Kids Come First Services Page

Kids Come First, Inc. puts children first! Explore our site for pictures and activities throughout the year!

Vacation Policy:

All families receive two weeks of vacation immediately upon their child's first day in attendance. To use these weeks, a vacation form must be filled out and submitted to the Director two weeks in advance. Vacation time must be taken in one week increments and all families receive a new allotment of weeks on their anniversary date. Unused weeks will not be carried over to the next year.

Absences/ Illnesses:

If your child becomes ill or cannot attend their scheduled hours, a phone call must be placed prior to 8:30 a.m. letting the staff know your child will not be in attendance. If a child has been absent for three days with no contact from you (the parent), we will attempt to contact you by phone or letter. If we are unsuccessful, we will not hold your child’s spot open. All items left at the center will be considered a donation. There will be no reduction in tuition for absences due to illness unless the child is absent for at least three consecutive days in any given week. In that event a 50% reduction in tuition will be given for that week, provided a release from the child’s doctor is presented stating they are well enough to return. The illness policy does not extend to any family members.

Schedule Changes:

All schedule changes are to be made at least two weeks in advance and in writing. Schedule Change forms are located on the parent table outside the Director's office and should be used when:

	A permanent change in schedule is needed.
	Extra days are needed.

Although we will try to accommodate all last minute schedule changes this will not always be possible. The Director will notify you as soon as possible if we cannot accommodate your request.

Please keep in mind that:

You will be held responsible for paying for the time you have scheduled unless you notify the director within 24 hours of the date of the schedule change that our services will no longer be needed on that day.

Holidays:

KCF does close for all major holidays, including the day after Thanksgiving. There will be times that due to low enrollment KCF may close early and/or close for the entire day on the days before holidays. All families will be given advanced notice of these closings.

We always close at 3 pm on Christmas Eve, New Years Eve, and Good Friday. Depending on the projected enrollment for those days we may close all together, with advanced notice given to all families.

Outdoor Policy:

We do have a large outside play area, fully equipped with a large play structure, riding toys, sand boxes, and various other mediums for gross motor development. We believe all children benefit daily from the exposure to fresh air and that by going outside, it reduces the amount of health problems a child has.

By law we are required to take all children outside regardless of age at least once a day unless prevented by inclement weather. Typically the children go outside twice a day at KCF. Inclement weather means your child will not go outside because of the following weather conditions: Wind Chill under 20 degrees for children under age 2, wind chill below 0 degrees for children over age 2, rain, and when the temperature outside is over 90 degrees no child will go outside. It is very important that your child is dressed appropriately for all weather conditions. If your child is not well enough to go outside, please keep them home until they are well enough to participate in all facets of the program.

Health and Wellness Policy:

At Kids Come First, Inc., we provide a safe and healthy place for your child to spend the day. In order to do this, we ask that all parents adhere to the following guidelines:

If your child has a temperature of 101 degrees or over, 2 episodes of diarrhea in one hour, or 3 within a period of a day, excessive green discharge from the nose, we ask that you keep your child home until they are symptom free for a minimum of 24 hours since onset of the symptoms.

Children with a temperature of 101 degrees or higher, vomiting, diarrhea, undefined rash, or anything viewed as a health threat to the persons in the center as a whole, will be sent home. 24 hours must have passed, unless a note is provided from your child's physician stating they are not contagious and well enough to return to the center.

If your child has a communicable disease such as but not limited to: impetigo, pink eye, chicken pox, measles, etc, KCF requires a note from your child's physician prior to your child's return to our care.

If any of these instances should occur while your child is at Kids Come First, the center director or your child’s teacher will contact you and your child will be placed in temporary isolation away from the other children. If they are unable to reach you, they will continue trying to contact you every ½ hour. At any time they reach you or anyone else you have listed as an emergency contact, you will be expected to pick up the child within one hour or you will be billed an additional $10.00 per hour. After your child has been symptom free for 24 hours, he/she may return to the center.

