daycarepolicies

Our centre's primary function is to provide quality child care to children 18 months - 12 years of age. We are subsidized and licensed for 60 spaces. We are relicensed on an annual basis and must pass frequent health and fire inspections.

General Information

Smoking
Smoking is strictly prohibited at the centre, during hours of operation

Use of the centre after hours
The centre may be used after regular operating hours for activities directly related to, or in support of the centre, including but not limited to: staff meetings, board meetings and in-service training. After hours use of an exceptional nature must be approved by the Board of Directors.

Meals
The centre provides two snacks and one lunch per day. Parents assist in providing the afternoon snack by supplying one dozen muffins, fruit and baking on a monthly basis. It is imperative that you send your snack on the week that you are scheduled to do so.

The daycare follows a four week rotating menu for lunches. If you child has severe allergies or is a "picky eater," you will be asked to supply all of their food.

We do not supply breakfast, but if you would like to provide us with a large box of cereal, we will make sure your child eats in the morning. This is only for our early birds. Children arriving at the centre after 8:00 am must have breakfast at home.

Supplies
Please be sure to provide the following items for your child: Disposable diapers (if needed), footwear that can be worn inside and appropriate outdoor clothing including the following:
                In winter ~ toques, mitts, boots, ski pants, warm jackets and scarves.
                In summer ~ Sun hat and suntan lotion.
Also, please always have a complete change of clothing for your child that can be left at the centre at all times. This should include: pants, top, underwear and socks.

Laundry
The centre washes all blankets on a regular basis. It is essential that parents provide an extra change of clothing for their child, as the children's personal clothing will not be laundered in case of accidents.

Naptime
All preschoolers and kindergarteners must have a half hour of "quiet time." The staff needs this time to clean up after the lunch hour and drive the older children to school. The non-sleepers can get up after a half hour and can go outside or do a quiet indoor activity. The sleepers can nap until 3:00 pm.

Bringing toys to daycare
On Wednesday mornings we have "Surprise Box" time. Your child may bring his / her toy from home. Upon their arrival in the morning, they put their item in our "Surprise Box" and during the morning they will have an opportunity to play with and share stories about their item. The toy will then be re-deposited in the box until their departure at the end of the day. The centre will not be responsible for toys, games, favorite belongings, etc. that come from home on any other day.
All of your childs belongings must be clearly labeled with his / her name.

Parent Responsibilities

Please use the front door only.

Parents are required to accompany their child/ren into the centre everyday, remove their outdoor clothing and make it known to a staff member that their child has arrived.

Clearly mark all of your childs belongings with his / her name.

When your child leaves for the day, please let a staff member know so we can mark them out of our daily attendance book.

You must notify the daycare if your child will not be attending daycare due to illness, injury, etc. If your child is school age you must also notify their school of their absence.

As a requirement of the Department of Social Services, each parent must sign a monthly attendance report.

When you, the parent, are in the centre, you are responsible for your child/ren at all times.

Our "late pick-up" policy is in effect at 6:00 pm sharp. Make sure that your child is organised, dressed and promptly out the door by 6:00 pm.

Abusive language or behavior toward staff, parents or children will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

We must be notified immediately of any change in address, phone numbers (work and home), place of employment, alternate person(s) for pickup and updated medical information. It is imperative that our records are accurate and up-to-date in the event that we have an emergency with your child.

Some guidelines, rules and routines have been established to maintain consistency in the daycare. The staff are in charge of the day to day operations. As parents, do not attempt to change routines single-handedly. Any recommended changes should be passed to the Director for consideration by the Board of Directors.

Registration Procedure

A. Admission
Upon admission, the following documents must be fully completed and returned to the centre, prior to your child's first day.
* Child's health resume
* Child's social resume
* Medical (must be signed by your family physician)
* Emergency card
* Immunization record
* Transportation release
* Discipline policy
* Health policy
* Subsity application ( if applicable)
* Agreement for child care services

B. Introducing your child to the daycare
It can be a very big step in your child's social development to begin a daily routine of coming to daycare, socializing and feeling comfortable with our staff.

