Pumpkin Patch Daycare Handbook
Please
read this 2014 handbook thoroughly, as it covers very important policies and
procedures that not only govern our childcare contract agreement, but also
pertain to the care of your child. There
may seem to be a lot of information, if you have any questions regarding my policies,
please do not hesitate to ask. This copy
is for you to keep and reference back to.
There will be a yearly revision to this handbook and the accompanying
contract. All families will sign a new
contract each year. I reserve the right
to make changes to the policies and procedures, as I deem necessary. You will be notified, in writing, of any
changes that may occur.
DEAR PARENTS,
What I as a provider should expect
from you, the parents: Open communication. Explain
clearly and carefully your wishes and expectations about how your child will be
cared for. Also provide updates on
problems and progress that your child is making. Good communication
helps us work together in the best interest of your child. If a child is changing their nap or food
habits please mention it to Pumpkin Patch DC so
we can better meet the needs of your child.
Agreement on Terms of Arrangements:
You should fully understand the terms of the contract and
the policies and procedures that you as the parent are agreeing to, always feel
free to ask questions.
Honesty & Trust:
This includes being honest about how you believe the
arrangement is working. Although you
need to be vigilant in order to safeguard your child, you should trust me as
your childcare provider to do the best for your child. Show your trust by asking questions rather
than jumping to conclusions when apparent problems develop.
Pick up on time:
I, as your provider, have a personal life too. No trip to the grocery store etc on your way
here without prior notice, just because you find it more convenient. Ultimately the care of your child is your
responsibility.
Respect:
Realize that taking care of children is a job and that
not only am I a worker, but also a working parent. Recognize that this is not an easy job, I am
not ‘just a baby-sitter.’ Last, but not
least, I am only human; I am not ‘superwoman,’ please do not expect me to do
things that you yourself would not do.
Philosophy:
We believe a child’s early experiences enrich and
stimulate future growth. Children
deserve to be treated and respected as individuals in an environment that
welcomes reason, exploration, question, and imagination. We respect each child’s need for love,
security, acceptance, warmth, and stimulation.
Goals:
While in my care your child will have the opportunity to
participate in activities which promote all aspects of development. Family childcare provides for children the
comfort and experience of belonging to an extended family. I provide a home like setting; therefore, do
not follow a strict routine. My approach
to childcare is child centered and child directed. Children are offered choices whenever possible.
ABOUT ME AND MY FAMILY: My husband, Jason, and I
have been married for 11+ years and have four children. Ada Grace and Ethan were born in 2006; Emi
and Anya were born in 2011. I have been caring for children since my
young teen years. First, as a babysitter
and then as a church nursery worker.
When I was a Freshman in high school, I directed my first of 5
children’s theaters at the local Opera House which put 40 children between the
1st & 8th grade in my care for 2 ½ hours 5 days a
week. As a senior in high school I
worked with the youth in my church and did this through college as well. After Jason and I were married I started
doing childcare out of our home and did so until we moved to Spearfish. Shortly
after moving here our daughter was born and so I decided to take a break, three
months later our son came into our lives.
Pumpkin Patch Daycare opened on October 28th,
2008. We also are licensed foster
parents and so will occasionally have extra little ones living in our home.
Capacity:
We work hard to not schedule more than 12 children at the same time, but
with schedule changes it does happen occasionally. We do have two families with 5 total children
that have chosen Pumpkin Patch DC as their back up to be used
when the regular provider is closed. I
will inform parents of this when I know in advance.
Hours of Operation:
Pumpkin Patch DC is
open from 7:00 AM until 5:15 PM Monday through Friday. Please have children
picked up at 5:15 PM. Hours of care will
be contracted from child to child. No
childcare will be provided on Saturday or Sunday or on the following holidays:
New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day,
Good Friday, Memorial Day*, Independence Day (4th of July)*, Labor
Day*, Thanksgiving & the day after, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & the
day after Christmas.
