Childcare †Orientation Package Essay

Introduction kid C be in Ontario Child C atomic number 18 Licensing in Ontario social function of the Operator The handler to a lower place the mean solar twenty-four hours Nurseries bear Role of Program Advisors The Application do work Planning and Design Guidelines for Child Care Centres Obtaining a Licence Health Canada Product Safety Program Duration of Licensing Process Types of Licences Child Care Licensing Website Child Care Service System Man twenty-four hourssrs 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 9 9 10 10 10 11 11.Summary of Licensing Requirements for day Nurseries Organization and focal point Staff Qualifications Health Assessments and Immunization Number and Group Size malefactor Reference Checks Building and try-on Equipment and Furnishings Policies and Procedures Playground Requirements Inspections Insurance Requirements Fire Safety and Emergency Information Health and Medical Supervision Nutrition 13 13 13 13 14 15 15 17 17 18 19 19 19 20 21 2.Behaviour Management Enrolment Re cords Program 22 23 23 Summary of Licensing Requirements for Private-Home daylight Care Agencies Organization and Management Numbers of Children Criminal Reference Checks Building and readjustment Equipment and Furnishings Policies and Procedures Inspections Insurance Requirements Health and Medical Supervision Nutrition Behaviour Management Enrolment Records Program Health Assessments and Immunization 25 25 25 27 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 31 32 32 33.Conclusion Glossary of Terms (Appendix 1) Things to Look Into earlier Applying for a Licence to Operate a Day babys room or a PrivateHome Day Care Agency (Appendix 2) Ministry of Children and juvenility Services Regional Offices (Appendix 3) Child Care Service System Managers (Appendix 4) 34 35 36 37 38 3 INTRODUCTION One of the goals of the Ministry of Children and Y out(a)h Services is to help abide social and economic increment in Ontario by investing in and supporting an affordable, accessible and accountable chela fright schem a which helps benefit boorren, their parents and disquietgivers, and the giganticer community.The early learning and child tutorship system in Ontario should be accessible, affordable and inclusive care for children in a safe, nurturing environment foster early childishness incurment help support early learning and readiness for school day be flexible and provide choice support children and their families provide appropriate standards of child care provide supports for parents in fiscal need, who are employed, in pedagogy, or involved in new(prenominal) employment activities support economic growth, and work in partnership with others involved in Ontariosearly learning and child care system. This Orientation Package has been designed to provide individuals who are interested in obtaining a pass to operate either a sidereal twenty-four hour period babys room (also known as child care kernels) or a private-home day care agency in the Province of Ontario, with practical teaching and advice.The following information is holdd in this package the process for obtaining a licence a thick bewilder of the licensing aimments to operate a day nursery or a private-home day care agency under the Day Nurseries Act a glossary of impairment (Appendix 1) information to assist you in considering your decision to apply for a licence to operate either a day nursery or a private-home day care agency (Appendix 2) a list of the Regional Offices of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (Appendix 3), and a list of the Child Care Service System Managers responsible for preparedness and managing the delivery of child care supporters throughout Ontario (Appendix 4). 4 CHILD occupy IN ONTARIO The child care system in Ontario consists of a throw up of services for families and their children, including licensed day nurseries and private-home day care which provide supports to children and their families.The Day Nurseries Act requires any premi se that receives to a greater extent than five children under the age of 10 social classs, non of common railway line (children who get under ones skin different parents), for temporary care and guidance, to be licensed as a day nursery. A person whitethorn provide informal child care to five children or less under the age of 10 years who are not of common parentage (children who have different parents), in addition to his/her own children, without a licence. This number may not be exceeded, regardless of the number of adults present or on site. When a person provides in-home child care at more than one emplacement or co-ordinates the provision of care at more than one site, a licence to operate a private-home day care agency is required. It is an of get by to establish, operate or maintain a day nursery or private-home day care agency without a licence.On conviction, the fine is up to $2,000 for distributively day the offence continues, or imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or both. Ministry staff have the responsibility to follow-up on all complaints about child care being provided without a licence. CHILD CARE LICENSING IN ONTARIO The Ministry of Children and Youth Services is responsible for the Day Nurseries Act and plys licences to floozys of child care course of instructions. There are deuce fictional characters of licensed child care programs day nurseries and private-home day care agencies. In the Day Nurseries Act and in this package, child care centres are referred to as day nurseries. Day nurseries may include nursery schools, full day care, extended day care, and before and afterward school programs. 