first friends pre-school

policies and procedures

policies & procedures

The policies outline how I work and what I would do in certain situations. They cover everything from making sure children wash their hands to what I would do if I was concerned about a child.
As well as setting out what I will do, they also include what I expect of parents and carers. It is important that parents and carers understand the policies and procedures and are comfortable with them. I am, of course, happy to discuss or explain any of the policies and procedures and how they might affect individual children and families.

Open throughout the year. Lunch is included in both options for school (half/full)

Working With Parents and Departure Policy

I will work with parents to provide the best possible care for their children.

I will:

Welcome parents into my house (within reason, taking my own family and other people’s children’s needs into account) and encourage parents to talk to me about their children and their care.

Be aware of each child’s family background and support any family traditions or routines, as far as I am able.

Do all I can to ensure I have sufficient information about each child so that I can care for them. This might mean asking questions or giving parents forms so that I have written records. This could be anything from information on allergies to whether they have a fear of spiders
Provide information about routines and activities and make relevant documentation available for parents to see.

Seek the views of parents and do all I can to meet their requests and needs. If I am unable to carry out a request I will talk to the parents.

I ask that parents:

Provide relevant information so that I can care for their child.

Talk to me about their needs and any concerns they might have.

Be aware of my policies and, where they need to, abide by them for the safety of their own, and other people’s, children
Respect the people in my home and my property.

Departure policy:

Children will only be released to the parents who made the original arrangement or a person authorised by those parents.

Wherever possible I will want to meet any person who might collect a child from me before that child’s expected release. Where that is not possible, a photograph and identification will be requested.

Only in exceptional circumstances will a child be released to someone not known to me. This will be with the agreement of the parent and may require password verification as well as some form of identification.

I expect parents to provide me with copies of any court orders or injunctions preventing access to a child in my care.

I ask that parents let me know if they are going to be late or have been delayed. If the person responsible for collecting a child has not arrived half an hour after the agreed pick up time I will attempt to contact the parents and then try contacting other adults named on the child’s record form. I will continue to care for the child, and to try all the contact numbers, for three hours after the agreed pick up time. After that time I will inform Kent Children’s Social Services. Parents will be expected to pay for any extra time the child is in my care.

Communication

I hope that we can have open communication between us. If you have a
problem, I would like for you to come and talk to me about it first. Please don’t wait until you are just too angry to say anything and instead decide to remove your child from my care. Let’s talk first. I am a very understanding person, and I will try to work with you to come to an understanding if either of us has a problem. My door is always open, and I welcome the opportunity to talk openly about anything.

Any questions you might have that the concern of your child or my school are always welcome. If you have issues you can’t discuss in front of the children, please call me so we candiscuss it over the phone or we can try and schedule a meeting for after hours.

Working With Parents and Departure Policy

I will work with parents to provide the best possible care for their children.

I will:

Welcome parents into my house (within reason, taking my own family and other people’s children’s needs into account) and encourage parents to talk to me about their children and their care.

Be aware of each child’s family background and support any family traditions or routines, as far as I am able.

Seek the views of parents and do all I can to meet their requests and needs. If I am unable to carry out a request I will talk to the parents.

I ask that parents:

Provide relevant information so that I can care for their child.

Talk to me about their needs and any concerns they might have.

Be aware of my policies and, where they need to, abide by them for the safety of their own, and other people’s, children
Respect the people in my home and my property.

Departure policy:

Children will only be released to the parents who made the original arrangement or a person authorised by those parents.

I expect parents to provide me with copies of any court orders or injunctions preventing access to a child in my care.

Holiday & Vacation

First Friends Preschool is closed on all public holidays, as well as for approximately 4 weeks during the December/January school holidays.

Please note that fees are payable even when we are on holiday, so for the full 12 months of the year. I do provide a list of the days we will be closed at the beginning of each school year, so parents can plan ahead.

Parents often ask me why they should pay fees, even when we are closed.
The answer is quite simple: I am sure most of you still receive a salary while you take your annual leave!?

Working With Parents and Departure Policy

I will work with parents to provide the best possible care for their children.

