WELCOME
TO FAITH CHILD CARE
On behalf of the
staff of Faith Child Care … Welcome! We
are pleased that you have chosen our Center to share the early years of
your
child’s life with us. What an exciting
journey lies ahead! The road will be
filled with many joys as you watch your child reach new developmental
milestones. There may be times of
frustration or uncertainty for you as well; leaving your child in the
care of
others is often a very difficult decision.
Please remember that we are here as partners in raising your
child. We will love and encourage them,
and keep
them safe while you are away. We enjoy
having parents visit as often as their schedules permit, so please come
and
share your child’s world whenever possible.
This handbook has
been designed to help you understand the philosophy on which our Center
was
founded, to give you insight into the policies and procedures of Faith
Child
Care and to familiarize you with the daily routines of your child while
you are
away. Please read this handbook
carefully and keep it in a convenient place for future reference.
I am thankful the
Lord has placed me in the role of Administrative Director at Faith
Child
Care. Working with children has always
been a passion of mine. Sharing the
message of God’s love with children makes my job even more rewarding. I am committed to leading the staff of Faith
Child Care in providing a warm and nurturing environment where God’s
love is
always evident to you and your children.
My door is always open. Please
come and share your joys, suggestions or concerns with me.
Blessings to your
family as you begin this journey.
Sandra Amundson,
Administrative
Director
Table
of Contents
General Background Information
Faith Child Care’s Philosophy
Nondiscrimination Statement
Confidentiality
Organization of Faith Child Care
The Staff of Faith Child Care
Hours of Operation and Licensed Capacity
Classrooms and Staff-Child Ratios
Days Faith Child Care is Closed
Parent Involvement
Administrative Details
Enrollment
Admission into Faith Child Care
Withdrawal from Faith Child Care
Contracts and Schedules
Care for School-Aged Children
Payment of Fees
Discounted Fees and Free Vacation
Additional Fees
Getting Started/ General
Information
General Parent Information
Orientation to a New Setting
Clothing and Footwear
Personal Belongings
Security
Arrival at the Center
Departure from the Center
Child Custody Issues
Daily Schedule
Nap and Rest Time
Outdoor Play
Extreme Outdoor Temperatures
Field Trips
Health and Medical Policies
Physical Exams and Immunizations
Communicable Disease
Illness Policies
Medications
Special Health Care Needs
First Aid for Minor Injuries
Emergency Medical Treatment
Abuse and Neglect Reporting
Emergency Evacuation
Education, Guidance and Discipline
Policies
Educational Policy
Transitions
Developmentally-Appropriate Programming
Child Guidance and Discipline Policy
Chronic Disruptive Behavior
Removal from Faith Child Care
Food Program, Meals and Nutrition
USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program
Nutrition Policy
Treats for Birthdays/Special Occasions
Miscellaneous Policies
Biting Policy
Toilet Training
Video Policy
Note:
This booklet is not a
complete set of
policies for Faith Child Care. A
complete set of Faith Child Care policies and HFS 46 Licensing Rules
for Group
Day Care Centers are located by the parent time clock. Copies of the
policies
are available upon request.
It is the Mission
of Faith Child Care to provide quality Christian child care for
families of the
§ Faith
Child Care believes that each child is a gift from God and, therefore,
staff
continually seeks to nurture the child and support the parent.
§ Faith
Child Care provides a safe and healthy environment for children,
parents, and
staff.
§
Faith
Child Care provides developmentally and age-appropriate activities for
the
physical, emotional, and intellectual growth of each child.
§
Faith
Child Care presents and practices Christian values through modeling,
prayers,
songs, Bible stories, and special events.
§ Faith
Child Care has a professional staff that works together as a cohesive
team by
cooperating, communicating, and supporting each other to achieve
individual and
Center goals.
§
Faith
Child Care provides and encourages continual staff development and
evaluation
for professional and personal growth and Center quality.
§ Faith
Child Care continually seeks to meet and exceed the criteria for a
licensed and
accredited agency.
FAITH
CHILD CARE’S PHILOSOPHY
The staff of Faith
Child Care believes that each child is a precious gift from God with
unique and
special qualities. Our major emphasis is
to help children discover their God-given qualities while providing a
safe,
nurturing environment.
As a Christian
child care center, we help children to learn compassion and respect for
others
and an awareness of the world around them.
We teach and practice Christian values through modeling,
prayers,
singing and Bible stories. Religious
concepts are woven into our curriculum and the daily activities within
each
classroom. The children are taught daily
about God’s love for them.
We believe that
children learn best in a play-oriented, hands-on environment in which
each
child develops school readiness skills at his or her own developmental
level. Through play, children learn to
socialize and communicate their thoughts and feelings to others. They also learn to organize, to problem-solve
and to use their imaginations. The
activities we provide give children many opportunities to develop their
cognitive, social, emotional, physical and spiritual growth.
We believe that
the family unit is the most important factor in a child’s life. Therefore, building strong relationships with
parents is very important to us and we take a partnership approach to
child
care. You are welcome at Faith Child
Care at any time to share in your child’s day.
In compliance with
federal and state law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, Faith
Child
Care is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color,
national
origin, sex, age, disability, or other protected classifications.
Faith Child Care
provides an equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities to
participate
in the Center’s program and services by following policies and
practices of
inclusion, integration and reasonable modifications unless we are
unable to
accommodate in a particular case.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Information
received from parents on enrollment forms is available to the
administrative
staff, the bookkeeper, and the teachers who work directly with their
child.
Faith Child Care
employees respect the confidentiality of written, verbal and observed
information. Any information regarding
an individual child is discussed with parents privately.
A parent is
permitted to review records or medical logs containing information
concerning
their child upon written request made to the Administrative Director.
Faith Child Care
was founded in 1989 as a non-profit corporation providing
non-denominational
Christian child care for the
The Center has a
relationship with
Faith Child Care
is governed by a Board of Directors, which oversees the programming,
policies
and financial aspects of the Center.
Parents, members of
Board of Directors
Administrative Director
Program Director
In the absence of
the Administrative Director and Program Director, teaching and/or
support staff
is assigned to oversee the program.
The Program
Director has a four-year degree in early childhood education. She is responsible for developing the
curriculum and overseeing classroom lesson plans, as well as continuing
education for the staff. She also plans
special events for the Center and works closely with the Parent
Activities
Committee to promote family involvement.
Our teaching staff
consists of full-time and part-time teachers, float teachers, and
substitutes. Our teachers have training
ranging from 80 hours of Early Childhood courses to a four-year degree
in
education. Teachers working with
infants/toddlers must complete infant/ toddler coursework.
Staff members are required by HFS 46 Licensing
Rules to acquire 25 hours of continuing education each year. Training is provided through staff meetings,
conferences and workshops, or formal classes at a university or
technical
college.
All teaching staff
receives training in SIDS and Shaken Baby Syndrome upon hire at Faith
Child
Care. Infant/Child CPR, AED training, and
First Aid coursework is taken as needed by the staff to maintain
certification.
Information on abuse/neglect, child development, communicable disease,
sanitation, nutrition, blood-borne pathogens and other health related
issues
are covered during staff meetings.
CLASSROOMS
AND STAFF-CHILD RATIOS
Faith
Child Care consists of eight classrooms: four classrooms for children
under the
age of two years, two classrooms for children between the ages of two
and three
years, one classroom for children between the ages of three and four
years, and
one classroom for children four years of age and older.
In addition, the Center leases an additional
classroom from
Faith
Child Care complies with the following staff-child ratios established
by the
Wisconsin Administrative Code HFS 46 Licensing Rules for Group Child
Care
Centers:
Age
Staff-Child
Maximum
Group
Of Child
Ratio
Size
6 weeks to 2 years
1:4
8
2 years to 2.5 years
1:6
12
2.5 years to 3 years
1:8
16
3 years to 4 years
1:10
20
4 years to 5 years
1:13
24
5 years to 6 years
1:17
32
6 years to 12 years
1:18
32
DAYS
FAITH CHILD CARE IS CLOSED
Faith Child Care
is closed for the following holidays:
New Year’s Day, Memorial
Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the Friday
following
Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
When New Year’s
Day, the Fourth of July, or Christmas falls on a weekend, the Center
may close
either the Friday before or the Monday after the holiday.
