Important Forms
Download the forms that need to be submitted to our staff.
After Completing these forms email them to [email protected] with the subject line 'Attn: Signed Forms".
Our Policy & Regulations
Last Updated 1/12/23
License & Regulations
Happy Feet Childcare is licensed childcare and complies with all applicable licensing regulations and standards. These standards relate to our home, staff, health, safety procedures, nutrition, caregiver-to-child ratios, and record keeping. We believe that these standards are in the best interest of the children. Happy Feet is owned and operated by licensed RECE.
Holiday Hours
- All Canadian Statutory Holidays
- Dec 23 through Jan 02 (every year)
- Two week summer holidays
(This holiday date and period can fluctuate, parents will be given at least 2 weeks notice to inform about the exact date and period of summer vacation)
Enrollment Requirements
A nonrefundable set-up fee of $100.00 is charged upon registration of each child.
Grace Period
The first two weeks will be regarded as a trial period, in which case either party may terminate the contract without notice. After the first two weeks of enrollment, a two-week written notice from the parent or provider is required to terminate the contract, except for (provider’s) family emergency, gross misconduct on the part of the parent or child, or failure to follow the rules of Happy Feet Childcare. This is grounds for immediate discontinuation of service. Instead of written notice, two weeks of pay may also be given to terminate the contract. In cases of non-payment, legal action may be taken, and the parents will pay all legal fees incurred.
Payment Requirements
Payments are mandatory to be paid on a Biweekly or Monthly basis.
We accept following methods of payment, E-Transfer or Cash.
Monthly tuition is due on the first Friday of each month.
Authorized Release
The child will ONLY be released to the parent/guardian with legal custody or persons over 18 who are designated by the parent on the Emergency Contact Form. The provider will refuse to release the child to anyone not on the list. The provider will require photo identification from anyone who is not recognized. The providers will not release the child to anyone including the parents/guardians if they suspect the person is under the influence of drugs alcohol, or any other substance that they feel may pose a threat to the child.
Toilet Training
We are more than happy to encourage potty training as long as the child is ready (typically between 2 and 3 years old). The initial start needs to be done at home for at least two weeks with success before it can be effectively started at daycare. Parents will be required to supply Diapers/pull-ups and wipes and all other children’s individual hygiene needs. Children will be allowed to come to daycare in cotton training pants/underwear after they have been accident-free for at least two weeks in pull-ups. Communication between parents and the daycare provider is imperative for a successful transition from diapers to toilets.
Late Pick Up Policy
Happy Feet understands that there are times that are out of our control and emergency cases that are difficult to predict. In these circumstances, we will happily be able to accommodate you once in a while. However, if there is a repetitive habit of picking up your child more than twice a month parents will be charged 5 dollars for each 15-minute late pickup.
Illness
For the health and safety of your child and all of the children in our facility, please do not bring your child to daycare sick. In which case we in turn may become sick making it difficult to care for the children at the high standards that we have set for ourselves. We can only care for children with mild cold like symptoms that are otherwise feeling and acting well. Mild cold like symptoms are clear runny nose, slight cough, and a slight or no fever. If you are not sure if your child should be brought to daycare, then please call and check with us. If a child becomes ill during daycare hours the parents will be contacted to pick up their child. Parents need to pick up their children within one hour of being notified. If parents are not available, the emergency contact person will be notified.
Note: Once the child is removed from daycare due to illness, they may not return to daycare until symptoms requiring removal are no longer present. The child must also be void of any contagious disease, unless accompanied by a doctor's note stating the illness in question is not contagious, and the child is otherwise feeling well enough to participate in our daily schedule. A child with any of the following illnesses must be completely free of any symptoms before returning to daycare. If the child is taking antibiotics for an illness, the child may return to daycare after the initial 24 hours of beginning antibiotics as long as he or she has a slight to no fever (under 100F under the arm), no longer contagious, and is otherwise feeling well enough to participate in our daily schedule. Signs of illness include the following; unusual lethargy, irritability, persistent crying for no reason, runny nose (more than clear), cough (more than slight), difficulty breathing, diarrhea, vomiting, mouth sores, rashes (note from doctor stating non-contagious is ok), pink eye, chicken pox, mumps, measles, roseola, hepatitis A, impetigo, lice, ringworm, scabies, strep throat, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, shingles, and any other contagious disease or rash. Any child with a fever of 100 degrees or above, orally (in the mouth), or axillary (under the arm), may not attend daycare. State law requires that we notify parents of children who have been exposed to certain contagious diseases. Please notify us if your child becomes infected, so a note can be posted.
Note: A fever in and of itself is not all bad (given that it is not too high). A fever is your body’s natural way of trying to protect itself against whatever virus or bacteria is attacking it. Illnesses that cause fevers cannot live in our bodies' abnormally hot environments. However, a fever is an obvious indicator that the child is sick and possibly contagious, therefore requiring exclusion from daycare.
When Hands Are Washed
Staff wash their hands...
Before beginning work
Immediately before handling food or feeding children
After using the toilet, helping a child use the toilet or after changing soiled clothing/diapers
After coming into contact with any bodily fluid, such as a wet or soiled diaper, runny nose, spit, or vomit
After handling a pet or pet equipment
Whenever hands are visibly dirty
After cleaning a child, the room, toys, or bathroom
Before giving medication or applying ointment
After work
Children wash their hands...
As we enter each morning
Immediately before and after eating
After using the toilet or having soiled clothing/diaper changed
Before and after using water tables
After using play-dough or other substances
After playing on the playground
Whenever hands are visibly dirty
Before going home
Arrival & Departure
Please send your child clean, dressed (no pajamas, unless you don't mind your child wearing their pajamas all day), fed, if arriving after meal time, and ready for the day, as well as all of your child's necessary supplies needed for that day's care. Please do not send food i.e. (half-eaten breakfasts, breakfast bars, candy, etc.) or gum with the children. Please make your goodbye brief (no more than a couple minutes): the longer you prolong departure the harder it gets for both parents and especially for your child. Never leave without telling your child goodbye. Please be in control of your child during drop-off and pick-up times. Do not allow your child to run out to your vehicle while you are still inside or in the play yard. The safety rule is “No one goes outside without me or a parent with them.” Drop-off and pick-up times are usually hectic times of the day, so this is not the time to discuss problems. If there are any problems you feel need to be addressed, please feel free to set up a time that is convenient for the both of us to discuss these matters. Parental communication is vital, it is the key to a successful childcare arrangement and I encourage any feedback you may feel relevant. No one other than the parent or person designated by you will be allowed to pick up your child without advanced written permission indicating the person's name and relationship to your child. If there is a court order keeping one parent away from the child, we must have a written note from the custodial parent in our file to that effect. Otherwise, we cannot prevent the non-custodial parent from picking up the child.
Reporting Child Abuse
As a licensed RECE I am required by our provincial and Federal laws to report any signs and symptoms of physical, emotional, or nutritional abuse or neglect on any children under my care.
Privacy & Discrimination
We abide by the provincial and federal laws. All records and information about your child and family will be kept confidential unless we have your written permission to reveal specific information (i.e. Speech or developmental delays). We also ask that you respect our staffs privacy and that of the staffs family by not sharing any information you learn about the staff's family without our written permission. For example, the contents or layout of our home, vacation schedules, routines, etc. We do not discriminate based on race, color, gender, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, or public assistance status.
Medical & Dental Emergency Procedures
Emergency information is kept on file at the daycare. In case of illness or injury, this information will be used to notify you or the person designated by you, of your child's status. If your child is injured while at the daycare, first aid will be administered. If treatment by a doctor is necessary, we will make every effort to contact you or the doctor you have chosen to treat your child. In all cases, an injury report is completed, and a copy is given to the parents as well as the Department of Social Services. Authorization for emergency treatment must be signed at the time of enrollment to ensure that in the event of an emergency, we can make sure your child receives the necessary emergency treatment he or she needs. All emergency contact information must be kept up to date and correct. Please inform us immediately of any changes to keep your information current. Parents are responsible for all costs involved in emergency medical treatment, including emergency transportation if required.Note: In case of a serious accident or sudden illness requiring immediate medical attention, the following procedures will be followed.
-A phone call to 911 is made.
-Child's parents (or emergency contacts) are called.
-Child is separated from the other children and appropriately cared for.
-Parent, provider, or ambulance takes the child and health records to the doctor or hospital.
Medication
Both nonprescription and prescription medications, ointments, and creams may be given to your child by myself if needed. Parents are required to fill out the proper form and to supply all medications in their original containers. Medications must be labeled with the child’s name, weight, and dosage amount. I suggest keeping a supply of fever reducer of your choice and Benadryl at daycare to be kept for emergencies.
Child's Absences and/or Vacations
If your child will not be attending daycare due to illness or any other reason, please let us know as soon as possible so the day’s activities won’t be held up waiting for your child to arrive. Also, we need to know how many children we need to prepare meals for. Tuition is due for the number of days per week that has been mutually agreed upon, regardless of whether the child is present or not. No discounts will be given for your child’s absences due to illness or vacations. If we do not hear from you within an hour of your child’s scheduled drop-off time, we will contact you to be sure everything is okay.
Diaper Policy
It is the parent's responsibility to provide diapers, wipes, and diaper creams for your child. It is also the parent's responsibility to check periodically to see if or when your child needs more diapers, wipes, and cream, (not the providers). Each child has his or her own clearly labeled diaper bin, depending on the age of the child. Diapers are checked frequently and changed every two hours or more often if required. Diapers containing #2 are changed immediately. The diaper changing tables are cleaned and disinfected between each diaper change, and hand washing of the childcare provider and child is performed after each diaper change.
Meals & Snacks
Each day we provide three nutritious and well-balanced meals. We provide morning breakfast at 9:30 am, lunch at 11:30 am, and afternoon snack at 2:30 pm. You are responsible for feeding your child if he or she arrives after the set meal time. Please do not send food, drinks, or sweets with your child. Milk or juice is served with all the meals and snacks, and water is offered throughout the day. The meals and snacks for each week constantly vary to ensure the children receive a well-balanced diet. The children are offered the food, but they will not be forced to eat. It is our goal to offer nutritious meals and snacks to the children in our care, as nutrition is a vital part of a child's health. Children need to eat well-balanced meals to meet his or her daily energy needs and to help them build a strong body and mind. We know that the good food habits a child develops will help them prevent cavities, iron deficiency anaemia, obesity, etc. - all common nutritional problems in young children.
Special Diets
If your child has any particular dietary needs resulting from being a vegetarian, or having allergies, religious beliefs, or non-religious beliefs, etc., then we must be informed, and when applicable given a doctor's note stating the fact. At that time it will be determined if your child can participate in the Canadian Food Guide Program. Certain meals and different types of foods can usually be substituted in place, to still fulfil the dietary requirements of the Canadian Food Guide Program. However, if a viable solution can not be reached between the parent, provider, and the Canadian Food Guide Program about their rules and regulations, then all of the child's meals and snacks will have to be provided by the parent.
Special Diets
For ages three through five, we use a theme-based curriculum implementing the teaching strategies from the Creative Curriculum. Literacy, math, science, social studies, the arts, and technology are presented in each interest area. In addition to the materials in the interest areas, I also use the Project Approach. The Project Approach builds on children's curiosity, enabling children to interact, question, connect, problem-solve, communicate, reflect, and more. Children have a strong disposition to explore and discover. I desire to create an environment where children can play with purpose, discover, create, explore, develop, and be celebrated!
Activities
We know that children also learn through play; because of this, we do not underestimate its importance on a growing child's mind, body, and spirit. Therefore, the children under our care receive lots of both free play and structured play throughout each day. During structured play, we primarily have only one group of toys or activities out at a time to allow the children to concentrate fully on each thing they do. Age-appropriate activities will be scheduled with the flexibility allowed to respond to the needs of each child and their various ages. Activities that we and the children participate in include, but are not limited to the following. Indoor activities include books and story-time, Legos, circle-time, tumbling exercises,, music and dancing, dress up, play food, interactive stuffed animals, cars/trucks/planes, arts and crafts, puzzles, flashcards, animals/dinosaurs, trains, musical instruments, balls, dolls and Barbies, various learning toys, musical instruments, various games, Mr. Potato Head, bean bag toss, blocks, beads and string, song games, play dough, coloring, sing-along story books, painting, science, board games, puppets, Simon-says, and singing. Outdoor activities include: climbing, sliding, jumping, running, balls, jump rope, racing, water balloons, parachute, catch, bubbles, follow the leader, squirt bottles, ride-on toys, wagons, tunnels, safe water toys, various games, water table, painting, exploring nature/weather, soccer, and yes falling. As you know, children play hard and will get some bumps and bruises from time to time. We do our best to limit the amount of times this occurs, with constant supervision and watchful eyes. Due to the safe environment/toys we have surrounded ourselves with, we hope to prevent any injuries before they can happen. During the summer months (June, July, and August) we allow for more outdoor activities and creative art projects. Weather permitting, we play outdoors every day.
Much Love,
Happy Feet Childcare
COMMONLY ASKED
How do you handle children's health and safety?
Your child's safety is our top priority. We have stringent health and safety protocols in place, including regular staff training, emergency procedures, and thorough background checks. We also maintain a clean and sanitized environment, and we follow proper hygiene practices to prevent the spread of illnesses.
How do you handle transitions and separation anxiety?
We understand that transitions can be challenging for both children and parents. Our experienced staff is trained to support a smooth transition process, and we encourage parents to spend time with their child in the center before official enrollment. We work closely with families to develop personalized plans to ease separation anxiety, ensuring a positive experience for both the child and the parent.
What communication can parents expect about their child's day?
We prioritize open communication with parents. Daily reports and updates are provided, detailing your child's activities, meals, and any notable milestones. We encourage regular discussions between parents and our staff to address any questions, concerns, or specific needs your child may have.