Registration & Attendance Policies
Open Door Policy
We extend a warm welcome to you and your child at C&S Child Care Inc.! We are delighted to have you join us.
We believe in open communication and value your input. Parents are always welcome to drop by our program, join a field trip, or speak with our Child Care Staff. Please feel free to ask questions or offer suggestions at any time. If you wish to speak with a teacher, simply request a meeting, and we will do our best to accommodate you as quickly as possible.
Our commitment is to create a positive childcare experience for your entire family, not just your child.
Attendance Policy
If your child is going to be absent, please notify the centre by contacting staff and providing their expected return date.
The easiest and preferred method for updating attendance is through our Lillio app. Alternatively, a brief email to [email protected] is sufficient.
Please be aware that if your child is absent for more than two weeks without any verbal notice or contact to the centre, we will consider this a withdrawal from the program. In such a case, your child’s space will be filled, and you will be charged that month’s fee.
Arrival and Departure
Arrival Procedures:
Parents/caregivers are expected to bring their child directly into the classroom. Teachers will open the door at 9am once the classroom is prepared for the day.
Dismissal Procedures:
At dismissal, parents are asked to wait outside the classroom until the door opens. Children will be called individually and released to their parent/caregiver. To ensure each child is released to the correct person, please refrain from entering the classroom to pick up your child, except on party days or other special occasions.
If someone other than the parent/caregiver will be picking up your child, please inform the teachers in advance. If the person is new to pick up please ask them to have their Photo ID handy. Teachers will not release a child to an unexpected person or to anyone they deem unsafe or unfit to transport the child. In such cases, we will contact the parent or the emergency contact.
Late Pick-Up Policy:
You are responsible for picking up your child on time. Preschool ends at 1pm daily. Late pick-ups can be difficult for children and teachers, as teachers have limited time between and after classes. If you anticipate being late, please call C&S Child Care Staff at 604-946-4060.
A fee of $10 will be charged for every 10 minutes you are late if you are late more than a couple of times. Please note that by our license, we are required to contact the ministry after a child has not been picked up for half an hour. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.
Registration Policy
Registration for the upcoming school year opens in late January. Current families are given priority for re-registration, with public registration commencing in February.
Once re-registration is announced for the following September, current families must submit their care requests by the specified due date. We will then process all requests and send acceptance emails to families who have been granted a space.
Upon receiving an acceptance email, families will have a specified timeframe, noted in the email, to submit a non-refundable $75 registration fee. This is completed by submitting both the EFT and PAD forms. The first month’s tuition will be processed on September 1st, with subsequent tuition payments on the first of each month through June. If you decide to withdraw before the new school year begins, you must submit your request by May 1st; after this date, the September tuition becomes non-refundable. Your placement is confirmed only once all tuition information has been received. Failure to submit tuition details by the deadline stated in your acceptance email will result in the forfeiture of your placement, which will then be offered to the next family on the waitlist.
Hours of Operation
In August, an email will be sent home with details about gradual entry for preschool classes, which are scheduled to align with Holly Elementary’s Kindergarten gradual entry.
Class Schedule:
- Classes run Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.
- 3-year-old Program: Tuesday & Thursday
- 4-year-old Program: Monday, Wednesday & Friday
- Full-time (Monday to Friday) is available based on enrollment.
Closures:
We follow the Delta School District calendar for all closures, including Pro D Days, Winter Break, Spring Break, and Statutory Holidays (including Easter Monday). C&S Preschool is also closed during July and August.
Due to licensing regulations, our Preschool Program cannot operate simultaneously with our Out of School Care Program. Therefore, the Preschool will be closed on School District Pro D Days, as the older children will be attending all-day sessions.
Calendar Alignment:
C&S Child Care follows the Delta School District calendar. Our first day in September will be determined after the Kindergarten Gradual Entry schedule is finalized. The last day for preschool children will be one week before the end of June. The remaining days in June will be used by staff for cleaning and preparing the center for summer closure. You can check out our C&S Annual Calendar for important dates.
School Closure Due to Severe Weather Conditions, Natural Disasters or a Global Pandemic.
C&S Child Care follows the Delta School District’s lead regarding severe weather closures. If public schools are closed, C&S Child Care will also be closed. Parents should check CKNW 980 AM, www.cknw.com, or www.news1130.com for school closure information. Please also refer to our Pandemic Policy on our website’s main page.
Tuition & Payment Policy
Tuition
Preschool Tuition is based on the yearly program and is divided into ten equal monthly payments. The first payment is due September 1st. We are unable to reduce fees for absences due to illness (child or staff), vacation, natural disasters, or global pandemic. Your monthly fee guarantees that your child retains his or her spot in the program.