5.Private-home day care agencies arrange or offer home day care at more than one home. Care is provided to five children or less, under 10 years of age in a private residence other than the home of the parent/guardian of the child. Homes are monitored by the agency. Role of the Operator Operators have responsibility for the operation and management of each day nursery or private-home day care agency, including the program, financial and personnel administration of the program. Operators of licensed day nurseries and private-home day care agencies are required to achieve and maintain conformance with the standards rigid out in Ontario Regulation 262 under the Day Nurseries Act at all times.The Day Nurseries Act and Ontario Regulation 262 are visible(prenominal) through outlet Services 777 Bay Street, Market Level, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C8 416-585-7485 or 1-800-668-9938 The Day Nurseries Act is available on the ministrys website at http//www. elaws. gov. on. ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90d02_e. htm. Ontario Regulation 262 under the Day Nurseries Act is available online at http//www. elaws. gov. on. ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_900262_e. htm37. (1). The Director under the Day Nurseries Act Child care licences are unfreezed by a Director who is an employee of the Ministry of Children a nd Youth Services, appointed by the Minister for the purpose of the Day Nurseries Act. The Director reviews all documents required for licensing, approves and signs the licence.The Director has the authority to refuse to issue a new licence if the appli gaget or any of the officers, directors or employees of the applicant are not competent to operate a day nursery or privatehome day care agency in a responsible manner in accordance with the Day Nurseries Act 6 the past carriage of the applicant affords reasonable grounds for the belief that a day nursery or private-home day care agency impart not be operated in accordance with the Day Nurseries Act, or the building in which the applicant proposes to operate the day nursery or provide private-home day care does not come with the requirements of the Day Nurseries Act. In addition, if there are grounds, the Director may refuse to renew or revoke an existing licence. The Director may also issue a direction and temporarily suspend a licence if there is an immediate threat to the health, safety or strong-being of the children.An applicant or licensee is authorise to a hearing before the Licence Appeal Tribunal. Role of Program Advisors Program Advisors, Ministry of Children and Youth Services staff designated under Section 16 of the Day Nurseries Act, are responsible for inspecting day nurseries and private-home day care agencies to enforce licensing requirements. In some regional offices, this position is referred to as Licensing Specialist. Program Advisors are responsible for assessing whether the operator has met the licensing requirements before an initial licence is issued. Unannounced inspections are conducted by Program Advisors for licence renewals on an annual basis or more frequently for a shorter term licences.In addition, Program Advisors conduct unannounced inspections in response to complaints re youthfuld to licensed child care programs and to monitor operators who have difficulty maintaining compliance with licensing standards. The Ministry of Children and Youth Services also responds to complaints from the prevalent pertaining to persons who are alleged to be operating without a licence (i. e. caring for more than five children under 10 years of age, not of common parentage, without a licence). The Application Process An individual or corporation can apply for a licence to operate a day nursery or a private-home day care agency. (Licences cannot be issued to partnerships. ) 7Types of operators include an individual corporations (non-profit and for-profit) municipalities community colleges churches, or Bands and Councils of the Band. The prospective operator contacts the topical anesthetic Regional Office (see Appendix 3) to request an application package and confirm the information required before proceeding with the next steps in the licensing process. preceding to requesting an initial site inspection for a day nursery (a visit to determine if the dummy is appropriate), the operator submits the completed application form to the Regional Office, as well as written verification from the zoning authority confirming the location is approved for use as a child care centre detailed floor plans, and detailed site plans of the proposed location.These plans must(prenominal)iness include room measurements, window measurements (actual glass line of business), location of fixed cabinets (counters and storage areas) and fenced outdoor vacation spot berth dimensions (if required). Please note that effective July 1, 2005, as part of regulatory changes to the Ontario Building Code, all building or renovation plans for a day nursery must be reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services prior to a municipality issuing a building permit. It is the operators responsibility to determine whether the location w severely invite zoning, building, fire and health requirements. Written verification must be submitted to the regional office confirming that these requirements have been met prior to a licence being issued. The fee for a new licence is $15 the renewal fee is $10.If a licence renewal is submitted to the ministry after the licence expiry date, the late fee is $25. 