Parent Handbook

1.  PROGRAM

 The guiding principle of FOOTSTEPS TO LEARNING Is to present each child with a very positive learning experience in the early years so that he or she may always be able to look at learning as something enjoyable. In order to carry through this principle in the daily activities of the school a well balance program which nourishes the whole brain is incorporated.” A home away from away”.

 Our program is designed for you child including:

-  Age-appropriate motor skills

-  social skills

-  math readiness

-  pre-reading

-  pre-writing skills

-  individualized academics

-  social studies & hands-on science

-  baking & cooking

-  diversified music

-  creative art activities

-  children’s authors and artists

-  dramatic play

-  fenced outdoor play area with play/gym equipment

-  small child to adult ratio

-  literature and art

2. STANDARDS 

 FOOTSTEPS TO LEARNING, established in 1991, is licensed by the New York State Department of

Social Services and is registered with the Suffolk County Childcare Service. Footsteps to Learning is a member of the National Association Education Young Children (NAEYC) and complies with all standards put forth by those departments/agencies.

3. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION STATEMENT

 Children are admitted regardless of race, creed, color, sex, national origin or religion

4. ADMISSION

 Children who are 2 years old up to kindergarten age are eligible to enroll in the preschool. Admission requirements and enrollment procedures are as follows:

1.  A child must be 3 years old by December 1 of that year to be admitted into the three-year old class. A child must be 2 years of age upon enrollment to join our 2-year-old program.

2.  Children in the 3-year-old class will not be allowed to advance into the 4-year-old program during the school year.

3.  A child must be 4 years old by December 1 of that year to be admitted into the 4-year-old class

4.  If a parent intends to enroll a child in kindergarten before the standard age of 5, and if the parent can provide written verification by the school system that the child will be attending kindergarten the following school year, then the child may be enrolled in the 4-year-old class.

5.  Classes are filled on a first come/first-served basis according to the date of enrollment with the director.

6.  If the classes are filled when a parent calls, the child’s name will be put on a waiting list to fill vacancies as they occur.

7.  As vacancies occur during the year, they are filled from the waiting list, or from new registrations, according to the above procedures.

5. CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS

 We shall maintain confidentiality and shall respect the family’s right to privacy, refraining from disclosure of confidential information and intrusion into family life. However, when we are concerned about a child’s welfare, it is permissible to reveal confidential information to agencies and individuals who may be able to act in the child’s interest. 

6. LOCATION

 FOOTSTEPS TO LEARNING is located at 265 Mount Sinai Road Coram, New York 11727

7. DAYS AND HOURS OF OPERATION

 FOOTSTEPS TO LEARNING follows the Longwood District School Calendar. FOOTSTEPS has very flexible hours to accommodate your special needs.

 PRE-SCHOOL sessions are as follows:

 2 year old  3 year old  4 year old

 9:00-11:30    9:30-12:00    9:00-3:00

 9:00-3:00    1:00- 3:30    9:30-3:30

 9:00-3:00

 9:30-3:30  

 2-, 3- or 5-day programs available

 Child Care hours are from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm

 LUNCH HOUR available on a daily basis. A boxed lunched required.

8. PICK-UP AND DELIVERY OF CHILDREN

 No child is to be brought to preschool more than 5 minutes before class begins, nor picked up more than 10 minutes after class is over. If a child is left beyond those limits with no arrangements made, a daycare fee will be assessed when the child is picked up.

 For safety’s sake, children must always be left in the care of an adult, with the children being brought directly to the classroom. Children must never be left at preschool without a teacher present. Parents are asked to return to the classroom to pick up their children after class is over. 

9. TUITUION

 Tuition is an annual fee. It may be paid in full at registration, or in ten equal installments due on the first of each month. The first and last payments are due at registration. Because tuition is an annual fee, no refunds are given for illness, vacations or snow days. At registration a non-refundable fee of $100 is due. 

 It is very important that tuition be paid on time. In the event that tuition payments are late, a $25 late fee will be charged after the 7th. If after one-month payment has not been received, the parents will be asked to withdraw their child from preschool. Also, note that there is a $25. late fee for returned checks.

10. HEALTH INFORMATION

 No child will be accepted into FOOTSTEPS TO LEARNING unless the child has received a health examination within 90 days prior to admission. Or the physician must fill out a pending physical form. A copy of the child’s medical record is to be submitted to FOOTSTEPS upon entering. A written statement signed by the physician is required stating the child is free from contagious or communicable disease. A certificate prepared by physician or other authorized person is required documenting immunization.

 At the time of admission, written consent from the custodial parent or guardian is obtained which authorizes the provider to emergency health care for the child.

 In case of medical emergency during preschool session, first aid and CPR will be administered by the staff. The parent or authorized adult will be notified as quickly as possible. If medical attention is required, the staff will call 911and an ambulance will transport the child to the hospital. Every effort will be made to contact the child’s physician.

 In the event the child develops symptoms of illness, the child is placed to rest quietly, and the custodial parent or guardian is notified. Children will not be given medication or treatment except for written order of a physician or under written instructions of a parent or guardian. FOOTSTEPS TO LEARNING is equipped with CPR Certified staff members and First Aid kits.

 In the event a child contracts a communicable disease and exposes the other children, notice of such exposure will be posted, and parents will be notified when they pick up their children. The ill child will not be allowed to return to preschool until the period of contagion has passed.

 July 1.2001 a new state law was enacted to require that certain information be provided to parents and guardians regarding the use of pesticides in daycare facilities attended by their children. FOOTSTEPS will post a notice prior to the application in a common area that is conspicuously visible to persons dropping off or picking up children that there will be a pesticide application within 48 hours.

11. DRESS

 Children are encouraged to wear play clothes and comfortable shoes. Daily activities include active and messy play, and the children should feel comfortable enough to enjoy themselves without worrying about their clothes. The child’s name should be placed on all outdoor clothing and other belongings to help ensure the return of all the proper possessions and clothes. Flip Flops are prohibited on the playground

 Special preschool logo t-shirts and sweatshirts are available for parents to purchase for their child.

12. FIELD TRIPS

 FOOTSTEPS TO LEARNING does not engage in any field trips; however, many community members visit FOOTSTEPS such as the Fire Department, Police Department, Safety Programs and others.

13. FIRE DRILLS and Shelter in Place

 Evacuation drills must be conducted at least monthly during various hours of operation of the child day care center.

14. SNACKS

 Children are required to bring their own lunch, snacks and breakfast. All food must be free from all nuts.

 With advance notice children you may bring special treats for their birthday or any other time during the preschool year. Due to the mess involved, we ask that no cupcakes be brought in as a snack.

15. DISCIPLINE

 Guidance and not punishment are used to discipline children at Footsteps. Acceptable behavior is encouraged by giving positive verbal rewards. This reinforces a child’s good feeling about his/her behavior and serves as an example to the other children to act in such a way as to receive this praise. Asking a child to stop and think about his/her unpleasant behavior enables that child to work at self-control.

 For a child not cooperating in a group listening situation, the child while still participating may be seated by a teacher and reminded of acceptable behavior.

 Removal from the group for a short period of time is used for a child who continually demonstrates 

unacceptable behavior. This time is not a punishment but rather a time when the child may calm down and remember what behavior the teacher is asking for. 

 Corporal punishment is not considered to be an accepted method of dealing with young children’s behavior under any conditions.

 If behavior problems continue, the parent is asked to a conference to discuss what may be helpful in motivating the child to behave in an acceptable way.

16. WITHDRAWAL

 If a child needs to be withdrawn from preschool, we will need one month’s notice, or you will be responsible for one month’s tuition. Should more notice be possible, it would be appreciated.

17. COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS

 This book has been supplied in an effort to answer many of your questions. Please contact anyone on our staff if you have more questions.

 Parents are informed of the activities of the preschool through the Remind App, Footstepstolearning.com website and Social Media. 

 During the month of October, an open house is scheduled so that all parents can meet their child’s teachers and discuss the program for the year. 

 Formal meetings are scheduled during the Spring for children entering kindergarten. If a teacher feels that a meeting is needed sooner, she will contact the parents to schedule one. If a parent has a concern, he/she may also contact the teacher to set up an appointment. Parents may call their child’s teacher between the hours of 9:00-9:30 am and 3:30-4:00 pm.

 Because of the state regulations concerning class size and teacher ratio, it is not possible for children to bring friends to visit.

 If you would like to schedule a conference with your child’s teacher, please reach out to their teacher to make an appointment.

PERSONAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES

AND

DESCRIPTION OF PATTERN OF SUPERVISION OF STAFF

The staff of Footsteps to Learning must meet the minimum qualifications mandated by the state in order to hold a position at Footsteps to Learning. All personnel must be cleared by the State Central Registry and fingerprinted. All staff must have a TB test and physical.

All personnel must then complete 30 hours of training every two years including on-site training, Scope, NAEYC conferences and Suffolk County Childcare Council seminars. The staff shall provide developed mentally and positive discipline (DAP).

