Specific Health Care Needs Policy
During the enrollment process families are asked if they have health insurance. Any family that does not have health insurance will be assisted by the director to secure health insurance through Husky or by Norwalk Community Health Center. If a child has specific health care needs, the parent is asked during enrollment how we can accommodate them. The accommodations are posted in each classroom as to avoid any problems if a child should change classes.
Through a collaborative agreement with the Department of Health and an agreement with Smiles Dental, each child is provided with annual vision, hearing, and dental screening. These screening are provided on-site or off, and referrals are made if follow-up treatment is necessary.
In the case of a sick child, that child is brought to the office where he/she is monitored until a parent arrives.
In addition, the program accommodates children with specific health care needs, detailed sick child exclusion, emergency care, parent consent and universal precautions.
A Health Care Consultant is at the facility’s disposal for health concerns.
Health & Illness Policy
Our intention is to protect your children from unnecessary illness. Our policies are the result of the collective experience of many early childhood programs. Our center staff is vigilant regarding the health of your children and has your child’s best interest at heart. We appreciate your understanding and support in these efforts.
If your child sees a physician you must have a doctor’s note or you will not be admitted to Growing Seeds.
Children may not attend school if they have:
Chicken Pox- Last approximately 7 days. All lesions must be crusted and dry.
Impetigo- Skin infection caused by bacteria. Until sores heal or to 24 hours after medication begins.
Coxsackie virus- Located on hands, feet and mouth. Last approximately 3 to 5 days children must be fever free and all blisters must be dry and faded in color before returning to school.
Diarrhea- This does not apply to food or medication allergies. Diarrhea for more than 5 days must be evaluated by a physician to determine the cause.
Vomiting- within 24-hours (does not include spitting up).
Strep Throat- A throat cultures should be done on children with persistent sore throats. Children with diagnosed strep throat must remain at home for minimum of 24 hours after medication is started.
Parents must notify the center staff immediately if a child has been diagnosed as having any communicable disease. Children who exhibit signs or symptoms of communicable illnesses must be restricted from the classroom until the symptoms have resolved or have been treated with antibiotics for at least 24 hours prior to returning to the classroom. Children must be free from diarrhea, vomiting and or a fever at least 24 hours before they return to the classroom. Your child may be sent home if the staff notes an elevated fever. Please inform staff if the following has occurred:
If your child has been ill during the weekend, the staff may be less concerned if they observe that your child has diminished stamina knowing that it is likely to be related to your child’s recovery.
If medication has been administered in the morning before coming to school. This information is important because of potential side effects or adverse reactions during school hours.
If your child becomes ill while at Growing Seeds CDC, we will call you and ask you to pick your child up immediately. Your child will be in an isolated area in the director’s office. The director will attend to the child while waiting for the parent. If the parents are unable to be reached, we will call the child’s emergency contacts.
Children are not allowed into the classroom with any of the following symptoms or infections:
May not return until 24 hours after fever breaks.
Temperatures of 100.0 degrees or above and/or symptoms such as lethargy or irritability, excessive tiredness, headache, vomiting, etc.
Discolored drainage from the eye (in case of diagnosed conjunctivitis, children may return after being on medication for 24 hours).
Suspicious rash or lesions (does not include food rashes, prickly heat, poison ivy). Children with suspicious rash or lesions must return to school with a note from a physician clearing the child of communicable illness.
Finally, outdoor play is an important aspect to include in every child’s daily range of activities. Children need fresh air and sunlight in all seasons. Children will play outdoors daily unless there is rain or extreme cold weather. Parents need to send appropriate outdoor clothing for their children. If a child is too sick to go outside, he/she is too sick to come to school.
Annual Physicals
Each child five years of age and under must have an annual physical performed by a licensed physician, assistant or nurse practitioner, on record in our center.
In reviewing this form, the Health Nurse checks for proper immunizations and other tests that are performed, over-all physical form and date the ACTUAL PHYSICAL WAS PERFORMED, NOT THE DATE THE FORM WAS SIGNED BY THE PHYSICIAN.
We therefore ask for your cooperation by assisting us in meeting the important state requirement. You will be notified by a letter as to when your child’s physical needs to be updated. We would appreciate having it updated for our records as close to the one year deadline as possible.
YOU CHILD WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM THE PROGRAM IF HIS/HER MEDICAL RECORD IS NOT UP-TO-DATE. THIS IS A REGULATION OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT.
Termination Policy
A two-week notice is required to withdraw your child from care at Growing Seeds CDC. Full tuition payment for the two-week notice period is required at the time the notice of withdrawal form is submitted, whether or not your child will be present during the final two weeks of care.
For accounts that hold a childcare deposit, this deposit will be used against the ending balance at the time notice is given. Any remaining balance after the deposit is applied, is due upon submission of the notice of withdrawal. Please be sure to verify your deposit balance with the director. Further childcare services will be refused should the ending balance not accompany the notice of withdrawal and legal action will be taken.
In the event we should ever find it necessary to end our agreement, we will also give the parent at least two weeks written notice. Except for reasons such as, but not limited to: destructive, uncontrollable or violent behaviors, habitual tardiness in pickup of child, and lateness of payment or nonpayment. These situations will be grounds for immediate termination. If it becomes necessary to resort to legal action to collect fees, the parent(s) will be responsible for any legal fees incurred by Growing Seeds CDC.
Discipline Policy
All Growing Seeds staff will be instructed in the use of the following disciplinary measures in order to encourage the development of self-esteem in each child. Affirmation is the key to good discipline. What we do and say to children helps them develop and internalize self-control, self-esteem, and self-confidence. Praise makes children feel good about themselves. It tells them that others have recognized their appropriate behavior and hard work. Words and actions of praise, encouragement, and affirmation should be abundant in our interactions with children.
The foundation of discipline is TRUST. The development of basic trust must begin during the early childhood years. This is accomplished by the Growing Seeds staff through consistency in actions and responses and maintaining calm and reassuring tone of voice and manner (body language, providing body and eye contact, being close enough to touch and hold). It also means showing respect for the child’s choices or decisions; providing a physical and emotional climate that offers safety and protection for each child, having realistic expectations that are founded on a knowledge and understanding of the individual child, and child development (ages and stages) and lastly, setting appropriate limits.
We adhere to the belief that teachers can best guide children when they themselves are positive role models. Children are consistently observing us. They know what our feelings are, as well as what our intentions are. They learn a great deal about how human beings behave from the way we behave towards them, towards ourselves, towards other people.
The following Principles are used in guiding the children’s behavior:
- When we wish or need to interact with a child, we go to that child and get down to his or her level. We recognize that speaking from across a room or from four feet above is usually ineffective.
- We provide choices or options when possible. We do not provide children with an option when the outcome is something the child needs to do. Limitations are a part of life that children must at times expect. They are, however, presented in ways that allow children to maintain their dignity.
- Positive directions are set when we want to stop or change a behavior. In this way we let the children know what they can do; not just what they can’t do (for example; “You can throw the ball when we go outside: NOT: “Don’t throw the ball indoors!”)
- When we want to modify a behavior, we stay on the child’s tracks as far as possible. For example, if a child is banging on the piano keys with a wooden spoon, the spoon banging would be redirected to a lump of play-dough or an empty box. We would encourage the child to use the piano with his/her fingers. In other words, we let the child continue the activity in an acceptable way.
- When we explain reasons for changing a behavior we deal with logical consequences, not global labels. If one child is hitting another we ask them to stop hitting because hitting hurts, we do not say “it is not nice to hit.” This is done in recognition of a child’s need for tangible case and effect explanations, not value judgments.
- Commentaries, whether positive or negative, are directed at the child’s actions, not at the total child. For example, rather than to say to a child who has poured paint on the floor, “You’re a bad boy to have done that.” We will phrase it: “When you paint on the floor it makes a mess and I don’t like it. Now let’s get a sponge and clean it up.” Or when praising a child, we might say: “You did such a careful job of cleaning up. You hung up the smock and washed the brushes, rather than saying “What a good girl for cleaning up.” We try to keep commentaries about actions very specific.
- Children are guided through the process of orientating rather than directing.
No Tolerance Policy
Any child exhibiting abusive, aggressive or hurtful behavior will be excluded from the daily program, the parent or guardian will be contacted to pick up the child within thirty minutes of receiving the phone call.
Abusive, aggressive, and hurtful behavior is defined as biting, excessive hitting or kicking, scratching or any aggressive behavior that leaves a mark or injury on another person.
A meeting will be called to discuss such behavior and develop a plan to work with the child and family. If necessary, a referral will be made to the Norwalk Board of Education or other appropriate agency to seek services for the child. If the family chooses not to pursue additional services their care at Growing Seeds may be terminated.
In the best interest, safety and well being of others, child care services may be terminated at any time we feel it is necessary.
The Alternate Release Policy
No child will be released to a person without prior written authorization by his/her guardian. The person must show the staff proper identification including updated picture I.D. preferably a driver’s license. We will accept a FAX authorizing your release. If that is not possible and it is necessary for a parent/ guardian to give verbal authorization for an emergency pick-up, identification must also be presented.
Open Admission Policy
Growing Seeds is open to all children. This is a non-discriminatory organization. The program’s philosophy has always been just that. Currently the program has a wide economic background and diverse cultural background. All advertising stresses our commitment to diversity.
The program will continue to do outreach within the community by connecting churches and community organization with hopes of providing an early childhood experience to as many children as possible.
Open Door Policy
Growing Seeds prides itself on having an Open Door Policy, which allows parents to enter the school at anytime during the day to visit their child. You are welcome to observe our program as long as you wish. Please understand we may not be available to give you our undivided attention as we are interacting with the children.
Visitors tend to make the children behave in an excited manner that does not usually occur when where alone with them. Also, your child may become upset when your visit is over and you leave without them. Please keep these things in mind when planning your visit.
Clothing Policy
In dressing your child for his/her day please consider the following suggestions which we feel will afford his/her the ability to become fully involved in the many learning and funfilled experiences provided: Please do not send your child in with fasteners on their clothes that are hard to open or close.
Sandals or dress shoes may be pretty, but not suitable for running or climbing on the equipment indoors or the outdoor playground. It is in the child’s best interest to consider his/her safety and dress him/her in soles with rubber. Sneakers are the preferred shoe for school.
Please do not send your child in his/her best clothes or special favorites for which becoming stained would cause heartache.
Extra clothes allows your child the comfort of a fresh outfit should he/she have an accident, etc. spill or splash foods or liquids on his/her clothing. Please remember that underwear and socks are as necessary as the outer clothing when children have accidents. All clothing should be labeled to avoid confusion. PLEASE, CLEARLY LABEL EVERYTHING BELONGING TO YOUR CHILD. IF CLOTHING CHANGE IS NOT AVAILABLE, YOU WILL BE CONTACTED.
Collaboration Policy
It is Growing Seeds’ policy to foster relationships with organizations that fulfill the need of cultural and linguistic needs and provide translation for non-English speaking parents at Growing Seeds.
We annually assess our collaborations by getting feedback from parents, teachers, and administrators. If collaborations are not satisfactory Growing Seeds will ask for improvements from the organization. We have the parent fill out a referral log indicating if their experience was satisfactory or unsatisfactory. The Director reviews the satisfactory log. Director will contact the agency to determine what happened with the referral. If the director determines that services were unsatisfactory the program will select another agency.
Literacy Policy
Families of Growing Seeds can borrow books, tapes and crayons for their perusal in helping the children or broadening their knowledge in early childhood. The program produces a suggested reading book list for parents to purchase the appropriate reading books for their children. Children are brought to the library once per month or the librarian visits us, on a monthly basis. The importance of reading is stressed constantly.
If a parent(s) or other family members is in need of literacy development, there is information that can be obtained such as brochures, booklets and adult information.
Assessment Policy
On an annual basis Growing Seeds will follow-up with the graduating parents to see how their child is doing in school. A checklist will be generated based on kindergarten requirements and will be used in conjunction with setting objectives.
In addition, on a monthly basis, a progress report is given to each parent outlining their child’s progress. Three times a year a child Progress & Planning Report based on a Development Continuum is issued to the parents regarding their child’s progress.
Professional Development Policy
All staff attends various professional training during the year relative to early childhood, they are: Diversity, Literacy, Children with Special Needs, CT Frameworks and Creative Curriculum.
Confidentiality Policy
Growing Seeds’ policy is to keep all information relating to a child or parent confidential. This confidentiality policy includes, but is not limited to, salary information of the parent, personal file of the child and health information.
Teachers are privy to this information on a need-to-know basis. All teachers are instructed on maintaining confidentiality on an annual (or more frequently if needed) basis.