We have found from past experience that it is best to introduce your child to the daycare grradually. The first step is for you and your child to visit the daycare to observe and participate in the program. It is best if this could be done after 9:00 am., when our program is underway. During your second visit, you should spend part of the time with your child and then leave him / her with us for an hour or so. Never sneak away, but do keep "good- byes" short!

Fees

A. Payment of Fees
Fees are due on the first day of the month, without exception! Accounts unpaid after 30 days will be charged a fifteen percent late payment fee and your child will not be allowed to attend the centre. Accounts unpaid after 45 days will be sent to collections with an additional thirty three percent service charge.

B. Change in Fees
If a change in fees is necessary, parents will be notified with one month's written notice. All fee changes will be approved by the Board of Directors. A new contract that must be signed will be issued.

C. Income tax receipts
Parents will receive a monthly receipt. Duplicate receipts to replace the lost ones, or a receipt required for income tax purposes will be prepared for a cost of $10.

D. NSF cheques
A parent whose cheque is returned to the centre due to non-sufficient funds will be charged an additional $15.

E. Reduced fees for holidays
We require one month written notice for all holidays exceeding two consecutive weeks. Your fees will be reduced for the month(s) that you take your holidays. (I.E. if you take the last week of July and the first week of August, your fees will be reduced for one week for both months). Under no circumstances can your child attend the centre after your fees have been reduced for holidays. Full monthly fees are applicable for holidays less than two consecutive weeks.

Government Subsidy

The Government of Saskatchewan provides a subsidy toward child care fees in licensed child care facilities. This subsidy is based on the parents monthly income. Parents are responsible for the full fee charged. If part of that is subsidized then the parent must ensure that the subsidy office has all the information needed in order to process their application. Parents who have not been approved for subsidy after two months of attending our centre will be required to pay the full fee, until such time that they are approved.

More information regarding subsidy can be obtained from our Director, by contacting the subsity department at (306) 787-4114 or by visiting the Social Services web site.

Withdrawing a child from the centre

We require a one months written notice if you should decide to remove your child from the centre. One months fee can be paid in lieu of notice.

If you need to temporarily withdraw your child (require a maternity leave or become unemployed), we will hold your space for a minimum, non-refundable payment of $110. per month, per child, for a maximim period of four months. You will still need to submit the one months written notice for these circumstances.

Children

A. Accident reports
A complete accident report will be completed and kept on the child's file as soon as possible after the incident has occurred. This must be signed by the parent before the end of the day and discussed if necessary with the staff and / or Director.

B. Sick children
The centre reserves the right not to accept an ill child as defined by the Health Policy into care. If a child becomes ill during the course of the day, parents will be notified and expected to pick up their child immediately.

C. Files
A file containing the child's medical history, parent agreement and other important information for each child will be kept at the centre in a locking filing cabinet. This shall be accessible only by the centre administration, staff and the parents of the child.

It is imperative that you update your child's file on an on-going-basis. Updated medical and personal information is essential in case of an emergency.

Files of children who have left the centre will be destroyed after seven years.

D. Confidentiality
Information in the children's files is to be considered confidential and is to be shared only among custodial parents and the centre staff. No part of a completed file is to be removed from the centre without the Director's written consent. No information may be released by the centre without consent of a custodial parent.

E. Child care ratios
Ratios (in the centre) as defined by the Social Services Regulations are:
18 months - 30 months        1:5
30 months - kindergarten     1:10
Kindergarten & school age   1:15

Volunteers, students and trainees will be brought in to enhance ratios whenever possible.

F. Discipline Techniques
Corporal punishment of any kind is against Child Care Regulations and is strictly prohibited;

~ Children are first encouraged to work out their aggressive frustrations through
   words rather than aggressive behavior.
~ Secondly, children will be removed from a potentially hazardous situation and
   their attention diverted elsewhere.
~ This failing, children will be placed on a time-out chair until calm enough for the
    staff to successfully talk them through the problem.
~ Staff will assure the child that the inappropriate behavior is the problem, not the
   child him / herself.

Outdoor Activity

Outdoor play is an important part of the centre's programming and is necessary for the health and well being of children.

Winter ~ Please make sure that your child has snow pants, boots, mitts, toques, scarves and a warm jacket.
Summer ~ Your child will require a sun hat, shorts and suntan lotion.

