Parents Guide

Legal orders / Guardianship

The Learning Journey Childcare Center requires copies of any legal forms in the event that parents do not reside together.

Please note: Unless we have the aforementioned papers on file, we are unable to refuse a noncustodial parent access to his/her child(ren).

Arrival

Children must be accompanied into the program by an adult or a person designated by the child’s parent/guardian.

Please note: The Learning Journey Childcare Center is not responsible for any child/ren until the child has entered a supervised area and the parent has gained the attention of a staff member.

Please remember to allow yourself enough time to take care of your child/ren’s needs and to make their transition as pleasant as possible. This will make a big difference to both your day and that of your child/ren.

Supply List

• 2 pairs shoes or runners (1 indoor pair and 1 outdoor pair)
• At least one compete change of clothes (labelled)
• Blanket for nap-time
• Disposable diapers, wet wipes, and other toiletries
• A box of Kleenex
• Sunhat
• Sunscreen
• A bib for lunch – if your child needs one
• Comfort pack (see below)
• Labelled water bottle

We would like each child to have an emergency “Comfort pack” that would help to comfort, nourish, and re-focus children in an emergency. Please bring a large sealed zip lock bag with your child’s name clearly labelled on the front. Inside please include:

• a family photo
• a card with your child’s name, medical number, health and allergy information, emergency numbers and contact people,
• small juice box
• granola bar, or something sweet to eat
• a small toy or coloring book with crayons

Enrollment ages

• We accept the children between the ages 9 months to 5 years for our programs
• Enrollment comes first
• All children must be enrolled in the daycare before accessing care.

Waiting list

If there are no vacancies, the child will be put on the waiting list

Clothing and Lockers

Please ensure your child wears clothing that is childcare friendly!

Food and drink

• The Learning Journey Childcare Centre is a nut free facility
• Parents/guardians are responsible for providing their child’s lunch. We encourage healthy lunches and snacks. We have a microwave available, so feel free to send food that requires reheating.
• Parents/guardians must ensure that all food allergies are listed on their children’s registration form.
• We encourage the children to drink water through the day.

Illness

• All children attending The Learning Journey Childcare Centre are required to participate fully in the program- i.e. indoor and outdoor time. If your child is too sick for full participation, we ask that he/she stay at home to recuperate.
• If your child will not be attending daycare due to illness, please take a moment to contact us and let us know.
• If the child becomes ill while at the daycare, measures will be taken to make the child as comfortable as possible. The parent/guardian will be contacted and informed of the child’s condition. If they are unavailable, then the Emergency/Alternate Contact will be called.
• For the child’s well being, as well as the health of other children in the daycare, we ask that the ill child be picked up immediately.
• If your child has a communicable disease, you will be asked to follow the public health rules regarding incubation and/or isolation. A doctors note may be required upon re-entry to the daycare.

Medication

If your child is well enough to attend the daycare but needs medication, the medicine will be administered providing the following criteria are met:

• Medicine must come in the original container
• Medicine must be labelled with the child’s full name, expire date, dosage ,time and method of administration
• The parent/guardian must complete a Medication Authorization Form prior to the medicine being administered at the daycare
• All medications must be given directly to the staff on duty
• A written record will be kept including the type of medication, time and dose along with the administrating staff signature
  It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to remember to take the medicine home at the end of the day

Accidents\Emergencies

We take every effort to reduce the possibility of accidents and injuries at the Learning Journey Childcare Center. However, understanding that accidents do happen, all staff members are trained in first aid as well as infant/child CPR.

An ECE will administer first aid or CPR as required in the event of an accident. If necessary, the parent or emergency/alternative will be contacted. If an injury requires minor medical treatment,the parent or emergency/alternative person will be notified to pick up the child and ensure that they receive the necessary medical attention If the child should require emergency medical care, an ambulance will be called. The parent/guardian will be notified immediately. Staff will record accidents on an Accident Form.

Since we need to know where you can be reached at all times when your child is in our care, it is vital that we are kept informed of any changes in your phone numbers.

Rest period/Nap Time

• Rest period/ nap time is part of our daily schedule. All children will be provided a cot which is sanitized weekly.
• All parents are asked to provide a sheet and a blanket.
• All bedding must be taken home weekly to be washed and returned on Monday. If your child needs a cuddly toy to snuggle with a at nap time, feel free to send this as well.
• After a half hour, should a child not be sleeping, he/she will be given an alternative activity to do.

