January 2013

Parent

Handbook

Policies and Procedures

Mission

The mission of Ready Set Learn (RSL) is to ensure a positive view of education and foster a love of learning in preschool-aged children. RSL will support parents by providing a safe and developmentally appropriate environment designed to stimulate a child’s social/emotional, physical and cognitive development. Quality educators coupled with a loving environment will effectively empower each child for both educational and life success.

The common goal which we share with all parents is to equip children with the skills and knowledge to be happy and successful. Research shows that participation in a pre-school experience increases kindergarten readiness for children. Therefore,we have designed our program to incorporate a routine of activities, including child-directed play and group time, supervised peer interactions, opportunities to develop positive relationships among children and adults, and provide a safe environment conducive to learning.

Licensing Status

Ready Set Learn meets the requirements to hold a Group Child Care Center license from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Child Care Regulations. The list of regulations for licensed programs is in the RSL office and available forreview at any time. To maintain our current licensing status, RSL is inspected annually by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Child Care Regulations, Fire Safety of Boone County and Sanitation of the City of Columbia.All staff are required to pass a background check, a medical exam, tuberculosis evaluation before working with children. In addition, staff must maintain a Food Handlers permit from the City of Columbia, CPR and First Aid certification and receive 12 clock hours of training annually in Early Childhood Education.

Hours of Operation

Ready Set Learn regular hours of operation are from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. There are three packages available from which to choose during thedaily hours of operation:

Half-day: 9:00am to 1:00pm

Extended Day: 8:00am to 4:00pm

Full Day: 7:00am to 5:30pm

Classroom Organization

A total of forty-four(44) children may be present each day. The classes are:

  • Infant/Toddler class: 2 staff members with no more than 8 children under two years of age
  • Preschool I class (2 year old class): 2 staff members with no more than 16 two year-olds
  • Preschool II class (3 year old class): 1 staff member with no more than 10 children ages three-four
  • PreKindergarten (4 year old class): 1 staff member with no more than 10 children ages four-five
  • Teachers’ Aide: Assists with Infant/Toddler and Preschool I classes
  • School Aide: on site to prepare snack and lunch and assist throughout the school
  • Director: on site each day to teach and or assist with classroom needs.

Enrollment

Enrollment is available to children ages 6 weeks to five years old. Five year olds may attend until they enter kindergarten.

Application

An application for enrollment must be completed and returned with a $25.00 one-time non-refundable processing fee for your child to be considered for enrollment if space is available. Children will be accepted in the order of dated applications, with the exception of siblings of children already enrolled. Siblings automatically get first priority to availability. A $100.00 tuition deposit is due when your child’s enrollment has been accepted and there is a space available for your child. This deposit is applied to your first month’s tuition.

Enrollment Forms

In order to attend RSL, all children must have on file an enrollment form, the medical exam report completed by a physician or registered nurse, a copy of current immunizations and any other necessary forms including but not limited to a tuition agreement, signed document stating all parents/guardians have read and understand the policies and procedures, media policy, medication form, etc.

A child will be considered enrolled upon receipt of all application forms and fees. The child may begin attending the day the enrollment process is complete, assuming there is a spot available.

Wait List

RSL will maintain a wait list when any class is at capacity. Families must complete the application form to place their child on the wait list, but no application fee, tuition deposit, or other forms are due while a family is on the wait list. Completed applications will be dated when received. Children will be invited to register in the order of dated applications as space becomes available.

Tuition

Tuition must be paid monthly. It is due by the 5th day of each month. Make checks payable to Ready Set Learn.

Current tuition rates:

HALF DAY / EXTENDED DAY / FULL DAY
Infant/Toddler (birth to 1) / $40.00 / $45.00
Preschool (ages 2-5) / $25.00 / $35.00 / $39.00

***Siblings: 5% discount

Monthly tuition amount is averaged based upon days attending, so the payment for each month is the same. Families only pay for days RSL is in session. A payment chart is posted at the payment box.

Tuition may be mailed to RSL at 2601North Stadium Blvd.; Columbia, MO 65202;

or placed in the tuition box near the entrance of RSL.

Refunds

If a child withdraws during the school year, a two-week notice must be given or payment of two weeks tuition is required unless an immediate replacement is secured.

No refunds or credits will be given for absences. There may be exceptions in the case of emergency circumstances. Notify the Director of your situation as soon as possible.

Make- up daysfor illnesses are available for those attending less than 5 days per week and if there is space in your child’s class.

Additional days and extended days may be available if there is space. You must sign up in advance and pay the additional tuition for these days or extended hours on the day of the service.

