INTRODUCTION:

Welcome to Enchanted Little Forest. To facilitate greater understanding between parent(s) and provider, we have created this handbook covering childcare business policies and expectations. Please read this carefully, and feel free to discuss with the Director any questions that you may have. In addition, please keep this policy where you can refer to it in the future.

CHILD CARE PHILOSOPHY:

Enchanted Little Forest Child Care Center is based on the belief that our center will offer an exciting yet nurturing environment that allows the children to explore, learn through play, experiment with life concepts, and encourage the children to excel mentally and physically. We strive to capture the imagination of our children and instill a sense of awe as they learn through experimentation and trial and error. Our hands-on approach to learning fosters creativity, self-expression, and a positive self-image. We embrace differences among our children and their cultures and strive to incorporate these differences into the child’s experiences. Parents are encouraged to participate in a large variety of center activities from parents visiting the classroom at any time, participating in classroom activities, and accompanying children on field trips.

ADMITTANCE POLICY:

Enchanted Little Forest accepts full-time children from 6 weeks to 5 years at the Snohomish Center and 6 weeks to 12 years old at the South Center (school-age care is suspended at this time. Check with the Director for status). Full-time enrollment is considered 5 hours to 10 hours a day and 4-5 days a week,

Parents wishing to enroll their child(ren) at Enchanted Little Forest (ELF), must:

·Schedule a tour of our facility and interview with our Director. An interview allows both parties to decide if our school is the best fit for each family and child individually.

Our goal is to accept any child if ratios permit. However, we are a small center and for some children who need additional help with behavior, we may not be able to service. Therefore, we reserve the right to refuse admittance.
Enchanted Little Forest welcomes any child regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background if space is available. We will strive to respect and incorporate specific needs or religious or ethnic customs, within the constraints of our classroom and other students.
Enchanted Little Forest welcomes children with special needs if it is safe to do so. All families are treated with dignity and with respect for their individual needs and/or differences. Each child with physical or developmental limitations will be assessed before enrollment to ensure we will be able to accommodate the child’s needs.
We accept children for a 30-day trial period during which time the child may be disenrolled by the director or the parent if the center can not meet the needs of the child or parent(s).

·If the child using DCYF funding, the approval must be sent to the center before the child can start. will need the approval of care for DSHS-sponsored children before they start.

It is the parent's responsibility to get DCYF approval and to maintain the funding. If the funding is terminated the child will be disenrolled. If funding is reinstated the child can re-enroll if space is available.

WAITLIST:

Admittance to ELF is in high demand.

If our class is at capacity, you may be placed on a waitlist and fill out a letter of intent.
When a spot opens and we contact you, we require a decision within 48 hours.
If enrollment is not accepted, the applicant will be removed from the waiting list.

·If at a later date, it is decided that the child should be put back on the waiting list, a new Letter of Intent must be completed, and the applicant will be placed on the waiting list based on the date recorded on this new form.

COMMUNICATION:

Good communication between parents and providers is essential to any childcare program. One-on-One family meetings will be conducted once enrolled to obtain information about the child’s development, behavior, health, linguistics, and culture. Social development, or any other relevant information. This meeting will be scheduled upon enrollment and annually thereafter. This meeting is essential for ELF staff to provide the best care and developmental support for your child. Please make time for these meetings.

It is imperative we communicate openly about any concerns or questions that may arise, as well as share a similar childcare philosophy.

We welcome questions, feedback, or discussions of any kind that are oriented toward a positive outcome for your child(ren).
However, please respect ELF employees by not swearing or yelling at the employees. Sensitive issues will be discussed in private with the Director.
Children are sensitive to their environments. We request that you maintain open communication and inform ELF of any changes that might affect a child’s emotional or physical development.

CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY:

The only information teachers should share with parents is information concerning his or her child. Conversations about other children, other parents, co-workers, and supervisors are unprofessional, a violation of Enchanted Little Forest Child Care Center, and in some instances, may be illegal. Any violation of this policy should be brought to the Director’s attention.

ENROLLMENT POLICY:

There are several forms that ELF must have completed and, in our possession before we can assume the responsibility of caring for your child (NO EXCEPTIONS). This is required by the state and if children’s files are incomplete, it can cause us to lose our license. All forms must be updated every year, sometimes sooner, according to need. The forms are as follows:

Signed Contract and Rate Agreement
Emergency Medical Authorization Form
The child’s Health Record signed by the parent if there are no health concerns. Fore must be signed by a doctor for any health concerns. Mandatory
Enrollment Form
Sunscreen/Field Trip Permission Slip
Media Use Form
Pick-Up Authorization Form
Allergy and Food Preference Form
Immunization Form – All immunizations required for your child’s age must be up to date or a shot plan from your doctor for getting immunizations completed is required,

You are required to keep ELF informed of any change in addresses, telephone numbers, and other pertinent information listed on any/all the above forms. If you have any questions regarding the completion of these forms, please feel free to ask the director.

