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Teresa’s Tiny Tots Daycare Policies
The following information is for the parents and children for my Daycare. It is critical that this information be filled out and returned to me BEFORE your child starts Teresa's Tiny Tots Daycare. This is for everyone's protection. Please read each section thoroughly, for it has important information on our policies and guidelines. Please do not hesitate to notify me directly if there are any questions directed toward this information.
Forms
I will be giving you a folder full of forms at our first interview that is a necessity for me to run my daycare properly. Please fill out all forms completely and honestly. Inform me of any changes in addresses or information as soon as possible. These forms are due to me before the child starts daycare.
Hours of Operation
My hours of operation are from 6:30am to 5:30pm, Monday through Friday. 5:30 is firm. For every 15 minutes you are late, a $15.00 fee will be assessed. If you are going to be late after 15 minutes, you need to call and other arrangements need to be made with your child. Even though I do love what I am doing, this is a career choice. My office hours are over at 5:30 and I have responsibilities after my day "at the office" just like you do. I thank you for the consideration and respect for that.
Fees
My fees are $175.00 per infant* and $150.00 per child over 18 months of age per week. Part time children are $35.00 a day for an infant and $30.00 a day for 18 months and up. Payments are due on the Monday prior to each work week. IF payments are late, (after Monday when you pick up your child), there will be a late fee of $15.00 per day. If you are more than 2 days late, termination will occur on Day 3. Any returned check fees will be paid by you. There will also be a $25.00 returned check fee and cash will only be required thereafter. If all fees are not current, children will not be able to return to daycare unless arrangements are made with me in advance.
If for any reason a court date has been set for collection, you, the parent/guardian will be responsible for all fees related to this case. This may include, but not be limited to late fees, attorney and legal fees, and any court costs.
* Once your infant turns 18 months of age the rate will be lowered to $150.00 per week.
Holidays
I will be taking these holidays off with pay:
- New Year's Day
- Good Friday
- Memorial Day
- July 4th
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving
- Friday after Thanksgiving
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
Vacations
A (full time) child may take up to 2 weeks of vacation from the daycare at no cost to you per year. These 2 weeks will be from your start date. A minimum of 2 weeks notice will be required of the Parent/Guardian if they will be using the vacation stated above. Once these days are used up or any other days used, payment of the day absent must be included in the weekly rate to insure child's position in the daycare.
The Provider agrees to give the Parent/Guardian 4 weeks notice if the Provider intends to close the daycare to accommodate a vacation by the Provider. The Provider also has 2 weeks vacation per year. Any days after that, payment will be waived.
The Provider may also close the daycare up to 5 days for sick days at no cost to the Parent/Guardian.
Termination of Services
Either party may terminate the Childcare Agreement Contract with a 2 week written notice. The Provider may terminate the Contract immediately in the event that the child's behavior endangers the other children in the daycare or the Provider. The Provider may also terminate the contract if the Parent/Guardian breaks any agreements in the contract.
Drop off and Pick Up Procedures
Dropping off the little ones sometimes may seem devastating. Please make these departures loving, but brief. Children have a tendency to get occupied with other things and not realize that the parents are gone and are just fine after a few minutes. I have to share my attention with all of the children and I cannot have a long drawn out good bye. I promise they will be in good hands.
You will be filling out a Child Pickup Authorization form when you receive your paperwork. I will not release any child to anyone that is not on that form unless otherwise informed by the Parent/Guardian. If I have not met the person picking up the child, I will be asking for identification. No Exceptions on this rule. I am legally responsible for your child while in my care, so this rule is strictly enforced!
Failure to Pick Up Your Child
If for some reason you as the parent would not pick up the child and I cannot reach either parent or anyone on the contact list within 1 hour of closing, I will be relinquishing custody of your child to the Delaware City Police Department. They will be responsible after that to contact the contacts of that child. I will give them all the current information that I have.
Child's Illness
For the sake of your child and the other children in the daycare, I do not care for ill children. The health of all of the children is important to me. If you have any questions regarding the illness and their attendance, please call as soon as possible. I do not claim to be a pediatrician, but I do not want to take any chances. You may be required to submit a doctor's note before the child may return to daycare . This is to ensure that a child does not return to daycare still contagious, and expose the other children. In many cases, some contagious illnesses are no longer contagious after 24 hours of an antibiotic. Do not bring your child until he/she has been given 24 hours of the antibiotic. Also, your child must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to daycare.
There are also some illnesses that by law, exclude a child from attending childcare. Some of these illnesses are but not limited to:
- Pink Eye
- Diarrhea
- Impetigo
- Chicken Pox
- Hepatitis A
- Scarlet Fever
- Scabies
- Lice
- Ringworm
- Strep Throat
- Vomiting
- Fever over 100 degrees
All children must be up to date on their immunizations required by law before he/she may attend daycare.
Absence and Illness
If you know your child is ill and he/she will not be at daycare, please call as soon as you know that they will not be attending. I would greatly appreciate this courtesy.
