| Dear Parents,
Welcome to Kelly's Kiddy Kare. We are a small Family Day Care home. We are different than a Day Care Center because we limit the number of children that are enrolled. By staying small we are able to provide the quality care and nurturing atmosphere that your child deserves. Kelly's Kiddy Kare is not a preschool, but we do offer an informal theme based preschool program. Children participate in a full range of activities such as free play, cooking, outside play, stories, dramatic play, creative art, crafts, music, and much more. Please read this handbook thoroughly, it covers very important policies and procedures that pertain to the care of your child and family. Thank you for your interest in kelly's Kiddy Kare and please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or if you need clarification on any of the policies in this handbook. Before you leave your child the first day, it is wise to make a visit with the child during my regular day care hours (mornings are best, since quiet time is in the afternoon). This way your child gets to see what happens in day care and it gives him/her a chance to meet the other children and me. This visit is a good time to bring the supplies that will be left at day care and the necessary paperwork for admission. If you or your child is very uneasy aobut day care, at least two visits are recommended: the first during my off hours when your child will not be overwhelmed by the other children and the noise, and will have all the toys available to him/herself. During this time I will be able to give your child undivided attention. The second visit could be during regular day care hours. I can also give you some ideas on what you can do to make the transition as easy as possible for you and your child. Again, welcome toKellys Kiddy Kare , I look forward to getting to know you and your child! Sincerely, Kelly Sievert/ Dawn Burke Providers |
| Policy Summary
Kelly's Kiddy Kare Policies Philosophy I believe that all children should be given the opportunity to grow in a safe and nurturing environment. I believe self-esteem is the critical component to optimal growth in every young child, that is why I focus on socialization, self-help skills, and cooperation. I give every child the opportunity to explore, experiment and create at their own pace in a healthy environment and within the community we live. My objective is not only to provide a happy safe place for children, but to encourage social skills and broaden their educational horizons. Overview of Program An average day spent at my day care consists of supervised free play and weekly structured activity time. An opportunity for crafts with different textures and mediums will be given to each child within the realm of their abilities. Crayons, paints, markers and pencils are on hand and used with supervision to encourage creativity. Numbers and letters are taught with a fun and games concept. Games, stories, song and dance are utilized every day. The use of our local and Public Libraries, as-well-as our own collection of books, are used to promote early reading habits. We have a story time every day here . We will schedule field trips through out the year to aid in our learning. Educational videos and Disney movies , appropriate for children are shown occasionally. Television viewing is kept to a minimum, and when it is used, it is limited to selected Public Television programming and age appropriate programs. I supply all necessary equipment for infants such as walker, swings, seats, high chair, changing table. You will supply, powder and wipes and diapers. Older children will be supplied with their own sleeping mat You will supply mat cover and blanket. My selection of toys consists of a selection of blocks, puzzles, games, many manipulatives, play sets for all age groups, infant toys, dolls, dress-up clothes, trucks, trains and cars, dinosaurs of all sizes, musical toys and computerized educational learning toys. The older children have access to a computer for limited computer time. Art supplies include, paint, stencils, glue, scissors, crayons, pencils, markers, paper, misc. craft material, recycled items and bric-a-brac. The specific interests of each child will not go unrecognized. I believe you will find my Day Care Home is a happy, safe and nurturing place for children of all ages. Each child will receive love, individual attention and lots of encouragement and self assurance in an atmosphere that is above all respectful of their needs. I have an "Open door" policy, which means I welcome visits Kelly's Kiddy Kare at any time during my working hours, keeping in mind of our nap time and we ask that you knock lightly as to not awaken the sleeping babies as their schedule's may be differnet from child to child. Please feel free to ask about anything that may concern your child or your Child Care Services, and I will do my best to help you in any way that I can. If you are considering Kelly's Kiddy Kare, and have any questions, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or call me at 215-437-1596 to set up an appointment to meet or visit my program, you can also visit my web site at http://geocities.com/kellyskiddykare/ Nondiscrimination Kelly's Kiddy Kare does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion or national origin. Hours of Operation and Fees My Day Care is open 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday. Additional hours of care are available, evening hours weekends, and over night care also available.We also provide care if parents have a prior arrangements and need care for their hild/children. Enrollment consists of a parent/provider interview & visit to the program, a signed contract stating hours, rates, holiday closures, etc., and all necessary forms & permissions, signed and dated for the child�s personal file. A one week deposit is due prior to start date, weekly fee is due on the Friday the week before care is given, and a two week notice is required prior to ending date unless waived by provider. Paid Holidays The following are paid holidays when they fall on a day regularly scheduled for care and one in which you have contracted for: New Year's Day Martin Luther King, jr. Day President's Day Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veteran's Day Thanksgiving Day Day After