IMMUNIZATION:

Before entering childcare, a child Must be vaccinated against or show proof of acquired immunity for vaccine-preventable disease. Record of Vaccinations must be on a current and complete Department of Health-approved certificate of immunization status (CIS).

If an outbreak of vaccine-preventable disease occurs in the center, the parents of exempt children will be notified, and the child will be excluded from the center for the duration of the outbreak.

TUITION/PAYMENT PROCEDURES:

An enrollment fee of $150 (non-refundable) and a deposit of one week’s tuition (non-refundable, to be applied to the first week’s tuition) will be collected with the application if the enrollment date is more than 1 week later than the application date. Positions are typically held for children, therefore a non-refundable deposit equal to one week’s tuition will be required to hold the position. Unborn infants may reserve a future position in the infant room. A non-refundable deposit equal to one week’s tuition will be required to hold the position. A re-enrollment fee will be collected each year in September. If enrolled after May 1st; the first September re-enrollment fee will be waived.

Your specific rates will be outlined in your Financial Contract and Rate Agreement. Tuition is payable in advance and is due by the 5th (or the Monday after if it lands on a weekend) of the month. A late charge of $20.00 will be added to any tuition balance not paid by the 6th (or the Tuesday after if the 6th lands on the weekend or is on a Monday). If this schedule is not possible contact the Director.

Tuition is due in full on the 22nd of every month. Any tuition that is not paid by the 22nd (or a repayment plan filled out, approved, and signed by all parties), will result in a $10.00 late fee per day the balance is delinquent. After 5 business days, your child will be disenrolled. Your child will not be allowed to return until your account is paid in full. Paying the account in full does not guarantee re-enrollment. Re-enrollment will be based on availability. If your account is delinquent for more than two months and you are not in a payment plan with Enchanted Little Forest, we reserve the right to send your account to collections.

Before and After school children will pay full-time rates on school breaks and vacations.

Payment may be in the form of cash, credit card (Visa or MasterCard), or check (please make check payable to: Enchanted Little Forest or ELF. ELF tries to keep tuition fees constant. However, as cost rise, ELF will review and if we find it necessary from time to time to increase rates, ELF will provide a 30-day notification before increasing rates.

ELF has many accounts where tuitions are delinquent by a significant amount. To clear the accounts, ELF is offering payment plans for current outstanding balances. If the parent does not follow this plan or refuses to sign a payment plan the account will be turned over to a collection agency and the child will be disenrolled.

If there are unusual circumstances, Enchanted Little Forest Child Care Center will try to accommodate each family’s payment needs. The payment modifications must be documented on the Financial Agreement which is signed by the parent and approved by the Executive Director and owner. This exception will be reviewed every 6 months.

ABSENCES:

Tuition is based on the age of your child(ren) who is enrolled full-time at the center, not on actual hours of attendance. Full tuition is due even if the child only attends part-time during the month. Tuition will not be reduced or refunded because of absences due to public holidays, sickness, personal reasons, center closure due to inclement weather, power outages, or center closure due to events outside of our control. A place has been reserved for each child that cannot be filled on a short-term basis, so it is necessary for you to pay for all days scheduled even if your child is not in attendance. Therefore, there will be no refunds or adjustments made for days missed.

Families are allowed two weeks of vacation (50% reduction in fees). This service will become effective within four months of full-time enrollment.

SUMMER SCHOOL-AGE PROGRAM (Suspended at this time): (South Center Only) ELF’s school-age program at the South Center is considered a special program. Your child must be enrolled in this program to receive school-age full-time care during the summer break. In addition to your normal tuition, a separate fee for this program will assessed to cover field trips and supplies. This fee will be determined based on the number, type, and cost of the field trips. The fee for this program will be provided to all school-age parents before the school-age program starts. ELF will accept payments if the full program fee is received before the center begins the summer program. A child that is not enrolled in the summer program may not be admitted to care (NO Exceptions) during the summer since we will not have a teacher for that classroom.

FIELD TRIPS:

Field trips will primarily be taken during the summer with school-age children. When appropriate we may offer a trip for the Pre/school and Pre/K. We will transport on the center’s vans so a consent to transport permission slip must be signed as well as a permission slip to attend the field trip.

NSF CHECKS:

·If a check is returned for non-sufficient funds, you will be required to pay all fees that are incurred as a result of the returned check and are subject to a $35.00 service charge.

·Childcare services will be immediately halted until full payment of tuition and NSF charges has been made, in cash or money order, credit/debit card (Visa or MasterCard). In addition, we will only accept cash/money orders or credit/debit card payments for tuition for the next 6 months.

FEES:

The financial contract may be terminated at any time, for any reason by either party with proper notice. Proper notice will consist of written or verbal notice to the provider not less than two weeks prior to the child’s last day of care. If you choose to terminate care with less than proper notice, you agree to pay for care for the remainder of two weeks (including DSHS-sponsored children).

