737 Steenbuck Drive, Campbell River, BC, V9W 7J9
Policies and Procedures
HOURS:
Hours of operation: 7:30AM to 4:00 PM
Statutory Holidays and Spring break are paid days, but no fees will be charged during Summer and Christmas break-with the exceptio.
Please advise the daycare prior to 7 am if your child will be arriving earlier or later than the pre-arranged time.
Please advise the daycare immediately if you will be arriving later than the pre-arranged time to pick up your child. It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure that children are picked up no later than 4:30 p.m. If you are not able to pick up your child by 4:30 p.m. alternate arrangements must be made.
Please notify the daycare if an unauthorized person will be picking up your child. Verbal or written permission and the password must be received before we will release a child to anyone who is not authorized on the registration form. I will require identification. The person should then be added to the list of people authorized to pick up the child.
DEPOSIT/REGISTRATION
A non-refundable deposit of a half months fee is required upon completion of registration to secure your child's placement in care. This deposit is non-refundable and will be applied to your last month’s fee. Spaces will not be held unless the deposit fee is paid in full.
Registration is not complete, and care will not commence until all the paper work is done. Prior to the start date of care the following must be received by Aster Meadow Family Childcare for each child:
-Registration Form
-Immunization Record
-Parent/Caregiver Contract
-Non-Refundable Deposit
-Daycare Subsidy Request Form (Care will not commence until we have confirmation of acceptance from the Affordable Child Care Benefit office)
REPAYMENT POLICY
When a parent or guardian withdraws their child with proper notice (please see withdrawal policy) and has prepaid for following months or a short notice termination of care has been given for a child by Aster Meadow Family Childcare, any prepaid fees applicable will be refunded to that parent or guardian by the first of the following month to end the contract of care.
If I have to close the facility due to illness or other causes out of my control and it is over the 5 sick days/holidays a refund will be issued the following month.
DAYCARE SUBSIDY POLICY
Parents who qualify for Daycare Subsidy must have full approval in place prior to attendance. Any fees not covered by Subsidy are the parents' responsibility and are payable on the first of each month in advance. Proof of qualification must be presented to provider prior to registration.
TRIAL PERIOD
There will be a 3 week trial period in which either party may end this agreement, for any reason, any fees paid will not be refunded should that occur.
TERMINATION POLICY
Aster Meadow Early Learning and Care reserves the right to suspend or terminate child care of any kind without notice, should it be deemed necessary for the overall safety and well-being of my family and/or other children in my care.
WITHDRAWAL POLICY
Parents agree that a minimum notices of one full month (notice to be given on the first of any given month) will be given for permanent withdrawal of any child from care or agree to pay a month’s fee in lieu of. No exceptions will be made. 30 days notice for any schedule changes (ie. Dropping a scheduled day) is required or parent agrees to pay regular fees in lieu of.
POTTY TRAINING
We will work in conjunction with parents during potty training. If you have a method that has been working for you, please let us know and we will adopt it for your child. Should you discontinue potty training at home, please let us know. If a child shows no interest in potty training, we may choose to discontinue and try again at a later date. Please do not ask me to offer treats as a reward.
ARTICLES TO BE SUPPLIED BY PARENTS
Diapers, two changes of clothes, formula or breast milk for infants and two bottles for infants. The parents are to provide two snacks (morning and afternoon), as well as lunch. Food can also be kept in our fridge.
I require that parents supply one bottle of sunscreen prior to expiration date with their child’s name labeled on the bottle. Parents will be informed when a new bottle is needed. If your child has an allergy to sunscreen, a doctor’s note must be provided and will be attached to their registration and emergency information. I will take other precautions to protect your child from over exposure to the sun, such as wearing a hat, playing in shaded areas and avoiding extreme heat times during the day (11am-2pm) outside.
EMERGENCY-TO-GO-BAG: The parents will need to supply an Emergency-To-Go-Bag for the child in the following 2 months after the starting date. In the case you cannot reach us, we need to be prepared and ready for at least 72 hours. A complete list of suggested items will be provided following registration.