Excursions
All excursions will be approved by the Director or the Assistant Director and may be cancelled due to inappropriate weather. Parents will be given advance notice of outings whenever possible. All emergency cards and a first aid kit will be taken on all outings. For all excursions the following rations will be observed:
Toddlers          1:3
Preschoolers   1:6
School Age      1:12

The following rations will be observed with any excursions within short walking distance of the centre:
Toddlers           1:4
Preschoolers    1:9
School Age       1:14

Transportation

Transportation to and from schools is a courtesy service offered by our centre. Children are transported by either our van or the employees private vehicles. Frequent tardiness from the child and / or willful damage being caused to the vehicle will immediately result in loss of driving privilages and the parent will have to make alternate transportation arrangements.

If your child is being bussed to and from school, it is the parent's responsibility to notify the bus if your child will be absent.

The daycare is not responsible for any other driving to the schools. If your child becomes ill or injured at the school, it is the parent's responsibility to retrieve their child. Under no circumstances will the daycare make extra trips to the schools to deliver forgotten homework, lunches, swim bags or pick up a child for appointments. It is imperative that you notify the daycare if you are delivering your child to the school or if you are picking them up.

We have several children to transport four times each day so please encourage your child to be at the designated "pick-up-point" promptly upon dismissal.

Also, your child must be at the centre by 8:30 am to catch their morning ride to school.

Every effort will be made to transport the children to school and in the event that the bus system is cancelled due to inclement weather, the employees will not be driving the children to school.

Recreation

Parents may register their child/ren for recreation activities by signing a registration form.

The activity may be cancelled due to low enrollment. Payments for recreation activities are due in advance.

The Director and Assistant Director reserve the right to cancel / postpone an activity due to inclement weather.

Fundraising

We budget to fundraise approximately $45,000. per year. To raise this money we work bingo shifts at the Fantsyland Bingo Hall. Monies raised cannot be used for operating expenses, so the funds are used to enhance our programs, activities, facility and to purchase equipment.

As we are not registeed as a co-operative centre, all fundraising is done on a volunteer basis. However with parent participation we offer a $25. credit towards daycare fees for every shift that parents work.

Our ultimate goal is to raise enough funds to purchase our own property and facility.
Click here for more details.

Staffing

Upon employment all employees must meet the education standards as set forth in the Saskatchewan Government Regulations. As well, all employees must submit a medical, criminal record check and a record of immunization. All employees will be trained in First Aid and CPR on an on-going basis.

Any adverse criminal record checks will be reviewed by the Board of Directors and hiring / continued employment will be at their discretion.

Staff health policy
No staff member, parent, student or volunteer who is contagious may work in the centre.
All staff upon commencement of employment must submit a doctor completed medical cerrtificate.
All staff must submit proof of absence of active Tuberculosis.
All employees must submit a record of immunization and keep immunizations
up-to-date.
The centre reserves the right to require staff to provide medical certificates indicating illnesses and fitness to return to work.
Staff diagnosed with HIV, AIDS or any form of Hepatitis may continue working in the centre as long as she / he is not ill as defined under "Specific Desease Considerations," in our "Health Policy", "Appendix A."

Board of Directors

Structure
As stated in our bylaws, our board of Directors shall consist of no more than seven members, but no less than five. The Board structure shall include: 1 chairperson, 1 vice chairperson, 1 secretary, 1 treasurer and 1 member at large.

The board will meet a minimum of six times a year and / or as often as necessary. The Executive Director and Assistant Director will attend all meetings.

Any parent may attend a board meeting as long as the Director is notified 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Annual General Meetings
Our annual general meeting is held every December. All parents are urged to attend. The notice and agenda of meeting day is posted one month in advance. The meeting will be cancelled due to a lack of qourm.

Committees
If and when the need arises an ad hoc committee may hae to be formed to assist board members in their workload.

A board member will chair the committee; the Executive and / or Assistant will sit on all committes as n ex-officio member. Ad hoc committee meetings will be held as often as needed and the chairperson will report at the regular board meeting on the progress.

Ad hoc committees that may need to be formed:
~ Personnel
~ Negotiating
~ Building
~ Financial
~ Fundraising

We are not a co-operative daycare centre and parents are not expected to put in "parent time". All board positions and fundraising is done on a volunteer basis.