8 Planning and Design Guidelines for Child Care Centres This guide provides information about the planning, design and renovation of licensed child care centres. It is intend to be used by persons involved in the site selection, design, and operation of a child care centre in the province of Ontario. This guide is available through the local anaesthetic MCYS Regional office and on the ministrys website at http//www. children. gov. on. ca/mcys/english/resources/publications/be ststart-planning. asp. (Alternately, from the ministrys home page at http//www. children.Gov. on.ca, you can follow the links to Best Start, then Best Start resources, then Planning and Design Guidelines for Child Care Centres. ) Obtaining a Licence To obtain a licence, applicants must demonstrate compliance with the requirements set out in Regulation 262 of the Day Nurseries Act in a number of areas including confirmation of compliance with municipal zoning, building, fire and health requirements the suitability of the building availability of equipment and furnishings conformity with space requirements and vacation spot standards maintenance of staff/child ratios for various age groups staff qualifications comestible appropriate behaviour management programming and insurance.Private-home day care agencies must demonstrate compliance with the requirements set out in Regulation 262 of the Day Nurseries Act in a number of areas including staffing and training policies and procedures records of inspections of providers homes availability of equipment and furnishings appropriate behaviour management and insurance. The Program Advisor makes a recommendation to the Director under the Day Nurseries Act about the issuance of a licence based on their assessment of compliance with the requirements of the Day Nurseries Act and ministry insurance policy. The Director decides whether to issue a licence and the type and term of licence to be issued. The Director may add terms and conditions to the licence. The operator is required to comply with the terms and conditions of the licence as well as the requirements of the Day Nurseries Act and ministry policy. 9Operators must apply for a licence renewal prior to the expiry date of the current licence. Licences may be issued for a period of up to one year if all licensing requirements are met. Health Canada Product Safety Program Health Canada helps protect the Canadian public by researching, assessing and collaborating in the management of the health risks and safety hazards associated with the many consumer products, including childrens equipment, toys and furnishings, that Canadians use everyday. Through their Product Safety Program, Health Canada communicates information a bout juvenile product hazards and recalls to protect children from avoidable risks.Advisories and warnings, juvenile product recall notices, food recalls and allergy alerts are affix on the Health Canada website. The Consumer Product Recalls webpage can be accessed at http//209. 217. 71. 106/PR/list-liste-e. jsp. Health Canada offers an electronic newsletter so that the public can receive updates when consumer advisories and warnings, juvenile product recalls, and consultation documents regarding consumer product safety are posted on the Health Canada Web site. As a prospective operator, you are encouraged to register on line for this service at http//www. hc-sc. gc. ca/cps-spc/advisories-avis/_subscribeabonnement/index_e. html.Duration of Initial Licensing Process It may take up to 6 to 12 months to open a new day nursery or private-home day care agency depending on a number of factors, including the extent of the renovations, the incorporation of a corporation, the purchasing of equipment, the hiring of a supervisor or home visitors, the recruitment of staff, the development of policies and obtaining all required approvals. Types of Licences weak licence may be issued for up to 1 year if the operator was in compliance with licensing requirements when last inspected. 10 Regular short-term licence issued at the discretion of the Director routinely issued to new licensees (generally for a period of up to six months) or when more frequent licensing visits are appropriate to support ongoing compliance.Regular licence with terms and conditions terms and conditions are requirements prescribed by a Director and are additional to the requirements of the Day Nurseries Act. They may reflect circumstances specific to the operation, such as half day or 10 month service. They may also be in place to minimize the recurrence of a non-compliance, such as incomplete staff medical records. Provisional licence When Day Nurseries Act requirements have not been met and the operator requires time to meet requirements, a provisional licence (generally for a period up to three months) may be issued. This licence gives the operator a period of time to meet licensing requirements.Copies of a letter indicating that a provisional licence has been issued and a summary of the non-compliances are sent to the centre for distribution to parents. The summary of non-compliances will also appear on the Child Care Licensing