OUTDOOR ACTIVITY/OUTINGS

In accordance to Manitoba Child Care Regulations, all children are required to go outside for portions of the day weather permitting. Staff will not take children outdoors if the wind chill is below -25C in the winter. In summer months, children’s time outside will be limited when there is a UV Index rating of 7 and over between the hours of 11:00am and 4:00pm.  Parents are encouraged to dress their children appropriately for winter and summer weather conditions. In winter, please have your child wear boots, hat, gloves, a warm coat and snow pants. If at any time parents have a difficult time with outdoor clothing, please let a staff person know and we will explore resources available i.e. coats for kids.

It is important in the summer months for your child to wear a hat. Sunscreen will be provided by the day care. Trips where infants and children walk to parks or areas around the school are not considered field trips; however, permission must be signed for this upon registration. Staff will ensure outings are appropriate and in the best interest of the children’s health, safety and well-being.

 

FIELD TRIPS

Permission slips must be signed at the time of registration to cover all field trips. Field trips are defined as a trip away from the centre which requires transportation such as a school or city bus. Parents will be notified 24 hours in advance of upcoming field trips.

Safety measures will be in place and staff will take small, rather than large groups of children on field trips. The centre will make every effort to ensure better ratios of adults to children to ensure the children are adequately supervised.

For the school age program, children will be expected to display safe conduct and respectful, responsible behaviour. Failure to comply may result in the removal of field trip privileges at the discretion of the staff involved. King Transportation, Vital Transit, or the Winnipeg Public Transit System will provide all transportation for field trips.

 

SUMMER PROGRAM    

R.B Russell Infant Centre is closed during the summer months.
For all other centres, families will receive a package outlining the summer activities. Parents will be required to fill the package in and commit to send their child as there will be a number of outings, field trips and transportation to organize. The package will need to be returned by the end of June.

Field trips will leave on time. If your child is not on time, there may not be care for them that day.  Exact departure times will be posted the day before the field trip.  Staff will give verbal reminders to ensure that your child will be able to attend.

 

FIRE/EVACUATION PROCEDURES

Emergency evacuation procedures are practiced at least once a month for all children. In the event that there is a real fire evacuation, children at R.B. Russell Infant Centre will evacuate to The Indian Métis Friendship Centre or Action Day Nursery across the street from the school in inclement weather.  Parents or an emergency contact person will be notified if this occurs.

Children at Lord Selkirk Park and David Livingstone School Age Programs will evacuate to Turtle Island Neighborhood Centre. If the entire area needs to be evaluated staff will take the children to the Indian Métis Friendship Centre. Parents or an emergency contact person will be notified if this occurs.

All sites have extensive Safety Plans that are posted.

 

INCLUSION POLICY

Children who require additional supports and resources such as an inclusion staff will be accepted for registration at the discretion of the Executive Director and Inclusion Coordinator.

Criteria for decision to accept children who require additional supports are:

• The number of staff available.
• Availability of inclusion staff.
• The number of children who are currently registered and need additional supports.
• Adaptability of the child with additional supports to the centre’s program.

The centre will take a team approach in regards to the care of children with additional supports. An inclusion staff member will work in cooperation with the child’s parent, professional and other child care staff to meet the needs of the child and establish goals. These goals are written in the child’s Individual Support Plan (ISP), evaluated and reviewed throughout the year. ISP’s are used to ensure that appropriate curriculum goals are developed and activities are used to achieve the goals. The team will meet regularly and have ongoing communication to allow for adaptations and modifications to the child’s ISP are made.

The inclusive program promotes full participation and friendships by:

• Ensuring all children, including children with disabilities, are valued, active participants in group social play, as well as in all of the centre’s activities and routines.
• Ensuring staff receive specific training in the promotion of inclusive play
• Reflecting goals of children’s individual plans in regular activities.
• Demonstrating a positive attitude about making changes to accommodate all children.

 

DIVERSITY POLICY

A part of the centre’s everyday program, procedures and practices will support, reflect and celebrate diversity as the natural human experience. In reflecting diversity, we work at encouraging representation of people from all racial, cultural, religious, spiritual, linguistic and socio-economic backgrounds, as well as people of both genders and of differing abilities, sexual orientations and ages.