*Memorial
Day, Independence Day, & Labor Day are paid holidays for Pumpkin Patch
DC if that fall on a
contracted day for your child.
-If a
listed holiday happens to fall on Saturday Pumpkin Patch DC
will be closed the Friday before and if the holiday fall on a Sunday we will be
closed that Monday. In addition, Pumpkin Patch
DC may close for 1 week (5 days) of paid vacation per year and 10 personal
days (no charge) per year. Notifications
of AT LEAST 2 weeks will be given prior to any closed days, with the exception
of emergencies or illness. Please have a
back up provider for these occasions. Pumpkin Patch
DC is not responsible for finding alternate care for your child.
-Maternity leave.
Should we be blessed with another successful pregnancy my maternity
leave will be 2 weeks from the time I come home from the hospital, 3 weeks if I
have to have a C-section.
Payment Procedures:
Rates Per Child:
Birth
~ 11 months
Part
Time: $2.75/hr Full Time: $2.25/hr
12
months ~ 23 Months
Part
Time: $3.00/hr Full Time:
$2.50/hr
24
Months & Up
Part
Time: $3.25/hr Full Time:
$2.75/hr
Drop
Ins & After Hours (late pick ups): $4.00/hr with a minimum of
$20.00 a day per child.
Fees: *Fees are put in place for a reason and no
fee will be waived or overlooked.
Enrollment Fee:
A fee of $50 is due upon enrollment. This is due on or before the first day of
care. The enrollment fee is put
toward buying of new toys or general needs of Pumpkin Patch DC.
Deposit:
The deposit is $75 and is to be applied to the first week
of the sixth month of childcare, after 6 months of reputable payment for
care. This is nonrefundable before the 6
month time frame. THIS
IS DUE on or before the first day of care.
No Show Fee:
$25.00 (per child) assessed if child is not brought as
arranged without notice in addition
to the regular contracted rate.
Late Payment Fee:
$30 per week that the payment is late.
Returned Check Fee:
$35.00 and additional costs incurred, along with my late
fee if a check is returned to provider. There after payments will need to be in cash.
No Payment:
You will be liable for cost fees, late fees, and any cost
for loss of wages if there is a small claims case.
Snow Days:
If the Spearfish school is closed, Pumpkin Patch DC will also be closed and
there will be no charge for that day.
Information about snow days will be sent out by text and on FaceBook
page.
Definitions:
Full Time:
Childcare contracted on a set scheduled time slot
equaling 31+ hours per week. *If
regularly scheduled full time child falls below the 31 hours per week, the part
time rate will be applied to that week.
Unless it is due to holiday or emergency daycare closures.
Part Time: Childcare contracted on a
set schedule time slot of 30 hours or less per week. PT childcare occupies a FT position, should a
potential client need a full time position, termination notice may be given to
a PT child with the option of paying the minimum 30 hours per week at the FT
rate to preserve the child’s slot. Daycare
can only be guaranteed to children that attend full time, or part time children
that pay for a full time slot.
Open Door:
You are invited and welcome to visit Pumpkin Patch DC anytime your children are
present. You are asked to avoid visiting
during rest time (1-3 PM) as much as possible.
Please knock first, but if no answer feel free to walk in. Parents are also free to call Pumpkin Patch DC at any time. If I do not answer the phone, please leave a
message and I will call you as soon as we are finished with the current
activity. Texting is always welcome!
Matters of Money:
All payments are due by 5:15 PM on Friday for the following week. After 5:15 PM, the late fee will be
assessed. If
payment is not made within 3 days at drop off, your child will not be accepted
into care until payment, including all late fees. If a period of 2 weeks pass without payment
received, the contract will be terminated, the position filled, and the
collection process begun. You will be
responsible for any costs related to collection of the childcare fee. These costs will include, but is not limited
to; late fees, days of lost wages, cost fees and my childcare fees. Cash or check is accepted and a year-end
statement of all childcare costs will be provided within the first month of the
New Year. A fee of $35.00 plus any
additional costs I incur, along with my late fee will be charged to you for a
returned check. All future payments will
then be required to be made by cash.