Late Tuition and Insufficient Funds

Tuition is considered late after the 5thof the month. A late fee of $20.00 per child will be assessed for tuition received after the 5th of the month. Late fees may be waived if the Director is notified with a valid reason prior to the 5th and adequate arrangements for payment are made.

If a check is returned due to insufficient funds, a $25.00 returned check charge will be assessed. According to the tuition agreement, if tuition is not paid, the account will be turned over to a collection agency or lawyer. You are responsible for all fees from the collection agency or lawyer to collect on the account. The information may be documented on your credit report and could reflect negatively on your credit rating.

Holidays/School Closings

Ready Set Learn will follow Columbia Public Schools calendar for all holidays (we will be open on teacher work days). This includes the following holidays but is not limited to: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Columbia Public Schools Spring Break, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Columbia Public Schools Thanksgiving, Columbia Public Schools Christmas Break. We will follow Columbia Public Schools decisions regarding school cancellations due to inclement weather. There are no refunds or make-up days for inclement weather closings.

We will offer summer school on an as needed basis. For those who are not interested in summer school, but would like to return to Ready Set Learn in the fall of the next school year, a $100.00 tuition deposit is required to hold your spot.

Arrival and Pickups

Enter the building at the main entrance only. For the safety of the children, all cars should be parked in a designated parking spot in the lower level of the parking lot.

RSL’s regular hours of operation are 7:00 a.m. – 5:30p.m. Out of respect for our staff, parents should not be more than 5 minutes early or late in relation to their daily package hours. A $5.00 late pick up fee will be assessed for each 5 minutes a parent is late. Please call RSL if you shall be late picking up a childso that we may reassure the child that someone will be there shortly to pick them up. The late fee may be waived in the case of an emergency, but the staff must be contacted.

Authorized drop off and pick up

For the safety of the children, and per state guidelines, a parent or authorized person must sign-in when leaving a child and also sign out when picking up a child. Children will only be released to a parent or those persons authorized for pick up on enrollment form. Photo identification is required for any adult unfamiliar to staff members who is picking up a child.

Security

Enrolled families will be issued an access code to enter the school through the secured door. DO NOT share this code with anyone as it puts all of our students at risk. If someone different is dropping off or picking up your child, they may ring the doorbell and someone will let them in. We must be notified if someone different is dropping off or picking up your child and they must present a photo ID to gain access to the school. The access code will change periodically and you will be notified prior to the change.

Health and Safety

Health requirements

Only healthy children may be accepted into care at RSL. If a child has been ill, he/she must be fever and symptom free for 24 hours before returning to the program.

Illness

Each child will be observed for contagious diseases and other signs of illness on arrival and throughout the day. When a child exhibits any of the following as set forth by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior ServicesChild Care Regulationsthe child will be isolated from other children, a parent will be contacted and the child will be sent home.

a)more than one abnormally loose stool;

b)red or blue in the face or makes high-pitched croupy or whooping sounds after coughing;

c)difficult or rapid breathing – especially in infants

d)yellowish skin or eyes

e)tears, redness of eyelid lining or irritation, followed by swelling or discharge or pus;

f)unusual spots or rashes;

g)sore throat or swallowing difficulty;

h)an infected skin patch – crusty, bright yellow, dry or gummy areas of the skin;

i)unusually dark, tea-colored urine;

j)fever over one hundred degrees Fahrenheit under arm or in the ear

k)gray or white stool;

l)headache and stiff neck;

m)vomiting more than once;

n)a child in the contagious period of a disease;

o)severe itching of the body or scalp or scratching of the scalp.

All families will be notified when any reportable communicable disease occurs in the facility.

Medication

Only prescription medication shall be given to a child with the dated, written permission of the parent(s), stating the length of time medication may be give. Prescription medication shall be in the original container and labeled with the child’s name, instructions for administration including the times and amounts for dosages, and the physician’s name. All medication will be stored out of reach of the children

Accidents

Parents will be informed of ANY accidents that occur during their child’s stay at Ready Set Learn. A Parent may be called immediately if an accident causes significant concern to the child or staff member deems it necessary. An accident/injury form must be completed by staff and signed by the parent. One copy will be kept in the child’s file and one copy will be sent home with the parent.

Disaster Plans

Disaster plans are posted in each room throughout the building. Fire and Tornado drills will be conducted quarterly. The evacuation and relocation plans for each classroom are in the back of these Policies and Procedures.

Discipline

Positive Approach

Here are RSL, we believe that discipline means, “to teach.” Children will be given choices in order to have ownership of the learning which is achieved through discipline. Staff members will model use of positive language and give appropriate alternatives. Here is a model of examples that our staff works to follow.

