Little Tiger S Preschool and Daycare Center

Little Tiger’s Preschool and Daycare Center

319 South Parkway Avenue

Battle Ground Washington 98604

(360)687-5256

Dear Parents:

The staff of Little Tiger’s would like to take this opportunity to welcome you and your child to Little Tiger’s Preschool and Daycare Center. We would also like to thank you for allowing us to share with you in the growth and development of your child.

Please take a few moments to read through this handbook. You will find a section containing our philosophy and some general information about Little Tiger’s Preschool and Daycare Center. At the end of this handbook you will find a statement of agreement that must be signed by you and by the Little Tiger’s Preschool and Daycare Center Director prior to your child’s enrollment.

We are always excited about the coming year and are confident that both you and your child will find the experience both enjoyable and beneficial.Our children typically do very well when they transition to public school. Please call if you have any questions or concerns about the policies addressed in this handbook or if there is any way we can be of assistance.

Sincerely,

THE DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF LITTLE TIGER’S PRESCHOOL AND DAYCARE CENTER

PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY

We believe that every child is a worthwhile and unique individual and should be given as many opportunities as possible to learn in their own way, pursuing their own interests and having their many individual needs met. Our goal is to accept each child as they are, and to help foster their growth and development into a responsible, independent, and caring person. We will strive to make all children more aware of the world around them through activities and experiences aimed at social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. We understand the importance of providing the opportunity for children to participate in group as well as individual activities, both noisy and quiet times, large and fine motor physical activities, and time for observation to develop problem solving and listening skills.

We believe that if given the chance, every child has the potential to develop a healthy sense of self-esteem, a feeling that he or she is special, and a foundation that will encourage enjoyable learning experiences now and in the future. We believe that these early years of a child’s life can set the tone for his or her future and that a happy, fun and exciting child care program which is based on love, understanding, caring and early learning will bring forth the best in a child, who is ready to tackle the responsibilities of life. One of our greatest pleasures is meeting graduates of our program, who now have their own children. Without exception, they have fond memories of their years at Little Tigers and credit our program with having a positive influence on their lives.

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PROGRAM GOALS

The goal of the Little Tiger’s staffis to provide a safe, stimulating and uplifting environment which will help each child grow and develop at his or her own pace and to provide the community with a quality model child care program.

Program Goals for Children

Little Tiger’s goals for the children are as follows:

1.To help children develop a positive self-image.

2.To provide opportunities to establish early friendships and social interactions among childrenand adults, and toestablish a solid foundation on which to build future learning.

3.To provide challenging activities encouraging development of large and fine motor skills.

4.To help children develop effective communication, interpersonal relations, listening and

conflict resolution skills.

5.To encourage children to express themselves in appropriate and acceptable ways.

6.To develop in each child an interest in learning about his or her environment.

7.To offer experiences that enable children to develop self-esteem and the confidence to

make good decisions for themselves and to accept responsibility for their actions.

SERVICES PROVIDED

Little Tiger’s provides quality daycare and educational opportunities for the children of Battle Ground and surrounding communities. The Little Tiger’sprogram is nondiscriminatory and welcomes children and families of any religion, race, sex, ethnic or national origin, handicap and sexual orientation.

Little Tiger’s Classrooms

Yellow Room– 12 months–30 months

Blue Room – 30 months-48 months and potty trained

Red Room – 4 years-5 years

Brown Room - Overflow classroom when needed due to class sizes.

Orange Room – 5 years -6 years

Green Room (gym) – 6 years-12 years

All classrooms are color coded by their chair color.

In all cases, children are placed in groups that fit their developmental readiness as well as chronological age.Little Tiger’s staff will work with families to determine which program will fit the needs of each individual child.

Hours of Operation and Scheduled Holidays

Little Tiger’s islicensed for operation between the hours of6:00am and 6:00pm, Monday through Friday.Children may be dropped off beginning at 6:00 a.m. Children contracted for full day or afternoon care must be picked up no later than 6:00pm. If your contract is for preschool, pick up your child no later than 12:00pm. The center will be closed on the following Holidays: ChristmasDay, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,Thanksgiving and the day after.

There will be sign up sheets for holidays in order to get an accurate count of how many children will need to attend on that day and to give an opportunity for staff to take the day off if not enough children sign up. If you sign up for Monday, Wednesday and Fridays those are considered your scheduled days. If the holiday falls on a Monday or Friday you will be required to pay for that days care even though we are not open. However, you do have the option of taking the day as a vacation day. Vacation days may be taken after your child has been in attendance for 3 consecutive months. You are given double the amount of scheduled days for the year. If your child is scheduled for 3 days a week you are given 6 vacation days for the year. Our school year is September 1st through August 31st.

