Parent Handbook

HAMMONDS PLAINS CHILDREN'S CENTRE

#1 Yankeetown Road, Hammonds Plains, NS B3Z 1K7 Canada, http://www.turbokids.ca Ph +1 902 835 1804, Fax +1 902 835 1484

Parent Handbook

Welcome to Hammonds Plains Children's Centre. This parent handbook has been created to help you familiarize you with your child's program. It will provide you with helpful information about our program and policies and will help answer some of your questions.

Our Philosophy, Mission Statement and our License can be found in the entry way coming through the main entrance door.

PHILOSOPHY
The operator and staff of Hammonds Plains Children's Centre will provide a safe, caring and inclusive environment where each child's physical and emotional needs are met. Hammonds Plains Children's Centre recognizes the value of play as children learn and develop trusting relationships with their peers.
Our early childhood education program aims to provide:
- best practices with respect to a carefully planned program that provides opportunities for children to explore,investigate and communicate with friends and care-givers.
- opportunities for children to build on their experiences and interests and to celebrate their individuality and cultural background
- a planned program which provides opportunities for children to develop physically, socially, emotionally, morally, spiritually, cognitively, creatively and musically
- a healthy environment in which each child's self-esteem is enhanced, play is encouraged and children are enabled to participate to their full potential in environments that are carefully planned to serve individual needs
- supports for the family through parent participation and on-going communication
- to acknowledge and incorporate resources available through the community
- a quality program based on best practices in an inclusive childcare environment.

MISSION STATEMENT
Hammonds Plains Children's Centre is a privately owned child care centre whose early childhood educators are committed to providing a nurturing, stimulating environment with high quality child care services for all families in the community. We provide quality child care for children between ages 3 months and 12 years of age. We strive to provide both a developmentally and individually appropriate daily program in a natural setting.

The following are all posted on the main bulletin board on the upper level in the main entrance:

1. act and regulations
2. parent handbook
3. most recent inspection report
4. HPCC's behaviour guidance policy
5. current menu
6. daily program plan and routine
7. current members of the parent committee
8. notification of funding provided

OUR PROGRAM
We provide an emergent approached program for children ages 3 months to 12 years. We are licensed for 70 children, the centre is opened from 6:30am to 6:00pm. We are a full day childcare centre with limited part time spaces available with a minimum of 2 days per week for children ages 18 months - 12 years.

INCLUSION POLICY
Hammonds Plains Children's Centre provides a developmentally appropriate program that aims to meet the needs of the individual child and the group in the child care environment. Staff trained in early childhood education and special needs participate in planning individual program plans ( IPP ) and individual family service plans ( IFSP ) in collaboration with the child's family and with any specialist that may be involved with the child ( i.e. early intervention, speech and language, family physician, occupational therapist etc, ) IPP and / or IFSP goals will be incorporated into all aspects of the daily schedule. Hammonds Plains Children's Centre staff provide opportunities to enable children to participate to their full potential in environments that are carefully planned to serve individual needs and facilitate the child's progress in the social, emotional, physical and cognitive areas of development.
Children with special needs will be enroled in the program as space permits and as Hammonds Plains Children's Centre allows. Criteria for the enrolment of children with special needs includes the child being ambulatory , our ability to keep the child safe, and to provide for the child's social and developmental needs. Please note that Hammonds Plains Children's Centre is not wheelchair accessible.

REGISTRATION
All of our registration forms may be found on our website. All forms must be given to HPCC prior to your child's first day.
Please include:
deposit of $170.00 (only for infants) note: deposit will be applied towards the first month's invoice and is non refundable should you not require the space
application form including the outing consent and the website consent forms signed
medical questionnaire with immunization dates given and signed
parent policy agreement signed
emergency medical treatment form filled out and signed

YOUR CHILD'S FIRST DAY
Hammonds Plains Children's Centre gives 3 days at no charge prior to your child's start date to use as you wish to transition your child into our centre. We urge parents to come and visit with their child for an hour before the 3 days begin. The 3 days may be used over a period of time or used together, if you have any questions regarding these days call or email and we will try our best to help you.

WHAT TO BRING
Please dress your child according to the weather. A change of clothes is required for your child at all times, if your child is potty training please send several changes of clothes and extra footwear. Take the necessary precautions to protect your child from the ultraviolet rays of the sun (sunglasses with straps, a wide brimmed hat that ties so the wind does not blow it off) Spagetti strap t-shirts and sundresses are not permitted, please have your child's shoulders covered with a light weight cotton shirt - long sleeved is the best.. Flip flops are not permitted in the playground or on outings. Toys are not permitted with the exception of show and tell day. Action figures, games or clothing themed to action figures will not permitted at any time. Your child may bring a soft cuddly toy or blanket for quiet time.
Hammonds Plains Children's Centre does not provide:
baby food
diapers ( diapers are a necessity and if HPCC has to provide your child with diapers at anytime a fee of $5.00 per diaper will be charged to your invoice)
diaper cream
sunscreen
diaper wipes (if HPCC has to provide your child with diaper wipes at anytime a fee of $5.00 per day will be charged to your invoice)

PARENT INVOLVEMENT
We encourage parents and family members to be part of the centre's extended family. Once your child is comfortable in the setting we invite parents to play an active role in your child's program when appropriate, this can be arranged with the director. We welcome comments and suggestions. Should a problem arise in your child's class, discuss it with the teacher. If this does not satisfy your concern, feel free to contact the director or one of the parents on the Parent Committee. If you would like to volunteer your services contact the director.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Children are to be accompained to their group by an adult, do not leave them unattended in the entry way. Let the teacher on duty know your child is here so he/she can be signed in on the attendance sheet. The children should arrive by 8:45 am, if this is not possible please try and call to let the centre know your child will either be late or not attending .Children may depart only with those people authorized on the application form.

