My name is Annette and I am a licensed childcare provider.
I have a Family Daycare, which means I run my business out
of my home . I am licensed for six children, two of which are
my own. I have completed the educational classes required by
the state and keep current on my Infant, Child and Adult CPR
and First Aid. I am a Level 2 on the Montana Early Care and
Education Practitioner Registry and I am also a member of the
NAFCC (National Association of Family Child Care). I have been
awarded a three year extended license and I am currently taking
the steps to become an accredited facility.“My goal is to do what I
can to help the children become who they are meant to be."

Hours of Operation & Admission

*Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. until 5:30 pm

*A parent interview is required before acceptance.
No child will be accepted until all paperwork is returned to me.
Substitute Care:

*There may be times when there will be another helper on staff.
Please rest assure, that these helpers are registered with the State.
They are CPR certified, have up to date immunizations and have had
a background check done. I make a point, whenever possible,
to introduce the helper to you before I leave your child in their care.
This ensures that everyone is comfortable with the situation.

Open Door Policy:

I maintain an Open Door Policy. This means you are always welcome
to call or drop in to see your child at any time during regular hours.

Holidays & Vacations:

*I will be taking the following as paid holidays:
New Years Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
*I will also take two-one week vacations usually in the
summer months to spend time with my family.
These will both be paid vacations.

*If you take vacation, I require you to pay your
regular tuition that is specified in your contract.

Rates & Taxes

Birth to 24 Months 1 to 3 days $25/day 4 days $90 5 days $105.00

Age 2 to 12 Years 1 to 3 days $20/day 4 days $75 5 days $90.00

*Placement: When a spot is being held for your child, you are
accountable to pay for it whether or not you use it.
Payment schedule will be noted in your individual contract.
This is my income and to ensure that I can continue to care
for your child, I request that you plan on making your daycare
payment on time. *State Pay: No childcare services will be
provided until all paperwork is received showing services awarded
to client.*Rate Changes: If at anytime I decide to change my rates
you will receive a two-week advance notice. At that time, you may
choose to continue your enrollment in my childcare or you can give
me a two-week termination notice.*Other Charges: Late Pick-up
(with no call) $1.00/minute

Late Pick-up (with call) $5.00/hour

NSF Checks $25.00/item

Late Payment $5.00/day
*Taxes: I will supply you with a year-end summary of all childcare
fees paid for the year for tax purposes. This will be given to you on
January 15th each year or when services are terminated. You may
request a statement at any time.

Child abuse:

As a family childcare provider, I am a mandated reporter,
required by law to report any suspected abuse or neglect of children.
If I fail to report, it could lead to personal penalties ranging from
misdemeanor charges to civil liability for damages caused by the
failure. This is strictly for the benefit of your child.
Arrivals & Departures:

*I ask parents to sign-in/out for pick up and drop off each day.
A sign-in sheet, pen and clock are all located in the welcoming room
for your convenience. This gives me written documentation of
your child’s attendance.

*I will only release your child to the persons you authorize to
pick up your child. I will need to be introduced prior to pick up,
or the person will need to be prepared to show a photo I.D.

Toilet training:

For parents of children nearing this age,
I will provide a separate appendix on this subject.

Fire Safety: I have a written fire evacuation plan and practice a
fire drill with the children at least once each month. In addition,
I incorporate fire safety curriculum into my program.

Daily Schedule:

7:00-9:00 Breakfast and Free Play

9:00-10:30 Organized Activities (Music, Craft, Story, Etc.)

10:30-11:30 Outdoor Play (weather permitting)

11:30-12:00 Lunch

12:00-2:30 Naps/Quiet Time

2:30-3:00 Clean-up and Snack

3:00-5:30 Free Play and Departure

*I introduce learning activities to the children with my curriculum,
but I also let them learn for themselves through their own little
experiences. Our daily activities are fun, and educational enough
to prepare the older children for school. I encourage creativity and
imagination through the use of various materials and mediums.
I help infants develop a sense of trust and security by responding to
their cries. I believe making an infant feel secure encourages them to
try new things. *This schedule is flexible, depending on the children’s
ages, interests, and the weather. Infants will have their own individual schedules.
A more detailed daily schedule is printed out separately in more detail.
*I urge parents to become involved in my program. If you are interested
in sharing any talents and interests you may have, I would be more than
happy to include you in our program. Also, if at any time you would like to
stop in and contribute time to any activity please let me know, the children love
having new faces around.

Nap/Quiet Time:

All children are required by State guidelines to have a rest period each day.
I do not require children to sleep; they must however lie quietly until the other
children are asleep and then may quietly play on their mats or look at books.

Meals

*I am a participant in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
Nutritious meals will be served to all children. I am required to have set meal times.
Breakfast is at 8:30 lunch is at 11:30 and snack is at 3:00. If your child will be
arriving after these times, it is your responsibility to feed them.

*Parents of infants will be providing formula and baby food once enrolled in the
infant food program. We can discuss this during the pre-enrollment interview.

Communication:

*This is a very important policy to me. I feel the more open we are with each
other the better our relationship will be. If you have a problem with anything please
bring it to my attention, before things have the chance to get out of hand.
You may either call me in the evening or we can set up an appointment.
I would rather have our issues discussed in private and not in front of the children.
Please respect that, and know I will do everything in my power to get things worked
out so we are all happy.

