PHILOSOPHY
Lil’ Angels specializes in infant and toddler care and cultivating healthy development for pre-schoolers. Everything we do is designed with the express interest of nurturing your child when you are not available.
Our program is designed to meet the developmental needs of young children. We provide experiences that challenge and support each child's cognitive, language, social, emotional, physical and creative development. During the course of the day at Lil’ Angels each child has opportunities to create, explore the environment, develop personal interaction skills and learn problem solving skills and concepts through first hand experience. We encourage exploration and involvement.
Staff members are positive role models. They are supportive, nurturing, warm and responsive to each child.
PARENT COMMUNICATION
Sometimes many parents are here at the same time and teachers cannot have extensive conversations with everyone at once. Please keep this in mind and do not monopolize the teacher's time. If you feel a need to have additional time with the teacher we will try to schedule a specific time for you.
Please call the center each day your child is going to be absent.
Parents are welcome to visit the center at any time. If you want to see how your child is doing please call during nap-time (1-2 pm) when the teachers are available to speak to you.
We may call you during the day to ask a question or mention something to you. Please do not get alarmed when you receive a call from us.
TUITION and FEES
Many centers do not provide care for infants and toddlers because of the required high staff to child ratio and therefore high cost of care. Lil’ Angels operates on a tight budget based on full enrollment. That is why some of the policies may appear to be rigid.
The tuition is for a 52 week year without reduction or credit for vacation, absence, illness, holidays, or failure of parents to comply with the Department of Health regulations. Weekly tuition is due by Friday morning for the next week.
For each student you must submit a two security deposit equal to one week of tuition.
Written withdrawal notification is required from parents two weeks in advance of the anticipated withdrawal date. The security deposit will be returned to you for childcare only. You will be charged additional fees (as per your contract) for picking up your child later than your scheduled time. This policy is to discourage you from being late and to cover the costs of the center remaining open. Parents picking up children late will be charged $5.00 for each 5 minutes. Morning children will be charged $5.00 for every 10 minutes for early drop off. Lil’ Angels CLOSES at 7:00 PM. You should be here in time to dress your child and gather his things together so that you leave by 7:00 PM.
Part time children may attend extra hours or days provided there is space available, at a rate of $8.00 per hour. Payment for this arrangement is due at the time you drop off your child.
HEALTH POLICIES
These policies are mandated by the City of New York and are written to insure a healthy environment for all children. Failure to comply with them jeopardizes other children and our license to operate. Therefore children not complying with the Department of Health regulations will not be allowed to attend Lil‘ Angels.
We do everything in our power to keep your children safe when they are in our care. During the course of play it is normal for children at this age to get some bumps and bruises. We will call you if your child has an accident so you are not taken by surprise when you pick him up. Please do not get alarmed when we call. Ninety-nine per cent of the time it is minor.
All children are required to have mandatory medical examinations in a timely manner. A chart indicating required immunizations, screening tests, and exams is available from the office.
All immunizations must be up to date. If there is a delay, a letter from the doctor must be on file at the center stating the reason and when the child is expected to be immunized.
The Department of Health will not accept medical examination forms signed by the child's parent even though that parent may be a physician, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant.
All children in attendance at the center will be considered healthy enough to participate in all activities. This includes water play and outdoor activities year round.
If your child becomes ill during the course of the day we will contact you. In that event you must pick up your child as soon as possible. We cannot give a sick child the additional care he needs and still give optimal care to the rest of the group. The presence of a sick child puts all the other children at risk. NOTE: If you are not going to be able to be reached at your regular phone numbers remember to leave an alternate number with us.
Children with a fever of 101 or more will be sent home. This child must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to the center. Children with a fever of 101 whose parents (or emergency contact person) cannot be reached within 30 minutes may have to be taken to the Hospital emergency room. We expect you to arrange for your child to be picked up immediately. Children with three bouts of diarrhea, which is highly contagious, in one day will be sent home.
