Policies.

ABSENCES: Payments are based on days enrolled, not on days attended. Fees will not be pro-rated for sick, vacation, or non-attended days. If your child won’t be in attendance for the day please call by 8:30 AM.

There will be no refunds for days missed while the child is enrolled, payment is to reserve a space for your child, whether you use it or not.

*A child is considered enrolled upon receipt of the completed Enrollment Contract, the non-refundable two week Tuition and the non-refundable NEW registration or the non-refundable re-REGISTRATION Fee. ONCE RECEIVED, FKO agreeS to hold THE opening WHICH THEREFORE giveS up the right to fill that position with another child. this IS THE reason a non-refundable two week tuition ALONG WITH THE NON-REFUNDABLE New REGISTRATION FEE IS required. the re-registration fee for re-registrations is also non-refundable.

SECURITY DEPOSIT & NEW REGISTRATION FEE: A NON-REFUNDABLE two week tuition security deposit and a non-refundable new registration fee of $85 is due at the time of enrollment to ensure a place in the program. The registration fee covers administration costs and an FKO backpack. This payment must be paid by money order. We will accept checks for Tuition payments going forward.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT: If your employer offers tuition reimbursement (PRE-TAX to help pay for out-of-pocket day care expenses) you must indicate it on the Contract Agreement Form. You must also provide a form for the FKO director to sign.

CONFIDENTIALITY / SECURITY of CHILDREN’S RECORDS: All of the children’s records are kept in a fireproof filing cabinet. Only the FKO staff have access to the files.

TRIAL PERIOD: All new children will be cared for on a 3 week trial period beginning on your child’s first actual day of care. During that time the parent may terminate the childcare agreement with a minimum of a two-week written notice. The director may terminate the agreement at will without a two-week written notice.

TERMINATION AGREEMENT: A 30 day written notice is to be given to management prior to termination. FKO reserves the right to dismiss a child, at will, if it is in the best interest of the child and/or the school. Cause for dismissal includes aggressive behavior, and physical or emotional harm to self or others.

REST: Rest times vary per child and although they may not sleep, they are expected to rest and remain quiet while the other children sleep. State requirement mandates a minimum of a one hour rest period, which could include reading books on their mats.

ILLNESS: Parents will need a back-up person in case your child comes down with a fever, vomiting and/or diarrhea and requiring one-on-one care. Your child needs to stay home that day until symptoms subside. Please refer to our Illness Policy found under the Enrollment Forms page.

COVID – Test To Stay

-Quarantine guideline for a covid positive case: (still the same)

-Stay home for 5 days from positive test result

-If ALL symptoms are gone AND fever free for AT LEAST 24 hours without medicine they can return on day 6 wearing a properly fitted mask at all times.

– Child will eat and sleep in a space away from the other children

-If they can not properly wear a mask they will need to stay home for the full 10
days.

-They can return on day 11 if ALL symptoms are gone AND fever free for AT
LEAST 24 hours without medicine

*ANYONE that gets severely ill from covid must quarantine for the full 10 days

Quarantine guideline for a covid exposure: (new test to stay program)

*I will give you a box with 5 tests in it for your child if they have close contact.
Covid exposure over 2 yrs old….

-Can still come if 100% asymptomatic

-Must test in the morning before arrival on day 1,3,5.

-Parents must send me a picture of the negative test before arrival

-Child must wear a mask at all times possible inside, all 10 days. If they can not
wear the mask correctly then they must test on day 1,3,5,7,9

-Child will eat and sleep in a space away from the other children
Covid exposure under 2 yrs old…

-Can still come if 100% asymptomatic

-Test on day 1,3,5,7,9

-Parents must send me picture of the negative test results by 7:00AM

-Child will eat and sleep in a space away from the other children

-No masking required

NUTRITION: We provide 2 nutritious meals a day, breakfast and lunch and an afternoon snack. All the meals adhere and/or exceed to the guidelines set by the USDA childcare food program. Our Menu is carefully selected to provide nutritional meals for your child. Arrangements can be made if your child requires special dietary needs. Meals are served family style with adults assisting the children. Mom and Dad are always welcome to join their child during meal time. With the active schedule at daycare each child is offered a time to rest.

SOFT DRINKS/SUGARY JUICES: Please refrain from bringing soft drinks in to the daycare. We do promote the 5-2-1-0 Healthy Living program. Our staff members do not bring in soft drinks or sugary drinks for themselves.

IMMUNIZATIONS: Any child attending FKO must have their mandatory immunizations such as Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella (German measles) Mumps up to date or have an exemption letter on file prior to being accepted. Children who have not been immunized and children who are too young to receive an immunization will be excluded from FKO during any outbreak of contagious outbreak/disease at the daycare. Fees are due during the above absences. The State of Maine requires that the we have updated information on childrens’ immunizations. Please let us know every time your child is immunized so that we can update our records. Changes in your children’s medical information must also be reported to help us better serve your children

HOLIDAYS: Please refer to the FKO yearly calendar for a listing of holiday and vacation closures that we. If a holiday falls during the weekend we will observe that holiday on either Monday or Friday.