A late fee of $10.00 per 15 min increment (over our contracted 10 hours) is as follows. Example: 1 - 15 minutes late, you owe $10.00 per child; 16 - 30 minutes late, you owe $20.00 per child. Late fees will be added to your account and must be paid on the monthly invoice. This will be strictly enforced, and habitual tardiness may result in termination of services.
If a parent or other pre-authorized person cannot be reached after closing and your child remains at our school longer than 1 hour past closing, the local county Department of Social Services or police will be called. During this time, we will provide appropriate activities and snacks for your child.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Normal hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Please note that ELF's baby room will not open until 7:00 am.

Having an accurate record of who is in care is essential. WAC codes now require that all children be electronically signed into and out of the center each day. This is especially necessary for DSHS-sponsored children. IF ELF is denied payment for days your child attended due to a lack of attendance record, then you will be responsible for the tuition for that day.

A child must be signed into the Center by 10:00 am unless cleared by the Director prior to the late entry. Any late drop-off that has not been cleared by the director. WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED INTO CARE FOR THAT DAY. For medical appointments that may cause a drop-off time later than 10:00 am, the ability to drop off your child after 10:00 am will have to be approved by the director 48hrs prior to the appointment day. In addition, a child cannot be dropped off between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm.

DROP OFF and PICK UP:

The safety of your children is important, so children must not enter the building or classroom alone. In order to assure the safety of your child, we ask that you sign your child in and out each day (MANDATORY).

If you do not sign your child in and out daily, you may be required to pay full rates for the days you do not sign in or out. DSHS requires the register to be complete for each child or they will ask us to pay them back for the days that are missing. The link for sign-in is located outside the Director’s office.
Make verbal contact with a teacher so we know that your child has arrived. We cannot be responsible for a child that we do not know has arrived.
Please do not allow older children to enter the building or classroom alone. When picking up a child, the parent must make verbal contact with a teacher to communicate that the child is leaving. The state regulations (WAC laws) dictate that a child may not be left in childcare for over 10 hours.

Our normal procedure is to release the child only to his/her parents, or someone else the parents designate. If someone other than the parent is to pick up the child, please notify us ahead of time. A verbal notice is fine on that day if this person is on the list of people who are authorized to pick up your child. If the person is NOT on that list, we MUST have written permission to release your child. Please inform emergency contacts, or people designated to pick up your child, that if management or teacher do not know them, ELF will need to ask for identification. We do not mean to offend but we take the safety of our children extremely seriously.

Due to the shortage of teachers in the industry ELF is imposing additional drop-off and pick-up requirements. These requirements are in effect regardless of the number of hours approved by DSHS.

If the parent is working outside of the home, the children can only drop off an hour before your shift begins and must be picked up within an hour of your shift end.
If you are not working or in school, children can only drop off an hour before your classes begin and must pick up by 5:00 pm.
If the child is a foster child and you are not working out of the house, please do not drop off before 7:00 am and pick up by 5:00 pm.
If these requirements do not work with your schedule, meet with the Director to discuss them.

To obtain permission to leave your child/children over 10 hours discuss with the Director. Over-time fees will apply. We remain open until 6:00 pm on weekdays, so we ask that you pick your children up promptly.

If you are running late, please call the Center. A late pick-up fee will be included in your next monthly statement (see fees). This fee should be paid with the next month’s tuition. If late pickups persist the parent will be asked to dis-enroll their child so that care can be obtained that fits the parent’s work schedule.

Open Door Policy:

ELF maintains an open-door policy for parents during normal childcare hours. This means that parents are always welcome to call or drop in to see their children during center hours. We ask that the parents check in with the Center Director before preceding to classrooms.

We would appreciate you taking into consideration our schedule when dropping in or calling and remember that visitors usually cause children to react in an excited manner. If your visit is disrupting the classroom please make your visit as brief as possible.

Please remember that drop-off and pick-up times are very busy periods in terms of transitions and adjustments. These periods are not the best times to discuss your child’s progress or growth especially if he or she is standing with you. The best way to address questions or concerns is by calling the office and leaving a message. When the classroom is quiet and the children are situated, the teacher can return your call.

Drop-offs are normally routine for some children, but some children have difficulty separating from their parents, especially during the first week of care. These children may cry when dropped off. Please help prepare your child for your departure. Do not try to “sneak away” or “slip out” as this action creates anxiety for your child. Please make your drop-off as brief as possible, the longer you prolong the departure, the harder it gets. A smile, a cheerful goodbye kiss, and a reassuring word that you will be back are all that is needed. In our experience, children are nearly always quick to get involved in play or activities as soon as their parents are gone.

If a child is upset when you leave, please know that children usually calm down and are participating before a parent reaches the parking lot. Please feel free to call at any time to check on your child.

