Child Care Provider: Sheri Knott

This home is registered by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.

MY GOALS AND PHILOSOPHY OF CHILD CARE

• Every child is an individual who has his/her own rate of physical development and own pace of learning. Each child is accepted, loved, nurtured, and taught as an individual with this thought in mind.
• Encourage and build each child's imagination and creativity.
• Instill a greater sense of self-worth and encourage self-confidence.
• Provide activities and an environment that will nurture the child's self-image.
• Above all else, do my best to have the child gain and keep a positive self-image.
• Every child is guided through the day with positive reinforcement in all activities, always encouraged to try or try again, and is never pressured into participation of any activity.
• Discipline is always handled on this belief: The child is a good person--it is his/her behavior that is unacceptable and needs to be changed or guided to a more acceptable means of expression.

My main concern and goal in caring for your child is to see your child grow physically, intellectually, socially, and emotionally to the best of his/her ability. Please feel free to offer your advice and/or suggestions at any time.

FEES AND HOURS OF CHILD CARE

Child care fees are as follows:

• Part-time is considered from 1 to 20 hours per week.
• Full-time is considered from 21 to 40 hours per week.
• Any time over 40 hours per week will be considered over-time.
• Drop-in fees will be paid at the time of pick-up.

Fees are due on Friday of each work week and considered past due on Monday. Like most people, I have obligations to meet and I count on your fee to make them. Therefore, to keep an opening for your child, your weekly fee is due even if your child misses 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 days of the week.

If care will begin at a future date, an advanced payment of $60 will hold a place for the child. The deposit will NOT be refunded if enrollment is cancelled.

A late fee of $10 will be assessed if the basic fee, and any other applicable fees, has not been paid by the next business day following the payment due date. If payment has not been received by the start of the second business day following the payment due date, the provider may terminate service without notice, and the deposit and any other fees are non-refundable.

Over-time is considered any time outside the agreed time interval. The following charges will be assessed for over-time incurred, payable upon arrival to pick-up the child(ren):

• $4.00 per hour for pre-arranged over-time.
• $5.00 per 15-minute increments or portions thereof, starting with the first minute in cases where over-time is not pre-arranged.

Each January, you will receive a year-end statement for the fees you have previously paid. This statement will also contain my Social Security Number for your tax purposes.

My hours of child care are from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. An emergency or occasionally working late is something we certainly understand. However, like you and your family after a long and full day's work, my family and I value and enjoy our "quality family time" in the evenings. Please call as soon as you realize you will be running late. Evening/overtime fees begin at 6:01 p.m.

The family day care home will be closed for the following holidays and payment is required for these days:

• New Year's Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday
• Christmas Day and the weekdays immediately preceding and following, when applicable

MEALS AND SNACKS

The provider will serve nutritious and well-balanced meals and snacks at the following times:

VACATION

All parents will be given as much of an advanced notice as possible, with a minimum of two-weeks notice, of my vacation plans. This time will be "no-charge" for you. It is your responsibility to obtain substitute care during this time. In addition to this no-charge time, you are given one week of your choice during the year for your vacation plans that is free of charge. I expect the same courtesy in knowing in advance the week you choose to be gone. This notice of your plans has to be made known at least two weeks in advance in order to receive that week free of charge.

ILLNESS, IMMUNIZATIONS, AND MEDICATIONS

Any days that I am ill and unable to care for your child will be deducted from the following week's fee. I will contact you as early as possible if I become ill and unable to care for your child, in order for you to find alternate care for your child.

In accordance with state law, you will be required upon admission of your child to submit a statement certifying their immunization record, a listing of any special health needs, and the name and phone number of your child's physician. Your child must have or be in the process of obtaining all immunizations at the medically appropriate times.

Every child will be observed for symptoms of illness or abuse. Any child showing signs of illness will be separated from the group; if his/her appearance warrants, the parents will be notified. If your child is running a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit, has diarrhea, or is throwing up. please keep your child at home so that other children do not risk exposure to any illness. If any child shows any evidence of abuse, the Department of Human Services will be notified, as required by state law.

If your child needs medication administered, please fill out the appropriate authorization form, stating the times and amount of medication to be given to your child. All medication must be in its original container and clearly labeled with the child's name and directions for proper amount (doseage) and the time to be administered. I will not administer any medication, including aspirin, cough drops or syrup, or prescription drugs, without a parent's or doctor's written authorization, unless a telephone order is necessary in an emergency situation.

ALTERNATE PICK-UP

Your child will be allowed to leave only with parents or another adult listed on the enrollment form. If another individual is to pick up your child, you must call to inform me of the name of that person. Identification will be asked for upon their arrival before the child will be allowed to leave with them. This is strictly for your child's safety and your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

COMMUNICATION

Children will miss parents and often cry upon arrival. It is a natural occurence in a new environment. To ease the situation, I encourage parents to take a minute to help the child feel comfortable and adjust. Crying will usually stop a few minutes after the parent leaves. It is important for the parent to reassure the child that they will return at a specific time.

To provide your child with the best possible care, we must keep the lines of communication open. This includes any discussions about the changing behavior of your child. It is only through parent/provider interaction that the goal of quality, nurturing care can be achieved.

TRIAL PERIOD AND TERMINATION OF CARE

Your child's adjustment is important to all of us. Therefore, a two-week trial period will exist before arrangements for continued care become final. At the end of this period, the parents and provider will discuss how the child has adjusted to the new setting, realizing that this varies from child to child. At this time, either party may terminate care.

After this trial period, a minimum of two weeks notice must be given by the parents of any termination. If this is not possible, parents must pay the two weeks fee instead of giving notice.

The provider reserves the right to remove a child from the program upon giving a two-week notice to ther parents, if the provider believes that to continue care might be detrimental to the child or the program.

IN BRIEF, WHAT I EXPECT OF YOU, THE PARENTS

• Pick up your child promptly, so that my family's needs may also be met.
• If your child is going to be absent or late, please call in advance.
• Notify me in case of illness and keep a sick child at home. For each child's safety and comfort, I cannot care for sick children.
• Please be prompt in your child care payments.
• Most of all, please take an interest in our program and talk with your child about the day's activities.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM ME, YOUR CHILD'S CAREGIVER

• Lots of tender, loving care.
• Nutritionally balanced meals and snacks.
• Positive reinforcement and encouragement in all your child does or attempts to do.
• Opportunities to play in "larger groups" of children with the security of belonging to a small group home.

OUR MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Treat each other and your child with respect.
• Communicate on a regular basis about your child's rest, nutrition, new skills, fears, interests, and joys.