Policies
1) Nurturing Nest Children’s Academy provides care and nurturing Monday through Friday, from 6 am to 6 pm. Children may remain in care for a maximum of 10 hours on any given day. A fee of $5.00 per child, per 15 minutes will be charged after 10 hours. Children must be picked up by 6:00 closing time. A fee of $2 per minute will be charged after 6:00pm. Repeatedly picking your child up late is grounds for dismissal.
2) Parents need to provide diapers, bottles, and 2 changes of clothing. If your child uses a pacifier please bring 2. All items should be labeled with the child’s name. During the summer months, your child will need; a swimsuit, a towel, and water shoes for water play, and a wide brimmed hat and sunscreen. Please place each change of clothing in a 1 gallon zip loc bag labeled with your child’s name. Crib and cot sheets and blankets will be provided. Formula and jarred baby food are provided by our food program.
3) Toddlers being potty trained will need at least 4 complete changes of clothing each day.
4) All children must have emergency information and current immunization record available on the first day of attendance. Admission physical must be provided with 15 days .
5) A completed enrollment form, child care contract, immunization records, and emergency authorization are required on the first day of attendance. Parents are responsible for notifying me of any changes.
6) Every child must be signed in and out every day. Children may not arrive in the child care home unattended. Please tell me about any event or activity from the previous evening that may effect your child’s mood or behavior. We will not release your child to anyone who is not listed on the emergency contact for without prior written consent. We will not release your child to a minor.
7) Weekly tuition is due on Monday or the first day of the week your child attends. Child may not return if there is an outstanding balance from the previous week. A late fee of $20 will be charged. In order to meet our budget demands we do not reduce tuition for absences or vacation. Families receiving subsidized child care are responsible for the balance of tuition not covered by the subsidy. Families applying for subsidized child care are responsible for paying tuition in full until written confirmation is received from DFS.
8) A fee of $35 will be charged for checks returned for insufficient funds.
9) Breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks are included in your tuition. Nutritious, well-balanced meals are an important part of our environment. Breakfast is served at 7:30am, lunch at 11:15 am and afternoon snack after nap time. Whole & 2% milk is served for lunch. 100 % Fruit or fruit/vegetable blend juice is served with snacks.
10) Care for infants and toddlers will provided according to developmentally appropriate practices as recommended by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
11) Children will follow simple, understandable rules. Constructive, age-appropriate methods of discipline are used to guide your child’s behavior. We stress praise and encouragement of good behavior. We use firm, positive statements or redirection when possible. When necessary , there will be a brief separation from the group. No form of physical punishment is acceptable and is not allowed.
12) Outdoor play will be directly supervised. We go outdoors every day except in in-climate weather. On chilly days children need appropriate outdoor clothing (I.e. jacket, hat, mittens, etc.) Walking and cruising toddlers are required to have shoes for outdoor play.
13) Play is a child’s work and can be messy. Please dress your child in comfortable play clothes.
14) Children should wear tennis shoes for their comfort and safety indoors and out. Cowboy boots, hard soled dress shoes, sandals and flip-flops are not safe in a child care setting. Non-slip socks are encouraged for indoors.
15) Children who are obviously ill may not remain in care. This includes but is not limited to: fever of 100.0 or higher, vomiting, diarrhea, severe cough, excessive nasal discharge and rash.
16) Nurturing Nest Children’s Academy will not administer medications, with the exception of chronic conditions. If your child is taking medication please give before arriving at school. Children requiring special medical care or medication during child care for chronic illness (i.e. diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, etc.) must have written care plans signed by the parent and the center director.
17) If your child is injured or ill, I will:
Notify you immediately, your may be required to pick up your child.
Follow written instructions if emergency care is needed.
Note the date and description of any accident or illness in your child’s file.
18) Kelli Owens is our permanent preschool assistant. James Matthews and Haley Lucas are back up caregivers in case of emergency or provider’s illness. All staff have routine criminal background checks.
19) Emergency procedures are in place for your child’s safety. Fire and tornado drills are held monthly. In the event of evacuation required by local authorities, parent’s should contact us either on the cell phone or through the emergency out of state contact numbers provided upon enrollment. These contacts will be notified of our evacuation plans and location. We keep an emergency evacuation kit for each child on premise.
20) The following days are provider holidays and child care will not be available: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day after, and Christmas Day.
21) We will be closed due to severe weather if the Meramec Valley R-III School District closes. (i.e. snow days). Upon the second consecutive snow day, I may decide to open regardless of MVR-III closing. Text messages or phone calls will be made by 6 AM if we are going to be open.
22) We will terminate care of your child if we believe it is in the child’s best interest or required for the safety and welfare of the other children in care. Likewise, termination will occur if provider and parent cannot maintain a respectful and mutually beneficial relationship. Both instances merit a minimum 1 week notice.
We are required by state law to report any suspected abuse or neglect to the proper authorities.