FAMILY INVOLVEMENT:

A Parent’s involvement is both welcomed and encouraged. There are bulletin boards throughout the Center that may have special notices for parents. The parent may also be asked to assist with special classroom activities by the teacher.

CLOSED HOLIDAYS:

The following is a list of the paid holidays that ELF will be closed each year:

New Year’s Eve- close early
New Year's Day
President day
Memorial Day
Juneteenth
4th of July and the day after
Labor Day
The day before Thanksgiving – close at 2:00 pm
Thanksgiving Day
The day after Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve – close at 2:00 pm
Christmas Day
The day after Christmas
- If the holiday falls on Saturday, we will observe the holiday on Friday.
- If the holiday falls on a Sunday, we will observe the holiday on Monday

Three times a year we will close on a Friday for teacher training. When the date is determined we will post the date 30 days in advance. Tuitions will not be prorated to exclude this day from your tuition.

SNOW/ICY DAYS:

·Closure is at the Directors' discretion. Notification will be posted on Facebook and our family communication app by 5:00 am. If a late start is decided the centers will open at 9:00 am.

If the childcare center must close during hours of operation because of snow, storm, electrical, water, heating outage, or any other emergency, the director will notify parents by telephone.

CLOTHING:

Children should arrive dressed for play. We like to have fun! Having fun involves outdoor play and lots of messy activities, so make sure that your child is dressed appropriately.

Please do not dress your child in nice clothing and expect them to be spotless when you arrive to pick them up.
You will be expected to provide an extra change of clothing for your child. Accidents will happen, and it is always helpful that when they do, there is clothing that we can change your child into.
All personal items MUST be clearly marked with the child's name.
As seasons change, the extra clothes should be checked for weather and size and replaced if necessary.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS:

ELF has a no toys-from-home policy (NO Exceptions). Children have a difficult time sharing with others.

The child(ren) may want to bring a favorite sleepy toy for naptime. Please note that they will only be able to bring it out for nap time. If a child plays with the toy during nap, we will have the child place the toy in their cubby so the child can focus on resting.
ELF is not responsible for any loss or breakage of personal items. All personal items MUST be clearly marked with the child's name.

SUPPLIES:

ELF will provide most supplies that your child will need. A supply fee will be included on the September Invoice.
However, the parent is responsible for supplying diapers, wipes, sanitized baby bottles, baby food, and a full change of clothing (including socks and underwear, and shoes) appropriate for the weather (kept at the center). You may bring a whole package of diapers to be stored here and we will let you know when your supply runs low.
Good clothing is not recommended. Soiled clothing will be sent home and a clean change of clothes should be brought back the next day.
If there is a special occasion that calls for special clothing (a visit or party right after child care or a trip to the photographer), please send the special clothing with your child and we will help them clean up and get dressed prior to your arrival. All items need to be labeled with your child's initials. You must always maintain these items.
If a child’s needs are not provided by the parent, then the child will not be admitted into care that day.

INDOOR/OUTDOOR PLAY:

We provide a variety of age-appropriate toys for indoor play. Although the toys are categorized in centers, during free play time we believe it is an important part of your child’s learning to explore outside the confinements of structured areas. Barbies may ride on trains, or Legos built into racetracks need cars to drive on them. Limiting imagination only stifles creativity, and we believe this to be a fundamental part of your child’s education. After play time, all toys will return to their designated areas. We try to instill a love for physical movement early on so that they carry it with them into adulthood.

Outdoor play is mandated by the WAC code and requires children to be taken outside twice a day even if it is cold and raining. We feel that outdoor play is important for each child, so each class will spend time outside each day.

Please be sure that you dress your children and bring an outerwear that is weather appropriate.
Please do not ask that your child stay inside, as we are not staffed for one-to-one care.
Please send labeled clothing appropriate for the weather. During light rain, a raincoat is advisable. On snowy days, send boots, hats, gloves, and layers of warm clothing.
Sandals, “jellies”, “crocs” and flip-flops hinder a child’s ability to participate and often create safety hazards. Therefore, we ask that these types of shoes not be, worn by your child.

When severe weather does not permit outdoor play, great lengths will be taken to do more music and movement, and physical activities inside.

During the summer, we will have lots and lots of water play. We ask that children have rubber-soled shoes for water play in their cubby. You may provide a pair of water shoes that follow these shoe guidelines for water play.

DAILY SCHEDULE:

Young children enjoy a structured schedule that allows for flexibility. A schedule helps the day to flow more smoothly, allows the children to anticipate coming events, and aids in achieving a variety of goals. We will adhere to our written schedule to the best of our ability, keeping in mind that anything can happen when children are involved. There will be times when we have to make adjustments to the schedule. We appreciate families considering our schedule when picking up or dropping off their children. It is better if departures do not occur during quiet time, but when they do, please take note of the fact that children may be sleeping.

TRANSITION:

As your child grows and matures, he or she will transition from one classroom to another. We strive to make these transitions as stress-free as possible for both you and your child. You will be notified in advance if your child will be transitioning to another room.

