Nevertheless, writing down the changes is the best course of action, as it provides more clarity and protection for both parties to a contract. A rule of thumb is to review the contracts once a year and, if things have changed in the program or if the parents propose changes, review the contract and the rules. These amendments must be written, dated and given to the parents for signature. Drop-off and pick-up policies: This should include who can pick up your child from the program and how this is monitored. It may also include information about late pickup fees. A contract includes details about the partnership between you and your child care provider and can help avoid misunderstandings. Some elements that you will find in a child care contract may also be included in the child care provider`s policies. Emergency preparedness plans: Emergencies, such as natural disasters, can result in the temporary suspension of child care programs. An emergency closure may occur while your child is in care. How will you be informed of the closures and the reopening plan? Is the provider able to provide adequate care for your child if you can`t reach them for several hours or even days? If the facility needs to be evacuated due to an emergency, do you know where to pick up your child? All of these issues should be addressed in a written contingency plan.
This plan may be part of the policies and procedures or it may be a separate document. Food and nutrition: Providers can provide meals and snacks, or they can ask parents to pack food for their children. If the supplier serves meals and snacks, ask to see the supplier`s weekly menu. The child care provider`s menu should include healthy meals and snacks that meet federal dietary guidelines. If meals and snacks are not provided, ask the provider if there are any types of foods that are not allowed in the facility (e.B many programs are nut-free) so that you can ensure that the meals and snacks you pack for your child comply with program policies. Child care resources and referral agencies usually have helpful brochures and tips on choosing a provider. Community Care Licensing, the body that oversees licensed child care providers, has information about providers, including information about past violations of licensing laws. Parents can ask questions about the contract and opt for another provider if the questions are not answered or if the parent and provider cannot agree on certain issues. You want your child to be safe, healthy, happy and to learn, both with you and in the care of others. How you want your child to be cared for is extremely important. Knowing that your child will be cared for the way you want, you will have more peace of mind when you are gone.
Curriculum: A provider may follow a specific philosophy or learning or teaching program. Make sure learning opportunities are planned every day and that they match your child`s age and development. Open Door Policy: You should be allowed to consult your child care provider at all times. Make sure your provider allows you to visit unexpectedly whenever your child is there. To inform parents about how the child care program is conducted, providers often include a set of rules that cover things like schedules, disciplinary policies, and other requirements (for example. B, the requirement for parents to change clothes). It is important that parents read both the contract and the attached rules before signing the contract. Parents should only sign if they want to follow both the contract and the attached rules. Mandatory vaccinations: Vaccinations are essential to keep your child and other children in the child care program healthy.
Find out more about why vaccinations are so important. Other things that are not covered by the license terms may be just as important to your childcare decision. The policies, procedures and contracts of a child care program will give you an idea of how your child is being cared for. Contracts do not need to be long or written in legal language to be legally binding. A child care contract primarily requires the provider and parents to (1) mutually agree on the terms of the contract and (2) exchange promises. [i] It is important that the information is in writing. Having the information in writing is a great sign that a provider has invested time and effort in deciding how to care for children and run their business. In addition, written policies and procedures must be made available to all employees and volunteers so that they can understand and follow them. Parent engagement and involvement: Are parents encouraged to participate in activities? Are there ways to participate in the design of program policies, activities and materials? Parental involvement can help welcome, honor and celebrate the cultures and languages of all children. Your participation can build a better relationship with your provider, promote quality improvement, and support your child`s learning and development.
People who sign written documents that appear to be contracts are treated as if they have accepted all the terms of the contract. A person cannot escape responsibility by pretending not to have read or not to have read the contract. [i] Parents who cannot read well should have the contracts read or explained. Parents who are not fluent in English should request that contracts be translated into their mother tongue. [ii] In addition to a signed contract, your supplier should have written guidelines for other important situations. This includes things like illness, discipline, emergencies, and transportation. Below we discuss what should be included in contracts and policies and why they are so important. Yes. Any attached contract and set of rules may be modified if the provider and parent agree to the changes. All changes must be made in writing, dated and included in the contract. A gift or favor is not an exchange of promises. For example, if one day, at the time of care, a parent spontaneously offers to repair a broken climbing structure and he does not finally carry out the repair, he has not broken a contract.
The promise to carry out the repair was a “gift” to the supplier. No promise of payment was made and therefore there was no exchange. Therefore, the promise was not an enforceable contract. Transportation policies: If your child care provider is driving your child on a bus or car, make sure the drivers are licensed and insured. You must also ensure that the vehicle is in good condition and that your child is secured with the right type of car seat, booster seat or seat belt, depending on your child`s height and age. Yes. If a contract contains something other than the law, the contractual provision is illegal. [i] Given that many child care providers are licensed, licensing laws are particularly important. For example, the Licensing Act stipulates that providers may not resort to corporal punishment such as spanking. Thus, even if a contract states that a provider will beat the children and the parent accepts and signs the contract, this provision would be illegal and invalid. Licensing laws require suppliers to follow certain rules, even if the contract states otherwise.
High-quality child care programs have written policies and procedures. Some may summarize this information in a parent`s manual. Some providers may also ask you to sign a statement stating that you have received a copy of the policies and procedures. Even if you don`t have to sign a declaration, it`s important that you review policies and procedures with your provider to make sure you agree. Anything that is not clear in a contract is interpreted against the person who wrote it. [iii] Providers usually draft the child care contract. Thus, if there is disagreement between the parent and the provider on the meaning of an unclear term, the provider will likely have difficulty getting a court to accept their interpretation of the parent`s interpretation. .