Parent Handbook

Effective September 2022 

HOURS OF SERVICE 

My business hours are Monday to Thursday from 7:30am. to 5:00pm. (Unless otherwise arranged due to your work schedule) My fees are as follows: 2 days/week: $400/month, 3 days/week: $600/month and 4 days/week: $800/month. I will not be open on Fridays. 

I follow the Elk Island Public School weeks off for Spring Break, Fall Break, Christmas Break as well as a week in July and a week in August. You will be able to view my calendar for the weeks I have off during the school year. Rates in November, December, March, July and August will be ¾ of the monthly fees to reflect the weeks off. If I am available on my weeks off, I will let you know in advance and allow drop-in for $50/day

I am not open during Statutory Holidays. Statutory Holidays will be a paid day. (with the exception of holidays that take place during my scheduled weeks off) 

Families are allowed to take vacations at any time during the school year but they are required to pay the full monthly fee to hold their spot. An exception to this is during the months of July and August because I will also be allowing drop-in during those months. 

REGISTRATION FEE 

This fee guarantees a spot for a specified date and number of children. The $100 fee per child is non-refundable if alternate arrangements are made by you. The amount will be credited towards your child’s first month’s fees. 

SICK CHILD POLICY 

If a child becomes ill while at the preschool then he/she will be kept isolated in an area away from the other children while waiting for pickup. (In an area marked off in the same room so I can still see and check up on them) I will wear a mask when in contact with the sick child and wash my hands before and after contact with the child and anything they touch. All items used by the child will be cleaned and disinfected as soon as they are picked up. Items that cannot be disinfected (paper, books, cardboard) will be stored in a sealed container for 10 days. 

If I am sick, I will let you know as soon as possible. You will not be required to pay for care on any days I take off due to my children or myself being sick or isolating due to Covid exposure. I will credit towards the next month’s fees at $50/day. If a child or myself is confirmed to have Covid-19 then I am required to be closed for 72 hours for cleaning. 

Any child with a fever or vomiting must stay home until they are free from fever suppressing medicine and vomiting for 24 hours.

ABSENCE 

If your child is not attending for any reason or will be late, please let me know as soon as possible in the morning. I check my phone on a regular basis.  

I have certified substitute teachers who may cover for me occasionally if I need to leave for part of a day due to an appointment. I will give you as much notice as possible if this occurs.

MEALS

I will be providing your child with well-balanced meals and snacks. They will also have lunch at 12:00pm and snacks around 10:00am and 3:00pm. 

NAPS/QUIET TIME

Naptime will take place after lunch. If a child does not nap, he/she will do quiet activities in the room such as looking at stories, doing puzzles or colouring. 

PERSONAL ITEMS 

Please provide the following items: 

1. A change of clothing, labelled with the child’s name, to be used in case of an accident. 

2. Diapers and wipes for those children not potty trained. 

3. Optional water bottle

4. Optional backpack

DISCIPLINE

I use positive discipline techniques such as making my expectations clear, reminders, redirection and positive reinforcement. Physical and emotional punishments will not be used in my preschool. You will be informed if a problem persists or if I need cooperation from home so that we can be more consistent in what is expected. 

PETS 

We have two dogs, Hazelnut and Gizmo. They are very friendly but can be separated from the children on the other side of a gate when we are on the main floor if the children are afraid or have allergies. The dogs do not go into the classroom in the basement. We have 2 bunnies that are kept upstairs away from the areas the children are in. The bunnies may occasionally come out for short, supervised visits if the children are not afraid and don’t have allergies. We also have 2 budgies in a cage on the main floor in the living room. 

FIRE AND STORM DRILLS 

Our Fire escape plan for the upstairs area is to exit out of the front door. The secondary plan is to exit out of the back door. If in the basement classroom, our fire escape plan will be for us to go up the stairs and out the front door. The secondary plan is to go up specially designed steps and exit out of the window. The muster point is across the street at the mailboxes. Fire and storm drills are practised regularly to teach the children how to deal with an emergency situation. I am trained in Emergency First aid and CPR. 

TRANSPORTING 

If the children are ever to be transported, I will request your permission in advance unless it is an emergency. If they are to be transported, they will be in the appropriate car seat or seat belt, depending on their age. We go for walks to the parks and fields nearby. 

GRIEVANCE POLICY 

If you are unsatisfied with my services or policy, please feel free to communicate these concerns with me at any time. 

FEES 

Monthly fees are as follows: $200/month for 1 day a week, $400/month for 2 days a week, $600/month for 3 days a week and $800/month for 4 days a week. Payment is due on the first of every month. They can be paid by e-transfer (little.owl.learning3@gmail.com), cash or cheque to Amanda Grumbach. A receipt will be issued through our Brightwheel communication app.

A late payment penalty of $20/day will be applied to fees if not received by 6:00pm on the first of the month. 

A NSF Fee of $50.00 will be charged if a cheque comes back insufficient funds or stopped payment.

FINAL NOTICE 

Two weeks notice is required at the time of termination. By signing a contract agreement, you agree to give a two-week notice before terminating care or paying the two-week fee to terminate immediately. I would appreciate as much notice as possible, so if you give more than two weeks, your child’s spot is guaranteed until your date of termination.