Accepting a Child into Care

When accepting a child into care at the time of drop-off, program staff in the room must:

1. Greet the parent/guardian and child.

2. Ask the parent/guardian how the child’s evening/morning has been and if there are any changes to the child’s pick-up procedure (i.e., someone other than the parent/guardian picking up). Where the parent/guardian has indicated that someone other than the child’s parent/guardians will be picking up, the staff must confirm that the person is listed on the child’s pick-up information form in their file, or where the individual is not listed, ask the parent/guardian to provide authorization of the person’s name and document it in our daily journal for all staff to know who is picking up at the end of the day

3. Document the change in the pick-up procedure in the daily written journal.

4. Sign the child in on the classroom attendance record and the daily observation record.

 

Where a Child Has Not Arrived as Expected

 

Where a child does not arrive at the childcare centre and the parent/guardian has not communicated a change in drop-off (e.g., left a voice message or advised the closing staff at pick-up), the staff in the classroom must:

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• inform the supervisor/and or designate and they must commence contacting the child’s parent/guardian no later than 10:00 am by phone and/or by email. After three consecutive days, if the supervisor/and or designate is not able to contact the parent/guardian of the child in absence, there will be an email sent out stating that the parent must respond within 24 hours, or we will consider the space for care has been abandoned and we will consider it a withdrawal without notice.

 

Once the child’s absence has been confirmed, program staff shall document the child’s absence on the attendance record and any additional information about the child’s absence in the daily written record.

Young children depend on regular routines for their sense of security. We recommend whenever possible fixed hours to pick up and drop off your child. Children should always be escorted into the classroom – . For children to benefit from our full-day program we also recommend that they arrive at the centre no later than 10:00 a.m. To aid in programming please notify the centre by 9:00 a.m. if your child will not be in attendance that day by phone (519-740-2442) or email (tenderlovingdaycarec@gmail.com).

 

Releasing a Child

 

The staff who is supervising the child at the time of pick-up shall only release the child to the child’s parent/guardian or individual to whom the parent/guardian has provided written authorization that the childcare may release the child.Where the staff does not know the individual picking up the child (i.e., parent/guardian or authorized individual),

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• confirm with another staff member that the individual picking up is the child’s parent/guardian/authorized individual.

• where the above is not possible, ask the parent/guardian/authorized individual for photo identification and confirm the individual’s information against the parent/guardian/authorized individual’s name on the child’s file or written authorization. The staff member will also place a phone call to the parent/guardian if there is no written authorization for the individual to pick up. They will receive consent from the parent/guardian that they permit to release their child to the individual and then it will be documented in the daily journal.

 

Where a Child Has not Been Picked up as Expected (Before the Centre Closes)

 

Where a parent/guardian has previously communicated with the staff a specific time or timeframe that their child is to be picked up from care and the child has not been picked up the staff member will give a courtesy call to the parent/guardian or authorized individual at 5:30 pm before the centre closes so that they do not concur a late fee

 

Where a Child Has Not Been Picked Up and the Centre is Closed

 

Where a parent/guardian or authorized individual who was supposed to pick up a child from care has not arrived by , staff shall ensure that the child is given a snack and activity, while they await their pick-up.

 

The staff member will call the parent/guardian or authorized individual who was supposed to pick up and inquire where or how long they will be to pick up.

 

If the staff member is unable to reach the parent/guardian or authorized individual who was responsible for picking up the child, the staff shall contact emergency contacts listed in the child’s file to come pick up.

Where the staff is unable to reach the parent/guardian or any other authorized individual listed on the child’s file (e.g., the emergency contacts) by 1 hour following closing, the staff shall proceed with contacting the local Family and Children's Service at 519-623-6970 and the supervisor. The staff shall follow the Family and Children's Service direction concerning the next steps. All steps will be documented in the daily journal.

 

Additional Notes:

 

Age Suggestions:

Child and Family Services stipulate anyone picking up your child must be 12 years of age or older. Although, we recommend that anyone picking up your child is at least 16 years of age.

 

Photo Identification:

 

For the safety of your child, all persons picking up a child, who is unfamiliar to staff, will be required to provide a photo ID that matches the name on the child’s information form. Please advise people of this before they arrive. If the person is unable to show a photo ID, your child will not be released, and you will be billed accordingly. Acceptable photo ID examples are a driver’s license, health care, student card, age of majority, passport, etc. 

 

Signing In / Out:

 

We require that all children be signed in and out daily. When your child arrives notify a member of  the staff as to your child’s presence. Each child must be signed in and out daily.

** Our sign-in/out records are a part of our emergency attendance procedures and must always reflect the number of children in attendance**