NUTRITION
We follow the criteria of The Manual for Food and Nutrition in Regulated Child Care Settings, food which provides the essential nutritions, minimal use of food which has low or no nutritional content and absence of food which is harmful to the body. Menus run on a 4 week rotation. Menus are posted on the main parent board on the upper level. Any menu substitudes will also be posted that same day.

Mothers are welcome to breastfeed their babies anywhere in our centre they feel comfortable to do so. A warm and comfortable space will be provided by the centre to welcome breastfeeding moms.

Foods that have been donated to or purchased for HPCC must:
(1) be labelled with the name of the source of the food
(2) include a list of ingredients and any special preparation, storage or serving instructions; and
(3) be in accordance with Standard 6 (special dietary considerations).

Staff of HPCC are responsive to children's cues around hunger and provide snacks and meals outside of the regular schedule as required. HPCC provides a relaxing and enjoyable meal environment. HPCC staff encourages children to respond to hunger and feelings of fullness and the children are not forced to finish food that has been served. When working with the children HPCC staff model healthy eating practices that are consistent with these standards.

FEE STRUCTURE
Fees must be paid in full by the first day of every month. Part time schedules provided must be paid whether your child attends these scheduled days or not, any extra days added within the month will be added to the next months invoice as balance owing for previous month. Invoices not paid in full by the first day of each month will be charged an extra $5.00 per day until paid in full whether your child is attending HPCC or not. Any fees not paid in full by the 15th day of each month your child will not be permitted to attend HPCC until all monies that are owed are paid in full. There will be a serivce charge of $40.00 on every NSF cheque (non-sufficient-funds). Children must be picked by 6:00pm. A late charge of $2.00 is due for every minute or part thereof. This money is payable to the staff on duty at the time. You will be required to sign a late slip if payment is not received. Tax receipts will be issued by the end of February for the tax year. Deposits made to hold a space is payable at time of application and are non-refundable. Payment may be paid by cheque, email payment, money order or cash.

HOLIDAYS AND STORM DAYS
The centre is closed the following holidays: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Natal Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day. Please note regular fees are due on these days. If the centre is closed due to a storm, regular fees will be charged for that day.

HEALTH POLICIES
Children will be excluded from the centre, if they have any of the following symptoms: fever, diarrhea, vomiting, persistent cough, breathing difficulty, rash with a fever. A child will not be accepted at the centre if he/she displays any of the above symptoms that may spread disease. Staff will check children on daily arrival for signs of illness. If your child shows any of the above symptoms through out the day, you will be notified to have you child picked up as soon as possible. Parents are required to provide detailed information relating to their child's illness. Hammonds Plains Children's Centre is committed to reporting outbreaks of communicable disease to Public Health Services.

MEDICATION
Medications will be administered only with written directions from a doctor. All prescription medication must be labeled with the child's name, prescribed dosage and the doctors name. In addition to the parents filling out and signing an authorization slip giving the staff permission to administer the required medication. A new authorization slip is required for each new medication. All over the counter medications will not be given by the staff unless written instructions are received from the parent or the physician as indicated above.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT
All staff have been trained in First Aid and Infant CPR. If a child requires emergency medical treatments due to illness or injury, the parent will be contacted immediately. If the parent is unable to be reached the authorized emergency contact will be called(and contact with the parent will continue to be made). If contact with the parent or authorized person cannot be made and the child requires immediate medical attention a staff person will accompany the child to the IWK health Centre in a taxi (or director's car if taxi is not available). If a child's condition is life-threatening, an ambulance will be called and a staff person will accompany the child to the hospital. Parents are asked to complete a Parental Consent for Emergency Care and Transportation Form at registration.

NAPPING
Infants nap when they are tired, toddlers nap from 12:30pm - 2:30pm, preschoolers rest from 1:00pm - 2:00pm. It is required for all children to have a rest time, if your child does not nap he or she will be given a quiet time activity to do on his/her bed until rest time is over.

BEHAVIOUR GUIDANCE POLICY
Our program is designed to develop within a child the ability to act appropriately and acceptably in given situations. We do not use physical or verbal punishment, threats or withdrawal of affection as disciplinary measures, and we ask that you refrain from similar measures while at the centre. We avoid withholding food as a disciplinary measure unless the child's abuse of food is in itself the problem. We will make arrangements to discuss the child's behaviour at any time upon parents request or when we as the management would like to do so.

