Swimming Pool regulations

[gravy_train]

Just wondering if anyone knows if licensed home daycares can have a swimming pool. I know that the regulations were recently changed so that there was to be no access to a swimming pool or open body of water but what does that mean?
thanks!

[gravy_train]

sorry i should clarify that i am in ontario. thanks!

[mimi]

I am guessing that if you have a pool, it must have a legally approved fence around it and of course safety locks. Perhaps google pool safety fencing in ON

[playfelt]

A lot of municipalities added their own requirements too. I was under the impression that pools were banned period from licensed homes.

[gravy_train]

I thought so too, Playfelt.

[treeholm]

I heard that as well. I didn't want to be licensed anyway, but since we have a pool, I was told I wouldn't be able to be. I was so relieved when my insurance company didn't give me a hard time about it!

[gravy_train]

I was also able to get insurance without an issue, Treeholm. I am pretty sure that I've if the safety regulations the ministry will implement will be to disallow providers with pools to operate hime daycares. What do you think?

[treeholm]

After the incident in Ottawa where a child drowned, I have no doubt that I will no be permitted to continue my daycare once the legislation passes. Which is okay, because I would have to get rid of all my paying clients anyway. I have 5 under two, and two of them are my non-paying grandchildren, who are the only ones I could keep LOL

[gravy_train]

I agree, treeholm. I am quite sure that a swimming pool will be considered a safety hazard. So are you okay with potentially having to close?

[Mama of 1]

I have a hot tub I wonder that means for me

[treeholm]

Good question, Mama of 1. I would imagine that if you can't have a pool, you can't have a hot tub either, but I'm just being logical... no one ever accuses the government of being logical...

[momofnerds]

I have a pool. Unlicensed of course. I have a 8 foot chain link fence around it and its under lock and key with a spring loaded door. At the top of the stairs is another set of doors with an alarm. If any of the children were to ever climb the fence they would be termed on the spot. Its also not attatched to my house. but my group is young, common sense is that I can't let them go out by themselves anyways. I also had my pool inspected by my town as I had to get a permit too.

the drowning incidents happen at the one house when the provider had all those other providers over and no one was watching the kids and if I remember correctly she didn't have a fence around her pool only a fence around her yard which you are allowed to do (I just go overboard in safety and I have my own older kids) and some of the other drownings that happen is when the pool is attatched to the house, so someone opens the sliding door and theres the pool. This is why my pool is in the middle of the yard.

[ericajanson]

Where did you get your insurance from? My home insurer (TD) won't cover a daycare if I have a pool.

[babydom]

I'm in Ontario and we cant have a pool, hot tub or trampoline. No insurance company will insure us if we have those things.

[Van]

I am in BC and Lic Officer of daycares won't let you have a pool, hot tub or trampoline unless they are closed off by a safety fence and not used by the daycare kids

[bright sparks]

In Ontario it would be down to the insurance companies policy as there is no licensing to regulate home daycare providers. If signed up with an agency then they would likely have a list of requirements just as any region who had inspected you would also. No such thing as licensing though.

[goldielocks]

If you are planning to keep a swimming pool please make sure that you have enough safety equipments. The most important point to remember is always check the depth of the pool before you let the kids enter.Check for dips in the floor and slippery areas where children might fall. Here is an article that describes some safety tips for kids around the swimming pool(http://www.soldapools.com/safety/swimming-pool-safety-tips-kids/).I hope you find it useful.:)

[Van]

I would not use the pool with the daycare children for safety reasons as only one adult and 5 kids is too much stress , better to use for the family to enjoy only if you are lucky to have a pool- with a strong fence around it

[bright sparks]

[QUOTE=Van;83737]I would not use the pool with the daycare children for safety reasons as only one adult and 5 kids is too much stress , better to use for the family to enjoy only if you are lucky to have a pool

I agree! Having a pool onsite is liability enough without actually taking the kids in the pool too!!

[kindredspirit]

Where did you get your insurance from? My home insurer (TD) won't cover a daycare if I have a pool.

I'm in NS, but wanted to chime in about insurance. TD told me they can't insure any home daycare if a pool is on the property, no matter how secure-just a blanket rule. I went to an insurance broker, and I found 2 companies (Portage and Wawanesa) that allow pools and home daycares.

I have an 'approved' dayhome, monitored by a licenced agency. They just require no access to the pool during daycare hours. I have a 6' fence around the pool, no access from the yard. The door from the house has 2 locks plus a safety chain at the very top. Then the deck off that door also has a gate to get to the pool deck, with 2 latches (one pulls across, the other is a safety latch). For the kids to come swimming, they come with a parent, after hours, and we keep a 1:1 ratio of adults to kids on the pool deck.

[bright sparks]

I'm in NS, but wanted to chime in about insurance. TD told me they can't insure any home daycare if a pool is on the property, no matter how secure-just a blanket rule. I went to an insurance broker, and I found 2 companies (Portage and Wawanesa) that allow pools and home daycares.

I have an 'approved' dayhome, monitored by a licenced agency. They just require no access to the pool during daycare hours. I have a 6' fence around the pool, no access from the yard. The door from the house has 2 locks plus a safety chain at the very top. Then the deck off that door also has a gate to get to the pool deck, with 2 latches (one pulls across, the other is a safety latch). For the kids to come swimming, they come with a parent, after hours, and we keep a 1:1 ratio of adults to kids on the pool deck.