I will:

Welcome parents into my house (within reason, taking my own family and other people’s children’s needs into account) and encourage parents to talk to me about their children and their care.

Be aware of each child’s family background and support any family traditions or routines, as far as I am able.

Seek the views of parents and do all I can to meet their requests and needs. If I am unable to carry out a request I will talk to the parents.

I ask that parents:

Provide relevant information so that I can care for their child.

Talk to me about their needs and any concerns they might have.

Be aware of my policies and, where they need to, abide by them for the safety of their own, and other people’s, children
Respect the people in my home and my property.

Departure policy:

Children will only be released to the parents who made the original arrangement or a person authorised by those parents.

I expect parents to provide me with copies of any court orders or injunctions preventing access to a child in my care.

Potty Training

I do potty train children younger than 2 years old, if they show that they are ready.

Please let me know when you begin training your child at home so that we can start the training at school too.
Please send your child only in easy to remove clothing while they are pottytraining.

We try and take the children to the bathroom every 20 minutes in the beginning and as the training progresses, we stretch the intervals to 30 minutes and
then 40 minutes.

Please send 3 complete changes of clothes (including socks in winter) during this
period.

We will not wash soiled items; they will be rinsed out and placed into plastic bags inside your child’s school bag. Please make sure you check the bag every night and replace any soiled items for the next day.

Working With Parents and Departure Policy

I will work with parents to provide the best possible care for their children.

I will:

Welcome parents into my house (within reason, taking my own family and other people’s children’s needs into account) and encourage parents to talk to me about their children and their care.

Be aware of each child’s family background and support any family traditions or routines, as far as I am able.

Seek the views of parents and do all I can to meet their requests and needs. If I am unable to carry out a request I will talk to the parents.

I ask that parents:

Provide relevant information so that I can care for their child.

Talk to me about their needs and any concerns they might have.

Be aware of my policies and, where they need to, abide by them for the safety of their own, and other people’s, children
Respect the people in my home and my property.

Departure policy:

Children will only be released to the parents who made the original arrangement or a person authorised by those parents.

I expect parents to provide me with copies of any court orders or injunctions preventing access to a child in my care.

Television Policy

I do not believe that children of any age should watch television for an extended period during the day.

We will only watch television on rainy days where children have been kept inside all day. And sometime on a Friday we use TV as a reward. We only watch Barney/ children’s music DVD’s or movies.

Working With Parents and Departure Policy

I will work with parents to provide the best possible care for their children.

I will:

Welcome parents into my house (within reason, taking my own family and other people’s children’s needs into account) and encourage parents to talk to me about their children and their care.

Be aware of each child’s family background and support any family traditions or routines, as far as I am able.

Seek the views of parents and do all I can to meet their requests and needs. If I am unable to carry out a request I will talk to the parents.

I ask that parents:

Provide relevant information so that I can care for their child.

Talk to me about their needs and any concerns they might have.

Be aware of my policies and, where they need to, abide by them for the safety of their own, and other people’s, children
Respect the people in my home and my property.

Departure policy:

Children will only be released to the parents who made the original arrangement or a person authorised by those parents.

I expect parents to provide me with copies of any court orders or injunctions preventing access to a child in my care.

Pick Up & Custody

I can’t allow any child to leave with anyone except the person on your child’s pick-up authorization form unless you contact me or tell me in the morning that someone else is going to be picking up your child. If you have not told me the person will have to reach you on the phone and then give the phone to me and if you cannot be reached, they will not be able to remove your child.

If you have any concerns or questions about your child’s day, please ask me when picking him or her up. If I am busy, you can always phone me in the evening. If it is something that shouldn’t be discussed in front of the children, then please call me so we can discuss it over the phone or set up a meeting. If you need to phone me, do so before 19h00.

Unless you give me a copy of court papers stating that you have been granted temporary or permanent custody, I have no legal authority to tell either parent that he/she can’t pick up their child. I will need a certified photocopy of the court order with the courts signature. Please make sure I have these papers in your child’s file. And please make sure you tell me if there is someone that is not to pick your child up.

Working With Parents and Departure Policy

I will work with parents to provide the best possible care for their children.

