BATES-RICH BEGINNINGS CHILD CARE INC



RICH BEGINNINGS CHILD CARE INC.

601 Edgewood Ave. Rochester, NY 14618 (585) 244-3650 Fax (585) 244-4043

Welcome to Rich Beginnings Child Care (RBCC). Please read this Parent Handbook & return the

acknowledgement form on the last page.

Welcome, History, Vision & Mission Statements…………….............................................................1

Philosophy .....................................................................................................................................1-2

Parent Concerns……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...2

Programs........................................................................................................................................2

Staff………….....................................................................................................................................2-3

Admission ......................................................................................................................................3

Arrival & Departure........................................................................................................................3-4

Communications………………….........................................................................................................4

Tuition Policies...............................................................................................................................4-5-6

Health Policies................................................................................................................................6-7

Behavior.........................................................................................................................................7-8

Emergency Procedures/Closing......................................................................................................8-9

Parking............................................................................................................................................9

Accidents & Medical Emergencies..................................................................................................9

Moving Up Procedures...................................................................................................................10

Toilet Training.................................................................................................................................10

Nutrition................................................................................................................................……....10-11

Nap Time……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….………..11

Clothing..........................................................................................................................................11

Abuse, Sexual Harassment and Alcohol Use..................................................................................12

Early Closing for Special Events......................................................................................................12

Babysitting .....................................................................................................................................12-13

Field Trips………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..13

Appointments…………………………………..............................................................................................13

Holidays & Observances…………………………………………………..............................................................13

Visiting Policy…….............................................................................................................................14

Acknowledgment………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………15

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WELCOME

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the Rich Beginnings’ family of Early Child Care and Education. We are confident you have chosen our Center because of the quality of care we have a reputation of providing. In order to maintain that level of quality, we rely on a great deal of parent support; which is always greatly appreciated. There will be many opportunities during your time here to support the Center and the Center staff in various ways. There is nothing more important than your child’s earliest years, and by working together we will ensure that each child is cared for in a safe, healthy, loving and educational environment.

HISTORY

This center opened as Janet Rich Child Care Center in 1978. It was purchased and run by Laura and Art Bates (Bates-Rich Beginnings) from 1983 to 2011. Bates-Rich was sold to Cindy and Harry Sturcken in 2011. Cindy Sturcken had been the Director for Bates-Rich Beginnings since July 2001.

Both Cindy and Harry are graduates of Penn State University. Cindy’s degree is in Early Childhood and she has worked in child care since 1978. Harry’s degree is in Culinary with the majority of his working history in long term care hospitality.

VISION/MISSION

The primary Vision of Rich Beginnings Child Care Center is to set the standard for quality care, by and to be the employer of choice. Additionally, we will strive to provide care for a wide range of children and to be a positive influence on future generations.

Our daily Mission is to provide a nurturing, safe, and healthy environment that promotes the physical and emotional well-being of children. Through our partnership with parents we strive to maintain a respectful and consistent relationship, and to be a positive role model for children.

PHILOSOPHY

The Rich Beginnings Child Care Center has been established as a safe, loving place where parents may leave their children for all or part of each day. The primary objective of our program is to make a positive contribution to the normal growth and development of each child. We will attempt to expose each child to a wide variety of experiences in order to arouse their curiosity, challenge their physical & mental abilities, and encourage self-expression. We will provide a stimulating environment which will motivate each child to develop and respond with new skills, at his or her own rate. Above all, we will try to develop in each child a positive self-image. A loving atmosphere with an emphasis on safety & courtesy will promote the development of self confidence and independence as well as to encourage the acquisition of new skills used in social interaction and creative experiences.

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PHILOSOPHY (Cont.)

Active involvement with materials offers children the opportunity for learning, development of skills and a sense of mastery of their environment. Center staff set limits to ensure the physical safety and emotional security of each child in ways which preserve the child's self-respect and help them develop inner discipline.

The Center's varied program of active and quiet play, with a nap or rest in the afternoon, includes outdoor play all year long. Parents & staff work closely together through daily contact, written observations and conferences. Please take time to talk with us, get to know your child's teaching team and keep us informed of important changes in your child's life.

