Latchkey Day Care

Licensing

The Ministry of Community and Social Services/Ministry of Child and Youth Services, under the provisions of the Day Nurseries Act of Ontario, license all Latchkey Day Care & Learning Centre locations annually.

The licensing process includes physical inspections, monitoring the environment, playground equipment, health, safety, teaching qualifications and staff ratios.

Days and Hours of Operation

Latchkey Day Care & Learning Centre offers “Before and After School” programs from Monday to Friday. Days and times vary at each site. We also offer full day programs during Summer Vacation, March Break, Christmas Holidays and PD days.

Latchkey Learning Centers operate Monday-Friday. The hours of operation are 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

All Programs do not operate on statutory or civic holidays. Parents are not required to pay fees on these days to hold a child’s spot in the day care program.

Tuition

A $25.00 non refundable annual registration fee is due at the time of the registration, and holds your child’s spot in the program.

Tuition fees are due at the beginning of every month. Tuition must be paid using personal cheques or money orders. Cash payments will not be accepted.

Latchkey Day Care & Learning Centre will provide a statement to show all the payments and the number of days used each month. Please see the fee agreement for daily rates.

Subsidy is available for qualifying families by contacting Social and Family Services at (519) 255-5312 (Windsor) or 1-877-792-2312 (County).

Tuition fees paid in advance are non-refundable unless you provide written notification, at least one month on advance of changes in your schedule. Regular tuition will be charged when Parents/Guardians fail to notify the program Supervisor of any schedule changes.

It is policy that all cheques returned to Latchkey Day Care & Learning Centre as Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) will incur a fee of $30.00. All other bank charges or fees incurred because of returned cheques will be passed on to the parent/guardian and must be paid within 5 days of notification.

Latchkey Day Care & Learning Centre reserves the right to require a money order or cashier cheque from families with repeated returned cheques.

Balances in arrears over 30 days will result in immediate termination of services and the account will be turned over to a collection agency.

Emergency and Evacuation Procedures

Emergency and evacuation procedures are in place at all Latchkey Day Care and Learning Centres. In the event children need to be evacuated from the school due to carbon monoxide, the smell of gas or other environmental emergency, all staff and children will be moved to emergency shelter locations. The emergency shelter locations for your program are posted on the wall together with the fire safety procedures. Once everyone has been safely moved to an emergency shelter, parents/guardians will be contacted by phone and notified of the emergency. All Latchkey Day Care Program Supervisors have cell phones.

In the interest of safety, fire drill and evacuation procedures are completed with the children on a monthly basis as required by the Day Nurseries Act.

Nutrition

Latchkey Day Care “Before and After School” programs will offer a nutritious snack daily. Latchkey Learning Centres will provide two nutritious snacks and a hot lunch each day.

All special dietary concern and allergies will be posted in the eating area. Menus are posted each week on the information board.

In some programs, due to severe allergies and other food sensitivities, peanuts and nutmeat products such as peanut butter will not be permitted.

The parent/guardian is responsible to name any allergies, medicinal, food or environmental, your child may have on the registration package. This information allows the staff to determine the difference between a sick child and one suffering from allergies.

Nap/Rest Time- Learning Centre Programs Only

As required in the Day Nurseries Act any child five years or younger that is in attendance for six hours or more in a day, has a rest period of one hour. If your child is unable to sleep during the rest period, he/she can engage in a quiet activity by reading a book or playing quietly with a puzzle.

In the half day Learning Centre program at Our Lady of Mount Carmel the children will have a half hour rest or do a quiet activity.

Admission & Discharge

Learning Centre parent/guardians are required to complete a registration package and sign a tuition agreement for each child registered. The Learning Centre Supervisors must be notified in writing a minimum of one month prior to a change in your child’s schedule. If proper notice is not provided a one month payment is required in lieu of notice.

Before and After School Program

Parents/Guardians are required to complete a registration package and sign a tuition agreement for each child registered in the “Before and After School” program.

Regular Fees will be charged when parents/guardians fail to notify the Program Supervisor of cancelled days. 14 days notice is required for changes in schedules for days switched but not cancelled requires 24 hours notice.

The “Learning Centre” Program

Learning Centre parents/guardians are required to complete a registration package and sign a tuition agreement for each child registered in Learning Centre program.

The Learning Centre Supervisors must be notified in writing a minimum of one month prior to a change in your child’s schedule. If proper notice is not provided, a one month payment is required in lieu of notice.

The Day Care Supervisor must be notified in writting a minimum of one month prior to a change in your child's schedule. If proper notice is not provided, a one month payment is required in lieu of notice.

Arrival and Departure

All children must be escorted into and out of the facility using the designated entrance. Each child must be signed-in upon arrival and signed-out upon departure. The person signing in and out must be at least 18 years of age. No child will be released to any person not authorized by the Parent/Guardian to pick up your child. The names of all people authorized to pick up your child must appear on the Consent to Pick Up form, or we may not release the child. Refer to the registration package; all people on this list should be prepared to present picture identification when picking up a child.

