Loving Arms Home Child Care's
Policies
1a. Hours: Your contracted hours for child care are from __________ to ___________. If there are times when your child needs to be dropped off early or picked up late, call me in advance and I will try to help.
• If you have a varying work or school schedule you agree to provide this schedule in writing as often as it changes.•
1b. Daily Enrollment: The drop off persons (assumable the parent*) is also responsible to sign the sign in/out sheet that is specifically for my childcare, with their full signature. If child is absent, parent* is also responsible to record the reason that your child is absent. If you are more then fifteen minutes late to drop off your child, we will continue with our daily plans without your child, unless you have notified me of your intentions of being late.
1c. Over Time Fee: Once you are ten minutes outside your times stated above, unless you have made prior arrangements, an over time fee of $1.00 per minute will be charged. So if you arrive ten minutes early in the AM or late at pick up you start with a ten dollar over time fee and $1.00 for each additional minute.
If you are consistently asking for a different drop off or pickup time your contract will have to be re-evaluated. Over time fees must be cash and payable when you pick up your child, at the latest, the next day of care before enrollment. Do not put me in the undesirable position of having to ask for these fees. If you are over your agreed upon hours, you know it. If all your fees are not made by Monday morning, your child will not be accepted into care until payment is made. No exceptions! Remember that I really do not want this fee, I just want you to drop off and/or pick up your child as we have agreed so I can begin and end my work day on time and enjoy my family time.
2. Fees:
a. Bi-annual Program Supply Fee: A non-refundable bi-annually program supply fee due two times a year. The first $45.00 is due the second payday in January, or at enrollment if after January, and second payment for $45.00 is on the second payday of July. If necessary, you may pay the fee in four installments over the first four weeks of care after due.
b. Weekly Fees: Here is my defintion of full time vs part-time. Full time is anything over 25 hours per week. So 25 hours and any portion of the next hour would be full time. Part time therefore is anything less then 25 hours per week.
I do not display my rates, if you would like more information please Email me to schdeule an appointment for an interview. I believe that to judge my services solely on my weekly rate would be unfair to the children that I care for. There is to much involved in quality of care (other then the price) to just look at the weekly charge. Besides that, I look at each clients individual needs.
3. Deposit: Two weeks tuition is due at the time of admission. The deposit will be applied towards the last two weeks of care if the appropriate termination notification is give. (See #5 below.) If these procedures are not followed the deposit will be forfeited. If necessary, you may pay the deposit in four installments over the first four weeks of care. The deposit will also be forfeited if the child is not enrolled for at least six months.
Weekly fees are due in advance every Thursday at drop off. I do allow a 24-hour grace period however; you must let me know that you will be paying late. After Friday at noon, your account will be considered delinquent and a $30.00 late fee and 10% of your weekly fee PER ADDITIONAL DAY the payment is late (including weekends)will be added to your account. I am open 45+ hours a week and do not wish to work on weekends. If your payment is not made on Friday, do not expect me to be home to accept payment on the weekend. If you cannot make prior arrangements to pay on time, then you WILL be charged the late fee. I have a “No Pay, No Stay” policy. Your child will not be allowed to attend until all fees are made current – no exceptions! Full payment is required even if the child is not enrolled (i.e., illness, parent’s days off, vacation, etc).
3. Bounced Checks: If you bounce a check it must be redeemed in cash in three working days. There will be a $30.00 N.S.F. charge and all bank charges, and all other fees required due to your dishonored check will also be your responsibility. All future payments must then be cash or certified funds. If it becomes necessary for me to take legal action get payment, any and all legal charges including, but not limited to, attorney fees, filing fees, and court costs will also be your financial responsibility. (See financial agreement for full details).
4. Pick Up: I must be informed in writing if someone other than yourself or someone you have authorized on your child identification record will be picking your child up. If no advanced notice is given, I will not release your child to anyone not on your child’s I.D. record. A picture ID will be required. If you have a court order keeping one parent or anyone else away from the child, I must have a copy of that order. Otherwise, I cannot prevent that parent or person from picking up the child.
5. Terminations: Parents/Guardians must give two weeks written notice that they will be withdrawing a child. If you do not comply with this policy, the two weeks tuition deposit paid at admission will be forfeited. This daycare reserve the right to terminate without notice, any child who is disruptive to any of the other children or the daycare, or if any adult is disrespectful or threatening to any person in this childcare.
6. Immunizations: Proof must be shown that immunizations are up to date within 30 days of enrollment. Vaccinations should try to be scheduled on Friday afternoon. Children who have been just been immunized must not return to care for 24 hours to insure that the child will suffer no reactions or fever due to the shots.
7. Sickness: If I am ill I will make every effort to notify you before 6:00 AM so you can make other arrangements for child care for that day. If my child is ill, I will call you and it will be up to you if you want your child enrolled for that day. See attached Illness Policy for full details of your child’s illnesses.
8. Medications: Must be; provided by the parent and in their original child safe containers with the child’s name and the Doctor or Manufacture's written instructions on it. Consent forms must be held on file for each medicine.
9. Absences: Anytime your child will be absent you must let me know before 10:00 AM. Repeated failure to do so could be grounds to termination. If you are absent 3 days in a row without notifying me why your child is out and when you expect them to return, I will assume you have withdrawn the child without notification. Your deposit will be forfeited and I will fill your childs spot with someone on my waiting list.
10. Travel Consent: By signing this contract, I/We give permission to Linda Fisher to take the enrolled child on day outings such as; to school, field trips, the park, library, other necessary outings, etc.