MEALS:

We follow the USDA recommendations for daily meal planning. Monthly menus including meals and snacks will be posted on the bulletin board in the entry hall. We provide all food at no extra charge (except for infants). Meals will consist of breakfast, a mid-morning snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack. Children who arrive after mealtimes (see Daily Schedule) should be fed before they arrive.

Labeled water bottles may be provided by the parent for your child to drink from throughout the day. Children will also be provided the use of a cubby, for their personal belongings to be kept. This maintains healthy sanitary conditions, while also providing the benefit of personal space for each child.

Meals are served family style with children being encouraged, not forced, to eat. We encourage children to taste each item being served unless the child has an allergy to the food.

Due to allergies, no outside food or drink will be allowed to be brought into the center. Please remember that we are a nut-free center. We will provide the food and will honor any food limitations or traditions for food substitutes such as soy instead of milk provided there is a note from a doctor. The exception to this policy is for infants where the parent must provide breast milk or formula (we accommodate both) and baby food.

If a child is on a medical or special religious diet the parent will need to bring the food already prepared and ready to be heated for your child.

INFANT FEEDING:

ELF does not provide food for infants. Parents are required to bring pre-made bottles to the center. All bottles should be labeled with the child’s name and the date. ELF is no longer able to make bottles for infants. Breast milk is welcome. The bottles will be warmed by sitting in warm water.

Bottles should be brought to the Center:

Bottles must have lids, and be labeled with first and last names plus date/time prepared.
WAC codes also state what type of bottle may be used:
- Glass Bottles
- Stainless Steel Bottles
- Plastic Bottles labeled on the bottom of the bottle with #1, 2, 4, or 5 that are BPA free.
Since we feed on demand, it is important that we have enough bottles to last through the day.
Semisolid foods will also be provided by the parent and can be left at the center in the child’s personal bin. Semisolid foods may be given to your child when the child can sit up on their own and is developmentally appropriate.

When your child is making the transition to table food, we will work with parents to offer appropriate selections from the daily menu. Milk, water, and fruit juice will also be available.
We accommodate mothers who want to breastfeed their children. If a child needs to transition from breastfeeding exclusively to a bottle, we will work directly with you, the parents, to find the most suitable solution for the infant. We can continue to offer breast milk through the bottle as outlined above.
The transition of a toddler from bottle feeding to a cup would consist of the main feedings from the bottle until both we as the provider and you as the parent were comfortable that the child was able to receive the majority of the nutrients needed daily from a cup.

DIAPERS:

Parents are required to provide diapers and wipes to leave in the child’s bin at the center. Parents will be notified when more diapers or wipes are needed. After the second notice, if a child runs out of diapers or wipes you will be contacted to bring diapers/wipes. If Enchanted Little Forest provides your child with diapers, a $5 per diaper/wipe will be added to your monthly invoice.

In terms of containment and absorption, it is recommended that disposable diapers are used in group care situations. However, to accommodate parents we will allow cloth diapers under the following condition:

Fresh diapers are provided daily
A plastic bag designed to contain soiled diapers must be provided and taken home daily with soiled diapers
Diaper pins will not be used due to the safety concerns
A plastic diaper covers equivalent to the number of diapers used during the day are provided daily.

USE OF PACIFIERS:

ELF will happily support the use of pacifiers for infants, per parents’ requests. When the children enter the one-year-old classrooms, we will limit the use of pacifiers to naptime or if needed to self-soothing. Once children enter our two-year-old program, pacifiers will no longer be utilized. Language & speech development is so important, and ELF expects that all families work with us in ensuring a gradual removal of pacifiers as the children age.

TOILET TRAINING:

Your child's readiness is something we can discuss because consistency between your home and the center will be very important. This is a special time for your child, a sign that he/she is growing up. Toilet training should be a good experience.

Toilet training will be done in a relaxed manner with the cooperation of the family. Thirty months of age is a good rule of thumb to start checking for signs of readiness. Toilet training cannot begin until the child is old enough to have independent urges. The child must also be ready in three areas. First, the child must be physically ready (meaning he or she can “hold on” for a period of at least an hour or more, although several hours is a better indicator of readiness.) Second, the child must be intellectually ready (that is, he or she understands when and how to use a toilet). And third, the child must be emotionally ready (in other words, he or she must be willing to use the toilet). When the three areas of readiness occur together, toilet learning is usually easy and rather quick. When the time is right for your child, and until he/she is totally successful in his/her toileting, he/she should wear clothes that promote their independence. In addition, your child must have several complete changes of clothes including socks (5 changes are recommended and waterproof shoes.) Try to avoid really tight clothing, pants with snaps and zippers and belts, overalls, and onesies. These are difficult for children to remove "in a hurry". Bring your child in underwear and provide a pull-up for naptime (only) until he/she has naptime and bedtime control established.

