| Charlotte Children’s Center Parent Handbook I. Description The Charlotte Children’s Center is a non-profit early childhood program established in 1984 to help meet the growing need for quality childcare. It is licensed by the State of Vermont Child Development Division and is fully insured. The Charlotte Children’s Center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This is a national accreditation that recognizes early childhood education centers that adhere to strict standards of excellence. The Director, Associate Director, and Curriculum Director run the Center. The Center is governed by the Board of Directors, which consists of six parents and/or community members whose focus is on providing long-term strategic leadership to the Center. In addition to the Director, there is a staff of experienced and qualified teachers, all of whom (at the very minimum) meet state requirements. We also rely on the dedicated involvement of parents to assist the Director in fund-raising and community awareness activities. The Center is open year-round, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., excluding specific holidays and dates mentioned in section X. II. Mission Statement The following is the mission and philosophy of the Charlotte Children’s Center: The Charlotte Children’s Center is a fully licensed, non-profit early childhood education program. We are dedicated to being a model by changing the world of childcare for the better. Our mission is to provide innovative early childhood education that fosters the growth all children, educates families, supports our community, and establishes an exemplary workplace. III. Program Philosophy The Charlotte Children’s Center is committed to providing developmentally appropriate programming to grow and nurture children from infancy through kindergarten. While providing a day long program with a planned curriculum for all children, the Center recognizes the inherent uniqueness of each child. We focus on building self-help skills and we foster independence, which allows children to develop stable and long term relationships. We enable children to learn at their own pace through a balance of child initiated exploration and teacher guided activities. We create an environment where children feel comfortable and are inspired to learn through play in preparation for each child’s future learning opportunities. IV. The Home/School Relationship We feel that parents are their child’s primary teachers. We know that children benefit from their families’ involvement at the Center. The channels of communication between home and school should be open and clear. Besides the numerous fun and exciting experiences that we will share with one another, occasionally school and parents will need to join forces and work together to solve problems or face challenges that might arise. Daily communication with teachers will help build a relationship to best serve your child. Twice a year (November and May) there are formal conferences offered; don’t wait for these opportunities to request a conversation about your child’s development. At times, parents express an interest in having a well-trusted teacher baby-sit for their child outside of Center hours. While the Center is supportive of this separate arrangement between staff and families, this is a private agreement between the staff member and the family, outside of the teacher’s employment agreement with the Center. This arrangement cannot affect the staff member’s productivity at the Center, as her or his primary responsibility is to the Center. V. Staffing The Charlotte Children’s Center is dedicated to hiring high quality professionals with a background in Early Childhood Education. It is the requirement of The Charlotte Children’s Center that all staff will be trained in First Aid and Infant/Child CPR. Each teacher is responsible for at least 12 hours each year of continuing education, appropriate to the enrichment of that staff member’s program. VI. Admission and Enrollment Procedure The Charlotte Children’s Center does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, physical handicap or sexual preference. Admission is based on space and availability in the child’s appropriate age group. In the event that the space is not immediately available, that child’s name may be placed on the waiting list for a $50.00 non-refundable fee. The family will be notified when the space becomes available. Priority for admission is given to children of staff followed by children of current families, then waiting list families. At the time of enrollment an enrollment form, financial agreement, immunization records, allergy records, and the first month of tuition is due. VII. Policy for Peanut and Nut Allergies In keeping with the Center’s commitment to provide a safe and nurturing environment for our children, and peace-of-mind for their families, the following measures have been adopted to ensure the safety of those children with peanut and / or tree nut allergies. Their success depends on a longstanding effort from all families at the Center. Therefore the goal of this policy is to balance the safety of any peanut or tree nut allergic children with the realities of daily life in our childcare community, and with the needs of Center families. Background Peanut/tree nut allergies are very serious conditions in children that may result in anaphylaxis. An anaphylactic reaction in a child may range from mild symptoms (such as nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain) to severe (shock, respiratory arrest, death). The severity of each event is not predictable, so a mild first reaction may (or may not) be followed by a more severe reaction the next time. Once it is diagnosed, the best way to manage peanut allergy is to prevent any further exposure to peanuts. In the event of exposure, the best approach is to know the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis. On first sign of anaphylaxis, children should be immediately treated with epinephrine injection (pediatric “epi-pens”). Although peanuts are in the legume family, 35% of peanut allergic children are also allergic to tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans, etc.). This also means that 65% of peanut allergic children are not allergic to other nuts. Only allergy testing can identify children with associated tree nut allergies. Twenty percent of children outgrow peanut allergies by school age (5 years old). Most of the time contact with a mucous membrane (inside of mouth, eyeball) is required for a reaction to occur. So a large part of our challenge in providing a safe environment for allergic children comes from the nature of toddlers and younger pre-school children: in the early stages of learning, they explore their world by putting objects in their mouths. This normal behavior decreases as children grow. By the time children enter the “Seeker” program at the Center, they are old enough to consistently follow instructions, and are more able to avoid any unsafe behaviors. “Peanut/ Nut-Safe” Policy Once a child at the Center is found to have a peanut or tree nut allergy, the Charlotte Children’s Center will immediately strive to provide a peanut/tree nut safe environment. This means we will do our best to educate all parents, children, and teachers of the policy, in order to decrease the risk of accidental exposure to peanuts. All programs in the building where the child is taught will be made “peanut safe”. This means: -The Center will provide only peanut/tree nut free snacks in the classroom where the allergic child attends. -Any parent providing a snack for special occasions, or providing any cooking projects should include only peanut/tree nut free ingredients. The parents of the allergic child may choose to bring in alternative snacks for such occasions: therefore advanced notice is helpful. -Children will bring only peanut/tree nut free lunches to the building. Parents are asked to read all ingredients in items packed in lunches, and to exclude any that “may contain trace elements of peanuts.” -A strict hand washing policy will be followed. -A “no sharing” food policy will be followed in the classroom. -Activities and craft projects will be peanut/tree nut free. -All teachers and staff will know the identity of the peanut/tree nut allergic child. -Teachers will receive training in emergency management of peanut/tree nut allergy, including an in-service Epi-pen demonstration. -Center-wide functions (open houses and the Spring barbecue) will be peanut/tree nut free. -Parents assisting in field trips in the peanut/tree nut allergic child’s program will be told the identity of the child. A first aid kit including a current Epi-pen and a cell phone (in case of emergency) will be brought with the child on all field trips. Family Obligations All families at the Charlotte Children’s Center play an important role in ensuring the safety of our peanut and tree nut allergic children. In order to keep all of our children healthy, we ask that parents immediately notify the director of any food allergies that develop in their child. For children with peanut or tree nut allergies, we request written confirmation from the child’s physician regarding the nature and extent of the allergy, as well as any specific recommendations for the care of the child. In these cases, parents are encouraged to have their child fully tested for nut-related allergies so we may provide the most appropriate safety measures in the classrooms. The parents are also asked to provide a current Epi-pen for their child in case of emergency. It is the responsibility of the family of the allergic child to begin to teach the child to take personal responsibility for their allergy at the appropriate age. This will help prepare them for kindergarten and other environments where they will need to avoid peanuts/tree nuts. Teachers will work with parents to support this process at the Center. In Case of Emergency In the case of accidental exposure of an allergic child to peanuts / tree nuts, the Charlotte Children’s Center emergency response is as follows: 1. Identify the child in distress (with symptoms of anaphylaxis). 2. Immediately administer the prescribed Epi-pen and benadryl. 3. Call for emergency back-up (911) 4. Notify parents or their alternate emergency contact This response will be followed for any child who has an anaphylactic reaction at the Center, regardless of the cause. In the case of a child’ s first anaphylaxis (in which case no prescribed Epi-pen is available), 911 will be contacted immediately and the emergency response team will administer the appropriate medication. Resources Related to Peanut/Tree Nut Allergy in Vermont Parent-To-Parent of Vermont Peanut allergy support group 1-800-4005 M-F Vt. Parents of Food Allergy Children Mary Kay Hill VTPFAC@verizon.net Jeanne M. Buley, BSN, Public Health Nurse Department of Health Burlington, VT. 1-800-951-0078 Other Resources Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Milwaukee, WI 53202 1-800-822-2762 www.aaaai.org Peanut Allergy.com Medford, MA 02155 1-781-395-9530 www.peanutallergy.com Food Allergy Network 10400 Eaton Place Suite 107 Fairfax, VA 22030 VIII. Health Policy The staff of The Charlotte Children’s Center works hard to assure a healthy environment for all families. The spread of germs is the biggest threat to our healthy environment. Each program encourages regular hand washing opportunities throughout each day and toys and materials are cleaned and disinfected regularly. Unfortunately, illness is an inevitable consequence of any group setting. This means that maintaining a healthy environment sometimes entails the exclusion of sick children. The attached table outlines guidelines to be followed in the case of illness. These guidelines are based on State of Vermont Childcare Licensing, State Health Department and the Center for Disease Control. The Charlotte Children’s Center staff will work with families to determine whether or not a child should be excluded from the program. A local pediatrician may also be consulted. Ultimately it is the opinion of the staff member that will be the determining factor, since their goal will be to ensure a successful day for all children. Families are expected to respect the staff member’s decision and if notified to pick up their child, they should arrive as quickly as possible to do so. If the parents of an ill child are unable to be reached the staff member will contact the person the parents listed as the emergency contact. Parents are expected to ensure that the emergency contact is available if necessary. The Charlotte Children’s Center will not administer any medication to any child without written authorization from the parent. Parents are responsible for completing the medication chart in their child’s program. Medication must be supplied in the original container and given to the appropriate staff member at drop off time. The Charlotte Children’s Center will assume no responsibility for complications that may arise due to the administration of medication. If a child has been exposed to a contagious disease, the family should notify the center as soon as possible so that other families may be notified. Again, it is our goal to maintain a healthy environment for all of our families and staff. The purpose of this health policy is to provide guidance when confronted by illness. Symptom/Illness Necessary Actions Bacterial Meningitis Remove child from Center until Medical Professional indicates safe return, notify Health Department, notify other families of exposure. Campylobacter Same as above Chicken Pox Remove child from Center until all pox are scabbed And a medical professional indicates a safe return, Notify other families of exposure. Colds and Flu Remove child from Center if disposition warrants Or if symptoms are too severe to reasonably Control. Diarrhea (3 loose stools Remove child from Center until symptom disappears In 24 hrs) for 24 hours. Diphtheria Remove child from Center until medical professional Indicates a safe return, notify Health Department, Notify other families of exposure. Fever (100 degrees) Remove child from Center until symptom disappears Or otherwise indicated by a medical professional. Giardia Remove child from Center until medical professional Indicates a safe return, notify Health Department And notify families of exposure. Hepatitis A Same as above Impetigo Remove child from Center until medical professional Indicates a safe return and notify other families of Exposure. Jaundice Remove child from Center until symptom disappears for 24 hours or otherwise indicated by a medical professional. Lice Remove child from Center until procedure outlined In attached policy are completed and notify other families of exposure. Measles Remove child from Center until medical professional Indicates safe return, notify Health Department, notify other families of exposure. Mumps Same as above Pertussis Same as above Pinworm Infection Remove child from Center until 24 hours after treatment is initiated. Wash all personal belongings In hot water and dry in hot dryer, notify other families of exposure. Polio Remove child from Center until medical professional indicates a safe return, notify Health Department, and notify other families of exposure. Purulent Conjunctivitis Remove child from Center until diagnosed by a medical professional and treated with antibiotics for 24 hours. Ringworm Infection Remove child from Center until 24 hours after treatment is initiated. Wash all personal belongings in hot water and dry in hot dryer. Notify other families of exposure. Rubella Remove child from Center until medical professional indicates a safe return, notify Health Department, and notify other families of exposure. Salmonella Same as above Scabies Remove child from Center until 24 hours after treatment is initiated. Wash all personal belongings in hot water and dry in hot dryer. Treat center environment, notify other families of exposure, check other children for infestation Severe Coughing Remove child from Center until symptom disappears for 24 hours or otherwise indicated by a medical professional. Streptococcal Infection Remove child from Center until medical professional indicates safe return or on antibiotics and fever free for 24 hours. Tuberculosis (active) Remove child from Center until medical professional indicates a safe return, notify Health Department, notify other families of exposure. Vomiting Remove child from the Center until symptom disappears for 24 hours. Lice Policy With the exception of the common cold, head lice infestation affects more School age children than all other communicable diseases combined (National Perdiculosis Association, Inc.) The Charlotte Children’s Center recognizes the disruption that takes place when an outbreak occurs. The goal of this policy is to help prevent the spread of Head lice. Children found to have lice (adult) or nits (eggs) will be sent home. Any child sent home will not be allowed to re-enter her/his program until a staff member has determined that the child is lice/nit free for two consecutive head checks occurring 24 hours apart. Your child must be removed from the center for 24 hours after the first discovery of lice or nits. When an outbreak occurs, parents of children in the affected program must remove and wash all clothing and bedding at the center. The Charlotte Children’s Center staff will conduct daily checks until the risk of contracting lice is over. The Charlotte Children’s Center will conduct random head checks throughout the year as a precaution. These checks may or may not be announced. IX.Schedule Options, Tuition Rates and Financial Agreements The Center works with families to provide the schedule that works best for them, while taking into account the overall enrollment needs of the Center. Families may not switch or make up days for days that are missed. The program that each child is enrolled in determines the tuition rates. The programs are categorized by age, due to state and NAEYC mandated child: teacher ratios. The number of children in each program increases as the children get older and therefore tuition rates decrease. Tuition rates are determined on an annual basis by the Director, and approved by the Board of Directors. They are subject to revision at any time of the year. Parents will be advised in writing of any rate changes at least eight weeks in advance of the effective date. If a rate change should occur in the middle of the contract year, new financial contracts will be issued. If children start after the beginning of the month, tuition for that month will be prorated using the tuition rate schedule. Monthly tuition payments are due on the first of each month. The Center is dependent on tuition monies to meet its budget. Though the Center is as accommodating as possible, families not adhering to the payment schedule could place the Center at significant financial risk. If a payment has not been received by the 10th of the month, a written reminder will be sent. If payment is not received by the 15th, a late fee of 5% will be assessed. After 15 days, communication between the Director and the family will occur which will result in either full payment or a payment schedule. At 30 days, if a payment schedule is not worked out, access is denied and the space is made available to the next family on the waiting list. The account must be paid in full by 60 days to ensure continued enrollment. Interest on the unpaid balance will accrue at the rate of 1.25% per month, or if less, the maximum rate allowed by law. If a family experiences difficulty in meeting their payments, it is important to speak with the Director immediately. Financial Agreements: Once a schedule is selected, parents are required to sign a financial agreement. This contract obligates families to fulfill the tuition requirements for the time slot for the contract year (Sept. 1 through August 31). Parents must adhere to a specific schedule and cannot switch days of the week, unless a permanent schedule change is requested. Schedule Changes: Every effort will be made to accommodate the needs of the child, as well as the changing life needs of enrolled families. If a parent wishes to change their child’s schedule or terminate enrollment, notice must be given to the Director in writing at least four weeks prior to the date of change. Tuition is expected during the month of notification. Drop-in Time: Drop-in time may sometimes be available to an already enrolled child. Parents are encouraged to notify the Center when their child will miss any time in the program, so that the time may be made available for drop-in. The staff must approve all drop-ins. Drop-in charges will be included on the following month’s invoice. The rate is $6.00 per hour for all programs. Pick-up and Drop-off Times: The Center operates daily from 7:30 am to 6:00 p.m. The pick-up time for the morning only session is 12:30, unless otherwise specified by the teachers. Children must be picked up promptly either by 12:30 or 6:00. Staff work very hard to provide a high quality experience for all children. Late pick-ups adversely affect both the child and the staff member who is required to stay later. Please notify staff when you are unable to pick up your child on time. Charges will be assessed for tardy pick- up times and billed on your monthly invoice. A fee of $5.00 per child will be charged for every five minutes beyond 6:00 p.m. After receiving three late pick up charges, the fees will double for all subsequent late pick-ups. Should the late pick-ups continue, a meeting between the Director and the parents will be arranged to discuss the child’s continued attendance at the Center. Although the center is open for 10 ½ hours each day, children are the most successful when they attend the program for no more than 9 of those hours. If someone other than a child’s parent or legal guardian will be dropping off or picking up be sure to inform the center staff. Anyone picking up a child will be asked for identification. We request your cooperation as the policies are in place to protect your family. The Charlotte Children’s Center will be diligent in assuring that children are cared for in the safest manner possible. Should any staff member have concerns about the safety of a child’s ride home, the staff member will inform the Director or Associate Director. If possible, an alternate ride will be offered, or the authorities will be notified. X.Center Closings: The Charlotte Children’s Center will be closed on the following days: Labor Day Thanksgiving Day and the day after Christmas Eve and Christmas Day The week between Christmas and New Years Day Memorial Day Independence Day 4-5 Scheduled In-Service days The Charlotte Children’s Center will follow The Charlotte Central School’s decision for closing due to inclement weather. Families are responsible for finding this on either a TV or radio station the morning of the event. WCAX and CBS are both consistent places to find this information. XI.Parent Volunteers: The Center benefits greatly from all parent volunteers. Each year a group of parents organize a major fundraising event, small fundraisers as well as community events. Parents are always invited to volunteer in the classroom. Twice a year the Director along with a Buildings and Grounds Coordinator organizes parent workdays. Workdays are a great way to support the Center, complete necessary projects, and meet other Center families. All families are notified in advance and can sign up to help with specific projects. The Board of Directors often has openings for parent volunteers when board terms end. Please contact the Director, Board Chair or other board members if you are interested in a board position. XII.Confidentiality: All information that is shared with the staff of the Charlotte Children’s Center will be held in strict confidence. Since all staff members work with all families the Director is responsible for sharing pertinent information with all teachers. If a family does not wish to have information shared with all of the teachers it is their responsibility to notify the Director of that fact. XIII.Behavior Management: At the Charlotte Children’s Center, a set of limits and rules that are appropriate for each age group will be in effect. Only positive methods of guidance and discipline will be used with the children to encourage self-control, self-direction, positive self-esteem, and cooperation. It is a goal of the Charlotte Children’s Center staff to encourage children to be in control of their own behavior and to make positive choices to ensure their own success. IVX.Child Abuse or Neglect: In accordance with the state law and regulation, as well as sound early childhood education practices, it is a policy of the Charlotte Children’s Center to report all suspected instances of child abuse or neglect. It is the Charlotte Children’s Center’s Policy to: Ensure that all staff are informed of the Center’s maltreatment policy, and of their duty as mandated reporters, to report suspected cases of abuse or neglect, as well as that failure to report can result in a fine. Question all staff at the time of initial employment as to whether the person has ever been found to have abused or neglected a child in any way, or been convicted of any offense involving violence or inappropriate behavior with a child. Report yearly to the State Division of Social Services the names of all staff members for the purpose of checking against the State Registry of Convicted Child Abusers. Provide staff with training on the prevention and identification of child abuse and neglect. Cooperate with The Child Development Division in any investigation involving the facility or its personnel. Take immediate action to safeguard children, up to and including suspending a staff member from duty, should an allegation of abuse or neglect be made against a staff person. Any confirmed act of abuse or neglect will result in immediate staff termination. VX.Transition Policy: A child is eligible to move from the infant program to the one year-old room at the age of 12 months, and to the toddler program after the age of 24 months. He or she may move to the preschool at age 3. At age 4 the child will be eligible for our 4/5 program. These ages are the lower limits of transition and are determined by the staff: child ratios that meet State Licensing and NAEYC Accreditation. It is not guaranteed that a child will move to the next program at the minimum age. Teachers and families will work together to ensure that each child’s transitions are as successful as possible and occur when that child is ready. Most transitions occur in June or September each year. Parents and teachers will meet to determine a transition schedule at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the transition period. Transition opportunities are flexible and will be altered to accommodate the individual needs of each child. Thank you for choosing The Charlotte Children’s Center. We look forward to being a part of your child’s early childhood experience. Please share with us your goals and philosophies for making this experience as successful as we can. We look forward to building a long- term relationship with your family. |
Parent Handbook