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PROFESSIONAL STAFF

The professional staff at Little Tiger’s is dedicated to providing quality care and educational opportunities to all children. Great effort has gone into providing a stable, consistent staff, andour staff receive competitive wages and a desirable benefits package. We try to provide a loving, safe, fun learning environment for your child. We love children at Little Tiger’s and find the very best teachers available to care for and teach your child in a manner which is pleasing to even the most discerning parent.

Our staff and facility meet or exceed all State of Washington requirements including the following:

1. All staff are trained and certified in CPR and First Aid.
2. All staff receive HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention training.
3. All staff receive State of Washington Criminal History Background check and FBI fingerprinting check

if required.

1. All staff have been tested negative for TB.
2. All staff participate in professional continuing education programs. (10 hours college level minimum per year)
3. All staff have provided verified professional and personal references.
4. All staff involved in food preparation has valid Food Handlers Permit.
5. We have a very open facility which virtually eliminates the possibility of staff ever being alone or

unobserved with a child and frequent staff meetings address any potential problems.

1. The staff is trained in productive methods of positive discipline. Corporal Punishment is never used at Little Tigers.
2. All staff strive to develop a sense of responsibility in your child by requiring group participation when

picking up toys, putting things in cubby’s, hanging up clothing and hand washing.

1. Your child is covered by our commercial insurance coverage while in our care.

12. Your child will participate in monthly fire drills and quarterly earthquake and disaster training drills as required by state law.

CURRICULUM

A comprehensive, developmentally appropriate method is used where active learning is facilitated by flexible classroom arrangements utilizing interest centers and individualized activities.

The teaching staff develops lesson plans to include the following:

*Large and Small Group activities *When a child is clearly not ready to transition to the next

*Family Style meals age appropriate room due to developmental delays or just

*Outside and Large Motor activities transitioning from one teacher to another, the child may be

*Child initiated choices placed in a room where he is more comfortable for short periods

*Developmentally appropriate computer experiences of time, with the knowledge and consent of the parent.

Toddler/Preschoolers

Lesson Plans and daily activities are designed to provide developmentally appropriate experiences in each of the following areas:

*Sense of Self
*Social Relations
*Creative Representation

*Movement
*Music
*Communication & Language

*Exploring Objects

Toddler Daily Schedule

Because children do not develop at the same rate, the toddler room provides a combination of individual needs and group activities. Lesson plans are available always hanging up on the parent board in the classrooms.

*Occasionally a child moving up from the toddler room to the three year old room has trouble adjusting to his or her new room, teacher, bathroom responsibilities or surroundings. When this happens, we may allow the child to return to the toddler room for brief periods to relieve the child’s anxiety.

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Pre-Kindergarten and Preschool

Lesson Plans and daily activities are designed to provide developmentally appropriate experiences in each of the following areas:

*Language & Literacy
*Initiative & Social Relations

*Creative Representation
*Movement

*Music
*Classification
*Number

The daily schedule of the preschool classrooms is designed to offer children a variety of learning experiences including group and self - initiated activities.

A typicalpreschool day may include the following:

6:00-9:00 – Arrival/Free Choice

7:00-7:30 – Breakfast

9:00-9:30 – Circle Time

9:30 – 10:00 – Large Group Activities/Music & Movement

10:00-10:30 – Snack

10:30-11:30– Activity Centers

11:30-12:00 – Outside & Large Motor Activities

12:00-12:30 –Lunch

12:30-1:00 – Lunch Clean-up & Nap Preparation

1:00-3:00–Rest Time

2:30-3:00 – Wake-up & Quiet Activities

3:00-3:30 – Snack

3:30-4:15 – Activity Centers

4:30-5:30 – Large Group/Music & Movement/ Outside & Large Motor Activities

5:30-6:00 – Ready to go home time with quiet activities

DISCIPLINE/GUIDANCE

The staff at Little Tiger’s will use positive methods of discipline/guidance, which will encourage each child to develop self-control, self-esteem, and self-direction.We believe that when children are actively involved in developmentally appropriate learning activities, misbehavior is least likely to occur.This is one reason we believe strongly in proper developmental placement.While proper placement will not solve all discipline problems, it provides a healthy context within which to deal with individual situations. Our goal is to assist children in conflict resolution strategies to help strengthen their problem solving abilities.

