Health Exclusion Policy
Control of communicable illnesses among the children is our prime concern.
Policy
Children will not be allowed to attend the center if they have the following symptoms within the past 24 hours.
-Pain. Unexplained or un diagnosed
– A fever of 38.3 C
– Signs of newly developed cold or severe coughing
– Diarrhea, vomiting or upset stomach.
– Unusual or unexplained loss of appetite, fatigue, irritability or headache and /or stiff neck.
– Sore throat and/or trouble swallowing
– Infected skin, or undiagnosed rash
– Sore, red, weeping, swollen eyes.
– Difficulty breathing
The child cannot return to daycare until 24 hours after a fever breaks and /or vomiting or diarrhea stops.
Procedure:
If a child becomes ill during the day, staff will take and record their temperature. If a fever is discovered the parents will be called and asked to make arrangements to pick up their child. The same procedure if the child vomits or has diarrhea.
Active Play Policy
Active Play consists of physical activity which includes moderate to vigorous bursts of high energy, raises children’s heart rates and makes them “huff and puff” ; such as running, jumping and skipping.
Policy:
There will be at least 120 minutes combined of active play through out the day.
There will be at least 60 minutes of outside play per day, weather permitting.
Procedure:
Through out the day, for 15 minutes instalments, there will be time for the children to use their bodies to get their heart rate going. This could include jumping, dancing, stretching, singing action songs like Head and shoulders, or the hokey pokey.
For outside play the children are encouraged to climb, run, skip, jump and explore the outdoors.
Occasionally the class may go on a community walk.
Screen Time Policy
Policy:
If screen time occurs it will be for less than 30 minutes per day. This will include TV and computers. Only themes of education will be utilized.
Clothing
All children need to come to Parker James in clothing appropriate for outdoor play. Children must feel free to get involved in all activities and not worry about getting dirty. Children will be running, climbing, digging and playing continuously. As we plan to be outside at least 2-4 hours per day (weather permitting).
The following items should be marked with a name and at Parker James at all times:
- Complete change of clothing (or 2)
- Light jacket for summer/heavy for winter. Water proof is best
- Gloves in winter
- Inside shoes
- Child size blankets for napping
- Water bottle
- Hat
- Emergency kit (water bottle, Kleenex/tissue, emergency poncho, emergency blanket, flashlight, granola bar, band aids). These things will fit in a large Ziploc freezer bag.
Please do not bring toys from home.
Nutrition and Menu Planning Policy
Policy:
Parker James will provide light, healthy snacks in the morning and afternoon, 10:30 am and 3:30 pm, Monday thru Thursday, on Fridays the parents will supply snacks. Parents are responsible for the provision of a healthy, nutritious lunch for their child on a daily basis.
Foods supplied from home shall be stored and served under sanitary conditions. Items which may be perishable within the time they were prepared, and intended to be eaten, shall be refrigerated.
Parker James will provide only healthy, whole foods, including fruits and vegetables, proteins, grains and dairy. These will be based on the recommendations of the Canadian Food Guide.
Parents will supply their child with a water bottle , which they will bring in and take home each day.
The staff will ensure the water bottles are refilled with filtered water as required through out the day.
Children will be supervised by a staff while eating.
Lunch will be offered at 12:00.
Food prep will done in the kitchen area of the center.
Staff at Parker James will have their Food Safe certification.
Parents will be given a menu at the beginning of each month.
Parker James will keep an updated log of children with food allergies or dietary restrictions. Alternative food will be provided for these children.
A list of children with allergies or food restrictions will be clearly posted on the fridge, by the food prep area. Another list will be clearly posted in the room by the eating area for the staff to see.
Behavioural Management Policy
Parker James offers an environment that is ordered and organized, diminishing potential problems in behaviours.
To meet the child’s needs in the centre , the established guidelines will be kept clear, yet flexible.
Children will be encouraged to focus and become involved in productive learning experiences through a wide variety of appropriate toys and material.
Schedules, routines and transitions serve as a frame work to staff and provides an atmosphere which foster trust, security and comfort to the children.
Children will be given clear and simple choices.
Guidance strategies:
Prevention
-clear consistent and simple limits are set.
-straightforward explanations for these limits are set.
-limits will be stated in a positive, rather than negative way.
– the behaviour will be focused on , not the child.
-Appropriate behaviour is reinforced with gestures and words.
-Minor incidents will be overlooked barring they don’t progress.
– children are encouraged to come to staff for help.
-staff constantly scan to gain total awareness of what is happening and to foresee troubles.
Intervention
-reminders are used to clarify and reinforce limits, and discussions on what they can do differently.
-positive attention for good behaviour will be given. Use encouragement on good choices.
-help children recognize and name feelings, identify problems, and come up with ideas for solving the problem and try possible solutions.
-help children learn how to correct their behaviours, learn about natural consequences and logical consequences. This can lead to children learning self regulation.
– staff will set a good example on coping with emotions.
– redirection will be used when a child is unable to resolve a problem using other strategies.
Behavioural Management Policy Cont.
-a child may need a time away from others in order to calm down, or clear their emotions so they can focus. This can be achieved by going to the reading corner, or sitting with a quiet toy. Once child feels they are ready they can join the group or another friend or seek more help from a staff member.
– children will be given genuine opportunities to restore relationships and make amends, rather than superficial apologies.
Holding/restraint
In extreme instances, when the child is in danger of hurting them selves or others, after all other strategies have been unsuccessful, it may be necessary to use a restraint hold. This would be considered an emergency restraint. The Child Care Licensing Regulation defines an emergency restraint as a “ restraint that is necessary to protect the chid or others from imminent serious physical harm and is not approved and documented in a child’s care plan.” Caregivers are required to report the use of an emergency restraint to the Medical Health Officer with in 24 hours and to the parents.
Child Release Policy
Staff will only release a child to a person who is authorized to take the child. These persons must be listed in the registration package.
Exceptions to the policy:
The only times when exceptions to this policy may be made are:
- If the parent has given written and verbal permission for another person who is not listed on the registration form to pick up their child.
- If a parent is unexpectedly detained and is unable to come to the center to pick up their child and has then called the center and given verbal permission for another person who is not listed on the form to pick up their child.
- When a parent has given verbal permission for another parent whose child is in the centre to pick up their child at the end of the day.
Parents must provide staff with information an the person they are authorizing for pick up of their child (ie. Name, address, phone number, a general description of their physical characteristics and relationship to the child).
If the parents phone in the request, time of the call and the information must be documented.
Staff will require photo ID of anyone unknown to staff who will pick up the child.
The staff will not release a child to an unauthorized person until the parent has been reached and has given verbal permission.
Parents with custody issues MUST provide the staff with clear details and copies of any legal paperwork so that it can be kept in the child’s file if necessary for concerns at pick up.
Parent with custody issues MUST be clear on when the other parent can or cannot pick up the child. If the other parent is not allowed to pick up the child the police will be called if that parent attempts to remove the child from the center. In this situation child will not be allowed to leave the center until the parent with custody arrives.
Alleged Impaired Authorized Pick Up.
If staff believes a person picking up the child is not fit or safe to care for the child the staff will offer to call the alternate person on the child’s registration list to come pick up the person and the child.
If the staff believes the person picking up the child is not safe or fit to care for the child or is not safe or fit to drive a vehicle , the staff will call and report to the police, giving license plate number and type of car.
Any incident will be recorded and kept on file.
Un authorized persons entering the center
Any person entering the center who are unauthorized will not be allowed to visit Parker James center until time authorization is given.
Any unauthorized person will be told of the policy, asked for their reason for entering the premises and then asked to leave until authorization is given.
Any unauthorized person not complying with these requests will be given a second chance to comply, if they do not the police will be called.
Any incident of this nature will be recorded and kept on file.