SPECIAL DAYS:
We observe special days with activities (e.g. birthdays, Halloween, Valentine's Day, etc.). You are welcome to bring decorations, games, or treats to help celebrate as long as there is enough for everyone. This can be discussed with the provider in advance. If you have any objection to your child participating in the any of these holidays, please discuss this with the provider.
Wellness and Illness Policy
In my child care setting we will practice preventative measures to protect the children, and myself, from illnesses. Disinfecting of toys and furniture will be done daily. We will wash our hands frequently and if a child is ill, he/she will be expected to not come to daycare as to not infect the other children. Children are too ill to attend child care when:
· Common cold is present and the child is not well enough to participate in group activities. The child may return when energy levels and general well-being is back to normal even if runny nose are cough are present.
· A fever of 38.3 or higher followed by symptoms that may be a result of an impending illness.
· Sore throat or difficulty swallowing.
· Infected skin/eyes or undiagnosed persistent rash
· Abnormal diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
· Severe itching of body or scalp
· Headache followed by a stiff neck
· Troubles with breathing
· Children with suspected communicable diseases
In Summary, a child must be kept at home(or taken home) when the child:
· Is suffering from one or more of the above symptoms; or
· Is not well enough to take part in the regular activities of the program.
Ultimately, the care of a child who is ill is the parent’s responsibility.
Immunization Records and Emergency Contact Information:
It is recommended that all childhood immunizations are current.
Parents will be asked to provide information on their children’s immunization status on enrolment in the facility, (including if their child is notimmunized).
Parents are also required to provide emergency contact information for the child, including the child’s physician and the parent authorization for the child-care provider to consent to medical treatment if the parent cannot be reached.
All information to be held on file must be current and updated by the parent as necessary
Administering Medication:
Signed parental consent is required before any medication can be administered by the child care provider. The parent must also provide in writing the following information:
- The name of the medication
- How often it is to be given
- The dosage
- Any special instructions
- Possible symptoms or side effects
- The expiry date of the medication
Prescription medication must have the original prescription label adhered to the bottle and must be clearly marked with the child’s name, date of prescription, doctor’s name, name of medication and dosage.
All medication will be stored as per instructions and will be kept out of children’s reach at all times.
If a child presents with a serious disease, childcare providers and parents have a responsibility to share information with each other and with the appropriate authorities.
Pet Policy
Our family has one dog, Piper. At this time, she is not included in our regular day but does join us from time to time for outdoor play. Piper is kept up to date on her immunizations, and I am sure to check the yard each day for any animal feces.
Smoking Policy
Smoking is absolutely prohibited in and around the child care facility and/or vehicles when children are present. We are a non-smoking family. Please refrain from smoking while picking up or dropping off your child.
Emergency Preparedness plan:
Aster Meadow Early Learning and Care practices monthly earthquake and fire drills to ensure the children are aware of what could happen in both situations. We will practice safe evacuation with a fire drill and count to 60 seconds twice under the tables for an earthquake drill.
*Enrolled families have the full policy in their parent handbook*
Missing Child Policy
Every effort is made to ensure the safety of your child while at Aster Meadow Early Learning and Care, as well as on field trips to the library, park, and other destinations. This policy sets out my procedures for maintaining safety and dealing with the unlikely event of a child going missing.
- I will ensure the gate in my backyard is latched properly and the children are well supervised.
- I will ensure that while walking in a public place, that they hold my hand.
- I will ensure they are under constant visual supervision while at a park, or other public place.
- I will not allow strangers in my home or allow them to come in contact with the children in my care.
If a child does become missing, I will:
Search for the child for 2 minutes in the area the child was in, while supervising the other children in my care. Contact an employee if at a store or library to have the exits locked and search performed. Contact the parents. Contact the police.
When the child is found, I will:
Talk to the child in a calm voice, bearing in mind that the child might not have realized that wandering off was wrong as it scared me and provide comfort with hugs if the child is in distress.All of the children in my care will be given verbal reminders of how important it is to not leave the premises, and why. The incident will be recorded in detail in my business journal, and a detailed account of the incident logged on an Incident Report and sent to my liaison at the Child Care Licensing Department.
Release of a Child in Care from Child Care Facility
It is my obligation to ensure that children in my care are supervised at all times.