Childcare subsidy is available through the Ministry of Children and Family Development http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/child-care/financial-assistance-for-child-care#funding_amount
Registration and Payments:
- A non-refundable registration fee of $75.00 is required for each child, in addition to monthly payments.
- Monthly tuition is due on the first of each month, from September through June.
- The September payment becomes non-refundable as of May 1st, prior to the start of the school year.
- For registrations part-way through the school year, the $75.00 non-refundable registration fee is still required. Your first month’s tuition will be prorated at $30 per day, with regular monthly tuition commencing on the 1st of the following month.
Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) Policy:
- A $25.00 NSF fee will be charged for any returned payments.
- You will have 7 days to pay both the NSF fee and your monthly tuition. Failure to do so may result in the withdrawal of your child from the program.
Withdrawal and Changes to Care:
- To withdraw your child or make changes to their care schedule (including reducing the number of days attended), C&S Child Care Inc. requires one month’s written notice. This notice must be given prior to the first of the month in which you wish to make the change.
- Please inform us 30 days or more prior to the first of the month for any withdrawal or care changes.
- A Withdrawal Form must be printed and submitted
- No withdrawals or changes to care are accepted after May 1st. If you withdraw your child after May 1st, the June fee will still be processed as the notice agreement was not met.
Guidance & Support Policies
Our goal at C&S Child Care Inc. is to help children build as individuals by challenging their emotional, social, physical, and cognitive development, in a safe and secure atmosphere. Children will learn to build confidence within themselves through interactions with peers and teachers.
At C&S Child Care Inc. we, as caregivers, will strive to provide a fun, loving, and caring environment for all those under our care. We will follow specific strategies and techniques to help us better respond to the children’s behaviour. We will use both prevention and intervention strategies and techniques. We feel that the following strategies and techniques best support our guidance policy:
| Prevention | Intervention | |
| Strategies | Establish clear, consistent, and simple limits | Acknowledge feeling before setting limits |
| Focus on the behavior, rather than on the child | Model problem-solving skills | |
| Provide choices |
Accountability Procedures
At C&S Child Care Inc., we believe every child and staff member deserves to feel safe, secure, and happy. To uphold this belief, accountability is paramount:
- Staff are accountable for providing a nurturing and safe environment.
- Children are encouraged to exhibit acceptable behaviors.
- Parents are accountable for maintaining communication and collaborating with staff.
Our Three Cooperative Goals:
- To foster mutual respect, cooperation, and communication among children, parents, and staff.
- To promote positive social interactions and model good behavior for one another.
- To create a safe environment where children are encouraged to be responsible and show concern for each other.
In all of our programs, we consistently encourage and reinforce positive behaviors. Our staff, in collaboration with management, focus on promoting positive social interaction, mutual respect, and cooperation to ensure a safe and secure environment for all children.
Children Requiring Extra Support
For children with varying abilities who require extra support, enrollment is contingent on securing funding from REACH. Without this funding, children will be placed on a waiting list until the necessary resources become available.
We may inquire if families are able to contribute to the cost of additional resources or support staff. Due to funding limitations, we cannot guarantee the availability of extra resources. Please inform our staff if your child is currently receiving support for speech or behavioral challenges; our aim is to support your family, not to judge.
From time to time we come across a situation where we feel a child is not reaching certain developmental milestones as they should, or they display behaviours that require further observation. If we see signs of these types of things, we will contact you and advise you of what we are experiencing. If agreed to, we will then ask that your child be observed, with your permission, by a professional. Discussions like this are not always comfortable, but please be assured that it is for the good of your family and your child.
Guiding Behaviour Policy
At C&S Child Care Inc., we are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all children and staff. In instances where a child’s behaviour compromises the safety and well-being of others, the following procedures will be implemented:
- First Incident: An incident report will be completed and shared with parents, the Manager, and placed in the child’s file. Staff will then discuss strategies with parents to address the behaviour.
- Second Incident: If inappropriate behaviours are repeated, a second incident report will be completed and shared with parents, the Manager, and placed in the child’s file. Staff will engage in further discussions with parents regarding behaviour management strategies.
- Intensified Monitoring & Potential Withdrawal: Depending on the severity and nature of the repeated behaviour, the Management Team will contact parents to inform them that the child’s behaviour will be closely monitored. Parents will be advised that continued interference with the safety and well-being of others may result in the child being asked to withdraw from the program.