Childcare fees are due regardless of whether or not your child
attends. You are paying for a position,
as well as a service. No refunds are given for late arrivals or
early departures. All childcare
services will be contracted.
The contract is a legal document
obligating me to provide a service for you and obligating you to pay me for
that service. There are other
requirements in the contract. I urge you
to thoroughly read the contract/handbook and realize that it is legal and you
will be held liable for each item of the contract. By signing it, you are accepting it and all its
terms. An enrollment fee will be
payable upon enrollment in
Pumpkin
Patch DC. A deposit fee is also due before
starting care. This deposit will be
applied to the first week of the sixth month of childcare, after the first six
months of reputable payments for services.
This fee is nonrefundable before the six month time. Payment
of half the weekly rate will be charged for maternity leave to hold the
position (this is for part time and full time clients.) A position at Pumpkin Patch DC will be considered open until the enrollment,
deposit, and first weeks’ fees are received.
If care is to start more than 2 weeks in the future, a fee in the amount
of 50% of the regular rate must then be paid weekly or the position will not be
held open. This fee is non
refundable.
Daily Doing:
Drop Off/Pick UP:
I assume responsibility for your child only while he/she
is on my property. No child will be
allowed to leave with anyone except the parent, unless indicated on the
alternate pick up list, without written permission from the parent. Telephone permission will not do! Anyone unfamiliar to me will be required to
show proof of identification. Please
make sure the alternate person is aware of the requirements.
It is normal for your child to
cry on arrival, especially for the first while. Please make your good-bye brief and tell your
child exactly when you will be returning.
The crying usually stops within minutes of your departure. Never leave without telling your child
good-bye!!! Please be in control of your
child during drop off and pick up times.
This is a time of testing when two different authority figures are
present (parent and provider) and this situation will be tested at one time or
another to see if the rules still apply.
I will remind your child if inappropriate behaviors are being
displayed. But ultimately the parents
are responsible for raising your child.
Children of all ages adjust to transitions from one activity to another
differently. Most do not like to be too
rushed and most do not like to wait too long once they are ready to
depart. If the person picking up the
child appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, another authorized
person will be called to pick up both the child and the adult.
Court Order:
If there is a court order keeping one parent or guardian
away from the child, I must have a copy of the order. Otherwise, I cannot prevent the non-custodial
parents from picking up the child.
Sick/Vacation Days:
In the event that your child is ill and needs to miss a
day, call/text/FaceBook/email at least 1 hour before your arrival time and no
charge will be incurred. If NO notice is
given you will be charged the
No Show Fee in addition to the normal daily rate. Parent agrees to provide 2 weeks notice prior
to any vacation time. Each child
received one week (5 days) of vacation at no charge a year, one week (5 days)
of ½ of the cost of care, and after those 2 weeks (10 days) you will be
required to pay full price to hold your position. –This is for part time and
full time clients.
Television: Most of what will be on the TV are Signing
Time DVDs, sing alongs,, etc. Children
are NEVER required to sit and watch, and TV is not offered in place of free
play or learning activities. Examples of
television shows allowed, but may not be limited to: Dora, Diego, Mickey Mouse
Club, Handy Manny, Imagination Movers, etc.
There is an occasional time that a movie would be allowed. Examples of movies we would watch include,
but are not limited to: Finding Nemo, Milo & Ottis, Cinderella, Toy Story, Sleeping
Beauty, etc.
Guidance (also known as discipline): No child will be hit, abused, or otherwise
intimidated at Pumpkin Patch
DC . Children will be treated with courtesy,
respect, and patience. Guidance will be
according to age and understanding level.
Younger children will be redirected to another activity. Older children will be given time outs depending
on the severity of the offense. (Almost
always 1 minute per year of age, never to be more than 15 minutes.) If a child becomes a persistent behavior
problem, I will address it with you and we will try to resolve it together.