The actual days of closing are provided to
the parents each January and posted on the parent bulletin board across
from
the parent time clock.
If Faith Child
Care closes due to inclement weather or other emergency situations,
(e.g., power
failure, loss of heat, or fire), an announcement is made over radio
station
WHBY (1150 AM) and TV stations WFRV and WBAY.
PARENT
INVOLVEMENT
The relationship
between parents and teachers is very important to the staff of Faith
Child
Care. The children in our care are special
to all of us, and their well-being is our primary concern.
There is so much that we can learn from each
other through open communication. If you
have questions or concerns regarding your child or our program at any
time
please do not hesitate to ask for a conference.
Faith Child Care believes
in an Open Door philosophy. We welcome
and encourage parents to visit their children during the day when work
schedules permit, unless restricted by court order.
If you would like to join your child for a
meal, please let us know a day in advance and we will be happy to make
arrangements with the kitchen staff.
Parent-teacher
conversations are held in spring and fall each year for children two
years of
age and older. Parent round-tables are
held for parents of children under two years of age.
These meetings give the parents and teachers
the opportunity to discuss the children’s growth and development.
Our parents are asked
to evaluate Faith Child Care annually through a survey.
This feedback is important in helping us to
continue meeting the needs of our children and parents.
Our Parent
Activities Committee, also known as the PAC, meets several times a year
to plan
family events and to promote staff appreciation through special
activities. Some of our past activities
have included family bowling, sledding, and a family night at Wild Air. Events for staff appreciation include a
Mystery Night, celebration of birthdays, and Christmas gift
certificates. If you would like to be part
of planning
these types of activities, we welcome you to join.
In addition to the
family outings planned by the PAC, Faith Child Care also plans several
family
gatherings during the year. In spring, we
have a Pizza Night during the Week of the Young Child.
During the last week of July, we celebrate
Faith Child Care’s birthday with a potluck picnic at
Parents are always
welcome to join their child on field trips.
We make every attempt to give you advance notice when our trips
are scheduled
so you can come along and see the world through your child’s eyes. Field trips are also a great way to get to
know your child’s teachers and friends.
If you have any
special talents, exciting hobbies, or professions that you would like
to share
with us, please talk with the administrative staff.
We often have ‘wish’ lists that are just
waiting for a parent volunteer.
ENROLLMENT
Parents seeking
enrollment for their child at Faith Child Care are invited to tour the
Center
and meet the staff. During the tour,
parents are given information about the Center and a registration form.
Enrollment is
considered according to the date on which registration forms are
received. When positions are not available
in our
classrooms, a waiting list is maintained from which vacancies are
filled. Priority is given to families
currently
enrolled in our program, to families seeking full-time enrollment, and
to the children
of employees.
ADMISSION
INTO FAITH CHILD CARE
Parents receive
telephone confirmation of admission into the program by the
Administrative
Director or Program Director. Upon
verification of admission, a registration fee is requested to confirm
enrollment.
Prior to the
child’s first day of attendance, parents receive a security fob and a
packet
containing all required forms for entrance into our program. The following forms must be on file before a
child’s first day of attendance:
§
Current
contract
§
Child
Care Enrollment Form
§
Health
History and Emergency Care Plan
§
Day Care
Immunization Record
§
Medical
Consent Treatment Forms (two copies)
§
Intake
form included in each Parent Packet
§
Consent
and Release for Publicity Purposes
§
Authorization
to Administer diaper ointment/sunscreen
§
Child
and Adult Food Program forms
In addition, a
Child Health Report must be completed and signed by a licensed
physician,
physician assistant or Health Check provider within six months prior to
or
ninety days after a child begins attending the Center.
Parent-initiated
voluntary withdrawal of a child
Circumstances
may arise when a parent
voluntarily chooses to withdraw their child from Faith Child Care. A two-week written notice must be given to
the Administrative Director stating the child’s last date of attendance
at the
Center.
If parents
choose to withdraw their child from
Faith Child Care for the summer months, a registration form must be
completed
and a re-registration fee of $30 must be paid to place the child on a
waiting
list for September. Priority of
admission is given to children based on the date that the re-enrollment
fee and
re-registration form are received in the office.
Mutual
agreement of withdrawal of a child by a parent and the Administrative
Director
of the Center
A mutual
decision may be reached between the
parent and the Administrative staff of Faith Child Care whereby both
parties
agree that placement of the child in a group setting is inappropriate
and the
child would benefit from another placement.
If a parent desires, the staff of Faith Child Care assists the
parent in
finding information for alternate placement of the child.
When
Faith Child Care cannot reasonably accommodate the special needs
of a child without undue hardship or with current staffing patterns,
parents
are contacted to discuss the concern.
Administrative staff makes every effort to assist the parent in
finding
appropriate services available through other agencies in the community.
Parents schedule
the times when child care is needed by completing and signing a Faith
Child
Care contract. A contract for each child
is completed upon enrollment of the child and renewed annually each
January.
Contracts are
considered binding unless changed by a parent at any time during the
year. A two-week written notice is
required
for a change in contract or for voluntary withdrawal from the Center. If immediate changes in a contract are
necessary due to work or school situations, the two-week notice may be
waived
at the discretion of the Administrative Director.
Contracts are
accepted for full-time or part-time care.
Children who attend the Center full days, four or five days per
week are
considered full-time. All other children
are considered part-time. A minimum of
ten hours per week is recommended for the greatest benefit to your
child.
Contracts are
based on full-day or half-day care. A
full-day consists of any time over five hours and up to ten hours. A half-day
consists of five hours or less between the hours of 6:30 AM to 12:00
Noon or
12:00 Noon to 5:45 PM. Any schedule
crossing 12:00 Noon is charged a full day fee.
Parents are asked
to call Faith Child Care by 8:30 AM if their child is arriving late or
is going
to be absent for the day. If a child who
is contracted for a day has not arrived at the Center by 9:00 AM, the
child’s
teacher or the administrative staff attempts to reach the parents by
telephone.
Since scheduling
is completed in advance, parents are asked to submit requests for extra
time or
notify the administrative staff of time off at least two weeks
prior to
the change in their child’s schedule. This may be done by submitting a
yellow ‘Request
for Extra Time or Child(ren) Absent’ form to the office.
These forms are located in the hallway by the
parent time clock or in the office.
If your child
needs to deviate from his or her current contracted time for any
reason,
whether the change is permanent or temporary, please use the yellow
‘Request’ form
to notify the administrative staff.
If an emergency
arises and you need to vary your child’s schedule during the day,
please
contact the Faith Child Care office and ask the administrative staff to
complete
the yellow ‘Request’ form.
CARE
FOR SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN
If a school-aged
child needs before or after school care, the parent can contract for
the hours
of care needed each day. Fees are
charged on an hourly basis if the child is in attendance three hours or
less
each day. Parents are responsible for
transportation of their child to and from the Center for before or
after school
care.
Additional time
for no-school days may be requested if written notice is provided to
the
Administrative Director at least two weeks in advance.
All requests are subject to availability.
A Summer Program
is available for school-aged children during the months of June, July
and
August. Children less than twelve years
of age are eligible for this program when they are entering
Kindergarten or
elementary grades. Information regarding
the Summer Program is available to all interested families in mid-March.
PAYMENT
OF FEES
Fees are based on
the number of hours requested in each child’s contract.
Payment of fees is due and payable in
advance on the child’s first contracted day each week.
If a child is absent due to illness, payment
is expected on the first day of attendance.
Parents have the
option of paying their contracted fees bi-monthly or monthly, if they
prefer,
as long as they are paid in advance of the days their child attends
during that
month.
Checks are the
preferred method of payment and should be made out to Faith Child Care, Inc.
and placed in the fee box located outside the office.
If cash payments are necessary, payment must
be made directly to the Administrative Director, Program Director or
Bookkeeper
and a receipt is issued at that time.
Cash payments should not be placed in the fee box.
Credit card payments are not accepted.
When a child is
absent for any reason, except earned free vacation, parents/guardians
are
responsible for the full fee as contracted.
A place is reserved for each contracted child and Faith Child
Care costs
remain fixed even when a child is not in attendance.