We do ask if your child has severe green or yellow discharge from the nose or has excessive coughing, that you either keep your child at home or make alternate arrangements for care, so that we may try to prevent the spread of colds.

Discipline Policy:

Not all children adapt or adjust well to a group setting. We will separate children who have trouble getting along by use of positive communication and positively re-direct the child’s attention to a new group or activity. An example would be: (Child’s Name) could you please come over here and play OR: (Child’s Name) why don’t you play with the blocks over here or with the toys in this area for now? If the situation requires stronger measures, “time outs” may be utilized. “Time outs” will be given at a rate of 1 minute for each year in age, which will be monitored by a timer. (Ex: 3-years-old = 3 minute “time out; 4-years-old = 4 minute “time out”, etc.). At no time will a staff person use a form of discipline which would be humiliating or frightening to the child, such as, but not limited to: spanking, hitting, pinching, shaking, or inflicting any other form of physical punishment; verbal abuse, threats or derogatory remarks about self or family, binding or tying to restrict movement or enclosing in a confined space, i.e. closet, box; withholding or forcing meals, snacks or naps; or punishing for lapses in toilet training.

The child will have the reason for the time out explained to him/her and will be praised after completion of the time out and positive re-direction will be given. All staff will be consistently reinforcing positive behavior in the children using materials such as: a star chart, guidance with working together, and small job duties. We hope through these measures time outs will be kept to a minimum.

KCF enrolls all children on a probationary basis and reserves the right to remove a child if we feel the program does not meet his/her needs or if there is an extreme disciplinary problem (For more information, please look below at our Dismissal Policy). Registration fees are non-refundable in all cases

Nutrition Policy:

Due to extreme waste and child allergies, etc, Kids Come First does not offer a full meal program. If a child is at the center for four hours or more, the parents will be required to send a nutritional meal. Toddlers may need “easy to eat” finger foods. Each meal shall provide 1/3 of the daily nutritional requirement of the child, including one item from each of the following categories:

	Protein sources such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cooked peas, or beans, cheese or peanut butter.
	Vegetable and/or fruit (at least two)
	Cereal, or whole grain or enriched bread products.

We do have refrigeration and heating appliances, so hot or cold meals may be sent. We will provide beverages (milk, juice, and water) and nutritional snacks (Please click on our menu tab for an updated weekly snack menu). For children at the center four hours or less, one snack will be provided. For children at the center four to six hours (kindergartners), a lunch should be sent and one snack will be provided. For any children at the center for more than six hours a day, a lunch should be sent, and the center will provide a morning and afternoon snack. Such things as fruit, cheese, fresh vegetables, and pretzels will be the types of snacks served.

If a child has not had the opportunity or time to eat breakfast before leaving home, and arrives at the center prior to 7:30 A.M., they are welcome to bring their own breakfast provided it meets the standards for nutrition above. The center will also gladly store a box of cereal provided the cereal is brought in a plastic storage container. The center will supply the milk and juice.

Special diets, including nutrient concentrates and supplements, may be served only upon the written instruction of the child’s physician and upon the formal request of the parent.

Inclement Weather Policy:

Kids Come First does not close often but it will always close in accordance with the decision of the Hamilton School District. In the event of a possible closing please tune in to WTMJ-4 or FM WKTI 94.5 for confirmation. No reduction in tuition will be given for bad weather days.

Dismissal Policy

Dismissal may occur due to:

	Nonpayment of fees.
	Required state forms have not been submitted and/or updated as requested by the Director.
	Parents failure to follow stated policy of the center.
	Unsuccessful adjustment time to include disruptive or abusive behavior by parent or child that may hinder that needs and smooth operation of Kids Come First.
	Determination by the Program Director/Administrator that the safety, protection and well being of the children and staff may be at risk.
	The needs of any child cannot be met within the limits of the staff and facility.

In the event of a center dismissal, final tuition fees will be refunded. Registration is non-refundable. Termination by parents due to a move from the area or prolonged illness will be worked out with the Program Director/Administrator.

Last modified: 01/08/08