AT NO TIME WILL A CHILD BE SUBJECTED TO PHYSICAL HARM OR SHAMING,
FRIGHTENING OR HUMILIATING METHODS BE USED, OR ANY TYPE OF VERBAL ABUSE,
THREATS, DEROGATORY REMARKS, OR DEPRIVED OF A MAIN MEAL.
Meals: I provide nutritionally balanced meals and
snacks for your child. As of 2014 I will no longer be providing
milk for children, if you would like for your child to receive milk please
bring it for them when you drop them off for the day. If a child arrives after a meal or snack has
been served, he/she will wait until the next time to eat. Meals and snacks are served family style and
children are encouraged to use this time to share their experiences with each
other. Manners are taught, and practiced
during this time as well. Please list on
the medical report any food allergies your child may have.
If your child needs a special
diet, you must furnish these foods or extra fees may be applied to cover the
cost of special foods.
Breakfast is
at 7:30 AM, Lunch is served between 11:15 & 11:30 AM, and an afternoon
snack is served around 4 PM.
Activities:
Age appropriate activities are scheduled with flexibility
allowed to respond to the needs of the individual child and day. I will offer times for outside play
(seasonal), story time, free play, instruction, and naps. I will provide your child with tender loving
care, understand, patience, and guidance in a happy family setting. Free play is an important part of a child’s
early years. It is here that they learn
social skills that will be needed the rest of their lives. Chores, such as picking up, putting the
dishes in the dishwasher, laundry will likely be a part of my day.
House Rules:
1) No hitting, biting, pinching, throwing, pushing, hair
pulling, or otherwise harming ourselves or others. 2) No intentionally breaking anything. 3) No running, jumping, wrestling, climbing,
etc. in the house or on the furniture.
4) No leaving the house or yard without permission (no one is allowed
out front without adult supervision, even when parents are here.) 5) No picking up babies or toddlers. 6) No name-calling, yelling, foul language, potty
mouth or teasing ~ everyone deserves to be treated with respect. 7) All food and drink will remain in the daycare
area, those with sippie cups or leak proof water bottles are allowed in play
area. 8) No lying!
Dress Code:
Please dress your child appropriately. Weather permitting, we will spend time
outdoors. You also need to supply a
complete change of clothing in case of an accident; I do not supply clothing,
if the child has no spare clothing, the parents will be called to bring him/her
home.
Water Play:
I have a sprinkler & small wading pool for summer
water play. You will need to sign
permission slips before your child is
allowed to use them. A swimsuit &
swim diaper (if applicable) are requested to be left here.
Toys:
Please do NOT send
any toys from home with your child, they tend to cause
problems with the other children that do not have ‘special toys.’ THIS RULE WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED, TOYS
BROUGHT IN TO DAYCARE WILL BE SENT HOME WITH PARENTS. If your child needs a
special stuffed animal or blanket for sleeping, it will be allowed, but it will
remain put away until Rest Time. Pumpkin Patch DC assumes NO responsibility
for lost, stolen, or broken toys from home.
Should the child deliberately destroy my toys or other property through
misuse or willfulness, the parent will be required to pay to replace it.
Rest Period:
All children will have a rest period. No child is forced to sleep, however they
must partake in quiet time. Older
children can bring books or a quiet activity from home that they can do on
their rest mat/bed until Rest Time is over; these books/activities should be
brought in a bag or backpack so they can be stored until rest time. Please try not to schedule pickups or visits
during this time (1 – 3) to lessen disturbance to the resting children. All children will rest on their mats or in a
crib/pack n play.