We ask that you begin toilet training at home during a weekend or vacation after which, we will follow through and encourage your child here. When a child is ready, the process should go pretty quickly. Putting a child in diapers part-time and regular underwear part-time, can be confusing and delay the training process.

NAPS/QUIET TIME:

There will be a designated nap/rest time each day. ALL children must either nap or rest quietly during this period. Rest time gives everyone a much-needed break during the day. Without rest time, some children are argumentative in the afternoon, short-tempered with others, and not very happy when they go home in the evening.

The Center provides sheets for both mats and cribs. Your child may bring a small light blanket that fits easily in their cubby basket. Please label all items brought to school.

DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING:

Developmental screening observes how your child grows and changes over time and whether your child meets the typical developmental milestones in playing, learning, speaking, behaving, and moving. Developmental screening is important because it can help early childhood centers, identify if your child has early delays in their growth, and can help you get connected to specialists for support. Developmental screening reduces the chances that a child will fall behind because of a developmental delay.

Washington State requires early learning providers to facilitate the screening of children in their care. The results of these screenings will be shared with parents or guardians. ELF will screen children who are 4 weeks through 5 years of age once a year.

BIRTHDAY PARTIES:

Birthdays are a special time and we like to really celebrate them! On your child’s special day, you may have a small party after an afternoon snack. Feel free to send treats, such as cookies or cupcakes purchased from a store (Home baked items are not allowed). Please let us know ahead of time. Please tell the teacher or Director what you are planning.

FIRE SAFETY:

ELF has a written fire evacuation plan and we incorporate the fire safety process into our curriculum.

DISCIPLINE:

As children mature and try to gain self-control, they may lose control. At such times, children may be redirected to another activity. Sometimes talking about what has happened eases the tension. A child may occasionally need to sit quietly to calm down and regain self-control. Children are never spanked, humiliated, or embarrassed. If the behavior is persistent, teachers will examine the environment and the events which surround the behavior. Through observation and discussion, teachers will decide the most appropriate way of dealing with the situation. Parents will also be asked to share their ways of dealing with difficult situations.

In the cases where a child has many documented incidents of challenging behaviors where he/she is harming themself, teachers, or other children or property and has not responded to prior corrective action the Director will do an ASQ evaluation and schedule a meeting with the parent(s) to outline a plan of action which may include a request for professional evaluation referral, communication with the parent, and method of documentation of incidences of challenging behavior. The observation forms, parent meeting notes, and professional evaluation and suggestions will be kept on file in the child’s folder in the office.

The Center is dedicated to maintaining enrollment despite challenging behavior. However, there are situations where disenrollment is the only solution to keep the children and teachers safe. Preceding disenrollment the Director will meet with the parents to develop a Behavioral Plan and Compliance Agreement which outline the type of behavior the child is engaged in, the actions taken by the Center and Parents, the consequences of the behavior, types of skills the child needs to work on, and requirements of the parents and child to retain their child’s position at the center. Their plans will outline the actions of the teachers, Director, and parents following a behavior incident, documentation of the instances, and reasons for disenrollment. We encourage the parents to obtain an expert evaluation to develop strategies for dealing with the behavior. A time frame for correcting the behavior will be agreed upon. If these requirements are not met, the parent will be given a termination date in the future so that the parent can find alternate care.

Biting:
- When a child is bitten, it is a traumatic situation for both children and both sets of parents. Yet, biting is not unusual behavior for pre-verbal children. They may become frustrated then they cannot say “Move”, “I was playing with that”, or “You are too close”. Because they cannot speak, some children will bite.
- When a child is bitten, the area is cleaned, and ice may be applied. They are held and consoled until they are ready to rejoin the group. The biter is told that biting is not allowed and that it hurts. Perhaps the best way to stop biting is to encourage language development and using words.

ILLNESS POLICY:

THE FOLLOWING ILLNESS POLICIES WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED, FOR THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING, AND SAFETY OF ALL CONCERNED.

