1) License
I am a group family daycare provider licensed by the Morrison County Social Services, according to the state of MN Rules 9502.0315 - 9502.0445 for Family Day Care and Group Family Day Care.
2) Experience
I graduated from Montevideo Senior High School in 1986 and graduated from the St. Cloud Technical College in 1987 for Child Care/Developmental Needs. I have also attended several hours worth of classes and workshops through adult education relating to child care, discipline, activities and health issues, including first aid and CPR.
Since that time, I worked at two child care centers in the St. Cloud area, and from 1988 - 1995, I was a manager of a St. Cloud video rental store. I opened this group family daycare in 1995 after deciding to stay home with my own son.
3) License Capacity
I am licensed to provide care for ________ children. At this current time I care for the following number:
____Infants (age 6 weeks - age 1)
____Toddlers (age 1 - age 2)
____Preschoolers (age 2 - 5)
____School agers
4) Trial Period
I accept children into my daycare home on a 2 week (10 day) trial period. If at the end of the trial period I feel the need to terminate this contract, I may do so without a 2 week notice. You may also do so at this time, but it must be on or before the tenth day. After the tenth day, a 2-week notice must be given and you will be charged accordingly.
5) Hours and Days of Operation
This daycare facility is open Monday - Friday 7am - 6pm.
6) Fees
I charge a flat weekly fee for each child in my care. This fee is due each week by Friday at 6pm. Anytime Saturday before 6pm would be a $5.00 late fee, Sunday would be $10.00, Monday would be a $15.00 late fee and then care would be terminated until the amount is paid, but $5.00 would keep adding on each day the fee was late.
With this weekly fee, you may use as few or as many hours as you wish within the hours of operation. But, even though I am open 11 hour days I don't think it would be fair to your child or me to leave he or she here that long just because in a sense you are paying for it. That is a moral issue with me and I will not hesitate to terminate child care.
I will allow running errand occasionally before or after your work hours, but will not do it on a regular basis. I an here to provide care for your child(ren) so that you may work outside your home. I am not a "babysitter" to be used as such.
7) Deposit
Before care starts or before a child care "spot" is held for your child, a two week advance deposit must be made. This two week deposit will be used towards your child's last two weeks of care, whenever that may be down the road. If any rate changes have been made from the time your child starts, the difference will be added on and due the last day of care.
If the deposit is made and then you decide not to start your child, the deposit is forfeitted.
8) Drop-in fees
Drop-ins are those children that are only here on occasion, including the school age kids on their breaks from school. Those fees are $2.00 per hour and are due before 6pm on the Friday of that week your child was here. Same late fees apply (see #6)
9) Late pick-up
If for any reason your child is here after 6pm I charge $1.00 for every 1 minute you are late per family. (I go by my satellite dish clock which is the correct time) Please realize that you are cutting into my "family" time with my own family every time you are late. To save any of us any embarrassment, please don't make me ask for it, just add it on to your payment on that Friday. Excessive late pick-ups will result in me terminating this contract agreement.
10) Returned Checks
All returned checks will be charged a $20.00 NSF fee PLUS any late fees that have occurred until I get the payment. ($5 per day late fee) If it happens more than once, start paying with cash or a money order ONLY.
11) Meals
Food served during the day will always include servings from the basic food groups. All of my menus are monitored by the Provider's Choice Food Program. These meal times are approximate times. If your child is to be arriving close to any of these times, then please discuss it with me so I know if I will be feeding your child or not. Example: If you want to arrive at noon, your child should be fed before arriving. If you're arriving at 11:30, then the child can eat lunch with us.
Breakfast - start between 7 - 7:15 only (so we're done when the bus comes)
Lunch - 11:45am
PM Snack - 3:45pm
12) Birthdays and Special Occasions
You may bring a treat for us to share at snack time only if you'd like to. If it's candy, it must be all-age appropriate. All baked goods must be from a professionally licensed kitchen such as a bakery. And NO gum!!!! Thanks!
13) Naps
All children, regardless of age, are to lie down for a nap/rest period at approximately 12:30pm. You may wish to explain this to your child to help him/her feel more comfortable with this policy. The child does not have to sleep, but must observe a quiet time and then will be allowed to do quiet activities while the others sleep. If the child cannot stay quiet, he or she will have to return to his/her mat and stay until the others wake. If he or she is distruptive too often, termination of care may be given.
Infants (6 weeks - 12 months) will obviously nap when they need to, but when the child is nearing 12 months old, I ask your help in getting the child used to napping the same time as the rest (12:30 to 2:30-3:00) I ask this because the size of my home does not allow toddlers to be playing and making noise when the others are trying to sleep or rest.
If you are scheduled to bring your child during nap time, please remind him/her before you come in to avoid unnecessary noise and make sure he/she knows that they will be expected to lie down also. Toddlers should also be ready for a nap upon arriving during this time unless it's close to wake-up time.
Infants-Toddlers: a crib, playpen, or mat will be provided
Preschoolers - a mat, couch, or bed will be provided
All children should bring ONE small to medium size blanket or sheet for naptime. It will be sent home each Friday to be washed.
14) Toys
This daycare provides a number of various toys for children of all ages. To avoid breakage or sharing problems, I ask that your child does not bring any toys or things from home. A stuffed animal is ok to bring for nap, but he or she must understand that naptime is the only time the animal can be used. Please NO jewelry.
15) Ill at Daycare
I will notify you immediately if your child is vomitting, has diarrhea, high temp., or severe rash. You are expected to then make arrangements for the child to be picked up as soon as possible. I cannot accept any children in my home with any of those symptoms or any other illness that is catchy. (severe cold, flu, pink eye, chicken pox, etc.)
MN rules require that a parent notify me within 24 hours of the diagnosis or exposure of any seriously contagious diseases. I will then notify all the other parents here.
All children in my care MUST have the appropriate immuniztions for their age.
16) When no payment is due
The only time full weekly payment isn't due is when I have taken a day off or a vacation. I will ususally take two-weeks vacation during the year. (Jan - Dec) I will give at least two-weeks notice prior. It will be your responsibility to find alternate care for those days off. Vacation time may or may not be taken in consecutive days.
Another time you do not have to pay is if you take a one-week (5 day) vacation. Vacations must be taken on a Monday through Friday. During the time slot of January - December each year, each child is only allowed one vacation where no payment is due. Any other time off is still paid to me. Vacation will not be used during your two-week notice of termination.
17) Maternity Leave for provider.
If I take maternity leave, it will be no more than 6 weeks. Of course, that may change due to health reasons or emergencies. This time is, of course, unpaid to me. Again you will also have to find alternate care for that time.
The material on this page and all other of my pages is copyrighted. Ideas may be used and shared, but not transferred to any other web pages without my consent. Cozy Cottage Child CareŠ owned by Annette Smieja 1998