Unless the Board
of Directors waives fees for a specific holiday, families are
responsible for
payment of fees on any holiday that their child is contracted for care
even if
the Center is closed. Eligible families
may request to use free vacation days in lieu of payment for the
holiday by
submitting a note to the Administrative Director. Parents
are notified of the holidays Faith
Child Care closes at the beginning of each year.
Payments are
considered past due at 5:45 PM on Friday of each week.
Any family not making a payment for a given
week by Friday evening is assessed a $10 late fee which should be added
to the
following week’s payment.
If payment of fees
is delinquent for two weeks, child care may be discontinued until full
payment
is received. If personal circumstances
prevent timely payment of fees, parents must contact the Administrative
Director
within the two-week period. A written
agreement between the parents and Administrative Director is drafted in
order
to resolve the delinquent account.
Parents belonging
to a flexible spending or reimbursement program requiring receipts or
signed
forms must notify the Bookkeeper in writing.
Since fees being claimed are verified by the Bookkeeper before
the forms
are signed, please expect a minimum of two days before forms or
receipts are
returned.
Any family
receiving subsidized child care through a county program is responsible
for
notifying the Administrative Director of any changes in payments. The parent portion of the child care fee is
due the first contracted day of each week.
When withdrawing a
child from the center, a two-week written notice must be
submitted to the
office. Parents are responsible for full
payment of fees for the two weeks regardless of whether the child is in
attendance.
A notice of thirty
days is given to parents for any increase of fees.
Parents are notified of fees upon enrollment
of their child and annually when they complete new contracts for their
child.
A refund is given
to any family who has paid fees in advance and leaves with a
two-week
notice of withdrawal.
DISCOUNTED
FEES/ FREE VACATION
A 5% discount is
applied to the total weekly fee for families with more than one child
regularly
contracted at Faith Child Care. This
does not apply to families with children requiring occasional care.
If a child is
absent for an extended period of time, full payment of fees based on
the family’s
current contracted days is collected for the first week.
Payment of fees is discounted by 50% for each
complete week a child is absent
beyond the initial week.
After a child has
been enrolled at Faith Child Care for one year, he/she is eligible for
free
vacation days equal to the number of weekly contracted days at the time
the
free vacation days are used.
Free vacation days
must be used only when the child is not in attendance at Faith Child
Care and
must be used as full days unless the child is only contracted for half
days. Parents may use their free
vacation days in lieu of payment for holidays.
Once a child
becomes part of the summer school-age program, vacation is built into
the
system of contracted time and no free vacation is earned.
Parents sign a monthly contract during the
summer months and only pay for the days that the child is contracted
for care
at Faith Child Care.
Fees are not
charged for the days Faith Child Care closes because of inclement
weather or
operational emergencies.
ADDITIONAL
FEES
A $30 registration
fee is collected for each child upon acceptance or re-enrollment into
the
program at Faith Child Care. This
non-refundable fee does not apply to weekly fees or to
previously-enrolled
school-aged children who are returning for the Summer Program.
A $30 registration
fee is collected from each family who re-enrolls their child into our
school-aged Summer Program. This fee
applies to any child younger than twelve years of age who is entering
elementary grades. Families who have not
previously had their child enrolled at Faith Child Care pay the $30 per
child
registration fee. This non-refundable
fee does not apply to weekly fees.
Parents are
responsible for charges incurred for field trip transportation and
admission
costs or costs related to special events.
Parents are notified in advance of these charges.
Parents are
responsible for fees related to services provided by an outside
contractor,
including but not limited to, computer classes and individual portraits.
Any family varying
the hours of their contract by fifteen minutes either before or after
the
contracted time is assessed a $5 fee for each occurrence.
Staff schedules are based on children’s
contracted times; therefore, it is imperative that families adhere to
their
contract to maintain staff-child ratios.
To avoid this fee, parents are asked to complete a yellow
‘Request’ form
if they need to temporarily change their contracted time.
If a child is
not picked up from Faith Child Care
by 5:45 PM, a $10 late fee for the final fifteen minutes is charged. In accordance with the terms of our license,
children cannot be in attendance after 6:00 PM.
Faith Child Care administration reserves the right to call the
Department of Health and Human Services after 6:00 PM.
If a child attends
the center more than ten hours in a day, an additional fee of $5 per
hour is
assessed.
A fee of $20 is
charged for any check returned due to non-sufficient funds (NSF). Any NSF check is re-deposited one time with
the client’s permission. If a check is
returned a second time, cash payment is required in place of that check.
Each family shares
a parent pocket located in the main hallway.
Monthly newsletters, information from the administrative staff,
and
notices of field trips or other special events are placed in these
pockets. The bookkeeper and the Parent
Activities Committee also use these pockets to send information to
families. Please check your parent pocket
each day that
you bring your children to the Center.
The parent
bulletin board is located across from the parent time clock in the main
hallway. A copy of the weekly menu is
posted on this board, as well as information relating to parenting
workshops
and family activities in the Fox Cities.
Information of any
illness currently occurring at the Center is posted on the parent time
clock. For the health of all children
and staff, Faith Child Care does not provide care for a sick child. Please refer to the Illness Policy regarding
exclusions for illness.
Brochures on
topics related to child development and parenting are available to
parents and
can be located to the left of the parent time clock.
Daily
informational sheets are completed by staff for children ages three
years and
younger. Weekly lesson plans are posted
in the classrooms to inform parents of the children’s activities.
A parent resource
library is located in the office. Books
and videos are available on child development and a variety of
parenting
topics. Please check with the office
staff if you would like to check out any of these books for a two-week
period.
For the protection
of the children, pets are not kept at Faith Child Care.
Animals that are prohibited by licensing,
including but not limited to reptiles, turtles and wild animals, are
not
allowed at the Center. When special
events include pets or animals, parents are notified through notes
posted on
the parent time clock and in the classroom.
Any dog and cat visiting the Center must be in good health and
immunized
against rabies.
Several times
during the year, Faith Child Care holds fund-raisers to help generate
extra
funds. Money generated is used to
purchase additional equipment for the children or to help defray the
cost of
improvements. Parents are under no
obligation to participate in these fund-raising activities. For parents who do not wish to sell items,
the ‘un-fundraiser’ is an option to make a one-time, tax-deductible
donation.
Parents may ask
our staff to baby-sit for their child outside of Faith Child Care when
the
Center is closed. Faith Child Care
assumes no responsibility for the care of a child while he/she is not
in
attendance at the Center. Parents and
staff must maintain confidentiality of Faith Child Care information
when a
staff member is baby-sitting for children enrolled at the Center. Faith Child Care assumes no responsibility
for its staff members or their actions during non-work hours.
Starting in a new
setting is an exciting experience for a young child, but initially it
may also
be difficult. Even children who are very
excited about ‘starting school’ may suddenly realize that their
parents, the
most important people in their world, are not going to be there. The apprehension that accompanies that
realization is a normal reaction. We
would like to offer several suggestions to help you and your child
during this
transition period. Children sense their
parent’s apprehension; therefore, it is important that you are
comfortable with
the routine.
Come and visit
with your child several times before the first day of attendance. Learn the names of your children’s future
playmates and the teachers who will be caring for them.
It is easier for you to communicate with your
children about the events of the day if you know the people with whom
they
spend their time away from you. The
transition to a new setting is also easier if the parents and teachers
have had
time to communicate with each other.
Know Faith Child
Care’s policies and procedures and ask questions if you are uncertain
about
them.
Be sure your child
has all the belongings we require for personal care and outdoor
activities, and
be sure all possessions are clearly marked with your child’s
initials or
name.
Actively listen to
your children as they talk about the day.
This gives you insight into their world while you have been away.
Be enthusiastic
about your children’s creative art or other projects that come home. Your approval and interest are so important
for the development of their self-esteem.
Parent calls are
welcome at any time. If you would like
to know how your child is adjusting or what kind of day he/she is
having, feel
free to phone or e-mail us.
Share your
thoughts with us – both positive and negative. Both
are important to us and help us to
provide quality care for your children.
Faith Child Care
provides a personal space for each child enrolled at the Center. This space is used for storing extra changes
of clothing and naptime items. Clothing
for outdoor wear is also stored here.
