Dear Families: Welcome! Thank you for choosing Creation Kids Village for your child’s early education. We are excited to join your family and strongly believe in fostering a high quality system of early educating service through dialogue and collaboration with all those involved in developing your child. CREATION Health, a holistic approach to living life to the fullest potential (John 10:10), is at the core of our approach to early learning education. And is central to our mission; to strengthen our community by supporting families in raising their children who are strong in body, mind, and spirit. It is our goal to create a loving, safe environment for your child to grow and develop. Researchers agree that early childhood education experiences are vital to a child’s growth and development as it is proven that personality, identity, and language are largely formed by the time a child is six years old. Our curriculum combines the strongest elements of existing early childhood research, age appropriate activities, and Christ-centered emphasis. CKV has developed a Core play-based curriculum that illustrates the CREATION Health principles focused on healthy learning and living. Choice – How to make the right choices is key to your child’s development. Our education team works with your child teaching them a value based decision-making framework. Rest – Children require more rest in order for their body and mind to develop fully. A key component of your child’s day includes focused time for rest through sleep and relaxation. Environment – Your child is strongly shaped by their environment. That is why our classrooms are like a home; friendly, inviting, and personal, creating a space that fosters learning. Activity – Your child loves to move and what better way than in nature. Our natural playscape provides an active learning palate through which your child can explore and grow. Trust – Learning requires trust. Our educators create a safe environment where your child is encouraged to inquire, discover, and create. Interpersonal Relationships – Learning how to make connections and love friends is core to a child’s future. Our team works with your child on how to live, learn, and grow socially. Outlook – The way your child views the world is remarkable and unique. Our educators literally get on their level to help shape and grow their world view together. Nutrition – Eating right fuels your child’s development. Our meals are nutritious emphasizing natural vegetarian foods prepared in our Kitchen and enjoyed family style in our classroom. Please take the time to read through your handbook and learn what makes our program so unique. We want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to share in your child’s growth experiences. Warmest Regards, Gay Brielle Crawford Dean of Early Education
599 Celebration Place Celebration, FL 34747 407.900.7708 Dean of Early Education: Gay Brielle Crawford Creation Health Education Campus Executive Director: Derek Cummings Assistant Creation Health Education Campus Executive Director: Nalani Cummings DCF License Number: C09OS0111 Hours of Operation: 6:15 AM – 7:15 PM Days of Operation: Monday through Friday Center E-mail Address: info@creationkidsvillage.com Website: www.creationkidsvillage.com Holidays CKV will be closed in observation of the following holidays and workdays*: New Year’s Eve Labor Day New Year’s Day Thanksgiving Day Good Friday Day After Thanksgiving Memorial Day Christmas Day Independence Day Day After Christmas Center Planning Day** *Should the holiday fall on a Saturday, we will close on Friday. Should the holiday occur on Sunday, we will close on Monday. ** The Center Planning Day is the day before Osceola County Schools start. Age Groups (Enrollment Eligibility)
Ages 6 weeks to 5 years old Children are eligible by date of birth.
Teacher to Student Ratios Infants Toddlers Two’s Preschool Kindergarten
1:3-4 1:4-5 1:7-9 1:9-11 1:11-13
6 weeks to 12 months 12 to 24 months 24 to 36 months 36 to 60 months 60 to 72 months
Who We Are .................................................................................................................................................. 6 Our Philosophy and Approach .................................................................................................................. 6 Program Guidelines....................................................................................................................................... 8 Enrolling Your Child .................................................................................................................................. 8 Emergency Contacts ................................................................................................................................. 8 Allergies .................................................................................................................................................... 8 Scheduling................................................................................................................................................. 9 Waiting List ............................................................................................................................................... 9 Core Care .................................................................................................................................................. 9 Tuition ....................................................................................................................................................... 9 Schedule Changes and Extra Days .......................................................................................................... 11 Inclement Weather Closures .................................................................................................................. 11 Withdrawal or Termination of Services .................................................................................................. 11 Program Incompatibility ......................................................................................................................... 12 Discount Termination ............................................................................................................................. 12 Change Forms ......................................................................................................................................... 12 Family Guidelines ........................................................................................................................................ 13 Family Communication ........................................................................................................................... 13 Advisories & Committees ....................................................................................................................... 13 Concern Process for Guardians .............................................................................................................. 13 Misconduct ............................................................................................................................................. 14 Using CKV When You are not Working ................................................................................................... 14 Daily Procedures ......................................................................................................................................... 15 Attendance ............................................................................................................................................. 15 Guardian Sign In/Out & Drop-off/Pick-up .............................................................................................. 15 Clothing................................................................................................................................................... 15 Sick Child ................................................................................................................................................. 16 Administration of Medication/Sunscreen .............................................................................................. 16 Room & Age Specific Guidelines ................................................................................................................. 18 Labeling................................................................................................................................................... 18 Cubbies ................................................................................................................................................... 18 Treasures and Possessions ..................................................................................................................... 18 Birthday/Special Celebrations/Gifts ....................................................................................................... 18 Toilet Procedures.................................................................................................................................... 19 Breast Feeding /Formula ........................................................................................................................ 20
Pacifiers .................................................................................................................................................. 20 Center Operating Specifics.......................................................................................................................... 21 Developmentally Appropriate Practices ................................................................................................. 21 Staff......................................................................................................................................................... 21 Administration ........................................................................................................................................ 21 Licensing and Accreditation.................................................................................................................... 21 Healthy Eating......................................................................................................................................... 21 Enrichment Programs ............................................................................................................................. 22 Daily Connect .......................................................................................................................................... 22 Ages & Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3) ............................................................................ 22 General Policies & Procedures .................................................................................................................... 24 Non-Discrimination Policy ...................................................................................................................... 24 Children with Special Needs ................................................................................................................... 24 Emergency Procedures ........................................................................................................................... 24 Transportation ........................................................................................................................................ 25 Visitors .................................................................................................................................................... 25 Babysitting Policy .................................................................................................................................... 25 Infection Control ..................................................................................................................................... 25 Hand Washing......................................................................................................................................... 26 Child Safety ............................................................................................................................................. 26 Reporting Suspected Child Abuse........................................................................................................... 26 Child Discipline and Behavior Policy ........................................................................................................... 27 Child Guidance ........................................................................................................................................ 27 Guidelines for Persistent Inappropriate Behavior .................................................................................. 27 Aggressive Behavior Guidelines .............................................................................................................. 28 Biting Policy ............................................................................................................................................ 28 Unacceptable Forms of Discipline .......................................................................................................... 29
Who We Are Creation Kids Village (CKV) is a non-profit organization serving families with early childhood education based on Christian values and focused on health. We exist to strengthen our community by supporting you in raising children who are strong in body, mind, and spirit. That is why we so strongly believe that love and play are the fundamentals for learning and are central to our Village. At CKV, we believe children need healthy development of social, emotional, spiritual, physical, and cognitive skills. Therefore, we provide a rich environment filled with opportunities to nurture confidence, curiosity, cooperation, and Christ-centered values. We are committed to provide the healthiest of lifestyles and serve nutritious, well-balanced vegetarian meals that give children the energy they need for each new day. We have dedicated our resources to securing a warm, loving team of professionals that uphold our values and model healthy choices in the classroom environment for our children.