Behavior/Discipline

• It is our policy to treat every child with respect. We feel the best way to teach respect is act as role models and demonstrate appropriate behavior at all times.
• By outlining the expectations for the children at the start of the program, the child has the best chance of success.
• The children will be encouraged to practice problem solving when dealing with challenges.
• When they have made at attempt to solve a problem involving another child, the staff member will offer guidance and suggestions without “stepping in”. This gives the child ownership of the solution.
  If a child becomes aggressive towards a staff member or another child, it may become necessary to separate him/her to a safe,supervised area. The staff member and the child will then have a discussion about an appropriate course of action (examples are an apology to those involved, picking up knocked over blocks, choosing to move to a new area to play).

Fire drill & Evacuation

In case of fire, the alarm will be activated and the following evacuation procedure will be followed:

• The children will gather in front of the door of the playroom close to the nearest exit door.
• The teacher will collect the First Aid kit which also includes the cards with parents emergency numbers.
• The teacher will also fetch the attendance book and verify attendance before leaving the room.
• The children will go out from the emergency exit doors in the hallway.
• Once outside, the children will follow the teacher to the area by the parking lot.
• The children will be posted at this area until we receive a signal that is safe to go back in the building.

Safe release of children

Children will be released only to the following:

• Parent
• Emergency pick-ups
• Authorized adults noted on the registration form

Person must be over age 16 years to be eligible to pick up a child in our care. Additions to the persons authorized list may be made at any time by a parent but only in writing. Verbal additions will not be accepted. If custodial agreements exist, a copy must be made available to the staff. It is the responsibility of the custodial parent to keep these records current.

Please note the information regarding late pick up fee.

If child has not been picked up by 5:30 pm, and no word has been received from the parent,
the following procedure will be followed:

• At 5:30 pm an effort will be made to contact the parent/guardian at home and at work
• If this is unsuccessful, the emergency/alternative person on the child’s list will be called
• If this is unsuccessful, the staff shall contact the Ministry of Children & Family Development

Please note: any new pick-up person on the pick up list but not previously known to the Learning Journey staff, will be asked to present a photo ID.

Field Trips

We may take the children off premises for walks or field trips:

• Spontaneous field trips walks occur when staff members feel it is appropriate
• Parents will receive written or verbal notice of the field trip/walk at the end of the day
• Spontaneous field trips/walks will always be within the daycare

Planned field trips/walks:

• We will inform parents ahead of time about planned field trips
• Parents must sign a permission slip before their child(ren) are able to take part in the field trip
• If a child is unable to take part in the field trip, the parents will be asked to find alternative care for the duration of the field trip

Missing child

• To keep all the children safe, no child is ever left alone and children are accounted for at all times
• If a child would become lost, we would quickly check all areas of the Center and property
• If the child cannot be found, the police would be called immediately, and then the child’s parents or emergency contact person will be notified
• The same would apply if a child would become lost on a field trip

Extreme weather

In the event of extreme weather(snow, freezing rain, widespread flooding, etc.) it is possible that the centre will either:

* Not open for the day
* Open late
* Operate on a “partially open “basis, if staffing levels are not met
* Close early for the day

The decision to open late or not open at all will be made by 6:30 am.

Every effort will be made to contact all families by phone or email to advise of the closure.

Should extreme weather conditions require the centre to close early, parents/alternative person will be contacted, and the children will be required to be picked up as soon as possible. Fees will not be refunded in the event of extreme weather closures.

Hours of operation

The Center is open from 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. We recommend arriving by 9:30 AM,this allows children to be integrated into their program before any structured activities begin, and helps reduce interruptions or distractions once activities begin.

Holiday closures

The daycare is open year round, with the exception of the following statutory holidays for which fees are billed:

* September 30th
* Family day
* Good Friday and Monday
* BC day
* Victoria Day
* Canada day
* Labour day
* Thanksgiving day
* Remembrance Day

In addition, our centre will be closed for the following days:

From December 24 and reopens on the first business day of the New year. We will be closed the Friday before the Labor Day to prepare the environment for the new school year.

Ratio of staff to children

We maintain a maximum 1:8 ratio (staff to children) in the 3-5 age group and a maximum 1:4 ratio in the infant-toddler group.

Confidentiality

All information pertaining to your child will be kept confidential. Parents may have access to their child file upon request.

Photographs & videos

From time to time we may take videos or photographs of the children for in-house use. Please make sure the consent form form is signed.

Toilet training

The Learning Journey Childcare Center does accept children who are not toilet trained.

Bathroom times are scheduled through the day to encourage toilet- learning. Needless to say, we will work along with the parents to help their child accomplish this skill!