Each child must
have one complete change of clothing to keep at Faith Child Care. If a child is in the process of toilet
training, he/she should have a minimum of three changes of clothes each
day
that he/she attends the Center.
During their daily
schedule, your child will be actively playing both indoors and
outdoors;
therefore, he/she should be dressed in comfortable, washable clothing. Keeping your children happy is much more
important to us than keeping him/her spotless.
Please send your
child in clothing that is easy to manage.
Your child wants to learn to care for himself/herself, and not
be
dependent on adults. Please do not send
your child with a belt, suspenders or overalls unless he/she can fasten
and
unfasten them by themselves.
To protect your
child’s feet, shoes worn outside must have closed toes and rubber or
non-slip
soles. For active play, we prefer that
your child wears tennis shoes.
Flip-flops, jelly shoes, Heelys, and open-backed shoes such as
clogs are
not allowed.
If shoes have
a strap around the heel, the strap
must be elasticized or tight-fitting so the shoes fit securely on the
feet. Croc-type shoes with a movable
strap are not allowed since they do not hold the shoes tightly on the
child’s
feet.
Remember your
child’s comfort for outdoor play. During the winter months, please be
sure that
your child has boots, snow pants, a hat, scarf and mittens each day
that he/she
attends the Center. Also remember in the
spring and fall of the year weather changes very quickly and your child
needs
to have a jacket or sweatshirt at the Center at all times.
All clothing and
napping accessories must be clearly marked with your child’s name. Personal
items are easily lost if they are not properly marked.
PERSONAL
BELONGINGS
Faith Child Care
provides crib or cot sheets for all children, and burp cloths and bibs
for
infants and young toddlers. It is the
responsibility of the parents to provide diapers, diaper ointment,
wipes,
pull-ups, swim diapers, bottles and pacifiers.
Children are asked
to bring a small blanket for naptime. Once
they are one year old they may also bring a small pillow if they are
accustomed
to using one at naptime. Under HFS 46
Licensing Rules, all nap items must be taken home weekly to be
laundered. Please
check your child’s cubby daily for soiled clothes, and swim clothes in
the
summer months.
We ask that the
children do not bring toys, food or money from home.
Children often have a difficult time sharing
personal items and become upset if they are asked to share, or if the
item is
lost or broken.
If your child has
an item that gives him/her security, we allow that item to remain with
the
child at drop-off time. Shortly after
the child has adjusted to the Center for the day, the security item is
placed
in the child’s cubby. If it is a quiet
toy, the child will be allowed to use it at naptime if needed.
For special events
(e.g., teddy bear day) when children are asked to bring an item from
home, the
items should be given to the child’s teacher upon arrival.
Books or musical CDs
may be brought at any time to be shared with classmates.
Please make sure they are clearly marked with
your child’s name, and we ask that you leave them with your child’s
teacher for
several days.
Please do not allow
your child to bring ‘adventure toys’ (e.g., super heroes) to Faith
Child Care. Since toys like these are
often associated
with aggressive play we do not allow the children to play with them
while at
the Center.
Lost and Found
articles are placed on top of the coat racks at the main entrance. Please check the Lost and Found bucket weekly
if you are missing any of your child’s belongings.
SECURITY
For the safety of
the children and staff, Faith Child Care is locked during its hours of
operation.
Each family
receives one fob to use when entering Faith Child Care through the main
entrance doors or play yard door. These
fobs are programmed to allow entrance into the building during the
Center’s
hours of operation.
Additional or
replacement fobs can be purchased from the administrative staff at a
cost of
$5.00 each.
We ask families to
return any fobs they have received when their child is no longer
enrolled at
Faith Child Care.
Angle parking on
A child must not
be dropped off at the entrance to the Center.
Children must be brought into the building by a parent or other
authorized adult who is 18 years of age or older. Authorized adults
must be
listed on your child’s Child Enrollment Form.
Faith Child Care
does not assume responsibility for a child unless the child has been
clocked in
and brought directly to a staff member.
Each family receives
a 5-digit PIN number to access the computer time-clock process. It is the responsibility of the parent or
other designated adult dropping off the child to make sure the child is
clocked
in. If the parent or other designated
adult is unsure of the PIN number, they must sign the child in using
the binder
to the right of the time clock.
All children
arriving at Faith Child Care before 7:00 AM must be taken to Room 205
where
staff is waiting for them. Children
under two years of age arriving between 7:00 AM and 7:30 AM must be
taken to
Room 211 where they are supervised by one of our teachers.
Children over two years of age arriving
between 7:00 AM and 7:30 AM must be taken to Room 205.
After 7:30 AM all children arriving at the
Center must be taken to their assigned classrooms.
Sometimes children
experience sadness when their parent leaves for the day.
Often a ‘good-bye’ routine is helpful for a
child at this time. We suggest that you
establish a routine with your child, realizing that this routine may
differ for
each child. For some, having a parent
stay for a long time works well; for others, the ‘good-bye’ is much
easier if
the departure happens quickly. If your
child is reluctant for you to leave, our staff is always happy to help
you and
your child through this transition.
DEPARTURE
FROM THE CENTER
For the safety of
each child, only the following adults are allowed to pick up a child
from Faith
Child Care:
§
Parents or
legal guardian of the child, unless prohibited by a court order that is
on file
at the Center
§
People
18 years or older designated on the child’s enrollment form who have
agreed to
accept the responsibility of picking up the child
§
People
authorized by the parent or legal guardian through a phone call or
written
note. These people are asked to show
identification before the child is released to them.
Parents must list
one adult, other than the parent, as an emergency contact on the
child’s
enrollment form. Any adult listed on the
child’s enrollment form as an emergency contact must also be authorized
to pick
up the child. Adults listed as emergency
contacts must be able to reach Faith Child Care within one hour of
being
called.
If a parent or
designee of the parent arrives to pick up a child and appears to be
under the
influence of alcohol or any drug, staff members will not release the
child into
the care of that parent or designee.
Staff members attempt to contact the other parent or another
authorized
adult to pick up the child. If no one
can be contacted, Faith Child Care staff reserves the right to contact
law
enforcement or the Department of Health and Human Services to pick up
the
child.
Parents must
notify the administrative staff immediately of any changes in residence
or
phone numbers for emergency contacts or other people authorized to pick
up
their child.
When children and
staff are outside, parents and other authorized adults must come inside
the
play yard to pick up the child. Children are not allowed to go outside
the
fenced play area without adult supervision.
For the safety of all children, only adults are permitted to
operate the
safety pin which opens the gate.
Each family
receives a 5-digit PIN number to access the computer time-clock process. It is the responsibility of the parent or
other designated adult picking up the child to make sure the child is
clocked
out. If the parent or other designated adult is unsure of the PIN
number, they
must sign the child out using the binder to the right of the time clock.
If you are going
to be detained by more than fifteen minutes in picking up your child at
the end
of the day, please notify the Faith Child Care office so staff members
can
reassure your child and arrange necessary staff coverage.
At the end of the
day allow a few minutes for your child to transition from the
activities of the
busy day to reconnecting with you. We
understand this may be hard for tired parents, but it makes the
transition
easier for your child.
If a severe
weather warning has been issued, parents who arrive at the Center are
encouraged to remain with their child inside the building until the
warning has
expired.
CHILD
CUSTODY ISSUES
In the event that
custody becomes an issue for your family, a court order stating that a
non-custodial parent may not pick up a child at the Center needs to be
submitted to the Faith Child Care office.
Without a copy of the court order on file, staff members cannot
refuse a
parent the right to take his/her child from the Center.
Law enforcement
officials are called immediately in the event that a custody battle
arises at
Faith Child Care.
