Kids Connection Uplands Out of School Care

At Kids Connection Uplands it is important to us that all children have the opportunity to have 120 mins of physical activity daily and an hour of outside time. 

1. In the fall and spring months we take the children outside to play in the large playground at 8am until the bell rings during our before school program. After school in fall and spring we take small groups of 10-12 children for 20mins turns to the smaller playground from 2:45 to 3:45pm. The whole school year we take the children outside to the large playground from 4pm to 5pm (3:15 to 4:15pm in winter) for outdoor unstructured physical activity and outdoor play. During all day care we take the children outside during 11am to 12pm and 2pm to 3:30pm for structure and unstructured physical activity. 

2. We set up the gym everyday with a physical activity such as basketball, floor hockey, scoops, hula hoops, skipping ropes and badminton on the right side of the gym. We have a staff member help direct the children with their games. During days with extreme weather when we can not go outside we will also play group games such as tag and allow children to play with balls for the last half hour of our program. 

3. We do not allow any electric devices at our program and limit our time in the computer lab to a couple times a week and only allow children to have 15 to 20 minute turns.

4. We provide a monthly calendar for the parents with information on our daily activities and crafts. Calendars are emailed to the parents and also can be found on our website and at the daycare. Also, important information about our program and policies can be found on our website and all parents are given a copy of our Hand Book at the time of registration.

At Kids Connection at Uplands it’s very important to us that each child has a nutritious, well balanced diet. That’s why we ask all parents/guardians to follow Canada’s Food Guide when selecting food to provide their child for their snacks and lunch. Please see our list of suggestions from the Canada Food Guide below.

We have filtered water (at the water fountain) for all the children to drink and we ask that you send your child with a water bottle that we can refill throughout the day. We do offer use of a fridge but suggest putting an ice pack in your child’s lunch in case their lunch doesn’t make it back to the fridge.

We will occasionally do food preparation with the children and during special events families will be able to bring special treats such as store or bakery prepared cookies or sliced fruit or vegetables to share with the class. To encourage healthy eating every couple of months we have “healthy after school snacks” as our theme for the week which is indicated on our monthly calendars. This is a fun way to educate both children and parents about healthy eating and while enjoying a snack. Parents will always be informed of what the children will be eating on our monthly newsletters or by email prior to any food being served. Parents must notify us at time of registration or before events if their child is not allowed to partake of other food, which they did not provide. 

In the interest of good health and for the benefit of all children attending Kids Connection Uplands, we feel it is necessary to establish some guidelines to assist you in deciding whether or not your child is well enough to attend our program. Please see the guidelines below that are based on requirements by the Ministry of Health.

1.)  Most of children’s illnesses start with a fever. The fever usually indicated that the child is fighting some form of illness and at this time is contagious. You should not send your child to preschool until 24 hours after the fever has abated, and/or other acute systems have subsided.

2.) If your child has been vomiting or had diarrhea overnight he/she should not attend Kids Connection Uplands for at least 24 hours and until symptoms have subsided, whichever is later.

3.) If you child is on antibiotics he/she continues to be contagious for 24 hours after the first dose of medication and should not return to preschool until this time period has elapsed.  We do not administer any medication unless it is for emergency use such as epi-pens and inhalers.  An additional form will be given at registration and we will keep the medication in a locked bag.

4.) If your child has a severe cold accompanied by the above symptoms or a severe cough, they should be kept at home for at least 24 hours.

5.) We cannot accept children who have communicable childhood diseases, e.g. chicken pox, measles, scarlet fever, mumps, conjunctivitis (pink eye). The child may only return to preschool when the incubation and contagious period has passed and their doctor gives written permission.

6.) Please advise the caregiver immediately if you become aware of your child having a communicable disease, or being in contact with the same, so that the caregiver can advise the other parents.

7.) Should your child become sick during the day, you will be contacted at home/work, and we ask that an alternative care arrangement be made immediately, and that your child be taken out of daycare until they are well enough to return as outlined above.

8.) A child may not attend the center if they have Head Lice and hasn't been treated. If lice are found on a child the parent or Emergency Contact Person will be contacted to remove the child from the center. The child cannot return for at least 24 hours after the first treatment and they have been checked and no longer have live lice.

9.) You must provide a photocopy of your Doctor’s written proof, or the child’s health passport, of up-to-date immunization.

It is the law for all caregivers to report any suspected cases of child abuse or neglect.

The staff at Kid’s Connection abides by this law.

If suspected abuse happens from staff within our center we will report to the Penticton Licensing Office and the Licensee of our center. The staff will be in constant supervision by other staff or the director and will not be allowed to be alone with the children until the allegation has been rectified. If a staff person is found guilty they will be immediately dismissed.

If you suspect abuse or neglect there are three ways to reach a Ministry for Children and Families child protection social worker:

Parents will sign their child in and out when arriving and departing.

Please phone the center if your child will be very late or absent.

Without prior notice by a parent or guardian no child will be turned over to anyone not designated in writing. Please ask staff for a Release Form to sign if you need to change pick up for only one day.  When this person comes to pick up your child they will be asked for identification. Any other person that picks up your child on a regular basis should be noted on the registration form. When a person is noted on the registration form but does not pick up your child often they will be asked for identification to prove they are the person designated on the consent form.

If anyone comes to pick up your child that is not approved on your application form or written on a Release Form we will not allow them to take your child and you will be called for permission. If you do not allow permission we will refuse the child to be taken by this person. In the case where this person is verbally or physically intrusive a staff member will contact the RCMP to apprehend them. Your child will never be given to anyone without your written or verbal consent.

Our program runs from 730am to 530pm. Any child in the program who is picked up after these times will be charged an extra $5.00 for every 5 minutes after pick up time. Please let is know if you will be late or an emergency caregiver we can contact to pick up your child. If a child is picked up late more than 3 times in a year a notice will be given to make alternate care arrangements. 

In the event that your child is not picked up by l/2 hour after closing and your alternate caregiver could not be contacted we would contact the Ministry as indicated below:

Ministry for Children and Families (local district office)

Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm 250-770-2200 

After Hours Lines: 1-800-663-9122 ANY TIME CALL HELP LINE: 310-1234

ALLEGED IMPAIRED PARENT PICK UP PROCEDURE AND POLICY:

If we suspect that a parent or alternate caregiver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol we will tell them that they should not be driving their child home and encourage them not to take the child if we really feel they are under this influence. We will offer to contact another person to drive their child home who is not impaired or offer to pay for them go with their child in a taxi, which they will be billed for later. We will tell them that we will report them to the Ministry if they take the child. In the case where we do not immediately realize this or if they attempt to drive a child from our center we will have no alternative but to contact the R.C.M.P. and give them the description and license of the vehicle carrying the child and they will be reported to the Ministry as noted above.

At our center we create a happy, relaxing and interesting environment for children. In order to instill feelings of security and safety, children will be taught our expectations and learn our center’s routines. This includes safety rules, care of property, good health habits and consideration for others. 

Positive reinforcement is continually given for good behavior. Praise and encouragement are constantly offered when appropriate behavior is displayed. It is our policy to prevent a difficult situation before it arises.

If behavioral situations arise they will be dealt with promptly and in a positive and easy to understand manner. Guidance methods we use are as follows: a series of warnings, distractions from the problem areas, or the introduction of a new situation. Children are also taught through role modeling, suggestions, reflecting on each other’s feelings, and through natural consequences.

Parents will be consulted in regards to ongoing behavioral problems. If there are concerns during class that effect the child’s own safety or the safety of others, parents will be contacted. All issues and concerns will be addressed in confidence with all families involved. 

If we are unable to meet the needs of an individual child with regards to behavior, we will advise the parents of alternative arrangements.