We encourage families to express their interest and join our waitlist as early as possible—even during pregnancy. Due to high demand and limited availability, many of our rooms have long waitlists. Adding your name early increases your chances of securing a spot in your preferred program and timeline. Our team is happy to guide you through the process and answer any questions about availability.

1. The younger classroom will be checked for children aging out and needing to graduate.
2. The internal wait list will be consulted to see if there are any children waiting for space in that particular room.
3. Part-time children will be given the opportunity to increase their days.
4. If the space is not filled from an internal family, the external wait list for that group will be consulted.
5. The parent/guardian of the child at the top of the wait list (based on the requested schedule) will receive an email offering the space. They will have 48 hours to accept the space in writing via email. Once the space is accepted, the parent/guardian must secure their space by putting down a non-refundable deposit within 72 hours. The deposit will be based on 2 weeks of their enrollment. For example, if the child will be attending 3 days per week, the deposit will be for 6 days.
6. If the deposit is not received within 72 hours, the space will be offered to the next child on the list.
7. The deposit will be put towards the child’s first bill. The remainder of the first bill must be paid before the child begins.
8. The child’s paperwork will be sent at the same time as the deposit invoice. Paperwork must be returned a minimum of one week (7 days) prior to the child’s first day.

Full-Time Schedules (Monday to Friday) and Part-Time Schedules (two to four days per week) are an option when available.

Any changes to a schedule or termination of care requires one month written notice. All scheduling changes must be made and/or submitted to Melissa, the Program Supervisor for approval. Changes can not be made with the classroom teachers.

Kindergarten/School Age

P.D. Days, school holidays, and summer care (when available) are offered to children according to a tiered system (listed below) and scheduled on a first-come, first serve basis.

1. Staff’s children
2. Currently enrolled before and after school children
3. Children who consistently utilizing PD Days and holidays throughout the school year
4. Previously enrolled children from the past 12 months
5. External families

During the process, spaces are still open to those in the previous tier (space permitting). If space does not permit, children will be placed on a wait list and offered space should somebody cancel.

Summer Program

Spaces for the Summer program will be first be offered starting in January/February each year and requests will be accepted based on the above criteria. Only full week attendance (Monday to Friday) will be considered. Cancelling or switching weeks will only be permitted if there is a child on the wait list that can fill your child’s original space.

Payment for the summer must be paid in full by the date indicated in the acceptance letter each year. Invoices will be sent out once space is secured. Invoices not paid by that time will unfortunately result in a forfeiture of your child’s space to the next child on the list. When you enrol your child(ren) for the WREEC program you are agreeing to participate in all the scheduled activities (i.e., field trips). It is not optional to stay back at the Centre, or cancel/be refunded for the day if you do not want your child to participate.

At WREEC, we are committed to ensuring transparency and clarity in all aspects of our payment policies to provide a seamless and professional experience for families. Below are the details of our payment structure and policies:

Fee Responsibilities

Families are responsible for paying for all days their child is enrolled in the Centre, including:

• Days when the child is sick or absent.
• Statutory holidays, as fees are based on enrolment rather than attendance.

Families are not responsible for paying for closure days when staff are engaged in professional development (Easter Monday and the Friday before Labour Day).

Payment Process

• Prepayment: Fees must be pre-paid monthly via e-transfer, in accordance with your family’s enrolment agreement.
• First Invoice: Once the space is accepted, the parent/guardian must secure their space by putting down a non-refundable deposit within 72 hours. The deposit will be based on 2 weeks of their enrollment.

Additional Fees

• Annual Sunscreen Fee: Families opting to use day care-provided sunscreen will be charged a $10.00 annual fee, applied to invoices in May or June.
• Field Trips and Excursions: Families will be billed separately for costs associated with field trips, such as transportation and admission. However, field trip expenses for Kindergarten and School Age children in our summer program are already included in the daily fee structure.
• Late Pick-Up Fee:
  • Second Late Occurrence: $1.00 per minute, up to a maximum of $45.00.
  • Third Late Occurrence: $2.00 per minute, up to a maximum of $90.00.
  • Fourth Late Occurrence: $3.00 per minute, with repeated late pick-ups potentially jeopardizing your child’s spot at the Centre.

Late Payments and Policies

• Interest Charges: A 10% interest charge is applied monthly to any balance carried forward.
• Overdue Accounts: Accounts in arrears for more than 60 days will result in the automatic termination of services. Any outstanding fees will be forwarded to a collections agency. For full details, please review our Delinquent Accounts Policy.

We’re Here to Help

We greatly appreciate your cooperation with our payment policies, which allow us to maintain the high-quality care, services, and programs your family deserves. Should you have any questions or require assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact our Accounts Manager for personalized support.

At WREEC, we understand that starting child care is a significant milestone for both you and your child. It’s natural to have questions or feel some reservations, such as:

• Will my child be happy at the Centre?
• What if my child cries for me?
• What if they don’t want to come?
• How long should I stay when I drop them off?

These are valid concerns, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. It’s important to remember that your child is highly attuned to your feelings and emotions. They will pick up on any doubts you may have, even if you don’t express them verbally. For their confidence and yours, it’s crucial to trust and believe in the decision you’ve made for their care.

