Hours of Operation

Play & Learn Day Care Center #2 (241 S. Williams Rd. San Benito, Texas) opens at 6:00a.m. and we close at 6:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday . Our preschool program uses an extended curriculum beginning at *8:45 a.m. daily. Field trips are taken during the summer and school holidays (Christmas, early release, and Spring Break). Play & Learn Day Care Center provides education using early curriculum, visuals, and equipment. Our teaching staff is qualified and trained in the fields of early childhood education. Staff is evaluated on a daily basis for the safety of your children.

Enrollment Procedures

Parent is given enrollment, policy, food program form, WIC, discrimination and parent handbook. All forms are discussed by director or person in charge reviewed and signed by parent. Any policies that are changed, parents will be notified during scheduled parent meetings. Any parent who does not attend the parent meetings will be called into the office to sign and go over any changes. Parents will receive and sign new policy changes.

Handbook Procedures

Parent handbook is discussed with parent during orientation. This is an opportunity for parents to discuss any questions or concerns about our policy and procedures. During parent meetings, parents are asked if there are any questions or concerns.

Parent Visitations

We here at Play & Learn have an open door policy to all parents. We ask if your child is an infant or toddler to view monitors in our office, because children tend to cry when seeing their parents.

Cell Phone Usage in Facility

We ask that you don’t walk through our doors using your cell phones. Teachers need to communicate with parents as you pick up and drop off your children. If this rule is ignored by a parent a charge of $5 will be applied to your account .

Sign In

Please take your child directly inside the building. Do not drop them off at the door. You must sign in your child on a daily basis. The same applies when picking up your child; you need to sign your child out.

Transportation

An authorization form is given to parent to sign for field trips and school pick ups to whom it applies to. See attached forms. When transporting children to and from school, they need to follow the van rules. Such as stay sitting, stay buckled and appropriate behavior. If any child misbehaves and or disrespects the van driver, a report will be written. If the child receives 3 reports, he or she will be suspended from van transportation for 1 week. Child may be transported after their 1 week suspension.

Water Activities

Our facilities only include water splash activities with sprinklers for our children.

Field Trip Activites

Our facility provides field trips during school breaks, parents are given an authorization field trip form giving us permission to transport in the van. We post three days in advance the date of the planned activity, time of departure & arrival, destination and name of child and teacher. All children need to wear a Play & Learn t-shirt that can be purchased from the center. Field trips are an incentive for the children, if they receive three consecutive reports in one week on bad behavior they will not attend the upcoming field trip.

Holidays

The Centers will be closed on the following days:

• Good Friday
• Thanksgiving
• Thanksgiving Friday
• Memorial Day
• July 4th
• Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
• Labor Day
• New Year's Day

Holidays will vary according to school calendar. We will close early on some Special Holidays. TUITION IS STILL REQUIRED DURING HOLIDAYS.

Dress Code

Because of the wide range of activities, it is recommended that children be dressed in washable, comfortable clothing and tennis shoes. DURING SPRING AND SUMMER, ONLY SANDALS WITH A STRAP AROUND THEM is acceptable. No Flip-flops, children tend to fall and get into accidents. The child will not be accepted if brought to the center in flip-flops

Extra Clothing

Extra clothing is necessary in case of restroom accidents, we need a set of clothing to be kept at the center at all times. All extra clothing should be marked with the child's name. If wet or dirty clothes are sent home, please return a clean set of clothes the next morning. If the child does not have extra clothing the parent will be called at work to provide clean clothing for their child.

Nap Time

One small blanket should be sent to the center for your child to use on his/her mat during nap time. This must be taken home weekly, to be washed and returned on Monday. Blankets and pillows are a privilege for the children, if they take advantage of this privilege the Director will tell the parent that their child is not allowed to bring them anymore for nap time. While getting ready for nap or during nap all children watch G or PG movies only.

Pampers

All pampers and wipes will be provided by the parents, with a minimum of 6-7 per day for infants, 6 for 18 months and up. Toilet training will be offered in the 24 months class when parents and child are ready. When the child reaches the age of 3 if not potty trained there will be a $10.00 extra charge on their weekly tuition. *We will not provide pampers, if your child runs out, you will be asked to bring more.

Meals & Food

The center will meet the child's nutritional needs for the part of the day, which he/she spends at the center .The center participates in the CACFP PROGRAM. We serve meals which meet the CACFP requirements. Breakfast is from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. KITCHEN CLOSES at 8:30 a.m. Lunch is at 11:00a.m. To 11:45 a.m. You need to call by 9:30 a.m. if the child is coming in, to inform the cook that the child will be present. An afternoon snack is also provided for the children. Any child that is under 12 months old, the parent will provide the center with a sufficient amount to feed the child.

Birthdays

Parents are welcome to send cookies or cakes to share with their children's friends on birthdays. Please let your child's teacher know in advance that you will be bringing a treat, and please feel free to attend and take pictures. The cake must be store bought.

Toys, Candies & Jewelry

Please do not send toys, candy or gum. We wilt not be responsible for broken or lost toys. The day care is also not responsible for lost jewelry even of its value.

Holiday Parties

Goodies will be asked for our parties. We will appreciate your cooperation. A newsletter will be sent home according to our party.

Medicines

Please hand medicine that needs to be given to your child to the teacher who is in charge in the morning. The parent should then fill out the necessary information on the medicine chart in the office. It is required to fill out chart in order for your child to receive his/her medication. The bottle must have: the name of the child who is attending the center, name of the doctor, and how many times a day the medicine needs to be given.

