Parent's Handbook

Welcome to the Perfect Daycare family! We provide you with the information with the policies and procedures serving as a guide during your journey with us. We offer a structured program, activity-based resources and exciting learning opportunities to our children.

Mission

The Mission of Perfect Daycare is to provide quality Childcare benefiting the child, the parent, the staff and the community.

Perfect daycare is designed to provide a developmentally appropriate program for children ages 0 to 12 years of age. We believe that all children are entitled to opportunities that support their emotional, social, creative, intellectual and physical growth and development in a safe stimulating environment supported by warm, nurturing and knowledgeable caregivers. We believe that children thrive when they are provided with nutritious foods, adequate rest and opportunities to play with other children both indoors and outdoors in rich play environments that include daily experiences the natural world.

Parents/ Guardians have the primary responsibility for the care and education of their children. Perfect Daycare believes that a quality child care center supports positive relations between children, families and staff to supplement and complement family care in a supportive learning environment. We believe parents have the right to be involved in the program and to be kept informed of the activities at the center. The center has an ‘open door policy’ and will support parents’/guardians’ participation in their children’s early learning and development.

Child Care Licensing Regulation as set by the Government of Alberta Standards. Perfect Daycare operates as per licensing regulations.

The Child Care Licensing Regulation sets out the minimum standards that must be met in a licensed child care program to ensure that the health, safety and developmental needs of children are met. We receive our license annually. The license is posted in the main entryway. Perfect Daycare is inspected by a licensing officer. Recent inspection reports from licensing, fire and health are posted on the bulletin board in the main entrance. If you have any questions regarding these reports at any time, please ask.

Perfect Daycare operates according to the Health and Safety Guidelines for Child Care Facilities as set by the Alberta Health Services standards.

The Health and Safety Guidelines for Child Care Facilities sets out the minimum standards that must be met in a licensed child care program to ensure that the health, safety and developmental needs of children are met. These regulations are upheld and followed by Perfect Daycare.

Hours and Days of Operation

We provide services - Monday – Friday 6:30am - 6:00pm.

Registration

We have our registration forms available on our website: www.perfectdaycareltd.com

Perfect Daycare offers Full time and Part time spots.

• Full-time – consists of 4-5 days a week. If a child misses a day, there is no ‘in lieu’ of day.
• Part-time (based on availability and director discretion) – consists of 2-days a week or 3-days a week. Upon enrollment, specific scheduled days will be discussed between the parents and the director. Children must stick to their scheduled part time days as we do not have capacity to switch days. If a child misses their scheduled day, there is no ‘in lieu’ of day.

Enrollment

Upon being accepted in the program, a $100.00 non-refundable enrollment fee will be required to hold the spot.

Security Deposit Policy:

As part of our enrollment process, we require a security deposit equivalent to one month’s fee. This deposit will be held until your child enrollment is terminated. The security will be refunded in full when:

• Your Child’s enrollment is terminated with a minimum of 2 Months Notice.
• All outstanding fees have been paid in full.
• Tax Receipt only be issued at the end of the Year if all outstanding fees is paid in full.

Perfect Daycare accepts subsidized families. Parents are responsible for contacting Child care Subsidy through Human Services Alberta to obtain financial assistance. You may contact Alberta Supports contact program at 780-644-9992 for further information.

The parent is responsible for re-applying for subsidy before the expiry date.

In the case that the child does not receive full or partial subsidy due to using fewer hours then approved for, potential change in financial status, or expiry of services, it will be the responsibility of the parent to pay the amount equal to the shortfall to Perfect Daycare.

Purpose

Regular attendance at the program is extremely important for your child to settle in, as well as it becomes part of your child’s daily routine. Children need consistency. Consistency and regular attendance also help our Educators to appropriately plan out the day’s activities and ensure a routine is followed.

The bulk of programing happens in the mornings before 1130 am. Having your child participate in the daily activities helps your child grow and develop to their full potential here at Perfect Daycare.

Our extra curricular classes like Yoga and Music start as early as 9:00am and we would like to have children attend on these great opportunities for gross motor & cognitive development.

The program closes at 6:00pm, please be in the program by 5:45 pm to give yourself 5 minutes to pick your child up from their classroom and gather their belongings. If you will be later then 5:45pm, please call the program to let the educators know.

Picking up your child after 5:45pm will result in a late fee of $5.00 plus $1.00 per min/per child.

Only those persons on the child’s emergency card are permitted to pick up your child. If the Director or educators have not yet met a person on the emergency card, Identification will be required before the release of the child.

If a person is not on the emergency contact card, then the child cannot be released and a phone call will go out to the primary guardian.

All the Administrative records will be kept on the program premises and are up to date containing the following information:

• Daily attendance of each child, including arrival and departures times.
• Daily attendance of each educator, including arrival and departure times and hours spent with the children.
• Educator child care certificates, up to date first aid certificates, criminal record check documents, child intervention record check.

These records will be available in the office, for the Director, parents and for inspections at all times.

Records: Child Record

Children’s records will be kept on the program premises with up-to-date information, and will include the following:

• Child’s name, date of birth and complete home address.
• Parent’s name, complete home address and telephone number.
• A minimum of 1 Emergency contact person’s name, phone number, and complete address.
• Health Care Information.
• Ongoing / emergency medication.
• Contact information for the child’s doctor.
• Allergies / Medical / Immunizations.

These records will be available for inspection by the licensing officers or parents of the child all the times.

Portable Records

Each classroom will maintain a portable emergency backpack with educator and child emergency cards and a first aid kit. The emergency backpack and a cell phone go with the classroom when they leave the class, along with their classroom attendance sheet.

Policies and Procedures. Administering of medication is a serious responsibility that requires attention to detail and accurate recordkeeping to ensure the safe and appropriate administering of medication to children. Incorrect administration has potential health risks.

Policy

Prescription medications will be administered to the children when parents have provided the proper authorization and approval and the medication is in the original container labelled with the child’s name, doctor’s name, name of medication, dosage and times to be taken. Because Early Childhood Educators cannot make ‘judgment calls’ as to when medications are appropriate, over the counter medications will not be administered without a prescription.

Staff will record the details of medication that has been administered.

Procedure

• Medication must be given by the parent to the Director or person in charge at the center.
• The Director will provide the parent with the Medication Administration form. The parent must complete the parent section of the form including the child’s name, name of medication, dosage required, time to be administered, last dosage and time given prior to arrival at the daycare and the parent’s signature. Medication will be administered only if the form is completed.
• Medications will not be administered on an ‘as needed’ basis.
• The Director will deliver the medication to the child care room along with the Medication Administration Form and ensure the staff is aware of their responsibility to administer the medication properly.
• Medication must be in the original labeled container.
• Only staff members with valid first aid certificates will administer medication.
• All medication, except emergency medications will be stored in a locked container inaccessible to children. Medication requiring refrigeration will be stored in the fridge.
• Emergency medications will be stored inaccessible to children where they can be accessed quickly by the staff.
• Staff are required to wash their hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer before administering medication.
• Medication will be administered according to labeled directions.
• The staff will record the medication administration details on the Medication Administration Form after administering medication and initial or sign.

The Director/ Operations manager will ensure that name of the medication, the time of administration, the amount administered and the initial of the person who administered the medication are recorded.

Nutrition is an essential factor in each child’s growth and development. The first few years in a child’s life are critical years for growth and brain development. It is also a time when children begin to form eating habits that last a lifetime.

Policy

Nutritious snacks and meals are provided for the children based on the guidelines of the most current Canada Food Guide to support children’s healthy development. Meals and snacks are provided to the children at appropriate times and in sufficient quantities in accordance with the needs of each child.

We strive to serve foods the children enjoy, taking family and children’s preferences into consideration when planning menus. Menus are posted to keep families informed of all foods served at the center allowing parents to see what the child is served to facilitate planning meals at home.