We must have written authorization for changes in this respect.

Children with Special Needs

It is a matter of the Latchkey Day Care & Learning Centre philosophy and policy to accommodate children with special needs at all programs. Please discuss your child’s needs with the Program Supervisor.

Bad Weather Conditions

All latchkey Day Care & Learning Centers will attempt to remain open on bad weather days. If you are unsure if your Day Care Centre is open, please call the Program Supervisor first.

Please note that if the school is closed then the Latchkey Day Care and Learning Centre program will also be closed. This also applies when the schools are closed during the middle of the day due to bad weather. The Program Supervisor will call the parent/ guardian for early pick up.

Please listen to AM 800 for weather updates and school closure information.

Clothing and Possessions

Your child should be dressed in clothing that is appropriate for physical activity and the weather. Please label all of your child’s belonging to avoid lost items.

It is recommended that your child have an extra set of clothing at the location at all times.

Latchkey Day Care and Learning is not responsible for lost clothing or personal possessions.

Illness and Accidents

Latchkey Day Care and Learning Centre can only accept children in good health.

The Day Nurseries Act requires outdoor play for each child on a daily basis. Therefore, it is our policy that children too ill to play outside should remain at home.

If your child has any of the following symptoms you must keep them at home:

Temperature 100*F or more, earaches, skin rash, nausea/vomiting, dizziness or faintness, chill, diarrhea, swollen glands, or inflamed eyes.

If your child is ill and receives antibiotics, your child may not attend until he/she has been on the antibiotic for more than 24 hours. In the case of head lice, your child must be nit free to return to the program.

If your child becomes ill or in the event of an accident, while in our care, temporary care will be provided until you or your emergency contact can come and pick up your child (within 30 minutes of notification).

It is in your child’s best interest that you provide your Program Supervisor with up to date information of telephone numbers, emergency contact numbers, allergies, medication, health card number and any other relevant information that may be needed. This information is contained in the Registration Package

Administering Medication

The Latchkey Day Care and Learning Centre staff will administer prescription drugs to children in accordance with current legislation. Parents are required to provide:

1. Written Authorization, including dosage and time to be administered

2. Medication in the original container, clearly labeled with the child’s name, name of the drug, the dosage and the reason for taking it along with storage instructions.

Please do not leave any medication in your child’s backpack. Hand the medication to the Latchkey Day Care & Learning Centre Staff.

Discipline

Children are disciplined in a positive manner at a level that is appropriate to their actions and their age in order to promote self-discipline, ensure the health and safety of themselves and other, respect for the rights of others and to protect property.

No form of corporal punishment is permitted as a means of discipline. Please see our Behavior Management Policy for further information.

We have a comprehensive behavioral support policy that promotes a team approach between the family, school and other profession. As a matter of policy, we do not allow hitting, biting, kicking, abuse of children (self or others), abuse of staff, leaving the program without permission, non-compliance to a staff request or the physical destruction of school or Latchkey property.

We rely on the cooperation of children and families in this regard. The Program Supervisor and the Executive Director will review specific behavioral occurrences.

Child Abuse

Licensed childcare providers are mandatory reporters of child abuse. Our policies and procedures clearly outline the protocol for reporting suspected abusive situations.

Also, please do not come to pick up your child while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Although by law we must relinquish custody to you under these circumstances, please be aware that the proper authorities will be notified.

Discontinuation of Childcare Services

The Executive Director, on behalf of the Board of Directors reserves the right to ask for a child’s withdrawal if:

1. Latchkey staff is not able to meet the behavioral or physical needs of the child in our day care environment, although every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate children with special needs.

2. Lack of parental support when dealing with challenging situations

3. Arrears in accounts past 30 days

4. Tardiness in picking up your child on 3 occasions.

Fundraising

As a non-profit corporation, fundraising is a fact of life and a way of building community. Throughout the school year your Program Supervisor will hold special fundraisers (Avon, Zehrs tapes etc.)

The money raised is used for fieldtrips, transportation costs or special craft supplies or each specific Centre.

Parent Concerns

Latchkey Day Care and Learning Centre will strive to provide an environment that is appropriate for you and your child. We will work in partnership with you and welcome any comments or suggestions that you may have concerning the program or your child. We have an open door policy to welcome you in at all times.

It is the responsibility of all Program Supervisors to ensure that all parents/guardians have access to this procedure in the result of any dissatisfaction with the service that is offered to them.

The following procedures apply:

In the first instance you would discuss any concerns you may have with the individual member of staff caring for your child.

If you are not satisfied after doing so, you will then be referred to the Learning Centre Supervisor who will deal with the situation immediately.