Because of the danger of contagion, all instances of communicable disease must be reported immediately to the director, as well as the New York Department of Health, so that center parents can be notified.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASEs
Disease to Return to School the Following Conditions must Be Met
Chicken Pox After all the lesions are scabbed
Cold/Upper Respiratory Infection After 3 days if no severe coughing, sneezing or running nose (mucous should be clear)
German Measles/Rubella After rash is gone
Impetigo After all lesions have disappeared
Measles Six days after rash disappears
Mumps After swelling has disappeared
Pediculosis (Head Lice) Doctor's note stating child is under treatment and is cleared to return to school
Pinworm Doctor's note stating child is under treatment
Ringworm of Body After rash is gone
Ringworm of Scalp Doctor's note stating child is under treatment
Roseola As soon as child's temperature has been normal 24 hours
Scabies After rash is gone
Scarlet Fever or Strep Throat As soon as child's temperature has been normal 24 hours
Coxsackie 7 days after diagnosis.
Pink Eye After discharge has dried up
MEDICATIONS
By state regulation day care centers are no longer allowed to dispense any kind of medication even Tylenol for teething or on-going medications such as asthma medication or antibiotics. We are sorry for this inconvenience.
DISCONTINUANCE of SERVICES
It is our goal to work cooperatively and constructively with each family. However, sometimes problems arise that cannot be resolved. If this occurs the director shall reserve the right to discontinue child care service where:
fees are not paid
medical records are not up to date
a child has special needs that are not met by this center
there is a major disagreement between family and center regarding policies
there is a serious failure of communication between family and center
there is discourteous treatment of staff
DISCIPLINE POLICY
The best way to teach young children good behavior is by practicing it ourselves by being role models. When a child does something that is not safe or beneficial for him or others, we redirect the behavior by gently guiding him toward positive alternatives. If there is a situation in the toddler or pre-school rooms that requires action we explain to the child why the behavior is unacceptable and give him a minimum amount of time-out.
Parents are responsible for checking to see that your child's diapers, wipes, and creams are sufficient. We do not keep extras at the center. Diapers are not borrowed from other children. Large packages of diapers may be left at the center provided we have space.
Teachers will work with parents and children on toilet training when they have observed readiness signs in school. Readiness signs will be the child's ability to tell the teacher about a soiled diaper, showing signs of discomfort while in a soiled diaper, and expressing an interest in using the toilet. A child is likely to exhibit these signals at home and not at school.
We recognize the following skills as indications that a child is ready to manage toileting:
- the child can, and does, tell the teacher he has to use the toilet
- the child is able to pull down his own clothing
- the child uses the toilet on his own
- the child can and does pull his own clothing back up.
Parents need to tell teachers what words they are using with their child while toilet training. Children who are toilet training require a supply of diapers and training pants as well as three sets of extra clothing and an extra sheet. Pull-ups are not recommended. If a child has three toileting accidents a day, we may need to return him to diapers at school.
Children should arrive in clean clothes. Clothing should be easy to change without an excess of buttons, suspenders, or other features that will prolong changing and toileting. We change many children at a time. Simple clothing helps.
Children must dress appropriately for the weather. Clothing should fit properly and allow for easy and full participation in all activities. Please include hats, mittens, and scarves in cold weather. We go outside daily, except in cases of very severe weather.
Children must have a complete set of spare clothing left at the center. We do not have extras. Please label all clothes with your child's name. We have a permanent marker if you need it.
When you pick up your child please check his cubby, remove any soiled clothes, and replace them the next day with clean clothing.
Jewelry is strongly discouraged at the center. We are not responsible for lost or damaged jewelry.
Each child needs a crib-sized sheet and a small blanket for nap time. Infants should have an extra sheet in their cubby. Pillows are not allowed by the New York City Department of Health. All bedding should be taken home on Fridays to be washed, and returned on Mondays.
We prefer that you do not bring toys from home, so that the children learn that all items are community property as they learn to share. You may bring comfort items that children use for nap time and other times as needed. The staff and center will not be responsible for items lost or damaged. All such items should have your child's name on them. If your child has a toy that you would recommend we buy, feel free to suggest it to us.