Do you provide parent handbooks?

[WAHM]

Do you provide handbooks to your parents with all your policies? Ie. late pick-up, nut-free, accident/illness procedures etc.?
My registration form covers: cancellations, holidays, field trips and NSF payments and our discipline policy. I was going to just verbally express the others but do you think it should be in writing ... or will they even read the handbook?

TIA

[sarah_sweetpea]

Hi,

Yes I ahave a handbook that I give to all the parents, its quite detailed and doesn't leave any room for confusion. I'd be happy to send you my handbook and you could tweak it to fit your daycare.
Let me know,
My email is sweetpea_daycare12@y ahoo.ca

[Inspired by Reggio]

WAHM - not sure the regulations in Alberta but in Ontario our Day Nursery Act requires a 'parent handbook' and lists what it must contain - most 'exceed' that but having clear WRITTEN expectations on policies will help to keep conflict and miscommunication to a minimum in your program!

In Ontario for example every centre parent handbook I worked in roughly covered the following - I would have to double check which were 'required' and which just got added over the past 20 years as centres learned from prior conflicts what to 'explain more clearly' to future parents to avoid that

Anyway the list off the top of my head ... been over 5 years since I worked in a 'centre' however my own handbook still covers most of the things I learned from over the years to avoid conflict ...

• Mission Statement of the Organization
• Philosophy for Curriculum / Learning
• Hours of Operation and Closures
• Payment policies including vacation, stat holidays, late payment of fees, NSF, over hours charges, security deposit, withdrawal from care notice clients must provide, grounds for terminating the contract etc.
• Release procedures - protocols for who children will be released to other than parents
• Emergency protocols - medical emergency, fire emergency, no power to the centre, weather emergency such as snow storm, tornado and so forth requiring closure or early pick ups
• Immunization, Illness while at home, while in centre care and Medication policies
• Nutrition philosophy / Meals / Snacks and Allergy protocols
• Physical activity and Outdoor play policies including field trips and outings off site, inclement weather policies and safety practices for large motor play
• Toilet training and washroom policies
• Behavior and Guidance policies - behaviours that could be grounds for 'termination of service'
• Staffing (training, ratios to expect and so forth)

[Momof4]

I like things to be simple, straight forward, concise and using fewer words and I hate extra paperwork, but I have a small business with just 5 families. You will have a really large business. I have my main contract and then all the policies that I have run into over the years are attached so it is all one 9 page package. I guess I worked with the public in insurance and then at the medical lab for so many years that I believe if they are going to remember anything it had better be in plain language without loopholes and fancy wording.

[mom-in-alberta]

Yup, sure do! It's about 8 pages long and covers every scenario I can think of, LoL.
No, seriously, I am frequently updating the handbook. When parents get their paperwork, they sign off on an attestation that they have read the handbook and understand it's guidelines. It's an extension of the contract for me.
I think you should have one, since you will be dealing with many, many parents. Easier, and you can guarantee that everyone gets the same info.

[Dreamalittledream]

Hi,

Yes I ahave a handbook that I give to all the parents, its quite detailed and doesn't leave any room for confusion. I'd be happy to send you my handbook and you could tweak it to fit your daycare.
Let me know,
My email is sweetpea_daycare12@y ahoo.ca

. I would love a copy too, to make sure I've got all my bases covered in my current one.... if you don't mind? E-mailing you now

[bubbleguppie]

Hi,

Yes I ahave a handbook that I give to all the parents, its quite detailed and doesn't leave any room for confusion. I'd be happy to send you my handbook and you could tweak it to fit your daycare.
Let me know,
My email is sweetpea_daycare12@y ahoo.ca

Hi, If you don't mind can you send me a copy too. I will also e-mail you now.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Hey ladies with handbooks or long contracts.... when you say 8 or 9 pages ... is that double sided pages or single sided?

Just wondering how 'long' my handbook is in comparison to others?

[Momof4]

My contract and all policies are 9 pages but only single sided. My policies are only 7 pages of that and the first two pages is the legal contract between parties and fees and closed daycare days, the 'rules' so to speak, then I go into all the things like sick policies and what is needed at daycare, etc. in the policies.

You are much fancier Reggio, with the mission statement and philosophies and I don't have all that in my contract. It's discussed at the interview and that's why they choose me or not, depending on if their childrearing philosophies match mine, so I can see why your policies are much longer.

[WAHM]

WAHM - not sure the regulations in Alberta but in Ontario our Day Nursery Act requires a 'parent handbook' and lists what it must contain[/LIST]

In Alberta, we are required to follow and have the procedures approved by a licensing officer and explain how we will communicate our policies to the parents but there are no requirements to provide them in writing. This can be done verbally, in writing, displayed, printed on website etc..

My website and registration form cover a lot but not ALL policies. We have a binder that is kept in centre at the front counter with all the policies and procedures but I haven't physically given copy to every parent. ESPECIALLY since policies and procedures required by the government (in alberta anyway) change a few times a year