CDEC 2326 - The Learning Nest

Parent Acknowledgment

After reviewing the Parent Handbook, please sign and return it to the front office as soon as possible. reviewing the Parent Handbook, please sign and return it to the front office as soon as possible. reviewing the Parent Handbook, please sign and return to the front office as soon as possible.

As a parent or guardian of (insert child's name), I acknowledge I have received a copy of The Learning Nest Parent Handbook.
I have reviewed the policies and rules that are within this handbook.
I agree to follow the policies outlined.
I understand The Learning Nest reserves the right to make changes to policies when necessary.

Parent signature _______
Date _____

This acknowledgement MUST be signed and returned. Failure to do so does not make parents any less responsible for knowing and following the policies that have been set.

It is our goal to always give high quality care to your child, but we do understand there may come a time when you need to voice a concern. We feel that communication is essential to the success of your child’s time in our care. That is why we have an open-door policy for our parents to address any issues that may arise.

If you feel that there is a problem concerning the facility or a staff member, please follow the steps as listed:
1. Speak with the educator involved with your child.
2. Allow follow up from the educator to you.
3. All comments made to staff members are relayed to the Director, so that the Director is aware of any problems or issues. If a complaint is made, the Director will listen carefully to the issue that the parent has and will attempt to work with the parent(s) to rectify the problem.
4. All comments will be recorded via writing and kept confidentially. This is to ensure all problems are documented in case an issue is not resolved.
5. We will do everything in our power to avoid withdrawal of your child’s enrollment. If this is the case, please know that a notice of 3 weeks but must be given to avoid any issues with payments. No refunds will be made for withdrawals that are not in the time limit.

All concerns are taken very seriously, and we will all do our best to ensure your complete satisfaction.

Our center opens at 7:00 am and closes at 6:00pm.

When dropping off or picking up your child, please avoid parking in an area that will put your child at risk. Always have your child exit away from the street and oncoming traffic.
Drop off:
Children must be walked in with an adult. A sign-in sheet will be available and must be signed by the people dropping the child off as well as a contact number for emergencies.

If your child is absent or arriving late, notice must be given. A warning will be given for the first late arrival without notice. Two or more arrivals will result in refusal of service. We must be respectful of everyone's time. The only exception will be for emergency situations only.

Pick up:
It is the parents' responsibility to ensure that children are picked up on time and ultimately no later than 6:30 pm. If you are unable to pick up your child, alternate arrangements must be made and reported to the center. In the event that a parent cannot be contacted, it is our policy to call an emergency contact. If parents or emergency contacts cannot be reached, authorities will be called to ensure the safety of the child.

A late fee of $5.00 per 15 minutes per child will apply if a child remains in care after 6:30 pm unless prior arrangements have been made or if it can't be helped due to an emergency or weather situation. This late fee will be added to the week's normal charges.

Your child will not be released to anyone who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If your child is taken anyways, authorities will be notified and your daycare contract will be terminated immediately.

Please notify us if an undesignated person will be picking up your child. Photo identification may be necessary for anyone picking up your child that is not notated on the authorization form. If consent and/or proper ID are not received, the child will not be released and the parent will be responsible for any additional fees that are incurred as a result. Please understand this is for your child's safety.

Here at The Learning Nest, we understand that our influence on your children’s health is very important. Our goal is to ensure the children in our facility receive nutritious meals and learn good eating habits.
To keep our children safe and ensure there is an equal level of fairness at mealtime, all food will be provided by the centers chef who will carefully and thoughtfully develop a menu every week.

A list of children with food allergies and the specifics of the restrictions/ allergies will be posted in clear view in the cooking area so that alternatives and adjustments can be made to our menu for any allergies or dietary restrictions.

Outside food, unless discussed prior, is not allowed.

The Learning Nest MealTime Rules:
* Our chef will be in control of what foods are offered. We value your input, so please reach out if you have any ideas of a a good nutritious meal or snack that we can provide.
* A schedule is made of regular meals and snacks spread out throughout the day. You can find this posted in each classroom.
* Everyone, including providers, will eat as a group to increase social learning as well as create a warm environment.
* Children are never forced to eat or punished them for not eating.
* Patience will be used for picky eaters always and as a team we will work together to ensure children are comfortable with the variety of food provided
* Food will be cut into small bite-sized pieces to prevent choking hazards
* Children will always be supervised while eating


You can find the weekly menu posted in the front of center. If you have any concerns about the menu or service provided please contact our director immediately.

Medication Administration Policy
Parents are urged to work out a schedule of giving medication at home, outside school hours whenever possible.
IF MEDICATION IS TO BE ADMINISTERED AT SCHOOL, ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS MUST BE MET:
Specific instructions from a licensed physician.
A signed request from the parent/guardian must be on file and renewed when necessary.
Medication must be in your child’s original, labeled pharmacy container written in English.
All liquid medication must be accompanied by an appropriate measuring device.
A separate form is required for each medication.

Please get with the director to discuss a medication schedule that is best for your child.

Parents, we always have our children’s well-being in our minds and will take every necessary precaution to keep them safe. We ask that you send your children to our center with respect to our health policies and rules.
In Texas, the state mandate requires licensed day care centers not to admit a child if they exhibit a number of symptoms, including:
An oral temperature above 101 degrees.
The inability to participate comfortably in the center’s activities.
A specified temperature.
Lethargy.
Abnormal breathing.
Uncontrolled diarrhea.
Two or more vomiting episodes in 24 hours.
Rash with fever.
Mouth sores with drooling.
Behavior changes, or other signs that the child may be severely ill.