ELF is a "well-child” facility. At no time do we provide childcare to a sick child. If your child is ill, please provide alternate care for your child.
Children need to be current with vaccines and a current immunization form is provided for the child’s records (No Exceptions).
Children should be excluded if their illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in the program’s activities. Any contagious disease your child has should be reported to the center. This will allow us to send a notice to other parents.
Under no circumstances may a parent bring a sick child to daycare, if the child shows any signs of illness (see SYMPTOMS REQUIRING REMOVAL OF CHILD FROM CHILD CARE) or is unable to participate in the normal routine and regular daycare program. Sick children expose other children, as well as staff, to the spread of their illness and require additional care and attention that we are unable to give. Moreover, sick children want care from their parents in the comfort of their own homes. If other children become ill due to exposure to your sick child, either because he/she was returned to daycare before full recovery or because he/she was not picked up promptly upon notice of becoming ill, other parents will be unnecessarily inconvenienced and exposed. Because this is disruptive to other children and their families, as well as our own, your cooperation on this issue is extremely important.
Every effort is taken to reduce the spread of illness by encouraging hand washing and other sanitary practices (see Cleanliness and Hygiene).
If your child is unable to participate in the normal activities of the daycare (including being able to play outside), then your child MUST stay home.
Children will be visually screened when they arrive in the morning. In the event a child becomes ill and needs to be picked up, the parent(s) will be called and expected to come to pick the child up within one hour (60 minutes). If the parent(s) cannot be reached, or have not arrived within an hour, the emergency contact person will be called and asked to come and pick the child up.
A sick child will not be permitted to return to care for 24 to 48 hours after a condition has returned to normal. The child may return 24 - 48 hours (depending upon the illness) after they have received the first dose of an antibiotic. If a child receives an antibiotic for an ear infection(s), he may return to daycare immediately if he has been free of other symptoms mentioned for at least 24 hours. If you aren't sure about whether or not to bring your child to care, please call to discuss it with the director. Allergy-related symptoms and non-communicable illnesses do not require exclusion.

Symptoms requiring removal of the child from daycare:

ELF now will be sending home a notice that lists the symptoms and a date when a child is allowed to return to the center. Please honor the return date stayed.

A child who cannot participate or requires one on one care due to illness or symptoms will be sent home.
Fever: Fever is defined as having a temperature of 100.4°F taken by 2 out of 3 different ways to verify a fever is present. These ways are under the arm, in the ear, or on the forehead; (a child needs to be fever free for a minimum of 24 to 48 hours (at the discretion of the director) before returning to the center, which means the child is fever free without the aid of Tylenol®, or any other fever-reducing substance.
Fever and sore throat, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, earache, irritability, or confusion.
A child with diarrhea: runny, watery, bloody stools, or 2 or more loose stools within the last 24 hours will be sent home.
Vomiting: 2 or more times in a 24-hour period Will be sent home.
Frequent scratching of the body due to a rash, or any other spots that resemble childhood diseases, such as ringworm and Hand Foot, and Mouth disease. The child may return if the affected area is scabbed over, with no blisters or oozing, 24hrs fever free unmedicated.
Lice easily spreads to other children, so ELF will send the child home when discovered. The child picked up will be excluded from daycare until the child is clear of lice and nits. ELF reserves the right to check for lice or nits before a child is admitted into care.
Pink eye or conjunctivitis may attend school 24 hours after starting medication and if the symptoms are improving.

COVID policies:

If a child has two or more of the following symptoms the child (at the discretion of the Director) will be sent home and may be asked to bring us proof of a negative covid test.

Fever greater than 100.4 or chills
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Muscle or body aches
Loss of taste or smell
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Headache
Fatigue
Sore throat
Cough

MEDICATIONS:

Parents will provide any medications needed by the child, including over-the-counter and prescription medicine. Written authorization is needed to administer ANY medication, prescription or over-the-counter.

All medicines must be in their original container with the pharmacist or manufacturer's label, doctor’s name, child's name, dosage instructions, current date, name of the medication, and times to be administered clearly written.

Over-the-counter medicine will not be given to children unless the dosage for the age group is on the label or accompanied by a doctor’s note stating the medicine, the child’s name, dosage, and frequency of dosage. Do not ask us to give a child that was prescribed for another child.

No medication (prescription or over-the-counter) will be administered to a child without written parental authorization. Please ask the director for the permission form.

Medication should be handed to the Director and not left on the counter or in the classroom.

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES:

Minor bumps and scratches are inevitable, but we make every effort to keep the children safe through supervision and childproofing.

Minor injuries receive appropriate first aid, and if an emergency injury or illness occurs, you will be contacted as soon as possible. If necessary, your child will be taken to the nearest hospital where you will be asked to meet us. If you are not going to be at your usual place of employment, or at home, please make sure that we have a number where you can be reached.

Parents are responsible for all costs involved in emergency medical treatment, including emergency transportation, if required.

ELF or owner of ELF, or her family will not be held liable for any sickness or injury of either parent/guardian or child while on these premises, or while the child is in the company of the provider during field trips or outings.

SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE:

As a licensed center, we are required to report all suspicions of child abuse to the local police department or child protection agency.

Enchanted Little Forest adheres to Washington state law on mandatory child abuse reporting to either the appropriate law enforcement agency or Child Protective Services.

In any instance when staff have reason to suspect the occurrence of any physical, sexual, or emotional child abuse or neglect, child endangerment, or child exploitation as required under RCW chapter 26.44, a report is filed by the staff directly involved with the child. If there is an immediate danger to a child, a report is made to local law enforcement.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES:

In the event of an emergency concerning the safety of the children in our care, such as a fire, flood, or evacuation of the home for any natural or unnatural reasons, ELF will make a conscientious effort to secure the safety and well-being of your child(ren). We will take the children out of the affected area and parents will be notified by telephone where the children will be taken

In the case of a lost child, the authorities will be notified first, and then the parents.

