Precious Lambs Childcare serves children ages 8 weeks to 12 years. We retain the right to make age exceptions to this policy, if We have slots available that are within capacity limits set by The State of New York. No child will be denied admission on the basis of his/her race, religion, or handicap. I do retain the right to deny admission if all of my slots for a particular childs age group are filled.

Hours of Operation ¾

Opening time for daycare is 7AM and closing time is no later than 6PM unless prior arrangements have been made. Children who are scheduled to attend the morning daycare session will not be accepted after 9:30AM and children who are scheduled to attend the afternoon daycare session will not be accepted after 1:00PM (unless daycare is notified in advance of change in time(s), and if this is not a continuous disruption). Nightcare hours of operation will be from 8:45pm-6:30am.(based on 5 day/10  hour/50 hours a week or less.)

Ø     Full-time Hours         Based on a 5-day / 8 hours /40 hours week.

Ø     Part-time Hours        Based on (four) 5-hour days per week or a pre-determined 20

    hours a week.

DropIn Hours       Based on daily day-to-day operating hours of daycare, due to the

Please give 12 hours advance notice so we can check availability.

unexpected stay of the child for the number of hours. All

Children MUST be pre-registered and all forms must be

completed and kept up-to-date in order to attend (even though

attendance may not be on a regular basis). Fees agreed upon must

be paid on the day that the child is dropped-off before any child

will be accepted. Children MUST be dropped off with sufficient

amounts of needed supplies for the day.

Ø     (Please note that additional staff, food and activity preparation is required for unexpected drop-ins)

Ø     Before- School Hours 7:00am - 8:00am

Ø     After- School Hours  3:00pm - 6:00pm

                                      Based on a 5-day week/20 hr. per week schedule

(Both AM & PM hours)

Transportation Policy

Precious Lambs Childcare is NOT RESPONSIBLE for daily transportation of any kind for children in attendance. Transportation to and from the program is the responsibility of the Parent(s)/Guardian.

Open Door Policy

Only Parent(s)/Guardian are welcome to stop by during normal operating hours to see how their child is adapting to his/her environment away from home. Parent(s)/Guardian and are encouraged to call throughout the day (please be aware that as positive as this may seem to us as adults, this may have a adverse affect on some of the children and may disrupt their daily routine and structure). If that is the case, we will recommend (on a case-by-case basis) that all of your visits after drop-off and prior to pick-up times be stopped.

Clothing and Supplies (replenishments as needed)

Ø     Childrens belongings must have their name written on it somewhere. We will try our best to place all of the childrens belongings together but we will not be responsible for lost items.

Ø     Please send your children to daycare in appropriate clothing for the weather/season.

Ø     A change of clothes must be kept at the daycare, shirt, under shirt, under pants,

extra pampers, socks, pants, (2 changes of clothes if they are being potty trained).

Ø     All Children must have a pair of slippers or non-slip sock. No shoes will be kept on during daycare hours in doors (in order to maintain a cleaner environment for the children).

Ø     Start Kit (min. of 1 week worth of personal supplies). Only what you provide will be used for your child/children (diapers, premixed formula, baby food, bottles, wipes, powder, sun block, ointments, lotions, creams, etc.).

Ø     If a child is on a special diet, requires formula or baby food, you must supply these foods and accessories as need (i.e. bottles, premixed formula and ready made food).

 
Ø     Parent(s)/Guardian are to bring in a small sheet and blanket (twin size) for children to use at Naptime.

Ø     Book-Bag and a Composition Book for each child for communications, notes, progress reports, etc.

Illness Policy

If your child has an illness that is deemed contagious, you will not be permitted, under any circumstances, to bring your child to the daycare . If your child is present in daycare and shows serious signs of illness, you will be called to come and pick-up your child IMMEDIATELY not at his/hers schedule time) .  Remember, there are other children attending the daycare and you may be putting them at risk.  When your child is no longer ill (contagious), he/she will be permitted back at daycare, but only when accompanied by a note from a licensed physician (stating diagnosis and date of treatment) and if they appear to the provider to be healthy enough to actively play with other children. After 48 hours, (2) two consecutive days of absence due to any sickness (high fever) from the daycare, all children MUST BE SEEN BY A LISENCED PHYSICIAN (note also required) . Normally a fever is an indication that the body is fighting off a virus that can be contagious. This helps us protect the health and well being of ALL the children in our care and enables us to provide the best possible environment for them.

With small children it is easy for germs to spread quickly that is why we take the necessary precautions with hopes of keeping illness at a minimum. We would greatly appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

Contagious Conditions Requiring Removal

  of a Child from Daycare (NO EXCEPTIONS)

Ø     Fever (a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or more).

Ø     Active sneezing or coughing. (constant)

Ø     Sever congestion with runny nose (with green or yellow mucus)

Ø     Flu-Like symptoms (headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, achy)

Ø     A sore throat (with fever or swollen glands).

Ø     Discharge from eyes or ears are usually indications of infection (teary, swollen eyes

      can indicate Pink Eye)

Ø     Diarrhea (two or more watery stools)

Ø     Vomiting (two or more times)

Ø     Rash rashes are often a sign of more serious problems and can be contagious

     (especially if it appears unusual with a fever/ and or itching.)

Ø     A itchy scalp/head (can be an indication of Head Lice)

Medication Policy

It is NOT the policy of Precious Lambs Childcare to give any kind of medicine (prescription or over-the-counter) to any of the children in our care (NO EXCEPTIONS). Parent(s)/Guardian can give medication to their child/children before bringing them to daycare (upon drop-off you must advise a staff member what medication you have given you child, the dosage and the time you administered the medication) . In certain cases, we will allow the Parent(s)/Guardian to stop by the daycare during the day to give the child a scheduled dose of medication. This will be allowed as long as the reaction to the medication does not interrupt the daily routine of the daycare. In the cases were the Parent(s)/Guardian comes to administer medication, this will only be allowed for a temporary period of time.