Child Release Policy
Failure to pick up child
Policy
If after closing the child has not been picked up and after trying to reach parents or emergency contacts for 30 minutes, there is no response, then social services will be called to take custody of the child.
Procedure
The center will close at 6pm. All children will be picked up before 6pm. On the occasion that a child has not been picked up staff will attempt to call the parents of the child. If there is no response from the parents then the emergency contact will be called. The calls will be made continuously until a person is reached. When contact has been made the staff will remain with the child until the child is picked up. The family will be charged the $1/ minute fine, to be paid to the staff member as soon as possible.
If after 30 minutes no contact has been made with anyone on the list of emergency contacts then social services will be called. The staff will remain with the child until they arrive and take custody of the child.
If the parent arrives in the meantime, try to contact social services and inform them the parent has picked up. If social services can not be reached staff will wait for their arrival .
This incident will be documented and recorded.
Emergency Management Policy
Earthquakes
Comfort bags supplied by the parents will be evacuated with the children in a wheeled bin. Comfort bags will contain,
Water, non perishable food , pants, top, sweater/sweatshirt, socks, shoes, family photo, and comfort toy.
A rolling bin, containing comfort bags, extra water and energy bars. Phone charger and clothing, water and food for staff. 3 or 4 blankets, toilet paper roll, a tarp, a first aid kit and a copy of the children’s emergency contact information will be stored in the napping room. When the center is open the bin will be kept in the far corner of the back yard, outside.
Policy
During an earthquake the children will take cover under the nearest table , away from windows.
After an earthquake the children will be evacuated from the center, with out taking the time to put on outdoor clothing or foot ware.
When it is safe to do so the wheeled bin will be retrieved from the backyard and brought to where the children are.
The staff will try to contact the parents / emergency contacts. However it is the parents responsibility to reach their child at Parkcrest Elementary School as soon as possible.
Procedure
If tremors are felt the staff will call out EARTHQUAKE.
The staff will assist the children in finding a safe spot until the tremors stop.
Children will take cover under tables, holding on to the table legs, and stay in position until the staff declares it is safe to come out.
In the case of a minor tremor, the class would continue on. A discussion would happen about the experience.
If there is damage to the center that would put the children to risk the EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES would be followed. If it is safe the wheeled bin will be collected and everyone will be evacuated to Parkcrest Elementary School, which is the Earthquake Emergency Center for our area.
All attempts will be made to contact the parents/ emergency contacts. The staff will stay with the children until they are all picked up.
The parents will be notified in the enrolment package of the Emergency Evacuation Process.
The centre will have an annual earthquake drill.
Emergency Management Policy
Emergency evacuation
In the case of any emergency requiring the building to be evacuated, the children would be moved out, with out taking the time to put on outdoor clothing or footwear.
An emergency Bag will be kept beside the group at all times, the bag will contain emergency contact numbers and a first aid kit. The emergency bag will accompany the children when ever they leave the center.( Field trips, community walk , or emergency evacuation etc.)
Procedure:
The staff will calmly gather the children, emergency bag, Registration book and cell phone and then proceed to leave the building through the safest Exit. The Emergency route will be posted in the class room.
The children will be moved across the street.
Once the building has been evacuated a roll call will be taken.
Once the attendance is taken then 911 will be called.
If the emergency requires it the children will be led to Parkcrest Elementary School.
Once in the safety of the school Parents/ emergency contacts will be called and children will be comforted until parents arrive for pick up.
The parents will have been notified in the enrollment package of the Emergency Evacuation Process.
Policy of Emergency Management
Fire or Fire alarm
Children will be evacuated for every fire alarm.
Children will be evacuated if smoke is smelt.
Children will be moved out, with out taking the time to put on outdoor clothing or footwear.
An emergency Bag will be kept beside the group at all times, the bag will contain emergency contact numbers and a first aid kit. The emergency bag will accompany the children when ever they leave the center.( Field trips, community walk , emergency evacuation, earthquake, or fire.)