 

STAFFING

In keeping with Manitoba Early Learning Child Care Licensing Regulations, Staff must be classified by Manitoba as a Child Care Assistants and Early Childhood Educator 2 and 3s. Two thirds of infant and preschool staff must be trained. Half of school age staff must be trained.

Child Care Assistants must have a minimum training of 40 hours in introduction to Early Childhood Education.

All staff must keep current First Aid and Infant /Child CPR certification.
Various staff have received:

• ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)
• Attachment theory,
• Non violent crisis intervention
• Food handlers certificate.
• Customer Service Training

Staff are required to participate in some form of professional development for at least 24 hours per year.

Staff at our Lord Selkirk Park Site have extensive training and ongoing mentorship in the Abecedarian Approach.

All potential employees must complete an investigation authorization form which is submitted first to Family Services and Labour and then to the Winnipeg Police Department.

 

SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN

As required by Manitoba Early Learning Child Care Program regulations, minimum staffs to child ratios are:

12 weeks to 2 years old ... 1 staff per 4 children
2 – 5 years old ................ 1 staff per 8 children
Kindergarten ................... 1 staff per 10 children
School Age ..................... 1 staff per 15 children
Mixed Age group ............. 1 staff per 10 children

At our Lord Selkirk Park Site: Ratio is as follows:

12 weeks to 2 years old ...1 staff per 3 children
2 – 5 years old ............... 1 staff per 6 children
6 – 12 ............................ 1 staff per 15 children

 

PRACTICUM STUDENTS/VOLUNTEERS

• The Centre will explore possible opportunities with all educational organizations with regard to practicum student placements.
• Practicum placements will be planned in advance and with close regard to Centre families and staff needs.
• All staff will be part of the practicum evaluation documentation.
• All students will participate in a Centre orientation prior to practicum.
• All students will have appropriate documentation i.e.: first aid, criminal check etc.
• All volunteers are to be screened prior to participation in the center’s services.
• All volunteers must possess all relevant certificates and licenses in order to participate.
• Practicum students and volunteers will not be remunerated.
• Practicum students and volunteers will follow staff direction at all times.
• At no time will practicum students/volunteers be left on their own with children.

 

OBSERVATIONS

• A large part of our program at Manidoo Gi Miini Gonaan is to support the education of the parent/students enroled in the school. The observation area is part of this process. Throughout the school year we have a variety of students come to the centre to complete their practicum.  They come from Universities, Red River College, and St. Boniface College and from R.B. Russell High School. The observation area can be utilized by their supervisors to monitor their progress.
• The observation area can also be used by parents who wish to observe their children’s behaviour be they positive or negative.

 

ENROLMENT

All parents will be required to fill out an enrolment package. This package will consist of an information package, subsidy application and an $80.00 per child deposit. It is the parents’ responsibility to inform the centre should there be any change of address or phone number. All families will be given a tour of the centre upon enrolment and a staff will go through the enrolment information with all parents. Subsidy applications will be completed at the centre.

 

PRIORITY SPACES  

D.L. location.   
1. Students attending the Adult Learning Centre at Turtle Island Neighborhood Centre     
2. Students attending R.B. Russell School.
3. Community

R.B. location.
1. Students attending R.B. Russell High School.
2. Students attending the Adult Learning Centre at Turtle Island Neighborhood Centre.
3. Community

LSP location.
1. Enrolment is only for families living in the Lord Selkirk Park Housing Development

 

SCHOOL INSERVICES

R.B. Location

R.B. Russell Infant Centre will be closed on school in-service days. An exception will be made if four (4) or more parents need child care for the purposes of school related activities.

D.L. Location & LSP

The School Age Program will be open all in-service days

 

PARENT RELATED INFORMATION & RESPONSIBILITIES

PARENT FEES   
Parent fees are due on the 20th of each month. Parents will be billed one month in advance of the current billing period. This is to ensure parents are up to date with parent fees and eliminate the centre having bad debts due to unpaid parent fees.  If fees are not paid for the current billing period the following action will take place.

• Supervisor will verbally remind parents in person or by phone of fees outstanding.
• Parents must provide a date when outstanding fees will be paid.
• Upon the agreed date if fees are not paid parents will be given 2 weeks’ notice to pay the fees or their child care space will be terminated.
• A written record will be kept of the conversation between staff and parent when requesting outstanding fees.