In the event of an unsatisfactory solution being reached at this stage you can be refereed to the Executive Director. This referral can be either through a letter or by personnel request. An appointment will then be made for a meeting at a mutually agreed time.

All complaints are confidential and all information will be recorded.

The Executive Director will acknowledge receipt of the referral and make arrangements for all information to be heard and make a decision regarding the situation.

If the parent/guardian is not satisfied with the decision of the Executive Director, they may make an appointment to speak with the Board of Directors at the next regularly scheduled Board Meeting.

As per our policy, a serious occurrence may be reported to the Ministry of Community and Social Services/Ministry of Child and Youth Services where the complaint involves the operational, physical or safety standards of the survives that are considered by the service provider to be a serious offense. This includes all allegations of abuse or mistreatment of children against staff or volunteers as well as complaints made about a parent or child.

Program Reminders

Dear Parents,

Please take a moment to read the following rules of Latchkey Day Care.

1. You must register your child in advance in order for your child to attend Latchkey Day Care. This will help ensure that your child arrives safely. When you provide us with your child’s schedule, not only is the Program Supervisor responsible for ensuring that he/she arrives, but also that the required amount of staff is scheduled according to our operating license. The proper child/staff ratio is outlined very clearly in the Day Nurseries Act and we must adhere to these requirements on a daily basis.

2. You must call 24 hours in advance to cancel a scheduled day or you will be charged an hour absent fee. Each Latchkey Day Care location has its own phone number equipped with voice mail checked several times per day.

School secretaries do not work for Latchkey Day Care and therefore they do not know your child is registered in our programs.

If you are calling the school to report an illness you must also call Latchkey Day Care to cancel your scheduled day.

On to many occasions staff are looking for more than one child. We usually DO NOT get messages from your child’s teacher or school. It remains your responsibility to notify us when your child is ill or has been picked up from school. Please take a moment to call and let us know that he/she will not be attending. Our phone lines with voicemail operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Thank you for your attention in this matter. The safety of all children is important to us all. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.

3. If you have to pick your child unexpectedly at school due to an illness or unplanned event you must call Latchkey Day Care & Learning Centre so that the staff will not be searching for your child needlessly or delay buses in order to ensure they are not on them.

4. As stated in the registration package, someone over the age of 18 must sign your child in and out whenever your child attends. It’s mandatory, without exception, that your child is escorted into the facility in the morning and out of the facility in the afternoon. Our Ministry license requires this practice. Failure to comply will result in your child’s dismissal.

Latchkey Day Care & Learning Centre Summer Program Reminders

Dear Parents,

Each summer we want to ensure that all families understand Latchkey policies and procedures. Please review the information below.

1. Latchkey programs close promptly at 5:30 pm or 6:00 pm. If your child is picked up later than the closing time on three occasions you will be asked to find alternate care.

2. Families are required to pay for their summer days in advance. Each months’ payment must be prepaid (ex. Postdated cheques for the 1^st and 15^th of the month).

3. Because fieldtrips and transportation are planned in advance you are still responsible for any fees for the activity and/or bus when you cancel the day or your child is sick. These fees are to be paid in cash to the Program Supervisor.

4. Parents must provide two weeks written notice of cancellation in order to receive a refund or credit. Under no circumstances will your payment be refunded or credited without providing a two week notice. Refunds or credits cannot be provided due to child’s illness.

5. All summer program locations will be networked with the Windsor Essex County Air Quality Committee in order to receive daily fax or voice mail messages indicating that the Ministry of the Environment has issued a smog advisory. This means that it is not safe to be outdoors. When this occurs all outdoor activities will be cancelled or rearranged. This will only be done with the best health interests of the child and staff at all times.

6. If a scheduled activity needs to be cancelled the Program Supervisor or designate, in consultation with the Executive Director will inform all parents as soon as possible. Where time permits, the Supervisor or designate will notify parents in advance if an activity will be cancelled due to smog advisory that affects a number of days. The activity cannot be rescheduled.

7. In the interest of health and safety of all children who have a peanut or nut allergy, we ask that you take the time to read all food labels when preparing your child’s lunch. Latchkey Day Care is a peanut and nut free environment and your child will be asked to put away any food containing them or labeled as many contain peanuts and/or nuts. If a food has been taken out of its original package and the Latchkey staff is unsure of the ingredients, your child will be asked not to eat it and if necessary, a substitute will be provided.

8. When on fieldtrips or outside using the play equipment it is important that your child is dressed appropriately. Running shoes or sandals strapped on feet (no flip flops) are best. You may send an extra pair of shoes to leave at the facility for your child. Sunscreen and hats are also needed for those sunny days.

9. Each Latchkey Day Care Program Supervisor has a cell phone that will be taken on every fieldtrip. If you need to contact the Latchkey Day Care staff while they are on a fieldtrip please call the program cell phone. Speak to the Program Supervisor to get the cell phone number.