If parents choose to provide lunches and/or snacks for their children, families are encouraged to follow the recommendations of the age-appropriate Canada Food Guide. All foods and drinks brought to the center by families must be labelled with the child’s name. Junk foods will be removed from the child’s lunch and sent home at the end of the day. A nutritious supplement will be provided if the food provided by the family does not meet the Canada Food Guide guidelines.

Appropriate procedures and practices ensure utmost safety at meal and snack times. The manner in which children are fed is appropriate to their age and level of development. Allergies & dietary restrictions are posted in each child care room and in the kitchen. The staff is kept informed to ensure children are not served foods they are allergic to. If any of the children have a nut allergy, snacks served at the center will be nut free and parents will be informed that we are a nut-free center. Special dietary and feeding arrangements are to be carried out in accordance with the written instructions of a parent of the child.

The social aspects of mealtimes are important. Caregivers strive to establish a pleasant social atmosphere in which children can enjoy their meals and snacks and learn social skills, self-help skills and learn about good nutrition.

See the Food Handling Policy for safe food handling practices.

Procedures — Menus and Variety

• Menus are posted on the bulletin board in the front entrance for the current and following week. Any substitutions will be noted on the posted menus.
• A morning snack consisting of at least two different food groups is offered to the children between 8:00 & 8:30am.
• Milk and water are offered with snacks and lunch.
• Lunch time is at 11:15 am. 2% milk is provided with lunches for children in the infant and younger toddler room.
• An afternoon snack (from home) consisting of at least two food groups is offered to the children between 3:00 and 3:45pm.
• Menus include foods from a variety of cultures.
• Food and drink containing excess sugar, salt, additives, preservatives and added food coloring will be avoided.
• A cycle menu of two weeks or longer is used.
• Drinking water is available at all times, both indoors and outdoors.
• Snacks are reviewed by the Director to ensure that they meet the most up to date nutritional guidelines according to Health Canada.
• Menus are kept at least 30 days after the last day for which they are applicable. An accurate record is maintained of any food substitutions made so that the food intake of children may be traced.
• All food and beverages are stored so as to retain maximum nutritive value and prevent contamination. Hot foods are kept hot and cold foods are kept cold.
• All fresh foods will be thoroughly washed using a fruit and veggie wash as appropriate.

Manner of Feeding

• Children must remain seated at all times when eating and drinking and no beverages are provided to children while they are napping.
• Foods that pose a choking hazard are either not served or served in safe way. For example, grapes will be cut in half, carrots served for snack to the younger children will be pre-cooked.

Mealtime Environment

• Staff members allow children decide how much to eat.
• Children are encouraged to try each food served but are never forced to eat.
• Staff members join children at the table for meals and snacks.
• Staff members are encouraged to eat nutritious foods with the children at snack and meal times.
• Meals are served family style and children are encouraged to serve themselves with adult facilitation.
• Food is never used to reward positive behavior.

Foods from Outside the Facility

• Holidays and special occasions are celebrated with healthy food and non-food treats. ‘Junk food’ is never served in the center.
• Food treats brought into the center by parents, staff and volunteers is discouraged except for special occasions such as multicultural event. All treats brought into the center must be approved by the Director.

Our goal is to provide a healthy place for children to learn and grow. Keeping a sick child home may be difficult for a working parent, but keeping sick children out of the center is the main contributing factor to the prevention of the cycle of illness that can occur in a child care center.

Policy

Perfect daycare is committed to promoting the health and well-being of the children, families and the staff. We strive to stay current with best practices in health & safety as recommended by licensing & health authorities and respond to this information in policy and practices. Procedures are developed to provide families and the staff with clear guidelines and requirements for maintaining a healthy, safe and hygienic indoor and outdoor environment and to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Parents play an important role in preventing the spread of illnesses in the center by keeping sick children at home. Parents are informed of the center’s health and safety policies in the parent handbook which is provided when they register their children.

All staff members are required to maintain current first aid certification. Parents must provide written consent for the staff at the center to provide the type of health care that is deemed in the best interests of the child. The provision of health care will be in the nature of first aid.

