For Parents

Here are some of the policies that WOI management and administration have established to ensure the safety and well-being of your children. Please read each carefully for your guidance.

Open Door Policy

Parents /Guardians are welcome to visit and observe the classroom. All parents who wish to spend time /volunteer in the classroom must be background screened. You will be charged a small fee for a background check to be completed. Please be sure that visits are respectful of the other students and their parents. We suggest short visits or watching from the hallway.

Arrival and Departure

Parents/Guardians please sign your child in and out every day. Please use the kiosk located at the receptionist desk. Children should be dropped off by 9:00 A.M. in order for them to receive the full benefit of our program and to prevent interruptions during lunch and nap-time.

Evaluations

Children(VPK) are formally evaluated three times per year. You will receive an email notification when the evaluation is available for you to view. Parents are encouraged to set up a conference with their child’s teacher to go over evaluations.

Media Usage

For the confidentiality and safety of all of our children and their families, we have a strict policy against non-staff members taking pictures or videos of any children on the WOI campus. Pictures taken here at school by staff or professional photographers will not be displayed on social media without the written consent of all parties photographed.

Discipline Policy

No form of physical or verbal abuse/punishment is permitted. Discipline will not be severe, humiliating, frightening, or associated with food, rest, or toileting. The only acceptable forms of discipline are prevention, redirection, positive reinforcement, and the occasional use of “time out.” The guidelines we use for children in “time out” are one minute for each year of their age. This will be accompanied by a discussion with the child regarding the unacceptable behavior.Section 65C-22.006(4)2, F.A.C , requires that parents are notified in writing of the disciplinary practices used by the child care facility.

Biting Policy

If a child bites another child and breaks the skin, the child’s parents will be notified and it will be recorded in the child’s file. If a child bites and breaks the skin more than 3 times in a 6-month period, they may be excused from our program. Children who have a tendency to bite will be given alternative ways to deal with the issue.

Disenrollment Policy

Our program supports children’s growth and development, and respects individual learning styles and children’s uniqueness. We seek a partnership with our families and work together to solve any challenges. We want all children to be given the chance for success. If a situation should arise that all possible interventions and supports have not been successful, then another appropriate setting might be recommended.

Child actions that may be cause for dis-enrollment

• Child unable to adjust to the program after a reasonable amount of time
• Ongoing uncontrollable tantrums, physical/verbal aggression and/or profanity
• Excessive biting that is non-age appropriate

Other actions that may be cause for dis-enrollment:

• Parent or Guardian fails to abide by Center policies or requirements of Child Care Regulations including, but not limited to current health forms
• Non-payment of tuition
• Parent or Guardian is physically or verbally abusive or intimidating to Center staff or children

The Center will not dis-enroll a child based solely on complaints to Child Care Licensing reports of alleged abuse or neglect at the center. Decisions to dis-enroll a child are difficult for the program and the family. We work to communicate, address, and resolve concerns with the families in our care.

Incident Reports

In the event an incident of any significance occurs at school (social or medical), a written report will be filled out and will need to be signed by the parent/guardian. The incident report will contain specifics about what occurred and what actions were taken. It will be completed by the witnessing staff member and will need to be signed by the parent. A copy of the report will be kept on file in the preschool office.

Inclement Weather

Safety for our children and staff will be our first consideration when deciding on school closure. If the Hillsborough County schools are closed, our school will also be closed.

Emergency Procedures

Monthly fire drills and other emergency drills will be held according to licensing and accreditation guidelines. A report of these drills is posted on the bulletin board in the hall for you to review. Evacuation and lockdown procedures are posted in each classroom. Our School is certified by Safelutions and has worked with their consultant to develop an extensive emergency/school safety plan which included staff training. A copy of the plan is kept in a binder in the preschool office. In the event that our facility needs to be evacuated, we will walk children to First Baptist overflow parking(Northside) and parents will be contacted.

Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect

All childcare personnel are mandated by law to report their suspicions of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment to the Florida Abuse Hotline in accordance with section 39.201 of the Florida Statues.

Health Requirements and Immunizations

As per child care regulation 65-C-20, all students must have a current certificate of immunization, DH form 680 and a current student health examination form. These forms must be brought in prior too or within the first week of enrollment. Both forms are available from your pediatrician, family doctor, or the local county health department. They are familiar with these forms and are aware parents must provide them to their childcare provider.

Health and Safety

Every effort will be made to maintain a safe and healthy environment for your child. Strict diapering and hand-washing procedures will be followed.Infants will be placed on their backs to sleep and no bottles, pillows or stuffed toys will be allowed in the cribs.

Please indicate any allergies your child may have on the enrollment application. Confidential allergy charts will be kept in the classrooms and on the roll sheets to notify staff of any allergy or medical conditions your child may have.

• Strict diapering and hand-washing procedures will be followed.
• Infants will be placed on their backs to sleep and no bottles, pillows, or stuffed toys will be allowed in the cribs.
• Please indicate any allergies your child may have on the enrollment application.
• Confidential allergy charts will be kept in the classrooms and on the roll sheets to notify staff of any allergy or medical conditions your child may have.

Illness

To minimize any spreading of disease between children and for the health of the children and staff, parents must keep their child home when he/she shows symptoms of infection or illness. Please use the following as a guide to whether your child should stay home:

Please use the following as a guide to whether your child should stay home:

• A fever of over 100 within the past 24 hours
• Intestinal disturbance accompanied by diarrhea or vomiting
• Any undiagnosed rash
• Sore or discharging eyes or ears, profuse colored nasal discharge
• A communicable disease

Children who show the above signs or symptoms or otherwise become ill while at school will be kept away from the other children as much as possible until the parent is contacted and comes to pick the child up. Parents will be expected to pick up their child immediately after being notified.

Parents must keep a current medical release form on file for their child. In case of an emergency, 911 will be called and the child will be transported to the nearest health care facility. Parents will assume financial responsibility for all medical transportation and treatment.

Children must be free of abnormal temperatures without medication for a minimum of 24 hours and show no signs of illness when returning to school.

Medication Policy

WOI will only administer medications used to help breathing and/or allergic emergencies such as a nebulizer/inhaler or EpiPen. Non-prescription topical creams such as diaper rash ointment are an exception and can be administered as needed with consent from the health care provider. Written consent from the parent and health care provider will be documented on the medication permission form along with detailed dosage instructions. The medicine needs to be in the original container and will be stored in a locked box while in the preschool. The first dose of medication shall be given at home to see if the child has any type of reaction. It is recommended that parents/caregivers give medication before or aftercare, or come in over their lunch hour.

Clothing and Blankets

A change of clothing and a small crib-sized blanket for naps MUST be kept at the center. EVERYTHING MUST HAVE YOUR CHILD’S NAME WRITTEN ON IT: For example – lunch boxes, blankets, clothing, and jackets. Cubbies are provided for each child for extra clothing and blankets.

Birthdays

We would love to help celebrate your child’s birthday! Please inform your child’s teacher if you would like to bring in a treat for your child’s class. We prefer to celebrate during morning snack time at 9:30. You are welcome to join in the fun!

Parking Lot Safety

• Drive slowly and cautiously.
• NEVER leave any child unattended in the car no matter how quickly you think you will return or how inclement the weather.
• Keep children close as you walk them through the lot.
• Please remain in your vehicle during rainy day dismissal.
• Always check your back seat kids go to sleep.