Policy Handbook
Welcome to Kiddie Shack Daycare
Being parents ourselves, we know that it is very important for parents to find a person who is responsible, friendly and trustworthy when looking for childcare. We’re sure that you will find all these qualities within us.
Our goal is to provide a high quality, nurturing and safe environment for your child that will help him/her grow into a wonderful, curious, and happy person. We maintain a semi-structured daily program with regards to scheduled meals, rest periods and activities because we believe children thrive when their lives are predictable.
Your child(ren) will be exposed to an exciting theme-based program that includes variety of music, science, reading, arts and crafts, indoor/outdoor and free play activities, all designed to stimulate his/her physical, intellectual, social and emotional growth in a loving and comfortable environment.
My partner Donna Garner is very experienced in caring for children of all ages; she owned her own home daycare center in Irving for 15 years. Please note that we are not a babysitter, but educators and caregivers of a family daycare.
At first, you and your child may need to adjust to a new environment and routine. Therefore, if we can be of any assistance to you as a working parent, please let us know. I hope that you will be able to look upon us as both a friend and a caregiver for your child.
Please take the time to go over your Parent-Provider Handbook to ensure you understand the policies that are in place to help keep Kiddie Shack Daycare a happy environment for everyone involved. If you have any questions or concerns at all, we will be happy to go over them with you.
The daycare welcomes any new ideas!
Feel free to speak up or even take a peek at us from time to time.
Once Again, Welcome Aboard!
Sabrina Helton & Donna Garner
Admissions & Enrollment Procedures
Kiddie Shack Daycare serves children ages birth to 5 years. Kiddie Shack Daycare FORBIDS DISCRIMINATION because of race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, or handicap.
ENROLLMENT FORMS
Before a child is admitted for care into Kiddie Shack Daycare, the provider must receive all required paperwork. We will not assume care of your child(ren) if necessary paperwork, fees, and supplies are not received. All information will be kept confidential and is for our records only. Below is a checklist of necessary paperwork and supplies you will need to bring with your child on his first day.
PAPERWORK
ü Two Week Trial Agreement Form
ü Enrollment Form
ü Admission Information Form
ü About Your Child
ü Discipline & Guidance Form
ü Park Permission
ü Immunization Record
ü Financial Agreement
ü Parent-Provider Agreement & Contract
ü Policy Handbook Checklist
FEES
ü Supply Fee
ü 1 Week of Tuition
SUPPLIES
ü Complete change of clothes (weather appropriate). Two sets of clothing is required for children not yet potty trained.
ü Diapers/Pull-Ups & Wipes
ü Bottles & Nipples
ü Infant Formula (if you choose not to use what we supply)
ü Baby Food & Cereal
ü Sleeping Mat & Blanket
HEALTH FORMS
Upon admission Kiddie Shack Daycare must receive a completed Health Evaluation Form signed by a physician and a current copy of your child's Immunization Records. We do not accept children who have not received their vaccinations as prescribed by the Health Department.
SIGNED CONTRACT & POLICY HANDBOOK AGREEMENT
Before a child is admitted for care the provider must receive a signed Financial Agreement and Parent-Provider Agreement & Contract. Signed Contract and the Agreements are required before childcare can commence.
Trial Period
Your child’s adjustment is important to us at Kiddie Shack Daycare. Some children have a hard time adjusting and/or may not be a good fit for Kiddie Shack Daycare. Therefore, enrollment acceptance is based on a 2-week trial period. The first 2 weeks from the child’s enrollment date is a trial/adjustment period for the child, parents, and provider. During this period either the parents or provider may terminate care without notice. After the 2 weeks have passed, a two-week notice is required from either party.
Termination Policy
A two-week written notice minimum is required to withdraw your child from care. If less than two weeks notice is given, payment in full for two weeks is still expected.
In the event Kiddie Shack Daycare should ever find it necessary to end our agreement, the parent will be given a two week written notice. Except for reasons such as, but not limited to:
· Destructive uncontrollable or violent behaviors
· Habitual tardiness in pick up of child
· Excessive late arrivals
· Excessive absences without notice
· Lateness of payment or nonpayment
· Lack of Parental Cooperation
These situations will be grounds for immediate termination. If it becomes necessary for Kiddie Shack Daycare will resort to legal action to collect fees, the parent(s) will be responsible for any legal fees incurred by Kiddie Shack Daycare.
Annual Renewals
CONTRACT RENEWAL
Contracts will be renewed annually in January. Any changes that take place in your family should be reported and changes made on the childcare forms immediately.
POLICY HANDBOOK
Any time a change is necessary in the Policy Handbook parents will receive two weeks notice of the change and a new Parent-Provider Agreement & Contract will be required.
Tuition Payments & Fees
REGULAR PAYMENT
Childcare fees are due in advance on Friday at pick up time; payable no later than Monday morning each week (including late fees) prior to your child's attendance. Clients should keep in mind that they are contracting for days and times to reserve a spot for their child and this time must be paid for whether or not it is used. No deductions or refunds will be made for days your child is sick or absent.
Fees are due and payable in advance of care by the following pay schedule:
Weekly Tuition
Age Group / FeeInfant
(1 week to 17 months) / $150.00
Toddlers
(18 months to 2 years) / $140.00
Pre-school
(3 years to 5 years) / $130.00
Drop in Rate / $7.00 an hour
Parent’s Night Out
(6pm to 11pm) / $25.00 per child
*A $10.00 per day late fee will be assessed if your regular childcare fees are not paid on Friday. Your child will not be accepted for care until your regular childcare fee plus any late fees are paid in full. Continued late payments will result in the termination of the childcare services.
