Teeter-Tot In-Home Family Daycare

Policy Handbook

 

Hello, and Welcome to my daycare.  I am a Professional Child Care Provider, not a babysitter. My goal is to provide your child with a clean, safe, comfortable environment where they can play and learn with guidance and loving care while you are at work or attending school.

Why choose Home Daycare?

Home daycares have smaller groups of children to provide more attention to individual needs. Your child has all the comforts and security of a home setting. Children have a single, consistent caregiver and children may be exposed to fewer illnesses.

 

 

 

Forms you will receive at the time of registration:

 

Application and Policy Handbook

Welcome letter

Explanation of fees

 

Business Hours/Overtime

I provide childcare from Monday to Friday during your contracted working hours or attending full time school only. We will figure your hours plus fair commute time and this will become your "scheduled hours". Any changes to your schedule have to be discussed and re-scheduled based on my ability to meet your new need with my schedule.

Hours open: 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

 

FULL TIME HOURS/PART TIME HOURS EXPLANATIONS

 

At Teeter-Tot In-Home Daycare you are paying for a specific slot, NOT per hour or per day, so no discounts are given if your child does not come to care. Fees are expected to be paid whether or not your child/children attend daycare.

 

I am paid weekly. I expect full payment for all days and hours your child is normally scheduled to be here. 

Remember: 

 

  4 Hours equals 1 day

 

Full Time Care is 8 to 10 hours per day, Monday through Friday

 

Part time days = to 3 days per week

 

 

 

Hours exceeding Regular Hours equal 10 hours or more:

 

 $5.00 dollars extra per every half hour 

 

FEES/PAYMENT DUE ON: (NO EXCEPTIONS)

 

Payment must be received at the beginning of each week, or for your convenience you can pay on a daily basic Unless I am closed on Friday is due on my last open day for that week. If payment is not made by 6:30 pm on Friday evening, I reserve the right to charge you a $5.00 late fee per day (including weekend days) until payment is received.  Your child or children will not be allowed to return until tuition and late fees are paid in full.

 

Drop Off/Pick Up policies

 

To ensure the safety of your child, only you or the person listed on your pick sheet may pick up your child. Phoning me to let me know someone other than you will be picking up your child is fine if I know the person or your child can identify him or her.

Please do not allow your child to walk to the door by themselves at drop off. It is important to take a minute to walk them to the door and greet me. This gives us both the opportunity to discuss any schedule changes for the day or anything else.

At pick up, please do not let your child leave the house until you are leaving also. 
 

 

Cleanliness/Hygiene

We do our best to maintain strict cleanliness and hygiene standards. Children's hands are washed before and after meals, coming in from outside and after toileting. If these skills are stressed at home also your child may remain a good hand‑washer when he/she gets older. Please have your child bathed and dressed for play. A clean child is a healthy child.
Infants sleep in separate cribs/Play‑Pens with clean blankets, used only by them. Beginning at toddler age washable nap mats or couches are used. Each child has a separate nap mat with blankets. These are washed weekly (unless soiled, then they are washed as often as necessary). Toys are sanitized with a bleach solution once a week (Fridays).

 

• Child Abuse/NeglectIt is law and also my responsibility as a childcare provider to report any and all abuse or neglect performed on a child. I cannot turn my head on a child that has been abused or neglected. Therefore, I will notify Children's Protective Services and the Police Department when it appears that a child in my care is being physically, sexually, or emotionally abused, neglected, or exploited. Parents are responsible for supplying:· Bottles, Formula, Baby Food· Diapers & Wipes· A full change of clothing· Any other supplies your child may need.   Sippy Cups.

 

 All personal belongings should be marked with child's name. It is not necessary to bring eating utensils or dishes as they will be supplied. 
 

Toys

I provide a wide variety of playthings. I ask that no toys be brought to daycare from home. Anything brought will be put up safely until the child is picked up. This policy is for the concern of all children in my care. Often times children have a hard time sharing the toys they bring from home. 

 

 

Meals & Snacks. PARENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BRING THEIR CHILD/CHILDREN NUTRITIONAL MEALS/SNACKS/ if the child will be arriving after mealtime please feed them before they arrive. Breakfast foods and condiments must be supplied by the parent if you choose for your child to have breakfast here. Children arriving after 8 A.M. must eat breakfast at home before arriving.

If your child requires a special diet due to allergies, medications, age and/or cultural or religious beliefs it will be the responsibility of the parent to provide a well balanced lunch and snack for their child. No junk food, pop, gum etc.