The teachers in
each room have developed a schedule based on the ages of the children
and their
activities. These are approximate times
for the general group. Please check the
lesson plans posted in your child’s room for details of weekly
activities.
|
6:30
AM - 8:15 AM |
Children arrive and enjoy
free time activities which are rotated daily. At 7:30 staff and children
depart for their individual classrooms. |
|
8:15
AM - 8:45 AM |
Breakfast is served for
children ages six weeks to two years. |
|
8:30
AM - 9:00 AM |
Breakfast is served for
children ages two years and older. |
|
9:00
AM -11:15 AM |
Children participate in
learning activities including Jesus Time, weekly and holiday themes,
group time, small and large motor activities, creative art, dramatic
play, blocks, music and outdoor play. |
|
11:15
AM - 12 Noon |
Lunch is served to all
children. |
|
12
Noon - 12:30 PM |
Children prepare for
rest/nap time. |
|
12:30
PM - 2:15 PM |
Children participate in
rest/nap time as well as quiet activities such as books, puzzles, and
creative art. Staff members take their
breaks. |
|
2:15
PM - 3:00 PM |
Snack is served for all the children. |
|
3:00
PM -5:45 PM |
Children participate in
organized group activities and free choice activities, indoor or
outdoor, until they are picked up. Activities
are rotated daily. |
|
5:45
PM -6:00 PM |
Closing of the Center |
NAP
AND REST TIME
All children
attending Faith Child Care longer than fours hours in a day must have a
nap or
rest period. Faith Child Care provides
portable cribs or cots and sheets to cover them. For
children over the age of one year, a
lightweight blanket must be brought from home for the child. If preferred, a small pillow can also be
brought for naptime. Blankets and
pillows must be taken home weekly for laundering; sheets are washed
on-site.
For children under
one year of age, the following SIDS Risk Reduction Policy procedures
are used:
§
Infants
are placed on their backs in a crib to sleep unless an alternate
written
authorization for sleeping is provided by the child’s physician.
§
Infants
are not allowed to sleep in a swing, car seat or infant seat without
written
authorization from the child’s physician.
§
Only
lightweight blankets are allowed in cribs.
Soft items such as pillows, comforters and stuffed toys are not
allowed
in cribs.
§
If a
blanket is used, the infant will be placed at the foot of the crib and
the
blanket is tucked around the crib mattress reaching only as far as the
infant’s
chest.
§
Any
positioning device that restricts movement within a child’s crib is not
used
without written authorization from the child’s physician.
§
When
infants can easily turn over from back to tummy, they are put to sleep
on their
back, but are allowed to assume whatever position they prefer for
sleeping.
OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES
We incorporate
daily outdoor activities as often as the weather permits.
There are two play yards which have been
designed to separate the children under the age of two years from the
older
children to keep them safe.
Children under two
years of age use the smaller of the two play yards where they have
opportunities to swing, play in sand or water, ride toy vehicles and
play with
their friends. Our Center also has
strollers so the infants can go on walks with their teachers.
We have designed
an outdoor learning environment for the older children.
Each classroom has a garden plot to care for
during the summer months. We also provide bikes and scooters for the
children
to ride, and helmets to wear for their safety.
The children also enjoy digging and building in the large
sandbox we
have provided. Best of all there is a
lot of room for them to run and play!
Since
EXTREME
OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES
The safety of the
children is our primary concern.
Therefore, children are not allowed to go outside during times
of
extreme temperatures. The children
remain inside when:
§
The
temperature or heat index is above 90 degrees F
§
The wind
chill is 0 degrees F or below for children ages 2 years of age and older
§
The wind
chill is 20 degrees F or below for children under 2 years of age
Children three
years of age and older participate in field trips during the year. The children are transported by Valley
Transit, Kobussen or Lamers buses.
Parents are responsible for any fees related to field trips.
Parents are
notified of field trips in advance and have the opportunity to
chaperone if
they wish. When trips cross over the
lunch hour, a meal is provided by the Center.
To maintain
staff-child ratios, any child who is contracted and in attendance on
the day a
field trip occurs must participate in the trip.
If a child is
contracted for a field trip day, the parent may choose to keep their
child home
and not participate in that trip.
Parents are responsible for the fees for that day, but are not
charged
for any fees related to the trip.
Faith Child Care
maintains an ongoing interest in the health and safety of all children
enrolled
in the Center. Our staff realizes that
parents assume the primary responsibility for the health and well being
of their
children. In partnership with the
families, our staff strives to provide a safe and healthy environment
for the
children while they are in attendance at the Center.
Each child must
have a physical exam signed and dated by a licensed physician,
physician
assistant or Health Check provider not more than six months prior to
enrollment
or later than ninety days after enrollment at Faith Child Care. Children under the age of 24 months are
required to have an additional physical every six months.
A child two years of age and older is required
to have a physical every two years until he/she enters elementary
school. All physical exams must be
documented on a Child
Health Report–Child Care Centers form provided by the Department of
Children
and Families. Forms are available in the
Faith Child Care office.
A completed Health
History and Emergency Care Plan must be on file for each child by
his/her first
day of attendance at Faith Child Care.
Parents must inform the Administrative Director of newly
diagnosed medical
conditions, including, but not limited to, allergies and asthma,
affecting
their child so that current records are maintained and proper care is
given
while he/she is in attendance at the Center.
Current
documentation of a child’s immunizations must be on file before his/her
first
day of attendance in order to comply with HFS 46 Licensing Rules. Please inform the office staff when your
child receives additional immunizations so that current records are
maintained.
COMMUNICABLE
DISEASE
Any child with a
reportable communicable disease, including, but not limited to, chicken
pox,
measles, mumps, infectious hepatitis, meningitis, or scarlet fever, is
not
allowed to attend or remain at Faith Child Care during the period when
the
disease may be transmitted to adults or other children.
A release from the Health Department is required
before any child with a communicable disease is allowed to return to
the Center
unless the child has been absent for a period of time equal to the
longest
usual incubation period for the particular disease.
Parents are
responsible for contacting the Appleton Health Department if their
child
contracts any reportable communicable disease.
The telephone number is 832-6429.
Notice of any communicable
disease or illness that is present at the Center is posted on the
parent time
clock. Confidentiality is maintained and no individual names are
released when
reporting the disease or illness to families.
Guidelines for the
Exclusion of Children and Staff from a Day Care, developed by the
Wisconsin
Division of Children and Families, are followed in situations when
communicable
disease and isolation are suspected.
ILLNESS
POLICIES
Exposure to a new
group of children may cause more illness during the first few months a
child is
enrolled in a group child care setting. Faith
Child Care cannot care for an ill child.
Upon a child’s
arrival, Faith Child Care staff observes each child for signs and
symptoms of
illness and continues to observe them throughout the day.
Our staff follows the Guidelines for the
Exclusion of Children and Staff from a Day Care Center when making the
decision
to send a child home.
Parents must have
an alternate plan arranged in advance in the event that their child
becomes ill
while at Faith Child Care. If a child
exhibits any symptoms of illness, parents are contacted and the child
must be
picked up within one hour of the call.
The ill child is cared for by a staff member, away from the
other
children, until a parent or other authorized person arrives to take the
child
home.
Parental
cooperation is necessary to promote a healthy environment for all the
children
attending Faith Child Care. A child
showing any of the following signs of illness 24 hours prior to arrival
should not
be brought to Faith Child Care:
§
Fever
(defined as a temperature equal or greater than 100 degrees (F)
axillary [taken
under the arm])
§
Diarrhea
stool (defined as stool that is watery or less formed with greater
occurrence
than usual and is not contained in diapers or toilet use, or stool that
contains blood or mucous)
§
Vomiting
§
Pink or
red eyes with inflammation and white or yellow discharge
§
Rash
with a fever and/or a change in behavior, until a medical exam
indicates the
symptoms are not associated with a communicable disease
§
Any
other conditions that may be contagious to other children, including
but not
limited to, strep throat, Hand Foot and Mouth disease, ringworm,
impetigo and
head lice
§
Illnesses
or symptoms (e.g., colds, coughs or respiratory distress) interfering
with a
child’s ability to participate comfortably in program activities,
including
outdoor play
§
Illnesses
that result in a greater need for care than staff can provide without
compromising the health and safety of other children
§
Conditions
that may indicate a possible severe illness, including but not limited
to, persistent
crying, lethargy, difficulty in breathing, or irritability
The following time
periods are used to determine when a child may return to Faith Child
Care
following an illness:
§
24 hours
after antibiotics are begun for any communicable illness, including,
but not
limited to, strep throat or pink eye
§
24 hours
after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhea, except in the case of
communicable disease that needs to be reported to the Health Department
§
Temperature
must be normal for 24 hours without the use of any fever reducer
§
If
throat cultures or other tests are taken to diagnose an illness that
may be
contagious, the child must be kept home until test results have been
verified
and the administration has been notified of the negative results.