If any of these symptoms are noticed while in the center, we will separate the child and parents will be notified immediately. The child will be sent home and will not be allowed to attend until he/she is symptom-free for over 24 hours.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our children healthy.

DRESS CODE POLICY-

Students should wear clothes that are comfortable and can be worn for messy activities. For our potty trained students, please ensure the clothes can be easily handled by themselves when going to the bathroom. Clothes should be weather appropriate. Long sleeves and pants are perfect for when it is chilly and short sleeves and shorts when it is warm.
All students MUST wear closed toed shoes to school. This is best for the safety of our children.
* Sneakers and socks are most appropriate as feet are well protected and provide proper support for activities. (If there is a problem providing shoes for your child, contact your child’s teacher immediately and we will help.)
* No sandals, open-toed, or open-heeled shoes
* No heavy, hard sole or pointed toe shoes/boots are allowed as they may cause injury to others
* No excessive jewelry, such as necklaces or chains around the neck which can be a choking hazard
Please send one extra set of clothes for the student to keep in his or her cubby. This should include multiple items like shorts, pants, T-shirt, underwear and socks. For our babies we do ask that you pack a bag with diapers, wipes and an extra set of clothes with socks. We will change the student into the extra clothes if he or she requires it for any reason and will keep the dirty clothes in a plastic bag for you to take home.
Please label all extra clothes with the student’s first and last name with a permanent marker.
Clothing that has suggestive, inappropriate writing is not allowed.

We are not responsible for any lost items so please avoid sending your child with anything that can’t be easily replaced.

Regulation in Childcare settings helps to:
First and most importantly, protect the health, safety, and well-being of children in care.
Permit and monitor operations for compliance with state regulation standards, rules and laws.
Investigate any violations of minimum standards in childcare.
Inform parents and the public about childcare operations and their compliance with the standards of care.
Give child-care providers assistance on meeting minimum standards, rules, and laws.

We are proud to say our center is licensed by the Texas State Childcare Licensing Office. We will continue to do our part to prove that our center is one that prioritizes the safety and wellbeing of those attending.
A few examples that demonstrate this are our low child/staff ratios. Texas Licensing ratios include:
4, 0–11-month year old for 1 caregiver
5, 12–17-month year old for 1 caregiver
9, 18-23-month year old for 1 caregiver
And so on....
We believe the more direct involvement our staff have with the children the better for that child’s safety and comfort, therefore we aim to stay below this maximum number of children one caregiver may supervise.
We also keep our infants separate from the toddlers, as we have designated spaces and activities for each that cater to their needs.
We do everything in our power to ensure our staff is cared for and our turnover rate is low, as this helps to ensure our children see a familiar face on a regular basis.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Childcare Licensing rules and regulations, please do not hesitate to call or email to set up a one-on-one appointment with the director of our program.

At The Learning Nest, we believe that all children have a right to learn. We provide an environment that is safe yet stimulating. Our curriculum is one that challenges them through creativity, child-driven activities, and learning through play. Our philosophies include:
Each child individually learns at different paces and by different approaches. Therefore, we follow a child-initiated approach to our curriculum which allows children to learn firsthand experiences and choose their resources.
Meaningful play encourages curiosity, discovery and problem solving which allows positive development. We provide play-based materials that will aid in children’s social, cognitive and emotional development.

Enrollment Policies

A mandatory Parent Orientation will be held twice a month at the center. You are strongly encouraged to check dates/times by either calling or checking online. This is an opportunity for you to meet our staff and learn about our center. We will have detailed brochures with important information. Snacks for children will also be provided.

A sign-up sheet with follow up dates/times will be provided the day of our Parent Orientation. This will be a scheduled one-on-one interview where we will sit down and discuss any questions or concerns you may have. After this interview if you are ready to enroll, you will be given an enrollment packet. You will have 48 hours to return this packet and all of the information needed inside. This will secure your spot at our location.

Once the enrollment packet is returned, we will reserve your child a space in our location! A $20 cash or check, enrollment fee is required. This will be paid to the director of the center only.

Please call the front desk if you have any questions at all! We look forward to seeing you.

TUITION
Here at The Learning Nest, we are grateful to meet your expectations and support your children. To continue to do so, we have a policy of tuition set in place that must be followed.
Tuition is due regardless of attendance. All children who have not attended class with no communication or attendance for 3 days or more will automatically be dropped from enrollment. Tuition is nonrefundable for any absences that may occur. If there is an emergency, please contact the director immediately.
Tuition will be paid in full and a week in advance of service. Credit/debit cards are preferred, but cash and personal checks will be accepted.
Cash payments must be handled with the director only. Please ensure you are receiving proof of charge and keep this for your records.
A fee of $40 will be charged for insufficient funds and returned checks. There will only be one chance given for returned checks. After one returned check, you will be asked to use a different payment.
Three weeks' written notice is required for any contract changes or withdrawals.
A copy of these policies will be given upon enrollment and are available upon request. Please see the front desk for more information.

Dear Parents,
Welcome to The Learning Nest - Where learning is play and play is learning!
We believe children's play is the base foundation for learning, which is why we use activities that stimulate creativity and engage children in age-appropriate cognitive development. We want children to utilize their play to learn and develop their own interests and abilities.
Our goal for our children is to build a love for learning in order to enrich their powerful mind, their moving body and their new relationships.
With so much gratitude, we thank you for allowing us to be apart of your children's continued success. We look forward to all of the great accomplishments that will be made as a team.