I will:

Welcome parents into my house (within reason, taking my own family and other people’s children’s needs into account) and encourage parents to talk to me about their children and their care.

Be aware of each child’s family background and support any family traditions or routines, as far as I am able.

Seek the views of parents and do all I can to meet their requests and needs. If I am unable to carry out a request I will talk to the parents.

I ask that parents:

Provide relevant information so that I can care for their child.

Talk to me about their needs and any concerns they might have.

Be aware of my policies and, where they need to, abide by them for the safety of their own, and other people’s, children
Respect the people in my home and my property.

Departure policy:

Children will only be released to the parents who made the original arrangement or a person authorised by those parents.

I expect parents to provide me with copies of any court orders or injunctions preventing access to a child in my care.

Dress Code

Please send your child in a dry nappy and dressed ready for play.

Children start arriving at 7h30 and between fixing breakfasts, unpacking bags, etc.

Please send your child in play clothes. We will be working with messy materials (such as paint) and other activities throughout the day. I don’t want to worry about spoiling your child’s clothing. We also spend a lotof time outside. Children need to have appropriate shoes to climb and run. Make sure to include a sun hat and sunscreen in summer and hats, coats and shoes in winter. Each child must have at least one change of clothes and these must be labelled with your child’s name.

Please ensure your child is wearing appropriate shoes for school. Barefoot is summer is perfect, but please make sure they have boots or closed shoes for winter.

Working With Parents and Departure Policy

I will work with parents to provide the best possible care for their children.

I will:

Welcome parents into my house (within reason, taking my own family and other people’s children’s needs into account) and encourage parents to talk to me about their children and their care.

Be aware of each child’s family background and support any family traditions or routines, as far as I am able.

Seek the views of parents and do all I can to meet their requests and needs. If I am unable to carry out a request I will talk to the parents.

I ask that parents:

Provide relevant information so that I can care for their child.

Talk to me about their needs and any concerns they might have.

Be aware of my policies and, where they need to, abide by them for the safety of their own, and other people’s, children
Respect the people in my home and my property.

Departure policy:

Children will only be released to the parents who made the original arrangement or a person authorised by those parents.

I expect parents to provide me with copies of any court orders or injunctions preventing access to a child in my care.

Medication

Please give your child’s vitamins at home.

We are, by law, not allowed to give any child medication without the express written permission of a parent or guardian.

The legal ramifications of giving children medication at playschool without written permission is enormous and I am not willing to take that chance, so please do not expect any exceptions to this policy.

If your child is on medication and it needs to be taken while he/she is at school, the medicine must be in the original container and labelled with the child’s name, doctor’s
name, name of medication, dosage, and when to be taken. If medicine is to be taken only twice a day, (i.e., morning & evening) then it will need to be done at home.

A medication form will need to be filled out EVERY morning while your child is on medication, so please make sure you have a few extra minutes. Alternatively, you can request I send you aform the night before, but you will still
need to explain it in the morning.

I WILL NOT administer new medication until your child has been given it by a
parent/guardian for at least 24 hours. If a child is going to have an allergic reaction to the medication it should happen in those first 24hours.

Please label all medicines. Do not leave medicine in your child’s bag. Please make sure all medicine is handed to me/a staff member for safe keeping and collected before you take your child home.

Working With Parents and Departure Policy

I will work with parents to provide the best possible care for their children.

I will:

Welcome parents into my house (within reason, taking my own family and other people’s children’s needs into account) and encourage parents to talk to me about their children and their care.

Be aware of each child’s family background and support any family traditions or routines, as far as I am able.

Seek the views of parents and do all I can to meet their requests and needs. If I am unable to carry out a request I will talk to the parents.

I ask that parents:

Provide relevant information so that I can care for their child.

Talk to me about their needs and any concerns they might have.

Be aware of my policies and, where they need to, abide by them for the safety of their own, and other people’s, children
Respect the people in my home and my property.

Departure policy:

Children will only be released to the parents who made the original arrangement or a person authorised by those parents.

I expect parents to provide me with copies of any court orders or injunctions preventing access to a child in my care.