Procedure:
The staff will calmly gather the children, emergency bag, registration book and cell phone and then proceed to leave the building through the safest Exit. The Emergency route will be posted in the class room.
The children will be moved across the street.
Once the building has been evacuated a roll call will be taken.
Once the attendance is taken then 911 will be called.
If the emergency requires it, the children will be led to Parkcrest Elementary School.
Once in the safety of the school, Parents/ emergency contacts will be called and children will be comforted until parents arrive for pick up.
The parents will have been notified in the enrollment package of the Emergency Evacuation Process.
No one will re enter the building until the fire department gives the ok.
If this is a fire drill the children may re enter the center after the drill is completed.
Center Fire drills will be practiced and documented once a month.
Fee Policy
All payments are due on or before the 1st of the month
$30.00 fine will be given for any NSF cheques.
Parents will be responsible for making arrangements for Affordable Child Care Benefits if necessary, and will inform the center of these arrangements.
Parents are responsible for the full payment of fees until the payments are received by the center
Reimbursement or credits will be issued after the payment has arrived from the Benefits service center.
Parents will be responsible for the balance of the fees each month that are not covered by the Affordable Child Care Benefits Service
Parents will be responsible to renew their Benefits at least 2 weeks before their expiry date.
Both providers and parents are required to report the actual cost of the space per child, less any parent fee reduction – if applicable – to the Affordable Child Care Benefit Program. Providers and Parents can call the Affordable Child Care Benefit Service Center at 1-888-338-6622 (select Option 1) or submit a new Affordable Child Care Benefit Child Care Arrangement form to indicate the new child care fee.
Late pick up fees
A fee of $1.00 / minute will be charged for late pick up of children. The Fee will be paid directly to the staff member working at that time.
Procedure
Post dated cheques will be collected and filed, dated for the first of the month.
A bill will be given to parents that have NSF fines.
ACC Benefits forms will be filed in an ACC Benefits folder
Repayment Agreement Policy
Policy:
Repayment of deposit will be given if the center has been given one month written notice of leaving. The refund will be issued after the last months payments have cleared and any outstanding monies are payed.
Procedure:
On enrollment, each family will be given a written statement clearly outlining when they can expect their deposit returned upon withdrawal from Parker James. The statement will also detail when they are not entitled to a repayment. For example: One month written notice not given, withdrawal with out any notice,. Parents will be asked to sign an agreement stating they have read an understand this.
Both the facility and the parents will have a copy of this agreement.
Reportable Incident Policy
Policy
Licensing will be contacted within 24 hours to be advised of any reportable incidents. A list of reportable incidents can be found in the facility resource binder. Minor incidents will be reported to the parents and also kept in a log book at the facility.
Procedure:
A reportable incident form will be filled out and sent immediately to licensing.
The centers copy will be filed under incident forms, with the blank forms, until incident is closed.
Wait for reply from licensing on the issue.
Reporting Abuse and/or Neglect.
Policy:
All incidents of abuse or neglect will be reported to licensing, if it occurs in the centre. A staff member will report to licensing another staff member who may be involved with abusing or neglecting a child.
A staff member will report to licensing if a child discloses abuse by another staff member or person outside the center. That staff will also contact the Ministry of Children and Families.
A staff member will report to licensing if a parent or another individual discloses abuse to a child in or out of the center. That staff will also contact the Ministry of Children and Families.
A staff member will report to the Ministry of Children and Families if they suspect or observe a child ,not in the care of the center, being abused.
Procedure:
Documentations will be made of all disclosures.
Staff will write down what they can remember of the conversation as soon as possible. Make any observations and document them. If possible all persons involved need to write out their statement and sign it.
If an investigation is required by licensing. a Health and Safety plan will be implemented based on licensing requirements and suggestions.
Safety Plan will be followed.
Policy of Emergency Management
Medical Emergency
All staff, now or in the future, will have a certified First Aid Certificate, at the standard Child Safe Level. An appropriate First Aid Kit is on the premises and is taken on all outings.
