As a child care provider, we strive to provide a loving, nurturing and “home away from home” environment for our children. We are committed to supporting children’s social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development, respecting individual differences and helping children learn to live and play cooperatively. We believe that academics play an important role in teaching and simulating a child’s mind. We also believe that play is just as important as it teaches social, cognitive, gross and fine motor skills as well as interaction and problem solving skills to make for a well-rounded child.
The number one GOALof Homegrown Kids is to provide the highest quality child care to every single family we serve. In an effort to achieve that goal, we will strive to:
·-make children and families our number one priority at all times
·-respect, help and support families in their task of nurturing children
·-provide a friendly place to grow, interact and respect each other
·-daily activities are provided in a safe, clean, and loving environment
·-listen and respond to the needs of our children and families
·-treat all employees, children and families fairly, regardless of race, religion, income or origin · -our program has age appropriate curriculum, games, art, outside play and quite time
Occupational Policies and Procedures
Operation Hours Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Open twelve months year round. Our late fee policy is $15.00 for every 15 minutes you are late (being 1-14 minutes $15.00, 15-29 minutes $30.00/etc.). If being late becomes a habit, you will be asked to make other childcare arrangements, as this is unfair to the child as well as the staff. All children must be signed in and out at the front counter.We have a surveillance camera system, the monitor is in Ms. Debbie’s office, therefore she is watching your children at all times. It is Ms. Debbie’s goal to make sure that your child’s safety and well-being always are first and foremost.
Parent Notifications You need to check your family’s folder daily, located on the Sunflower table in the lobby. Accident reports (that must be signed and returned to the office) and information that the center needs to get to the parents will be in this family folder. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT IT IS CHECKED DAILY!!
Registration Fee/ Payment vacation policy A registration fee is required to hold a child’s spot until enrollment. It is due EVERY January thereafter. This is a non-refundable fee that is due before a child is enrolled. If a child is out more than the two weeks in a row and you have no more vacation weeks or haven’t paid the weekly rate to save your child’s spot, the registration fee MUST be paid again to reinstate your child. Reinstatement is ONLY if there is availability. All children must be enrolled as full time. After attending a year without withdrawing each child with receive one (1) Vacation week per year (or sick week). Weeks that contain holidays are considered a full week. Vacation weeks are Monday through Friday (consecutively only). If your child is here 0-5 days the fee remains the same. For Schoolers this rate is the cheapest rate when not here (after vacation week) of $100.00. This policy guarantees your child’s space. If you withdraw for whatever reason you will have to pay a new registrations fee (ex out for the summer) this DOES NOT make you exempt from the “yearly” registration due every January.
Financial Policy Childcare fees are due on Friday for the following week. . Payment is considered late at drop off Monday Morning. At this time your child can not attend the facility if their childcare has not been paid. Also, a late fee is $5.00 per day from Monday at drop time on until is is paid in full. Your payment is our paycheck, we depend on our paychecks just as you do to live. If payment is not received by closing on Friday you will need to make other child care arrangements.Payment is made in cash that is given to the office please do not leave without a receipt. Or you can pay by card on the app. If you leave our center owning a balance we will attempt to contact you. If payment is not made after one week of department, we turn amount owed to a collection agency for collection. You will be accountable for services rendered plus collection agency fees. All fees are subject to 8.25% tax on all charges. If you withdraw your child from our center we require a 2 week notice. If your child is withdrawn you must request a tax statement and it is a $5 per child fee and it could take up to a week for us to process it.
Holidays We are closed for the following holidays every year: New year’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.If the holiday falls on a Saturday, we will be closed the Friday before. If the holiday falls on a Sunday, we will be closed the Monday after. In the event of any other closings, we will post a letter of notification prior to the event. Weekly fees will stay the same as we pay our staff for holiday
Release of Children We will only release your child to people with whom you have given authorization on the Enrollment Form. If any person needs to pick up your child, other than those on the Enrollment Form, we must be notified either by telephone or in person. This person will need to show a picture I.D which we will make a copy of for my files. Each person MUST sign his or her child in and out on our daily Sign In/Out sheet, which is located on the front counter. Parents are responsible for their child after released from a staff member. The adult picking them up must escort all children to their vehicle. No child is to be left in a carwithout an adult. No child may go to the parking area without an adult.Termination/Withdraw We request two weeks notice if you decide to withdraw your child from our facility. Please feel free to contact Debbie Harrell, Director during operation hours if you have any questions.Tuition statements are ready after December 31st. We ONLY provide Tax statements for currently enrolled children. We need a weeks notice and $5.00 administration fee to process your statement after the child is withdrawn.
Enrollment paperwork At the time of enrollment we need the following paperwork returned to our office for your child to attend our program. Enrollment application - shows important information on your child,gives permission for transportation/water activities, field trips/authorization for medical treatment Shot and well child records, Food program paperwork including eligibility form. Statement that you have read these childcare policy’s signed and returned to us.
Policy Changes Should there be any changes in our policy’s they will be put in writing and be given to you through our parent folders in the front lobby.
Updating Enrollment Information When we need to have the paperwork updated it is your responsibility to do so on a timely manner. You can do this by either updating in the office in person, by phone, emailing Ms. Debbie @ [email protected]. We also have a Facebook account under Home Grown that is private for only staff and parents at our center. And a Facebook accountthat is open to the public is Homegrown Kids Childcare Center.
Change of address and phone numbers Please notify the office in writing of any address, phone number, or employment changes. This includes home, work, cell phone, and pager numbers. It is important for us to have current information on your child in case an emergency was to arise.
Immunization Children who do not attend public school MUST have a current shot record on file. We must have current copies each time your child’s shots are updated. We MUST also have a well child report from his/her doctor on file.
Vision and Hearing Screening The Special Senses and Communication Disorders Act, Texas Health and Safety Code, chapter 36, requires a screening or profession examination for possible vision and hearing problems for first-time enrollees who are four years or older as of Sept 1stof each year. A licensed or certified screener or health care professional will conduct the screening. You may access information about this on the Internet at www. tdh.state.tx.us/vhs.
Curriculum We use a center basedcurriculum, some of our references include High Reach, Scholastic, Kidspark, A Becka (although we do not use thereligious part as we do not teach religion) and varies preschool websites. Our curriculum goals are:
Provide opportunities for children to explore and learn at their own pace
Respect theuniqueness of each child and family
Developa nurturingrelationship with each child
Provide learning experiences in individual and group setting
Develop positive self esteem in individual children
Develop language skills as well as social, emotional and cognitive skills in children
Develop physical growth in gross and fine motor skills
Illness of Children We do not have the facilities or staff to care for sick children. If your child has a fever, contagious illness, or contagious disease, please keep them at home until they are well. If you child becomes ill while at the center you will be called to pick-up your child. (Please be here within 30 minutes of being notified that your child is sick.) If you child is sent home, they MUST be fever free, and free from vomiting and diarrhea for 24 HOURS, before returning to daycare. We cannot keep a child with a 99.4 or higher (armpit) temperature. THIS IS A STATE LAW. We do not supply pain reliever. YOU MUST FURNISH YOUR OWN PAIN RELIEVER.
Accidents I Medical Emergencies We at all times take care of your child to the best of our ability, although sometimes accidents do occur. If your child is hurt you will receive a accident form in your family folder. This report needs to be signed and returned to the office. Please do not take it home-we will be happy to make a copy for your records if needed. We are not responsible for medical bills. It is yourresponsibility to carry health insurance (or at least accident insurance) on your child. Depending on the severity of the accident we will notify you as soon as we get your child stable. We will either ask you to come to the daycare to decide if your child needs medical attention or we will transport by ambulance and notify you. Of course we pray that this is not a dilemma that either one of us will ever have to face. The daycare is not to be held responsible for accidents, that is why it is called an accident, because it was not meant to happen.
Inclement Weather Policy Attached is a Emergency and evacuation relocation diagram which shows where the “safe spot” is if we need to evacuate the building (by the dumpster), where we go for severe weather drills (in our hallway that has fire wall to the top of the building and fire proof doors) as well as evacuation information (Carleston Elementary School ). Each class takes the attendance sheets and emergency contract forms when exiting the building to ensure that you child is accounted for and that we are able to contact the parent. At this time Childcare Licensing will also be contacted.The Emergency Preparedness Plan binder is in our office for your review.
Head lice Children with lice or lice eggs cannot attend the center until treated. If lice or lice eggs are discovered while in our care, your child must be picked up immediately. We will also need proof of treatment before they can return back to the center. Proof that they were treated can be as easy as a receipt from a store or pharmacy. We will also notify the child’s class so they can take proper action. Medication When possible please administer your child’s medications when they are in your care at home. If this is not possible and you wish for us to administer medication, prescription or over-the-counter, to your child while in our care, a medication permission form must be completed, signed, and dated by you prior to any medication being given. Prescription medicines must be administrated according to label directions and can only be given to the child whose name is on the prescription bottle and cannot be given after the expiration date. These slips are located on the front desk. ALL MEDICATION MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED WITH YOUR CHILD’S NAME AND DATE. All medication MUST be in its original container. Parents will be responsible for making sure medication needing refrigeration is put into the refrigerator, which is located in the front office. It is parent’s responsibility to make sure that the medication is picked up at the end of the day. Please ask for it. We only give medication two times a day, at 10:30 a.m. (before rest period) and/or 2:30 p.m. (after rest period).
