Program Statement

Little Lambs Gathering Day Care Program Statement

Little Lambs Gathering Day Care strives towards providing the highest quality child care.  At Little Lambs Gathering Day care we view our centre as a family-like environment and strive towards creating a home-like atmosphere where the children are cared for with respect and nurtured by our dedicated educators.

Children at our Centre experience a complete holistic approach to child care that is meant to incorporate care that meets the need of children emotionally, spiritually, physically and mentally. A variety of play based learning activities that allow children’s exploration, play in an environment rich content that encourages the children to make their own choices.  Indoor play and outdoor play are also part of the child’s daily experiences. We also have time for a rest period, individual and group play that supports each child’s needs.

We recognize that each child is competent, capable, curious, and rich in potential. Our program further supports this by allowing children to learn to become self-reliant.  Providing a space that supports each child’s unique abilities to grow and develop to their maximum potential. 

Program goals, consist with the Ministry of Education pedagogy How Does Learning Happen, include

• Every child has a sense of belonging and is connected to others and contributes to their world.
• Every child is developing a sense of self, health, and well-being.
• Every child is an active and engaged learner who explores the world with body, mind, and senses.
• Every child is a capable communicator who expresses himself or herself in many ways.

At Little Lambs Gathering Day Care we encourage and foster positive interactions and relationships between the child, educator and families.  In order to provide the best possible care, it is our belief that there needs to be constant communication between the parents/guardians and the educators.  Community partners also add an enriched learning experience through field trips and community contact. 

Our Educators and staff ensure an ongoing commitment to the safety and well-being of the children by taking extra precautions and being diligent in their roles as primary caregivers of each child. Nutritious snacks and meals are prepared daily and are offered in the morning, lunch and afternoon snacks. Children also have access to clean drinking water at all times and parents/guardians are encouraged to provide snacks for in classroom time.  

Parents and teachers will have an opportunity to meet twice per year to discuss their child’s progress and review the documented observation notes. Once at the beginning of the year and once at the end of June.

Programs

• Toddler Program = 4 Toddlers 18 – 30 months
• Preschool Program = 13 Preschoolers 31 – 5 years
• Before and After school Program = 10

Days & Hours of Operation

The Daycare is open all year round, Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. except for two weeks in December for Christmas Break and one week during the summer months for professional development. Each child enrolled will have a designated arrival and departure time.

Arrival & Departure Time

Young children depend on regular routines for their own sense of security. Fixed arrival and departure times are necessary to maintain legislative child and staff ratios. It is important that staff be aware of designated arrival and pick up times. Unless otherwise arranged, children will not be released to any persons other than those specified on the registration form. If a child is going to be late, absent or parent is delayed in arriving for departure time, the staff must be advised. Parents arriving later than their scheduled pick up time will be charged $5.00 for each five minutes starting after their scheduled departure time. Non-Working parents must pick up their children before 3:30p.m.

Admission & Discharge

The enrolment procedure will include an initial interview where parents and child can become familiar with the Daycare; complete admission forms and ask questions. A registration fee of $20.00, copy of health card and immunization record for each child will be included with the completed registration forms.

Two (2) weeks written notice will be required to withdraw a child permanently from the program. Space will not be guaranteed for a child in the program should he/she be withdrawn on a temporary basis. Services will be terminated if policies are not followed if fees are not paid or irregular attendance occurs consistently.  If a child is absent from the program for 2 consecutive weeks without a valid cause, they will be discharged from the program.

Parents/Guardians of newly enrolled students will be expected to accompany their child for the first few days of attendance. Parents are more than welcome to accompany their child for however long they feel comfortable with.

Nutrition

A nutritious breakfast, a hot lunch and an afternoon snack are served daily. A menu will be posted so that you are aware of your child’s diet. Our cook must follow the Canada’s Health Food Guide when preparing meals. Teaching children about making healthy food choices will ensure good physical development in their growing years. Independence is encouraged at lunchtime. Children may be encouraged to taste new foods that they may not be familiar with. Often children find that will enjoy the new foods.  Children’s special dietary needs and allergies are posted in the kitchen area for the cook and staff to view.    

Personal Health

When working with children, every possible measure must be taken to make ensure personal hygiene practices are followed. Children are very susceptible to illness and infection if extra care is not taken. Staff are asked to wash hands after each diaper changing and before serving meals.

All staff and children attending daycare are required to have up-to-date immunization.

To enhance the children’s knowledge and skills when it comes to personal hygiene, themes are incorporated into the program. Through these themes such as community helpers, my healthy body, nutrition, etc., the children will learn at early age the importance of practicing healthy habits.