All Health and Safety policies and procedures are reviewed with the staff during the orientation process and the staff is responsible for consistently implementing the policies. The Director will ensure that the staff is provided with training to promote a healthy environment and that all required certification is kept up to date (i.e. First Aid and Food Handling certification).

Potential Health Risk — Exclusion of Sick Children

Having sick children at the center poses an increased risk to the sick child, to other children and staff as well as extended family members. Parents are encouraged to call the center if they are unsure if a child can attend. A notice will be posted on the Parent Information Board/s to inform families when a child enrolled in the center has any contagious condition.

In keeping with the Child Care Licensing Regulations, children who are ill or have any contagious conditions cannot be at the center. Childcare staff will use method by checking the child’s temperature and if the child is exhibiting the signs or symptoms of illness and may pose a health risk to persons on the program premises, parents will be notified and asked to immediately remove the child from the premises. The sick child will be kept as far as it practical from the other children. The child will be in the office till the parent arrives and the sick child is directly supervised by a primary staff member or director.

If parents cannot be contacted or if parents have not picked up the child within one hour, emergency contacts will be called to pick up the child. Parents are required to keep their child at home or find alternative care if their child displays any of the symptoms listed below or the child has received one or more of the following diagnoses from a physician or other health professional.

• The child doesn’t feel well enough to play and participate in the activities at the center.
• Vomiting with two or more episodes of vomiting in the last 24 hours.
• Undiagnosed or unexplained open sores or rash.
• Temperature, with a fever of 38.0 degrees C or higher.
• Diarrhea or loose stool (the child should be excluded for 24 hours until symptoms are resolved or assessed by a physician).
• Wheezing/Persistent coughing; (the child should be excluded until assessed by a physician or the symptoms are resolved).
• Mouth sores with drooling (the child should be excluded until a physician has determined that the symptoms are non-infectious).
• Rash, with fever or behavioral change (the child should be excluded until a physician has determined that the symptoms are non-infectious).
• Symptoms of possible serious illness, such as lethargy, uncontrolled coughing, irritability, persistent crying, difficult breathing, wheezing (the child should be excluded until assessed by a physician or the symptoms are resolved).
• Chickenpox (the child can be permitted to return to the program when he or she feels well enough to participate in all activities, regardless of the state of the rash and as long as the child returns to the same group they were with one to two days before the onset of the rash).
• Scabies, Head Lice, or other Infestation (the child should be excluded until appropriate treatment has been completed).
• Impetigo (the child should be excluded until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has been initiated).
• Measles (the child should be excluded until four days after the appearance of a rash).
• Mumps (the child should be excluded until nine days after onset of parotid gland swelling).
• Pertussis, or Whooping Cough (the child should be excluded until five days after antibiotic treatment has been completed, until three weeks after onset of symptoms, or until the coughing has stopped).
• Purulent conjunctivitis, or Red/Pink Eye (the child should be excluded until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has been initiated).
• Rubella (the child should be excluded until at least four days after onset of the rash, or up to five to seven days at the option of local health authority).
• Strep throat or other Streptococcal Infection (the child should be excluded until 24 hours after appropriate antibiotic treatment and cessation of the fever).
• Hepatitis A (the child should be excluded until 14 days after onset of illness or seven days after onset of jaundice).
• Tuberculosis (the child should be excluded until a physician has approved his or her return).
• The child requires greater care and attention than can be provided without compromising the care of the other children in the center.

*Source: Health Child Care, Healthy Child – A Guide to Promoting Health & Preventing Illness in Early Learning & Child Care Settings, Government of Alberta, Sept 2011.

Returning to the Centre after Illness

Normally children may return to the center when they are symptom free for 24 hours or 24 hours after antibiotics have been administered. At the discretion of the Director, a written statement from the child’s doctor may be required to ensure the child no longer poses a health risk to other persons at the center.

Supervision of Sick Children

If symptoms of illness are present while the child is at the center, the sick child must be isolated or kept as far away as possible from the other children. The child will be removed from the room away from the other children and taken to the office or the staff room where he/she will be directly supervised by a primary staff member or the Director. The staff member with first aid certification will attend to the child and make the child as comfortable as possible on a cot until the parent/ guardian arrives.