Website. Child Care Licensing Website MCYS has launched the Child Care Licensing Website to provide parents with information about licensed child care in Ontario. The site is accessible at http//www. ontario. ca/ONT/portal51/licensedchildcare. A search tool allows parents to search for child care by city, postal code, type of program, age group, program name, operator name and language of service delivery.The site also provides the status of the licence and the terms and conditions of the licence for any licensed program parents might be con sidering or about which they might be concerned. Once a licence is issued, the information appearing on the licence of the program will be available on the website. Child Care Service System Managers The child care system is managed at the municipal level by fortyseven consolidated Municipal Service Managers (CMSMs) /District 11 Social Services Administration Boards (DSSABs). Each service system manager has responsibility for planning and managing a broad range of child care services, including fee subsidy, wage subsidy, family resource centres and special needs resourcing.Prospective operators should contact their local child care service system manager (see Appendix 4) to discuss the need for child care in the area being considered and for information about funding and fee subsidy. 12 twenty-four hour period NURSERIES ACT SUMMARY OF LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR DAY NURSERIES Day nurseries are centre-based programs and can include nursery schools, full day child care, extended day a nd before and after school programs. Organization and Management The operator of the day nursery is responsible for maintaining compliance with the Day Nurseries Act and ministry policy. This includes responsibility for the operation and management of the program and financial and personnel administration. A qualified supervisor who directs the program and everyplacesees the staff is required for each child care centre.This person must have a parchment in ahead of time Childhood Education, or other academic qualifications which are considered equivalent, and have at least two years experience in Early Childhood Education. The supervisor must also be approved by the Director under the Day Nurseries Act. Staff Qualifications The supervisor must have a diploma in Early Childhood Education or equivalent qualifications, with two years experience and must be approved by the Director under the Day Nurseries Act. One staff with a diploma in Early Childhood Education or equivalent quali fications must be leased for each group of children. Health Assessments and Immunization Staff immunization/health assessment, as required by the local medical officer of health, must be completed before commencing employment. 13.Number and Group Size Number of Staff required for a Day Nursery Other than a Day Nursery for Children with Disabilities Ratio of Employees to Children 3 to 10 1 to 5 Maximum Number of Children in a Group 10 15 Group Age of Children in Group Infant Toddler Under 18 months of age 18 months of age and over up to and including 30 months of age more than 30 months of age up to and including 5 years of age 44 months of age or over and up to and including 67 months of age as of August 31 of the year 56 months of age or over and up to and including 67 months of age as of August 31 of the year 68 months of age or over as of August 31 of the year and up to and including 12 years of age Preschool 1 to 8 16 Junior Kindergarten 1 to 10 20 Senior Kindergarten 1 to 12 24 School age.1 to 15 30 All children must be supervised by an adult at all times. Ratios are not permitted to be reduced at any time for children under 18 months of age. Ratios are not to be reduced on the playground. 14 Where there are six or more children over 18 months of age or four or more children under 18 months of age in attendance, there must be at least two adults on the exposit. Staff/child ratios may be reduced to 2/3 of the required ratios during the periods of arrival and departure of children and during the rest period, with the following exceptions when children are under 18 months of age on the playground with any age group. In a full day program operating six or more hours in a day, for the purposes of staffing, the period of arrival is not to exceed two hours after the opening and the period of departure is not to exceed two hours before the closing of the day nursery. In half day nursery school programs and school age programs, the period of arrival is not to exceed 30 minutes after the opening and the period of departure is not to exceed 30 minutes before the closing of the day nursery. Criminal Reference Checks Individuals and directors of a corporation applying for new licences will be required to submit a poisonous reference check to their local Ministry of Children and Youth Services Regional Office as part of the licence application.In preparation for the initial licensing visit, the operator of the day nursery is required to develop a criminal reference check policy for all full and part time staff working with the children, as well as for volunteers. Additional information about the Ministry of Children and Youth Services criminal reference check policy is available from Regional Offices. Building and Accommodation Each day nursery must comply with the requirements of applicable local authorities i. e. zoning and building discussion section, medical officer of health and