C&S Child Care Inc. reserves the right to withdraw a child if the safety of another child has been compromised, or if the program as a whole has been negatively impacted by a child’s inappropriate behaviour. However, we are committed to exploring all available alternatives with parents to support the child’s success, which may include a short suspension or a change in placement.
Should a child need to be withdrawn, the decision regarding a refund to the parent will be at the sole discretion of C&S Child Care Inc. Refunds are not guaranteed, as staff will not be laid off due to a child’s withdrawal.
We understand that aggression can be a natural response when a child feels angry or frustrated.
- Isolated Aggressive Incidents: In the event of an aggressive episode involving another child, we will notify both sets of parents. This notification will include details about the incident, the guiding behaviour techniques used, how each child was feeling, and how the situation was resolved.
- Habitual Aggression: If a child’s aggression becomes habitual and consistently disrupts daily activities, either by requiring excessive staff attention or causing fear among other children, we will need to re-evaluate our capabilities. C&S Child Care staff are not trained or equipped to manage habitually physically aggressive children.
Our Commitment to Safety
We firmly believe that all staff members have the right to feel safe from harm during the workday, and it is our collective responsibility to support and ensure their safety. Similarly, every child has the right to feel safe within C&S Child Care Programs.
Reporting and Actions for Aggressive Behaviour:
- Repeated Aggression Towards a Staff Member: If a child repeatedly exhibits aggression towards a staff member, parents will be informed both verbally and in writing. Incident reports will be completed, with copies provided to parents and placed in the child’s file.
- Aggression Towards Other Children: If a child is aggressive towards another child or children, parents will be informed verbally and in writing. An incident report will be completed, with a copy provided to parents and one placed in the child’s file.
- Withdrawal from Program due to Aggression: If the aggression escalates to a point where other children become afraid or their right to enjoy their time at C&S Child Care Inc. is compromised, it may result in the withdrawal of your child from the program.
Confidentiality
We understand that you are sharing a wide range of personal family information with us. We would like to take this opportunity to assure you that we strive to keep this information strictly confidential. It is of the utmost importance that you do share any pertinent information regarding your child, so that we can ensure we are doing everything possible to maintain their personal safety and well being.
Health & Safety Policies
Allergies
To ensure the safety of all children, C&S Child Care Inc. requires staff to be fully informed of your child’s allergies. Please be aware that all our program sites are nut-restricted zones due to the potential for life-threatening nut allergies. We kindly request that you check all items for nut products (including peanuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews, etc.) before sending them to the program.
Illnesses
To ensure the well-being of all children and staff, we kindly request that you do not send your child to C&S Child Care Inc. if they are unwell or show signs of becoming sick. Children must remain home if they are not well enough to participate in our daily program or have an infectious disease.
Symptoms that require a child to stay home include:
- A really runny nose (displaying yellow or green mucus)
- Eye, ear, or throat infections
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Any contagious disease
- Fever
- Vomiting the morning of care
Sending a sick child not only puts other children and staff at risk but also prevents your child from fully participating in activities. We understand that finding alternative care can be challenging, but keeping sick children at home is crucial.
Communicable Diseases:
If your child has been in contact with a communicable disease, please inform us as soon as possible so we can take necessary precautions to limit its spread.
Return Policy After Vomiting/Diarrhea:
Children who have vomited or had diarrhea must not return to the center until they have been symptom-free for 24 hours.
Illness During Care:
Should your child become ill while at C&S Child Care Inc., or if staff determine they cannot participate in our regular routine (including outdoor play), we will ask that you pick up your child immediately. If you cannot be reached, the alternate contact person will be called. Please ensure someone is always available in case of an emergency.
| SYMPTOMS | POLICIES |
| Temperature of 38 degrees or above | Children experiencing a fever must be picked up immediately. They may return to the program after 8 hours of maintaining a normal temperature without the aid of fever-reducing medication (e.g., Children’s Tylenol). |
| Untreated eye infection (pink eye) | For the health and safety of all children, a child must complete a full day of antibiotic treatment before returning to C&S.. |
| Rashes | For unidentified rashes, a doctor’s written confirmation stating the rash is not contagious is required. If treatment is necessary, the child may return 12 hours after treatment has begun. |
| Scabies/Lice | Children can return 24 hours after receiving treatment. |
| Diarrhea | A child can return after 24 hours without a repeat incident or with a doctor’s confirmation that the condition is not contagious. |
| Vomiting | Children may return 24 hours after their last vomiting incident. |
| Chicken Pox | Parents will be notified in the event of an exposure. The child may return to the program five days after the rash appears. |
| Strep throat/Tonsillitis | A child can return 24 hours after beginning medication treatment. |
Specific Illnesses and Aliments
Managing Head Lice at C&S Child Care Inc.
