facilitates children to grow and develop physically, emotionally, socially

and intellectually. Each child is accepted and respected as unique individuals.

iii. To keep lines of communication open with our children’s parents and keep the families directly

involve in their child’s care. We aim to facilitate a smooth transition from home to day care.

iv. We aim to spend one on one tine with each child daily to allow the recognition and acceptance of

this child as a valued individual, not only as a member of a group.

v. To direct and discipline the children in a firm manner while maintaining the child’s self esteem.

We have the children directly involved in their own discipline to help develop problem solving

skills and responsibility for their own actions.

vi. To assure a healthy and safe environment for all children at all times. Any injuries or incidents are

documented and shared with parents, daily. Our inventory and equipment are checked through,

daily.

vii. Have fun with the children and value what children have to offer. Our day care’s motto is “We

care about Children”.

viii. Meet the children’s daily nutritional needs in co-operation with the parents.

ix. We continue to evaluate all aspects of our program to continue to offer our reputable “quality” and

affordable service to meet the needs of the community.

x. To be trained in Early Childhood Education.

Manager: Roxanne JonesAssistant Manager: Kelly Bitz309 2nd AvenueStrathmore, AB T1P 1B3Phone (403) 934-5139Email: toddlein@telus.net

WELCOME TO OUR CENTER!

It is our goal to provide the best possible care for your children in a stimulating, loving environment, and

we look forward to working with you in achieving this goal.

We believe children have the right to be respected as unique individuals and to develop independence as

his/her potential allows. We help the development of self-esteem and responsibility through the

encouragement of choice making, respect of self and acceptances of differences by others. By creating

this environment we enable children to build a circle of friends with whom they will gain acceptance,

support, self-worth, and a strong sense of belonging.

Staffs serve as positive role models and provide care that is supportive, nurturing, warm and responsive

to each child’s individual needs. We respect parents as the primary and most important provider of care

and believe parents and staff are partners in the children’s care and education.

MEMBERSHIP

The Toddle Inn Day Care is a registered, non-profit society; membership is comprised of parents whose

children attend our Day Care, and interested community members. There is a $60.00 annual

membership fee, payable when children are enrolled. This membership allows you to attend the yearly

General Meeting of the Society and to be elected to the Board of Directors, who help set policies and

govern the Day Care. We are a government licensed and approved Day Care Center. Membership fees

are due May 1st of each year and will be pro-rated at the time of enrollment.

REGISTRATION

Before you child attends Facility, you must complete all forms contained in the Registration package, and

sign the necessary consent forms. This information is needed to meet Licensing requirements and to

help us provide the best possible care for your child. All information will be kept strictly confidential. A

new contact information sheet will be sent out every six months, according to licensing requests, to keep

our records updated.

ENROLLMENT AND FEES

Enrollment may be full time/part time/hourly. For more information contact the Manager. Fees are paid in

full on the first working day of the month. Fees that remain unpaid for three working days will result in

termination of care until payment is received in full. All accounts over thirty days will be forwarded to

Commercial Credit Adjusters for collection. Space must be booked and paid for in advance. Additional

days can be booked based upon availability of space. Payment for additional days due in advance on the

morning the child attends.

SUBSIDY

Parents applying for subsidy for the first time will be charged the monthly fee on the first day attending

and credited the subsidy when it is received. If subsidy is not credited to the Day Care, the parents are

responsible for the entire fee.

RETURNED CHEQUE CHARGE

There is a $25.00 service charge for all returned cheques. A certified cheque, money order or cash must

pay all future payments. Receipts will be issued upon payment of fee invoice. These receipts are

necessary for Income Tax purposes.

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PROGRAM

If you must withdraw your child from our program TWO WEEK’S WRITTEN NOTICE IS REQUIRED OR

WE REQUIRE PAYMENT FOR THAT MONTH IN LIEU OF NOTICE. There is no fee discount for any

absence during that period.

HOURS OF OPERATION

The center is open daily between 6:30 a.m. and 6:15 p.m., Monday to Friday, with the exception of all

statutory holidays. As we do not staff the daycare after 6:15 p.m., you must ensure your child is picked

up before closing by yourself or designate.

LATE PICKUPS

All families and authorized persons must pick up children by 6:00 p.m. When late pick up is unavoidable,

the parent/guardian or authorized person is expected to notify the centre immediately and make alternate

arrangements for pick up as soon as possible. Late charges will be applied after 6:00 p.m.

When any child is still at the center with no word from the parent/guardian/authorized person after 6:15

p.m. we will attempt to contact the parent/guardian at work, home, or any other phone number located on

our registration forms. If unable to contact the parent/guardian or authorized persons the staff will then

call the emergency contacts listed on the forms and arrange for pick up. If unable to contact the

parent/guardian/emergency contact by 6:30 p.m. staff will then contact the Manager.

The Manager will again attempt to contact all persons listed on the child’s registration forms. If

unsuccessful, the Manager will contact the Ministry for Children and Families to arrange pick up for the

children and will try to leave a message for the family specifying the actions taken.