Absence & Late Arrival Please notify the office as soon a possible when your child will be absent or late, and please drop you child off BEFORE 9 AM (or after 2:00 PM). We do a daily lunch count at 9:015 a.m., so if possible let us know by this time. Schoolers MUST let us know by 2:30 p.m. as we will be waiting for him/her after school not knowing that they did not attend, which will cause us to be late at other schools. This is very important as we are responsible for your child and we need to know where they are at all times during our operating hours. If you fail to let us know that we do not need to pick your child up from school there will be a $5.00 charge.
Meals We will provide breakfast, lunch and snack. Breakfast is until 8:00 a.m. Lunch is at 11:00 a.m. Healthy afternoon snack (as mandated by the federal food program) is at 2:30 p.m./ 3:15 p.m. for schoolers as they arrive.. Unless otherwise posted . Our weekly breakfast, lunch, and snack menu is posted in the front lobby. Our menu is prepared to meet the daily nutritional requirements mandated by the federal food program. Our liquids and food hotter than 110 degrees F are kept out of reach. Staff are educated on food allergies and they take precautions to ensure children are protected. All food that is made at our center to be shared among children is commercially prepared or prepared in a kitchen that in inspected by the local health officials.Our staff DO NOT reward good behavior or clean plate with food at any time.
We prepare meals if your child can not have something we are preparing, we must have a doctors note for you to bring them food from home, and it must still met the requirements of milk, fresh fruit and vegetables unless otherwise noted by the doctor. We provide milk, fruits, andvegetables to all children during lunch.
Field Trips All children must purchase and wear a green daycare T-shirt. ALL CHILDREN MUST ATTEND FIELD TRIPS BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE STAFF TO TAKE CARE OF THEM AT THE DAYCARE FACILITY. ALL field trips are a separate fee from tuition. Field trips will be posted in advance and Must be paid in advance. We will keep costs as low as possible.
Damages Parents are responsible for damages caused by their child to the property. Such as breaking windows, etc. This does not include breaking small toys the children play with.
Movies/T.V.Time Our children watch G movies our schoolage children watch G or an occasional PGmovie only if it has been screened first, during our movie times. We do not mind you bringing movies but they must be cleared by the office first.T.V. time is limited to no more than 2 hours a day. When at all possible we try to work what we are watching into our curriculum. Discipline & Guidance We use positive methods of discipline and guidance that encourage self-esteem, self-control, and self-direction. We use praise and encouragement of good behavior, and positive statements. When this fails we have no choice but to implement our discipline policy. We hope we will not have to use a discipline policy, but just in case we have developed the following policy: 1.) Behavior will be discussed with the child. 2.) Child will be separated from the group for a cooling off period, giving them time to regain their self-control. 3.) Privileges will be taken away depending on the severity of the infraction. 4.) If behavior continues, the child will receive TIME OUT in the Director’s office. If these steps fail, the parents will be called for a conference at which time further measures will be discussed. If your child willfully and intentionally causes serious injury to another child, you will be asked to remove your child from our center. WE HAVE A NO SPANKING POLICY.
Toys, and Personal Items Please do not send them unless we have a special request for them (show and tell, etc.). This has been a real problem in the past. If a child brings a toy or stuffed animal, the toys or personal item will be put up until the parent arrives. If it comes to daycare again, it will become property of the daycare. Everything MUST be clearly marked with your child’s name and checked daily to ensure that it has not faded. This includes clothing, coats, bottles, diaper bags, diapers, wet wipes, etc. If you have any questions about what needs to be marked, please ask the office or teacher.
Clothing/ Shoes Each child must have a complete change of clothes in their cubbies. Infants, toddlers, and pre-school are required to have two changes of clothes in their cubbies. As your child grows and changes sizes, please take old clothes home and bring back new ones. All children MUST be dressed in comfortable clothes suitable for active and creative play. The clothes must be easy for the children to remove for toileting purposes. All walking children must wear shoes. We prefer all children to wear tennis shoes, because they are easier to play in. If your child wears sandals, they must have a strap around the heel. No backless shoes, thongs, or flip-flops are allowed. If your child wears these shoes they will not be allowed to play on the playground equipment-This is for safety reasons. Please label all the clothing items.