fire department comply with the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, O. Reg. 170/03, where applicable.These provisions only apply to designated facilities with drinking water systems where 15 the water is not provided through service connections with a municipal residential water system. The requirements of this regulation are available from the Ministry of the Environments website at http//www. ene. gov. on. ca/envision/gp/5361e. pdf comply with the requirements for calculate flushing and water sample testing (where applicable) under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, O. Reg. 243/07. The requirements of this regulation are available from the Ministry of the Environments website at http//www. ontario. ca/ONT/portal51/drinkingwater/ everyday? docId= 177450&lang=en comply with the requirements of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. have designated spaces for washing, toileting and breach storage areas for toys, play materials and equipment have designated space for eating and resting, preparation of food if prepared on premises or a food service area if food is catered (prepared off premises by a food catering company and delivered to the centre), a fenced playground (see page 15), storage for beds, a staff rest area and an office area if the program operates for six or more hours have play space of at least 2. 8 square metres (30 square feet) of unobstructed floor space for each child, based on the licensed energy have separate play activity rooms for each age grouping.A separate sleep area for infants is also required have rooms on or below the second floor where the rooms are for children under six years of age have a clear window glass area equivalent to 10% of the available floor area for each play activity room for a program that operates for six or more hours in a day. 16 Equipment and Furnishings Each day nursery must have an adequate number of toys, equipment and furnishings for the licensed capacity.The toys, equipment and furnishings must be age appropriate and include sufficient numbers for rotation as well as for gross-motor activity in the playground area infant and toddler diapering areas that are adjacent to a sink cribs or cradles that meet the requirements of the Hazardous Products Act, for infants, and cots for older children equipment and furnishings which are maintained in a safe and clean condition and kept in a good state of repair a forebode or an alternative means of obtaining emergency assistance that is approved by the Director Where children are transported in a day nursery vehicle, child seating and restraint systems are used that meet the requirements of the Highway Traffic Act, O. Reg. 613. Policies and Procedures Every operator must develop the following policies and procedures Fire evacuation procedures Sanitary practices Serious occurrence policy, including child abuse reporting procedures Criminal reference check policy Medication policy Behaviour management policy, including monitoring procedures and contravention policie s 17. Program statement/parent handbook Playground safety policy Anaphylactic policy, including an individual plan for each child with a severe allergy and the emergency procedures to be followed. Playground Requirements Programs operating six or more hours in a day require outdoor play space equivalent to 5. 6 square metres (60 square feet) per child, based on licensed capacity. The playground must be sub-divided if licensed capacity is over 64 children at ground level and adjacent to the premise designed so that staff can maintain constant supervision. If used by children under 44 months of age as of August 31 of the year, the playground must be fenced to a minimum height of 1. 2m (4 feet) and furnished with one or more gates that can be securely closed at all times. If used by children 44 months of age and up to an including 67 month of age as of August 31 of the year (children eligible to attend junior and senior kindergarten), the playground is fenced to a minimum heigh t of 1. 2 metres and the fence is furnished with one or more gates that are securely closed at all times, unless otherwise approved by the Director. Fixed playground structures (i. e. climbing equipment, slides) are not required by the Day Nurseries Act however, if the operator intends to install fixed play structures, the structures and safety surfacing must meet current Canadian Standards Association standards. The current Canadian Standards Associations (CSA) Standard applies to new and newly renovated playground equipment, and 18 safety surfacing. The CSA Standards also set out the requirements for routine maintenance and inspections. Playground plans indicating the type and location of fixed structures as well as the type and area of safety surfacing must be approved by the ministry before installation. Once play structures and surfacing are installed, compliance with the CSA standards must be verified in writing by an independent certified playground inspector before the st ructures can be used by the children. Inspections Copies of fire and health inspections are to be sent to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services program advisor and kept on file at the day nursery. Insurance Requirements The operator must have comprehensive general liability coverage and personal injury coverage for all staff and volunteers. All vehicles owned by the operator and used for transportation of staff and children must have motor vehicle insurance. Fire Safety and Emergency Information A fire safety plan must be approved by the local fire department. A written evacuation procedure, approved by the fire department, must be posted in each room. Staff are to be instructed on their responsibilities in the event of fire. Monthly fire drills must be conducted and written records of drills maintained. Tests of the fire alarm system and fire protection equipment (as required under the Ontario Fire Code) must be conducted and written records of test results maintained . 