Exceptions to the
above time periods may be allowed by the Administrative Director on an
individual basis if:
§
A child
has a chronic illness that is documented by the child’s physician
§
Written
documentation is received from the child’s physician indicating that
the child
will not expose others to a communicable disease upon his/her return to
Faith
Child Care.
MEDICATIONS
The staff of Faith
Child Care dispenses prescription or non-prescription medications to a
child
under the following conditions:
§
Medication is in the
original container and
the label includes the child’s name, the dosage and the directions for
administration. Expired medication or
medication which is prescribed for another child in the family is not
given.
§
An Authorization to
Administer Medication form has been signed and dated
by the
parent. This authorization must include
the child’s name and birth date, the name of the medication,
administration
instructions, medication intervals and length of time for dispensing
the
medication. If a child is on the same
medication for more than one week, a new form must be completed at the
beginning of each week. These forms are
available in the office or in each classroom.
§
A signed and dated
written authorization from
the child’s physician is on file if the dosage for the child’s age is
not
included on the container from the manufacturer.
§
A child does not have
a temperature equal to
or greater that 100 degrees (F) axillary [taken under the arm] or other
signs
of illness requiring his/her exclusion from Faith Child Care.
All
non-prescriptive medications, including lip balm and cough drops, must be given to a teacher for storage
and administration. Please do not leave
them in your child’s diaper bag, cubby, or backpack for
self-administering. This creates a safety
risk for other children
who may gain access to the medication.
All forms of
prescription and non-prescription medications must be placed in
medicine
containers that are inaccessible to children.
These containers are located in each classroom.
Medicine requiring refrigeration is stored in
a child-proof container in the refrigerator located in Room 206.
Children are not
given medications that affect their behavior except those prescribed by
their
health care provider.
Any medications
given to a child are logged in a medical journal. Medical
information on any child is available
only to the parents/legal guardians of that child.
While staff makes
every effort to dispense medication as requested by the parent, Faith
Child
Care does not assume responsibility for missed dosages.
SPECIAL
HEALTH CARE NEEDS
If a child has medical
conditions requiring special health care needs, including any physical,
social
or cognitive disabilities, parents must indicate the needs on the
Health
History and Emergency Care Plan form, stating the child’s special
health condition
and procedures for handling the issue.
If special health
precautions, including, but not limited to inhalers, nebulizer
treatments, Epi-Pen
injections, are prescribed and needed during a child’s scheduled care
at Faith
Child Care, administration and staff works with the child, parents and
the
child’s physician on an individual basis.
Faith Child Care staff does not administer any special medical
procedures
for which they have not been trained.
FIRST
AID FOR MINOR INJURIES
First aid kits are
maintained at Faith Child Care for treating minor injuries that a child
may
incur. Standard first aid procedures are
followed for all injuries.
Superficial wounds
are cleaned with soap and water only and protected with a Band-Aid or
sterile
gauze. To comply with HFS 46 Licensing
Rules, no antibiotics are applied to a wound.
Parents are
notified of any injury through an Injury Incident Report that describes
the nature
of the injury and what treatment was given.
Staff also calls a parent to inform them of the injury if they
feel it
is necessary. A record of all injuries
is kept in the Center’s medical logs.
Any parent may review their child’s medical information upon
written
request to the Administrative Director or Program Director.
Minor injuries,
where an immediate call to a parent is not necessary, are documented
and
communicated in writing to a parent through an ‘Ouch Report’ that is
sent home
the day of the injury.
EMERGENCY
MEDICAL TREATMENT
Each
enrolled child must have two completed Medical Treatment Consent forms on file at the Center. One
form is kept in the child’s classroom and
the second one is kept in a master file in the office.
If a
serious injury or accident occurs, standard First Aid procedures are
used and, whenever possible, a parent or legal guardian is contacted
first.
In the
event of a medical emergency, our staff calls 911 immediately
and then contacts a parent. A child is
transported
to
ABUSE
AND NEGLECT REPORTING
Any
evidence of unusual bruises, lacerations or burns observed by staff
are noted in a Center medical log and reported immediately to the
administration.
All
teachers of Faith Child Care, by state and federal law, are mandated
reporters of abuse or neglect. Any
employee of Faith Child Care having reasonable cause to suspect that a
child
has been abused or neglected by any individual must contact the
Administrative
Director or Program Director. The
Administrative Director contacts the Outagamie County Department of
Health and
Human Services or the Appleton Police Department. Any
person participating in good faith in
making a report has immunity from any liability, civil or criminal,
that
results by reason of the action.
EMERGENCY
EVACUATION
In the
event that an on-site emergency situation necessitates
evacuation from the Center, all staff and children vacate to
Faith
Child Care conducts monthly fire drills and tornado drills during
the months of April through October to help prepare the children for
emergency
evacuation of the Center. Emergency
evacuation plans are posted in each classroom.
Early learning
experiences are critical for a child’s development.
Faith Child Care’s program is designed to
provide learning experiences which enhance every aspect of a child’s
spiritual,
intellectual, physical, emotional and social growth and development.
To encourage
learning about Christian faith, children are taught about God and His
love
through the Center’s atmosphere and daily activities, including, but
not
limited to, Bible stories, prayers, music, art, and daily conversations. Christian values, such as sharing and
kindness, are incorporated into daily planning and guidance techniques.
Using Jesus as the
perfect example of love for all, we offer many opportunities for the
children
to interact with adults and other children.
Individual differences are treated as God’s way of creating each
person
unique and special. We also provide
activities
that help children to recognize and to respect personal and cultural
differences.
Learning centers
and activities are developed around weekly themes. The
Creative Curriculum, along with many other resource materials, is
used to develop lesson plans. Monthly
themes
include such topics as God Made Me Special, God Keeps Us Safe, We Are
Thankful,
Jesus is Born, and Friends Around the World.
Classrooms are arranged
with equipment and materials appropriate for the ages of the children
in each
room. Tables, chairs and toy shelves are
placed low to the ground for the children.
Shelves are filled with toys for exploration and learning about
colors,
shapes, numbers, letters and other concepts.
Learning materials are accessible to the children at all times.
Believing that
children learn best through a hands-on approach, we offer activities
through
learning centers, where children become involved in self-directed,
teacher-monitored
exploration of materials. Once the
children reach the toddler rooms, classrooms are arranged in learning
centers
such as blocks, dramatic play (housekeeping), sensory table, book
corner, small
manipulative materials, creative art, science and music areas.
Art is available
every day. We focus on the process of creating rather than the end product.
Process involves the child manipulating, experimenting
and exploring art
materials. The final product is an
individualistic
and joyful display of the art experience.
At times, only your child, the artist, can tell you exactly what
the end
product is. The children are introduced
to a wide variety of materials and textures to use in their creations. In addition to creative art during ‘center
time’, crayons, washable markers, stencils and paper are available
during early
and late day activities.
The children
occasionally have special activities in the classroom as well. Teachers enjoy cooking with the children and
“traveling” to other countries as they learn about other cultures. During our safety and health units, we invite
community helpers to visit the children.
Field trips are also incorporated into the curriculum to broaden
the
children’s learning experiences.
TRANSITIONS
Teachers strive to
maintain a consistent schedule for the children in their room. Children are given advance notice when moving
from one activity to another. Activities
are arranged so children have minimum waiting time during transitions
from one
activity to another. Teachers engage the
children in songs, finger plays, or conversation as they are
transitioning at
meal time, bathroom time, or when moving to and from outside activities.
When a child is developmentally
ready to move to a new room, the transition is made gradually and as
soon as
space allows. Parents are notified by
the Administrative Director that their child is being considered for a
move. The typical period of time for
transitioning to a new room is two weeks; however, this time frame may
be
changed to best assist the child in adjusting.
Teachers currently assigned to the child complete transition
notes for
the child’s new teachers to help with the child’s adjustment to the
room. Parents are also asked to complete
an intake
form for the new classroom teachers.