CHECKS
Payments may be made in cash or by check, receipts will be written for cash payments. Any bad check received at Kiddie Shack Daycare will cause the PARENTS to be charged a ($30.00) returned check fee plus any bank charges incurred by the PROVIDER as a result of the PARENT'S check being dishonored. In addition, all future childcare payments must be made in cash.
Make checks payable to:
Sabrina Helton
LATE/EARLY FEES
Your child’s schedule is based in the days and hours agreed upon and listed in the financial agreement, NOT the hours we are open to accept children. If late/early you will be billed at $5.00 the first 15-minutes and then $1 per minute thereafter and the total is due in cash upon arrival. One late pick-up is granted (with a legitimate reason) without a late fee charge. After the one late pick-up has been used, late charges will be assessed for tardiness. This policy will be strictly enforced.
EXTENDED HOURS FEE
If care is needed outside our regular childcare hours an extended hour’s fee will be charged per hour, per child with a minimum of one hour for time outside of our normal business hours. This means it will be $5.00 per hour, per child for care earlier than 6:00 am and later than 6:30 pm.
SUPPLY FEE (NON-REFUNDABLE)
$20.00 yearly- This helps with the parties and arts and crafts we do; this only applies to parents that has a child 18 months or older, if your child is younger than 18 months when they enroll then the fee will be due when they turn 18 months.
RATE INCREASES
Kiddie Shack Daycare reserves the right to review childcare rates and to raise them periodically to accommodate increasing business costs. We will provide two week's written notice to parents in the event of rate increases.
RESERVATIONS
Parents who are searching for childcare weeks and months prior to the care may choose to reserve a childcare slot. To reserve an available slot parents must complete the contract and begin payments of 1/2 of the weekly fee. Clients who choose to have their child out of care once the contract begins must give notice and take their chances there will be an opening when they wish to return to care, or continue to pay the regular weekly fee.
Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday 6:00 am to 6:30 pm
Open Door Policy
Kiddie Shack Daycare has an open door policy. You are welcome to come by unannounced during the hours your child child/ren is in our care. If you call and we are busy please leave a message and we will call you right back.
Daily Schedule
6:00 – 9:15 / Children arriving, Free play7:15 – 7:45 / Breakfast
9:15 – 9:30 / AM Snack
9:30 – 10:15 / Clean Up/Outside Play
10:15 – 11:00 / Educational Learning
11:30 – 12:00 / Lunch
12:00 – 2:00 / Nap Time
2:00 – 2:30 / Story Time
2:30 – 2:45 / PM Snack
2:45 – 3:45 / Arts & Crafts
3:45 – 5:15 / Clean Up/Outside Play
5:15 - 6:30 / Quiet or Movie Time; Clean up
Children may watch educational television or child appropriate video tapes while the provider helps the children potty, wash hands, prepare meals, feed infants and clean up after meals. No more than 2 hours a day.
Attendance
Please be sure to prearrange any changes to your schedule with Kiddie Shack Daycare at least 24 hours in advance if possible. If Kiddie Shack Daycare is not informed in advance of the child's tardiness or early arrival, there is a possibility that we may not be able to accomodate you. In this event, you assume responsibility for your child's care and there are no refunds if this occurs. Never leave your child at this property alone to wait for the group to return. Two consecutive No-shows/No-calls are grounds for immediate termination. You will be billed for two weeks tuition. Please be courteous and notify Kiddie Shack Daycare if your child will be absent for the day.
Holidays & Vacations
Payment is expected for holidays. If the holiday falls on a Saturday, Kiddie Shack Daycare will close in observance of the holiday the Friday before. If the holiday falls on a Sunday, we will close the following Monday. Payment is expected for these days.
Kiddie Shack Daycare will close in observance of the following holidays:
· New Years Day
· Good Friday
· Memorial Day
· Fourth of July
· Labor Day
· Thanksgiving Eve (closing at noon)
· Thanksgiving Day & the Friday after
· Christmas Eve (closing at noon)
· Christmas Day & the day after
Please understand we will not under any circumstances be able to watch children on our paid holidays.
PROVIDER’S VACATIONS/PERSONAL DAYS
Each calendar year Kiddie Shack Daycare will close up to two weeks for provider’s vacation and up to 5 illness/personal days. Parents will be given as much advance notice as possible, with a minimum of 30 days notice for vacation. Parents are responsible for making other arrangements for childcare when Kiddie Shack Daycare is closed for vacation/personal days. Kiddie Shack Daycare will do it’s best to give you references of other providers available.
PARENT VACATIONS
Please notify Kiddie Shack Daycare at least two weeks in advance if your child will be absent due to family vacation. Full payment is required for any days your child is absent and must be made prior to the scheduled leave. Remember, you are paying to reserve your child’s childcare slot.
Substitute Care
Parents are responsible for providing their own back up care for illness, holidays, provider’s vacations, provider’s illnesses, and provider’s personal days. Kiddie Shack Daycare will do it’s best to give you references of other providers available, and to provide proper advance notice whenever possible.
Signing In & Out
A daily SIGN IN & SIGN OUT Sheet is kept at the front door. Parents must remember to sign their child/ren in and out each day.
Arrivals & Departures
The center opens at 6:00 am. Please accompany your child into the playroom after signing them in for the day. The same procedure should be followed at pick up time.
Occasionally you may wish to send someone other than yourself to drop off or pick up your child for the day. Be sure to notify any persons doing so of the Arrival & Departure procedure. Always notify Kiddie Shack Daycare should there be someone other than you dropping off or picking up for the day.