Hours of Operation
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When should I register/be added to the wait list?
Families are encouraged to express their interest in space at the Centre as soon as possible, as many of our rooms have long waitlists.
Accepting a Space
- The internal wait list will be consulted to see if there are any children waiting for space in that particular room. If the space is not filled from an internal family, the external wait list for that group will be consulted.
- 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 plus a $75.00 non-refundable admin fee.
- If the deposit is not received within 72 hours, the space will be offered to the next child on the list.
- The deposit will be put towards the child’s first bill. The remainder of the first bill must be paid before the child begins.
- 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.
Enrolment Policy
Full-Time schedules (Monday to Friday) – Two weeks of vacation allotment may be used for vacation, sick, absent or stat holidays at the 50% discounted daily cost. Changing to a part-time schedule requires a month’s written notice and the new schedule must remain in effect for two months before changing back to full-time.
Part-Time schedules (less than 5 days a week) – Will be continued to be offered with the condition that there is a match to the requested schedule. Prorated vacation allotment may be used for vacation, sick, absent or stat holidays at the 50% discounted daily cost. Families must give a month’s notice to the office to make any changes to their child(ren)’s schedule in order to adhere to staff/child ratios and this new schedule must remain in effect for two months.
Payment Information
Fees are based on full-time or part-time enrollment, and must be pre-paid each month, based on your enrollment agreement. There is also a one-time non-refundable Administration Fee of $75.00 per family, upon enrollment. Further, a key fob deposit of $25.00 per fob, will be refunded to you, upon return of the fob. Fee payments may be made by e-transfer and an annual electronic receipt will be issued each February for income tax purposes. A 10% interest charge is applied monthly to any balance carried forward, please see Delinquent Accounts Policy (in our Parent Handbook) for further details. Accounts in arrears over 60 days will automatically result in the termination of services and any outstanding fees will be forwarded to a collections agency.
Your Childs First Day
At West Ridge Early Education Centre we appreciate that as a parent/guardian you may be experiencing reservations and asking yourself many questions such as:
Will my child be happy at the Centre?
What if he/she cries for me?
What do I do if they don’t want to come?
How long should I stay when I drop them off?
Your child is extremely sensitive to your feelings, and will know if you have doubts, whether you express them verbally or not. For their sake and yours, it is important that you believe in the choice of child care that you have made.
Before your child’s first day, try to make time for a visit or two with your child. Play with them on the floor with their group. These visits will be of no cost to you. This approach will give you and your child a chance to become familiar with their Educators, playroom and routine.
On the first day when you are dropping your child off, if they become upset sensing that you are leaving, give the Educator your child and reassure them that you trust this person you are leaving them with. Verbalize it by saying “Miss Leanne will take good care of you now, I’ll be back to pick you up later”. If you sneak out after your child is interested in an activity, they will not trust you out of their sight again. He/she needs to know that you are leaving and that you will be back. As soon as you say you are going, GO! Otherwise your child will sense your hesitation and hang on for dear life. Your child needs the reassurance that you trust him/her in our care. Just say “see you later” and smile. Call as often as you need during the day!
Behaviour Management – Self Regulation
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).
Incident and Accident Reporting
When your child experiences a minor injury at Day Care staff will fill out an Accident Report to be signed by parents/guardians upon pickup. A description of the accident and the first aid administered will be filed in your child’s file as well as a copy provided to you. If your child’s behaviour causes injury to another child or is reoccurring, an Incident Report will also be completed by staff for you to sign and a copy provided to you. If your child experiences an injury that requires any medical attention, parents will be contacted immediately and/or 911 will be called.
What is our Nut Free Policy?
Please refer to our food and nutrition page to learn more about our food policies.
