Parent’s Handbook

Sunshine & Rainbows Christian Day Care Centre

905-664-3440

“If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn”
                                                                                                                        Unknown Author

PHILOSOPHY

At Sunshine and Rainbows Christian Daycare Centre we strive to help each child learn through relationships with those working with young children and families. We provide an understanding of how everyday learning takes place in an early years setting as well as a loving, safe and stimulating environment. This will help give the child a sense of belonging, well being and engagement in the program as well as a chance to express themselves.

We encourage open communication with parents and teachers to ensure a full and successful program for all children. We believe that all children should be treated with equality and respect, and that their cultural diversity be embraced and acknowledged. By being a Christian Centre we encourage Christian values and morals through daily prayers, as well as recognizing the celebration of Christian holidays.

PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

1. 15 Toddlers – ages 18 months to 27 months.
2. 32 Pre-schoolers – ages 27 months to 5 years.
3. Full or part-time (min. of 2 days/week) care is available between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., five days per week, 52 weeks per year (excluding holidays). We are a full day program.
4. Two weeks notice or payment in lieu of notice is required for permanent withdrawal.

Fees can be paid by cash or cheque and fees are required on the first day of the current week.

Fees are $56.00 (daily) (toddler), Fees are $193.00 (full time) and $53.00 (daily) (preschool).

WAITING LIST AND REGISTRATION/ORIENTATION PROCEDURES

Once the centre has been contacted, parents can come in for a tour. Upon completion of the tours families will go on a wait list (with all their information). Each tour lasts approximately 10-15 minutes. There is no registration fee to be on the waiting list. Accommodations will be made when space becomes available. We do ask for a call back from parents if the space is no longer required. Parents can contact the owner/operator to find out information on their status for their daycare spot.

We encourage parents to come in for orientation. This will help the parent and child to familiarize themselves with our surroundings.
This will also introduce the parents to their ECE Teachers in the classroom and to go over our program.

We will go over the philosophy of the centre and the registration package and will be able to answer any questions or concerns you have.

Once the parent has completed the registration package, pre-visits will be set up. The 1st visit is to get on the waiting list and note you should bring your child with you so you can see them in the centre. The 2nd is two hours and the parent leaves, and if needed, the 3rd visit will be up to and including lunch. There is no charge to the parent, this will help the child feel comfortable and familiar with our centre. All children documentation is private and confidential.

It is required that each child’s registration package be fully completed prior to admission of the centre.  At Sunshine and Rainbows Christian Daycare Centre we request that all parents read our parent handbook to ensure that they are familiar with our philosophy, program statement as well as any pertinent information that may relate to their child i.e.) hours of operation, holiday closures, what your child needs to bring in.

Registration Package Includes

1. Registration Form
2. Registration Questionnaire
3. Emergency Contact Form
4. Authorization Form
5. Public Health Information
6. Medical Questionnaire
7. Parent Handbook

Fee Subsidy for Children: Ensure you contact the City of Hamilton to notify them they you are coming to Sunshine & Rainbows Christian Daycare Centre. Daycare will receive information from City of Hamilton of fee amount parents is to pay and expiry date for subsidy.

At the end of each month daycare will give you a invoice for what is outstanding for parents fees.

Renewal for subsidy is up to parents to contact the City of Hamilton to ensure your subsidy has been renewed.

DISCHARGE:

Should it ever become necessary to discharge your child from the centre, you will be given two weeks notice.  However, if issues are severe, termination will be effective immediately.

Reasons for Discharge:

• Failure to comply with the centre’s policies and procedures.
• Failure to make a payment.
• Unexplained absence for a length of time (a month).
• Your child is displaying physical abuse or bodily harm towards the staff or other children in the centre.
• Your child is displaying verbal abuse towards the staff or other children in the centre.
• If the owner or supervisor is unable to come in contact with the family by phone or email.
• If your child verbally or physically threatens to harm self, staff or other children in the centre
• In the case of a serious illness or death of the child.

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE

Young children depend on routines for their own sense of security.  We recommend that you establish fixed hours to pick up and drop off your child. If your child is not going to be at the centre for the day, please phone the centre staff by 9:00 a.m. You may leave a message on the centre’s voice mail. If your child will be away on vacation, please advise the staff of the dates that your child will be absent. In order to maintain your child’s space in the program, your fees continue to be charged whenever your child is absent due to illness or vacation. Your child should be here no later than 9 a.m. to get the full proram.  It is also suggested that you not leave your child for longer than a 9-hour duration, since it makes for a very long day for your child.  Upon arrival please ensure that your child is properly dressed in clothing that is appropriate for physical activity for both indoors and outdoors.  Also, please notify a member of the staff as to your child’s presence.  Similarly, when picking up your child, enter the building and make sure the staff knows you are leaving.  Unless otherwise arranged, children will not be released to any person other than those specified on the emergency contact forms.  If it is the first time someone other than yourself is picking your child up, proper identification is needed. i.e.  Driver’s License.

HEALTHY EATING POLICY

Sunshine & Rainbows Christian Daycare Centre promotes healthy eating by providing nutritious and safe foods in a supportive environment as per required by Canada’s Food Guide.  Role modeling healthy eating behavior, by including healthy foods in creative play, and teaching activities for children, and by engaging, supporting and educating parents, students, volunteers and childcare staff.

Drinking water must be available at all times. Two snacks and a lunch are provided to all children in attendance (6 hours or more).

Menus are posted for parents to view for every 2 week rotation, both located at front entrance, toddler room and a daily posting is available at the back entrance. Any changes to the menu is required to be posted in daily log book for all staff to view and also changed on the menus.

*NOTE: Safe foods, meaning foods that are “allergy free” i.e.) free of nuts or eggs.  Any type of food that may be of threat to any child, parents, student or staff will not be served in the centre.  Also, all foods are to be handled/prepared properly in order to prevent the risk of food-borne illness, cross-contamination as well as choking.

Special Dietary Needs

The centre shall ensure where special dietary needs and feeding requirements have been made with respect to a child receiving care by parents/physicians request. Any food/beverage brought into the centre is to be labeled with child’s name and stored properly.

ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION

Sunshine & Rainbows will administer prescription drugs to children, in accordance with   provincial legislation. This is what is required:
Whenever possible, parents are encouraged to administer medication to their children at home, if this can be done without affecting the treatment schedule.  If medication must be administered to the child while attending the daycare centre, staff members will adhere to the procedure below. Children’s personal health information is kept confidential.

1. Written authorization, including dosage and times any drug is to be given.
2. Medication in the original container, clearly labeled with the child’s name, name of the drug, the dosage, the date of purchase and instructions for storage and administration of drug.
3. Medication should be given out by the Supervisor ECE Teacher.

Medication should be written in the daily log.

Download full pdf version of the Parent Handbook HERE.