Personal Information:

I am a healthy, married, non-smoking, mother of one child age 20 years old.  I am very involved in the daily life of my child and family and am involved in their daily activities. 

I believe in taking a professional approach in what I can offer the children.  I will provide a licensed child care home in compliance with the Colorado Child Care Regulations and also part of the Douglas County Child Care Association. I am very happy with my "job." I have realized that this is truly where I belong and I can't think of anything I'd rather do for many reasons.

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Experience and Philosophy:

I believe that children have the right to a nurturing, safe, environment where they can feel comfortable and secure. I feel that the children have a right to develop to their maximum abilities and I would like to help provide this opportunity for them to do so in my home.  I will guide them in developing a positive self-esteem through love and respect as well as academic and physical skills at their own development level.

I will work to keep abreast of current information on child care and Early Childhood Education. I am active in continuing my education through workshops and conferences.  

I have CPR and First Aid, medication training, follow all the standards for registration, have a criminal history check performed on each family member over 14 years of age, and run my Licensed Preschool daycare with the same concern and love as always.

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Description of Program:

I provide care for children in a family style, loving atmosphere. I have designed my own program that will provide a structured pre-school curriculum. Weekly themes will cover numbers, letters, shapes and colors.  I also believe music, communication, and movement are very important parts of the healthy development of a child.  I care for a very small group, as it is my belief that fewer children equal better care.  Because I am able to give more "one-on-one attention than a big center, I am able to encourage each child to grow according to their needs, not mine.  I provide the parents with daily reports and a seasonal newsletter in an effort to communicate schedules and routines during this wonderful time of growth, exploration and change.

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Dismissal of a Child:

This daycare reserves the privilege of dismissing any child if, after enrolling, s/he seems unable to participate in group experiences, the parent/guardian breaches the contract or fees have not been paid.

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Objectives:

1. It is my goal to provide the best quality care for your child in a safe, loving, and stimulating environment.

2. A program that will meet the needs of both the parent and the child.

3. Safe and sanitary conditions.

4. Structured environment that will help the children learn and develop in a happy, loving atmosphere.

5. To help the parent and the child feel secure and comfortable with the daycare decision.

6. To have good communication between parent and provider.

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Regular Attendance:

Children can benefit from the opportunities offered by preschool daycare when they attend regularly. Therefore, consistent and prompt attendance is advised. If your child will be late or absent, please notify me no later than your child’s regular arrival time in the morning. I encourage you to spend days off, vacations, and holidays with your child when possible, but need for you to inform me of these days in advance. You are required to keep your child home when ill and need to inform me as soon as possible in the event that you must stay home with your child.

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Hours of Operation:

I provide childcare during your contracted working hours only.

Services are provided weekdays between the hours of 7:30am and 5:00pm during your contracted working hours.

In the mornings I can be flexible with arrival times with prior written approval, however, closing time is firm.  There is an extra fee of $1 per minute for children dropped off earlier than their contracted arrival time (without prior approval) and for children not picked-up by their contracted pick-up time. Please be on time daily.

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Trial Period:

Your child’s adjustment is important to the both of us.  There will be a two week trial period that will be used to determine whether the child(ren) will be able to fit into my child care program.  It is appreciated that a child does not always adjust easily to a new situation.  This will give the child, the other children in my home and me an opportunity to discover one another.  In this manner, we can determine if there is a working relationship for all involved.  Both parties agree to give two weeks to see if the child(ren) can bond with other children and the provider.  After two weeks, if either the provider or the parents do not feel the child is adjusting, both have the right to terminate the contract without further notice.

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Children’s Schedules:

Lunch and snacks will be provided. Morning snack will be served between 9:00 and 9:30 am. Lunch will be served between 11:30 and 12:00am. An afternoon snack will be offered at about 3:30pm.  A "QUIET' time is observed in my home between the hours of 12:30-3:30 P.M. If you will be picking up your child within these hours, prior notice would be appreciated. This way special arrangement will be made so that the other children will not be disturbed during their much-needed time of rest.

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Toys and Candy:

Please do not send toys, candy, or gum to daycare with your child. The other children will want these items your child may not want to share. I do not allow toy guns and weapon of any kind in my home. If any of these items are sent they will be put away until the child/ren leave for the day and will be sent back home with them with a note asking that the items not be returned to daycare.  This daycare cannot assume responsibility for the loss or damage to your child/ren’s personal items.

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Emergencies and Evacuations:

If there is an emergency, we will leave by the nearest exit. I have neighbors on all sides who are home during the day as well as several reliable friends to help should an emergency arise.  Of course you would be contacted immediately. In case of a natural disaster, National emergency, State emergency, we are going to meet at Trailblazer Elementary School at the Flag pole.

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Fire Safety:

 of the designated “safe areas: for use during severe weather

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Arrival and Pickup:

Due to the emotional nature of leaving a child I ask that when you bring your child in the morning you be as quick as possible in your departure. It is much easier on the child when the impending separation is not long and drawn out.  Likewise, in the afternoon, when you pick up your child, please understand that I am working and cannot visit. Your child will be ready to leave when you arrive and it is much easier to gather his/her things, say good-byes, and leave. Should you need to discuss something with me, it would be easier if you would call before pickup or in the evening before 8:00PM and discuss it then. I will talk with you for a short moment before you leave for the day. All daily arrivals and pickups should be on time, early and/or late arrivals and late pickups may lead to termination of services.

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Clothing:

The parents will provide the following:

• A change of clothes (several for potty-trained kids )
• Diapers (for nap time) & wipes.
• Ointments
• Swimmers for the summer
• And in the winter, snow boots, mittens/gloves, hat, snow pants or extra pair of pants, extra socks.

Also, I ask that parents dress their children in clothing appropriate to the season and weather.    I also ask that the children not be dressed in their “Sunday” best dress clothes, as we will be getting dirty playing outside or will be crawling around on the floor.  Please dress your child in clothing appropriate for the weather including shoes and socks. The child care home is not responsible for misplaced or unlabeled articles of clothing or personal belongings (toys).  Please write on the label on inside collar your child’s name on coats, boots, hats, jackets, sweaters, etc. you have no idea how many boys come in with size 6 blue boots from Target on the same day.

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Absences/Sick Days:

I will be fully compensated for any day your child is not in my home due to illness.  If I become ill and unable to care for your child, I will notify you as soon as possible and inform you of arranged back up care or in the very worst case, that I need you pick up your child.  I will be fully compensated for any time missed due to illness when back up care is available in my home, even if you choose to find alternative care.

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Bereavement Leave

I will receive 1 week of paid bereavement leave when necessary.  This leave is to be used in the occurrence of a death in the family, if a family member is involved in a major accident of some kind, or a family member becomes severely ill and needs my assistance.  I reserve the right to take any vacation days available in addition to the 1 week of bereavement

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Illnesses and Accidents

This daycare can ONLY ACCEPT CHILDREN IN GOOD HEALTH.  I am depending on you to help me maintain this policy.  You must notify me if your child/ren has been exposed to or has a contagious illness and I will notify you if your child/ren have been exposed to a contagious illness due to another child in daycare. For the protection of all children and myself, you must keep your child at home if any of the following applies to them:

·          The illness prevents child from participation in all regular activities.

·         The illness results in greater care than provider can comfortably provide.

·         The child has a fever; lethargy; irritability; persistent crying; difficulty breathing etc.

·         The child has an intestinal disturbance accompanied by diarrhea or vomiting.

·         Rash with fever or behavior change

·         Any discharge from sores, eyes, ears or profuse nasal discharge.

·         Tuberculosis until not infectious (bacterial – respiratory)

·         Strep Throat (until 24hrs. after treatment begins and no fever for 24hrs. -w/out suppressant)

·         Head lice (until morning after 1^st treatment)

·         Scabies (mites) until after treatment is completed)

·         Chicken pox until 6 days after onset of rash and all lesions are dried and crusted

·         Pertussis until 5 days of appropriate antibiotic are completed (respiratory – bacterial)

·         Impetigo (until 24-48 hrs. after meds begin)

·         Mumps until 9 days after onset of parotid gland swelling

·         Hepatitis A until one week after onset or until immune globulin is given to all children/staff

·         Hepatitis B

·         Infection with shigella; E-coli; salmonella

·         Infections with Hemophilus flu; meningitides; streptococcus pneumonia until adequately treated

·         or any other possible symptoms of a communicable disease

If your child shows signs of any contagious disease, please keep them at home and report their condition to myself immediately. If any of the above symptoms are present when you bring the child to my home the child will not be permitted to stay. If these symptoms arise while the child is in my care I will call you to come pick the child up. You must make arrangements to have the child picked up within 60 minutes upon notification. If you cannot be reached your contacts will then be called in the order you list them to pick up your child. If they cannot be reached in the event of an accident your child will be transported to the doctor/hospital listed on your enrollment form.

Admission is at the discretion of myself.

I prefer to NOT give any medication. When a medication is needed, they should be given at home when possible. This has been made easier now that once and twice daily dosages are available.

Please let me know when you drop your child off in the morning if you have given him/her any medicine at all the night before or that morning. If for any reason your child has a reaction or gets severely ill where doctors or paramedics need to be called I need to have their medication information available to know as best to assist them.

If it is necessary that your child needs any type of medication, including vitamins, homeopathic and herbal remedies and OTC ointments and creams (prescription or over the counter) during childcare hours I will need written authorization from your health care provider and from you.  Ask me for the specific forms for this. Parents/Guardians are responsible for providing all medications and supplies. All medicine must be in the original container with your child’s name clearly labeled on it.

Prescription medicine containers must bear the original pharmacy label that shows the prescription number, name of the medication, date filled, physician's name, child's name and directions for dosage. When no longer needed, the medicine will be returned to the parents/guardians. I can only administer prescription medicine to the child whose name appears on the pharmacy label. In most situations, children should not transport medications to and from this childcare home; this includes medication placed in a diaper bag or backpack. Please hand it directly to myself so we can verify the amount of the medicine together (state requirement) and I can place it in a locked area away from the children.

Nebulized medications and emergency injections (EpiPen) require a written health care plan or instructions completed by the RN consultant and/or the child’s health care provider.

In the event of an accident or illness at daycare you will be notified immediately and will be expected to remove the child/ren from daycare promptly. You must make arrangements to have the child picked up within 60 minutes upon notification. If you cannot be reached your contacts will then be called in the order you list them to pick up your child. If you cannot be reached in the event of an accident your child will be transported to the doctor/hospital listed on your enrollment form.

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Birthdays and Special Occasions:

Parents are welcome to send cookies, cakes, or cupcakes to share with their child/ren’s friends on birthdays or special occasions. Please let me know in advance that you will be bringing a treat.

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Suspected Child Abuse:

The State of Colorado requires that all members of a daycare institution be on the lookout for, and report to the State, any and all cases of abuse to a child.  I am therefore obligated to report to the State any suspected cases of child abuse and/or neglect.

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Pets on Premises

I currently have one female schnauzer dog, her name is Tasha  and she lives indoors and will have no access to the children.  During normal hours, she will be isolated in another part of the house except when outside duties require then to pass through the house. She is very gentle and sweet dog, she is considered to be hypo-allergenic animal because they do not have fur, they have hair.  So if your child suffers from allergies to animals because of dander then this should not be a problem since my dog do not have the dander that causes allergies to flare up.

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House Rules:

House rules are in place to keep the children safe from harm. So with that in mind here are the rules for all children to learn to follow:

·         Walk while inside

·         Use quiet voices while inside

·         Use polite words (no name-calling, foul language)

·         Be kind to our friends (no hitting, kicking, pushing, biting, pulling hair, taking toys away

·         Use manners (please, thank you, etc.)

·         Use toys respectfully

·         Follow directions

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Discipline:

Discipline means guidance in the form of helping children change undesirable behavior into more acceptable, satisfying behavior. Guidance is a process. Discipline is the slow, time-consuming task of helping children to see the sense in acting in an acceptable way.  It is helping a child learn self-control and self-direction. It is my policy that discipline is to be guidance that improves, strengthens, molds and helps a young child control his or her own actions. For that to happen we must set the example for the child to follow, have consistent guidelines for the child/ren to follow, give positive re-enforcement, provide acceptable choices, set realistic limits, encourage a child to express feelings with words when they are able, use consequences that are related to the behavior, and listen carefully to what our child/ren are saying to us.  Discipline and guidance should nurture love, patience and concern through the caregiver resulting in a secure child with high self-esteem and positive self-image.  Please inform me of the discipline method you most prefer and working together we will ensure a well disciplined child.

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Damage

It is expected that each child be respectful of my personal property and that of others.  Parents will be required to replace any object or it’s value if their child has damaged or broken it.

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Payment Schedule:

All payments and fees are due on the first day of attendance for the week, in advance of the next week and are payable in full each week. Due to the small number of children in my care, rates cannot and will not be prorated for any reason. All payments and fees are due in full each week regardless of attendance. Payments not received by 5:00pm on Monday (at the latest) will be assessed a $10 per day late fee.  Payments not received by the start of the day on the following Tuesday may result in childcare termination.  Returned checks will be assessed a $25 service charge and must be picked up in full plus any additional fees, in cash on the day you are notified.  Failure to do so will result in termination of services and additional collection fees.  Two returned checks will force me to only accept cash payments from that client.

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Rates and Fees:

The cost of child care will be based on IF your child is potty trained (please see Potty Training policy).  This rate is what you would be charged when your child(ren) are attending Buzzy Bee Preschool and will be charged to hold your opening in my home.  This rate is subject to change as deemed necessary.

Upon enrollment, the parent shall complete and return all forms with payment for the first week of care, as well as a two week deposit in advance. This prepayment is non-refundable.  The two-week payment will then be applied to the last two weeks of the 30 days notice of childcare in my home. NO CASH REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN.

PREPAYMENT will be required to hold any spot for your family for more than one week. If I am holding a spot to ensure a space for your child and you choose not to use my services for any reason before service has begun, your prepayment will NOT be refunded.

All services are PREPAID and payment will be made on the first weekday morning for the current week of care.  No post dated checks will be accepted.  Parents are welcome to pay multiple weeks if they wish.  There will be a $20.00 charge for each day the payment is late, including times when a back-up provider is used.  Checks returned for insufficient funds, closed accounts, or similar reasons must be rectified immediately by a cash payment plus an additional $35.00 service fee, as that is what I will be charged by my bank.  From that point on, all payments must be made in CASH.

There will be an OVERTIME CHARGE for all children picked up after their scheduled pick up time, & or no later than 5 p.m.  My intent is not to increase my income, but to have my opening and closing times respected so I may follow through with my family plans and commitments.  Overtime is charged at a rate of $1.00 per minute.  This is payable at the time the child is picked up for the day.  If your payment is late, you may be asked to withdraw your child from the child care home.

     Rates will be noted on the enrollment contract form.

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Potty Training:

A $10.00/day additional fee will go into effect while your child is being potty trained.  Potty training periods will be discussed and approved by both the parents and the provider at a prior conference.  Children must exhibit all signs that they are ready for potty training prior to commencement.  This fee will be in effect from the first day your child wears any type of training pants until he/she can use the bathroom unassisted for at least one full week.

                 -Unassisted – My not telling them to use the potty.  They pull their pants down

get onto the potty, clean themselves, get off the potty, pull up their pants, flush, and wash & dry their hands.

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 Vacation:

I will be taking three week’s vacation per year in which I do not charge you. Otherwise if you have vacations and would like to take time off, you will still need to pay for daycare.  Please keep in mind that I do not care for a large group of children and the stability of my income is important to my staying in this business.  If you would like to make arrangements for half day care or one or two days of care during a week in which you would be off, please make those arrangements in advance. You are required to find your own care for these three weeks that I am off, however, I will also be happy to assist you, if needed, in finding substitute childcare during these weeks. 

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Substitute Care:

I do have fellow childcare providers to use as “back up” in case of my vacations and you need help, or an emergency or severe illness in my family to watch your child(ren).  However, you are also responsible to have a person in mind should my backup person be unavailable at that time to you.  Having someone (family member, friend, neighbor etc.) that you can rely upon will make this time less stressful and a better experience in that unpredicted time of need.

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Paid Holidays:

The following days are the holidays which my child care home will be closed and are regarded as paid holidays:

            New Year’s Day

            Presidents Day (3^rd Monday in February)

            Memorial Day

            Fourth of July

            Labor Day

            Thanksgiving Day

            Friday after Thanksgiving

            Christmas Eve

            Christmas Day

            New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Day

If the holiday falls on a weekend, I will take either the Friday before or the Monday after as the paid day off.  If a holiday falls during my scheduled vacation period, it is still expected to be paid in advance to the provider and is this is a Holiday not a vacation day.  You will be responsible for finding care during these holidays.

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Termination of Services:

You must give a written 30 days (30 calendar days) notice before termination of the Buzzy Bee Preschool Home Daycare contract and will be responsible for all final payments through the end of the notice period. You will be charged for 30 days (through the end of the week, 30 days from the child/ren’s last day) upon “lack of notice”.  This “lack of notice fee” is due upon my request and you will be charged a $10 per day late fee should you neglect to pay it upon such request. Should the need for a claim to be filed in small claims court arise, you will also be responsible for all court costs, collection costs, postage and additional fees related to the collection of your outstanding debt.  The contract is subject to early termination by the daycare without prior notification in the event that the child/ren become disruptive or ungovernable in the opinion of the daycare provider. In such event, the daycare will be paid in full through the week in which such termination occurs.

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Open Door Policy

I have always welcomed the parents to drop by any time during the day to check on their children without giving me any kind of notice. I want parents to feel comfortable about their children being in a safe and comfortable environment.

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Records:

You are required to send a copy of your child/ren’s up to date immunizations to Buzzy Bee Preschool Home Daycare. You must keep your child/ren current on all required immunizations and update records accordingly. You must update enrollment forms in a timely manner in the event that changes are made.

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Closing:

I am a self employed Licensed Child Care provider.  I have tried to be fair in setting up these guidelines to help us both see what we can do for each other.  The financial arrangements are there for my family to maintain a monthly balance we depend on and you can budget.  I do expect the respect and consideration you would give any other professional.  Please remember my business is necessary for the support and well being of my own family.  Changes in the services contract should be fully discussed and agreed upon.

Your child(ren)’s well being is very important to me, and I want to keep communication open.  Please ask me for a conference at any time.  If necessary, I will ask the same of you.  Please feel free to bring me any complaints or compliments.  As required by regulations, I am listing the number to the Colorado Department of Human Services, which is (303)866-5958.

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Please read, sign and return all pages:

Buzzy Bee Preschool Home Daycare admits all children regardless of race, nationality or religious background. This Preschool daycare welcomes any exchange of information that will help to better serve your child/ren’s needs. This Preschool daycare welcomes any parent who wishes to share talents by helping with various projects to benefit the children’s experience.

I/We have read, understand, and by signing and returning this page do agree to the policies stated in this handbook. I/We understand that should there be updates to this handbook, I/We will be given a copy of the page with the updated information and a new copy of this page to sign and return.  I/We will fill out, sign and return the enrollment form and contract in their entirety.  By doing so I/We are enrolling my/our child/ren in the Buzzy Bee Preschool home daycare of Sonia Carr.

Child’s name: _____________________   age: ____________

Child’s name: _____________________   age: ____________

Signed (Mother or Guardian) _________________________ date: ____________

Signed (Father or Guardian) _________________________           date: ____________

Signed (Day care provider) __________________________            date: ____________

Email address at which I can be contacted:  buzzybeepreschool@comcast.net