11. Contact Renewal: This contact and all forms will be reviewed and renewed each year.
12. Paid Holidays: This daycare is closed for the following paid days off:
| New Years Day (1/1) | Martin Luther King Day |
| Good Friday | Memorial Day |
| Independence Day | Labor Day |
| Veteran's Day | Thanksgiving and the day after |
| Child Caregivers inservice day | December 25th and 26th |
If the holiday falls on a Saturday then the previous Friday will be taken off. If the holiday falls on a Sunday then the next day (Monday) will be taken off. In addition the caregiver may take as many as five (5) personal days.
13. Vacation: : Providers’ vacation - I take two weeks of paid vacation each year. You will be given a minimum of one month written notice prior to each. My vacations are usually taken between Christmas and New Years, around spring break time, and/or near the end of summer break.
Clients’ vacation - You are entitled to one week of vacation free after the child has been enrolled for a minimum of 6 months. You must give the provider written notice one month in advance of when you intend to take this free week. Your free week may be used at time other than the provider’s personal days, paid holidays and vacation time that has been previously set. Your vacation time must be taken all five days at one time and your child may not be enrolled that week. After your free week of vacation all additional days or weeks must to be paid in full. Vacation days do not accrue from one year to the next.
14. Discipline: Depending on the child's age, he/she is asked to stop the problem behavior. I then redirect them in a positive way. Yelling, spanking, and timeouts do not work. We must teach the children appropriate behavior through example. Positive reinforcement and attention to good behavior works best.
15. Substitute Care: You are responsible for finding a substitute for when your child is ill, I am ill, or if we are closed for any reason.
16. Emergency Plans: You must make sure your Emergency Contact information is up to date and correct, at all times. If I am required to leave with any child for emergency medical care, you will be called. I have a verbal agreement with my neighbor to come supervise the children. You are required to immediately pick up your child after notification. Parents will be responsible for all costs involved in emergency medical treatment, including emergency transportation if required if it is your child that is ill or hurt. (See #15.)
17. Toilet Training: Your child will begin toilet training here after you have had at least 7 successful days at home, when the child show an interest and when their speech is sufficient to let me know they need to go. “Pull Ups” will not use. You will have to provide five ply cloth-training pants and rubber pants. Also please be sure to dress your child in clothes that are easy to remove.
18. Food: Nutritious, balanced Lunches and afternoon snacks will provide at no cost to you. Breakfast are not served here so make sure that you feed your child each morning before you enroll them for the day. Do not send food or drinks in with your child unless you are providing enough for all the other children enrolled in care. If your child is eating in the car in the mornings, make sure the food stays in the car. Parents are responsible for providing formula for thier children under 1 year of age.
19. Accident or Injuries: Anytime your child is injured while under my supervision, I will fill out an “Incident/Accident Report” which you will have to sign. Likewise if your child arrives with visible bruises or other injuries a report will be filled out saying the child had the injury before they were entrusted to my care.
20. Safety: A.) No person picking up the child is to be under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohols. If the pick up person does arrive while under the influence, one of the people listed on the child’s ID record as an emergency contact will be called to pick up the child. B.) The child must arrive and leave in an approved motor vehicle seat appropriate for the child’s size and weight. C.) Vehicles must not be left running without a licensed adult in the car. Please make sure you turn your car off and remove the keys before removing your child or coming to the door to pick up the child. D.) There is to be no smoking on my property, and please do not drop your cigarettes in my driveway or yard.
21. Pictures: I/We hereby (please check one) _____ give the right _____do not give the right for any pictures Linda Fisher takes of my/our child(ren) to be used in publications such as the parent newsletter or in advertisement for this daycare in print or on the web.
Parents Signature for Picture Consent: ____________________________________________________
Initialed Acknowledgment: In acknowledgment that the provider has gone over each of these policies, the parent or guardian has initialed each page. By initialing each page the parent or guardian is stating that they understand the above information and will abide by these policies.
• I understand and expect that whenever you are not at work, school, or at a school related function that the parent or guardian will be caring for the enrolled child named in this policy agreement.
• This child care has an open door policy. This doesn't mean the doors will be unlocked. During all business hours all doors will be locked and you will have to knock.
• Please feel completely free to express any concerns and make any suggestions about your child's care and his/her development, the environment I provide for your child and your assessment of this child care business.
• It is expected that you bring the enrolled child named in this policy agreement in clean, weather appropriate clothes, shoes and, if age appropriate, a clean diaper. Also make sure that the child is properly clean and bathed. For health and safety issues, children who are not propery prepared for the day may be denied enrollment.
• This child care retains the right to enforce these polices at will. Lack of enforcement of any policy at any time does not indicate the policy is no longer in effect.
| Diapers and Wipes (at least enough for the entire week). | 2 full sized bib | Foot covering, or shoes, (no open toes please) |
| For children 18 months old and up, an art smock. | Two complete, weather appropriate, changes of clothes. | Sunscreen with permission slip |
| Your child's special comfort item. I recommend that you purchase two one for here and one for home. | A Playtex brand spill proof sippy cup in the color I specify with your child’s name on it. | Personal items such as a hairbrush, pacifiers, and toothbrush. |
| For children under 2, a pack and play crib or playpen to be left here during the week. | A tub with a lid to store your childs items in. | A pillow for your child once they are old enough to safely sleep with one and bedding for nap time. |
Parents or Guardians signature and Notarization required.