Spaces and Rates

We are licensed for 60 subsidized spaces. Availability is based on our waiting list. The spaces are divided into the following rates:

Toddlers (18 months - 30 months)
Fulltime spaces only at $430. per month
Preschool
Full time spaces at $400. per month
5 halftime spaces at $275. per month
* Half time constitutes 5.5 consecutive hours per day, Monday through Friday
5 daily rate space at $110. per month
* Daily rate constitutes 5 full days per month or 10 half days
Kindergarten
Full time spaces at $385. per month
School age
Full time spaces at $310. per month
*This rate is in effect when we drive your child three times per day
5 halftime spaces at $275. per month
This rate is in effect when we see / or drive your child twice a day: the two times a day when we see your child cannon exceed 5.5 hours per day
*There are no "daily rate spaces" available for this age group

Should your require a change in fee structures, (ie temporarily unemployed, lay-off, maternity leave, etc.):
~ We require a one month's written notice of your change
~ Toddler - if we have no part time spaces available, your only option is to continue paying
the full time amount if you want to keep your spot
~ Preschool - If we have one of the 5 halftime spaces available you may bump
   down to that category
~ Kindergarten & School age - If we have one of the 5 halftime spaces available,
   you may bump to that rate for a one month period. If your situation does not change
   after one month and you want to keep your space, you will have to pay the
   fulltime fees.

Allergies

Parents must inform the centre of all allergies including non-food allergies as they arise / change so that files can be kept up-to-date.

Should your child have a severe allergy to any product, you will be expected to provide the medication at all times to counteract this severe allergic reaction. The centre may not necessarily stop providing this product (i.e. peanut butter), but we will try to keep your child out of contact of the rest who do. If the centre decides not to allow this product, it shall be posted at our entryway and all parents would then be expected to follow these postings.

We cannot guarantee that a child will not come in contact with an item, product or insect that may cause an allergic reaction.

A list of children's allergies will be posted in the kitchen for all employees to be aware of.

For severe food allergies, the parent may be required to provide all meals and snacks.

Safety

All medications are stored in the kitchen. Children are allowed in the kitchen by invitation only. Parents who bring their child into the kitchen will be responsible for that child.

Fire drills will be conducted on a monthly basis.

An accident report will be completed as soon as possible regarding any accident requiring either first aid or other medical treatment.

Emergency phone numbers for hospital, fire department, police, ambulance and poison control shall be posted by the telephone.

GPCC centre acknowledges the Product Safety Branch warning issued by Consumer and Corporate Affairs regarding the hazards of balloons. Therefore, the use of balloons for parties, crafts, etc. is strictly prohibited at our centre.

Daycare staff and all other adults in the centre will follow all regulations to ensure our centre is a safe environment.

APPENDIX "A"

Health Policy

Preventative Health Measures
No child may attend the centre if he / she is ill or contagious. The centre reserves the right to refuse to accept an ill child into care.

No child should attend the centre if he / she cannot actively take part in all components of the centre's program.

If a child becomes ill during the course of the day, the parents will be notified and are expected to pick up their child right away. If a parent is unable to do so, they will be expected to send a designate.

Parents must notify the centre if his / her child has been diagnosed with a communicable disease.

The daycare will post any notification of communicable disease.

Specific Disease Consideration
Fevers ~ Children with an axillary (armpit) temperature of 101 F or higher will not be accepted into the centre. Children who achieve a temperature of 101 F while at the centre must be removed until their temperature returns to normal.

Diarrhea and vomitting ~ Any child with more than one occurence of either diarrhea or vomitting must be removed from the centre. Children must be free of either symptom for at least 24 hours before returning to the centre.

Pink Eye / other eye infections, Strep Throat, Ringworm, Scabies, Scarlet Fever, Lice, Pinworm and Impetigo ~ Children may return to daycare after being treated with medication by a physician and providing they have a doctor's note stating they are fit to return.

Chicken Pox ~ Children may return to the centre seven days after the outbreak of spots, providing the spots have completely scabbed over.

German Measles (Rubella), Red Measles, Mumps, Roseola (Bay Measles) ~ Children may return to the centre five days after diagnosis by a physician.

