I. GENERAL INFORMATION
A. ADMISSION:
All children will be enrolled on a trial basis for a period of 2 weeks. During those first two weeks either parent or provider may terminate this agreement without notice. After the initial two weeks, a two week notice by either party is required to terminate this agreement. See section III C for more information.
In order to enroll:
A. The parent shall meet with the provider to discuss the program and the needs of the child.
B. Admission Record, Emergency Treatment Authorization and Immunization Record must be completed. These forms must be kept up to date at all times.
C. The Parent ? Provider Agreement must be signed by all parties.
II. DAILY ROUTINE
A. MEALS/SNACKS:
I will provide 2 snacks each day, at approximately 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Juice and whole milk will also be provided throughout the day. A nutritious lunch must be packed and brought with the child each day. You will be notified if a special meal event is coming up (ie., pizza day, taco day, etc). In these cases I will provide lunch as well as snacks. Breakfast may be brought from home as well, as long as the child arrives before 8:00 am.
B. REST TIME/NAPS:
Infants will nap on demand. Older children will be given a routine nap time daily (approximately 2 ? 2.5 hours, usually from 12:30pm ? 3:00pm). Children are not required to fall asleep, but they must rest quietly while the others are sleeping. Sleep mats are provided. Please bring a crib sheet and a blanket from home. These will be washed at the end of each week.
C. ACTIVITIES:
Children will learn a great deal from our daily fun activities. Theme learning helps a child repeat basic skills in a variety of ways. Reading books, crafts, singing and dancing, finger plays and group games are all typical activities that we would do each day. Children will play outside every day as long as the weather permits. A copy of our daily schedule and our weekly themes are posted. Our schedule is flexible and will be guided by the children.
Authorization must be provided for provider to take child outside the family child care property for walks and if transported by automobile.
D. DISCIPLINE:
Our goal is to help each child develop a strong sense of self-discipline and self-esteem. Redirection, verbal redirection and getting the child interested in another activity, is the strategy of choice. Consequences, including loss of privileges and ?time out? will be used when necessary. I will NOT use any form of corporal punishment, severe reprimands, or withholding of food.
A Discipline report will be sent home when these measures are not successful and parent/provider conferences may be necessary to rectify the problem.
E. SUPPLIES:
The following supplies should be clearly marked with the child?s name and left at the daycare home: a complete change of clothes and a sweater or jacket, diapers and wipes (if needed), formula and baby food (if needed), bottles and/or sippy cups (must be spill proof) and a swimsuit and towel in the summer. Notice will be sent home when more supplies are needed.
F. TOYS FROM HOME:
I ask that your child not bring toys from home, with the exception of a special toy needed for nap time. We may also have a ?movie day? in winter months where children can bring in their favorite video. Aside from this special event, television watching will be kept to a minimum (rarely ever!).
II. HEALTH CARE ISSUES:
A. ILLNESS:
Children will not be admitted (or will be sent home) if any of the following are present:
Fever of 101 degrees or higher, vomiting, diarrhea, contagious disease, or any discomfort that makes it unable for child to participate in the normal daily routine. Any and all signs of illness must be gone for 24 hours before child can return to child care. Child must be picked up immediately if any of these conditions occur while in care.
B. MEDICATION:
Medication will be administered ONLY with written authorization from the parent. Medication must be in original container with child?s name and dosage amount on the prescription label.
C. IMMUNIZATION RECORD:
An immunization record must be on file prior to attendance and must be updated annually, or as necessary for infants.
D. INJURY:
Parents will be notified immediately if your child is seriously injured, or at the end of the day if the injury is not serious. A written accident report will be given by the end of the next business day.
E. EMERGENCY CONTACT:
Parents must arrange to have a contact person that would be able to pick up the child in the event of an emergency. Parents are responsible for finding back up care in the event Friendship Station Family Child Care is unable to open.
III. FEES AND ATTENDANCE
A. FEES:
The fee for child care services will be _________ per week; payable on the Friday (or last day of scheduled care) the week PRIOR to services. This fee will be reviewed each year in July and provider will give a minimum of 30 days notice of any changes in fees.
Fees for additional days (for part time care) outlined on your proposal are valid until July 2003. Revised rates are available upon request after that period expires. Full time positions will receive priority over part time care.
The fee for late pick up of your child is $5.00 every fifteen minutes or part thereof, past the contracted pick up time. This charge is payable on the next child care day.
A late payment fee of $10.00 will be charged if payment is not received by Friday evening (of the week prior to care) and care will be suspended if payment is not received by Monday morning.
Cash must replace any returned checks within two days and a $35 fee will be charged. All future payments would be required in cash.
B. SECURITY/HOLDING DEPOSITS:
A deposit of one week?s fee is required to reserve a space that will be occupied within 30 days of signing this agreement. Deposit will be credited towards the child?s last week of care, provided a 2 week written notice of withdrawal is given. Deposit will be forfeited if notice is not given.
A space that is being held for more than 30 days, requires a deposit of one week?s fee, plus an additional fee of $ ________. ONLY one week?s fee is credited towards the child?s last week of care, the remainder of the deposit is considered NON REFUNDABLE.
At the termination of the agreement for care all required fees will be deducted from the security/holding deposit. Any remaining amount will be credited towards the last two weeks at Friendship Station Family Child Care.
C. TERMINATION:
If you decide to remove your child from Friendship Station Family Child Care I require a two week written notice. You are required to pay for these two weeks whether your child attends or not. If I decide I can no longer provide care for your family I will also provide you with a two week written notice. If violations of this agreement occur, you may be given immediate termination and all security/holding deposits will be forfeited.
Examples of why I would terminate your child?s care include (but are not limited to):
Failure of parents to pay fees.
Failure to complete and sign any required forms.
Lack of parental cooperation
Failure of child to adjust after a reasonable amount of time.
My inability to meet the child?s needs without additional staff.
Gross misconduct on the part of the parent or child.
D. REFUNDS:
No refunds will be given for days missed due to illness, holidays, etc. The tuition you pay reserves that space for your child. However, if Friendship Station must close due to my own illness or personal emergency, you may choose not to pay for that time. Please contact Friendship Station as soon as you know your child will be absent.
E. LEAVE OF ABSENCE/MATERNITY LEAVE:
If you will be taking your child out of care for a short leave of absence (such as your maternity leave for another child, etc.), half of your weekly payment is still required to hold that spot. Positions will not be held longer than 6 weeks and actual dates need to be communicated in writing. Position will be immediately forfeited if payment is not made.
F. VACATION:
Friendship Station Family Child Care will be closed one week per year for a paid vacation. Parents will be given a minimum 30 days notice of dates of vacation. Each family in care is entitled to one-week vacation without having to pay tuition. Any other vacation days would still require payment. Thirty-day notice MUST be given for family?s vacation or payment will be required. Family vacation can be used simultaneously with child care vacation for a tuition-free week.
G. PAID HOLIDAYS:
The parties agree that Provider will be paid for the following holidays in which Friendship Station is closed.
New Year?s Eve, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Halloween (close at 12:30pm), Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving (Friday), Christmas Eve, Christmas Day