Injury

No matter how carefully we watch your
children,accidents are going to happen occasionally.

Minor cuts and bruises suffered while at school will receive proper care – they will be washed with soap andwarm water and bandaged properly.

If serious injury/accident should occur, you will be contacted for instructions, unless this would endanger your child’s life.

In that case, I will take the necessary steps (call hospital,doctor, poison control etc.)
All serious injury needs to be documented and you will be asked to sign an injury report.

I need to have all forms signed by both parents one week before the first day of school. Please provide me with a photocopy of:
• your child’s immunisation records
• medical aid card (both sides) and,
• a certified copy of the main members’ ID
• Both parents/guardian ID copies and a proof of address
Forms will need to be updated yearly.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WITHOUT ALL FORMS AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTAION I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ADMIT YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL.

Working With Parents and Departure Policy

I will work with parents to provide the best possible care for their children.

I will:

Welcome parents into my house (within reason, taking my own family and other people’s children’s needs into account) and encourage parents to talk to me about their children and their care.

Be aware of each child’s family background and support any family traditions or routines, as far as I am able.

Seek the views of parents and do all I can to meet their requests and needs. If I am unable to carry out a request I will talk to the parents.

I ask that parents:

Provide relevant information so that I can care for their child.

Talk to me about their needs and any concerns they might have.

Be aware of my policies and, where they need to, abide by them for the safety of their own, and other people’s, children
Respect the people in my home and my property.

Departure policy:

Children will only be released to the parents who made the original arrangement or a person authorised by those parents.

I expect parents to provide me with copies of any court orders or injunctions preventing access to a child in my care.

Open Door Policy

My school maintains an open-door policy for you to stop by at any time and check on
your child. Open door policy means you may stop by at any time, it does not mean that the door will not be locked. For safety and security reasons, the gate will be locked
during the day. Access via key tags or security code only.

Please come any time to check on your child. But please keep in mind that most young children are used to a certain routine and when they see Mommy or Daddy come
through the door, they are going to think it is time to go home. When you leave without
them, they are going to be very upset. Also, please keep in mind that your child may tend to act up because you are present and that is normal behaviour.

Please bear in mind that there may be times when it is not convenient for me to run to the phone, for instance while changing nappies, consoling a crying child, playing outside or painting with the children.

If the phone is not answered, please do not panic. Leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible. You are also most welcome to send me an SMS or WhatsApp, which I will reply to as soon as I am able.

Working With Parents and Departure Policy

I will work with parents to provide the best possible care for their children.

I will:

Welcome parents into my house (within reason, taking my own family and other people’s children’s needs into account) and encourage parents to talk to me about their children and their care.

Be aware of each child’s family background and support any family traditions or routines, as far as I am able.

Seek the views of parents and do all I can to meet their requests and needs. If I am unable to carry out a request I will talk to the parents.

I ask that parents:

Provide relevant information so that I can care for their child.

Talk to me about their needs and any concerns they might have.

Be aware of my policies and, where they need to, abide by them for the safety of their own, and other people’s, children
Respect the people in my home and my property.

Departure policy:

Children will only be released to the parents who made the original arrangement or a person authorised by those parents.

I expect parents to provide me with copies of any court orders or injunctions preventing access to a child in my care.

Sickness & Absence

If your child is not coming to school because they are sick or going to visit grandparents or anything else, please call me or send me a message. It is especially important when they are sick, so we can warn other parents to keep an eye out for symptoms in their children.

You are still responsible for payment even if your child is absent.
Sick children will not be accepted into school. If a child was sent home because they were ill, they will not be able to return for 24hrs. (i.e.: sent home Wednesday, may return Friday).
If you bring your child back sooner, they will not be permitted to stay.

The following policies will be strictly enforced, for the health, wellbeing, and safety of all concerned. Examples of associated symptoms include, but are not limited to:
1. Fever (38 C degrees or higher) Child needs to be fever free for 24 hours
2. Nausea or vomiting
3. Diarrhoea, runny or watery stools (2 or more loose stools with in last 4 hours)
4. Sore throat, loss of voice, hacking or continuous coughing, runny nose with coloured discharge
5. Runny and/or crusty eyes: watery, matted, and/or red/pink eyes are not acceptable inchildcare at all
6. Unexplained rash
7. Lice – your child may NOT return until no more nits are spotted
8. Communicable diseases – chicken pox, roseola, conjunctivitis, mumps, measles, influenza, etc

This benefits your child and the other children. Your help in keeping your sick child at home is appreciated.

Parents of a child diagnosed with a contagious condition such as those mentions above are asked to notify me as soon as possible, so that I may alert the other parent to watch out for the symptoms in their own children.

Working With Parents and Departure Policy

I will work with parents to provide the best possible care for their children.

I will:

Welcome parents into my house (within reason, taking my own family and other people’s children’s needs into account) and encourage parents to talk to me about their children and their care.

Be aware of each child’s family background and support any family traditions or routines, as far as I am able.

Seek the views of parents and do all I can to meet their requests and needs. If I am unable to carry out a request I will talk to the parents.

I ask that parents:

Provide relevant information so that I can care for their child.

Talk to me about their needs and any concerns they might have.

Be aware of my policies and, where they need to, abide by them for the safety of their own, and other people’s, children
Respect the people in my home and my property.

Departure policy:

Children will only be released to the parents who made the original arrangement or a person authorised by those parents.

I expect parents to provide me with copies of any court orders or injunctions preventing access to a child in my care.

Arrival & Departure

Your child is going to miss you while you can’t be with them. This is a very normal reaction, and all children respond differently. Some are hesitant, while others cry.

It is normal for your child to cry on arrival, especially for the first few weeks, or when they go through a period of separation anxiety. Even children who have been with us since they were babies sometimes suddenly develop separation anxiety and cry when dropped off.

Try not to get upset over their crying – it usually stops within a few minutes after you leave.

Working With Parents and Departure Policy

I will work with parents to provide the best possible care for their children.

I will:

Welcome parents into my house (within reason, taking my own family and other people’s children’s needs into account) and encourage parents to talk to me about their children and their care.

Be aware of each child’s family background and support any family traditions or routines, as far as I am able.

Seek the views of parents and do all I can to meet their requests and needs. If I am unable to carry out a request I will talk to the parents.

I ask that parents:

Provide relevant information so that I can care for their child.

Talk to me about their needs and any concerns they might have.

Be aware of my policies and, where they need to, abide by them for the safety of their own, and other people’s, children
Respect the people in my home and my property.

Departure policy:

Children will only be released to the parents who made the original arrangement or a person authorised by those parents.

I expect parents to provide me with copies of any court orders or injunctions preventing access to a child in my care.

Outdoor Policy

Part of everyday play will be spent time
outside,except in really bad weather.

We will play on the jungle gym, ride scooter
bikes on the motorbike track and sometimes in summer when itis really hot, we have water play in inflatable kiddies pools.

Please note:
➢ We require that every parent signs a “Consent and Indemnity” form for each child.
If this form is not signed your child will not be allowed to play on the above-mentioned form and will be restricted to the sandpit only.
➢ If your child is not well enough to play with the other kids or outside, then they are not well enough to come to school.

Working With Parents and Departure Policy

I will work with parents to provide the best possible care for their children.

I will:

Welcome parents into my house (within reason, taking my own family and other people’s children’s needs into account) and encourage parents to talk to me about their children and their care.

Be aware of each child’s family background and support any family traditions or routines, as far as I am able.

Seek the views of parents and do all I can to meet their requests and needs. If I am unable to carry out a request I will talk to the parents.

I ask that parents:

Provide relevant information so that I can care for their child.

Talk to me about their needs and any concerns they might have.

Be aware of my policies and, where they need to, abide by them for the safety of their own, and other people’s, children
Respect the people in my home and my property.

Departure policy:

Children will only be released to the parents who made the original arrangement or a person authorised by those parents.

I expect parents to provide me with copies of any court orders or injunctions preventing access to a child in my care.