Reducing Cross-Contamination

When a sick child uses a cot, the cot must be wiped with a bleach solution and left to air dry as soon as the child leaves. The blanket used by the sick child must be placed in a bag, sealed and sent home with the family of the sick child to be laundered. The center will launder the cot sheet. Cot sheets used by sick children will be placed into a bag and sealed; alternatively, the used sheet may be laundered immediately.

Required Reporting of Illnesses

If two or more children have influenza-like symptoms that started within 48 hours of each other, such as a sudden high fever, dry cough, headache, muscle ache and feeling very weak and tired, it is considered to be a potential ‘outbreak’ in the program. All outbreaks, including an outbreak of a communicable disease, must be reported by the Director (or person in charge) to the local Alberta Health Services public health office. Once a report has been made, Alberta Health Services will provide assistance in assessing and preventing further illness in the center. A list of diseases and guidelines that require the notification of the local Public Health Centre is available at www.health.alberta.ca under the ‘Health Professionals’ tab and ‘Manuals and Guidelines’ section.

Documentation of Illnesses

A Child Care Facility illness incident log sheet will be used to document children’s illnesses including the name of the child, the date the illness was first observed, a description of the illness, action taken, staff who reported it, the name of the staff who contacted the parent, time the parent was initially contacted, time the child was removed from the program and the date the child returned to the program.

Parents

• **All parents entering the facility are required to wear a non-medical mask.
• **Parents that have symptoms of illness may not enter the facility.
• **IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALL CONTACT INFORMATION IS CURRENT AND UP TO DATE.

Parents must use hand sanitizer, and must sign in and out on the visitor log sheet. Eg, time in/out and name of child and reason.

Parents will follow instructions for ‘Entering the Facility and Classroom’. Parents will not enter the classrooms without staff consent. If parents must enter the classrooms, they must complete the screening tool, be wearing a non-medical mask and maintain social distance of 2m.

To minimize the entry of the Cohort, the following will be the entry of the daycare facility:

Any child from ages 0 to 18 months will enter from the Toddler room main door. The main entry door shall be used for ages 19 months to 12 years otherwise posted. Map will be posted in the front entrance of the building.

Only one parent may drop off their child/children. Parents will minimize the amount of time they spend in the facility. Only one family group will be allowed in the foyer at a time. Families arriving to drop off their children must wait until the foyer is clear until they enter the facility. This may mean waiting outside or in your vehicle (in inclement weather).

Policy for Parents and Visitors

• All visitors entering the facility must wear a non-medical mask.
• Visitors that have symptoms of illness may not enter the facility.

Visitors must use hand sanitizer, and must sign in and out on the visitor log sheet.

Visitors, apart from parents and governing representatives, may not enter the facility without first calling the center. Visitors will be let in by a staff member and are restricted to the front foyer only. They may not enter into the hallways or classrooms.

Visitors wishing to tour the center for anticipated enrollment must make an appointment to do so after normal operating hours. Covid19 screening from must be completed.

Governing Representatives

• All representatives must wear a non-medical face mask.
• All licensing agents that have symptoms of illness may not enter the facility.

Licensing officers and other representatives may enter the facility for routine inspections.

• They must use hand sanitizer, and must sign in and out on the visitor log sheet.
• They must wear a non-medical mask while in the facility.
• They must maintain social distance of 2m while in the cohort.

Covid19 Related Procedures

Personal Items

• No toys from home will be allowed. Items used for comfort (blanket) must be brought in a plastic bag, to be used only when their child needs these items.

Shared Common Space and Equipment

• Shared spaces will not be used by more than one group at a time. Equipment used must be sanitized between each group, or the equipment will be brought from their own cohort classroom. Spaces that have equipment that cannot be sanitized between each group should not be used.
• Washrooms – one child at a time to promote physical distancing.
• Outdoor Play Space will be used by only one cohort at a time. Alberta Health suggests that children participate in neighborhood walks, or use of a safe open space (but not a playground with equipment that is used by others).
• Common use equipment will not be used at this time – water, sensory and sand tables.
• Avoid activities that involve children clustering around an item or gathering is a small part of the room.
• Set up rooms to avoid children clustering or having all children funneling to the same activity.

