Drop-Off and Pick-Up Times
The programs we offer are as follows:

* check location for opening time

If a child is dropped off before or picked up after the specific program he/she is enrolled for, the following fees apply:

Current rate per hour or any portion thereof for early drop-off.
Current rate per hour or any portion thereof for late pick-up.

Policy Regarding Late Pick-Ups (After 6:00 pm)
When children are not picked up by their parents by the Center's scheduled closing time, serious problems are likely to develop for the Center, the parent and the individual staff members who are responsible for the child's supervision.

Since late departures create a serious problem for the Center's staff, a fine of $10.00 per child may be imposed for the first fifteen (15) minutes and $1.00 per minute per child thereafter.  Please notify the Center of any change in your child's schedule.  A pattern of late departures may be cause for dismissal from the Center.

The Center is required by the Licensing Agency to provide "Constant and Competent Supervision" for as long as children are left in its care.  The requirements for "Competent Supervision" means that only members of the teaching staff may be assigned the responsibility of remaining with late children.  Failure to fulfill this requirement can result in loss of the Center's license to operate.

The Parent should make every effort to arrive at the Center at his or her scheduled pick-up time.  A parent who cannot appear in person should arrange to have a reliable individual call for his/her child.  It is the parent's responsibility to keep the Center informed of any changed in home, work or emergency numbers which the staff can call in the event of occasional, accidental lateness.  Parents should remember that teachers usually have family obligations of their own at the end of their working day and that, additionally, many of them are attending evening classes for which they must also arrive on time.

The Staff Member who is assigned to work to the Center's closing time is expected to remain as long as necessary to care for any children who are not picked up by 6:00 PM.

The Procedure
When a child is not picked up by closing time and no prior notification has been given to the Center, the staff person shall attempt to contact a parent at their place of work or at their home.

If contact is not possible with a parent, the emergency contact shall be called to arrange pick-up.  If contact is not possible with the emergency contact, the staff shall wait with the child in the Center for one (1) hour after the established closing time.

If no arrangements have been made to pick up the child by an hour after the established closing time, we will contact the local Police Department and Child Protective Services.  Custody of the child goes to the police department until the child is accepted by the Child Protective Services (CPS).  Once in CPS custody, the child will be placed in a foster home for the night and investigation of child neglect will begin.  This, of course, is an extreme step to be taken only after all other remedies have been exhausted.

The Director shares the above policy with the parents upon admission to the Center.  Should the parent fail to fulfill his or her responsibility, this can become grounds for dismissing the child.

Medical Emergencies
The parents, upon the child's admission to the Center, must sign a release form giving the Center permission to make whatever emergency (first aid, disaster, evacuation) measures are judged necessary for the care and protection of the child while under the supervision of the Center.

Health
The child who attends all day will be supplies with a nutritious lunch as well as morning and afternoon snacks.  All meals and snacks are approved by a nutritionist.

Children's Medical Forms must be updated annually.

The children are given a routine health check each day upon arrival.  Any child who shows symptoms of an infectious disease such as fever, diarrhea or vomiting will not be admitted to the Center.  Sick children should not be sent to school.

The Director, at his/her discretion, will send home any child appearing ill or having a fever, diarrhea or vomiting.  Any child so sent home may not return to the Center until 24 hours after they are sent home.  This action is taken to prevent the spread of illness to the Center's other children.  If your child is sick or absent please call the Center.

Necessary medication can be administered at the Center, but only under the conditions that the medication is prescribed by a doctor, the initial dosage has already been given, and the signing o a consent form, consisting of the name of the medicine, the amount and frequency needed, and a parent's signature.  Any over-the-counter medications must be accompanied by a doctor's note.

Hand washing after nose-wiping, toileting and before meals is stressed at the Center with children as well as staff.  Please help us by following up on these practices at home.

Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the Center.

Discipline
Whenever a child at the Center disrupts others, out staff uses a method called contingency observation, or "Sit & Watch."  This method of helping children learn how to get along with the other children is very acceptable to parents and staff, while at the same time effective in minimizing disruptions.

In "Sit & Watch," a disruptive child is told what he did and what he should have done and is asked to sit at the edge of other children's play to watch them.  After 20-30 seconds of sitting quietly, the child is then invited to return to the others and is reminded of what acceptable behavior is.  The caregiver then keeps watch for the first opportunity to comment on the child's getting along well with the others.

Child Abuse
Child abuse reporting is mandated for all Center Personnel.  Please explain any unusual injury to the staff before leaving your child for the day,

Any suspicion of abuse or maltreatment of a child must be brought to the attention of the Director.  The Director will then make an investigation and, if necessary, report it  to the Child Abuse Hot Line.

The subjects of a child abuse report could be any parent, guardian, custodian or any other person 18 years of age or older, who is legally responsible for a child, and who is allegedly responsible for causing or allowing the infliction or injury, abuse, or maltreatment to such child.

Oral telephone reports should be made to the New York State Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR) by calling the statewide, toll-free number 1-800-635-1522.