Allergy Form

If a child has an allergy the centre must be provided with a statement from the doctor indicating the type of allergy, symptoms, and foods/situations to be avoided. There is a form available for you to fill in and sign.

Food from Outside the Centre

Due to the extreme food allergies of some of our children we do not allow any food, other than formula, to be brought into the centre. If a child has food allergies our cook will ensure the child's food needs are accomodated

Illness

A day at childcare is easy and fun for a child in good health, but demanding and stressful for a child who isn’t feeling well. Children need to feel well enough to actively participate in the daily activities both indoor and outdoor. Children who are ill need the one to one care, attention and rest that cannot be adequately provided by our program. Bringing a child who is ill to child care exposes him/her to secondary illnesses and exposes the staff and other children to illness. Bringing a child back to the program before all symptoms have subsided risks a relapse and further delays their recovery.

If your child becomes ill during the day, we will help them to be comfortable in a private space, for example the director’s office, until someone can come to pick them up.

Centre Health Policies state the following.

The decision to exclude a child from care will be based on whether there are adequate facilities and staff available to meet the needs of both the ill child and the other children in the group. Children will be excluded if:

1. The child’s illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in activities that the facility routinely offers for well children or mildly ill children.
2. The illness requires more care than the child care staff are able to provide without compromising the needs of the other children in the group.
3. Keeping the child in care poses an increased risk to the child or other children or adults with whom the child will come in contact with.

When the child care centre is uncertain about whether the child’s illness poses an increased risk to others, the child will be excluded until a physician or nurse practitioner notifies the child care program that the child may attend.

Immunization

When you register your child you will be asked to provide an up-to –date immunization record for your child. You are required to keep your child’s immunization record current, while you attend our centers. This measure is to protect your child and to prevent the spread of communicable disease to others. We also submit a list of the children’s names to Public Health and they will notify us if your child’s immunization is not up to date.

Medication

• If medication is prescribed for your child by a doctor or you wish for them to receive non-prescriptive medication you must fill out a medication permission form. The medication must be current, in the original container and the directions on the container will be followed (dosage/time etc.) Please ask your pharmacist to divide your child’s prescription into two containers so one may remain at the centre.
• Please ensure that the early childhood educators are informed in writing of any medication your child is currently receiving, whether at home or at the centre. Doctors and hospitals ask for this information if they have to give your child emergency treatment.

Minor Scrapes and Bruises

Our centers are equipped with first aid kits and all our educators are trained in CPR and First Aid. The early childhood educators are able to handle minor cuts, scrapes, bruises and bumps. All minor accidents are reported by filling out an Accident Report Form which will require your signature.

If a more serious accident takes place, we follow this process:

• The director will contact the parent to accompany the child while s(he)receives medical attention
• If the parent cannot be reached then the director will contact an emergency contact person as identified on the child’s forms
• If it is an emergency situation, an ambulance is called and the parent will be asked to meet us at the hospital.
• Serious accidents are reported to the parent and the Saskatchewan Child Care Branch. A serious occurrence form is completed.

Prevention

We work to prevent the spread of communicable diseases by practicing careful sanitation. Children and staff wash hands upon entering the program each day (families are asked to help their child wash their hands when they arrive at the centre), before and after toileting, before meals. Toys are washed regularly and bedding is a laundered once a week. All early childhood educators have current first aid and CPR training and are aware of safety hazards and take precautions to ensure the environment is safe for the children. Sanitary hygiene practices and safety rules are routinely discussed and taught as part of our daily curriculum.

Fire drills are held monthly. In the case of a real fire or other emergency evacuation, children and staff will evacuate to a nearby school facility.

Nutrition

We provide healthy foods that follow the Canada Food guide. Our cook prepares two snacks and lunch each day and posts the weekly menu in advance. Meal times are an enjoyable part of our day at the centres. We enjoy each other’s company and use meal times as opportunities to converse, share information and serve food in a welcoming relaxed manner. We ask that children only eat what is served in the program and that food from home is not brought into the child care centre.

Infant Nutrition

If your infant is less than one year of age you will need to provide formula or breast milk and bottles for us to use to feed your child. Older infants not on formula or breast milk will be given whole milk. Solid foods will be introduced to infants at 6 months of age. We will begin a Food Form at the program when your child begins trying new foods. New foods will only be introduced with the parent’s permission as indicated on the Food Form. Infant cereal will be introduced as a solid food and not served in a bottle. It is important for parents to keep the Food Form updated about meals served at home in order to have a complete record.