Lockdown drills are becoming more common as individuals continue to attack schools and school grounds. In the case of an intruder or other criminal emergency, we will take the children to a non-windowed classroom if possible, lock it, and call for help. All windows and doors will be locked and secured until law enforcement assures us that it is safe to come out. During lockdown, parents can be contacted but will be unable to pick up or drop off children. This type of drill will be done at least twice a year.

DISASTER PLAN:

The disaster policy is available for review in the Directors' Office.

FIRST AID:

Staff members with current training in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid are with each group or classroom. Documentation of staff training is kept in personnel files.

First aid kits are inaccessible to children and are located in each classroom. Additional Emergency Supplies are either locked in the Supply Room or kept in the office.

In case of a medical emergency, basic first aid will be administered according to the recommendations of the American Red Cross or the American Academy of Pediatrics. The Director will immediately contact the parent or child’s alternate emergency contact person if the parent is not available.

Asthma:

An asthma care plan and an individual emergency treatment plan shall be filled out by the parent or guardian and kept on file for any child with asthma. The asthma care plan shall be implemented when the child exhibits asthma symptoms at childcare.

Allergies: A Food Allergy Care Plan will be filled out by the parent/guardian and kept on file for children with food allergies. This plan lists food to avoid, a description of how the child reacts to the food, and substitute food(s). A copy is kept in the kitchen and in the child’s classroom.

TELEVISION/VIDEO POLICY:

ELF does not use video in its curriculum. Therefore, no video games, cell phones, and TV are prohibited in the classroom. The one exception is movie day (once a week) in our summer program where the school-age children can watch one movie that is appropriate for their age (substitutes for field trips). In addition, teachers may use educational programs to teach a concept in the curriculum.

PET POLICY:

Classrooms may have a pet under certain circumstances.

There is a vet on file who will care for the medical needs of any class pets
There is an in-house adult who is required to feed and clean the habitat daily
Parents have been notified of the plan to include the pet in the classroom and there are no objections
Children are not allergic to the pet

Family pets are not allowed in the classroom due to potential allergies or severe fear of the animal by some children.

DISENROLLMENT POLICY:

We appreciate as much advance notice as possible when dis-enrolling your child. Parents are required to give a two-week written notice when they decide to terminate childcare.

The two weeks will be paid in full, regardless of whether the child is in attendance. You will be billed for these two weeks.

If we do not receive tuition for these two weeks from DSHS for sponsored children, the parent will be responsible for the tuition. If payment is not received, the account will be sent to a collection agent or DSHS will be informed that your bill was not paid in full and this can impact your ability to receive future services.

All children who are accepted and enrolled in the center will be guaranteed a spot as long as their parents are current on tuition, follows the center policies, and the child does not represent a significant behavior risk that puts the center, teachers, and other children at risk of harm. In such cases, expulsion or termination will be considered.

We reserve the right to dis-enroll a child for the following (but not limited to) reasons:

Failure to pay
Failure to complete the required forms
Lack of parental cooperation received
Failure of the child to adjust to the center after a reasonable amount of time
Our inability to meet the child's needs
Lack of compliance with handbook regulations

A child can be expelled due to present harmful behavior. Reasons for expulsion:

A child exhibits behavior that presents a serious safety concern for the child, other children, teachers, and property of the center.
ELF will work with the parent, child, and teachers to try and correct behaviors that may lead to disenrollment.
However, if the behaviors continue ELF reserves the right to dis-enroll the child.
ELF will provide the parent with a record of incidents.
ELF will provide the parent with a list of resources to contact which are relative to the child’s behavior. However, ELF will not be responsible for getting resources for the child.

Enchanted Little Forest Child Care reserves the right to terminate the Registration agreement with no notices for violations of childcare rules and policies listed in the parent handbook. However, ELF will make every effort to give verbal warning before the decision to withdraw your child/children is made.

We have a significant waitlist of families who want to enroll at ELF. Therefore, when a child is absent one week or longer without notifying the Director, the child will be considered no longer enrolled. You will be billed for the week the child was absent plus two weeks for the required notification period.

TAX INFORMATION:

We will supply you with a year-end summary of all daycare fees paid during the year for tax purposes. This will be given to you in January each year or when services are terminated. You may request a statement at any time.

RECALLS: On a regular basis, the www.cpsc.gov/ website will be checked for the list of product recalls that may be found within our preschool. Any toy, equipment, or furnishing found to be on this list, will be removed from the home immediately.

REVISIONS TO THE HANDBOOK/CONTRACT:

All families will sign a yearly revision to this handbook and the accompanying contract each year. We reserve the right to make changes in rates and policies, as we deem necessary. You will be notified, in writing, of any changes that may occur. Every attempt will be made to give at least two weeks’ notice of changes.