Development

The following are some of the areas that your child(ren) will learn:

1. Developing a trusting and secure relationship so the child can successfully separate from his/her parent.
2. Feels secure enough to enter freely into activities that offered in the room
3. Encourage emotions so that a positive self-image is developed
4. Child will develop his/her cognitive and intellectual skills while attending our centre. Skills such as: listening, taking turns, co-operating, observing, negotiating and gaining the ability for decision making.
5. Academic skills will be enhanced by learning and singing the alphabet, know basic shapes and numbers. Other skills that will be learnt are cutting with scissors, holding a pencils/crayons, drawing and coloring.

To meet our objective, well-planned programming is set up by each individual teacher. The following activities will be included in their activities, circle time, arts & crafts, dramatic play, sand/water play, story time, free and outdoor play. Our program is flexible in offering the children their choice of play and theme. We try to build learning based on what the interest of each child. It also offers a sense of routine to create trust and a sense of security. Outdoors, the children will have opportunity to select from a variety of different equipment options that will assist with his/her physical growth and muscular development.

Health of Children

If you notice that your child is not feeling well, and is displaying signs and symptoms that he/she is sick, to avoid the spread of the viruses, we ask that you please keep your child at home. If your child comes to the centre and appears to show signs of ill health, you will contacted immediately to pick up your child. If you cannot be reached, the emergency contact person listed will be called.

Please watch for the following symptoms

• Watery, inflamed eyes or eyelids
• Glazed appearance of eyes
• Deep cough
• Inflamed nostrils
• Unusual irritability
• Rash, sores, flushed appearance, clamminess, pallor, or other unusual conditions of the skin
• Contagious diseases
• Running temperature
• Vomiting or diarrhea

If a child becomes sick during the day

• Parents/Guardian will be notified for pick up
• The child will be kept comfortable until parent/guardian arrives
• Incident will be recorded in the daily log book
• Once a parent/guardian is contacted, they will have no more than 30 minutes to pick up a sick child. After 30 minutes, a late fee of $5.00 will be charged.

A general rule for determining whether or not a child is well enough to attend school is their ability to cope with a full day of programming which includes outdoor/gym play (approximately 1 hr. in the morning and 1hr in the afternoon).

Clothing

Every child attending daycare should have at least one spare change of clothing in their cubby at all times. Please make sure that your child has warm clothing when coming to the Daycare. As during the spring, summer and fall months, we will be going for walks and playing outside weather permitting. Clothing sent should be according to seasonal changes.

All children will need to have a pair of non-marking indoor shoes to wear while at daycare.

Supplies

Parents/Guardians will be notified when their child’s supply of diapers or wipes needs to be replenished.  A note will be posted in your child’s cubby letting you know what supplies need to brought in.

Discipline

Children will be disciplined in a positive manner at a level that is appropriate for their age level and comprehension. No child shall be belittled or made to feel bad about themselves. Spanking and other physical discipline are NOT permitted.

Teachers will intervene when a child displays behavior that will:

• Injure or harm themselves
• Injure or harm other children
• Destroys other children’s property
• Destroys daycare property

In cases where a child harms another child, a report of the event will be documented. The child that hits/bites/throws toys with intent to harm will be spoken to by the teacher and removed from the class through time outs. If the undesired behavior continues and cannot be corrected, the child may be removed from the Daycare Program until he/she is able to control undesired behaviors.

The Child Care and Early Years Act states criteria on discipline procedures, which are prohibited practices: staff, parents and/or visitors shall not:

• Corporal punishment of a child;
• Physical restraint of the child, such as confining the child to high chair, car seat, stroller or other devices for the purpose of discipline or in lieu of supervision, unless the physical restraint is for the purpose of preventing a child from hurting himself/herself or someone else, and is used only as a last resort and only until the risk of injury is no longer imminent;
• Locking the exits of child care centre or home child care premises for the purposes of confining  the child, or confining the child in an area or room without adult supervision, unless such a confinement occurs during an emergency and is required as part of the licensee’s emergency management policies and procedures;
• Use harsh or degrading measures or threats or use of derogatory language directed at or used in the presence of a child that would humiliate, shame, or frighten the child or undermine his or her self-respect, dignity or self-worth;
• Depriving the child of basic needs including food, drink, shelter, sleep, toilet use, clothing or bedding; or
• Inflicting any bodily harm on children including making children eat or drink against their will.

Staff are monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure that appropriate behavior management practices are used at all times.

If any parent or guardian has a concern or question, you are encouraged to see the Daycare Administrator who will be more than happy to assist you. It is the responsibility of the Administrator to provide follow up for parents and guardians when necessary.

Duty to Report

Please be advised that we have a duty to report any suspicion of abuse regarding the children in our care to the Kunuwanimano Child & Family Services at 705-463-1049.

Daycare Closure

On all statutory holidays

1. New Year’s Day
2. Family Day
3. Good Friday
4. Easter Monday
5. Victoria Day
6. Canada Day
7. Treaty Day
8. Aboriginal Day
9. Civic Day
10. Labor Day
11. Thanksgiving Day
12. Aboriginal Veteran’s Day
13. Christmas Day
14. Boxing Day
15. Designated Professional Development Days
16. Power & Water Outages

In the event of heating or electrical failure, the Daycare Administrator will contact parents and notify of Daycare Closure.

Fees

A monthly daycare fee of $40.00 is due by 1^st of each month. If payments are done through payroll deduction, a signed copy must forwarded to the administrator. Failure to comply with payments will result in late charges and withdrawn of services if payment is not received after 5 working days.

Admission Priority

Priority 1:       Two full-time working parents or Single full-time working parent/Full-time

                        Student(s)

Priority 2:       Two-part time working parents

Priority 3:       One working parent with one parent at home

Priority 4:       Non-working parent (s)

Other considerations:  In the event of a change of status of the parent with work or school, it is the parent’s responsibility to notify the Daycare Administrator.

The Daycare has limited spaces for child care, in the event that a working parent or student requires services, children in the program that have childcare available at home may be asked to withdraw from the program.  

There is a required registration fee of $20.00 that is to be paid in full to the Administrator before the child is able to begin the program.

Wait List Policy

Little Lambs Gathering will follow the steps listed below for families who are placed on its waitlist.

1. A child is placed our wait list once a completed registration package and policy agreement has been dated, signed and received from Little Lambs Gathering Daycare.
2. Children are categorized on the list based on the date of initial contact and the type of care required. (Toddler/Preschool/Afterschool)
3. Priority is given to the progression of children from program to program.
4. Priority of a space will be offered to as follows:

Priority 1: Two Full-Time working parents/guardians or Single Full-Time working parent/guardian

Priority 2: Two Part-Time working parents/guardians

Priority 3: One working parent/guardian with one parent/guardian at home

Priority 4: Non-Working parent/guardian

In event of individuals under the same priority, the space will then be offered to the individual whose application was first received.

• No fee or deposit is collected to place children on or keep their place on the waitlist.
• It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to keep their contact information current and to confirm their waitlist spot every three months.
• When a space becomes available, parents/guardians are called in order of the placement on the waitlist. If a parent refuses a space, the next parent/guardian is contacted until the space is filled.
• A list of where your child is on the waitlist will be provided upon request.  The names of the other children waiting will be kept confidential and not released. 

Open House

The Centre has an open door policy and welcomes parents/guardians for visits any time except during naptime which is from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Open houses are held sporadically throughout the year. Parents and Guardians will receive notices of events in their child’s cubby.

Field Trips

Occasionally, the children may go on field trips into Hearst. In the event of a planned field trip your child’s teacher will provide you with a consent form that will need to be signed and returned. The consent form will have the date of the field trip, time of departure and arrival and where the children are going.  Parents & Guardians are always welcome to come on field trips. Parents and Guardians are not permitted to smoke while on any field trip excursion.

Student and Volunteer Supervision Policy

Little Lambs Gathering Daycare encourages volunteer and student involvement in the programs. However, volunteers/students do not replace employees and will not be used to eliminate or displace paid positions. Only Employees will have direct unsupervised access to the children.  In accordance with LLGD policies, volunteers/students are oriented to their position, supported in their work, adequately supervised and recognized for their contributions to LLGD.

Procedures in respect to volunteers & students

• Little Lambs Gathering Daycare Polices will be read, understood and signed off prior to starting.
• Behavior Management policies and procedures are reviewed with volunteers or students who will be providing care or guidance and at least annual afterwards.
• Criminal Reference and Vulnerability Sector Checks are to be submitted prior to starting
• Supervision by volunteers and students – No child is supervised by a person under 18 years of age. Volunteers and students may not be counted in the staffing ratios.

Roles & Responsibilities of Volunteers & Students

• Assist teachers with basic child care, monitoring of children for safety as they go about their daily activities
• Listening and playing with children, offering comfort when needed and assisting with resolving minor spats and squabbles                                                                                                               
• Assist with the preparation, serving and cleanup of snacks and meals
• Follow all organizational policies and procedures
• Communicate with full-time staff and volunteers of ongoing facility, program and client needs 

Expectations

• Be polite and respectful at all times
• Treat staff, other volunteers, children and parents with dignity, consideration and courtesy.
• Respectful of everyone’s right to privacy
• Communicate with and follow the direction/guidance of staff
• Report accidents and incidents to program educator immediately
• Bring any idea’s, concerns or issues to Daycare Administrator