Welcome to Whale Spirit Early Enrichment Centre

HEALTH, SAFETY AND NUTRITION

• Parents can assist in limiting the spread of disease by keeping sick children at home and washing hands when arriving at the centre.
• While children are ill they require a quiet relaxed setting. The active environment of the centre is not the place for them.

• We understand the challenge this presents for working parents with little or no alternative care. It may help to consider your options before this situation arises.

• Acute cold (initially most contagious) – with infected discharge, thick and colored and /or present in conjunction with other symptoms.
• Cough (frequent bouts 3-5 an hour)
• Fever 38*C (101F) or over – may return when fever has remained below 38*C for 24 hours without medication.
• Inability to cope – abnormally irritable or lethargic, inability to cope emotionally and unable to participate in the program.
• Vomiting: vomiting within the past 12 hours – may return when 24 hours has passed since the last bout of vomiting and no other signs of illness are present.
• Diarrhea: twice a day – may return after one normal bowel movement.
• Infected skin or eyes – return when the child has been examined by a doctor and has received medical clearance.
• Communicable diseases: (chicken pox’s, etc.) Please report the disease to the daycare as soon as possible and observe Public Health Standards for the safe return to daycare.
• Antibiotics – return after 24 hours since first taken.

If a child becomes ill while at the centre, a caregiver will be contacted and requested to pick up the child from the centre. If a caregiver cannot be reached, the emergency contact person will be called.

Please notify the centre if your child has contracted a communicable disease so the other families and the Community Health Department can be informed.

• Immunizations are an effective way of preventing the spread of communicable disease; we recommend that children’s immunizations are brought up to date before attending the centre.

• In the event of a sudden illness or accident of an urgent nature and the inability to immediately contact a parent/guardian, the staff will seek medical assistance. Permission for this is granted on the registration form.

• Child Care Regulations require that we have your written consent to administer prescription or non-prescription medication to your child. The medication must be provided in the original container and the Medication Permission form must be fully completed with instructions on administering the medication. If the medication is to be given over a period of a few days, the form needs to be dated and signed each day.

• Please inform staff if any medications have been given before coming to the daycare in the morning. Staff are required to store all medication in a locked container. Please ensure that the medication is given directly to a staff person and not left in a child’s lunch kit, back pack, etc.

• If your child has allergies/food sensitivities inform the centre at the time of registration. Child Care Licensing requires that allergies are posted. Parents whose children have serious or life-threatening allergies will be asked to put together a health care plan with the public health nurse for their child.
• Please Note: The entire centre is a peanut-free zone. This means any kind of peanut product, including oils, ingredients in granola bars, etc. Unless the enrolled child is intolerant of another type of nut, other nuts will be acceptable.

• Staff, volunteers, students and others are all expected to follow universal procedures in dealing with potentially dangerous body fluids. Procedures are posted in the washrooms and kitchen at the centre.

Safety Procedures

• Evacuation Drills: Conducted once a month and recorded. Procedures are posted at several exit doors within the centre.

• Earthquake Kits and Supplies: Contains first aid kit, emergency information, blankets, clothing, food stuffs, water, etc. Located in outdoor storage area. Kits evaluated twice a year.
• First Aid Kits: Kits located in both daycare washrooms. Both sides of centre have a travel first aid kit for walks and field trips.

• As stated in the Family and Child Service Act, it is the obligation and responsibility of all individuals to report to the Ministry of Children and Family Development reasonable grounds of suspicion concerning matters of sexual abuse, physical and/or emotional abuse and/or neglect.
• As further stated in the Act, child care staff are not at liberty to inform families that a report has been made unless so instructed by the Ministry.

DAILY PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/ROUTINE

Whale Spirit is licensed for 25 children. The centre is divided into 2 groups based loosely on age groups allowing for the opportunity of smaller groupings. We provide quality programming which addresses the emotional, social, physical and cognitive development of each child. The programming demonstrates an understanding that children in different circumstances may require different approaches.

• Optimized by providing an environment designed to specifically meet the needs of all children
• Low staff child ration to support social interaction
• Communication strategies integral part of daily programming; optimizing communication between all children
• Typically developing children will benefit by having the opportunity to experience social interaction with children who require extra support
• Children who require extra support will benefit by having the opportunity to socialize with their typical peer group
• Guiding philosophy of the centre supports social development through experiential learning and rich learning environments which encourage discussion and interactive play.

• arm relationships with caring staff.
• Children are encouraged to recognize, verbalize and appropriately express their emotions.
• Dramatic play to experience different roles.
• Children are treated respectfully and valued as individuals.
• Families have opportunities to connect with each other through education groups, patent participation, and informal discussion group.

Daily schedule and routine

The daily schedule is flexible in order to meet the needs of the children yet allows for a predictable routine. We easily extend indoor and outdoor depending on the children and the activities they are involved in.

IN CLOSING

WhaleSpirit Staff