WORKSHOP DAYS: With state and federal laws requiring employees to be more educated and on-going training hours increased, we use some of the holiday closures as workdays for our staff. These days also give us the opportunity to sanitize the day care, invite speakers, review CPR and first aid as well as explore updated techniques and materials in the child care field.

OUR STAFF’S: primary goal is to meet the needs of the children and is a valuable asset to your child’s learning process. We are trained and have extensive experience in child development and are certified in pediatric, youth and adult first aid and CPR. Our staff also attends seminars and training sessions to expand their knowledge in childcare and education. We believe in continuous improvements of our processes and development to build a better environment for your children.

STAFF COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES: Any staff suspecting a violation will notify the director promptly. It will be the director’s responsibility to contact DHS that the report is being made. All suspicions of licensing violations must be handled immediately. All observations/disclosures of information must be recorded as soon as possible. In compliance with the Mandated Reporting Law, the staff person filing out the report will call the Licensing Bureau and write a written report within 48 hours.

REPORTING CHILD INJURY OR DEATH:
1. An FKO Staff Member must immediately notify the Child’s Parent or Legal Guardian of any illness, serious injury, or Incident involving their Child. An Adult designated by the Parent or Legal Guardian must be notified immediately should the Parent or Legal Guardian be unavailable.

2. An FKO Staff Member must document all Accidents, injuries, Incidents, or emergencies in the Child’s record on the day of the occurrence and the Parent or Legal Guardian must review and sign the document within two business days.

ACCIDENTS and EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: Our staff are certified in Red Cross Pediatric emergencies, and child CPR. Our staff will report any accident that requires first aid on an accident form. Parents will get a copy and a copy will be filed in the child’s folder. Minor cuts and scrapes will be cleaned with soap and water and covered with a bandage. Bruises and bumps will be treated with ice packs. Parents will be notified if accidents require a doctor’s attention. If an accident requires immediate medical attention, the child will be taken to the requested hospital or the closest hospital if not specified by the parent, accompanied by a staff member. All parents will be asked to file an authorization form in an extreme emergency for your child to be treated at a hospital. Every effort will be made to contact a parent or guardian in such emergencies.

FIRE and DISASTER DRILLS: We conduct monthly fire drills, in accordance with state regulations. Children are trained to proceed to a specified meeting place in the same manner as if they were evacuating their home. We have daily attendance sheets which makes it easier to do head counts of children when conducting fire drills. Disaster Drills are done and logged every 3 months.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN: In the event of a state emergency, we are equipped for an extended stay at the day care. We will alert parents via phone. A cell phone is available should land service be interrupted. All pertinent information for each child is kept with us. (Our emergency evacuation location is the Saco Fire Department and the Young School). Please be aware that payment is expected regardless of emergency closings, ie. State of Emergency.

SMOKE-FREE POLICY: There is no smoking inside or surrounding the daycare facility. If parents smoke, please refrain from this after you drop your child off & you have pulled clearly out of the our vicinity. Please do not extinguish cigarettes in the driveway or on the daycare grounds, you will be confronted & asked to pick up the litter.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT: Parents are a crucial factor in our program. In fact, parents are our partners. Our teachers understand and respect that parents are their children’s first teacher. Their involvement in the school gives their children a sense of security and is deeply appreciated. We recognize that stable, quality relationships during the early years are fundamental for later developmental outcomes. Collaboration between teachers, parents and the children is an integral part of the educational experience at FKO. Our goal is not simply to build a strong, warm and nurturing connection with each child, but to extend that connection to our community of parents. By working in a collaborative group setting, children learn critical life skills such as compromise, reasoning, respect for others opinions and enhancement of their sense of community. 

JEWELRY/ACCESSORIES: Please refrain fomr having your child(ren) wear any kind of jewelry. Dangling earrings, a dangling necklace or bracelet may be pulled on by one of the younger children. Beaded bracelets may break and we do not want the children trying to put the loose beads in their mouths.

POTTY TRAINING: For children who are potty training, you need to provide a supply of disposable diapers/“Pull Ups”, disposable wipes as well as diaper cream, if used. Because the outer clothing might also need changing, we ask that you send a couple of changes including socks. Also please be considerate when dressing your child so that it easier for them and the staff while potty training ie., belts, overalls, buttons and mark all items with your child’s name.

TOILET LEARNING:​ Toilet learning is discussed with individual parents/legal guardians as the need arises. FKO does not believe in pushing a child, but in letting each go at their own pace. Before learning to make use of the toilet can even begin, a child must be able to communicate their needs verbally and able to undress themselves, in regards to their pants. Toilet learning is not about the adult taking responsibility, but the child accepting and enjoying this very grown-up responsibility. Pull-ups or diapers will be required until two weeks without an accident.

AMENDMENTS: FKO reserves the right to amend these policies under special circumstances with reasonable notice to parents.

REVISIONS to HANDBOOK & CONTRACT: There will be a yearly revision to the Parent Handbook. All families will sign a new contract each year. We reserve the right to make changes in rates and policies as we deem necessary. You will be notified, in writing of any changes that may occur. Every attempt will be made to give at least two weeks notice of changes.