Do all insurance companies in NS allow the same amount of daycare kids? I know here in ON less than a handful of ins companies will cover you for the maximum 5 children the province allows. As a result if a provider with a pool wants maximum enrolment potential, then it would have to be one of these companies only who would allow the pool. I'm going to phone around on Monday and find out, although I'm a bit apprehensive about taking an agents word without seeing it in black and white, as many times they have not always read the policies on home daycare rules thoroughly and incorrect information is given.

[sandylynn]

Sorry, this is unrelated to this question....but I CAN'T remember how to start a new post...help

[Suzie_Homemaker]

Do all insurance companies in NS allow the same amount of daycare kids? I know here in ON less than a handful of ins companies will cover you for the maximum 5 children the province allows. As a result if a provider with a pool wants maximum enrolment potential, then it would have to be one of these companies only who would allow the pool. I'm going to phone around on Monday and find out, although I'm a bit apprehensive about taking an agents word without seeing it in black and white, as many times they have not always read the policies on home daycare rules thoroughly and incorrect information is given.

Odd but most insurance company have same rule for all Maritime Provinces. TD one of few who allow 6. Co-operators will too but their normal rule is 4 but can get business insurance which then cover 6. Allstate allow 5. Wawanesa only 4 - they used to let 6 be grandfathered in, I had cover for 6 in PEI but just this month, for first time, they want questionaire about pool, trampoline, then ask about what on floor under play equipment, stair gate, and then only allow 4 be covered which been their rule for new customer for about 5 year. I end up switch to Cooperator. But most insurance not allow trampoline or pool at all.

[kindertime]

Sorry, this is unrelated to this question....but I CAN'T remember how to start a new post...help

Go to the Forums main page and choose your topic. Like "Managing a daycare" and at the top of the topic page, there is a button for "Post new thread"

[sandylynn]

Thanks a bunch kindertime

[kindredspirit]

Do all insurance companies in NS allow the same amount of daycare kids? I know here in ON less than a handful of ins companies will cover you for the maximum 5 children the province allows. As a result if a provider with a pool wants maximum enrolment potential, then it would have to be one of these companies only who would allow the pool. I'm going to phone around on Monday and find out, although I'm a bit apprehensive about taking an agents word without seeing it in black and white, as many times they have not always read the policies on home daycare rules thoroughly and incorrect information is given.

All companies I contacted would allow our province's maximum (6 including your own, no more than 2 under 18mo). I have 2 kids though, so only 4 dcks.

[bright sparks]

All companies I contacted would allow our province's maximum (6 including your own, no more than 2 under 18mo). I have 2 kids though, so only 4 dcks.

That must make things so much easier having universal policies. In addition it is in my experience, and I've heard from other providers too that agents don't always know what they are talking about when it comes to the specifics of the daycare insurance. I requested a copy of the underwritten policy to be 100% certain. When I was first setting up my daycare and was calling around for quotes I went into my home insurance State Farm brokers office to set up a policy after being told 5 kids plus own over the phone. When I was there, there were two people who absolutely swore to me that it was 4 including own. I had to insist that they show it me in writing and they got their policy book out for me and it did in fact turn out to be 5 plus own. Hence my apprehension taking an agents word for it on its own. Sometimes one is so convinced that something is a certain way because it makes the most sense, but it doesn't always mean it is so. For example in another thread someone asked if we have to have insurance in Ontario, and a member said that yes we must. Well it is not mandatory to have it, although it makes sense to think we should have it, because it is the responsible thing to do.

[kindertime]

For example in another thread someone asked if we have to have insurance in Ontario, and a member said that yes we must. Well it is not mandatory to have it, although it makes sense to think we should have it, because it is the responsible thing to do.

This is just an opinion question, cuz I don't know, but wouldn't it void your homeowner's insurance if they found out you had a business in the home and didn't have it insured? With mine, I have on my homeowner policy that I have a home business, and every year, they need the certificate from the liability policy (different company) so they know I'm covered for the business too. It's a very tricky thing, insurance, I believe, that given an oportunity, an insurance company will not pay out on a claim if they find anything wrong, even if it isn't directly related to the claim.

[bright sparks]

This is just an opinion question, cuz I don't know, but wouldn't it void your homeowner's insurance if they found out you had a business in the home and didn't have it insured? With mine, I have on my homeowner policy that I have a home business, and every year, they need the certificate from the liability policy (different company) so they know I'm covered for the business too. It's a very tricky thing, insurance, I believe, that given an oportunity, an insurance company will not pay out on a claim if they find anything wrong, even if it isn't directly related to the claim.

I hear what you are saying. I mean that given the fact that home daycare in ON isn't regulated, whether one has insurance or not does not effect the individuals legal ability to operate. Versus say a mortgage, you can not get a mortgage without proof of insurance. I know what you mean about insurance being tricky. My home insurance is with the same company as my daycare insurance, but the daycare Ryder in ON is not considered business or commercial insurance. They know I run a home daycare, but I am not legally obliged to have daycare insurance. The Ryder is barely adequate as it is and I have additional liability in the instance that an incident occurs where all parents sue...1 or 2mil isn't gonna go very far. Sometimes a way with words would lead some to think there are loop holes, like lying by omission for example, but it always catches up in the event of a claim. Insurance companies employ individuals specifically to find reasons to deny claims. Another reason why I wish ON was regulated.