CHAPTER 3SERVICES AND POLICIES

INTRODUCTION A comprehensive business plan is

essential to a smooth-running, successful and profitable child-care business.

Putting together you business plan and integrating the various, but the foundation of any child-care operation is its services and policies.

CONT.. The appropriate regulatory agencies to

find out what involved in providing particular services.- ex: each state has its own guidelines for the maximum number of children and maximum number in each age group in a family child-care facility.

There will likely be other requirement and restrictions, depending on the type of facility you run.

SERVICES Decide what services to offer based on

your own preferences and what your market research says you community needs.

Choices:-Full-time care during traditional weekday

hours.After-school care.Nontraditional hour ( very early morning,

evenings, overnight care, weekdays and/or weekends)

Drop-in or on-demand care, either during traditional or nontraditional hours

Part-time careParent’s night out (weekend evening care)

Age-based care Transportation

LOIS MITTEN ROSENBERRY’S(CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY CENTER AND DISCOVER EXPRESS)

In Toledo, Ohio Offer full-day child care, generally from

6:30 am to 6 pm. Serving children from six weeks old

through kindergarten age. She also has a before-and after-school program for school-age children, as well as a preschool program.

Transportation services are limited to occasional field trips and shuttling children between the centers for special programs as necessary.

LINDA DUPIE Before and after school care program for

children ages 4 to 12. The before-school program runs from

5:30 to 8:30 am After-school is from 3:30 to 6:30 pm. She also provides all-day summer care.

POLICIESPolicies is important to be a completely before you open for business. policies such as give each parents a copy of your policies as part of their contract . As conclusion understanding and agree your roles .There a many type of contract which is written and formal .

Fees policies that we can consider include :1. If a family has more than one child in your

centre , you might discount the rate for the second child.

2. You may want to set fees based on age because younger children require more attention. Along these lines, you may also consider whether or not a child is toilet-trained when deciding what to charge.

3. Even the most conscientious parents will occasionally be late picking up their child. How will you charge parents for the extra work this causes you ?

FEES

Your hours of operation will be dictated by the type of service you provide but they should be clearly stated to avoid any misunderstanding.

You might also indicate what circumstances would cause a special closing.

HOURS OF OPERATION

You may want to use the holidays observed by major employers in your area as a guide, along with your own culture and customs.

HOLIDAYS

You may want to specify how much advance notice you require when children are going to be taken out of your centre for vacations.

VACATIONS

ABSENCES Policy that said teacher being paid

whether the children come to the center or not.

Except when teacher is the one that absent.

Most of teacher expanses continue whether one or two children not coming for several days.

TRANSPORTATION Transport also provided after school for

any working parents who are unable to pick their children after school.

Provided in limited basis for youngster participating in field trip.

CHRONIC MISBEHAVIOR AND OTHER ADJUSTMENT ISSUES Child who is continual disruptive

influence - cannot be tolerated (involves harm or the risk of harm to other children).

Expulsion policy needed – to allow teacher to remove disruptive children.

Needed for staff and other children safety.

CARE OF SICK CHILDREN Children care centers do not care for

sick children. Policies stating that if child become ill

while at the center, he/she must be picked up.

Separate the children from other children and contact the parents.

If the child does not respond and having trouble breathing, call 911.

The symptoms that necessitate remaining a child from the child care include; Fever Body rash Sore throat Yellowish skin or eyes Eye discharge

LATE PICKUP Child care should set policies. Child care may charge an extra fee. Policy for parents who drop their

children off early. Call parents/ emergency contact.

MEAL Program can include complete menu planning. Parents are allow to send meal and snacks. Meal policies;

It should meet the child’s nutritional requirements.

Clearly labeled with child’s name, date and type of food.

Store at an appropriate temperature until eaten. Other children food should not be fed to other

children. Children are not allowed to share their food.

EMERGENCY For each child, you should have

emergency contact information on file and emergency form.

Health Issues Parent should provide written proof that children are current on their vaccinations, also need to

know the details of any health or medical conditions (allergies, asthma, diabetes) Should know what happens to the child during a crisis related condition, how to prevent that crisis,

need training particular emergency procedure.

Smoking, Alcohol, And Drugs Have a written policy that smoking, illegal drugs and alcohol is prohibited to bring when children

in your care. Do not exposed cigarette smoke to children, children with asthma are especially in danger of

having their condition worsen when they are exposed to cigarette. Therefore, not smoking should allowed at any time home or building children occupy.

Release children to ensure the safety and security of the children in your care, should maintain a log for parent to

sign children in and out of you facility. Also maintain files of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of persons authorized to

pick up each child in your care. Contact your local police department for avoid releasing unsafe situation, then written the policy

and inform all parent when the child is admitted to your care.

Cell phones Make a policy for the use cell phones by parent when they visiting or pick up. Plus cell phones not

to be used at facility at all.

SAFETY STANDARDS AND POLICIES The issue of safety is an integral part of

everything you do in the operation of your child-care center, and safety-related issues are mentioned throughout this book.

This section will include issues and concerns not discussed elsewhere.

Inspections – All licensed child-care centers are subject to occasional inspection. When any deficiencies are identified during an inspection or review by a licensing agency, funding agency, accreditation organization, or other regulatory department, you should develop a written plan for the resolution. The plan should include a description of the problem, proposed timeline for the resolution, designation of responsibility for correcting the deficiency, and a description of the successful resolution of the problem.

Fire safety – Fire extinguishers should be inspected every three months, and a record of each inspections and any maintenance kept on file. Regular evacuation drills should be held and records of such events kept on file.

Food and nutrition – You should maintain record covering your nutrition services budget, expenditures for food, numbers and types of meals served daily, and inspection reports made by health authorities. Retain this information for at least one year or the length of time requited by your state.

Health department reporting requirements – Certain diseases or conditions among your staff or the children in your care must be reported to the local health department. Contact your local health department for complete information on reporting requirement and procedures.

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Special needs includes :

I) Assistance with feeding

II) Giving medicine or performing medical procedures

III) Ensuring that special equipment operates is used properly

CONTINUE In deciding whether to admit a child with the child’s parents and health care providers to discuss the particular needs of the child .Should ensure that the extra demand on your time to care for a child with special needs is supported by additional resources , including experts as needed . Should work with the child’s parents and health-care professional to make sure you have support you need.

Administering medication Some children in child care may need to take medication during the hours you care

them. Obtain written permission form the parent and check the child care licensing

agency local regulation.

prescribed medication you give to child:

1. First and last name of the child container

2. It is original package or container

3. Expired date medication

4. Check the name and phone number of the health professional who ordered the medication.

Suggest that parent ask their pharmacist to divide the medication separate two bottles, one at home and one to be kept child care.

over the counter medication should label with:

1. The child first and last names

2. The current date

3. The expire date

4. Specific instruction of giving, storing and disposing of the medication. If child under two years age, check state licensing regulation. Some state do not

allow a provider to administer medication children under two years of age.