PARENT CONCERNS

We (Cindy & Harry) are parents and grandparents ourselves. We understand the love you have for your child(ren). Our daily effort is to provide the very best care possible for every child. If for any reason you have a concern in regards to your child’s care, please bring that concern to us. We always appreciate the opportunity to make the center even better.

The Office of Child and Family Services requires that we provide all parents with their phone number (585-238-8138). We always try to create a feeling that parents are comfortable coming to us to discuss their concern before making that call. Our door is always open; please come talk to us any time.

PROGRAM

RBCC is open year round from 7 A.M. until 6 P.M., Monday through Friday. Children are accepted from 6 weeks until 12 years old and are divided into groups based on age.

To honor individual tastes and preferences as well as to provide children with choices in areas of their life that are important to them, children bring their lunches. A snack is provided by the Center in the morning and afternoon. Milk is provided with lunch.

Age groups include Infants, Toddlers (approximately 16 months to 26 months), Two Year Olds, Pre-School (age 3) and Pre-K (age 4) Kindergarten, Kindergarten Enrichment and School Age Wrap care for children in grades 1-5. Groups may be combined at the beginning or end of the day dependent on the number of children and their ages.

Rich Beginnings is a privately owned child care center (school), so the owners reserve the right to ask any family to leave the center for circumstances the owners feel make it necessary. The family will, if possible, be given a 2 week period to find alternate care for their child.

STAFF

We believe the quality of our program is directly related to the quality of our staff. Most rooms consist of three staff, generally a Level II (Lead) teacher, a Level I Teacher and a Teacher’s Aide. We also employ floats as extra staff to help cover during busy times and they are available to cover unexpected absences. We keep a short list of subs and try to use them exclusively so that when staff does take vacations or personal time, we don't have unfamiliar staff working in the rooms. There is a pictorial display of all staff in the hall and subs bios will be included in this directory. This directory can help you become familiar with all staff as you will have occasion to talk with teachers outside of your child’s classroom. Besides teachers, only qualified aides or

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subs with CPR, child abuse clearance, and appropriate training and background are left alone with the children.

We strive to hire teachers with a professional college background; the extent varies with their position. Level II Teachers will have a degree or a credential, such as a Child Development Associate (CDA). Staff maintains current Infant/Child CPR and emergency First Aid. Staff must satisfy a number of required hours of on-going training in Early Childhood Education each year, relevant to their position. A competitive benefits package, annual salary increases, opportunities for advancement, education allowances, working conditions and professional respect are key factors in attracting and retaining good staff.

ADMISSION

The Center welcomes children and families of backgrounds and beliefs. A waiting list is maintained for parents who are expecting infants, and for older children who are waiting for a spot. Many spots are filled internally, but as openings occur the waiting list is addressed on a first come, first serve basis. Preference is given to children who have siblings at the Center.

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE

It is a policy of the Center that children OF ALL AGES be brought directly to their room, or mixed group if the groups have not yet split. Please be sure the teacher knows your child has arrived and let them know when you are leaving. Also be sure to sign your child in and out on the computer. Children should have a diaper change and be dressed in their clothes at home. Although a breakfast snack helps some children transition easier, it is advisable for them to eat at home. The distractions in the room and their enthusiasm to join in play often leads to a poor breakfast. Infants should have their first feeding at home when possible, so they are not frustrated while waiting for staff to prepare that first bottle.

Children frequently come in and out of the room during their drop off routine with parents, so we need to know, with certainty, when they become our responsibility. Regardless of whether your child will cry when you say goodbye, never leave without telling them you are going. Please remove your child’s outerwear and be sure to have them leave boots in designated areas. Boots are unsafe on indoor climbing equipment. Water and salt stained carpets can make it difficult for us to maintain a clean and healthy play area.

Older children with siblings in the Infant Room should wait in kitchen area to reduce the health and safety risk to young babies. We also ask parents to remove their shoes if walking on the carpeted area of the classroom.

We ask that unless special arrangements are made, you do not bring your child in for the day past noon. Once you arrive to pick up your child, they need to leave with you. Occasionally a child wants to stay and continue playing. This can be due to them being interrupted in their play, or can also be due to a surge of emotion when reunited with you. Demonstrate how important your reunion is with them by taking them home with you.

It is always helpful to let the teacher know when you pick up your child, children quickly whisked away by a parent while we are monitoring a large group can cause confusion. If someone other than a parent is picking up your child we need written authorization from you as well as photo ID from that person. Staff will request identification from anyone they do not know, including

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parents. A parent will be asked to provide identification by staff that are not familiar to them, but remember that it is for your child's protection.

It is required by the New York State Office of Children & Families that each family have an individual listed as an emergency contact person.

Unless otherwise notified in writing, the authorized pick up on your Blue Registration card will be your child(ren)’s emergency pick up. If you have no authorized pick up, other than the parents, your emergency contact will be your child’s emergency pick up. Note: Unless the conditions were extreme, we would not call anyone to pick up a child other than a parent.

COMMUNICATIONS

Each child has a cubbie or mailbox that should be checked daily. The Center has message boards in the hall that should be checked daily. Messages may include reminders about closings, health alerts, etc. Concerns regarding your child or your child's classroom can be addressed directly with the Level II Teacher in your child's room. Concerns or questions regarding fees, policies or operations should be discussed with the Director(s) or Owner(s). Written observations will be done on all children (with the exception of Infants and School Age Wrap) at least twice annually. A copy of that evaluation, along with any Center notes, will be added to your child's file. Children's files are considered confidential and the property of the Center. Parents do have the right to access their child's file by making a request to the Director(s). The files may be reviewed, but not removed or copied, without proper authorization. Any request from other programs to provide information on your child must be made in writing, and accompanied by a written authorization from the parent.

It is important for us to communicate with you, but we want to do so in the most convenient manner for you. Phone calls, emails, and written notes are all avenues of communication for daily news. Please acknowledge your preferred method of communication on the parent acknowledgement page of this handbook.

TUITION POLICIES

Once a spot in the Center is offered to you, your registration fee (per current rate schedule) and enrollment card are due to hold your spot. Before your child may begin, the required NY State Medical form must be turned in. Some doctors have their own medical form that they use. We can accept these as long as they have your child’s immunization record and answers the question that you child is allowed to participate in childcare. The state also would prefer (but it’s not necessary for enrollment) to have your child’s Lead test results as well

Tuition may be paid monthly by check or bi-monthly (the 1st and 15th of each month) through electronic funds transfer. Direct payment is due by the 10th of each month. Please note the dates covered in your payment on the memo portion of your check, and deposit your check in the labeled box in the office, or the silver boxes in the hallways.

Electronic payment is available directly through the Center for those families that choose the electronic funds transfer option. Applications for enrollment may be obtained in the office. The Center will automatically make adjustments for vacations, sick time or fee changes. If a payment due date falls on a bank holiday or weekend, debits will occur on the next business day.

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TUITION POLICIES (Cont.)

For families with Flexible Spending Accounts, receipts are issued monthly, approximately 3 days after the published due date for payment. Please notify the office if you would like a receipt automatically issued to you each month.

Our program runs twelve (12) months, as would your tuition commitment. The exception would be if your child was enrolled in Pre-K Only or Kindergarten Only. Then it is not necessary to attend the summer months (July, August).

If your child is enrolled in any of the other programs, you can reduce your tuition in July and August by going part-time and/or taking advantage of the holding fee.

If your child has completed Kindergarten then they may sign up for camp on a week to week basis. School age children returning in the fall for before and/or after school care are required to sign up for at least 2 weeks of our summer camp.

The Center closes promptly at 6 P.M. A late pick up fee (per current rate schedule) is added to your account for late departure. Arrival at 6 P.M. with a 6:05 P.M. departure is considered a late pick up. When possible, please call the Center if you are going to be late so we can assure your child that you are okay. If we are not near the phone we will check the voice mail. Please make allowances for bad weather, etc. by leaving a little early that day. Should you not arrive or call by 6:15 P.M. we will try to contact each parent. If we are unsuccessful, we will try your emergency contact. If we have not heard from or been able to contact anyone within a reasonable time the Owners or Director will be notified, and they will decide the appropriate next step, up to and including calling appropriate agencies.

If your child is out ill for 3 or more days in one week the fee is reduced by 50%. This is allowable 1 week per child per calendar year. You are required to notify the Director by phone each day that your child is out ill in order to use this reduction.

You are also allowed a 1 week no charge vacation per calendar year. (None allowed the first year if enrolled after July 1st - this applies to siblings also). In order to take advantage of this savings you are required to give two full weeks notice. Notice must be in writing to the Director(s) by written note or email. Parents will receive written confirmation of their request. If you do NOT receive confirmation, contact the office to be sure notice was received. Retain your confirmation until after your account has been credited. Unused vacation or sick time cannot be carried over from year to year. Vacations must be taken in a one week block. In fairness to all families there can be NO EXCEPTIONS to these policies.

The Center closes for approximately 10 Holidays each year. A calendar for the current year will be published each January. There is no fee reduction for days closed.

If you are part time you may request a change to make up time within the same week. We will attempt to honor your request, but cannot guarantee it. As of fall of 2018, we will no longer be accepting children for part time.

Failure to pay tuition in a timely fashion may result in your family being asked to leave the Center. Should legal fees be incurred in a collection effort those fees become the responsibility of the delinquent family. To make temporary arrangements for special financial considerations please speak with Owner(s). Charges for late payments, failure to sign in/out & returned checks will be added to your account and a notice sent to you. If you use EFT we will automatically deduct charges with next scheduled payment.

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Two weeks’ notice is required for change of status (Full time to Part time, Part time to Full time). One month’s notice is required to withdraw from the Center. Notice should be in writing to the Director(s). Failure to give proper notice will result in the appropriate billing.

HEALTH POLICIES

Each family will receive a separate handout outlining various childhood illnesses and common symptoms, along with their incubation period, and our exclusion policies.

These guidelines were developed with the assistance of our pediatric consultants, Dr. Edward Lewis and Bess Lewis, PNP, along with the publication, "Infection Control in the Child Care Center and Preschool." Not every illness will be listed in our handout. In that case you may call us or get written instructions from your pediatrician. Our policies are designed to provide a healthy, supportive environment for children as well as working parents.

Should your child become ill while at the Center you will be contacted. It is the Center's policy that a sick child is picked up within the hour. This is for the well being of your child, the other children at the Center and Center staff.

We will not accept a child who appears to be ill or has a contagious condition. Your child should be kept home for any contagious illness requiring medication until enough doses have been given to ensure they are no longer contagious. Children may NOT return to the Center until they have been free from high fevers or contagious symptoms for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.

Please notify the Center if your child is sick and keep them home until they are well enough to resume FULL activities, including outdoor play. We cannot keep one child inside and remain in ratio.

Per NY State Office of Children and Family Services regulation 418-1.11j (1-4), prescription and over-the-counter medication may be administered only upon written permission of the parent and written instructions from a health care provider. All medications must be in the original container labeled with the child’s first and last name, the medication name, recommended dosage, time intervals for administration, method of administration, expiration date, possible side effects and the prescriber’s name and license number for prescription medication, or it can not be administered. This is for the protection of your family as well as the Center.

Effective April 1, 2004, prescription and over-the-counter medications may only be administered by staff that has completed MEDICATION ADMINSTRATION TRAINING (MAT), and those who also maintain current Infant/Child CPR and First Aid. We do have qualified staff that have MAT training to administer medicine.

If a child over 18 months develops symptoms which indicate a need for over-the-counter medication while in care at the center, such medication may be given under oral instructions from the parent for that day only. If the medication is to be administered on subsequent days, written permission from the parent and a health care provider is required. The Center will document permission and administration. Parents will be required to follow up their verbal

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HEALTH POLICIES (Cont.)

permission in writing at the next possible opportunity. Regulations prohibit giving any medication to infants under 18 months without written instructions from a health care provider.

It is in the best interest of the child to have parents administer medication when possible, therefore we will administer each medicine only on an as-needed basis, unless instructions from a physician or pharmacist specifically state otherwise. In the absence of symptoms, non-prescription medicine will be given at the discretion of the Center.

Topical ointments may be applied as needed for protection from the sun or diaper rash, without authorization from a health care provider.

Sunscreen will be applied when the product is supplied by parent or guardian. Sunscreen will be applied during summer months should exposure to the sun be for 30 minutes or more during the hours of 10 A.M. and 3 P.M.

Failure to comply with these important health policies would put us in violation of regulations. Failure on your part to comply may result in a request to leave the Center.

BEHAVIOR

Occasionally a child develops behavior that is unacceptable. Such behavior may include biting, scratching, hitting, unacceptable language or the inability to follow limits set by Center staff. It has been our experience that these behaviors are infrequent due to positive parenting, role modeling by staff, and positive discipline techniques.

Should a child develop a problem in this area certain steps will be taken, based in part on the behavior and the age of the child. Parents of the child will be notified and a conference will be arranged. Parents, staff and Center Director(s) will decide on the best course of action for this particular child. Actions may include charting misbehavior and providing positive reinforcement. In some cases, a visit to the pediatrician, and/or a counselor or a referral to your local school district (age 3+) or Early Intervention (< age 3) may be requested.

It is challenging when behavior such as excessive biting occurs in Toddlers. They often do not have the maturity or cognitive ability to realize that what they are doing is unacceptable. A separate policy and procedure on biting in young children is available in the office.

When parents work with the Center and some progress is being seen, arrangements will be made to allow the child to remain at the Center while still protecting the other children's well-being. Should parents be unable to follow Center suggestions or no progress in behavior is being made after a reasonable time, parents may be asked to remove their child from the Center. If a child poses an imminent threat to themselves or other children or if their behavior toward staff is violent and disrespectful the Center may chose to send them home for that day.

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BEHAVIOR (Cont.)

Please help your child follow Center rules that include:

* No gum chewing or candy (it is dangerous to have in the mouth while playing) and we ask that candy not be included in lunch boxes. This includes Lunchables that come with a candy as a treat. We realize there may be exceptions, such as special occasions, when parents are asked to use their discretion.

* Only bring toys from home when it is "Show ‘n Share" day. All toys are welcome with the exception of guns or toy weapons of any kind. War-like toys and characters associated with violence do have an effect on children’s behavior. We feel such items are best used with parental guidance at home. We reserve the right to decide which articles are suitable for show ‘n share at school. All items should be labeled; one toy per day is requested. Please do not send small, fragile or expensive items to school.

* Do not allow children to bring ANY MONEY to school. Preschoolers love change, but it often falls out of their pockets and presents a choking threat to smaller children.

* Walking in halls and staying together at drop-off & pick-up help teach your child to walk and stay together in our groups.

* Children are not to be left unsupervised by parents, and are not permitted to enter empty rooms, storage closets, or go ahead where they can’t be seem by the parents, etc.

* Children are not allowed to climb or sit on cubbies. Please model your support of this rule by not placing children on cubbies to put on boots, etc. The same rule applies to tables. Do not place children (or their personal items such as shoes, boots or brushes) on tables. The exception, of course, is the changing tables.

Children naturally test limits in the presence of their parents. Please help us maintain a safe environment by familiarizing yourself with our rules and enforcing them.

WEATHER CLOSINGS, EMERGENCY EVACUATIONS, SHELTER IN PLACE

It is the desire of the Center to provide child care in all types of weather. However, when the Director determines that operation endangers the safety and health of the children and/or staff, they may close for all or part of the day. Should Brighton Schools close due to severe weather, the Center will automatically delay opening by 60 minutes. (Note that school closings for non-weather related issues will not affect our opening). The 60 minute delay will allow us ample time to make a good decision regarding whether it will be safe for us to open.

We will announce any closings or opening delays on 13 WHAM television or

You can go to that website and sign up for text alerts to notify you of the delays/closings of our center. In the event of an early closing, parents will be giving a call by us directly. You will be expected to pick up your child within the hour unless directed other wise.

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WEATHER CLOSINGS, EMERGENCY EVACUATIONS, SHELTER IN PLACE (Con’t)

New York State requires all child care centers to have an Emergency Preparedness Plan. This is a separate document that will be provided to you in the New Parent Package. There will be no fee reductions for emergency closing of less than one (1) week.

PARKING

There is adequate parking for drop off and pick up of children. Please avoid parking in handicap areas if you do not have a handicap sticker. Observe a 10 mph speed limit in parking areas and driveways. Please do NOT do 3 point turns in the driveway. It’s best to go to the back parking lot and turn around for the safety of the children. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR RUNNING AT ANY TIME. CHILDREN UNDER 18 MAY NEVER BE LEFT IN THE CAR ALONE, FOR ANY AMOUNT OF TIME. If you leave valuables in your car, do not leave them in sight and please lock it.

Pulling up to playgrounds to pick up your child is not allowed. Small children are often difficult to see over hoods and in mirrors, so for their safety we do not allow your cars near their play areas.

Double parking & facing the "wrong way" is not allowed. Please enter/exit your child(ren) on the sidewalk, not the parking lot. Although we plow regularly ice can cause the lots to be slippery in winter. Please use extra caution during these times.

ACCIDENTS AND MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

It is required at enrollment that adequate contacts are provided for an emergency. This includes, but is not limited to, a phone number for each parent or guardian, the phone number and name of your current pediatrician, and if possible at least one other emergency contact. It is extremely important that you notify us if and when these phone numbers or names change.

We take every precaution to provide the safest possible environment for children. Unfortunately, some accidents are inevitable. Should your child be involved in an accident while in our care, we will contact you immediately. An accident report will be completed and a notation will be made in our accident log. Good reporting of accidents in our log helps us to determine trends and eliminate potential risks. Rich Beginnings maintains insurance for families that are uninsured or for injuries and expenses not covered by your insurance.

Should your child be required to see a physician it is expected that the parent’s health insurance will cover that office or emergency room visit and that parents will be responsible for any co-payments due. Absences from child care due to accidents will be treated as an illness in regard to tuition payment.

If you have a day that you will be at a different number or unreachable please advise us at drop off and give us emergency instructions for that day. In cases of extreme emergency the Center will contact you after contact has been made with 911. If immediate medical attention is needed your child will be transported to Strong Memorial Hospital or the hospital serviced by the area EMT system.

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MOVING UP PROCEDURES

A child's move from one classroom to the next is determined by a number of factors including developmental readiness, availability of space in the next classroom, chronological age and parental input. Timing is important to ensure a smooth transition. If all criteria are not met and the child is "misplaced" by being pushed up before he or she is ready, the results can be damaging.

Parents will be notified in advance when their child is approaching his/her time to move up. A handout on the next program will be sent out before a child begins visiting (usually 1-2 weeks before). This handout will include information about the new classroom, the teachers’ names and the opportunity to schedule a visit.

Children "visit" their new room, sometimes accompanied by a teacher from their current room. They may visit for 15 minutes or a couple of hours. They set the pace. The total transition usually takes 1-2 weeks, but again this varies. Once the children are officially transferred their cubbies will move, they will be added to the new classroom sign in sheet and their fee will be adjusted, where appropriate.

Once a child is enrolled at the Center, a spot is guaranteed in each subsequent classroom at least until she or he completes Kindergarten. Spots in the school age program are subject to annual availability. Parents will receive adequate notice if a spot will not be available the following school year. Once a child is enrolled for the school year, their spot is guaranteed for that entire year.

TOILET TRAINING

Children are not required to be toilet trained before enrollment in any of our programs. Developmentally all children are ready for this at different times. When you do begin toilet training at home please let us know so we can reinforce it here. We advise letting your child initiate training. Physically children are not generally ready to work toward this goal until sometime during their second year. A handout with guidelines for toilet training at child care will be given to each family as their child approaches that milestone. Children should have consistent success at home before attempting this challenge while at “school”.

NUTRITION

We have a parent provided lunch at our Center. This is in keeping with our Center philosophy on individual preference and choice. We do provide skim milk (whole milk for Toddlers) with meals for families who choose to have it.

There is adequate refrigeration available for those items in your child's lunch that may require it, however most families find frozen ice packs do the trick just as well. If you do use the fridge please only put in the items which need to be refrigerated.

Mark each individual item and leave a note in the lunch box for staff so they know to check the refrigerator. A separate refrigerator is available for infants and infant lunches can be prepared by staff.

We are able to warm up foods that you send in. We do not “cook” foods such as frozen dinners. Staff help the children unpack their lunches. Once that is done staff is free to heat up items you may have sent. For inpatient eaters it is a good idea to provide some foods that do not require warming.

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NUTRITION (Con’t)

The Center provides snack twice daily, with water (per recommendation of our health care consultant), for all ages with the exception of infants. Parents provide all food for infants.Snack selections include two items from the three groups of fruits and vegetables, dairy, and whole grains. Snack menus are posted daily on the classroom’s daily sheet.

We avoid serving cookies or sweets of any kind unless they are provided by families for special events such as birthdays.

Please let your child’s classroom know if you’d like to send in a snack and we can substitute your snack for that day. Please be aware that Rich Beginnings has a “no peanut policy” which means that no foods containing peanuts may be sent in for group snacks or any Center events. A dangerous allergy to peanuts is not uncommon in small children. Unless notified otherwise, you may feel free to send peanut products in your child’s lunch. If sending in purchased foods please check the label carefully. Whenever you send in snack it is required that you fill out a form indicating you have omitted or checked for peanut products. The classroom teacher can provide you with the form.

NAP TIME

The Office of Children and Family Services requires all centers to follow certain napping guidelines and communicate them to Parents. At Rich Beginnings Child Care Center, infants will be napping in a crib in the Infant Room, a cot in the Toddlers, Twos’ and Bigs’ Rooms; and a mat in Pre-K room. All napping children will have competent supervision by a caregiver who is in the same room and has direct visual contact with him/her at all times.

Infants cannot sleep or nap in car seats, strollers or swings, unless written authorization is provided by the child’s health care professional. If an infant falls asleep without authorization in one of these, they will be moved to their crib. OCFS Regulations do not allow the use of bumper pads, large blankets or stuffed animals in infant cribs.

Each child who naps at the Center will be assigned a cot or a mat. A blanket and a crib sheet, or a cot roll is needed. Please take items home each Friday for laundering. Cots & mats are kept clean with weekly disinfecting sprays and occasional scrubbings. Signing the Parent Handbook form at the end indicates that you understand the napping arrangements at the center. If you would like a more detailed understanding of the state guidelines and/or our napping arrangements, please ask.

CLOTHING

All clothing, including shoes, boots and coats should be labeled. Each child should have at least one change of clothing (more if younger or potty training). Warm and waterproof clothes should be provided as children go outdoors every day even in the winter unless weather conditions prohibit it. We cannot keep a whole group in because one child did not bring mittens. Fresh air, albeit sometimes briefly, is wonderful for children’s health.

Please remember shoes for the children to change into in the winter. Boots are not allowed in the classroom. Salt and snow can damage carpets, and boots are not safe for climbing. Send sneakers in the summer if your child wants to play on climbing equipment. Sandals are unsafe and will not be allowed for climbing. We have found Crocs to be dangerous on the playground as well, so please send sneakers for outdoor play. Water shoes are used during water play.

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ABUSE

All child care providers must be screened through the Office of Children and Family Services to determine if they are the subject of an indicated report of child abuse. In accordance with the provisions of sections 413 and 415 of the Social Services Law, child care workers must report any suspected incidents of child abuse or maltreatment concerning a child receiving child care to the State Central Register of Child Abuse. In addition, parents who suspect or witness abuse or maltreatment of a child by a care giver or another parent should notify the Department.

The Center follows a protocol should a staff person become the subject of an indicated case of abuse. Procedures may include shadowing, reassignment, leaves of absence or dismissal depending on the individual circumstances. Further information regarding this law is available in the Director's office.

SEXUAL HARASSEMENT

New York State requires all businesses to have a Sexual Harassment policy. Rich Beginnings’ policy can be found in the back folder of our Parent Handbook package.

ALCOHOL USE

Staff are not allowed to consume alcoholic beverages at any time during their shift, including their lunch and break times. Alcohol is not served at family functions such as the annual picnic. We ask that you not be the one to pick up your child if you have been consuming any alcohol. If a staff person notes the use of alcohol by a parent they are instructed to suggest an alternate person for pick up.

It is difficult for us to determine if you have had one drink or several. Whenever the safety of the children is involved we will error on the side of caution. Abuse of this policy by parents may lead to a request to leave the Center.

EARLY CLOSING FOR SPECIAL EVENTS

Rich Beginnings reserves the right to close early, on occasion, for special events. Should an event, such as the Family Picnic or the Halloween Party be scheduled and an early closing results, a minimum of one (1) month notice will be given to families. We do list them on our Calendar of Holiday Closings which we hand out every December for the upcoming year.

BABYSITTING

Staff may choose to supplement their income by doing private sitting for parents or friends of parents at the Center. RBCC assumes no responsibility for the time staff spends with your children outside of the Center. We recognize that center staff may be desirable sitters due to their training and expertise. Staff may not transport children to or from the Center if it is prior to, or at the end of, their scheduled shift at RBCC. Parents should contact staff about sitting after work hours, rather than calling them at the Center.

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We ask you to recognize that RBCC has a significant financial investment in each staff person’s training. Parents may not solicit staff, or entertain staff proposals, for positions that would interfere with their position at the Center. Although it may serve your individual purpose, the welfare of all the children at the Center would be compromised. Should Center administrators become aware of parents soliciting staff for employment that would interfere with their position at the Center, that family may be asked to leave the Center.

FIELD TRIPS

Generally field trips are limited to Pre-K and School Age children. This is to ensure the safety of very young children and in keeping with the car seat law for children under age 4. Private buses are used for trips and written parental permission slips are required. Appropriate fees are charged.

APPOINTMENTS

Children are often picked up during the day for appointments. You are welcome to pick them up and bring them back after their appointment. We ask that you avoid picking your child up during nap, and also avoid returning with them in the middle of nap. Please let your child’s teacher know if they will be returning after their appointments. Your child should not return from an afternoon appointment after 4 P.M.

HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES

Rich Beginnings Child Care will strive to approach all holidays in a culturally sensitive way. Holidays provide a focus for many teaching opportunities.

Through learning about and celebrating various types of holidays, children gain insight as well as respect and understanding for other’s beliefs. We will discuss differences, limit activities to provide reasonable focus, and provide alternate activities for families who request it. We will approach holiday learning in a factual rather than religious format. Activities are planned to neither promote nor inhibit beliefs.

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We will expose children to different holidays and their celebrations through literature, art projects, cooking, snack foods, and classroom visitors, such as family members.

Before major holidays families from each room may be surveyed to ensure their family traditions are included, and that the Center is being sensitive to each family’s feelings. Should you feel strongly about celebrating, or not celebrating any particular holiday you should bring that to the attention of your child’s teaching team.

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VISITING POLICY

Rich Beginnings Child Care has an Open Door Policy. To protect the privacy of all children and optimize work areas, only parents are allowed to visit in the room, unless special arrangements have been made. Parents are welcome at anytime during the day, with no need to notify the Center in advance.

Visits in the classroom should be limited to one hour. You may stay longer, but if you choose to do so you should take your child out of the room. You are welcome to borrow a stroller if one is available, use any area lounges, classrooms not in use, or the playground.

We ask only one visitor per family come at a time, unless you are coming for lunch or special days. You are welcome to come together, and bring family or friends if you visit outside the room.

Special Educators and Therapists may meet with children during the hours they are in our care. Written permission is required from the parents in order for them to remove a child from his or her classroom for services. They are not permitted to take children other than the one they are scheduled to see out of the supervision of Rich Beginnings Staff.

Any visitor who may have a child out of the classroom needs to follow guidelines in the event of a fire drill or emergency requiring us to vacate the building. They are as follows:

• They are to return the child to their classroom immediately upon hearing the alarm

• If unable to do so they will exit the building from the nearest exit and meet the child’s class at the designated meeting spot.

• It is the responsibility of the visitor to make him or herself aware of the nearest exits and the designated meeting spots.

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I ______________________ have read and understand the

(Print Names of both parents)

policies and procedures outlined in the Parent Handbook. Specifically I accept the policies as they apply to:

* Preferred method of communication (check as many as apply, noting order of preference)

email _______phone __notes

* Arrival & departure

* Emergency pick-up authorization

* Tuition policies including procedures for Vacation Time and absences due to illness

* Schedule changes, including withdrawal from the Center

* Health Policies

* Emergencies and emergency closing

* Abuse, Sexual Harassment and Alcohol Use

* Babysitting

* Field Trips

* Nap Time

I understand I may set up an appointment with the Director(s) should I need any clarification on any policies, or if I have any questions in the future.

Parent Signature Date

Parent Signature Date

Please return at Registration, or in the case of revisions, within five (5) days.

Rvsd. 1/19

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