Policies

ADMISSION & WITHDRAWAL

The agency will attempt to place your child in a home which is close to your home or work place/school. An interview will be arranged for you and your child to meet the prospective provider. When a decision has been made as to your child's placement, you will be required to fill out the application and necessary forms at our main office. Prior to child's withdrawal from the daycare program, a two-weeks notice is required.

DROP OFF - PICK UP

Young children depend on regular routines for their own security; thus, we ask that a fixed drop-off and pick-up schedule be confirmed with your home provider and the agency. Unless arranged otherwise, your child will not be released to any person other than those specified on the daycare application. Should late pick-up occurs, please inform your home provider as soon as possible and designate a person who will be responsible for picking up your child at the time. A late pick-up fee may be charged by the home provider. Please also inform the provider at least one hour before your child is due to arrive if your child will be late or absent.

NUTRITION

Our home providers plan their menus in consultation with the parents and home visitors. Every child in the daycare home will receive a nutritious lunch and morning and afternoon snacks daily. These meals comply with the nutrition requirements as set out in the Regulation under the Day Nurseries Act. Children under one year of age are fed in accordance with written instructions completed by the parents. Any food or drink brought to the provider's home must be labeled with the child's name. If your child is on a special diet, please supply the provider and agency with written instructions.

MEDICATION

The home provider will administer only prescribed medication to the daycare children. This requires that: the parent completes and signs Medication Consent Form, and all medications to be administered must be in their original containers and must be clearly labeled with the child's name, instructions for the administration of the drugs, date of purchase, storage instruction, and the physician's name.

BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT

When the home providers are selected, their attitudes towards child discipline and behaviour management are also considered. Behaviour management principles and methods are discussed during the provider orientation, followed up at workshops and training sessions, and reviewed yearly with the providers and their household members. Children are disciplined in a positive manner at a level that is appropriate to their actions and ages. Spanking and other forms of corporal punishment are prohibited. Your views and philosophies on behaviour management are welcomed at the initial meeting between you and the prospective provider. The provider is required to inform you of any behavioral problems and/or discipline method applied at pick-up time.

OUTINGS

The daycare children may accompany their home providers on local errands and excursions (i.e. going to the library, park, shopping, drop-in center, etc.). More extensive trips and outings to special places of interest may occasionally be planned, in which case, you will be receive a notice with information in detail and a consent form to be signed and returned to the provider.

VACATION & ABSENCE

Subsidized Parents: A written explanation is required if your child is absent more than 3 consecutive days. Absence due to vacation is permitted for a period of up to 15 days per year. Single parents are allowed an additional of 10 vacation days per year only for the following reasons:
1)the child is visiting the other parent
2)the child is attending camp
3)the child is visiting their grandparents.

All absences must be within an overall absenteeism of no more than 15% annually. Additional vacation time must be pre-approved by Children's Services by signing a vacation form. Parents who take more than the allowed vacation or absence days must pay full fee for those days.

STATUTORY HOLIDAYS

Our daycare homes are not open on the following statutory holidays: New Year Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria day, Canada Day, Civic Holiday, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, and Boxing Day. Should you require daycare on those days, please find your own alternative arrangement. Some providers may be willing to provide care for those days at a special rate; subsidized parents will be required to submit an employment letter stating the parents will be working on those days and must have prior-approval from Children's Services.

PAYMENT

A refundable two-week deposit is required prior to or on the admission date. Monthly payments should include all weekdays, statutory holidays and child's sick days, absence days and vacation days. Parents will not be charged for days that their home providers are unable to provide care and back-up care is not needed.

Monthly fee payment must be received by the 5th day of each month. Please make cheque or money order payable to Twinkle Stars P.H.D.C. and send it to our office at 1279 Weston Rd., Toronto, ON M6M 4R2. Cash should be paid in person at the office.

An annual receipt will be issued at the end of each year for your income tax purpose.

ATTENDANCE FORM

Please verify and sign the attendance form provided by your home provider on the last working day of each month. (Note: Please sign the attendance form in advance if you will not be able to sign it on the last working day of the month or if your child will transfer out or withdraw from the program)