I will not release a child from my care to anyone except the parent of the child or a person authorized by the parent as an alternate, as set out on the Registration Form.
If I feel the person who arrives to pick-up the child appears to be incapable of providing safe care for the child, I will contact the alternate person who has been pre-authorized by the parent, to come and pick-up both the child and person who appears to be incapable of providing safe care for the child.
If someone arrives to pick-up the child who has not been preauthorized by the parent, I will not release the child.
The parent may make arrangements and provide a “safe word” that must be used in order for the child to be picked up.
These practices are to ensure the safety of the child in care and provide additional safeguards to the child in care and to facility staff.
With respect to the reference of a person “incapable of providing safe care” this means an individual’s behavior that could potentially be harmful to the child such as when the person appears to be intoxicated, is under the influence of medication or has just been in a stressful situation. If an authorized person arrives to remove the child from care, who in the opinion of the child care provider or staff feels is incapable of providing safe care, and they insist on removing the child from care and attempt to drive, The child care provider or staff will immediately contact the Police.
If there is a Custody Agreement that has been filed with the Courts, it is mandatory that Aster Meadow Family Child Care is supplied with a copy of same. This document may be required if the need arises for the child care provider to contact the Police when the non-custodial parent arrives at the child care facility to remove the child from care.
Child Abuse Reporting Policy
Local Ministry of Children and Family Development District Office:1 800 830-6500
Police (Emergency):9-1-1
Police (Non-Emergency):250-286-6221
Local Child Care Licensing Office: 250-850-2110
As a citizen of British Columbia, I am required to report any suspicion of child neglect or abuse to the Ministry for Children and Family Development. I will report any abuse I suspect, that a child discloses to me or that a third party discloses to me.
It is not my responsibility to investigate or question the circumstances of the suspected abuse. I will not inform you or anyone else of my suspicions and subsequent report to the Ministry. It is the Ministry’s responsibility to investigate any report and to inform all those involved of their investigation.
The health and well-being of the children is my first concern.
All incidents will be reported as well as documented. I will document the phone call by collecting data such as the name of who I spoke with, time and date, and any directions that were given to me at the time of the call. Each piece of information will be signed and dated and kept in a safe place. This report will be made as soon as possible by whoever observed the incident. All phone calls reporting incidents will of course be made in private, away from the children.
To ensure the safety of your child in my care, I will:
· Ensure that everyone over the age of 12 has a clear criminal record check
· Provide watchful supervision of all children, and arranging space to avoid places where children cannot be seen
· Maintain accurate attendance records and ensure the parent signs the child in and out every day
· Keep a daily log of any unusual behaviors, accidents, or illnesses that occur
· Have an open door policy – Parents may come to observe their child at any time in the home
· Ensure that all staff documentation is complete and references have been examined for all staff. All Volunteers will be screened and references will be checked.
· Ensure that all of the children’s records are accurate and complete. This included emergency information, custody arrangements or issues and a list of individuals who are authorized by the parents to remove the child from the facility.
· Establish a procedure for appropriate intervention when children are engaging in sexual play
· If a child discloses abuse, they are to be supported, comforted and believed.
· Teach children how to protect their own personal safety and what to do in a potentially dangerous situation
· Teach children the correct terminology for parts of the body
· Use good judgment in my choice of language and topics of discussion with and around children
· In the event that there would be substitute provider, they will be orientated; provided with extra support and supervision; and will need to be familiar with the children, families, and facility policies before working alone
· All parents and staff will receive a copy of the facilities guidance policy
· If a situation occurs and I am unable to deal appropriately, I will contact the parent
· Parents will be informed of any or all changes at the facility
Children will be supervised at all times, to avoid preventable accidents, and in the case of injury, an incident report will be filled out, and provided to parents that day. Parents are encouraged to alert staff of any incidents involving their children resulting in bruises, scrapes, cuts or burns, to prevent undo suspicion. If at any time I suspect a child has been abused in my child care facility, it is my obligation to immediately file a report with the Community Care Facility Licensing office. I will document any and all suspicions I have of a child being abused or neglected in the child care facility or away from the child care facility. Information I will document is: Child's full name, their home address, parent's names, phone number, date, brief notes of what the child has said. I will not question the child or their parents. I will leave the questioning to be handled by the authorities.