Non-medical Masks

• If masks are worn, the user must abide by Alberta Health guidance for wearing masks.
• Throw away used disposable masks in a lined trash bin.
• Young children should not wear masks.

Purpose

The Transportation Policy exists to ensure the children are kept safe during the transitions between school and the daycare and out-of-school care programs.

Policy

Perfect daycare will transport children to and from schools using the daycare vans or walking depending on the weather conditions.

Parents are required to make arrangements to have their children transported between the school and the center and must inform the center in writing of current transportation arrangements. Parents will be provided with a copy of the Transportation Policy and their responsibilities are reviewed during the orientation process.

Private vehicles will never be used to transport children to and from schools.

Safe methods of transportation and the safety of the children will be a priority at all times.

Procedures

Communication with Schools: Perfect daycare will establish a relationship with each of the schools we serve. Each school will be provided with a list of children that attend LWD and will be informed of transportation arrangements for the children. Schools will be informed if transportation is delayed for any reason – before and after school.

Safety and Supervision: Children will be continuously supervised during transportation between the schools and the center. Safety rules will be developed together with the children. If a child’s behavior during transportation is consistently problematic and unsafe, parents will be responsible for transporting their child to and from schools.

Children’s emergency information, a first aid kit and a cell phone will be taken along whenever children are transported. At least one staff member with the group will hold valid first aid & CPR certification when children are being transported.

Ratios during Transportation: At minimum, a staff-child ratio of 1:15 for school age children and 1:10 for kindergarten children is maintained while children are transported to and from schools. Exemption letter will be required to meet the ratio during transportation if required.

Severe Weather Conditions

It is critical that parents inform us if their child will be absent after school.

Perfect daycare will be open during our operating hours and transport children to and from their respective schools whenever possible.

In the unlikely event that weather conditions develop during the day that are so severe that we cannot drive to the school, we will contact the school to inform them that we are unable to pick up the children. We will go to the school as soon as possible but if we are unable to get to the school, parents will be notified. If parents cannot be reached, emergency contacts will be notified.

Schools will be notified if children will be late or if pick-up of children will be delayed for any reason.

Van Safety

• Each day before using the van, the driver will conduct a visual walk around inspection of the van. Any concerns will be reported to the Operations Manager.
• All van drivers must be over the age of 25 and hold a valid driver’s license.
• Perfect daycare will comply with Alberta Transportation requirements. Every six months a complete inspection of the vans will be conducted by an authorized mechanic.
• Any required repairs will be completed. A current Operating Authority issued by AB Transportation will be maintained.

Methods of Transportation

• Children Transported by the Perfect daycare Van.
• Before school, Perfect daycare is responsible for the children from the time they are signed in to the center to the time they are dropped off at the school. At this time the school becomes responsible for the children. Before leaving the school, a Perfect daycare staff member will inform a supervisor at the school that the children have arrived.
• After school, Perfect daycare is responsible for the children from the time they arrive at the designated meeting point at the school to the time they are signed out by a parent/guardian when picked up at the center.

*See Missing Child Procedures below for procedures that will be followed in a child does not show up after school.

Responsibilities — Parent Responsibilities

• Provide Perfect daycare with all the details of their child’s transportation arrangements using the Transportation Agreement form and sign the form before school starts in the fall. A new form is required annually.
• Before school, parents are required to have their child at the center at least 10 minutes prior to departure times. If parents are unable to have their child at the center by this time, parents are responsible for transporting their child to the school.
• Parents are required to notify the center of absences in advance. Written notification is required whenever possible. This can be done by informing us verbally or by phone & following up with a written note, text or email to the Director or Operations Manager. This is especially important after school. In the case of an unexpected absence, if the parent is unable to provide written notice in advance, a phone call will be accepted from the parent or guardian.
• Parents must ensure children have the appropriate clothing for prevailing weather conditions.