Personnel must use gloves when handling food, snacks and when using first aid on children. Any indication of child abuse and maltreatment must be reported to the director immediately. Communication between parent and staff shall be frequent and fluent.

No child can be released to any person other than his or her parents or person listed on the pickup list which has been listed by such a parent.

All information relating to any child is confidential and cannot be disclosed.

Footsteps will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion or national origin.

The parents of any child shall have unlimited and on demand access to such child.

The 2-year old classes will have a max of 12 children with one head teacher and 2 assistants.

The 3-year old classes will have either 12 children with a head teacher and an assistant or 18 children with a head teacher and two assistants. 

The Pre-K classes will have between 18 & 21 children with a head teacher and two assistants.

DESCRIPTION OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDING THE APPROPRIATE SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN

 The child who enters Footsteps to Learning must be two years of age by September of that year. No child will be accepted into Footsteps unless the child has received a health examination with 90 days prior to admission. A copy of the medical record is to be submitted to Footsteps upon entering. A written statement signed by the physician is required stating the child is free from contagious or communicable disease. A certificate prepared by a physician or other authorized person is required documenting immunization.

At the time of admission, written consent from the custodial parent or guardian is obtained which authorizes the provider to obtain emergency health care for the child.

If need of emergency care arises, the Director will call (911) and notify the parent. The Director will accompany the child in the ambulance and be responsible to bring the child’s medical record and emergency medical treatment agreement, signed by the parent.

In the event the child develops symptoms of illness, the child is placed to rest quietly, and the custodial parent or guardian is notified. Children will not be given any medication or treatment except for written order of a physician or under written instructions of parent or guardian. The teachers and assistants are CPR and First Aid Certified. 

Effective January 31, 2005 Footsteps to learning choose to administer medication to children in our day care setting. With the exception of over-the-counter topical ointments, sunscreen and topically applied insect repellant we have the following requirements in order to be authorized to administer medication at Footsteps to Learning.

-  be at least 18 years old

-   have current first aid and CPR that covers the ages of the children in the program

-  successfully complete the Office of Children and Family Services approved Medication Administration Training course

-  have a health care plan that specifically names the childcare provider’s authorized to administer medication and includes the program’s policy for administration of medication

-  have to health care plan approved by the program’s health care consultant

-  have the health care plan submitted and approved by the program’s licensor or registrar

The MAT course certifies day care providers to administer in a childcare setting for seven routes; oral, topical, inhaled, medicated patches, eye, ear and emergency injection of epinephrine using an auto-injector device.

The attached papers must be filled out by parents, your child’s doctor and Footsteps to Learning if your child needs medication during school hours.

PREVENTING INFECTIONS WHEN CONTACTING

BODY FLUIDS

Even healthy people may spread infection through direct with body fluids. Because of this, it is important to consider all body fluids to be capable of causing illness. Body fluids include blood, urine, stool, drool (saliva), vomit, drainage from sores/rashes (pus), etc. When anyone has been in contact with body fluids, the following precautions are taken:

1.  Open cuts or sores on children or staff are covered. Depending on the type of wound, a covering may be a bandage or clothing, or staff may wear latex gloves.

2.  Whenever a child or staff comes in contact with any body fluids the skin area is washed immediately with soap and warm water and dried with paper towels.

3.  All surfaces in contact with body fluids are cleaned immediately and disinfected.

4.  Cleaning material used to wipe up body fluids are placed in a plastic bag, secured closed and placed in a covered waste container. Any bushes, brooms, dustpans, mops, etc., used to clean up body fluids are soaked in a disinfecting solution and rinsed thoroughly. Cloth items or mops, after soaking, are washed with hot water 

DAILY GUIDELINES FOR EXCLUDING STAFF

FROM CARING FOR CHILDREN

On the advice of health experts, we do not allow staff with any of the following symptoms to be in contact with children:

-  fever of 100 degrees oral or higher and also one or more of the following:

-  diarrhea, Covid-19, rash that is contagious  

A fever of 100 degrees, without any of these symptoms, does not automatically result staff being excluded from childcare

-  Vomiting within a 24–hour period

-  Diarrhea of within a 24-hour period. 

-  Draining rash or sore

-  Eye discharge or pinkeye. Staff can be readmitted after:

 -medical diagnosis to rule out bacterial infection; or

 -24-hour antibiotic treatment

   -Covid-19

-  Open or oozing sore unless properly covered, or 24 hours passed since starting antibiotic treatment with a doctor’s note.

-  Lice, nits and scabies