19. There must be a designated place of emergency shelter. An up-to-date list of emergency telephone numbers including the fire department, hospital, ambulance service, poison control centre, police department and a taxi service must be posted where they can be tardily accessed. Medical and emergency contact information for each child must be accessible. Health and Medical Supervision A fooling written log that includes health and safety incidents is required. Any instructions or recommendations made by the fire department, public health department or other regulatory bodies must be implemented and recorded. Sanitary practices and procedures must be approved by Ministry. Children must be immunized according to the requirements of the local medical officer of health, unless a fully authorized exemption is on file. Before each child begins to play with others, a daily observation of the childs health is required. An ill child must be separated from others and arrangements made for the child to be taken home or for immediate medical attention, if required. Serious occurrence procedures must be in place and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services notified of any occurrence. A spartan occurrence includes such things as the death of a child, a serious injury, alleged abuse/mistreatment of a child, a missing child, a disaster on the premises (e. g. fire) or a serious complaint. 20. A written anaphylactic policy is in place that includes A strategy to reduce the risk of exposure to anaphylactic causative agents A communication plan for the provision of information on lifethreatening allergies, including anaphylactic allergies An individual plan for each child with an anaphylactic allergy that includes emergency procedures in respect of the child Staff, students and volunteers have received training on procedures to be followed if a child has an anaphylactic reaction. A first aid kit and manual must be readily available. A written procedure appr oved by a qualified medical practitioner regarding the giving and recording of music is required. The procedure should include the storage of medication (e.g. medication must be stored in a locked container). If a child has or may have a reportable disease or is or may be infected with a communicable disease, this is reported to the medical officer of health as soon as possible. Cats and dogs on the premises must be inoculated against rabies. Nutrition Infants are to be fed according to written parental instructions. Food and drink from home must be labelled with the childs name. All food and drink must be stored to maintain maximum nutritive value. Meals and snacks must meet the requirements of the Day Nurseries Act. Canadas Food Guide provides utilizable information about nutrition. 21 Meals are to be provided where a day nursery operates for 6 or more hours each day or where the daily program operates less than 6 hours each day and operates over the meal time. This general ly refers to the provision of lunch as the mid-day meal. In day nurseries that offer care over extended hours, this may mean that breakfast and/or dinner are also provided. With the approval of a ministry Director, children 44 months of age or over as of August 31 of the year may bring bag lunches. Written policies and procedures with guidelines for bag lunches should be both posted and provided to parents. Menus must be posted with substitutions noted. Childrens food allergies must be posted in the kitchen and in all rooms where food is served. Special dietary arrangements for individual children are to be carried out according to written instructions of parents. Behaviour Management Corporal punishment is not allowed under any circumstances. The following are not permitted hash out harsh or degrading measures that would humiliate or undermine a childs self respect deprivation of food, shelter, clothing or bedding material confining a child in a locked room exits locked for the purpose of confinement. Written behaviour management policies and procedures which guide centre staff in managing childrens behaviour are to be reviewed annually by the operator.The operator is required to review the policies and procedures with employees and volunteers or students before they begin working, and annually thereafter. These policies must set out permitted and prohibited behaviour 22 management practices and measures to deal with any contraventions of the policy. There must be a signed, written record of all reviews, and a written procedure for monitoring behaviour management practices of employees, students and volunteers, and a record kept of this monitoring. Enrolment Records Up to date enrolment records for all children in attendance must be on site at all times and be available to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. These records include, in part, an application, immunization records, emerg.