Potty Training: I will assist you
in potty training your child with the understanding that it will only be
successful if we work together. You will
be required to provide pull-ups. Under
no circumstances will your child be allowed to train in regular underwear for
sanitary reasons! They are not allowed in panties/underwear until they are able to tell me they need to go potty
and keep their pull-up dry for a week at the Patch. Send your child ONLY in easy on/easy off
clothing until they are able to completely dress and undress themselves. I require at least 3 complete changes of
clothing during potty training. I do not
launder soiled items and will send them home in a plastic bag. Please replace any clothing sent home on the
next day. Please know that while they
may be doing well at home, at daycare there are several distractions that may
hinder how well they do here. Pull-ups
are required until they can tell me they need to go potty on their own! Further, if within 2-3 weeks your child shows
no signs of progress, I reserve the right to put your child back in diapers and
tray again at a later date. At the Patch we use ‘tinkle & stinky’ in
reference to potty.
Transportation:
At times it may be necessary for me to transport your
child by car. A permission form is
provided upon enrollment. All traffic
and safety laws will be followed. No
child will ever be left unattended in a vehicle. The only time we may leave without notice is
in the case of an emergency, in which a note will be placed on the door leaving
instructions where the children can be found.
Unless it is an emergency, you will always be notified prior to any
outing from Pumpkin Patch
DC by
vehicle and reserve the right to refuse.
If I do not have your permission to transport your child, you are
expected to pick up your child immediately and make alternate childcare
arrangements for that day. There will be
times that we take walks to the park or just around, those days there will be a
note on the door stating what time we left and what we are up to.
Holidays/Birthday:
We honor major holidays.
If you would like to bring a special treat (no homemade treats without recipe included) for
the children, please bring enough for everyone.
You are more than welcome to participate in ANY activities we have
planned.
House Cleaning:
My house is not always clutter free, but it is sanitary. My main concern is to care for the
children. I clean my house during Rest
Time, if all are asleep, and during non-business hours. The children will clean up toys before meals
and before going home. Since Pumpkin Patch DC is out of my home, there is
a possibility that laundry, putting dishes in the dishwasher, and picking up
will be a part of any given day.
Confidentiality:
The information you supply to Pumpkin Patch DC will be kept confidential. I will at all times respect your
privacy. Before any of the information
is released to outside persons, the parents will sign a release form.
Changes to Policies:
Changes may be made to these policies as needed with 2
weeks notice. The policies, contracts,
consents, and forms will be reviewed and updated, if needed, yearly in
January. Please give written notice of
any changes that may occur, especially of name, address, phone number, or
updated immunizations.
Emergencies:
Fire:
There is one extinguisher located in the kitchen and one
in the laundry room. If there is a fire
that cannot be extinguished quickly, the children will be evacuated immediately
before calling 911.
Tornado:
In the event of a tornado warning, the children will
gather either in the bathroom or under the stairs in my bedroom closet. We will remain there until the inclement
weather has passed.
Power Outage:
There are flashlights located throughout the house. If the power remains out for some time, there
will be non-perishables on hand. We also
have a gas stove that can be lit with a match.
If the weather is inclement and the house is getting too cold for the
children, you will be called to pick up your child.
Enrollment Requirements:
Before
enrolling your child in Pumpkin Patch DC there are several things you must do:
1.
Read
through and become familiar with the policies.
You will be required to sign a form that indicates you have read,
understand, and agree to ALL the policies as outlined. All policies will be strictly followed
2.
An
interview/acquaintance visit. I will not
care for children unless they have had a visit to Pumpkin Patch Daycare to become familiar with me and the service provided (age
10 months plus).
3.
All
appropriate forms must be filled out, signed, and on file PRIOR to
admission. All necessary form/consents
will be given to you in your admission package.
4.
All
required supplies must be brought before your child’s first day. If you do not bring the required supplies I
will purchase them for you and you will be responsible for reimbursing me the
full cost.
5.
Deposit,
Enrollment Fee, & Payment for first week of care must be taken care of
before child starts at Pumpkin Patch DC.