Hammonds Plains Children's Centre will not permit:
1. corporal punishment, including but not limited to the following:
- striking a child directly or with any physical object;
- shaking, shoving, spanking, or other forms of aggressive physical contact; and
- requiring or forcing a child to repeat physical movements.
2. harsh, humiliating, belittling or degrading responses of any form, including verbal, emotional or physical.
3. confinement of, or isolation of a child or children
4. deprivation of a child of basic needs including food, shelter, clothing or bedding.

HAMMONDS PLAINS CHILDREN'S DISCIPLINE POLICY
- setting limits
- setting standards of behaviour
- providing explanations
- providing choices
- being firm but flexible
- anticipating the child's needs
- recognizing child differences in age, temperament, and experience
- ignoring, where appropriate
- distracting and removing child from the situation

PREVENTION STRATEGIES
1. Establish clear, consistent and simple limits and provide explanations for limits.
2. State limits in a positive way, and periodically remind children.
3. Provide opportunities for children to make choices throughout the day.
4. Focus on the behaviour, not on the child.
5. Ignore minor incidents.
6. Prepare children for transitions.
7. Model and encourage apporpriate behaviour.
8. Interact with children.
INTERVENTION STRATEGIES
1. Physical closeness and touch
2. Remind and redirect if necessary
3. Get child's attention
4. Acknowledge feelings
5. Assist children in problem-solving the situation
6. Removal of a privilege

CHILD ABUSE POLICY
Staff of Hammonds Plains Children's Centre are required to report any and all incidents of suspected child abuse and neglect to the Child Welfare and Early Childhood Development Services.

DAILY SCHEDULES
Infant Schedule (note* infants 3 months-12 months sleep when they are tired and eat when they are hungry)
Ages 3 months - 18 months
6:30 free play
9:00 free expression art
9:30 snack
10:00 unobstructed outside play
11:00 books / puzzles / cuddly time
11:30 lunch
12:15 nap
2:30 small group
3:30 snack
4:00 unobstructed outsdie play
5:00 inside freeplay
5:30 quiet play with books and teddies
6:00 centre closed

Toddler Schedule
Ages 18 months - 3 years
6:30 arrival / freeplay
8:45 gathering
9:00 snack
9:30 unobstructed outside play
10:45 library / books / puzzles
11:30 lunch
12:15 nap
2:00 free expression art
2:45 snack - science
4:00 unobstructed outside play
5:00 inside freeplay
5:30 library time
6:00 centre closed

Preschool Schedule
Ages 3-5 years
6:30 arrival / freeplay
9:00 gathering
9:30 snack
10:00 library / books / puzzles
10:30 unobstructed outside play
1:00 rest time
2:00 free expression art
3:00 snack
3:30 unobstructed outside play
5:30 library
6:00 centre closed

School Age Schedule
Ages 5 - 12 years
6:30 arrival / free play
9:00 snack
9:30 free expression art and music
10:30 gross motor / oustide / inside
12:00 lunch
12:30 freetime - video games, movies, etc.
2:00 large group
3:00 snack
3:30 gross motor / outside / inside
4:30 freeplay
6:00 centre closed

PRICE LIST
Infants age 3 months to 18 months
$38.00 per day
Toddlers age 18 months to 3 years
$36.00 per day full time
$38.00 per day part time
$19.00 per half day
Preschool age 3 years to 5 years
$34.00 per day full time
$36.00 per day part time
$18.00 per half day
School age 5 years to 12 years ( must be attending school)
$18.00 per day full time (regular school days)
$22.00 per day full time (summer holidays, March break, storm days, PD days, Christmas break, etc.)
$20.00 per day part time (regular school days)
$24.00 per day part time (summer holidays, March break, storm days, PD days, Christmas break, etc.)
$10.00 part time before or after school
$12.00 per half day
Note* children who are 4 years old and attending school in September will receive the school age rate starting in September.
There will be a $4.00 transportation charge added to any outings or trips, this includes school pickups and drop offs.
Full time famillies will receive a $2.00 discount per day for second child and each child thereafter.
Part time families will receive a $1.00 discount per day for second child and each child thereafter.

PARENT COMMITTEE
The parent committee is to provide a forum in which parents provide input and receive notice of any matters of interest or concern to the parents.The Parent Committee consists of at least 3 parents of children currently enrolled at HPCC, the director and 1 staff who provide regular care for children.

(1The parent committee will meet at least 2 times a year
(2)The parent committee will be opened to all parents of enrolled children
(3)2 weeks notice will be given prior to a parent committee meeting in writing to each parent as well as being posted on the bulletin board
(4) parents will be able to add items to the meeting's agenda

The agenda of the parent committe meeting will be as follows
1. the safety, care and well -being of the children
2. the status of HPCC license
3. our programs
4. the equipment and materials used for the children
5. staffing patterns and staff qualifications

The minutes of the meeting will be posted within 2 weeks from the date of the meeting and will remain posted until the next meeting.

2010-12-08 - Hammonds Plains Children's Centre Inc.