SUBSIDY

Upon enrolment parents will fill out a subsidy form to determine their eligibility for subsidized child care. Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care Program will determine the eligible amount. If the parent is fully subsidized they will be charged the maximum allowed cost of $2.00 per day.

 

PRIVACY POLICY

All parent/child information is kept in a secure location at each site. Confidential information will not be disclosed to any individual or organization without the written consent of the parent/guardian.

Information from any conversation overheard or participated in will be kept in the confines of the Centre. Parent invoices and receipts will be stapled and put in your child’s locker or info pockets.  Discussions in the general area of the Centre will not allude to other parent and or family situations. If these topics need to be explored, a private room with closed door will be provided. All personal family information will be kept on file at the centres for a maximum of two years after the date of withdrawal in accordance with provincial regulations. A privacy consent form must be signed if parents are wishing staff communication with their child’s school or other professionals.

 

PARENT RESPONSIBITIES AT THE CENTRES

All Centres

• To work in partnership with families and their children attending the child care centre and accessing the resource centre
• The staff will make every effort to welcome the parent and child (ren) into the center in a warm, friendly manner. It is very important to us that the staff and parents communicate daily to ensure the children’s needs are met.
•  It is recommended that parents share how their child is and what their immediate needs are when arriving. If a concern arises please speak to a staff member or the Director.
• If parents are not able to pick up their child, the staff ask that the parent phones the centre to inform staff who will be picking up their child. Please ensure the person has ID to show the staff and the person should be listed on the child information form as designated by the parent as a person to whom the child may be released
• Parents are responsible for informing staff of their child’s medical and health needs to prevent the spread of illness in the centre.
• Parents must participate in evacuation or shelter-in-place drills or procedure occurs while you are at the centre. A detailed Safety Plan is available at all centres.
• Parents, staff visitors must follow the Code of Conduct – see Appendix
• All children, parents, staff and others involved in our centre must use e-mail, electronic devices and the Internet according to our policies.  This protects people’s privacy and the confidentiality of information. Children, staff and families using our child care centre’s computer and electronic devices must :     
• respect and protect the privacy of others
• respect and protect the integrity of all electronic resources
• communicate in a respectful manner
• report threatening or inappropriate material

 

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURES

Staff will sign children in when they arrive and depart from the centre.  Parents are required to ensure that a staff person knows their child has arrived.

Lateness

All parents are required to pick their child up prior to the close of the centre.  If you are going to be late for any reason, please call the centre.

If there has been no phone call from the parent, alternate pick up numbers will be called.  If we are unable to locate anyone to pick up your child, Winnipeg Child and Family Services will be contacted as a last resort. If this becomes a pattern, parents may be asked to find alternate care.

 

TRANSPORTATION

R.B. Russell Infant Centre

Parents are responsible for their child/ren when they are in the centre. This includes breaks and lunch time when parents are required to be in the centre to feed their child/ren.  Once parents leave the centre, staff will assume responsibility of the child/ren. Staff  will assume responsibility of the children when on walks within the school and in the community. If a parent takes their child/ren out into the school during school hours, they are are responsible for the care of their child.

David Livingstone School Age Program

Parents are responsible for their child/ren when bringing them to the centre until staff have signed their child in. Parents are responsible for walking their child/ren down the stairs into the centre. When taking children to their classroom at David Livingstone, staff will accompany children in Kindergarten to Grade Two directly to their classrooms at which point the school assumes responsibility. For children from Grade 3 and up, Staff will ensure that they are up the stair well and then they will be under the school’s responsibility.  For children attending a school other than David Livingstone, Staff will assume responsibility for the child/ren when walking them to the school bus. Once the child is on the bus, staff and the centre are no longer responsible.

Lord Selkirk Park Child Care Centre  

Parents are responsible for their child/ren when bringing them into the centre until staff have signed their child in. Staff will assume responsibility for the child/ren when walking them to the school bus or school. Once the child is on the bus or in the classroom, staff are no longer responsible for the child. Occasionally, the home visitor walks the child to and from the centre. In this case, staff will assume responsibility of the child/ren until he or she is in their home or signed into the centre.

 

ATTENDANCE/WITHDRAWAL

For all Centres, Parents are asked to call the centre should your child not be attending the daycare that day.