Termination of Care:
Care can only be terminated with 2 weeks notice by the
parent. I reserve the right to
immediately end care for non-payment, failure to respect me, my home, my
neighborhood, behavior of the child which is harmful to the physical or
emotional well being of the other children or himself, or failure to abide by
my policies. If you terminate care
without giving appropriate notice, you will be responsible for payment of the
final 2 weeks of care whether or not your child attends, vacation days cannot
be used for this time period. Please be
advised that you will be charged the No Show Fee in addition to your scheduled
daily rate until you notify me that your child will not be returning. Vacation time/pay cannot be used for your two
week notice. *Provider has the right to
terminate a contract without notice for any reason.
Child Abuse/Neglect:
I am required by law to report any suspected signs of child abuse and/or
neglect.
Supplies:
All supplies must be labeled with your child’s name. You will need to provide the following things
to be left here:
1.
One complete change of clothing (3 if we are
potty training.) This includes shirt,
pants, socks, and underwear. Careful
attention must be made to maintain current sizes left here.
2.
Any over the counter medications that you may
wish to be used. This must have this
child’s name on it. Remember I will
always ask your permission before administering.
3.
Diapers or Pull-ups, 1 full package to be
stored in your child’s cubby and I will notify you when the supply is low.
4.
Any cream, powder, etc. that you wish me to
use.
5.
Bottle or Sippie cup that child is familiar
with, along with formula/breast milk if necessary.
*These items are all necessary for me to care for your
child, if you choose not to supply me with the required items, I will purchase
them for you and you will be responsible for the cost.
*Pumpkin Patch
DC will supply
baby wipes, if your child has special allergies you will have to provide your
own.
Health Matter:
Illness:
Under no circumstances is a sick child to attend Pumpkin Patch
DC. The children should be
allowed to recover fully from an illness in the comfort of their own home. The other children in care are exposed to any
illness your child may bring into the home.
If you are unable to remain home with your child, it is your
responsibility to make substitute childcare arrangements. Obviously, it is not possible to prevent the
spread of all illness. However,
minimizing exposure and providing good hygienic practices in the home are means
by which we can limit the problem and the resulting inconvenience. Accordingly, for the benefit of all involved,
the following policies will be strictly enforced:
Children who
have exhibited ANY symptoms of infectious illness within the proceeding 24-hour
period are likely to be contagious and should remain at home. Examples
of associated symptoms include, but are not limited to: fever of 101F or more,
nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, loss of voice, hacking or continuous
coughing, yellow or green runny nose, draining eyes or ears, rash, or head
lice. I
reserve the right to determine whether a child should remain in the home where
illness is a consideration. Parents of
children who become ill during the day will promptly be notified and are
expected to arrange immediate pick up for their child. The ill child will be isolated from the other
daycare children to minimize exposure.
If the parents cannot be reached, the person designated as the emergency
contact will be notified.
Pumpkin Patch DC reserves the right to refuse care to
a child due to suspected illness.
Medications:
No child will be given medication, prescription or over
the counter, unless the parent gives permission. Prescription medication shall be in the
original container and have that child’s name on it with a current date and
directions for administering. Written
permission is required in order to use diapering products, sunscreen lotion,
and insect repellents – this permission form is included in the contract.
***A child is to
remain home for 24 hours after being put on a medication they have not had
before, this includes immunizations/flu shots they have not had before.
Medical Emergencies:
Although supervision is constantly given, I cannot be at
each child’s side at all times to prevent falls, tripping bumps, or blows from
other children, etc. If the child is
injured in a non life-threatening way, I will assess the situation and provide
home first aide. If the injury is more
serious, 911 will be called and an ambulance will transport your child to the
hospital. In case of a medical
emergency I will attempt to contact you immediately, if I am unable to reach
you I will call your emergency contacts.
All costs associated with injuries to the child will be the
responsibility of the parents. You or
your family’s insurance is/are responsible for the cost of medical help of
treatment due to accidents or illness while at Pumpkin Patch DC.
Non-Discrimination:
As a childcare provider, I shall not discriminate in
relation to admissions on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin,
religion, or gender.
REMINDER: These policies/guidelines are set for the best
interest of the child. They will only
serve their purpose if you (the Parent) stand behind them. At no time will it be tolerated that these
policies are not carried out.