Staff will provide all necessary first aid, and needed comfort, for all incidents.
Parents will not be contacted for minor scrapes, bumps etc., but will be informed at pick up time.
Parents will be contacted if a child required medical attention that could not be adequately provided by a staff. It will be the parents choice to transport the child to a medical facility.
911 will be called immediately if a child loses consciousness, has difficulty breathing or stops breathing, the parent will be called secondly.
Due to the care and attention needed by the other children in the center and the staff/child ratio requirements, no child can be accompanied to a medical facility, by a staff, or transported in a teachers vehicle.
Missing Child Emergency
Staff will spontaneously do a head count in the classroom at various times during the day. Any time a child must leave the group, such as to go to the bathroom, the child will be monitored.
If a child is declared missing the staff will look for the child, with the group, calling their name. After 2 minutes if the child is not located 911 will be called.
Procedure:
At the moment a child is not accounted for the staff member would check and search all areas of the facility, indoors and out, without unnecessarily upsetting the other children.
If the child is located and unharmed the parent will be informed of the incident at the time of pickup.
The incident will be recorded in the centers incident book
If the child is not located after 2 minute search 911 will be called.
The missing child’s parent or emergency contact person would be contacted at this time also.
When 911 is called it now becomes a reportable incident, fill out form and send off to licensing immediately.
Await response from licensing.
Follow licensing’s suggestions and recommendations.
Staff bathroom procedure.
If the staff needs to use the bathroom the children will be brought to one area, an older child will be asked to watch over the younger ones and the staff will take a baby monitor with them as they quickly use the bathroom.
Health Policy
Parker James is a non smoking facility.
All children must have, on record, a listing of their immunization status: fully immunized, incomplete or not immunized.
If the Medical Health Officer in the area declares an outbreak of an infectious disease, all un immunized children may not attend the daycare until the MHO declares it safe to do so.
Parents will IMMEDIATELY inform staff if the child has come into contact with or has contracted any communicable diseases or parasites.
All parents will sign an emergency consent form allowing permission for the child to be hospitalized, and /or cared for by ambulance, inhalator attendants in the case of an emergency.
The staff will make all reasonable efforts to contact the parent (s) and /or emergency contacts in an emergency situation.
Administration of Medication
Policy:
It is our policy at Parker James that no fever reducing medication will be given to a child at the centre. All children with fevers will be asked to stay away until 24 hours after fever has broken. ( See: Health Exclusion Policy)
If it is necessary for a child to receive medication while at daycare, the following precautions will be taken.
A parent must sign the appropriate consent form in order for a staff member to administrate a Rx medication.
Medications will be kept in the original vial or bottle with pharmacy name, physicians name and dosage requirements.
Medications will be kept in a box, on the top shelf in the refrigerator.
Medications will not be administered if out of date.
Non-Prescription medication i.e.; creams, drops. To treat a medical issue must be accompanied by a doctors note and be in the original bottle.
Procedure:
The consent form will be kept on the fridge. The staff that administers the medication will sign the form after delivering the dosage. When the Rx is finished , the form will be filed in the child’s file.
Transportation Plan
Staff will take the emergency bag with emergency contact numbers and first aid kit. If the children are being picked up from the destination the sign in book will be in the bag also.
Staff will always have the daycare cell phone with them when they leave the building.
Children will be paired up and walk hand in hand.
The staff member will walk along beside the children, on the road side of the sidewalk.
The staff will guide and encourage the children to walk to the destination in a safe manor.
The staff will scan the road and the children constantly to ensure safety of the children.
When crossing the roads the staff will lead the children to cross only at crosswalks.
Walks will take place between 10:30 and 12:00 and /or 3:30 and 5:00
The route destination and expectations will be discussed with the children before the walk.
While at the destination the staff will constantly scan the area and watch the children.
If an emergency happens the children will be called into a group and the situation will be dealt with however it needs to be.