Program Supervisor/Director Responsibilities

• Parents will be provided with a copy of the Transportation Policy and their responsibilities are reviewed during the orientation process.
• Each child will have a current Transportation Agreement form on file that has been signed by parents. The form will include all details of the child’s transportation, permission to share transportation arrangements with the child’s school and an acknowledgment that the parent has read and understands will comply with the Transportation Policy.
• Before school starts each fall, the Director will ensure that each being child has a new Transportation Agreement on file. All relevant lists and attendance sheets will be updated prior to the first day children are transported.
• Up to date transportation lists for each school will be prepared and posted in the Perfect daycare office and in the kindergarten and OSC rooms. The lists will include the names of the children, schools the children attend, school dismissal times, pick-up/drop-off locations and the van departure times for kindergarten and OSC pick up.
• Monthly attendance sheets will be prepared for each specific drop-off & pick-up time and site (i.e. before school, after kindergarten, after school). The drop-off & pick up locations will be recorded on the attendance sheets.
• Prior to the first day of school each fall, a meeting will be arranged with each school’s administration to review the transportation arrangements between the school and Perfect daycare program. A copy of the Transportation Policy will be provided to the school. An appropriate pick-up spot will be determined and an up-to-date list of children attending the center will be provided.
• Staff who are familiar with the children will be scheduled to drop off and pick up children at each school. At least one staff member with each group holds valid first aid & CPR certification.
• Staff to child ratios based on Licensing requirements are maintained during transportation of children – 1:10 for kindergarten children and 1:15 for school age children.
• Exemption letter will be required to meet the ratio during transportation if required.
• The Director or Operations Manager will train the staff in the transportation procedures. The staff will sign to acknowledge the training and review of the Transportation Policy.
• A back pack containing a first aid kit and the children’s up to date emergency information is provided for each group of children being transported.
• The Director or Operations Manager will record the first and last names of all children that will be absent in the Communication Book.
• The Director or Operations Manager will follow the Missing Child Procedures (below) in the event that a child does not show up after school when expected.

Caregiver Responsibilities

• Caregivers responsible for the transportation of children will participate in training on the Transportation Policy and procedures and sign to acknowledge this training and agreement to comply with the Transportation Policy.
• All staff are required to maintain first aid & CPR certification.
• Safety rules will be developed together with the children and reviewed at the beginning of the school year and regularly throughout the year as required. Safety rules will be posted in the OSC & Kindergarten rooms.
• Children will be actively supervised while transportation is in progress.
• Attendance sheets will be taken along whenever children are transported and attendance is accurately recorded at all times.
• A cell phone and the back pack containing a first aid kit, the children’s emergency information and instructions on what to do if a child is missing is taken along whenever children are transported.
• While walking with children, a staff member must always lead the group of children that are being transported whenever there is potential danger – i.e. parking lot, sidewalk next to a street, crossing a roadway, etc. The second staff member will walk at the end of the group. When only one staff member is present, he/she will walk in front of the group, constantly checking to ensure the children are walking safely. For safety reasons, the children may walk alone or in pairs, not in groups of three or four unless in a safe area such as the school grounds.
• Whenever and wherever children are dropped off, the staff member driving the van must check the van to be sure no children are still in the van.
• Caregivers will keep the Director or Operations Manager informed of any concerns that may arise when transporting children.

Morning Transportation Procedures

• The Perfect daycare staff will ensure children are ready on time for their departure from the center.
• The staff transporting children will complete the appropriate transportation attendance form and count the children before departing from the center. All children who are absent must be recorded as absent.
• Attendance will again be completed upon arrival at the school as children are released into the care of the school.