For RB Russell Infant Centre, parents are encouraged to have their children at the day care by 10:15 am. Parents must call before 10:15 am to let staff know if they will be in later than this time. Staff here work closely with the school. The day care space may be in jeopardy if there are unexplained absences from class.

For all Centres, two weeks notice is required should you wish to withdraw your child.  If you do not give two weeks notice you will still be responsible for the fees.

 

GUARDIANSHIP

Parents and people listed on the authorized pick up list are the only people that can pick up your children. In the event someone other than the parent is picking up your child, photo identification will be required. Inform staff when someone other than yourself are picking up your child/ren.
All Centres require copies of any legal forms stating who has legal guardianship of children. Without these forms, non-custodial parents cannot be denied access to their children. Every effort will be made to contact the custodial parents if this occurs.

 

MEDICAL ILLNESSES

Fever

If your child appears to have a fever, his/her temperature will be taken with both an ear and underarm thermometer to ensure accuracy. The parents will be contacted to pick up their child if the fever is 38C (101F) or higher.  Children will be allowed to stay at the centre if they have a low grade fever and are participating normally in the activities at the centre.

If the staff suspects the child has an ear infection, the parent will be asked to have the ear infection confirmed by a doctor. The child will not be excluded from day care unless they are unable to participate in daily activities.

Pink eye:        
The parent may bring their child back to the daycare after your child has been administered medication for 24 hours.

Rashes:    
If a rash is noticed on a child at the centre, their parent will have to pick them up. For re-entry the parent will require a doctor’s note confirming the status of the rash your child has contracted.

Diarrhea/Vomiting:        
After 2 consecutive bouts of diarrhea or vomiting the parent will be requested to take the child out of the daycare for at least 24 hours. The child may not return until he/she has had a solid bowel movement. Please speak to a staff if you are unsure.

Re-entry after Illness:
For re-entry to the daycare, the staff will inform parents as to whether a doctor’s note is needed confirming the status of the illness of their child.

Special Circumstance:    
In the event that the centre requests a parent to take their child to a doctor’s, a note from the doctor will be required. If the parent/guardian is unable to afford this, Manidoo will cover the cost of the note after the fact.

R.B. Russell High School has a Student Clinic. A medical doctor or nurse from Mount Carmel Clinic will be on site every Tuesday throughout the school year from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. This service is available free of charge for parents of the centre and their children.

 

MEDICATION

A parent must fill out a permission form before his/her child is administered medication. Staff will keep written records of medication given to children including the type of medicine, the amount given, the time of day it is administered, and the signature or initial of the staff who administered it.

We will only accept the medicine brought to the centre by a parent/guardian. Medication must be prescribed by a doctor and in its original container.

Medication is stored in a locked container and only a designated staff member has access to the container.

In the event that a child gets a high fever, we will contact the parent for permission to administer children’s Tylenol.

If your child is on medication for a contagious illness( for example, strep throat), he/she must be on medication for at least 24 hours before returning to day care.

 

NIT AND LICE POLICY

Parents/guardian of children who have been identified with nits or lice will be informed by staff of their child’s situation. It is highly recommended the child be treated and nit and lice procedures are followed to eliminate the return of lice or nits. Staff will share information and treatments that are available to successfully treat the situation.

See our Head Lice Plan in the Appendix

 

BED BUGS

We recognize that bed bugs can sometimes be a problem. The centre takes a proactive approach to this issue. Plastic bags are provided for each child for their belongings including shoes/boots. The staff are available to support families by providing information/education to help treat the situation. If families live in Manitoba Housing, supports are available and can be provided by the staff. In the event bed bugs are found in the centre, we will have the centre treated.

 

ANAPHYLAXIS POLICY & ALLERGY ALERT

When a child enroled at Manidoo Gi Miini Gonaan is diagnosed with a life-threatening allergy or other condition that may require the use of an adrenalin auto-injector (epic-pen) or other specific procedure, the following process will be followed:

1. It is imperative that the parent/guardian of the child inform the centre immediately of the nature of the allergy or condition and work with the centre in developing appropriate plans.
2. Staff will administer inhalers required by children.
3. Parents will need to fill out an allergy form
   See Anaphlaxis (Life-threatening Allergies) on page 27 of our Safety Plan

 

ACCIDENTS

All staff are trained in first aid and infant/child CPR. A staff will administer First Aid or CPR as required in the event of an accident.