Toddlers

It is normal for infants and toddlers to be curious about their surroundings. During active exploration of their environment, we may find them in situations that could cause harm to themselves, others, or materials around them. We understand that a child’s natural curiosity can override their ability to comply with rules; we do our best to provide a “child–proof” environment so that children are able to enjoy free exploration of their environment.This is a delicate stage in a child’s development.

Preschoolers

During this stage of development children need to know what is expected from them.The teaching staff set guidelines through classroom limits, schedules, and teaching strategies geared toward assisting children to become self–confident, critical thinkers and problem solvers. The teaching staff realizes that conflicts will occur with young children. We use these circumstances to help children learn conflict resolution strategies, and problem solving skills. Our staff will model positive techniques by teaching children the importance of listening to others, identifying the problem at hand, seeking solutions, and agreeing on solutions. We feel it is important for adults to be facilitators in the problem solving effort rather than always dictate what the solutions should be.

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School Age Children

The teaching staff set guidelines for the children. The teaching staff realizes that conflicts will occur with young children.We use these circumstances to help children learn conflict resolution strategies, and problem solving skills. Our staff will model positive techniques by teaching children the importance of listening to others, identifying the problem at hand, seeking solutions, and agreeing on solutions.We feel it is important for adults to be facilitators in the problem solving effort rather than dictate what the solutions should be.We feel the children should be respectful of the staff and the other children.If the rules are not followed they may be asked to sit in a time out or write sentences or loss of privileges. The student will learn that usually actions have consequences and that we are all responsible for our actions.

Occasionally, children’s behaviors go beyond normal limits. This occurs when children choose actions that put others or themselves at risk.When this occurs, the teaching staff will explain the negative effects of the child’s behavior and attempt immediate re-direction. If this is not successful then separating the child from the situation will become necessary. If potentially harmful situations persist, a conference with the parent(s), the teacher, and the director will be scheduled to coordinate a plan of action. Regretfully, if attempts to eliminate harmful behaviors are not successful, the center staff may request the child be removed from the center to ensure the health and safety of all children enrolled. If a child is suspended from public school, he or she will not be able to return to Little Tigers until the suspension is over.

Corporal punishment will not be used at any time.Children will be sent to time out if they continue to misbehave. Depending on the child’sage, sentences may be used instead of a time out. We may also find it necessary to separate the child from another child, if those children keep having issues with each other that can’t be resolved.

If any child endangers the safety of other children or staff members the child may be warned and/or suspended immediatelyand if it happens again the child could be suspended for two days. If this occurs a third time the child may be expelled from the program permanently.

TUITION AND REGISTRATION

Anannual non-refundable registration fee of $50.00 is required for each child at the time of initial enrollment. This registration fee does not apply toward tuition cost. Tuition charges are based on full week enrollment depending on your scheduling choice.

State funded children’s registration is paid only once per year in February after initial registration. Our school year runs from September through August. Those returning students who are state funded will be billed a $50 registration fee each September. You may pay the fee privately, or have the balance carry over until the state authorizes payment in January. If the child stops attending prior to the state paying the fee, you will be held responsible for that fee.

Page 15 of this handbook covers complete tuition and fees information. The director can resolve any questions you may have.

Enrollment Eligibility

The following information must be completed prior to the admittance of each child:

1.Registration Form including date of last physical/dental exam within the past year.

2.Registration fee of $50.00 per child.

3.Completed current record of immunizations on the Certificate of Immunization form.

1. Written consent form for child to receive emergency medical care.
2. Written list of allergies or foods child can not eat and any medications used.
3. Permission to transport child to and from public school if applicable.

It is the responsibility of the parent to maintain up – to – date information regarding their child. Failure to provide these items may result in your child’s enrollment being delayed or cancelled. Tuition charges will be assessed to your account until the required information is provided.

CONTRACT TERMS

A contract will be prepared covering days, hours, and tuition charges for your child. The contract must by signed by the parent and returned to uswithin 5 days. A copy will be provided to the parent if asked. A signed contract is an agreement that you will abide by all applicable rules, regulations, and policies set out in this handbook and you will pay for all days specified in the contract even when your child is absent. Little Tiger’s agrees to provide child care services on all days and hours contracted.We have not closed due to adverse weather conditions since we opened in 1989. (5)