Thanksgiving Christmas Eve Christmas Day I also may schedule up to 1 week personal time per year and the proper nitification will be given to parents. Admission and Enrollment The following forms are required and need to be completed prior to the child's first day: ~Parent and Provider Contract ~Parent and Provider Policies ~Basic Enrollment Form ~Child Information Form ~Medical Report ~Child Release Form ~Medical Treatment Consent ~Permission Forms Basic Rates Rates are currently as follows, these may change yearly due to cost of living. Parent will be notified prior to yearly review and updates. Full Time (up to 9 hours per day) $150.00 per week if we provide meals Part Time (under 5 hours per day) $75.00 per week Hourly Before/After School - $5.00 per hour A $25.00 deposit that will be put to your first week of care will be due prior to your start date. The deposit will not be refunded if you chose to not use our care. Payments Payment is due on the Friday before your care week. If payment is not received by Friday then a late fee of $1.00 per day will be charged beginning on Saturday. If payment is not received by the following Friday evening, then the provider will not allow the child back into care, unless accepted payment arrangements have been made. Payments will be made in the form of cash. At the end of each year, I will NOT provide you with a proper tax form showing the full amount of all charges for that calendar year as my services are NOT tax deductable Early Drop Off & Late Pick Up - Over Time Rates If the parent arrives earlier or later than their contracted time without prior notice and approval from the provider, the following rate will be charged: $3.00 per every 15 minutes of care. If the parent makes arrangement for additional overtime hours, an additional fee will be charged according to the rates listed above. Additional Fees Should it become necessary to go to court over nonpayment of fees owed for services provided, court and attorney fees will be added on to your bill. Inclement Weather In event of severe weather such as snow storms, sever rain storms, etc., when the city/town declares a severe weather emergency, closes schools and businesses and when self employed parents close their businesses early, etc., I will expect to by notified by the parents of all children in my care of their situation and confirm drop-off and pickup times. If the parent is leaving work early, I will highly recommend pickup of their child. If a parent must continue to work the day, day care will remain open for their child even if this requires the child staying overnight at daycare. Additional fees for this will be applied to the bill at the end of the week and arrangements can be made for the payment if this wereto happen. If school has been closed, yet businesses are open and a parent must work, I will still be available for care, however if a parent chooses not to go to work, because of inclement weather, I would highly recommend them keeping their child home also, instead of putting the child at risk by trying to get them to and from day care. In the event of school closure due to inclement weather, school age children will be able to attend full day upon availability of space. All necessary adjustment of daily fees will be due with the next weeks payment. The daily fee will still be charged for these days, however, any early or late charges will be waived to allow for safe travel. Written Notice Upon signing the Enrollment Contract, it is noted that Parent/Child/Provider will be given a trial period of two weeks. During this time either parent or provider has the opportunity to give notice to discontinue care at any given time due to reasons such as nonpayment, inconsistent drop off/pickup times, child's inability to adapt to program, provider's inability to adapt to child, child's behavior toward other children, etc. If I feel that the requirements of the contract are not being met or if there is a conflict in caring for a child I may choose to terminate the contract. I will give families a minimum of a Two Week Notice and assist in any way I can to help families find new childcare. After the two week trial period, either parent or provider may terminate the contract by giving two weeks written notice in advance of the ending date. Payment by parent is due for the notice period whether or not the child is brought to the provider for care. Provider my terminate contract without giving any notice if the parent does not make weekly payments when due. By signing the contract, parents agree to abide by the written policies of the provider. The provider may amend the policies years and agrees to provide the parents a copy of the new or changed contract at least two weeks before the annual review date. If the parent is in need of changing the contract, a request in writing to the provider will be needed prior to the change. The changes will not go into affect without written approval back to the parent from the provider and a new contract must be completed with changes and signed by both parties. This is especially important if hours of care or days of care changes are needed to the fact that the provider might not be able to accommodate these changes due to current enrollment. Child Pick Up Your child will only be released to those you have listed as pickup people, and will only be released to those people with written or verbal notification directly from you. Program Policies Kelly;s Kiddy Kare program is varied in order to promote the educational, social, cultural, emotional and recreational development appropriate to the ages and developmental levels of all the children enrolled. The program will provide for experiences that are designed to influence a positive concept of self, recognizing that a child is a member of a family as well as a community. Each child will be provided with a sufficient quantity and variety of materials and play equipment appropriate to the age of the child and developmental level and interests. Such materials and play equipment may include: books, paints, crayons, safety scissors, paper, blocks, puzzles, toys, games, balls, and riding toys. Daily supervised outdoor play is required for all children in care, except during inclement weather or unless otherwise ordered by a physician. Appropriate rest and quiet