DEVELOPMENTALLY
APPROPRIATE PROGRAMMING
Infant Rooms:
The most important
need of young infants is secure, nurturing relationships.
The program in our infant rooms is designed
to help this security. Infants learn
that their needs are met promptly and they are held and cuddled
frequently.
Non-mobile infants
are moved from place to place frequently throughout the room to provide
a
balance of active and quiet time. ‘Tummy
time’ is made available throughout the day.
Feeding and
diapering times are used as opportunities in language development and
other
individual learning experiences.
Teachers introduce the children to language by talking with them
and
encouraging them to verbalize.
Individual daily
activities are planned according each child’s developmental stage and
home
routines of feeding and sleeping. Toys
and equipment are available for infants to explore in a
safely-monitored
environment.
Toddler Rooms:
The need for
security and the desire to explore continue into the toddler age. Since this is the age when children seek to
be in control, activities are planned to promote cooperation through
play.
Teachers help
toddlers to increase their language and social skills by guiding them
to ‘use
their words’ and express their feelings.
Reading stories is a favorite activity in these rooms.
Self-help skills are
encouraged, especially in the areas of eating, dressing and toilet
training. In the older toddler rooms,
short group times
are begun. Children take turns in being
classroom helpers.
Materials and
equipment provide a balance of dramatic play, sensory, large and small
motor
activities as well as active and quiet times.
Children are given opportunities to develop their creativity
through dramatic
play, process art, music, and movement activities.
Preschool Children:
Teachers help the
children learn how to establish positive co-operative relationships
with adult
and peers through a variety of small and large muscle group activities.
Self-esteem is
promoted by planning activities that children can successfully complete. The learning environment is designed to
provide Kindergarten readiness skills through active exploration of
sensory and
manipulative materials. Language and
listening skills continue to develop through books, songs and
conversations.
Theme activities
are incorporated into different learning centers where children are
free to
choose their own activities under the guidance of the teachers. Creative expression is fostered through a
variety of art media, puppetry, dramatic play, and music activities.
School-Aged Children:
Children are
encouraged to help with planning, and they work together with the
teachers to
create a positive learning environment. Christian concepts are
incorporated
throughout the day in devotions, music and prayers.
Scheduling and curriculum allow children to
learn through active involvement in various learning experiences with
each
other. Children are allowed to work
individually or in small informal groups much of the time.
They are allowed more freedom to work
independently under the supervision of adults.
Teachers assign tasks to teach the children responsibility for
themselves and others. Exploration of
science and math concepts is built into planning through cooking,
gardening,
experiments and sensory activities. Team
activities with cooperation, not competition, are encouraged. Children continue to learn about the world
and the community they live in through field trips, service projects,
and
activities that introduce them to other cultures.
Faith Child Care’s
child guidance and discipline policy is designed to help children
become
independent and caring by learning self-control, decision-making skills
and
responsibility for their own actions. Children
are a precious gift from God and we believe they should be treated with
respect.
Faith Child Care’s
goals are to help children develop positive self-esteem, respect for
themselves
and others, and socially acceptable ways of expressing their needs and
feelings. This is accomplished through
positive guidance and loving, Christ-centered discipline.
Staff members
offer positive guidance for children by providing an atmosphere where
everyone
feels respected and valued. In addition,
they create a learning environment based on trust and freedom to
explore and develop
without fear of humiliation or shame.
The staff works to accomplish this by:
§
Respecting
each child as a precious gift from God with unique abilities and gifts
§
Maintaining
a safe learning environment that uses developmentally appropriate
activities
based on each child’s ability, attention span and need for movement
§
Establishing
positive guidelines for behavior that set clear, understandable
limits and consistent routines
§
Providing
a learning environment that promotes consistent routines and
well-defined
expectations
§
Providing
sufficient materials and activities to avoid overcrowding and to give
adequate choices
for child-directed activities
§
Recognizing
children’s efforts and using praise through kind words or actions to
reinforce
desirable behaviors
§
Using
problem solving techniques instead of punishment
§
Anticipating
and eliminating potential problems in the environment
§
Redirecting
a child who displays undesirable behaviors to another activity
If a child causes
physical or emotional harm to self or others, the child is removed from
the
situation for a short time to calm down and provided time to talk with
the
teacher about alternative, appropriate behaviors.
Time-outs are used
for children over three years of age only when all other methods of
guidance
are unsuccessful. The length of a
timeout is one minute per year of age. If
a child younger than three years of age needs to be removed from a
situation, he/she
is placed on the teacher’s lap or next to the teacher until he/she has
calmed
down.
We believe the
primary responsibility for raising young children rests with the
parents;
however, the staff strives to assist parents in the training and
guidance of
their children. We provide parents with
feedback about their children, both positive and negative, if necessary. If you desire help in dealing with a specific
behavior, please discuss it with us.
Parent support is expected for any guidance techniques used by
staff to
solve unwanted behaviors.
Staff is not
allowed to discipline a child using methods prohibited by HFS 46
Licensing Rules,
even at the request of a parent.
Examples of prohibited actions include, but are not limited to,
spanking, hitting, verbal abuse, physical restraint, and withholding or
forcing
meals, snacks, or naps.
The safety and
welfare of all the children at Faith Child Care are of primary concern. While the staff makes every effort to work
with children and their parents to promote appropriate behaviors, there
are
situations when additional action may be necessary.
Initial meeting
If a child’s
extreme, uncontrollable behavior continues to physically or emotionally
endanger staff and other children at Faith Child Care despite positive
guidance
techniques, or if a parent is uncooperative with staff in working
toward their
correction of their child’s chronic disruptive behavior, a meeting with
the
child’s parents is requested by the Administrative Director and the
child’s
teachers. The problem is defined in
writing and goals for correction are established and a date is set to
review
the issue.
Second meeting
If, after the predetermined
time frame, the initial plan for helping the child fails, a second
meeting is requested
by the Administrative Director. The
problem is identified again and new approaches are defined.
Suspension/Dismissal
Suspension of the
child occurs if no progress occurs within the established timeline. Parents are responsible for payment of fees,
based on their contracted time, during the length of the suspension. The period of suspension may vary from the
remainder of a day to one week depending upon the severity of the
problem. Dismissal of the child occurs
after three
suspensions for the same behavior, or immediately if the child’s
behavior
severely injures a staff member or another child.
REMOVAL
FROM FAITH CHILD CARE
Faith
Child Care initiates removal of a child or family for:
§
Failure to pay fees.
If payment of fees is delinquent for two
weeks or more, parents receive written notice from the Administrative
Director
regarding removal from the Center. If no
‘good faith’ attempt to make a payment is taken after this written
notice is
given, the family is removed.
§
Failure to submit
forms required by
licensing, resulting in the Center’s non-compliance with the state of
§
Failure to observe or
cooperate with the
policies of Faith Child Care
§
Behavior endangering
staff or children at
Faith Child Care
§
Inappropriate
behaviors by a parent or child,
including, but not limited to, sexually inappropriate behavior
§
Possession or use of
dangerous or illegal
items and substances at Faith Child Care
Prior to removal
from the Center, the Administrative Director notifies the parents of
the
pending removal and schedules a meeting with them.
During the meeting, the problem is defined.
Solutions to the problem are discussed and a
timeline, not to exceed one month, is set for resolving the situation. A follow-up meeting is held to review the
problem. If the problem cannot be
resolved or parents are not willing to attempt resolution, removal
occurs.
If the parent
fails to respond to the written notice within three days, removal of
the child
or family occurs immediately.
USDA
CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM
This program is
offered through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Bureau
of Food
and Nutrition Services. Foods provided
reflect Faith Child Care’s concern for the children’s health, nutrition
and
development.
To meet Food
Program enrollment criteria, a child is considered enrolled for a given
month
if he/she has a current completed and approved enrollment form on file
and is
in attendance at least one day in that month.
Daily counts of the children participating in meals are
documented at
each meal and snack.
In accordance with
Food Program guidelines, parents are asked to complete an income
statement or
qualification statement yearly, or during the year if their income
significantly changes.
Faith Child Care
provides a nourishing breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack to any child
who is enrolled
in the program and in attendance during the time when meals are served. The cost of meals and snacks that are served
during
the day is included in the weekly fees as a benefit to families. All meals are prepared on the premises.