Medications
Any medications that must be given to your child at daycare will need to be in the original bottle with the directions, Doctor's name and number on it, the child's name, correct dosage and when it should be taken. There will be a form to fill out to give me permission to administer the medication. Any over the counter medication must have a signed slip that tells the medication name, dosage, and when it is to be administered.
Proper Attire
I will be doing many activities with these children. Most children can be very messy! Whether it's when they eat or when they are doing arts and crafts. They may even possibly fall into a mud puddle while outside playing. Please be aware that my main goal is for them to learn and to have fun, I cannot be tailing them to make sure they stay clean. So, if need to be, send them in play clothes, please.
We will also be going outside. If your child is not dressed for it, we will not be able to. The cooler months, please make sure they have warm clothes to go outside in. I do not want to have to send any sick children home, so please do this for them.
Children are also to take their shoes off at the door. We want to keep the carpets as clean as we possibly can.
During the summer I will ask you to leave an extra bathing suit for those hot days that we can play in the water.
Meals and Snacks
I will be providing breakfast, lunch and 2 snacks every day. I will give you a weekly menu and if your child does not care for what is on the menu, he / she can pack a lunch. I do not make any exceptions.
Nap Time/Quiet Time
Children under 5 will be required to lie down for nap time at 1:00. I will provide cots, pillows, and blankets. If your child has anything special that he/she sleeps with you may send it along, but please have their names on it so it does not get lost in the toys.
The older children can quietly watch a movie or read a book during nap time. They are required to remain quiet during this time. Please avoid picking or dropping off between 1:00 and 3:00. I don't want to disturb the sleeping children and that would cause too much commotion.
Guidance Policy
At "Teresa's Tiny Tots Daycare", my guidance policy consists of : First, encouraging the children to solve the problem on their own. If that does not work, I will discuss the issue and then redirect them to something else. Then, they will have loss of privileges, and last result will be alone time or "time out".
Potty Training
I plan to encourage the potty training issue if the child is ready. If the parent/Caregiver is enforcing it at home, then I will also encourage. Children are not to be brought in underwear until they are 2 weeks accident free. Please make sure they use diapers or pull-ups until that period is over.
Birthdays and other Special Parties
Every child's birthday is their own special day! I will make sure they know that also. Each child will receive a birthday gift and a party on their birthdays. I will also be making a special treat for them that day, too. If the parents would rather make the treat, I have no objections to that. I need to know ahead of time so there are no hurt feelings.
We will be celebrating other holiday parties as well. We will have a Valentine's Party, Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween Party, a Thanksgiving Day Feast, and a Christmas Party. Parents are welcome to participate if they like.
Open Door Policy
I do have an open door policy. The only time that is off limits, is during nap / quiet time so that the children are not interrupted. Please, feel free to come in and see how much fun they are having. The only thing I do ask, when other adults are present, children tend to test their boundaries, they seem to think that because Mom or Dad is here they do not have to abide by my rules. Please make sure they do until they leave the premises. If I have problems with this, I may have to ask you not to drop by.
My Expectations of the Children
I will enforce certain rules in my daycare. I feel these rules are fair and probably not too different from rules at home. If you feel any are too harsh, then please discuss this with me and I will see what options I can take. But please remember, I am running a daycare with multiple children and I have to keep some level of organization. These rules also enforce the safety of your children.
Safety Rules are:
- No screaming inside. We use inside voices at all times inside.
- No hitting, biting, scratching, hair pulling, kicking, etc.
- No picking up the other children.
- No leaving the premises.
- No running, jumping or wrestling/fighting inside.
- No play guns or swords are allowed.
- No degrading the other children or myself.
- No gum in the daycare.
- No jumping or standing on furniture.
Please be aware that these rules are for the safety of your own child and his / her well-being.
Supplies
Please make sure that I have these supplies for your child's basket:
- Extra set of clothing....accidents do happen, not to mention, we can be pretty messy at art time!
- Proper outdoor apparel: coat, hat, gloves, boots, etc…
- Diapers......please bring plenty, in case the child may go more than normal (I would like to keep extra in his basket)
- Wipes
- Formula and / or breast milk
- Bathing suit for the summer's hot days
- Diaper Ointments
- Sunscreen
- Other items may be asked for throughout the year
Services / Experience Provided
Certified First Aid and Infant/Child and Adult CPR with AED
Outdoor Playground
Big, fenced-in backyard
How to Recognize and Report Child Abuse Training
Monthly Newsletter
Age appropriate toys and activities
Completely Smoke-Free Home
Meals and Snacks Provided Daily
Regular fire drills
A Note to the Parents / Caregivers
This is my career choice. I chose to care for children as if they were my own and to give them the love and kindness you would want out of anyone who was to be with your child. Please realize that I am in this for the long term relationship and to make a difference in their lives so that when they grow up, they will remember me as their loving caretaker.
Please also remember that I will go above and beyond to give your child the respect that he / she deserves. I ask the parents and also the children to also give me respect in my daycare by following my rules in this handbook. I have put an extreme amount of effort, thought and love into my daycare business and I want it to go on until I decide that it is time to retire.
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your child's life!
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