If your child has head lice, please follow these steps to help us prevent the spread and ensure a safe environment for all children:
- Immediate Notification: Contact the centre immediately to inform staff. This allows us to notify other families and take necessary precautions.
- Lice Treatment: Treat your child with an appropriate lice removal product. This includes thoroughly combing through your child’s hair with a fine-tooth comb to remove all eggs, nits, and adult lice.
- 24-Hour Exclusion: Your child may return to the centre 24 hours after their first treatment.
- Secondary Treatment: Administer the secondary treatment three days after the initial treatment.
- Ongoing Monitoring: Continue to check your child’s head weekly for up to three weeks following the secondary treatment.
C&S staff will also perform a head check upon your child’s return to ensure the treatment has been effective.
For additional information, please refer to the Fraser Health website: http://www.fraserhealth.ca/health-info/health-topics/school-health/head-lice/
Throughout the year, C&S staff may conduct random head checks on all children in care as part of our due diligence.
Child Vomiting During Care
If your child vomits while in the care of C&S Child Care:
- Our staff will immediately attend to your child to ensure their comfort and safety, and then promptly notify you.
- You are required to pick up your child within 30 minutes of receiving this call.
- It is your responsibility to arrange for your child’s pickup within this timeframe. If you are unable to do so personally, please arrange for an authorized individual to pick them up on your behalf.
- Always inform C&S Staff if someone other than yourself will be picking up your child.
Child Illness and Absences
If your child is unwell and unable to attend C&S Child Care, please notify us by using our Lillio app, email [email protected] or by calling 604-946-4060. We require notice for each day of absence. Once your child has recovered and is ready to return, please reach out again to let us know that we can expect them back.
Medication
For the safety of all children, C&S Child Care Inc. requires parents/caregivers to monitor their child for a minimum of 24 hours after a new prescription or over-the-counter medication has been administered at home. We also kindly request that you consult with your child’s physician to establish a medication schedule that avoids the need for administration during their time at C&S Child Care Inc. if possible.
Should your child require medication due to a pre-existing medical condition, a parental consent form outlining the care plan must be completed. This form will require a physician’s signature and detailed information regarding administration dosages and timelines. It is the parent/caregiver’s responsibility to inform staff about any medication a child is taking at home, and to report any potential side effects, such as drowsiness, that may occur while at the facility.
EPI Pens: Families are responsible for ensuring C&S Child Care has an EPI Pen on-site permanently or that one travels with their child to and from C&S Child Care. This EPI Pen will be stored in a secure location at C&S Child Care. Parents must complete the parental consent form outlining the care plan for their child.
Hygiene
We’d love for your child to be ready for a fun day at Preschool! This means having all their supplies, being showered with clean fingernails (to help prevent scratches and infections), and having brushed teeth. Please also send them in clean clothes with a spare set in their backpack, just in case they get a little messy.
Abuse
Teachers are legally required to report suspected or disclosed abuse to the Ministry for Children and Families. In cases where abuse occurs within a household or center, it must also be reported to the Fraser Health Authority. Teachers are not permitted to contact parents directly unless directed by the Ministry of Children and Families or the police. The Ministry is responsible for conducting investigations and determining whether abuse has occurred. The safety and well-being of the child remain our primary concern.
Fire & Earthquake
In the event of a fire or earthquake, all occupants will calmly and safely evacuate the building. Both staff and children will regularly review these procedures to ensure compliance with all rules and regulations. As caregivers, our two main responsibilities are to successfully and safely evacuate the children from the building and to notify emergency personnel.
House Keeping Policies
Clothing
Dressing for Preschool: Comfort, Creativity, and Preparedness
At Preschool, we encourage children to explore and create, which often leads to messy fun! Please dress your child in clothes that can get paint, glue, and other materials on them. We’ve found that smocks aren’t always effective, so prioritizing washable clothing is best. Additionally, ensure their clothes allow for free and comfortable movement. For daily gross motor activities, we recommend running shoes.
Essentials for Everyday Readiness:
Please pack an extra change of clothes (pants, shirt, socks, underwear) in your child’s knapsack each day. These are essential for unexpected bathroom accidents, water splashes, or even “paint explosions!” Storing these at the bottom of their knapsack is ideal. Remember to bring the knapsack back and forth daily as we cannot provide storage.