Whooping Cough (Pertussis) ~ The child may return to the centre seven days after diagnosis and beginning of treatment.

Pnemonia, Tonsillitis, Bronchitis ~ Children diagnosed with these illnesses may return to the centre with a doctor's note stating that they are healthy enough to return.

AIDS, HIV, Hepatitis ~ Children / employees diagnosed with these illnesses may continue to attend / work at the centre unless they are ill as defined in our "Specific Disease Category."

Employees are required to wear disposable gloves when handling bodily fluids.

Medication
Staff are permitted to administer medication to a child only if a medication authorization form has been properly completed by the parent. In completing the form, the parent must state: name of medication, dosage to be given and specific time(s) of day the medicine is to be given. Parents must then sign the form.

Medication must be in it's original container with a pharmasist's label stating the child's name and dosage.

Staff cannot administer medication in excess of the stated dosage or medication that has expired.

Medication must be given to a staff member for proper storage rather than left in a child's locker or diaper bag.

Non-prescription medicine (i.e. Children's Tylenol, cough syrup). If we feel that your child requires a dosage of the above during the day, we will phone for verbal approval. If your child's condition does not improve within the hour we will phone you to come and pick up your child.

APPENDIX "B"

Late pick-up policy

The daycare centre closes at 6:00 pm SHARP! The following procedure will be used should a child not be retrieved from the centre by 6:00 pm.
~ Staff will attempt to contact the child's parent by telephone
~ Staff will attempt to contact the child's designated pick-up person(s)
~ If no contact has been made by 6:30 pm, the staff will contact the Executive and / or Assistant Director to immediately relieve the employee on duty
~ If the child has not been picked up by 7:00 pm, the Executive or Assistant will immediately call the Mobile Crisis Unit
~ Mobile Crisis will apprehend the child and put them into temporary Foster Care
~ A note will be left on the centre's entrance informing the parent / pick-up designate where the child is

Late Pickup fee

When a parent arrives late, not only ddoes it cost the centre overtime and inconvenience the employee, but it also creates a situation when the child may become anxious. To discourage lateness, a fine will be assessed as follows:
~ Late fees apply to parents who have not exited from the centre with their child/ren by 6:00 pm ~ 6:00 - 6:30 pm $15.
~ The fee accumulates at a rate of $15. for every 15 minutes or part thereof, until the child is retreived by the parent or apprehended by the Mobile Crisis Unit.
~ When the parent / designate picks up the child, you are required to sign our "late pickup" sheet verifying the time your child exited the centre. Late pickup fees must be paid within 48 hours.
~ Should the parent arrive late more than twice in a six month period, the Board of Directors may decide to suspend childcare privileges.

It is strongly suggested that parents always have specific pick-up arrangements made in order to avoid the above procedures.

APPENDIX "C"

Pick up / Retrieval policy

The GPCC staff will allow a child to leave with a parent or with an alternate who is listed in the child's file as an alternate pickup person or as an emergency pickup person.

If the pickup person is not on the list, the centre will only allow the child to go with that person if the parent has told / phoned the centre that day to inform us that there will be a new pickup person. Non-parental persons must come prepared to show identification to a staff member before a child will be released.

Custody

In case of divorced or seperated parents, the GPCC staff cannot forbid a parent to pickup their child unless that parent has no custody rights. Custodial parents must supply the centre with a copy of a legal custody order. If a non-custodial parent attempts to pickup their child at the centre, staff will refuse to release that child. Should that parent become violent, the police will be called, but the GPCC staff will not put themselves in physical danger in order to prevent a release.

Intoxicated parent / pickup designate

If a parent or pickup designate appears under the influence, attempts to pickup a child and intends to drive, the staff will offer to call a taxi for that person. If that person refuses a taxi the staff will inform them they will call 911 and Social Services to report the situation. If a taxi is still refused, the child will be released but the situation will be reported to both the police and Social Services.

Child Abuse and Neglect Policy

Childcare facilities are legally required to report suspected cases of physical / emotional abuse which may endanger the safety or well-being of a child. Because of this requirement, GPCC centre reserves the right to document and report any evidence indicating child abuse.