Afternoon Transportation Procedures

• The staff will inform children in advance of what to do if they can’t find the Perfect daycare staff. They must wait inside in the school office.
• When parents phone in absences, it will be recorded in the Communication book. Written notice from parents is encouraged (i.e. e-mail or written notes).
• The staff will check for and record absences on the attendance sheet prior to departing from the center to pick up children.
• The staff will be at the designated meeting spot at the schools prior to dismissal times.
• Staff will record attendance as children arrive at the meeting spot. If all children are accounted for, they will depart for the center.
• Upon arrival at the center, staff will do attendance using the on-site attendance form to record accurate attendance times for each child.
• The Missing Child Procedures (below) will be followed in the event that a child does not show up after school when expected. Any incidents of a displaced or missing child will be reported to the Director immediately. A child will be considered ‘missing’ if he/she has not arrived on the meeting spot at the school when expected and the parents cannot explain the child’s absence.

Missing Child Procedures: Child Does Not Arrive as Expected after School

• In the event that a child does not show up after school when expected, Perfect daycare will attempt to locate the child. The following procedure will be followed. Roll calls/head counts during transportation should be conducted during drop-off and pick-ups.

Missing Child Procedures (Field Trip)

In the event that a child goes missing on a field trip, the following procedures will be followed. These instructions are shared by caregivers with the children in their group.

1. Stay where you are and try to be calm.
2. We will be looking for you and it will be much easier to find you if you stay where you are.
3. Do not go with anyone who is not from the daycare.
4. If someone wants to help, ask them to phone the daycare phone number on your identification.
5. We have a cell phone with us, so we can be contacted to tell us where you are so we can come to get you.

Instructions for the staff if a child is missing

First 15 Minutes:

• Tell the supervisor and the other staff that the child is missing.
• Leave your group with another staff member and then go about looking for the child, back-tracking your steps.
• The staff member/s looking for the child should take a cell phone along and make sure the other staff know the phone number.
• Groups should be combined in a safe area but still meeting minimum ratios to free up additional staff to search for the child.
• If the field trip site has security staff, inform the security staff of the missing child as soon as possible.

If the child is not located within 15 minutes:

1. Check the phone for a message.
2. Phone Police ‘911’ tell them you need help locating a missing child and give them your location.
3. Phone the parents. If you are not able to get a hold of them, call the emergency contacts.

The person in charge will stay at the field trip location as long as required following instructions from the police.

Licensing will be contacted as soon as possible and a critical incident report will be filed using the prescribed form.

Child Transported by the Perfect daycare Van

The driver waits an extra five minutes, then calls the school office to check if the child was in the school or not. The driver calls the daycare director to verify whether or not the child is supposed to be picked up. Day care director makes calls to parents and verifies the exact information of the child. Day care director makes call back to the driver and driver does accordingly. If the driver does not get any response, he/she moves to the other school. Daycare Director will contact the proper authorities to help locate the missing child. The Centre will make an arrangement to pick him/her up. Unless the daycare drops off the child at school, or the parent has called to notify us of pick-up, we will not be responsible for the pick-up of that child.

A list of children being dropped off and picked up are being prepared for each day at the daycare and provided to the driver each day for the record. It is the responsibility of the van driver to check off children when they are dropped off and picked up daily.

Policy

Educators plan experiences around the child’s interests. Children are involved through their child-directed play where the educator follows the lead of the child, through cooperative games, through daily conversations with the children, and through special activities and learning experiences. Educators observed and guide children in small groups as well as total classroom.

Procedure

Educators document the interest of the children during conversations and play. These observations are then brought to planning and experiences around those interests are then planned and implemented. Older children are able to have conversations with their educators about what they are interested in and what they may want to learn and explore.

Perfect Daycare program plan will consist of the planning cycle; this is a process of professional observation, planning, implementing and evaluation used by early childhood educators to assist in developing high quality early childhood education programs for children. This cycle is often referred to as the five steps of the planning cycle. These steps are commonly known as:

1. Observations – the process of gathering information. (anecdotal & running observations, photos, etc.)
2. Provocation – Provoke! They provoke thoughts, discussions, questions, interests, creativity and ideas. They can also expand on a thought, project, idea and interest.
3. Plan – the next steps to continue supporting learning and development:
   • Interest of the children / Play topic
   • Brainstorm
   • Concept Web
   • Flow Chart
   • Planning Map
4. Implement – Put the plan into action and set up experiences, provocations, and play spaces.

For further assistance please call 780-737-1191.