Adapting to Temperature and Weather:
Children’s body temperatures can fluctuate with their activity levels throughout the day. We ask that you send your child to school in layers of clothing. This allows them to add or remove items as needed to maintain their comfort. Furthermore, please dress your child appropriately for the weather. This includes sending items like boots, raincoats, gloves, hats, and sunscreen when conditions call for them.
Labeling for Lost and Found:
Finally, to help us keep track of your child’s belongings, please clearly mark all items with their name, especially boots, shoes, coats, and changes of clothes.
Play Dates
If a playdate is arranged for your child after school, but we were not notified at drop-off, the playdate family and your child will be asked to wait while we contact their parent(s) for confirmation.
Visitors
Parents: Parents are frequent visitors, whether to assist in the classroom or to share a hobby as a learning experience for the children.
Students: Students from local schools or colleges may volunteer or observe classes. Observations of specific children require prior written consent from their parents. Parents will be informed of any student visitors before their arrival.
Professionals: Our community health nurse and other Early Childhood Development professionals (e.g., speech pathologists, occupational therapists) may attend the program.
Licensing Officer: Our licensing officer regularly visits to ensure the quality and safety of our program.
Items from Home / Show & Tell
To avoid loss, damage, or soiling, and to prevent issues with sharing and ownership, we request that children do not bring toys or electronic equipment from home. Exceptions are made for essential items like communication devices. If your child has the Show & Tell bag, we encourage them to bring an item from home that relates to our monthly themes and supports our learning. Thank you for your cooperation.
Field Trips
Field trips are a valuable component of our preschool program, offering children the opportunity to engage with diverse experiences and individuals within our community. The frequency of these excursions will vary depending on the child’s attendance schedule.
Before any child participates in a field trip, parents are required to sign a consent form.
Our policy regarding transportation is that parents are responsible for driving their own child to and from the field trip destination or for arranging alternative transportation. Preschool staff will not be organizing parent drivers. To assist with ride arrangements, we will provide you with a class list that includes phone numbers.
We generally encourage and appreciate parent participation on field trips. If you are unable to attend, please inform the teachers.
Water, Snack & Lunch
To ensure the well-being of all children, please pack a snack and lunch for each class. These should consist of two or three healthy items such as fruit, vegetables, cheese, crackers, or yogurt. We kindly request that you refrain from sending chips, candy, pop, or other “junk food.”
Peanut-Restricted Zone: C&S Preschool is a peanut-restricted zone. Your cooperation in keeping our environment safe for children with allergies is greatly appreciated.
Drinks: Please send your child with a labeled water bottle or cup. For dental health, to minimize messes, and as a good general health practice, juice and milk are not permitted at school.
Food Safety: For the safety of your child, we ask that small food items like grapes and hotdogs be cut into smaller pieces.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with these policies.
Fundraising
From time to time we will need you to participate in fundraising activities for various reasons. You will be given ample notice of the event of activity used to raise the funds. You will either be given a choice to participate in the event/activity or donate by way of cheque if you do not wish to participate or have the time to volunteer ie: Frozen Food Fundraiser, or Food Drive.
Birthdays & Celebrations
We are a non-denominational preschool. However, we like to expose children to different cultures and holidays. We celebrate most major holidays and are always open to parents sharing something new. Please feel free to come into class and share your culture.
Birthdays are celebrated with a song and a sticker from the teachers. If you would like to bring in a treat for your child, please send cookies or small cupcakes. We have found cake, large cupcakes etc. are too messy and many parents do not want their child eating a huge sweet. Please make sure there are enough treats for everyone and that the product contains no nuts. If your child is having a birthday party and you wish to invite some of the children, this needs to be done outside the classroom so as to avoid any hurt feelings if you are not inviting the whole class. Please don’t ask the staff to distribute invitations.
Communication and Contact Information
Here at C&S Child Care Inc., we prioritize clear communication with our families.
Absence Notification: If your child will be absent for any reason, please update their attendance on the Lillio App first, email us second at [email protected] or third, call us at 604-946-4060.
Primary Communication Channels:
- Lillio App: Great for quick msgs., updates, or reporting absences.
- Email: Our main method of communication is email ([email protected]). We use it to send monthly newsletters, updates, changes, and reminders.
- Parent Board: Important information may also be posted on the parent board inside the classroom from time to time.
- Facebook: Follow us at https://facebook.com/cschildcareinc for additional updates.
Emergency Contact Information: Please ensure we always have your most current contact information. Kindly notify us immediately if your work or cell phone number changes.