*It is my goal to create a monthly newsletter for parents that will explain some of
the activities we are doing, the current curriculum topics, events that will be happening
that month, days off, or any other pertinent, fun information that may be of interest to you.
You are more than welcome to add to my newsletter as well.

*I also have a written daily form I use for my infants and toddlers.
This covers potty times, diaper changes, nap times, how your child ate,
and activities that happened throughout the day. It also lists items I may be running
short on like diapers, wipes, etc. I always like to have verbal communication with you
about your child so this form is just a repeat of what we talk about as you pick your child up.
If you would like to have a meeting about your child’s progress,
please let me know and we will set up a time.

*If for whatever reason you need to contact the daycare during the day,
please don’t hesitate to call. If I do not answer I am busy with the children,
but leave me a message and I will return your call as soon as possible.

Personal Belongings & Parent Provided Supplies:

No toys should be brought from home. Little ones have a difficult time-sharing with others and it is even harder with their own special toys. Parents are required to supply diapers/training pants, wipes, a change of clothes, bottles, pacifiers, and baby cups.

Discipline:

I believe that children need guidance, understanding,
and a few easy-to-follow rules in order to learn appropriate behavior.
It is my policy to help children learn appropriate behavior by establishing clear limits,
explaining those limits in a positive way when it is necessary for a child to understand
why the limit is there, and by using the time-out method to calm a child when necessary.
I believe one minute per the child’s age is a sufficient time-out period.

My three simple rules our HAVE FUN, PLAY NICE, BE GOOD

If the child has a disciplinary problem, parents will be notified so we can take a course
of action together to rectify the problem. Children who cannot be managed using these
measures and are consistently presenting a discipline problem for the caregiver will be
required to withdraw from care.

Illness Policy:

I accept children with minor colds, but any other illness, please call me in the morning
and we will make a decision about care. If necessary, sick children will be refused care.
This policy will also help your child from being exposed to everyone else’s illnesses.
If a child becomes ill or injured during care, I will contact you immediately and expect
you to pick them up as soon as possible. Sick children will be isolated until their parent arrives.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENT TO INFORM ME OF ANY SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS YOUR
CHILD HAS EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

*The presence of the following conditions may warrant childcare exclusion:

A child who is ill with any symptoms and is unable to participate in the usual childcare
activities OR a child who, because of illness, requires a greater level of care than a childcare
provider can give while still caring for the other children.

A child who has thick green or yellow nasal discharge persisting longer than three day if
accompanied by any of the following symptoms: fever, persistent cough, eye drainage, or ear pain.
You should have your health care provider evaluate your child and follow his or her advice about
your child’s return to childcare.

A child who is identified during a Health Department investigation who may be at risk for a
communicable disease (e.g. an under-immunized child in a facility with a case of the mumps.)

*Children with the following symptoms will be excluded from childcare:

1)FEVERS OF 100.5 OR GREATER – Children should be without fever for 24 hours before
they return to the facility. (Exception: Children with fevers related to vaccinations need
not be excluded if they are able to participate in the daily activities.)

2)VOMITING OR DIARRHEA* - Children with vomiting or diarrhea* should be excluded until
these symptoms subside for 24 hours. (*Diarrhea is loose, watery stools more than 6 times in 24 hours.)

3)THE FOLLOWING BACTERIAL INFECTIONS – The following bacterial infections warrant exclusion.
The child should be treated with antibiotics for 24 hours before returning to childcare:
Strep throat, Impetigo, Bacterial conjunctivitis (red eyes with colored, pus like drainage)
Other skin infections (draining burns, sores that can’t be covered)

4) GENERALIZED RASHES – Generalized rashes (over multiple parts of the body) mean you should
keep your child home until diagnosed. You should take your child for a medical examination.

Children with chicken pox should stay home until their sores dry up (usually 5-7 days).
Children with generalized rashes can return to childcare at the health care provider’s discretion
(unless one of the above conditions is present)

5) HEAD LICE OR SCABIES – Children with head lice or scabies should stay home until treated.
All nits should be removed before returning to childcare.

In the situation where my children or myself becomes ill and I am unable to care for your
child it is your responsibility to find alternate care.

Medication:

Medication must have a parental consent form, listing amount of dose and time to be administered.
All medications must be in the original container with the original label.
This is for your child’s protection.

Medical Emergencies:
In case of Emergency, I will administer the necessary First Aid.
An ambulance will be called and your child will be transported to the nearest hospital.

Termination policy:

You are required to give 2 weeks written notice when you decide to terminate child care.
The 2 weeks will be paid in full, regardless of whether your child is in attendance or not.
I reserve the right to give written notice of IMMEDIATE termination where there are extreme
circumstances that affect the well being of children in attendance and myself. In this situation,
the 2 weeks payment of tuition is still required.

Questions/Concerns:

If at any time you have a question, concern, suggestion, or idea, please feel free to discuss it with me.
I want to work together with you to make child care a positive experience for everyone involved.

Thanks for choosing me to be the one that helps you take care of your child!!!! Annette