The Center will be closed on the following Days/Holidays:

New Year’s Day and Eve

Martin Luther King Day

President’s Day

Good Friday

Memorial Day

4^th of July

Labor Day

Thanks Giving Day and Day after

P/T Conference Days (Nov /Feb)

Christmas Eve and Day

In case of severe weather please watch the local news channel 2 for closing information or call the center and listen to voice mail recording.

Please be sure to bring 2-cot sheets for naptime, extra clothes to suit season, toothbrush, toothpaste, wipes and pull-ups (if not toilet trained).

Napping linen must be taken home each week for laundry and be returned on Monday for napping.

Please do not bring food, drinks and or toys into the center except for special occasions.

The staff will make effort to safeguard personal belongings brought by the children, but shall not be responsible for lost or broken items.

·        Non-refundable registration fee must be paid upon enrollment

·        Tuition, Co-pays and late fees must be paid on Monday Mornings upon arrival.

·        No credit will be given for Holidays. Tuition is the same each week.

·        No credit will be given for severe weather, absences except for 1 week of family vacation a year. (Must give 2-week notice)

·        Payments must be given to Director or be placed in Director’s mailbox.

·        Payments must be made by: cash, money order or credit card. (Subject to change)

·        Childcare Payment authorizations must be received from your child’s caseworker before your child can attend the program. (Applies to families receiving subsidized Childcare assistance)

Upon arrival, a staff member will greet you and your child in a warm and friendly manner. Please sign your child into the program and walk your child into his/her designated area/class to be greeted by his/her teacher. Please note that we are required by the Mo Department of health to observe children for contagious illnesses upon arrival each morning. If your child appears to be ill, please expect for your child’s teacher or Director to do a brief health check. In some cases your child will not be accepted into our care. You are expected to notify us if your child was injured prior to arriving to the center.

The center has experienced and highly trained early childhood professionals. Minimum qualifications for all of our Staff are as follows but not limited to:

Lead Teachers- 9-months experience, HS Diploma or GED with 9-college credit hours in Child related college courses

 Asst. Teachers - 6 months experience and HS diploma or GED

 Director- 12 months experience with High school Diploma or GED, 12 college credit hours in Child related College Courses.

All staff members are required by the Mo Department of health to obtain 12-training clock-hours each year and are encouraged to further education. All of our staff members are CPR Certified.

Parents are encouraged to be involved in the program in a variety of ways. Here are some examples of parent involvement:

·         Parent surveys

·         Volunteer in classroom

·         Assist on fieldtrips

·         Send treats to parties

·         Volunteer your talent or work experience

·         Help with fundraisers

·         Help organize events

This is just a small list of ways you get involved at Learning Days. If you would like to help us in other ways please let us know!

Meals

We provide the following meals: Breakfast, Lunch and snack. Each meal offers your child milk, meat, vegetables and/or fruit and bread. If your child is enrolled in the evening program, your child will be offered Supper. Meals are served at a specific time. Your child will be served if in attendance. Meals will not be saved or held. Menus are posted and/or sent home weekly.

Birthdays and Holidays are special events at Learning Days. If you choose to celebrate your child’s birthday, we will plan a birthday celebration on your child’s birthday at snack time. We require that treats be store bought. We only provide decorations and games. Parents are welcome to send a cake or cupcakes to the birthday celebration.

Below is a list of Parties/events that we plan throughout the year:

·        Valentines Day

·        100^th day of preschool

·        St. Patrick’s Day

·        Spring Party

·        Year End Party

·        Fall Festival (Oct 31)

·        Christmas

·        Cinco De Mayo

·        Flag Day

·        Patriotic Preschool Parade

·        Breakfast for moms

·        Breakfast for Dads

·        Color days

·        Anniversary

·        Picnic

·        And many of events

If you would like for your child to celebrate any of the above events/holidays, please feel free to send treats to the event or assist with the event.

Behavior Management policies, and procedures

When behavior problems occur, the child’s age will be considered, to decide if the behavior is age appropriate. You will be notified of behavior problems such as: causing harm to others, disruptive behaviors or other behavior concerns. We will then together develop a plan to improve your child’s behavior. We will continue to provide positive guidance and help your child gain self-control and take responsibility for his/her own behavior. If the behavior continues, your child will be excluded from the program for up to 24-48 hours and possibly terminated from the program.

Please keep your child home if your child has a temperature of 100degrees or higher, chronic cough, sore throat, pink-eye w/drainage, unusual skin rash, diarrhea and/or vomiting. If any of theses symptoms occur while your child in our care, you will be contacted to come for your child. You will be given a Illness form and asked to contact our on-call nurse (Kathi Bowers, RN-Kids) if you have any questions. Your child will be isolated until your arrival. Your child will be allowed to re-enter the program if he/she has been free of the above symptoms for more than 24 hours and in some cases a doctor’s statement may be required before your child can return to the center.

If your child is too sick for Outdoor play, he/she is too sick for school. We are required by the Mo Health Department to provide the children with a minimum of 1 hour of outdoor play each day.

Child/Abuse Neglect

The staff of Learning Days is required to report to the Missouri Division of Family Services, as required by laws of Missouri, any suspicions of child Abuse, sexual or otherwise neglect or endangerment of which they may become aware.

Injury/accident guidelines

If your child becomes injured other than a minor scrape or bruise you will be notified immediately. The incident will be assessed and documented. You will be given a copy of the incident report at pick-up time. In case of an emergency you must supply us with (2) back up contacts. You must be easily reached during the hours your child is in our care.

Other injury/accident prevention guidelines

·        To prevent injuries on the playground please send your child to school with tennis shoes.

·        Do not allow your children to run on the parking lot, hold your child’s hand: children should not be left unattended in the car

·        Balloons are hazardous to children: therefore we do not give them to children

·        Loose comfortable clothes must be worn. Sweatshirts with strings around the hood are not allowed.

Step1… Reflect on what happened (“I see how upset you are about the situation”)

Step2…Explain (“Here’s what I think”)

Step3…Reason (I will give you a reason for what I think)

Step4…Understanding (Try to see the conflict from both point of views)

Step5…Negotiate (Begin to look for a solution when both parties are clear about the issues and our differing perspectives (What can we do about this situation?)

Before your child attends the program, you will be encouraged to visit the program with your child. You and your child will be invited to a mealtime, a daily activity or just to stop by the classroom and meet the teacher and the other children at anytime.

Parents must meet with the director, before the child’s first day, to review all required enrollment forms, review/discuss the family Handbook and share your goals for your child.

Parent Conferences/Communication

Parent conferences are scheduled twice a year. Together you and your child’s teacher will review your child’s progress, needs and set goals for your child. Parents are also welcomed to visit the program at anytime their child is present.

Others ways that we will communicate with you:

·        Brief discussions upon arrival

·        Daily/weekly reports

·        Telephone calls during teachers planning time

·        Monthly newsletters

·        Open house events

If anyone other than yourself and/or designated person will pick-up your child, you must complete an authorized to pick-up consent form. (No exceptions!)

Materials that are accessible to you

·         Criminal Background Checks of Owners and All staff members

·         Bureau of Childcare Licensing Rules

·         Lesson Plans

·         Daily Schedules

·         Information on Parents as teachers and/or Special needs services

·         Family/Child resources

·         Referral services

·         Childcare Assistance information (Division of Family Services)

Medication will only be administered with the parent’s consent by signing a medication consent form.

Non-Prescription and Prescription Medication will only be given with the child’s Physician written instructions stating the following information:

·        Child’s name

·        The medication name

·        Dose

·        Frequency of administration

·        Special precautions that may be necessary

Please keep in mind that there are great risks associated with administering over the counter medication to children with out consulting a physician.

We will not administer Fever Reducers!

Fieldtrips are scheduled 5-to-6 times a year if weather permits. Parents are informed in advance of outings and written permission must be obtained before your child can attend the fieldtrip. On the day of the trip, a notice will be posted reminding parents and staff of the trip, where the children will be going, cost, when they will leave and return to the center. At least one staff member accompanying the group must have first aid and CPR Training. A first aid kit must be taken along, money for emergency telephone calls and children’s emergency information. Name- tags will be on children with the following information; Center’s Name and phone number. Prior to the trip, procedures and safety rules are carefully reviewed with the children.

Children under the age of 3 must be accompanied by a parent or designated person. (Insurance requirement)

**New (Parent Advisory Group)

Our parent advisory group will meet twice a year to discuss plans for each year, help establish center policies and be a voice for the parents of children enrolled in the center.