Sandy Hill Child Care

ll foster belonging and well-being, as well as engagement in the program with the opportunity for individual expression. Sandy Hill Child Care is a play based centre and encourage children to actively explore and investigate what they are naturally curious about, test their limits and take manageable risks appropriate to their age and development levels using both our indoor and outdoor spaces. Sandy Hill has implemented a more basic “back to nature “program, which allows the children time to explore a variety of items such as: logs, bark, pinecones, cat tails, p***y willows, rocks, bird nests and much more. This exposure will encourage the children to have the confidence to explore in a safe environment with their peers or with some teacher direction. PROGRAM STATEMENT

Sandy Hill Child Care supports the belief that it is responsible for providing the opportunity for children to explore and play in a safe and nurturing environment. The environment we have created is meant to support positive learning experiences through a variety of avenues that encourage each child to learn and grow at their own pace. The following sections will outline how we support the growth of your child in our program. WELL-BEING

Patterns of eating, physical activity and sleep are established in early childhood and continue into later life. Family and cultural preferences are taken into consideration at Sandy Hill Child Care. Our centre provides nutritious food and beverage choices. It is our goal to create a positive eating environment with food and portion sizes that are appropriate to your child’s cues for hunger or fullness. The educators have created a safe and stimulating space for active play indoor as well as outdoors. Each child’s need for rest or sleep varies. Our program offers a quiet, darkened setting for each child to rest/sleep. Should your child not need to sleep, a quiet wakers program is offered. COMMUNICATION

The educators at Sandy Hill Child Care seek the co-operation of the parents to secure an information sharing highway that will create the opportunity for positive interactions between the child’s peers, parents and the child care providers. We seek parents input and stress on going communication between home and the centre. Families are important contributors with unique knowledge of their child’s strengths, experiences and stressors. Any information shared by families is welcomed and encouraged in order to best help us understand your child’s unique qualities. It is also our intention to provide assistance to parents in any way possible, by sharing knowledge of any outside services offered to them. In order to ensure prompt communication parents are asked to provide the centre with the most up to date phone numbers and email addresses. The centre has added an additional platform to keep in contact with the parents. Once you have registered with the centre you will be sent an invitation to join ClassDojo. This app can be used with your computer, your android phone or iPhone. There you will find personal updates and information regarding your child’s day. We will also post photos, stories, special events and much more that can ONLY be accessed by currently registered parents. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

As long-standing members of Sandy Hill, we feel that it is important to stay active in our community. From time to time we partner with the local senior’s residence. The connections shared between both age groups have a positive experience for the children, residents and staff alike. The program is also involved with the Rideau Library, which allows the children exposure to various sources of literacy. We also invite members of the community into the centre in order to create unique learning experiences for your child. SELF-CARE AND REGULATING

Sandy Hill Child Care is committed to providing a high quality, and safe environment to support each child’s growing need for independence. We offer time to practice self-help skills daily, such as getting dressed or putting on their own shoes. Self-regulation is about how each child is able to effectively deal with stressors. These stressors can come from various aspects of each child’s lives such as: biological, emotional, communications, cognitive or social skills. Our trained educators will recognize and support each child’s varied abilities for self-regulation and will provide environments that will reduce stressors, while recognizing and supporting the child’s efforts and abilities to self-regulate. GOALS

The goal at Sandy Hill Child Care is to offer a space for children to foster their need for play through exploration and inquiry. We provide a well-rounded environment for children to participate in child-initiated and adult supported activities. Our program is dedicated to implementing a positive learning space that will incorporated and encourage each individual child the support to learn and develop at their own unique pace. SUPPORTING OUR STAFF

Sandy Hill Child Care is committed to having trained/ qualified educators. To ensure this, each educator has the opportunity to attend webinars or workshops throughout the year, ensuring the children are receiving the most up to date care. WAITING LIST

All parents must register on the City of Ottawa’s Centralized Waiting List. (oneHSN.com) Sandy Hill Child Care uses this waiting list to fill any vacant spaces. We are required to fill the programs according to priority given to each individual family. There is no charge to register on the Centralized Waiting List. Sandy Hill Child Care does not charge or collect a deposit to secure placement of a child.