Birthdays Every child’s birthday is a special event; therefore, snack time arrangements can be made with the teacher in advance. If you are bringing cupcakes, goody bags, etc. the office can tell you how many children are in the class.
Holiday Parties During the holiday seasons, we celebrate in our classrooms. The classes post a sign up sheet to bring different items of food or drinks. Please participate in these special events. In the event of other parties or special food days, we will put a request for food or drink items in your family’s folders.
Custody Orders We must have a certified court order on file regarding parental custody matters, As a center, our position on custody matters is that we do not feel qualified on deciding custody decisions. This is a matter for the courts to decide. Homegrown Kids is here to serve the best interest in the children we care for. We would appreciate parents not involving Homegrown Kids staff in custody situations. Homegrown Kids will supply requested documents relative to court hearings, but will not appear on behalf of either parent in such proceedings.
Outdoor Play Outdoor play is scheduled daily. The children are required by state minimum standards to be outside each day. If your child can not participate in outdoor play, we MUST have a written statement from the doctor or parent. Your child will then have to sit down outside during playtime as we do not have staff to care for your child in another area. If your child is too ill to attend daycare please keep your child at home for the day.Religious Instruction We bless our food at lunchtime. However, we do not require children in our care to participate, due to different religious beliefs of each family. We plan parties around holidays. And do activities that deal with holidays.If there is a holiday that conflicts with your religious beliefs, please instruct the office on how you would like to handle the situation.
Parent conferences We offer parent conferences at parents request. We would like to meet with you at least twice a year to review your child’s progress as well as your concerns. This becomes very important in your child’s Pre-K year as we are trying to get them ready to attend public school. Conferences are a good time for us to get to know you better as parents as well as for you to share your concerns with us about your child. Feel free to schedule either a conference either in person or on the phone.
Parent/Child Communication Homegrown Kids staff and management work extremely hard to maintain a friendly, courteous, professional relationship with each parent. When communication between parent and staff or management becomes strained or non-existent, we feel we no longer serve the best interest of your child. If this occurs, Homegrown Kids reserves the right to un-enroll your child due to irreconcilable differences between staff, management and parent. There will be NO refunds ofregistration fees, tuition, or supplies. Policy Changes Should there be any changes in our policy’s they will be put in writing and be given to you through our parent folders in the front lobby.
Updating Enrollment Information When we need to have the paperwork updated it is your responsibility to do so on a timely manner. You can do this by either updating in the office in person, by phone, emailing homegrownkids92@gmail.com .We also have a Facebook account under Home Grown that is private for only staff and parents at our center. And a Facebook accountthat is open to the public is Homegrown Kids Childcare Center.
Family participation We love help from our parents! Every year we do Muffins for Mom and Donuts for Dad. We also have a fall festival, that we can only have if we have enough help from our parents. There are certain “big” field trips that we would love to have volunteers.
Animals Our Catahoula “Bridgette” will be in the office on occasions which we have her documentation of vaccinations on file. Because of State regulations this is the only animals that will be allowed in our building.
Open Door Policy We at Homegrown Kids, have an open door policy. You are welcome to visit with us during regular business hours to check on your child. The only things that we ask is that you do not upset your child or our program. Your child is not the only child we watch and we must look after the best interest of all the children. We ask you at drop off time to bring your child and leave; it is very hard on your child when you linger and then leave.
State Requirement We strive to do our best to follow state standards in our office for anyone that wants to view it. To access local licensing offices for childcare information: l-800-862-5252/www.tdprs.state.tx.us. If you suspect child abuse the toll free abuse hotline is 1-800-272-5400.
Please sign on the admission form in your child’s enrollment packet, #4 Receipt of written Occupational Policies. Any questions or concerns can be discussed with the director or office mgr by either calling with questions or setting up an appointment Our policies are reviewed annually and updated if necessary.
Preparing for Daycare Before the first day: 1.) Talk with your child about what he/she can expect at the center (other children, toys, games, blocks, paints, snack time, rest time, the teacher, etc.). 2.) Have a change of clothes, labeled with child’s name, ready for him/her to bring. On the first day and from then on: 1.) Dress your child in comfortable Clothes that allow him/her to be as independent as possible while playing and in the restroom. 2.) Encourage your child to have a good day, rather than to be good. 3.) Have your child leave toys and other personal possessions at home. 4.) Relax. (Everyone survives the first day)
The following poem reflects our philosophy of Homegrown Kids
THE KEY
I tried to teach my child with books
He gave me only puzzled looks
I tried to teach
my child with words
They passed him by often unheard
Despairingly I turned aside
“How shall I teach this child?” I cried
Into my hand he put the key “Come,” he said “Play with me”