Preparing for the First Day

Before your child’s first day, we will schedule an after-hours visit for your family. This is an excellent opportunity to:

• Meet your child’s classroom Educator.
• Ask any questions you may have.
• Take a guided tour of the Centre to familiarize yourself and your child with the environment.

This visit helps both you and your child feel more comfortable and prepared for the transition.

The First Day Drop-Off

The first drop-off can be emotional for everyone involved, but following these steps can ease the process:

1. Reassure Your Child:
   If your child becomes upset as they sense you are leaving, calmly hand them to the Educator and reassure them by saying something like, “Miss (name) will take great care of you now. I’ll be back to pick you up later.”
2. Be Honest and Direct:
   It’s important to let your child know that you’re leaving and that you will return. Avoid “sneaking out” while your child is distracted, as this can create feelings of mistrust and anxiety.
3. Keep It Brief and Positive:
   When you say goodbye, keep it short and upbeat. A simple, “See you later!” with a smile is often all they need. Once you’ve said your goodbye, it’s important to leave promptly. Lingering may cause your child to sense hesitation and make the transition more difficult for them.

Ongoing Support

Adjusting to child care is a process, and we’re here to help both you and your child along the way. If you’re feeling anxious or want to check in, feel free to call us throughout the day—we’re happy to provide updates and reassurance.

Remember, your confidence in this process helps your child build their own confidence. With your support and trust, your child will feel secure, cared for, and ready to thrive in their new environment.

Self-regulation – Refers to how efficiently and effectively a child deals with a stressor and then recovers. (Porges, 2011; Lillas & Turnbull, 2009; McEwen, 2002, Dr. Stuart Shanker, York University.) “Play positively supports children’s social/emotional, physical, cognitive, language and literacy skills, is essential to a child’s overall healthy development (Ginsburg, 2007; Packer Isenberg & Quisenberry, 2002) and enhances self-regulation.

We will continue to create environments and set up provocations that will engage children and encourage positive communication between the children as well as the educators.  Our educators will support children’s developing ability to self-regulate by being responsive and attuned to children’s individual cues and responses. (How Does Learning Happen? Pg. 30) West Ridge Early Education Centre promotes developing self-regulation skills as we believe it nurtures the ability to cope with greater challenges because it involves emotions, behaviours and thinking skills.  “The better a child can stay calmly focused and alert, the better the child can integrate the diverse information coming in from his different senses, assimilates it and sequences their thoughts and actions.” (Calm, Alert and Learning).

At WREEC, your child’s safety and well-being are our top priorities. We understand that accidents and incidents can happen, and we are committed to ensuring clear communication with families about any occurrences.

Minor Injuries

If your child experiences a minor injury while at the Centre:

• Our staff will complete an Accident Report that includes:
  • A detailed description of the incident.
  • The first aid administered by staff.
• The report will be shared with you via Tadpoles and a physical copy will be provided for your review and signature upon pickup.
• A copy of the signed report will also be kept on file for documentation purposes.

Incident Reports

If your child’s behavior causes injury to another child or if concerning behavior becomes recurring:

• An Incident Report will be completed by staff.
• This report will include:
  • A description of the behavior or situation.
  • Actions taken by staff to address or mitigate the issue.
• You will be asked to review and sign the report, and a copy will be provided to you via Tadpoles for your records.

Injuries Requiring Medical Attention

In the event your child experiences an injury that requires medical attention:

• Parents/guardians will be contacted immediately.
• If the situation is urgent, 911 will be called and appropriate steps will be taken to ensure your child receives immediate care.

At WREEC, we are dedicated to keeping you informed about your child’s safety and well-being. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have questions or concerns about our reporting process.

In the event of severe weather or an emergency that requires the Centre to close:

• Families will be notified as soon as possible via Tadpoles, email, and/or text message.
• Closure decisions will be made based on the safety of children, families, and staff, as well as guidance from local authorities.
• If the Centre must close during operating hours, parents/guardians will be contacted to pick up their child promptly.
• If buses are cancelled, we will notify families on Tadpoles if we have staff available to run a snow day program.

We recommend that families have a backup childcare plan in place for such situations. For further details, please refer to our Inclement Weather Policy or contact the Centre directly.

At WREEC we take every precaution to ensure your child’s health and safety while they’re in our care. If your child becomes ill during the day, our staff will:

• Monitor their symptoms closely and notify you immediately if they show signs of illness.
• Follow our Health and Exclusion Policy to ensure appropriate steps are taken for their care and prevent the spread of illness to others.
• If your child needs to be picked up early due to illness, we kindly ask that arrangements are made to do so within the hour to prevent the spread of illness.

Families are also responsible for reporting any illness that occurs over the weekend or on non-scheduled days to the Centre. This ensures we can maintain a healthy and safe environment for everyone.

It’s important to note that it’s quite common for children to experience frequent illnesses when they first begin child care. This is often due to their immune system adjusting to new environments. We recommend establishing a support system for back-up care in case your child needs to stay home while they recover. This can help reduce stress and ensure your child has the best possible care when they’re not feeling well.

For further details, please refer to our Health and Exclusion Policy, or don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions.