POLICIES

Open Door Policy:

For parents and guardians of children enrolled and present in care, I have an open door policy if you feel the need to make a short check up on your child. (we ask that you limit these visits to 15 minutes, as to not frighten the children who are afraid of strangers and to minimize disruption of our daily schedule, nap-time, snacks, lunch etc..) Please do not bring friends, other children, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.... The only people allowed in the daycare are the Parents or the authorized person picking up or dropping off the child. This is for the safety and well-being of the children. Please keep in mind our daily schedule, I would prefer for you to arrive prior to, or after nap-time. If you choose to take your child out for an outing (appointment, special lunch, etc.) please have them back no later than halfway through nap-time, in order for them to get their much needed rest. Please also bear in mind that your child may exhibit increased signs of distress during your departure. If you choose to eat lunch with your child, I ask that you bring your own packed lunch for you and your child and you may eat out back in the picnic area OR pick your child up for the duration of lunch time as to not disturb the other children that we must serve the state approved meals. The doors are kept locked at all times, except those of arrival and departure times, so please knock or ring the bell! We ask that you do not ring the doorbell between 12:00 and 2:00, as the children will be napping during that time.

Cleaning:

Yes, we have “crawlers”! This means that floors are kept clean at all times to provide children with a clean and safe play area. Floors / carpet are vacuumed daily before the first child arrives and the carpet is steam cleaned every weekend. We also run “allergen catching” filters in our Air conditioning/heating system to help prevent runny noses. All toys are disinfected daily / weekly with Lysol disinfectant spray.

Sick Child Policy:

We are a "well child" facility; meaning that should your child become ill, I request that you please keep him/her home until such time that her illness appears to be over; 24 hours after LAST symptoms. If your child seems to be fine the next day, they may come back to daycare. If your child is still showing symptoms and you would like them to attend daycare ( at our discretion and with an OK from us ) then a doctors note will be REQUIRED stating that the child is not contagious or putting the other children at risk in any way. Sick children require special care and that should be provided by the parent, NOT daycare.

Infants who are not feeling well must be kept home until they are 100% better, with or without a doctors note. As a “well child” facility, we are not staffed to provide the constant care that an unwell infant requires. 

With OR without a doctors note, it is at the discretion of Vail Family Daycare wether or not your child may attend when we deem them “unwell”.

Symptoms to be on the look out for:

Fever 101 degrees or greater (if taken under the arm the thermometer will read 100 degrees (you must add 1 degree) accompanied by additional signs or symptoms of illness.

Symptoms and signs of possible severe illness (such as unusual lethargy, uncontrolled coughing, irritability, persistent crying, difficult breathing, wheezing, or other unusual signs)- until medical evaluation allows inclusion. 

Uncontrolled diarrhea, that is, increased number of stools, increased stool water, and/or decreased form that is not contained by the diaper- until diarrhea stops.

Vomiting illness (two or more episodes of vomiting in the previous 24 hours) until vomiting resolves or until a health care provider determines the illness to be non-communicable, and the child is not in danger of dehydration.  

Pink eye (until 24 hours after administration of medical treatment)

Chicken pox, rash with behavior change, impetigo, measles, rubella, strep throat.

Please refer to your parent handbook for greater descriptions of these illnesses and more, which may be grounds for exclusion from care. 

Late Drop Off and Pick Up:

Please call me if you will be dropping your child off late. It is very important to me and the other children to know our schedule (breakfast, etc.) and when we can move along from one activity to another. If I do not hear from you by 30 minutes after your scheduled drop off time, I will assume your child will not be attending. If you know ahead of time that your child will not attend, I request a call as early as possible.

Potty Training:

Potty training shouldn’t be rushed; it is important that your child is psychologically and physically ready for training. Once the parent has started potty training and the child understands how it works, we will work to see that they make it to the bathroom when needed. We do not, however, start the process as sometimes it takes a long time in the bathroom for each session and that is not possible with the other children in care, but we will be more than happy to assist with your training. Huggies Pull Ups (or other brand) must be provided by the parent/guardian during this transition period, no regular style training pants or underwear will be used until your child maintains 2 continuous weeks of bladder/bowel control. However, should your child regress after this 2-week period we will assess the next step. Additionally, please keep in mind there may be need for more changes of clothing as pull-ups hold less than a traditional diaper and may leak (specifically during nap-time.)

Transportation:      

We do NOT transport children.

There may be instances of emergency situations that will warrant your child being transported in a vehicle. Every effort will be made to have verbal and/or written permission for such an event to occur. It is the parents’ responsibility to provide car seats appropriate for your child’s age and size to keep at the daycare for emergency use.

Release of Children:

It is important that I protect your child by ensuring that your child does not leave my home with a person not listed on your Enrollment form (under Contact Information) to pick up your child. Also please tell me when someone else will be picking up your child. Even if it is an emergency, I must have your permission to release your child to someone other than you. I will need the person’s name and they must provide legal photo identification.

Termination / Change of care:

Parent/Guardian will give one month (30 days) advance written notice, and is responsible for the next 30 days of childcare fees to terminate your child’s enrollment in child care regardless as to whether or not your child is present (with the exception of the trial period). For example, if the current month is January and you realize that February will be the last month of care needed, then when you pay for the month of February and give notice the same day, this will fulfill your one month notice and payment and all contracts will be terminated 30 days thereafter. Example 2: If you find out mid-month that you will no longer need care, we will pro-rate the next month’s childcare fees. Since you would have paid for the current month on the 1st day of that month, and you told us you would like to terminate childcare 30 days from the 15th, for example, the next 15 days of the current month are already paid for and we would only charge you for 15 days of the next month to complete your 30 days notice. If one months notice is not given, you are still financially obligated for the one month of child care fees and late payments; the one month full payment still applies when notice is given in conjunction with the provider’s vacation. 

This 30-day notice also applies to the change of care from full time to part time. For example, if you child currently is attending daycare as “full-time” and you decide that you will now only need “part-time” care, you will pay your current rate for the next 30 days, at which point the new “part-time” rate would take effect.

Trial Period:

There is a trial period of 5 days from the date childcare begins. If the childcare arrangements are not mutually satisfactory, either party can terminate this agreement with a 1(one)-day notice 

Fee Payment Guidelines:

Daily rate is per child. Childcare fees are paid in advance on a monthly basis. Payment is due before or during drop off on the first daycare day of each month. Payment obligation is based on the days agreed to use childcare, not on actual attendance. There is no change in fee due to your child’s absences. In the case of your vacation or absence, please postdate your check for the upcoming date due and make payment before you leave.

Late payments – Tuition is due on the 1st day of every month and is considered late thereafter. If payment is not received by the 3rd day of the month, a $25.00 late fee will be added on to that month’s tuition. Starting the 5th day of the month, a $5.00 per day fee will be assessed on top of the $25.00 late fee, until payment is received. NOTE: If payment is late more than 2 times, the $30 and $10 per day late fees will begin immediately the day after tuition is due.

A personal check or cash may be accepted for payment, however if a check is returned for any reason and I incur any bank charges from the return of your check, those charges will be added to the following month daycare fees. Additionally, because the payment is not made in a timely manner, the late fee policy also applies. After 2 check returns, all further payments must be made in cash. Non-payment or consistent late payments is cause for termination immediately without one-months notice and you will still be responsible for the next 30 days payment.

A one-month notice of any increase in fees will be posted.

Paid Holiday closings:

• New Year’s Day
• Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Washington’s Birthday
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Columbus Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving (Tuesday - Friday)
• Christmas Day

My vacation period will be 16 week days per year, Usually half in the summer months + half in the winter months. Vacation days may be split up between weeks, only partially used and saved for a later date, or used to fill in gaps between openings and closures. Weekends are not counted. Advance notice will usually be given before any vacation or closure with the exception of emergencies, natural disasters, or unexpectedlossofpower,A/C,orheat.Youwill beresponsibleformakingotherchildcarearrangementsforanyoftheaboveclosures.