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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are
all your staff qualified Early Childhood Educators?
What
is the ratio for my child’s age group?
What
are your hours of operation?
What
happens if I’m late picking up my child?
Are
all your staff trained in First Aid and CPR?
How
do you discipline the children?
Do
the children go on trips/outings?
What
is “sick”? What is your policy regarding sick children?
Do I have to pay when the child is not at the centre?
Are you a private or non-profit centre?
How long have you been in business?
How
do the children spend their day?
What
ages do you serve?
Fees?
Are all your staff qualified Early Childhood Educators?
We employ more than the required number of E.C.E.s, at least one per classroom, and all other staff are ECE assistants with past child related experience.
What is the ratio for my child’s age group?
Ratios vary, depending on age. For infants, there is always one caregiver for every three infants, toddlers are one caregiver to five. Pre-schoolers are eight children to one adult. There are ten Junior Kindergarten children for each adult, and twelve Senior Kindergarten children for one adult. School children are one adult to fifteen children. The Day Nursery Act allows for a variance for the first two and last two hours of operation as well as sleep time.
What are your hours of operation?
We are open from 6:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. We close for statutory holidays only.
What happens if I’m late picking up my child?
There is a late fee charge, paid directly to the staff who stay with your child - $10 for the first 15 minutes or part thereof, $1 minute after that.
Are all your staff trained in First Aid and CPR?
Staff come in on a Saturday once every year to renew their CPR. First Aid is renewed every second year.
How do you discipline the children?
Children are constantly supervised. Staff always try to anticipate children’s behaviour however this is not always possible. Depending on the severity of the action and/or behaviour the child will be taken aside and spoken to about what has happened and/or given a time out. A time out is when the child sits on a chair, away from their friends for up to a minute per year of their life. Children are aware of their limits within the classroom and are also clear as to what the consequences are. On the most part staff use positive reinforcement when a child’ s behaviour is positive.
Do the children go on trips/outings?
Yes. We have three 15 passenger vans. For big trips, we also rent school buses. Our children have gone to places like the Bowmanville Zoo, Wheelies, Sundance Farms, Mini Putting, Medieval Times, Science Centre, ROM, Metro Zoo, Black Creek, Cedar Park, Petticoat Creek, and North End Bowl. We also take our children to various parks in the surrounding area for picnics or just to have fun on the playgrounds!
What is “sick”? What is your policy regarding sick children?
If a child is too sick to take part in any aspect of the program, then the child should not be with us. We will call you when the temperature reaches 101 F. The child must be fever free and Tylenol free for 24 hours to return to our care. Public Health insists that any child who is vomiting or has diahrea, must be sent home. Also if the child has anything communicable such as pink eye they must be sent home for the protection of the other children in the centre and to eliminate further spreading of infectious diseases.
Do I have to pay when the child is not at the centre?
Yes. You have contracted with us for the spot. It is your child’s spot. The longer your child is with us, the less you will have to pay for their annual two weeks holiday (see Policy for details and rates.) You will be given a weekly rate when you visit us. This will be payable by Electronic Funds Transfer on the Mondays of the month.
Are you a private or non-profit centre?
We are a non-profit centre, governed by a Board of Directors.
How long have you been in business?
We have been serving the Whitby community and surrounding area for over 25 years. References are available upon request.
How do the children spend their day?
There is a daily schedule posted in each room. It will be reviewed with you when you visit the centre. Every room has outdoor time, arts and crafts, circles, stories, bathroom routines, lunch and snacks, free play, and lots more.
We care for children from two weeks to twelve years of age.
Fees vary depending on the age of the child