LATE PICKUP CHARGES – PAYABLE TO THE STAFF WHO STAYED

The following extra charges will be applied:

6:00 – 6:20 p.m. -- $20.00 6:20 – 6:25 p.m. -- $25.00

6:25 – 6:30 p.m. -- $30.00 6:30 – 6:35 p.m. -- $35.00

6:35 – 6:40 p.m. -- $40.00

RELEASE OF A CHILD

No person is permitted to pick up a child unless we have been given written permission by the parent.

Registration forms should show any alternate pick-ups or court ordered custody order, which may restrict

or limit persons from picking up. When a pick-up person is not on the registration form, the center

requires written or voice confirmation from the parent as well as valid photo identification from the

individual picking up the child. If the requirements have not been met, the child is not to leave the center

and the parent/guardian will be contacted immediately.

It is the center’s legal responsibility to ensure the safety and well being of the child. This may require the

center to not release a child to an authorized person whom, for any reason appears unable to adequately

care for the child. It will be necessary for the employees to not release the child and to notify

management immediately if the pickup person is incapable of providing safe care:

Examples: Suspected of being impaired

Not authorized as a pick up person

Not in compliance with a court ordered custody agreement

For any other reason that may comprise the child’s safety and well being

If the Manager is not available staff is not to release the child and are to contact the Manager by phone. If

the authorized pickup person becomes uncooperative, hostile or takes the child, staff is to call 911 and

report to the RCMP and contact the Manager by phone. If the Manager is available they will be required

to explain why the child cannot be released because of potential safety concerns.

GRIEVANCE POLICY

Should there a conflict between parents and staff, the parent is advised to approach the program

Manager to find a solution.

CHILD DEVELOPMENT

As trained early childhood educators, our staff ensures all areas of development are met through our daily

program. In small cases, children may not be developing at the same pace as others in their group.

Developmental screening may be necessary; parents will be notified prior to this occurring. If concerns

are seen through the screening process, the Manager may refer the parent onto community resources for

further aid. The daycare will strive to work with the families to continue care and support. If parents have

concerns regarding their child’s development, and how the program will meet their needs, please contact

the Manager.

IMMUNIZATION RECORDS

We request that parents/guardians provide us with a written record of their child’s immunizations to date,

as well as any subsequent immunizations. If parent/guardian has chosen not to immunize a written notice

is to be provided to the center. When a child has not been immunized or we have not received

immunization records, and an infectious outbreak occurs, the Health Authority may deem it unsafe for that

child to attend our facility.

ILLNESS AND INJURY

The Health Department regulations prohibit us from accepting any child at the center that is running a

fever, vomiting, and/or is contagious. Please remember to call the center if your child is not attending.

We also need to inform the Health authority and other parents of any contagious condition or illness. If

your child has something that is contagious a Doctor’s note is required before they can return to the

center.

If your child becomes ill during the course of the program, you will be notified immediately and your child

will be kept comfortable until someone can pick him/her up.

If your child receives an injury, he/she will receive prompt treatment. If they require immediate medical

attention, the parent will be notified and transportation to the nearest health care facility will be arranged.

If your child requires immediate medication to be administered at the Day Care, a medical consent form

must be signed by the parent or guardian in advance and the medicine must be in the original container

listing child’s name, doctor’s name, date prescribed, drug name, dosage and frequency. An assigned

staff person will administer the medication and sign the form to show time and dosage.

ATTENDANCE

If your child will be absent on any day booked, please notify the Day Care prior to 8:00 a.m. on that day,

so plans for group activities are not held up. Also, we need to know an estimation of your child’s arrival

and departure time.

We will go by the times that you designate on the registration form. If these times are to change, we must

be notified at least a day in advance so that we can ensure proper staff to child ratios at all times. Your

co-operation is greatly appreciated in this matter. We ask that children not be picked up during their nap

times (12:00-12:30 p.m.) if possible, as it is disruptive to the other children’s rest.

All families are required to fill out a schedule for each month, to aid in billing and staffing.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

Children are to be taken directly to their classrooms and the teacher must be notified of the child’s arrival

each day. Children are never to be left unattended inside the front door without the staff knowing they

have arrived. When children are taken to playrooms, parent must sign them in, entering the time &

initialing in the Child Attendance Binder. This same procedure must be followed when the children are

picked up. It is very important that this procedure is followed each day.

ITEMS TO BE BROUGHT

Children over 19 months:

All children should be supplied with extra changes of clothes. Children in potty training should have 4

extra sets to cover accidents. All children should have suitable clothing for weather conditions, including:

mitts, scarves, toques, or sun hats. Both indoor and outdoor footwear is required.

Children under 19 months:

Plastic bottles with formula, baby food, diapers (disposable), baby wipes and two complete changes of

clothing, and appropriate outdoor wear. We also request a written schedule or naps, feeding time and any

other pertinent information on their care. BABIES MUST BE ABLE TO BOTTLE FEED FOR US TO MEET

THEIR NEEDS AND PROVIDE QAUALITY CARE.

All Age Groups:

All age groups are required to supply their own lunch. We recommend a sandwich or finger food or a non-

breakable thermos with hot food, fruit, vegetable and a nutritious dessert. Foods needing to be kept cold

are recommended to be included with an ice pack. We encourage families to offer health food choices at

home and daycare for children’s optimal development. Food that is not permitted by Alberta Daycare

Licensing is nuts or seeds, hard candy, gum, or caramel toffee, popcorn, gumdrops or jelly beans or

snacks made of toothpicks. Other foods where caution is advised is whole grapes, hot dogs that are not

sliced lengthwise, large vegetable pieces, fruit with pits, fish with bones, and peanut butter spread too

thick. Toddle Inn will continue to provide 2 nutritional snacks with juice each day.

GUIDANCE AND DISCIPLINE

Children differ in terms of their activity level, distractibility and sensitivity. We accept and understand

these differences in children’s styles in order to offer effective and appropriate guidance. We recognize

that growth entails making mistakes and that difficulties are normal, expected part of their development,

therefore we remain respectful in difficult situations and take time to offer verbal explanations and

guidance to help children gain confidence, competence and social problem-solving skills.

We provide environment that encourages caring and co-operative relationships so that children can learn

to relate with each other in positive ways.

Schedules, routines and transitions serve as a framework from which children gain trust, security and

order. While these can be flexible to some degree, they must provide children with clear guidelines about

what is expected. Meeting children’s needs throughout the day requires that appropriately balance

between active and restful periods, individual and group activities and child initiated/adult initiated content.

We appreciate these principles of child development and have developed attitudes and practices that are

based on realistic expectation of children’s needs and abilities.

Child Guidance Policy

GUIDENCE STRATEGIES-PREVENTION

Employees will:

-Establish clear consistent limit

-offer straight forward explanations for limits

-state limits in a positive rather than negative way

-focus on behavior, rather than the child

-state what is expected, rather than pose questions

-provide choices

-allow time for children to respond to expectations

-reinforce appropriate behavior, both with words and gestures

-ignore minor incidents

-encourage children to use staff as a resource

-be alert

-use proximity

GUIDENCE STRATEGIES –INTERVENTION

Employees will:

-gain a child’s attention in a respectful way

-use proximity to touch

-remind

-acknowledge feeling before setting limits

-redirect or divert when appropriate

-model problem-solving skills

-offer appropriate choices

-use natural and logical consequences

-limit the use of equipment

-provide opportunities for children to make amends

CHALLENGING BEHAVIROS-INTERVENTION

Employees will:

-use redirection

-offer time away

-hold a child only if his/her, another child’s or the employees’ safety is at immediate risk

CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS-PREVENTION

Employees will:

-implement individual support plans

-document in individual log books

-communicate any concerns or questions

RESPONSIBILITY

All employees are to ensure that no child in facility is:

-subjected to shoving, hitting, shaking or spanking or any form of corporal punishment

-subjected to harsh belittling or degrading treatment, weather verbal, emotional or physical that would humiliate the child or undermine the child’s self respect

-as a form of punishment, confine, or physically restrain

-as a form of punishment deprive of meals, snacks, rest or necessary use of toilet

Our Three Step Approach involves: Talking to the child calming and redirecting in a positive direction,

then removing the child from the situation.

Time Out

Limits will be set by all staff members, with the children’s safety, general welfare, and the protection of the

rights of others being their guide lines, and these limits will be clearly defined and consistently maintained

by all staff at all times. The staff will at all times be calm, speak quietly, and manage their own feelings

acceptably when encountering difficult situations, and will at all times set a positive example for children

to follow. It will be the responsibility of each staff member to seek to understand why issues are arising

and make every effort to remedy the cause or causes.

GENERAL INFORMATION

We provide two nutritional snacks with juice daily for your child at 7:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Parents are

required to send a nutritious snack lunch for their child daily. Parents, who wish religious restrictions,

especially in regards to diet, are asked to notify the Manager so suitable arrangements can be made. If

for any reason (allergies), your child may not eat any of the foods shown on the weekly menu, the

Manager and all staff must be informed. If substitutes or special foods must be used, parents will be

asked to supply them.

Birthdays are very special days for a child and at daycare we all celebrate each child’s birthday with a

party at afternoon snack. Parents are asked to bring a cake or cupcakes for the party.

Please discourage your child from bringing toys from home to the Center. We try to teach the children

that all toys at Day Care there for everyone’s enjoyment and it is sometimes hard for a child to share their

special toys from home with other children.

These guidelines have been prepared to help you and your child and to assist our staff. We want to work

with you to provide the best possible care for your children.

Any special items or articles of interest to others, parents or staff are welcome and appreciated. Please

feel free to bring anything you feel pertinent and post it in our bulletin board in the entry.

Thank you.

We hope to provide a solid first-step in education for your child at Toddle Inn Daycare.