periods will be provided in accordance with individual and group needs, when a child can sit quietly or lie down and rest. For children unable to sleep, time and space will be provided for quiet time. Each child will be provided with his/her own crib or mat with bedding, depending on age. To ensure optimal health and welfare of the child, the parents will be given the opportunity to discuss issues related to their children and care of their children with the provider. Such opportunities will occur at the time the child enters care, there after upon arrival, if needed in the evening hours after day care has ended, or at the time of the annual renewal of the contract. Behavior Management and Discipline Policy Discipline provides an opportunity to enable a child to develop self-control. When a child is having a difficult time following directions or treating others or property with respect, developmentally appropriate guidance techniques will be used. These techniques are as follows: ~Providing an example for children by speaking and interacting with them in a positive manner. ~Rewarding acceptable behavior. ~Redirecting a child to an alternate activity. ~Brief separation from the group. (This technique will only be used when a child's behavior harms or is likely to result in harm to the child, others or property.) Mandated Reporter In accordance with the Pennsylvania State Social Services Laws, I am a mandated reporter, I must report any suspected incidents of child abuse or maltreatment concerning a child in my care to the Department of Social Services. Safety Precautions Kelly's Kiddy Kare will conduct monthly fire drills during the hours of operation and a written plan for the emergency evacuation of children from the premises will be posted on each level of the home. Meals and Snacks Since food and nutrition are important components of a child's development, this program emphasizes fresh and natural foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, homemade soups, and who grain breads, etc. The provider will provide a well-balanced breakfast,morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and evening snack if they attend after hour care. If a child has a particular dietary need, substantiated by a medical evaluation, I must be informed and given a doctor's note. Children with food allergies will be accommodated with substitute foods and beverages. Each child will be encouraged to try new foods and will enjoy the variety provided to them in each weeks menu. They will be given the choice to participate in food preparation during the different meal times and nutritional activities. Illness Policy The parents agree to notify the provider of a child's illness or suspected illness and to make alternate arrangements for care if the child shows any of the following symptoms: Fever over 100 degrees, diarrhea, vomiting, eye discharge or pinkeye, a draining rash, lice or nits, severe cough or soar throat, a contagious illness without medication for at lease 24 hours, or when the provider feels the child is too ill to be in care and is causing disruption to others in care. The provider will notify the parent if the child shows any of the above symptoms while in care and the parent will pick up the child when requested by the provider or make alternate arrangements for the child to be picked up by an authorized person other than the parent.. Medical Emergencies In the event of a life-threatening medical emergency, the provider will call 911 and then the parents. If the parents cannot be reached, the provider will then call the person listed as the emergency pickup. Please be sure to inform and confirm anyone that you have listed that they will be able to meet this need. Medications Medication may be administered under the following conditions: ~Consent: Written consent is required to administer any medication. ~Prescription Medication may only be given upon written order of a physician stating that the provider may administer such medication and accompanied by written instructions from the parent. All prescription medication must be in its original container and properly labeled. ~Non-Prescription Medication may be given on an infrequent, non-routine basis under written instructions from the parent. If a child develops symptoms which indicate a need for nonprescription medication while in care at the provider's home, such medications may be given under oral instructions from the parent for that day only. ~Topical ointments may be applied as needed for protection again the sun or diaper rash under written parental instructions. Children's Supplies Parent's are required to supply the following items, which are necessary for the proper care of your child: ~Backpack/Diaper Bag with one or two sets of clothing. ~Appropriate outside wear (boots, gloves, hats, etc.) ~A blanket which will be given to the child during nap/quiet time. ~Diapers or Training Pants ~ The first day of each month each parent will provide baby wipes. ~Supstitute Food if costly. (such as special milk etc) ~Necessary medication (when applicable). *Please note.... We go outside every day � children need to be dressed accordingly. Also we often do messy activities and clothes can get dirty. Communication The purpose of these policies is to keep misunderstandings from happening. I hope it provides parents with a clear picture of the expectations I have for them and that they may have for me. If at any time a parent has a question concerning any policy or practice, I urge them to talk to me about it immediately. Communication between parents and providers I think is the key to each child getting the best care possible. The care your child deserves! Summary All children enrolled under my care are treated with love and respect and provided with the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of activities according to their ability and interests. My objective is to provide for your child a safe clean environment where he/she can learn and grow in a positive and loving atmosphere, a place in which each child will feel he/she is loved and valued for his/her individual uniqueness. |
 |
| Cover Letter |
| Policy Summary |
 |
|
|
| Main Page |
| Infant/Toddler Forms |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
| Rates and openings |
| House Rules and Permission Forms |