Immunization Requirements

IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS It is required for all children to have their immunization record during enrollment. If immunizations are not up to date; a form is given to the parent by director. Child needs to receive immunizations with in two weeks of enrollment. If child does not comply with immunization requirements; the child will not be able to attend the facility until immunizations are received.

Tuberculin Testing Requirements

All children need a TB Test when enrolling in the center. Ages 12 months and up are required to have a TB Test at least once.

Hearing & Vision Screening Requirements

Prior to completion of the first fall semester of enrollment; All three and four year olds of age enrolled in our program will be screened for possible vision and hearing problems. A licensed or certified screener will conduct screening.

Medical Information and Illness

State regulations require us to maintain a medical record on each child and for the child to have a physical examination prior to his/her admission to the center. Please bring completed form when your child gets his/her next physical to put in your child's file. For the protection of ail children, your child should be kept at home when ill. We cannot accept him/her at the center if he/she shows any of
THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS:

• Temperature
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Discharge
• Discharging ears or eyes (pink eye, unless the child has prescribed medication)
• A rash.
• Yellow or Green Nasal

* lf a child becomes ill during the day, he/she will be isolated from the other children and the parent will be contacted and requested to take the child home. Parents of sick children must keep the children home and away from the child care setting for at least 24 hours and a doctors excuse.

Contagious Diseases

If your child has been exposed to a contagious disease he/she should be kept at a home and the fact of his/her condition should be reported to the center. STREPT THROAT. PIN WORMS. VIRAL INFECTIONS. LICE. SCARLET FEVER. MEASLES. MUMPS. CHICKEN POX. ETC.. ARE INCLUDED AS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS.

Lice

All children are checked daily for lice during grooming time. If your child has lice or nits, parents are given a lice information handout. Child will need to get picked up for the day. Child can not return until they are completely cleaned and proof of treatment with proof of receipt is shown to director or assistant director.

Parent Involvement

Please feel free to attend any of our holiday parties and get involved in your child's class. Parents are encouraged to speak to their child’s teacher to see how they are coming along in our program.

Parental Notifications

Parents are notified thru a monthly newsletter about our upcoming activities at the center.

Parking

Driveway is used only for dropping off and picking up children. If you need to speak with director or teacher, please park outside the driveway.

Minimum Standards

Parents are notified during our enrollment orientation of the minimum standards. The minimum standards are located in the director’s office parents are welcome to check it out with director or assistant director. Parents are welcome to review our licensing inspection reports

Medical Emergencies

In the event of a medical emergency or of an accident, we shall contact the parents. If it is impossible to reach either parent, and should emergency treatment be required, the child will be taken to a hospital.

Withdrawals

Parents may withdraw a child from the program at any time. Please let your director know a week in advance. If client is a CCMS parent the end co-pay must be paid in cash to clear balance for any transfer or must wait for personal check to clear before being cleared from the center.

When Picking Up The Children

No one other than a parent will be allowed to pick up a child, unless parent gives authorization to others on enrollment form.

Accidents

When a child gets any type of injury in the center, the teacher makes a written report about the injury. Parent, director, and teacher sign the report. Parent needs to the sign the report before leaving the center.

Biting

Biting does occur in the younger toddler class rooms due to the children not communicating with each other. They tend to bite for various reasons and we need to break their habit. If your child bites twice in one day, we will call the parent to pick up the child immediately. Incident report will be given to parent to sign.

Discipline & Guidance

Discipline must be:

1. Individualized and consistent for each child;
2. Appropriate to the child’s level of understanding; and
3. Directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self -control.

1s1 time-child gets a verbal warning, 2nd time-child receives time out according to the child’s age, 3rd time-child will be redirected by director or person in charge, 4th time-we make a written report and share it with parent. If child continues with disruptive behavior your child will need to be picked up for the day. A child will be terminated if he/she is intolerable.

Absences

When your child is absent please notify the center. This includes when child is out sick or child will be out for vacation.

Parent Conference

There will be a conference when needed such as: child's behavior, tuition and daily matters.

Complaints

Parents, when having any complaints please feel free to discuss it with the director as soon as possible. If the director is not present please see person in charge.

Closing Time

The center is scheduled to close at 6:30 p.m. We ask that parents to cooperate by picking up their children by 6:30 p.m. If for some emergency a parent should be delayed, please call the center to inform the teacher in charge that you will be late. A late charge of $1.00 every minute is assessed for every child and it is payable immediately by the parent to the teacher forced to remain over time. If parent cannot pay at the time of pick up, pay the director on the following day. THIS IS PER CHILD. If the incident occurs again where you the parent fails to pick up their child on time, we have the right to notify child protective services and the police department.

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The state of Texas requires that all the members of the day care need to be on the lookout and report to the state any and all cases of abuse to a child. Play & Learn Day Care Center is therefore obligated to report any suspected cases of child abuse and/or neglect.

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

Our local licensing office is at 601 W. Sesame Drive Harlingen, Texas.

Phone number: (956) 423-0130 

If you suspect a child has been abused or mistreated you are required to report it to the Texas Department of Family And Protective Services immediately. 

Harlingen and Edingburg intake line:(956) 316-8275 

TDPRS child abuse hotline: 1-800-252-5400 

TDPRS Website: www.dfps.state.tx.us