Nutrition Policy
Parents are required to supply the child’s food for the day. Water will be readily available to every child all day. I do not encourage 100% fruit juice due to its very high sugar content but once in a while it is a nice treat for the children.
To prevent choking:
-eating will be supervised at all times, and I will model good eating habits;
-food will be eaten while sitting;
-mealtimes will be relaxed to discourage rushing;
-certain foods will not be given, such as popcorn, hard candy, gum, whole grapes, and whole nuts;
-hard items (e.g., carrots) will be finely chopped;
-chunky foods (e.g., meat and cheese) will be cut into small bite size pieces;
-spreads such as cream cheese, jam and peanut butter will be spread thinly.
I will never:
-force a child to eat;
-threaten or discipline a child for not eating; and,
-use food as a reward, a comfort, or a punishment
Please do not send your child with chocolate bars or other sugary snacks.
CARE AND SUPERVISION POLICY
I, Ashley Elliott, have the duty of care to provide adequate supervision of children at all times. Supervision is one of the key requirements in the prevention of accidents and injury throughout the center.
· To ensure the potential for accidents and injury to children is reduced
· To ensure I am aware of the variables relating to supervision
· To ensure safety for children when participating in excursions
· To ensure that I have the capacity to evaluate supervisory practices and respond appropriately.
Parents will:
· Personally deliver children to me.
· Inform me if another authorized person will be picking up the child after care.
· Call in the event of an emergency
· Ensure the ‘Authorized Emergency Contact and Pick up’ information is up to date
·Provide your child with a Healthy lunch
I will:
· Ensure that I will be close enough to children to intervene in the event of an issue occurring.
∙I will be within arm’s reach of all children playing in the kiddie pool in the yard at all times. I will make sure to empty at after play.
· Ensure children are only released only to authorized people
· Be consistent in enforcing limits set using my “Guidance Policy”
· Ensure that supervision is active and interactive with children.
· Encourage children who wish to use the bathroom, to inform me and I will accompany them.
· Ensure that front door and playground gates are closed
· Ensure all areas are visible, accessible and free of potential hazards
· Ensure to follow all guidelines and legislation for licensed family daycare in British Columbia.
DAMAGES
Our home is child-proofed to the best of our ability, however, accidents do happen. Any damage to my home or personal belongings that is willfully caused by your child will be replaced or repaired at the cost of the parents.
Aster Meadow Family Childcare will repair or replace broken daycare equipment and toys due to normal wear and tear. However, should your child purposely damage or break equipment or toys, then the item will be repaired or replaced at the cost of the parents.
INSURANCE FOR ASSISTIVE DEVICES:
The daycare cannot be held responsible for any lost, damaged or broken assistive devices, such as hearing aids, contact lenses or glasses. We ask you to have adequate replacement insurance for such items should they become misplaced, damaged or broken.
BOIL WATER ADVISORY
In the event of a Boil Water Advisory, parents are required to bring clean drinking water for their children for the day.
POWER OUTAGE
In the event of a power outage, I will remain open so long as the children are safe, the temperature remains above 15 degrees, and we have running water to wash our hands/flush toilets. It may warrant early pickup if it is an all-day outage. If a power outage happens, I will assess and update parents accordingly.
FIRE PLACE POLICY
We have a gas fireplace in our daycare space. The gas is turned off and will not be used during daycare hours.
AIR QUALITY ADVISORY
In the event that there is an air quality advisory, it is my policy to stay indoors. This can happen in the summer time when there are a lot of forest fires across BC. We will wait until the advisory is lifted before we go outdoors again.
WILD ANIMAL POLICY
In the event of a wild animal in the area, I will keep children indoors until it is safe to go outside, I will notify parents if this happens.
OUTDOOR PLAY POLICY
Our outdoor play space has a hot tub. The hot tub will be locked during daycare hours. There are two sets of stairs in the playspace. One set going up to the deck, and one that’s the daycare entrance. Both of these sets of stairs are blocked off by baby gates to ensure the safety of your children while in my care.