 

Child Illness

Under no circumstances should you bring your child to care sick (fever of 100°f or higher, vomiting, diarrhea not contained in a diaper, sore throat, continuous coughing, runny nose other than clear, draining eyes or ears, unexplained rash, lice, etc.) If you are not sure your child is well enough to attend child care call and discuss it with me. 
Masking your child’s symptoms with over‑the‑counter medications and bringing them to care anyway is not allowed and could be cause for immediate termination. It is also inconsiderate to all families involved.

 

A sick child should be allowed to recuperate fully at home after an illness so that the other children and the provider do not risk unnecessary exposure.

If you are unable to stay home with your sick child it will be necessary for you to make arrangements at your own expense. If your child is out ill regular fees still apply. 
Your child may be brought to care if they have a common cold (which means a slight cough, clear runny nose, sneezing); however I will call you if your child is just plain miserable (whining, crying, repeatedly asking for you). Your child should not attend if they are not feeling well enough to participate in our daily activities (i.e. a child wanting to sleep all day, lay on the couch and watch TV etc.)

 

If I have to call a parent to pick up a child that has been dropped off for care too ill to participate in the day the child will also be required to stay at home the following day. Your child may return to care 24 hours AFTER symptoms of illness end. Which means if your child is sent home with a fever, diarrhea, or vomiting they cannot return until they have been symptom free for 24 hours without the aid of medications. I am responsible for the health and well being of many children so I will closely follow health department regulations when it comes to illness. I understand and respect your need to be at work, but your cooperation is extremely important on this.

Medication

If your child is on antibiotics he/she continues to be contagious for 24 hours after the first dose of medication and can not return to childcare until this time period has passed.
 

Child care regulations prohibit me from giving your child medication of any kind unless you have filled out and signed Permission to Administer Form. All medication must be in the original, labeled container. Blank permission to administer medication forms are kept in your family connection folder.

Medical Emergencies

Minor bumps and scrapes are inevitable, but I make every effort to keep your children safe through supervision and childproofing. Minor injuries will receive appropriate first aid, and if an emergency injury or illness occurs, you will be contacted immediately. If I am unable contact either parent, I will call the emergency contact numbers supplied to me to make the medical decisions for the child. If necessary your child will be transported by ambulance to the nearest hospital. Parents are responsible for costs involved in emergency medical treatment, including transportation if required. 

 

Naps and Quiet Times

All children will be required to lie down for a nap/quiet time each day. I will not force your child to sleep but they must lie down quietly. This is my “coffee break” during the day, my time to re-charge, plan programming and do paperwork.

Damages
It is expected that your child be respectful of my personal property and furnishings. A certain amount of wear and tear” is normal, but if your child intentionally damages my property through destructive behavior or roughness, you will be liable for 100% of the replacement costs. This reimbursement is due with your next monthly payment. 

 

Potty Training

I will assist in potty training with the understanding that it will only work if we work together. Your child will not learn if they do not do it while in my care and at home. You must work with your child at home, either during vacation or over a weekend before I will begin potty training here. Clothing should be easy to manage to encourage self‑help skills. Buckles, belts, overalls and suspenders when in a hurry to use the bathroom may create a problem. I also require that each potty training child have 6 changes of training pants (for sanitary reasons I require plastic pants to go over underwear or training pants) or pull ups. Extra changes of clothing are also necessary, including socks. 

 

Termination

 

The first two weeks of childcare are to be an adjustment period. It is my responsibility to let the parent know if the child seems unhappy or the arrangement is unsatisfactory for any other reason. It is the parent’s responsibility to let me know the same. The parent or myself can terminate the contract anytime during the adjustment period in writing on or before the 14th day after care starts.
I will provide the parents with one month’s written notice if I am no longer able to care for your child.

 

I will terminate our child care arrangements immediately for any of the following reasons (but not solely limited to): 

· Failure to comply with the policies set forth in this book.
· Failure to comply with the contract.
· Destructive or hurtful behavior of child that persists even with parent cooperation in stopping the behavior. 
· Non-Payment of childcare fees or late and/or recurring late payment of fees.
· Failure to show up for 5 days in a row without any communication.
· Failure to complete required forms. 
 

 

Policy Handbook Contract

The following contract pertains to the policies set forth in the Parent Policy Handbook governed by the Family Child Care Home. It is the Parent's responsibility to read the Policy Handbook completely before signing and it is the Parent's responsibility to abide by all the policies stipulated in the Policy Handbook. This is a legal and binding Contract and signing it obligates you to this Contract legally. 

 

I (the parent) hereby acknowledge that I (the Parent) am aware of the conditions stated in the Family Child Care Home’s Policy Handbook, and agree to abide by the above signed policies and requirements in conjunction with the financial agreement and the Agreement for Child Care Services.

 

Parent full name_______________________ Parent signature_________________________

 

Parent full name_______________________ Parent signature_________________________

 

 

Child care provider’s signature_____________________________