Meals (will be adhered to by the National Food Guidelines)

The weekly menu will be posted at the beginning of each week, Mondays. All children in my care will participate in this food program. The Precious Lambs Childcare provides breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack. The meals are nutritiously well balanced (Bread, Fruits, Vegetables, Meats or Protein). We at Precious Lambs Childcare strongly suggest that meal times be adhered to so to ensure that all children eat.  (No Outside Food Will Be Allowed) SEE SPECIAL DIET*

Ø     BREAKFAST 8:30AM

Ø     LUNCH 12:00PM

Ø QUITE TIME (Naptime) 1:35PM 2:35PM

Ø     SNACK 3:15 PM and 4:15PM

Children do not have to go to sleep during Naptime(quiet time) but they do have to lie down or play quietly on the mat as not to disturb the other children.

Parent(s)/Guardian Provided Meals (SPECIAL DIET)

If you wish to provide meals for your child/children you may do so. Please advise the daycare staff upon intake of your child/children . Preparation of food, that is not provided by the daycare, must be done by the Parent(s)/Guardian and sent in with the child daily (agreed fee remains the same regardless of who prepares the food) this includes, but is not limited to, Infant Formula. It is prohibited by the New York State Department of Health for providers to prepare Infant Formula on-site without written consent and explicit instructions, because of the needed consistency in mixture of these formulas and our concern about the possible effect on the child/children health if it is not done properly. Precious Lambs Childcare does not and will not make this part of our policy and procedures. Please except our apologies for any inconvenience this or any other policy we have may cause.

Holidays*

 
On these days the daycare will be closed.

Ø     Martin Luther King Day                                                                                

Ø     Presidents Day                                                                      

Ø     Good Friday                                                                            

Ø     Memorial Day                                                                         

Ø     Independence Day                                                                   

Ø     Labor Day

Ø     Columbus Day

Ø     Veterans Day

Ø     Thanksgiving Day

Ø     Day after Thanksgiving

Ø     Business Day before Christmas

Ø     Business Day after Christmas

Discipline Procedures

In cases of disciplinary measures, we use re-direction first, and if necessary, the time-out method. Time-out is removing the child from a situation, placing him or her by them self for a period of one minute for each year of the child (i.e. 3 years old = 3 minutes). Biting will not be tolerated. If a child bites or begins to bite, children and their Parent(s)/Guardian will have one (1) week to correct this behavior or childcare services will be terminated. Spanking is prohibited. Children in our care will not be subject to discipline that is severe, frightening or humiliating. Our goal, at Precious Lambs Childcare, is to have all children treat one another with care and respect. We must be realistic in our expectations, as each child learns and develops at different stages and at various rates, based upon age. I will advise you as problems/situations arise that concern you as Parent(s)/Guardian and me as your provider. Please feel free to discuss them with me openly and honestly. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

                            Daycare Rules

Ø   Children will not be allowed , under any circumstance, to bring toys

     to the Daycare. This will create the issue of not having enough to share.

Ø   No gum chewing allowed

Ø   No screaming or yelling at one another

Ø   Always tell the truth

Ø   No running indoors

Ø   No jumping on furniture, No throwing of objects

Ø   Always use good manners

Ø   Children must sit-down at the table when eating and drinking

Ø   No hitting or biting

Ø   No breaking of toys

Ø   No roughhousing or wrestling

Ø   Always clean up your mess

Ø   No rude talking to one another

Ø   Follow directions given by Parent(s)/Guardian or Provider

Ø   No Bulling, No Tattling, No Name Calling

Ø   ALL CHILDREN must respect one another

Toilet Training

When your child is ready to be potty trained, I ask that you provide a portable potty for him/her. I will only train one child at a time . You  must begin the training at home over the weekend or while on vacation, this way I will follow-up at Daycare and encourage your child while in my care. Please be aware that sometimes children get so involved in the day-to-day activities at Daycare that they can become distracted and are not truly aware of the urge to use the potty. Therefore, I will continue to use diapers/pull-ups until your child can announce that he/she has to go to the bathroom and can control their bladder/bowels for a few minutes beyond that announcement, both at home and at Daycare. This is why I ask that you start this process at home first. The child must be at least 18 months of age and showing signs of readiness. Your child must be in pull-up at all times and you must supply me with pull-ups along with 2 pair of plastic under pants, and 2-3 outfits to be kept at  Daycare in case of accidents.  All cleaning of soiled clothing/belongings are the responsibility of the parent/guardian.  Please replace all soiled outfits with cleaned clothing on the next  business day, as not to prohibit the potty training in process.  A "readiness list" will be established with the names of the children who are next for potty trainingand will be trained in the order their name appears on the list.

During the first week, the child will be scheduled to use the toilet at consistent times of the day (before/after breakfast, before/after lunch, before/after nap time, before/after outside play, just before going home ) whether the child needs to use the toilet or not. This will help them to establish some sort of routine.

Precious Values

Here at Precious Lambs Childcare , we believe that it is our responsibility as mentors to create a foundation and environment made up of many different standards. While your child/children is in our care, we see it as a pleasure and deem it a necessity to present them with the same morals and values in life that you as Parent(s)/Guardian work hard everyday to instill in them at home. 

Morals

Ø     Respect

Ø     Honesty

Ø     Manners

Ø     Responsibility

Ø     Gratefulness

Ø     Compassion

Ø     Consideration

Ø     Communication

Ø     Appreciation

Ø     Validation