Our Philosophy and Approach We love kids and we love working with you to provide them with excellent futures. That is why we have built our educational framework based on the best approaches in early education and health. CREATION Health The philosophy for our approach is CREATION Health, eight principles of how we live life to the full (John 10:10). These principles provide our child with the ability to live to a healthy 100 with an active, satisfying life filled with joy. How can we be so sure in our approach? Results. The CREATION Health Lifestyle has been proven to create the healthiest, longest lives in North America, 10 years longer than the average! These findings are detailed by the National Geographic and Blue Zones. To find out more please visit www.creationhealth.com Reggio Emilia Our approach is knit together with a Constructivism learning design, where learning occurs when children are engaged in collaborative activity about something that deeply interests them. The Constructivist Approach is robustly practiced in Reggio, Italy where it was developed by Loris Malaguzzi. The Reggio Emilia approach to teaching young children puts the natural development of children as well as the close relationships that they share with their environment at the center of its philosophy. The Reggio approach believes that children, teachers and guardians are partners in learning, and that children have the right and the ability to construct their own learning with the support and participation of teachers and guardians. At the basis of this process is the pedagogy of relationships and listening. Educators in Reggio believe that children have the right and the ability to express their thinking, theories, ideas, learning and emotions in many ways. Therefore, Reggio educators provide children with a wide range of materials and media, and welcome a diversity of experiences, so that children encounter many avenues for thinking, revising, constructing, negotiating, developing and symbolically expressing their thoughts and feelings. In this way, teachers, guardians and children can better understand each
other. These languages can include drawing, paint, clay, wire, natural and recycled materials, light and shadow, dramatic play, music and dance. That is why we respect each child as an individual with unique qualities of personality, intelligence, creativity, and expressive language. Our highly trained and educated team establishes a learning environment that is clean, fun, creative, and focused on purposeful learning opportunities that are “whole child-centered.�
Program Guidelines Enrolling Your Child All forms provided to you upon enrollment must be completed for registration to be finalized and before your child may attend. Each child must have a complete physical health form designated by the State of Florida on file signed by a physician, and all immunizations must be recorded and up-to-date on the State of Florida approved form. A completed application packet includes: Completed admission application (for each child being enrolled) Admission Agreement Enrollment Form Supplement Immunization Record (FL Form# DH680) – Blue Form Children’s Health Exam (FL Form# DH3040) – Yellow Form Allergy Form ASQ-3 Consent Form ASQ-3 Demographic Information Photo Release Form Copy of Celebration Fitness Centre Member ID (if applicable) Copy of Employee badge (Florida Hospital or Walt Disney World employees only) Proof of relationship to the child if not legal guardian Registration fee All documents in a child’s file are considered confidential records and are not disclosed to outsiders, except officials of the Florida Department of Children and Families, Child Care Licensing Program, without the guardians’ or guardian’s written permission.
Emergency Contacts All families must provide a list of emergency contacts who are at least 18 years of age with working telephone numbers at the time of registration. If the primary guardian cannot be contacted in case of an emergency then CKV staff will contact the remaining persons listed until someone can be reached.
Allergies Allergies to foods, chemicals or other environmental issues (such as nuts, pollen) should be listed in the “Allergies” section of the child’s information form. Please include any reactions and treatments of the allergies. This information will be placed on a master list and confidentially posted in food preparation and distribution areas, the front desk and First Aid area. Staff will be informed of children’s allergies and instructed to avoid these products.
Scheduling All children are placed on a fixed schedule Monday – Friday with times designated between the hours of 6:15am-7:15pm. Priority Enrollment CKV reserves the right to adjust the priority based on the needs of children and/or their age grouping. Applications are accepted by the following priorities:
Florida Hospital Employees Celebration Fitness Center Members Walt Disney World Employees Children of staff not assigned to guardian’s classroom. Other applicants
Waiting List An established number of Core Care slots are available within each age group. A waiting list is maintained and guardians are informed when a space is available that fits the child’s schedule. Children will be placed into slots as they become available. Children are not assigned a number on a waitlist since the complexity of requests and needs change often. In order for the child to be placed on the waiting list, the non-refundable registration fee must be paid.
