Discovery Family Dayhome
Policies
Welcome! If you are reading this you are considering Discovery Dayhome for your incredible precious one! I want you and your child to be as comfortable as possible with all the expectations and helpful hints laid out from the start. That's why I thought it might be helpful to post my policies here! Please read through and let me know if you have any questions or concerns to bring up at our interview! Policies are subject to change with two months notice. My Dayhome is monitored through Child Development Dayhomes. The children and I expect and enjoy our consultant's visit each month, this monthly visit is often unannounced.
My Responsibilities
I see it as my job to offer a safe, loving, nurturing, learning environment. I try my hardest using one on one instruction to have your child writing their name, cutting well, recognizing all the letters of the alphabet/numbers 1-10 and other important skills by the time they go to school.
Breakfast (if arriving before 7:30am), Lunch (11:30) and two snacks (9:15am and 2:30pm)
A positive role model.
Outdoor and Indoor activities
Number of children will be within the government limits (currently the limit is 6 dayhome children as a maximum as set by the provincial government.)
Guidance methods are to be as positive as possible with the goal of guiding using positive role modeling. We talk about being kind everyday and how to disagree without arguing with our friends. We discuss often that we are very fortunate to live in a democracy where all options matter.
SICK/PERSONAL DAYS: I will notify you as soon as possible if I am unable to provide care due to illness or unavoidable appointment. I have 5 annual personal/sick days in my contract. However, I have rarely used any them. I will credit you back at a your prorated rate if for some reason I have to exceed the 5 days.
I promise to keep my Childcare CPR updated. I provide a Child Welfare and Criminal Record check every three years. I enjoy workshops and conferences to keep my childcare skills current.
Your Responsibilities
I ask that all families ensure at least one change of clothing (two is better) everyday your child is in care as well as complete outdoor dress. We are a very active dayhome and will be in and out all day, I do have some spares of most things (except boots) so don't panic if something is forgotten one day but I cannot except children without adequate outdoor footwear. All of the children have their own cubby with a basket of their belongings that families wish to leave at dayhome. I also ask that each child is provided with one very sturdy water bottle (please not from the dollarstore, they don't last) from home to leave at dayhome.
Summer - Please bring a hat that covers the ears, suncreen, and bugspray.
Spring/Fall - A rainsuit is advisable. Rubber boots are mandatory. We almost always still venture out in the rain. I have several Muddy Buddies as spares incase they are forgotten.
Winter -toque, mitts, snow pants, boots, and a good warm QUALITY winter coat.
Please note: We go to the school bus stop (a very short walk just steps out my back door) on a daily basis to put our before/after schoolers on/off it so appropriate dress is really essential. :) The bus is sometimes delayed so I is very important to be fully and warmly dressed just in case.
Those that are in diapers a bag of diapers sent at a time is fine. I will put their name on it and put it in their cubby. Please also send wipes about once a month please. If your child has a sensitivity to any baby products please let me know.
Please pick up your child at the agreed time. If you will be late, as will happen from time to time, please let me know via text or call. If late pick up (after 4:30pm) becomes an issue more then 3 times in a calendar month then $1.00 charge per minute will be implemented. I have never had to do this in all my years of dayhoming as families have been very great at communicating with me.
Please let me know if someone other than the immediate family will be picking up the child. It would be helpful for me to meet the alternative pick up person ahead of time. Also, please notify me immediately if a safe pick up person changes or if there are any sudden changes in custody.
Payment is required for your child's spot in my home whether or not your child is in attendance, the agency will look after all of the payments, grants and subsidy. Under the new childcare regulations educators are not to ask for fieldtrip fees. Many of my families choose to help on their own accord but this is no way an obligation and does not affect your child's ability to attend or not attend.
9:00am is the latest opportunity for morning drop off unless arrangements are made ahead of time. At this time we begin our programming. We often leave in the mornings on outings at 9am sharp and I cannot wait for late families as it throws off our programming schedule. Keep in mind our schedule revolves around 6 families all working together. If your child has an unavoidable appointment in the morning we are usually back at the house to make lunch about 11:00-11:15 pm and I can receive your child then too. I do highly encourage families to book appointments toward the end of the day as it is often incredibly difficult to find us in the mornings and I can't be on my phone texting when supervising children on outings.
Please refrain from picking up your child during the rest time of day (12:30pm-2:30pm) I am often settling children for nap/quiet time and my sudden departure from that routine is very disruptive to the children.
Please let me know as soon as possible if your child will be away from daycare, if you have planned a holiday outside of my scheduled holidays, or will be late dropping off your child as we may be on an outing and an alternative meeting place may be requested.
Illness Policy - If you think your child is sick please keep them home. Remember, If it is passed onto me there is a chance I will have to close inconveniencing up to six families.
Generally, If a child becomes ill in my care I will notify the parent to arrange to have the child picked up. Please do your best to pick up your child as soon as possible as not to pass the germs to others. I may refuse a child that presents as being ill. I may request a pick up if your child is inconsolable for more then 1.5 hours as this is extremely uncharacteristic in my dayhome and most often is a sign of illness.
An ill child is defined as having one or more in the following, fever, undiagnosed rash, headache, sore throat, cramps, excessively fussy, undiagnosed pain, excessively itchy scalp or generally feeling unwell etc. The child must be well enough to take part in all dayhome activities.
Both the family and I will make sure to inform the other is a communicable disease breaks out in either home.
Discovery Family Dayhome requires that each child is up to date on childhood vaccines.
PLEASE NOTE: Exceptional circumstances are considered. A doctors note stating that the child is not recommended for vaccination is required in these rare instances. Covid and Flu vaccines are encouraged.
PLEASE NOTE:MEDICATING A CHILD TO MASK A FEVER IS GROUNDS FOR IMMEDIATE TERMINATION.
Holidays
Discovery Dayhome is closed on all statutory holidays, both Provincial and Federal.
(this includes Good Friday and Easter Monday, Truth and Reconciliation, Family Day, Remembrance Day, Civic Holiday etc.) If the holiday falls on the weekend, then the following Monday is taken off in lieu.
What is a Teacher's Schedule?
My hours are 7am-4:30, Monday through Friday.
I take approximately two weeks for Winter Break (paid) and approximately one week for Spring Break off (unpaid) as set in the St. Albert Public School Calendar. If you require care during these times you may request a back up dayhome (within the agency) to assist you at no extra cost above your monthly fee. Please enquire early as most registered dayhomes run full and it is not guaranteed that they will be able to place your child.
I am open both fall break and teachers convention. (as all of the school boards do this differently)
I will be closed July and Aug (unpaid) beginning 2025. Please note that for teachers or school support staff, it is likely that I will be able open the last few days of August to assist with childcare so that school staff can set up their classrooms for the year. This will depend on how many children require care these days.
Duration and Termination
The parents of the child and the caregiver agree to give a minimum of two weeks notice for termination of our contract. Please let me know tentatively how long you expect the placement to last if known. Many of my families start from from the completion of maturity/parental leave until after Kindy (and beyond) so its nice to have an idea of long term plans if they are known as this will affect future spots.
Payment for the last two weeks of care will be due and payable even if the child is not in attendance.
I have the right to immediately terminate if there is an unresolvable safety concern in which the remainder of the months funds will be returned to you.