Be a guide, not a judge. Instead of saying, “Don’t make a mess with the playdough, “ say “Keep the playdough on the table.”

Be understanding. Instead of saying “Big kids don’t cry, “pat him on the shoulder and say “You’re crying because it hurts, I know. But soon it will stop hurting.”

Be specific. Instead of saying, “Play nice with the blocks,” say, “Blocks are to build with.”

Be patient. Instead of saying, “Go on. Don’t be afraid of the slide, “say “Some day you’ll go down the slide, too. And you’ll be safe because you’ll hold on tight. When you do, you’ll have lots of fun.”

Be positive. Instead of saying, “Don’t bump your sister’s block tower with your truck,” say “Drive your truck around the tower.”

Be imaginative. Instead of saying, “Pick up all those beads,” say “I’ll pick up the green ones. Which color will you pick up?”

Be appreciative. Instead of saying, “Don’t scribble. Draw a flower like this,” say “You’re working hard and making lots of interesting lines with those markers.”

Be confident. Instead of saying, “Would you like to hold hands on the way to the playground,” say “It’s time to hold hands with your partner.”

Support communication. Instead of saying, “Let’s see who can do this the fastest,” say “Let’s all have fun doing this together.”

Individualization

All discipline will be individualized to address behavior and the consequences of that behavior. Discipline is based on rules we all need to learn and accept to function well with others. Staff will insist on basic rules of kindness, courtesy and safety.

Conflict

If children are in discord with one another, the teacher will work with the children to solve the problem together. The teacher will be a facilitator, encouraging role play, practice and fair play among the students.

Biting

If a child bites another child, the biter will be removed from the immediate area. If age appropriate, the child will work with a staff member to resolve the conflict with the other child. Parents will be notified of the incident at pick up on the day of the incident and an incident report will be placed in the child’s file. A total of three incidents within three months may result in dismissal from the program.

Aggression

Our school is committed to the well-being of each and every child. In order to provide a safe, loving, and stimulating environment, aggressive behavior (physical or verbal) and weapon play will not be tolerated. When a child displays aggressive behavior, the child will be redirected in positive terms. If unacceptable behavior persists, the following steps will be taken as necessary.

  1. The child will be removed from the situation and placed in a prearranged time out spot
  2. The child will be sent to the Director’s Office
  3. The Director will visit the classroom to observe the child’s behavior
  4. A meeting will be arranged with the child’s parents, teachers and the Director to consider corrective action
  5. The child will be suspended from Ready Set Learn for up to 3 school days

Should all efforts fail; the child will be dismissed from Ready Set Learn with proper written notification.

Corporal punishment is not part of our program and will not be tolerated at any time

Potty Training

Please let us know when you feel your child is ready to begin potty training.No potty training will take place in the infant/toddler unit. We ask that parents begin trainingat homebefore introducing it into the preschool setting. It is extremely helpful to dress your child in loose fittingbottoms during training. Please provideus with three complete changes of clothing including socks and an extra pair of shoes. Weask that your child verbalizes the need to go potty and stays dry for a period of 2 hours before wearing underwear to school.

Food and Snack

Healthy snacksand lunch will be provided daily. The goal of our nutrition program is to provide food that is appealing and nutritious to children so that they are well fortified.

Food Allergies

RSL staff must be notified at the time of enrollment of all known food allergies. These should also be identified by the child’s physician on the Medical Exam Report that is submitted at the time of enrollment. The child information page also has a section designated for allergies of any kind, including food. If there are particular foods a parent prefers their child NOT eat, identify these here. A menu for the month will be posted at RSL.

Personal Belongings

Label, label, label!! Each child’s belongings should be visibly labeled with child’s name (coats, clothing, shoes, etc). Please send an extra set of season appropriate clothes to be kept at school. Each child that rests at RSL will need to bring a crib sheet, small blanket, travel pillow and a comfort item if desired for napping. One year olds may sleep on cots with parental permission. Diapers and diaper changing necessities, formula, breast milk, bottles and baby food must be provided by each family for infants and non-potty trained children. For health and safety reasons, children’s toys should be left at home unless specifically requested by the teacher.

Appropriate Dress

Children should wear comfortable clothes with the purpose of playing in mind. Activities include running, climbing, jumping, painting and floor play. Tennis shoes and closed toe shoes are HIGHLY recommended. Children will only be allowed on climbing apparatus with tennis shoes and closed toe shoes. Children should also be prepared to play outside unless weather is threatening, inclement or bitter cold.