Core Care Core Care is defined as regular, ongoing care each week, Monday through Friday with time available from 6:15am- 7:15pm daily. Guardians must pay for five days whether they use them or not. It is requested that all children be in their classrooms by 9:00am in order to participate fully in circle time and the beginning of the daily activities.
Tuition Tuition is billed in advance. Payment for Core Care is due before the service begins. Fees must be paid the Friday before the week of service. Late balances will result in a $25 fee per week and disenrollment after two weeks. Guardians may pay by one of the following methods (online or in person): Bank Withdraw (ACH) Credit/ Debit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express) Payroll Deduction (Florida Hospital employees only) Number of Days Guardians must pay for the number of days they request whether they use them or not. No make-up days will be given.
Late Pick-Up after the Center Closes State law requires the Center to contact the police if a guardian cannot be contacted and they are 30 minutes late picking up a child after the Center is closed. A late fee will be assessed at $25 for the first 10 minutes, and for every minute after 7:25pm an additional fee of a $1 per minute will be assessed when a child is picked up late after the Center is closed. In the case of more than one sibling, the charge will be $40 for the first 10 minutes and an additional fee of $1 per minute for each child will be assessed when a child is picked up late after the Center is closed. Registration Fee The registration fee is an annual nonrefundable fee that is due upon enrolling and every April thereafter. The registration fee will be pro-rated for new families entering the center. VPK families do not have to pay the annual registration fee unless they opt to have wrap-around care, in which case the annual registration fee will apply. Additional Fees Our general policy is to review our tuition rates bi-annually. Some additional fees may be assessed such as annual re-registration, equipment fees, extracurricular activities, and special classroom events. Please see the Dean for further information on tuition, fees, and payment policies. In the event of a late payment or a payment declined for non-sufficient funds a $25 fee will be assessed to the bill as a processing fee. Discounts CKV offers discounts to full-time enrolled families, and do not apply to part-time families. Only one discount can be applied to an account and are not available for VPK wrap around care. Discounts are available for Florida Hospital Employees, Sibling Enrollments, Celebration Fitness Centre Members and Walt Disney World Employees. Tuition Transitions Children pay the new rate when they transition to a new class. As a note, a child must be completely toilet trained and developmentally ready to move into a three year old class. Vacation Credit At CKV we know how important family time is. If you are a full-time family you are entitled to two weeks of vacation at ½ the normal weekly tuition rate. The weeks must be used between August 1st, 2014 and July 31st, 2015. The weeks chosen must be 5 consecutive days, Monday – Friday. The request must be made at least one week in advance in writing via the Vacation Credit form available at the front desk. Holiday Billing Fees are based on a full year’s operating budget and consideration for holidays is already included. Accordingly, weekly fees remain the same regardless of holidays. Extended Absence Policy/Reservation If absent more than two weeks, guardians will have the option of paying an extended absence reservation. The extended absence reservation is a one-time nonrefundable fee of $300 per child payable upfront or in weekly installments, during time away. The extended absence hold fee is only good for up to 60 consecutive calendar days away, and can be used only one time during the August 1st – July 31st year. The request must be made two weeks in advance in writing via the Summer Intent form available at the front desk.
Billing Concerns Billing issues are handled by the appropriate administrative staff. Guardians are encouraged to request a copy of their billing statement from the front desk or by emailing accounting@creationkidsvillage.com.
Schedule Changes and Extra Days Your child may only attend on the days you have scheduled per your tuition agreement. If you plan to change your schedule of enrollment, you must provide a two week written request in advance. You may pick up a schedule change form at the front office. If space is available, your schedule will be revised and a new tuition agreement must be signed. If your child is part-time and you wish to bring your child on a non-scheduled day or stay for extra hours, please see the Dean to determine the availability. Please be advised that there is an additional charge for extra hours/days. Keep in mind, extra hours or additional days cannot be guaranteed. Please see the Dean for rate information. Enrolled families with children in 1st or 2nd grade have the option when elementary school is closed due to a holiday, spring break, etc. to attend CKV for a full day as part of our older preschool program. Prior to attending, the guardian must gain approval from the Dean for the days requested. Further, an additional fee will be charged for the number of days attended by the school-age child.
Inclement Weather Closures The procedure for notifying families if severe weather or conditions prevent the facility from opening on time, or at all, will be sent via email, Daily Connect, and posted at the location. If it is necessary for the facility to close early, it is the family’s responsibility to arrange for the child’s pick-up. There is no reduction in tuition as a result of center inclement weather.
Withdrawal or Termination of Services Guardians must provide written notice of a child’s withdrawal from CKV at least two weeks in advance. If guardians do not notify the facility that their child is withdrawing, a two-week tuition withdrawal fee will be assessed and billed to the guardian. When a withdrawal notice is given, the 2 week period begins the following week (starting on the following Monday) for the duration of a 2 week period. A full week is Monday through Friday. When the health, welfare and safety of other children or staff are at stake, the Dean reserves the right to suspend/or terminate family services immediately. In addition, the facility reserve the right to suspend or terminate services to a family in the event that a member of that family is inappropriate and/or threatening to staff or participants in the program. At all times, we reserve the right to disenroll any child or terminate services as deemed necessary or appropriate at our sole discretion, with or without notice. Furthermore; if a child does not attend the facility for two weeks and the facility is not notified of the absence, the child will be removed from enrollment at CKV. If you withdraw your child and wish to re-enroll you will be placed on the waiting list until availability is open. Once you are re-enrolled, you will be subject to registration fees or other enrollment fees.
Program Incompatibility Prior to enrollment, it is important that you and the Dean determine if our program is a good fit to meet your child and family’s needs. Although CKV provides a variety of meaningful learning experiences, you may find that the program does not meet your specific needs. In such times, the Dean and staff will attempt to timely resolve your concerns. If however, our attempts to resolve such concerns do not meet your needs, you may choose to withdraw your child from the program. Upon such withdrawal, CKV requires advance written notice regardless of satisfaction of services. A decision to disenroll due to incompatibility is still subject to our advance written notice policy. If you withdraw your child and wish to re-enroll you will be placed on the waiting list until availability is open. Once you are re-enrolled, you will be subject to registration fees or other enrollment fees.
Discount Termination If a guardian stops being employed by Florida Hospital or Walt Disney World or if they are no longer a member of the Celebration Fitness Centre; the applicable discount will be removed their child(ren) in the next billing cycle.
Change Forms
Changes in contact/personal information must be written and submitted to the Front Desk. The Core Care agreement will be in effect until a Change of Status Request occurs. All changes are considered on a space available basis. All changes must be requested in writing and on the appropriate CKV form
1. Address and Telephone Changes Please inform the front desk in writing of all changes to address and phone numbers. If your emergency numbers change, it is important that CKV is notified immediately to ensure proper notification of guardians in case of an emergency.
Family Guidelines Family Communication CKV philosophy is based on active family involvement. To further help foster interaction we utilize Daily Connect as an online way for guardians to stay involved in what is happening at the center. Guardians are encouraged to participate with their children in home activities that correspond with the activities at the center. The daily notifications will help you to know what your child is experiencing during their active learning day. We strongly encourage guardian participation and input. Additionally, in order to maintain strong guardian-staff communication, please make sure you check your guardian mailboxes daily. Use the time driving home to discuss the day’s activities or turn off the radio and talk. Guardians may visit with staff members briefly every day at drop-off and pick-up times. Because of the supervision demands on the staff at the beginning and end of each day, it is difficult for them to engage in extended conversations at these times. Please reserve lengthy and/or sensitive discussions for prearranged appointments. Please notify CKV when you are going to be away for several days or if your child will be in the care of someone else as this sometimes affects your child’s behavior. Also, it is important for us to know who is responsible when you are away. Throughout the year, if there is anything out of the ordinary going on in your home, please let the Dean know of exceptional activities. Even though your child may not seem to have been affected, it may show up in her/his behavior at CKV. When your child first attends CKV they may be a bit timid and shy at first, so encourage your child to get involved with the program activities. As you gain feedback from your child throughout the year, please keep us informed. We need to have open communication between the program staff and the family as to how your child feels and what he/she likes/dislikes. Discuss the day’s activities as you drive home at the end of the day.
Advisories & Committees Your child’s continued development while in our care is a top priority, and this development is best accomplished through a strong partnership between you and our team of childcare providers. Guardians are encouraged to take an active role in their child’s education. To further enhance that partnership, we have established a Family Advisory Board (FAB) and Nutrition Advisory Board (NAB). Please see the Dean if you are interested in becoming involved. Concern Process for Guardians Our vision is to provide a high-quality, safe, and stimulating environment for your children. In order to meet that vision, and to help us grow, we need your involvement and feedback. We take your concerns and feedback very seriously and make every effort to address issues within our Center. We also welcome any new ideas or positive feedback. Please feel free to share your comments and concerns
with your teachers, or administration. In order to assist you with this, we have outlined a process and provided contact information for guardians to share concerns or feedback easily. An informal concern is initiated by discussing a situation with the parties involved.   
STEP 1: The concern may be shared by the guardians with the appropriate teacher. Every opportunity should be given to the teacher to address the issue first. If the issue has not been resolved, a guardian may follow the chain of command outlined below: STEP 2: The Dean should be contacted if the guardian is not satisfied. They may be contacted by phone, face to face, or by email. STEP 3: The guardian may contact the FAB (Family Advisory Board) Chairperson to schedule time at an upcoming FAB meeting. The FAB would hear the concerns and make recommendations to the Dean.
Misconduct Guardians or other adults authorized to drop-off or pick-up children who use inappropriate language, threaten staff or otherwise act in an aggressive manner will be asked to leave the property. In addition, the center reserves the right to suspend/terminate services to a family in the event that a member of that family is inappropriate and/or threatening to staff or participants in the program. This will be determined by the Dean.
Using CKV When You are not Working The purpose of CKV is to provide high quality childcare during guardians working hours. Our expectation is that families will use this service primarily for the time that they are working.
Daily Procedures Attendance Attendance is taken every day at the time of the child’s arrival. Guardians or authorized individuals must check-in and check-out children each day via the center’s biometric system. It is requested that the children be in their classrooms by 9:00am in order to fully be able to participate and engage in the day’s instruction/circle time and activities. If a child is to be absent from the program, the guardian should call at least two hours prior to the child’s usual scheduled arrival at the center. The guardian is responsible for payment for childcare services.
Guardian Sign In/Out & Drop-off/Pick-up Guardians and designated adults must sign-in via the biometric system when they enter CKV for drop-off or pick-up. Guardians should escort their child into their assigned room at the beginning of each day and pick their child up at the end of each day. Children will not be permitted to leave the facility with an unauthorized adult. Although extensive guardian conferences cannot take place during drop-off and pick-up, it is a good opportunity for guardians and caregivers to touch base about their children.
Clothing CKV children are active and involved in their learning. Your child will engage in some messy activities, such as painting and as a result their clothes can get dirty or stained in spite of smocks. The following guidelines will help you to allow your child to fully experience their learning as safely as possible. What to Wear Seasonally appropriate Comfortable Wash easily Easily changeable What not to Wear Open-toed sandals Flip-flops Boots Crocs Please send an extra set of clothing (underwear, socks, shirt, and pants) in a bag labeled with the child’s name in case of accidents. If your child is still in the toilet training stage, please be sure to supply extra training pants. CKV is not responsible for lost or damaged clothing.
Sick Child Each child responds and reacts differently to sickness, so please be advised that the staff may need to send a sick child home. If the child is unable to keep up with the pace of the day, guardians are expected to make arrangements for pick-up in a timely fashion. Also, infants with diarrhea may not be in childcare due to risk of dehydration. If your child is at the center and becomes ill, you will be required to pick-up your child immediately. Please be aware that these guidelines are set forth to help maintain the health and safety of your child and other children as well. Children should be symptom free for 24 hours to return to the Center. Causes that will require a child to be picked up: Fever – when it reaches 101.1 degrees or over Vomiting – guardians will be called to pick up immediately Diarrhea – If it persists for three bowel movements, guardians will be called to pick up Other illnesses that the staff and Dean deem necessary for the child to be sent home, for the wellbeing of the other children in the center. Please keep your child at home if he/she seems listless, unusually irritable, complains of aches, is feverish, or seems to be unusually pale or flushed. It is better to be overcautious than to risk exposing the rest of the children and staff. The following is a guideline for you to follow in determining when to keep your child at home. Child should be kept home for: Earache (if they have not been on medication at least 24 hours) Fever 101 degrees or over Strep throat (if they have not been on medication at least 24 hours) Stomachache Anything contagious; i.e., chicken pox, hand, foot and mouth disease, etc. Diarrhea/vomiting Contagious rashes Head lice, including visible nits Pink Eye (conjunctivitis) if they have not been on medication at least 24 hours Inability to keep up with the pace of the day Inability to participate in outdoor activities
Administration of Medication/Sunscreen Prescription medication administered to a child must have prior written guardian authorization on CKV’s medication form. Prescription medication will only be administered on the written order of the child’s physician and must be in the original container with the child’s name, the name of the drug and directions for its administration and storage on the label. All nonprescription oral medication must have advance written permission from a physician as well as guardian consent (e.g., cough syrup, Tylenol®). All the appropriate tools to administer the medicine are required; if the tools are not given to the staff with the medicine the person administering the medicine will not be able to give it to the child.
Guardians who wish staff to administer sunscreen to child’s face and arms must provide the sunscreen marked with the child’s name and written permission to administer the sunscreen on the medication form.
Room & Age Specific Guidelines Labeling Label all bottles, books, clothing, and other personal items with your child’s first and last name. This is important for teachers to determine ownership of items and helpful for children.
Cubbies A cubby is provided for each child and is marked with his/her name and picture. Your cubby is designed to hold the items that are essential to your child’s active day. CKV provides each family with a back pack designed to hold your child’s daily needs and fit into their cubby. Many children prefer a blanket or special pillow for naptime and we request that these blankets are able to fit in with your child’s other belongings in their backpack. If you bring in a pillow or blanket you are required to take that item home at the end of the week to clean prior to bringing it back to the center. Also, please make sure and check your child’s cubby each day.
Treasures and Possessions Children love special items that are their own. At certain times as directed by your classrooms lead teacher CKV will request you to bring in your child’s special toy or newfound treasures to share or talk about during sharing time. When considering what to bring please keep in mind that CKV does not allow guns, gum, candy, electronic devices, money, or toys that encourage aggressive play. If your child’s lead teacher has not requested that a toy be brought to CKV we request that you do not bring in your child’s toys. Too many toys from home may create problems in the classroom and distract the child from the learning environment. Since children’s belongings occasionally do become misplaced, clothing or other items of high monetary or emotional value should be left at home. While CKV makes every effort to secure its premises and their contents, it cannot be responsible for valuables left at the Center. Birthday/Special Celebrations/Gifts Children are invited to celebrate their birthdays at school. Guardians are always welcome at their child’s birthday celebration. We are also delighted to help guardians celebrate other events at the center arranged in consultation with the teacher and administration. If a birthday is to be celebrated away from school and a select number of children are invited, please mail the invitations. If the entire class is invited, invitations may be distributed in class. Food If guardians choose to bring a birthday treat we prefer a treat that is nutritious and healthy. All foods brought into the center must be store bought according to state regulations.
No homemade foods are allowed to be served to the children (for allergy and regulatory purposes). Goody bags must be age appropriate so choking hazards will not occur.
It is our policy not to exclude any children in the room from the celebration, so it is important that party foods brought in by guardians are provided for each child. Other Items Guardians often donate a book, puzzle, or game to the classroom to honor the birthday of their child. Your child’s lead teacher will help you make this choice.
Toilet Procedures For children not toilet trained, the staff will change diapers every two hours or as needed. Guardians must supply disposable diapers and ointments. Diapers and ointments must be labeled with the child’s first and last name. Please do not send large ointments as we do not have the appropriate storage space. Diapers will be changed on a changing table. Soiled diapers are placed in a closed container that is lined with a leak proof disposable lining. Diaper pails will be removed twice a day and when needed. The changing surface is washed and disinfected between changings and at the end of the day. Each child will be washed and dried with individual washing materials during every change. After every change the child and staff will wash their hands following guidelines for hand washing, and disposable towels will be used to dry hands. Children who are toilet trained will go to the bathroom as needed. Children must be toilet trained in order to move up into the pre-kindergarten three-year-old program in order to be developmentally ready for all age related activities Toilet training is the joint responsibility of CKV and guardians, since guardians and staff must work together to ensure continuity in practice. CKV will help guardians with timing and processes for toilet training. For those children who are just learning to be toilet trained, teachers will provide opportunities throughout the day for the child to become accustomed to the toilet. If children continue to “have accidents” a guardian conference will be required so that guardians, children and staff can work together to master toilet training. Children using the toilet will follow guidelines for hand washing, and they will use disposable towels to dry their hands. The teachers will always discuss the procedures with the guardians, and they will follow their requests whenever possible. If a child should have an accident and soils his/her clothes, teachers will escort the child to the bathroom to be cleaned up and provided with a clean change of clothes. The soiled clothes will then be put into a plastic bag labeled with the child’s name. The bag of soiled clothes will be given to the guardian upon pick-up. Teachers will work with guardians to continue the toilet training philosophy begun at home.
Breast Feeding /Formula Guardians must label and provide breast milk and formula for infants. Guardians must bring enough bottles for each day plus one additional bottle. The infant classroom has a refrigerator designated for bottles. Breast milk is handled as a blood borne pathogen and all CKV staff wear gloves while handling breast milk. We encourage mothers who are breastfeeding their children to utilize our infant room for feedings.
Pacifiers Pacifiers are discouraged from toddler room and older. Sippy cups and pacifiers may not be used in the two-year-old rooms.
Center Operating Specifics Developmentally Appropriate Practices Children are provided developmentally appropriate practices that include social, emotional, spiritual, physical and cognitive growth experiences.
Staff We believe the success of children lies in the quality of our staff. Our staff members are carefully selected based on their experience, education, talents and interpersonal skills. Our staff meets regularly for in-depth training and discussion, covering such areas as program goals, emergency procedures, group work, curriculum planning, philosophy, goals and objectives, policy procedures and training. Our CKV staff brings with it a multitude of experiences and backgrounds. All of our staff has undergone a thorough criminal background screening, and are to complete First Aid, CPR and Child Abuse Prevention training, immediately upon hire. Above all else, our staff has one thing in common – a love for working with children.
Administration CKV is administered by a highly-qualified group of educators. The Dean of Early Education holds a current and valid Director’s Credential from the State of Florida.
Licensing and Accreditation CKV is a licensed nonprofit child care center by the Department of Children and Families, State of Florida (FS402.26 – 402.319). We meet all requirements of this licensing process and are open to visits by licensing personnel and guardians. The license is renewed annually. Representatives of the Department of Children and Families may check the status of children’s records, including their confidential files and medication forms during unannounced visits to the facility. It is essential that all documentation for child(ren) be complete and current as instructed by Child Care Administrative Code, 65C-22. In addition, our program strives to provide quality child care services beyond the Child Care Licensing Standards. Our ongoing commitment is to continue to evaluate and commence self-study of our child care services to achieve the highest endorsement of quality in the child care industry.
Healthy Eating The Food Services are USDA approved for breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Staff members assist children with hand washing, containers, utensils and cleanup. Sharing of food among children is not permitted. Section 65C-22.005 of the Department of Children and Family Services Child Care Standards requires CKV to have and maintain a guardian permission form for each child in order for them to be able to
participate in food related activities, such as special occasions and learning activities, which include food consumption.
Enrichment Programs In order to better meet the varied needs of the children in our care, CKV contracts with other providers (dance, gymnastics, music teachers, and computer teachers, etc.) to offer programs at our facility during our normal business hours. Guardian/guardians will be given the opportunity to enroll child(ren) in any of these programs at the discretion of the provider. Any optional services received by your child will be paid to the individual or company providing the services.
Daily Connect CKV philosophy is based on active family involvement. To further help foster interaction CKV utilizes Daily Connect as an online way for guardians to stay involved in what is happening at the center. Guardians are encouraged to participate with their children in home activities that correspond with the activities at the center. Daily Connect is accessible for free at http://www.dailyconnect.com through a web browser, or through an iPhone, iPad or Android Application for a one-time fee of $4.99. Go to http://www.dailyconnect.com/download for information about the mobile apps. The teachers use Daily Connect in the center to document your child’s eating, sleeping, diapering, and activity patterns as they happen throughout the day. As a guardian, you can either log in to the web application to see how your child’s day is going, or check the information on your app. This will ensure you have all the details about your child’s day at your fingertips. To get started, CKV links your email to your child’s profile. Let the staff know if you wish to link a different email address or add an email address. All you need to do is go to http://www.dailyconnect.com/register and register using your email. You’ll then be able to access the information entered by the teachers. You can also use the application to document what your child is doing at home or to communicate with the teachers via the Message feature. If you already have an account with Daily Connect, please verify that the email you have registered is the same that is linked to your child. All previous information entered will connect. Let the center know if you do not see the information after creating your account, CKV might have specified a different email address on your child’s profile.
Ages & Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3) The first five years of life are very important for your child because this time sets the stage for success in school and later in life. During infancy and early childhood, your child will gain many experiences and learn many skills. It is important to ensure that each child’s development proceeds well during this
period. CKV will provide the Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3), to all new children joining our program. The ASQ-3 is one of the first tools used to help you and CKV keep track of your child’s development.
General Policies & Procedures Non-Discrimination Policy CKV does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
Children with Special Needs Placement of children with identified disabilities will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Most young children will fit into a group of typically developing children, while a few may need special services, especially those with high medical needs that require the services of a nurse. CKV will request and review information given by the guardian related to the child’s participation in the program. Identification of specific accommodations required to meet the needs of the child, which include change or modification in the child’s participation in regular activities, will be discussed, as well as identification of any special equipment, materials, ramps or aids. If such accommodations will cause undue burden on the child care program, the guardian will be notified in writing, which would include reasons for the decisions. The staff work with special needs children and inclusion is practiced at CKV. Children in inclusive classrooms show greater understanding and tolerance of all children, as well as success in developing warm and caring friendships. The IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) provides a public school education to children with disabilities from ages three through twenty-one, no matter how severe their disabilities. Under IDEA, early intervention services are made available to infants and toddlers with disabilities, age birth through two years. Children who have an identified IEP (Individualized Education Plan) have been diagnosed and are provided special services as a result of their need. If a child displays signs that further evaluation may be necessary, the center may request that the guardians provide an IEP in order to determine accommodations and provide services the child needs to accomplish educational success. Children who show a need for further evaluation after being admitted to CKV will be referred to community resources for further evaluation and diagnosis. The IEP is adhered to stringently. The IEP is specific and regulated by federal guidelines. For instance, ADD (attention deficit disorder) is not considered a “special need” and although children may need special accommodations they do not qualify for special services. The CKV playscape, as well as indoor space are compliant with requirements listed in the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Emergency Procedures In the case of a major emergency (such as broken bones, puncture wounds, etc.), the child’s guardian will immediately be called. As necessary the child may be taken by ambulance to the nearest emergency medical facility. Health forms on file include child and guardian information, emergency numbers when guardians cannot be reached, and a medical release to seek treatment if guardians cannot be reached. 1. Fire/Emergency Drills
Monthly fire and/or emergency drills are required. In the rare case of an evacuation of the facilities for a period exceeding two hours, the following procedure will be implemented:
Center staff will telephone guardians, if possible, to inform them of the evacuation. If guardians believe that an evacuation is taking place, they may call the Center or the administrative office. If communications are not functioning at either location, guardians should assume that an evacuation is taking place. Guardians should pick up their children from CKV as soon as possible. If children must be relocated from CKV, the location of the children who have been relocated to other areas will be posted at the center. CKV will resume operations as soon as it is safe and legally able to do so. Information may be obtained by calling the administrative office.
Transportation Transportation to and from CKV is the guardians’ responsibility.
Visitors Visitors, including prospective guardians, routinely visit the center. Visitors are not permitted to spend an extended period of time with any specific child or group of children without the permission of children’s guardians. Visitors will not be admitted to visit a child during the centers rest time as it will disrupt the other children. If visitors are not on the pick-up list or emergency contact list for the child, the front desk must be notified in writing 24 hours in advance of the visitor’s arrival or admittance will be denied. Visitors may not take photographs of children unless permission has been granted by the guardians. Guardians are welcome to visit anytime. Guardians who visit CKV during the day to eat with their children must check-in at the main desk.
Babysitting Policy While the CKV team is encouraged to build relationships with children and their families, we do not allow staff to babysit for families.
Infection Control CKV shall ensure that all specified equipment, items or surfaces (including floors and walls) are cleaned and disinfected as needed to maintain a sanitary environment. Cribs, cots, mats or other approved sleeping equipment and machine washable fabric toys are washed and disinfected at least monthly or more frequently as needed to maintain cleanliness. Sheets, blankets or other coverings will be laundered weekly and as needed.
Hand Washing Frequent hand washing with soap and running water is necessary to prevent the spread of disease. Children and adults need to wash their hands before preparing or eating snacks, before and after water play, toileting, coughing and wiping noses. Teachers set a good example and teach children how to clean their hands. Staff, children and guardians are asked to wash their hands upon entering the classroom.
Child Safety Children experiencing minor injuries or illness such as bumps, bruises, scrapes, bee stings and stomach upsets will be treated by the teacher trained to administer first aid. CKV utilizes an OUCH report to document all first aid and ailments as well as to be signed by the teacher, Dean, and guardian. If the child’s symptoms persist, guardians will be asked to pick up their child. Guardians will be contacted in the event that OUCH Report occurs.
Reporting Suspected Child Abuse In order to ensure the well-being of the children in our care, our staff has a continuing duty under state law to report incidents of possible neglect or abuse, including physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, to the Department of Children and Families and to cooperate in any investigation of such possible neglect or abuse. All staff members are mandatory reporters and must follow Florida statute for mandatory reporting. We do not have discretion in this matter, but must make such referrals whenever we have reasonable cause to believe that a child might have been harmed by anyone, including nonfamily members. We may be subjected to criminal penalties if we fail to report such possible harm. Staff is not allowed to comment to guardians, other staff or any other persons on the subject of reported child abuse. Guardians may not accuse or question staff concerning child abuse allegations. Child abuse investigations are a matter for DCF.
Child Discipline and Behavior Policy Child Guidance CKV believes that all children should experience success and our team strives to create a classroom setting that allows children opportunities to explore their environment within consistent, ageappropriate limits. Our center utilizes basic rules including respect for each other, the property of others and the facility, the child’s safety, and the security of the group as a framework for behavior in the classroom. In this type of atmosphere, most behavioral issues are prevented. However, if behavioral issues occur, our philosophy is to provide child guidance accomplished through a positive approach, which respects the child as an individual. It is our goal for children to learn human values, problem-solving skills and to take responsibility for their own choices. Discipline procedures are handled individually and with the support of the family. By using the following progressive methods of discipline techniques, we strive to minimize inappropriate behavior while creating a positive environment for all of our children. 1. Classroom Management Our staff will manage individual classrooms by: Modeling and reinforcing appropriate behavior. Maintaining consistent direct supervision. Setting reasonable expectations for children’s behavior based on developmental levels and individual differences. Becoming familiar with an individual child’s special needs. Providing interesting, challenging, age-appropriate things to do. 2. Redirection / Distraction We will offer alternatives to children engaged in undesirable behavior by offering a different toy, suggesting a new activity, engaging the child in an activity with a teacher or another child, or by suggesting independent play. The staff will help the child understand the logical consequence of his/her actions by redirecting and distraction. For example, if a child uses blocks to hit other children, the consequence is to remove the child from the block area. The child is later reintroduced to the block area with guidance from the staff reinforcing the appropriate way to play in the area. 3. Encouraging Verbal Problem Solving Skills The staff explains to the child the inappropriate behavior and shows him/her the appropriate way to handle the situation. For example, a teacher might say, “instead of hitting, say, “I’m angry because you took my toy”.
Guidelines for Persistent Inappropriate Behavior Persistent inappropriate behavior is when a child is expressing aggressive behavior which continues after the progressive methods of discipline steps have been used; behavior which threatens the health and safety of other children or staff; or a continuous inability to conform to the rules and guidelines of our program. CKV will make every reasonable attempt to mainstream a child and meet their educational needs; however, behaviors that threaten others will not be tolerated. CKV may disenroll any
child, without prior notification, whose behavior creates a significant risk of harm to the health and safety of other children or staff. CKV will use the following progressive procedure: 1. Observe and record the child’s inappropriate behavior. 2. Document what has been done and redirect the behavior. 3. If inappropriate behavior continues, guardians will be asked to participate in an immediate conference. Together, we will create a behavior modification plan to help the child become more successful in developing positive relationships with their peers and caregivers. 4. If attempts to improve behavior have been exhausted and issues continue to arise, a MultiDisciplinary meeting will be held. 5. The Multi-Disciplinary meeting will consist of the Senior Management Team, Teachers, and, as appropriate, the guardians, to review the status of the child’s plan. 6. In the review, the documentation, steps taken, and child’s behaviors will be analyzed. 7. If applicable, any modifications necessary that would yield results in the child’s behavior will be made. 8. In the event that there is no progress, or if the review determines that alternative care would best meet the needs of the child and/or the children in the center, disenrollment will occur.
Aggressive Behavior Guidelines When a child is expressing aggressive behavior, the staff will keep observational notes of children’s behavior. Together, with the Dean, 2 half-hour observations will be made within a one week period and a meeting with the guardians will be requested in writing within 7 days. Together; the Dean, teacher, and parents will create a behavior modification plan to help the child become more successful in developing positive relationships with their peers and caregivers. If the Dean feels the child needs additional evaluation a request will be made in writing to the guardian/guardians with a 30 day timeframe for evaluation by a professional and an IEP (Individual Educational Plan) will be requested. Failure to provide such documentation by the guardian/guardians will result in termination of child care services.
Biting Policy It is our goal to provide a nurturing and safe environment for every child enrolled in our child care programs. Because we view each child as a special and unique individual, we try to set policies that will reflect our understanding of the behavior that is appropriate to each child’s developmental level while still providing appropriate procedures for identifying and assessing possible behavioral concerns. Biting is developmentally appropriate for toddlers and children in their early preschool years. Before children have developed strong language skills, they often communicate physically. They shove, they push, and they bite. We have to remember that at this age they do not have a social conscience as we know it. They may understand that when they bite someone cries, but they have not yet connected all the social consequences. With older toddlers and preschoolers, biting may be a sign of frustration, speech delays, over stimulation and/or inability to verbally communicate these frustrations or emotional concerns.
As a result, CKV has instituted a Biting Policy to help meet each child’s needs, by providing a safe, nurturing environment for all our children and families, and to help identify children that require additional services or referrals. Repeat Biting Incidents: If a child bites repeatedly (more than once per week or once per week on a regular basis) the teachers will follow the procedure outlined below: 1. Teachers will inform the Dean of the incidents. 2. Teachers will chart every occurrence, including attempted bites, and indicate location, time, participants, behaviors, staff present, and circumstances. 3. Let all guardians know that there is a problem and the procedures that will be followed to deal with it. 4. Teachers and, as necessary, the Dean will “shadow” children who indicate a tendency to bite: a. Head off biting situations before they occur. b. Teach non-biting responses to situations and reinforce appropriate behavior. c. Adapt the program to better fit the individual child’s needs. 5. Teachers and, as necessary, the Dean will “shadow” children who have a tendency to be bitten: a. Head off biting situations. b. Teach responses to potential biting situations: “No” or “”Don’t hurt me!” 6. Teachers and, as necessary, the Dean will work together with the guardians of both biting children and frequent victims to keep all informed and develop a joint strategy for change. 7. Hold a conference with the guardians of the biting child to develop a written plan of action. Schedule follow-up meetings or telephone conversations as needed. 8. Consider early transition of a child “stuck” in a biting behavior pattern for a change of environment, if developmentally appropriate. 9. Prepare the guardians of the biting child for the possibility that the child may have to be removed from CKV and help them to make contingency plans. 10. If it is deemed in the best interest of the child, center, and other children, it may be necessary to ask the guardian to withdraw the child from the center because of inability to diminish the biting occurrences. If this situation occurs, CKV wants the guardian/guardians of the child to understand that the Center welcomes the re-enrollment of their child after the biting phase has passed (perhaps when language skills are stronger or the child has reached a stage of more maturity). Please note that the above policy is directed towards infants, toddlers and younger pre-school children. With older preschoolers and school-age participants (when children become verbal and teething is no longer an issue), instances of biting will be addressed using the above noted Child Guidance and Guidelines for Persistent Inappropriate Behavior.
Unacceptable Forms of Discipline Our policy does not permit the use of the following forms of discipline:
Spanking is not permitted at CKV by either staff or guardians. Time Out Corporal punishment
Emotional punishment, including ridicule, embarrassment, or humiliation. Punishing a child for lapses in toilet training habits. Withholding food, light, warmth, clothing, or medical care. Physical restraint, other than the restraint necessary to protect a child or others from harm.