All injuries will be recorded on an accident report form by staff. The form must be signed by a parent/guardian, the staff involved and the supervisor/director. The form will be kept on file. Parents may request a copy at any time. In the case of more serious injuries, the accident will also be reported by phone and online to the Child Care Coordinator of the Manitoba Early Learning Child Care Program.

For any injury that appears to require medical care, staff will contact a parent immediately. If the staff feel that the injury is of sufficient severity that waiting for the parent would cause undue complications, the staff will call an ambulance first, and then the parent.
The daycare is not responsible for the cost of the ambulance.

 

REPORTING OF CHILD PROTECTION AND CHILD ABUSE:

As stated in the current handbook and protocols for Manitoba Service Providers : “In Manitoba, it is the legal responsibility and duty of anyone who reasonably believes that a child is or might be in need of protection or suffering from child abuse, to report the information to a CFS agency or, if deemed, appropriate, to a parent or guardian”

In keeping with Manidoo Gi Miini Gonaan values of a holistic approach, we have a very specific plan of action when suspecting abuse.  At Manidoo, we take a preventative, proactive approach to families living with toxic stress.  Staff are briefed once a year on Manidoo’s approach and on protocol outlined for service providers by the Manitoba Government in reporting child abuse.
If staff have reasonable belief that a child is in need of protection or is suffering from child abuse the following plan of action will be followed:  

1. Staff will report the concern to the supervisor and or director, or in their absence, the designated staff in charge.
2. A support team will be gathered consisting of the director, supervisor, home visitor, child care and resource centre staff to discuss the situation. Authorities will be contacted if it is determined that immediate action is required for the safety of the child.  
3. If the call is not needed, a designated staff will call a conference with the support team and the family.  The team will listen carefully to the expressed need and circumstance of the family so that together they can all determine what supports and services would best benefit the family.
4. The plan is put in place with frequent follow ups as needed.

 

KIDNAPPING FROM THE DAY CARE CENTRE

We classify a kidnapping as:

• A non custodial parent attempts to pick up their child without permission from the primary custodial parent.
• A child within the child care centre is abducted while on a routine walk or field trip.

In the event that a non custodial parent attempts to pick up their child and a restraining order  or custody agreement is not on file, the staff at the day care will state clearly and calmly the centre ‘s policy that staff cannot release a child without prior knowledge and consent from the custodial parent. The staff will then attempt to phone the custodial parent for verbal permission.

 

PARENTAL GRIEVANCE

If a parent has a concern or problem with any situation at the centre, there are a series of steps that are to be followed towards an effective solution. These steps are:

1. Parents are encouraged to discuss any issues arising directly with the Staff or/and Supervisor. With open, respectful communication, most problems can be resolved at this point.
2. If a grievance is not satisfactorily resolved through the initial discussion with staff and supervisor, the parent may submit their grievance in writing to the director requesting a response in writing within 2-5 days.
3. If the grievance is still not resolved satisfactorily, the next step is for the parent to submit the grievance in writing to the chairperson including a copy of the first letter written to the director and the director’s written response. The parent requests a response from the Board of Directors in writing within 5-10 days.
4. The next step would be for parents to request a personal interview with the Board of Director and the director of the day care.
5. If the issue cannot be resolved parents have the option of withdrawing their child voluntarily from the day care. In the event that the issue cannot be resolved and it becomes disruptive for the day care, the Board of Directors has the ability to ask a parent for immediate withdrawal of their child from the day care.

Disruptive, harmful, uncontrolled behaviour could lead to having a child withdrawn. Lack of cooperation and unwillingness of the parent/guardian to abide by the day care policies are reason for withdrawal. Verbal abuse towards staff, other parents/guardians of the day care may also be reason for withdrawal of services. The day care reserves the right to remove a child without notice in the event the issues cannot be resolved.

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Parents are welcome to join the board of directors. We meet once a month.  Parents who do volunteer on the board have the opportunity to gain volunteer experience.

Manidoo Gi Miini Gonaan has an AGM once a year, held in November. Parents are encouraged to come to the meeting and share their input.