Leave of Absence

If you need to take your child out of school for illness, vacation time, maternity leave, etc, you will need to let me know if it is going to be for longer than one month. If your child will not be attending school for longer than a month, you will still be required to pay his/her normal monthly rate to hold his/her spot.

If I do not receive his/her school fees on time, I will be entitled to give the spot away to another child at my discretion and without notice to you.

Working With Parents and Departure Policy

I will work with parents to provide the best possible care for their children.

I will:

Welcome parents into my house (within reason, taking my own family and other people’s children’s needs into account) and encourage parents to talk to me about their children and their care.

Be aware of each child’s family background and support any family traditions or routines, as far as I am able.

Seek the views of parents and do all I can to meet their requests and needs. If I am unable to carry out a request I will talk to the parents.

I ask that parents:

Provide relevant information so that I can care for their child.

Talk to me about their needs and any concerns they might have.

Be aware of my policies and, where they need to, abide by them for the safety of their own, and other people’s, children
Respect the people in my home and my property.

Departure policy:

Children will only be released to the parents who made the original arrangement or a person authorised by those parents.

I expect parents to provide me with copies of any court orders or injunctions preventing access to a child in my care.

Toys

I prefer that children DO NOT bring toys from home as this usually causes fights over the toy.

Exceptions tothis rule are if we specifically state that a toy is to be bought in for one of our themes or dress up days.

Most children who bring toys in from home will not share their toys with other children and the otherchildren want to play with it as to them it is a “new” toy. This causes unnecessary problems.

First Friends Preschool will not be held responsible for any loss or breakage of personal items.

Working With Parents and Departure Policy

I will work with parents to provide the best possible care for their children.

I will:

Welcome parents into my house (within reason, taking my own family and other people’s children’s needs into account) and encourage parents to talk to me about their children and their care.

Be aware of each child’s family background and support any family traditions or routines, as far as I am able.

Seek the views of parents and do all I can to meet their requests and needs. If I am unable to carry out a request I will talk to the parents.

I ask that parents:

Provide relevant information so that I can care for their child.

Talk to me about their needs and any concerns they might have.

Be aware of my policies and, where they need to, abide by them for the safety of their own, and other people’s, children
Respect the people in my home and my property.

Departure policy:

Children will only be released to the parents who made the original arrangement or a person authorised by those parents.

I expect parents to provide me with copies of any court orders or injunctions preventing access to a child in my care.

Discipline & Procedure

I like to see happy and active children in my school. Occasionally, I do run into problems.

When problems with discipline start, I will try to guide your child in the right direction through positive reinforcement.

Children wouldn’t be normal if they didn’t have their ups and downs. Especially toddlers, who are not old enough to communicate, sometimes have a hard time with their emotions. Sometimes they hit or throw toys, etc. I will be trying to teach children with a positive approach on how to get along with their friends.

Such as:
• Child is running inside. I would say “Please walk Alex.” “Thank you”
• Child is standing on a chair. I would say “Sarah, can you please sit on the chair.” “Thank you”
• I try to point out what they should be doing. Please walk; please share; etc.

Redirection:
Sometimes it will be necessary for me to try and redirect one child away from another child, such as they both want the same puzzle or book. I would simply point out that there are more puzzles/books,let’s go and find one. That usually works great.

Removal of privilege:
If children are throwing sand or trying to run over another child with a toy bike, I will
immediately remove the problem, such as the bike will be put away and the child throwing sand will be removed from the sandpit for a while. Usually, we separate them from the problem for a few minutes and this usually works well.

If your child is chronically misbehaving, then you will be notified and between us maybe we can come up with a way to handle this behaviour. The type of behaviour I’m talking about is biting, use of bad words, hitting, fighting (physically), etc. Together, we will try to find a solution. If the solutions are not working, then you will be called to remove your child if his/her behaviour prevents me from providing quality care for the other children.

If the problem continues, then I will have no other choice but to terminate care, for the safety and well-being of all.

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES will there be any smacking, physical abuse, verbal abuse, name-calling, or isolation used. Neither food nor sleep will ever be withheld from children as a means of punishment.

FOR GIVING ME TO OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AFTER YOUR PRECIOUS KIDDIES