Breakfast is served
to any child arriving at the Center by 9:00 AM.
Lunch is served to any child arriving at the Center by 12:00
Noon. School-aged children contracted for
after-school care are offered a snack and milk/juice upon their arrival
at the
Center.
Menus are planned in
a six-week rotation by the Administrative staff and the cook. Guidelines, established by the Child and
Adult Care Food Program, are followed in selecting the types of foods
and
portions served at each meal and snack. Menus
are posted in the classrooms and on the parent bulletin board which is
located across
from the parent time clock. Any changes in
foods served are written on the posted menus.
Breakfast includes
one serving of fruit or 100% juice, one serving of grains, and milk.
Lunch includes one
serving of meat or meat alternate, two servings of vegetables or fruits
or one
serving of each of them, one serving of grains or breads, and milk.
Snack includes one
serving from each of two different components: grains such as crackers
or bread,
meat or meat alternate such as cheese or peanut butter, fruits or
vegetables,
and 100% juice or milk.
Children less than
two years of age are served Grade A Vitamin D (whole) milk and children
over
two years of age are served 1% milk.
Meal-time routines
are established by individual classroom teachers to minimize waiting in
large
groups and to make the transition to and from meals easy for the
children.
Meals and snacks are
served in your child’s classroom. Meals
are served ‘family style’ in all classrooms where the children are over
two
years of age to give them opportunities to serve their own food in a
homelike
atmosphere. One teacher sits at each
table to assist children as needed and participate in pleasant
conversation
while eating. Prayers are said or sung
before each meal and snack. Children
over two years of age are responsible for clearing their own dishes
from the
table after they are finished eating.
The children are
encouraged to try new foods by taking a ‘no-thank-you bite’. Teachers do not force a child to eat, and
food is not withheld from a child for any reason or used as a reward.
When children and
staff are off-site for a field trip that crosses the noon hour, lunches
meeting
the requirements of the Food Program are made onsite and taken along in
coolers.
Milk and graham
crackers or saltines are available to the children who arrive at the
Center
before 7:30 AM or remain after 4:30 PM.
If your child has
a special diet and/or food allergies, it must be noted on the back of
your
child’s Health History and Emergency Care Plan form and a
written statement from a recognized medical authority must be
documented in your child’s file. This
statement must state the food(s) to be omitted and foods that may be
substituted. A listing of special diets
or allergies is posted in the individual classrooms, the kitchen and
the
office.
In accordance with
HFS 46 Licensing Rules, “any special diet, based on a medical
condition,
excluding food allergies but including nutrient concentrates and
supplements, are
served only upon written instruction of a child’s physician and upon
request of
the parent.” If a parent suspects that
their child has a food allergy, they must submit information to the
Administrative staff and their child’s teachers.
Specialty menus
based on a family’s eating preference, but which are not medically
authorized, are
served when possible.
Infants and Toddlers:
All infants and
toddlers are kept on their own feeding schedules.
Under the
guidelines of the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program, Faith Child
Care must
offer an iron-fortified formula until a child is one year old. The brand we have chosen is Parent's Choice
Milk Formula. Upon registration, parents are
asked
to complete a form indicating whether they are providing another type
of
formula or if they would like the Center to offer Parent's
Choice Milk Formula. If a parent wishes to
have their child drink
milk before the age of one year, a physician’s written statement is
required. Whole milk is provided for all
children until their second birthday.
Mothers who are
breast feeding are welcome to come and feed their child during the day. Mothers wishing to store a supply of frozen
breast milk at Faith Child Care should speak with their child’s teacher. Breast milk, or formula, brought from home
must be in a closed container labeled with the child’s complete name
and the
date that the milk was brought to the Center.
Drinking water is
offered to infants and toddlers several times per day upon
recommendation of
the parents and the child’s physician.
Teachers hold an
infant who is unable to hold his/her own bottle whenever a bottle is
given. The child is positioned with
his/her head higher than the body when being fed a bottle.
Bottles are not propped.
Leftover breast
milk or formula is discarded after each feeding and bottles are rinsed
after
use. Parents are responsible for taking
home used bottles at the end of each day their child is in attendance.
Solid foods are
introduced as directed by a child’s parent.
Gerber cereals, strained fruits and strained vegetables are
provided by
Faith Child Care until a child is developmentally ready to eat table
foods
served from the weekly menu.
We care very much
about the health of your child. Due to the rising rates of childhood
obesity,
we ask you to carefully consider the nutritional value of any food you
bring to
share with your child’s classmates. We
hope
that you consider bringing in healthy treats for special occasions. A list of preferred healthy treats and snacks
is available in the office.
All treats brought
by families to share with the children must be purchased pre-packaged
or
provided in the original package from a store or local bakery. Birthday treats are shared after lunch or
during afternoon snack time.
To avoid serving
the children multiple treats on the same day, we ask that you speak
with your
child’s teachers to arrange a date before bringing treats.
Please check with
your child’s teachers regarding food allergies of classmates before
bringing
special treats.
BITING
POLICY
Faith Child Care
recognizes that biting is, unfortunately, an unavoidable occurrence in
a group
day care setting. Biting incidents occur
primarily in the infant and toddler rooms, and often occur in a
repetitive
manner.
Most of the
reasons for a child biting are not related to behavior problems. Our program, therefore, has an established
policy to work toward resolution of the individual issues related to
biting,
with staff and parents working together.
When repetitive
biting incidents occur, the staff in the specific classroom and the
administrative staff observe the child and document incidents.
Staff looks for
patterns in the biting incidents and makes any changes in the classroom
environment that may be contributing to the biting issue.
The parents are
asked to contact the child’s physician for suggestions to control the
biting.
Information on the
observations is communicated to the parents of the biting child during
a
meeting with the classroom teachers and the Administrative Director. A plan and timeline is developed between
parents and teachers to help the child learn more appropriate behavior
instead
of biting, and to ensure there is consistency between home and the
Center in
methods used to reverse the biting behavior.
Input from outside
resources may include an Inclusion Specialist from Child Care Resource
and
Referral or staff from the Early Intervention program.
A meeting is held to discuss the
recommendations of these specialists.
Special
circumstances that may lead to the dismissal of a child who is biting
include:
§
Unwillingness of the
parents to work with the
classroom staff and Administrative Director to resolve the biting
problem
§
Recommendation of
specialists that the child
needs a different setting to meet his/her needs
§
A child who has
reached the age of three
years when biting is no longer a developmentally appropriate behavior
TOILET
TRAINING
There is no set
age at which toilet training should begin.
The appropriate time depends on each individual child’s physical
and
psychological readiness. Some children
show signs of readiness between 18 and 24 months, but others may not
show signs
until 30 months or older. The staff of
Faith Child Care encourages, but does not force, each child to attempt
toilet
training when he/she is two years old.
Communication is
the key ingredient between parents and teachers when toilet training
begins. Consistency in techniques between
home and the child’s teachers is important for a child’s success.
Once the child has
repeated successes, the teachers encourage the use of underwear. We suggest that the change of underwear
begins at home on a weekend and continues for one week.
When a child is beginning the transition from
diapers to underwear, the child wears diapers or pull-ups at nap time
until
he/she is consistently dry upon waking.
If a child who is
wearing underwear has three accidents during a day, the teacher puts
the child
back into diapers or pull-ups for the remainder of the day so the
child’s level
of frustration does not increase.
For our Center’s
complete policy and procedures for toilet training, please refer to
Faith Child
Care’s Child Guidance policy.
VIDEO
POLICY
Faith Child Care adopts
the philosophy that children learn best through interactive, hands-on
activities; however, children love to watch videos and we do
occasionally watch
them together. At times, we feel videos
may enhance a particular concept in our lessons, and sometimes we watch
‘just
for fun’ videos on days when the weather prohibits outdoor play. Children are given the choice of choosing an
alternate activity whenever videos are watched.
Any videos brought
from home are used under the discretion of the teachers.
They are reviewed for age appropriateness and
subject matter before being viewed by the children.
Please bring videos that are short in length,
since the majority of the day is planned with alternate activities.
Revised
October
2008
Notes: