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Policies
Admissions & Payment |
Medical Form |
Licensing | School Closings
Withdrawal of Care |
Pick-up by Others |
Late
Pick-up Toys From Home |
Meals & Snacks |
Illness | Medications |
Toilet Learning
Abuse
Reporting
Dear parents,
This policy statement and the information contained herein was written in an effort to better acquaint you with Rainbow Connection, our goals, and our commitment to the families we serve.
Purpose and philosophy
Rainbow Connection is dedicated to providing a warm and inviting atmosphere that allows children to develop at their own pace. We believe that children need to have a positive self-image. We foster that image, along with their developmental growth in the areas of intellectual, social, physical, and emotional skills, through a variety of group activities, individual play, and quiet periods. Our program makes use of many play and learning materials that help the children gain confidence in their abilities to do and make things.
Children will play and learn through hands on experiences in art, literature, music, nutrition, motor skills, dramatic play, science, math manipulatives and environment.
At Rainbow Connection, we are parent friendly. Our goal is to maintain an open line of communication and to develop a trusting relationship with the families enrolled in our program. Our staff is trained in the field of child development and is supportive to the healthy development of all children. We welcome parents visits anytime, please come in and visit as often as you like, converse with our staff and participate in your child’s learning environment. We seriously consider all parent suggestions and comments.
Rainbow Connection serves all children and families and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, cultural heritage, political beliefs, marital status or disabilities.
Our goal is to provide a full time, year round, quality childcare program for children, aged - infant through pre-school to Pre-Kindergarten
Admissions and Payment
Policies Rainbow Connection is financially based on a guaranteed payment system.This is our career and sole source of income. In order for your child to maintain his/her enrollment status, payments are expected to be timely as per your contract. Tuition is based on a fifty two week year and on the actual cost of operation and therefore is subject to change on an annual basis. Rainbow Connection will be closed three weeks each year for repairs and maintenance, to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment for your child. There are no reductions for illness, holidays, closing due to severe weather or vacations, beyond the above stated amount of time.
In the event of severe weather and related emergencies, i.e., snow storm, hurricane, nor’easter, major power outage, please call to see if we are open.
Rainbow Connection reserves the right to change admissions and payment policies with reasonable notification.
Medical Form
Parents of all children in care are
required to complete and submit to the Rainbow Connection a child
medical report from a doctor. Also for health and safety, and
Department of Health regulations we will NOT accept into care any
child who is not properly immunized.
Licensing
Rainbow Connection is licensed through Maine State Department of Health and Human Services.
We are also nationally accredited by the National Association of Family Childcare part of the NAEYC.
All teachers are CDA accredited or have Early Childhood Education teaching degrees including all outreach teachers.
Each childcare provider is certified in First Aid and CPR. All documents are posted in the main playroom.
School Closings
Rainbow Connection will be closed
three weeks each year for repairs and maintenance, to ensure a safe
and healthy learning environment for your child. These weeks will be
tuition free. There are no reductions for illness, holidays, closing
due to severe weather or vacations, beyond the above stated amount of
time.
In the event of severe weather and related
emergencies, i.e., snow storm, hurricane, nor’easter, major power
outage, please call to see if we are open. In the event that public
schools are closed or are closing early because of weather conditions
Rainbow Connection will also close.
Withdrawal of Care
Because we are dedicated to providing only quality care, and because we care deeply for all children, there may be times, unfortunately, when the care we provide is not suitable for certain children or families. If we deem the care inappropriate for the child for whatever reasons, we will decline from providing that care. Respectfully, if a parent feels the care we provide is not suited to their child or their family, the parent also has the right, to withdraw from care with a two week notice or payment equivalent.
Pick-up By Others
If your child is to be picked-up by someone not on your approved pick-up list, a written consent form must be submitted to us prior to pick-up. Person picking up must have appropriate safety seat available or child will not be released from care per state regulation.
Late Pick-up
Rainbow Connection closes at 5:30 P.M. If any child is left in our care after 5:30pm, and the parent has not contacted us or made other pick up arrangments, we will notify the Police and DSS that the child is abandoned. There is a $25.00 late fee for the first and second late pick-up. Third offense will result in possible immediate termination of services
Toys From Home
We believe in security items from home. We remind parents that we plan a safe environment for your child and we do not allow weapon or war toys and do not allow weapon or war play, (this includes professional wrestling, karate, ninja and other forms of violent antisocial play). We also request that each child bring in no more than one toy per day.
Meals and Snacks
Parents need to supply food for the duration of your child’s attendance everyday. Parents are asked to refrain from sending such foods as sweets, candies, soda or gum with their children, these items will be confiscated and sent back home. Breastfed children need to have an adequate supply of breast milk or formula, provided by parents, on hand to satisfy their needs.
For other items to be provided by parents please see cubbie needs list.
Illness
We are under strict guidelines with regard to disease control, hence there may be times when we are either forced to send an ill child home, or not accept an ill child into daycare. For that reason parents should have a plan for alternate care. If a child becomes ill at Rainbow Connection, we will do everything possible to comfort the child until the parent or emergency contact person arrives. The child will have to be isolated from the other children.
Parents will be notified when a child exhibits any of the following symptoms: Fever of 101 degrees, persistent diarrhea, severe coughing, difficult or rapid breathing, conjunctivitis, unusual spots or rashes, vomiting, or difficulty in swallowing. Any other symptoms that, in the opinion of the caregiver, indicate the possible presence of a contagious disease such as chicken pox, measles, impetigo, etc.
Parents will be notified of contagious diseases affecting the children. A child with a communicable disease will NOT be re-admitted into care until the period of contamination has passed or until the child is fully recovered from his or her illness.
Parents of all children in care are required to complete and submit to the Rainbow Connection a child medical report from a doctor.
When medication, either prescription or over the counter is involved in the child’s care, the parent MUST fill out and sign and date a Permission to Administer Medication Form. These are to be filled out for each and every medication. Prescription medications must be in an original and labeled container. Over the counter medication permission forms are viable for only one week at a time. Also for health and safety, and Department of Health regulations we will NOT accept into care any child who is not properly immunized.
Medications
When medication, either prescription or
over the counter is involved in the child’s care, the parent MUST fill
out and sign and date a Permission to Administer Medication Form.
These are to be filled out for each and every medication. Prescription
medications must be in an original and labeled container. Over the
counter medication permission forms are viable for only one week at a
time. These rules are per Maine Department of Health.
Behavior Management
At Rainbow Connection, we believe that children need guidance, understanding, and a few easy-to-follow rules in order to learn appropriate behavior. It is our policy to help children learn behavior by establishing clear limits, explaining those limits in a positive way when it is necessary for a child to understand why the limit is there. Our two rules are (1) you may not hurt yourself, and (2) you may not hurt others. Children who present a continuing behavioral problem, that endangers the safety and well-being of the other children and that Rainbow Connection staff and the parents cannot find a workable solution for, will be required to be removed from care.
Toilet Learning
Children will learn to use the toilet when they are physically, mentally and emotionally ready, and will only be successful when the child wants to learn and be responsible for it. Your child should be able to do the following without assistance.
Readiness Guidelines:
1. Be able to stay dry for extended periods (about an hour and a half).
2. Recognize the need to use the bathroom.
3. Get to the bathroom “on time”
4. Manage his/her own clothing off and on (clothing should be appropriate to make this possible).
5. Wipe her/himself (when first starting out child should try this but may need some assistance).
When a child shows interest we will work with parents and the child to facilitate toilet learning. By encouraging the child with reminders, actual trips to the toilet and praise for success, but without punishing or shaming the child when expectations are not met. When the child shows the ability to stay dry for extended periods of time the child may begin to wear underpants during wakeful time at Rainbow Connection. Again every child is unique and will develop at their own speed and their learning will be given individual consideration. Unreasonable or inappropriate requests for toilet learning will be refused. At no time will any child be shamed, punished or humiliated for soiling, wetting or refusing to use the toilet.
Abuse
Reporting & Developmental Evaluation Reports
We are mandated reporters and are required by law to report any abuse or suspected abuse of children. This includes physical and emotional abuse and abuse through neglect of a child’s basic needs.
We are required to regularly evaluate all children in our care for possible delays in many developmental areas and at times will suggest to parents that an evaluation be made of their child.
Please email any questions you may have regarding or
Policies to:
info@rainbowchild.net
Admissions & Payment |
Medical Form |
Licensing | School Closings
Withdrawal of Care |
Pick-up by Others |
Late
Pick-up Toys From Home |
Meals & Snacks |
Illness | Medications |
Toilet Learning
Abuse
Reporting
|
