Kinderkids & Childcare Policies & Procedures
Enrollment Policy/Registration:
Enrollment in our childcare programs is open to all students enrolled in Wilton Public Schools. Every effort will be made to accommodate all parents interested in registering their child(ren). Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis (registration in Kinderkids will also be prioritized based on the number of days needed as well as the overall number of extended day programs needed).
There are two options for registering: Contract Childcare (which specifies the days of the week you wish to register your child) or Drop-In (which allows you flexibility in selecting days on an occasional basis with 24-hour advance notification). Drop-In for Kinderkids is available beginning on September 22, 2011. No students may participate on an unregistered day in order to make-up an absence from a regularly scheduled day.
Processing of Registrations:
We will need at least five business days to process your registration. Please be sure to complete all online information. It is the responsibility of the parents to keep us informed of any changes in the emergency information throughout the school year (office, e-mail and cell phone number changes are extremely important).
In order to register, you must enter your child's personal information including emergency contacts and special requirements/medical needs; request a specific program(s) and number of days and before/after options; pay a one-time $75 registration fee online via credit card. Once accepted into a program, you will receive an invoice for payment.
Fees and Tuition Payments:
Please refer to your program’s Yearly Tuition Fee Schedule for fee structure. Payment must be made either in full within one week of receipt of our invoice or on a monthly basis. Payments may be made with charge card authorization (preferred) or by check (please call our office).
For those opting monthly payments, a 30% deposit will be due within one week of receipt of our invoice. The balance is due in eight equal payments beginning October 3, 2011. If payment is not received within the required timeframe, your place will be given to the next child on the list. Checks returned for insufficient funds will incur a $40 return fee. Wilton Continuing Education reserves the right to cancel the monthly payment plan to any parent/guardian who has failed to make timely payments or has been delinquent in remitting payments to Wilton Continuing Education in the past. To continue in a program, the parent/guardian will have to make full payment in advance by bank check, money order or cash.
Tuition Adjustment Policy:
By signing off on the Childcare tuition invoice, parents/guardians are committing to the attendance structure and fees. Requests for a reduction in the contracted attendance schedule cannot be accommodated during the first 60 days of your contract. Tuition adjustments for the balance of the year will be granted as follows:
Contract Changes or Cancellations for Kinderkids Program:
Kinderkids contract changes or cancellations require dated written notification which must include your child’s name and the effective date of your child’s change or withdrawal. Contract changes or cancellations will become effective four weeks after receipt of notification with applicable tuition charges made. In addition, each change or withdrawal from Kinderkids will incur a $50 administrative fee. All changes are subject to space availability.
Contract Changes for Before & After School Childcare Programs:
Contract changes require dated written notification which must include your child’s name and the effective date of your child’s change. Contract changes will become effective two weeks after receipt of notification with applicable tuition charges made. In addition, each change will incur a $25 administrative fee. All changes are subject to space availability.
Contract Cancellations for Before & After School Childcare Programs:
Contract cancellations require dated written notification which must include your child’s name, name of the program(s), effective date of the withdrawal and parent’s signature. Contract cancellations will become effective four weeks after receipt of notification with applicable tuition charges made. In addition, each cancellation will incur a $50 administrative fee.
Drop–In Childcare:
The Drop-In Childcare option (Kinderkids not available until September 22) is designed for parents who require occasional childcare during the school year. A $75 non-refundable registration fee is due in order to secure a place for any student wishing to enroll as a Drop-In. Parents may use the program as often as needed throughout the year, with 24-hour notice; space is subject to availability. For example, if Tuesday drop-in is needed, please call before 4:30 p.m. on the preceding Monday. The Drop-In fee is as follows: Kinderkids: $35/day; Before School Childcare Program: $22/day; After School Childcare Program $35/day. Payment must be made each time a student attends the program. Acceptable forms of payment are cash, money order or check. In the event that a balance accrues, the student will no longer be able to use the program. At Kinderkids, Monday drop-ins may be limited due to space constraints; notification should be made on the previous Friday morning before noon.
Hours of Operation:
All programs follow the school calendar. The Before School Childcare Program at Miller-Driscoll begins at 7:00 am and operates until the beginning of the school day. The Kinderkids Program begins when regular kindergarten classes end and continues until the end of the school day, at which time the children may go home on their regular school bus, be picked up by a parent or caregiver or continue in the After School Childcare Program. The After School Childcare Programs operate from the end of the school day at the respective schools, and end at 6:30pm. The After School Childcare Programs will be closed the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the day before vacation in December. Kinderkids does not meet on shortened school days.
Delayed Openings:
If school has a delayed opening, the Before School Childcare Program and the Kinderkids Program will be cancelled for that day. Kinderkids will remain in their kindergarten classroom with their teachers until the 3:35 pm dismissal time. Please listen to local radio/TV stations for information regarding delayed openings. Media listings are provided by the schools and are noted on school calendars.
Early Dismissal Days:
If school is dismissed early, ALL After School Childcare Programs are cancelled. Kinderkids will remain in their regular classroom until early dismissal. They go home on their assigned school bus. Every reasonable effort will be made to contact parents regarding cancellation via the school’s automated message system, AlertNow. However, it is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to be informed of the school’s early dismissal procedures and prepare a contingency plan when childcare programs are cancelled. Be aware that an adult must meet kindergartners at the bus stop.
In the event that the After School Childcare Programs need to be cancelled or dismissed early for an emergency or weather-related problem before the regularly scheduled time, the program staff will contact the parents/guardians. The decision to cancel/dismiss early is not taken lightly and is done so to ensure the safety of its students as well as staff. If parents/guardians are not reachable after making every reasonable attempt, emergency contacts will be called to pick up and care for your child.
Drop-Off Arrangements:
Each student being dropped off for the Before School Childcare Program must be signed in each day by a parent/guardian. All students utilizing the program can attend as early as 7:00am.
Pick-Up Arrangements:
No child will be released to someone other than a parent/guardian unless permission is given in writing. Kinderkids: When writing a pick up note you must date the note, state the time of pick up (i.e., 12:40 pm, 3:30 pm, etc.) and indicate the location where the child will be picked up (North pick up area, South pick up area, Office pick up area or the Kinderkids room). This is critical information to avoid confusion for parent, teacher and child.
Pick-up Procedures for After School Childcare Programs:
All students must be signed out by the parent/guardian when they leave the program. All students utilizing the program must be picked up by 6:30pm. If a student is picked up after 6:30 pm, the following fees apply: from 6:30-6:45 pm, there is a charge of $20. An additional charge of $30 will be applied for every fifteen-minute period or any part thereof. For example, if a student is picked up at 6:50 pm, the charge will be $50. At 6:50 pm, the emergency contact will be called. These fees have been created as a deterrent; it is expected that children will be picked up on a timely basis.
Health & Illness Procedures:
If a child has a fever or has a contagious illness, the student must not attend the Childcare Programs. If a child becomes ill, or requires non-emergency medical care, during Kinderkids, the student will be escorted to the Health Office, and the parent will be contacted. It is important to note there is no nurse on duty during the Before and After School Childcare Programs. If a child becomes ill, or requires non-emergency medical care during these program hours, the parents/guardians or emergency contacts will be contacted to pick-up the student. For all programs, it is extremely important for parents/guardians to communicate any and all health changes, illnesses or injuries to program staff as soon as they occur. In the event that a child requires emergency treatment, program staff will follow emergency protocols, including calling 911.
Absence Procedure:
If a student is going to be absent, Kinderkids staff must be notified (by a note or a phone call) before 11:30 am. The After School Childcare Program must also be called before 1:00 pm if a child will be absent from the program. It is extremely important to keep the staff informed about absences. Not doing so causes concern for the whereabouts of the child. Staff must find the missing student which takes valuable time away from the other students. It is imperative that parents/guardians call the appropriate contact number listed below if a child is sick, is going to be away, has a play-date, or is going to be absent for any other reason.
After School Activities:
If a child is signed up for extra curricular activities, clubs, extra help, etc. on his/her contract days and will be late for his/her respective program, parents/guardians must accept responsibility for the student to walk to/from the in-school programs unescorted. Parents must fill out a pink permission slip which is available from the program instructor. Children will not be released to go to activities outside of school without being signed out by a parent/guardian or other person designated by the parent/guardian.
Conference Days & June End of School Days:
Extended childcare is provided during parent-teacher conferences in November as well as the last three days of school. On these shortened school days, the Kinderkids Program does not operate, and all kindergartners stay in their regular classroom until dismissal. If further childcare is needed, the Miller-Driscoll After School Childcare Program has special coverage for these days. To be eligible, your child must be registered in a childcare program and there is a charge of $50 per day. There will be further information about this program at the end of October and the end of May.
Childcare Program Telephone Numbers:
Along with your tuition invoice, you will receive a business card with the program phone numbers. Each childcare program has a dedicated number to assist in parent/program staff communication. Please keep this with you. It is imperative you utilize this telephone number to communicate with the staff concerning absences, pick-ups or other important changes. Voice mail is equipped on all our phones and messages may be left 24-hours a day.
♦ Wilton Continuing Education Main Office: (203) 834-7694 (For general information on all programs)
♦ Manager, Childcare Programs, Susan Ahlstrom: (203) 834-4830, Cell: (203) 856-4534
♦ Supervisor, Children’s Programs, Emily Dowden: (203) 834-4841, Cell: (203) 856-1018
♦ Kinderkids Program: (203) 762-8678 Ext. 3298
♦ Miller-Driscoll Before School Childcare Program: (203) 856-4756
♦ Miller-Driscoll After School Childcare Program: (203) 856-4756
♦ Cider Mill/Middlebrook After School Childcare Program: (203) 856-4532
♦ Web site: www.wiltoncontinuinged.org
Discipline/Discharge from Program:
Behavior expectations for students in our programs are the same as during regular school hours. Children are expected to follow the instructions of the program staff, be considerate of each other, and follow the same general rules that apply during the school day. If a student’s behavior does not conform to program expectations, or if the behavior is otherwise disruptive to the program, the parent/guardian will be contacted. If, after contacting the parent/guardian twice, the child’s behavior does not improve sufficiently, Wilton Continuing Education reserves the right to discharge the student from the program without a tuition refund.
If at any time you have a problem or concern of any kind about any of our programs, please don’t hesitate to call our office at (203) 834-7694.
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