Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is your daycare licensed?
A: Yes, we are licensed by Alberta Children’s Services. Our license documents are posted by the centre’s front entrance, along with copies of recent inspection reports.
Q: Is a subsidy available at your daycare?
A: Yes, subsidies are available to qualified families. The criteria for subsidies are set by the provincial government – see www.child.gov.ab.ca for more information.
Q: What training do your staff have?
A: We pride ourselves on having the best trained and most experienced staff in Edmonton. The provincial government has established three levels of training for daycare staff:
- Child Development Assistants (formerly known as “Level 1″) require a child development course approved under Alberta’s Child Care Licensing Act, typically consisting of 50 hours of coursework in Early Childhood Education.
- Child Development Workers (formerly known as “Level 2″) are staff members who have obtained a child development certificate or equivalent – typically consisting of a one-year program at an Alberta Public College.
- Child Development Supervisors (formerly known as “Level 3″) are staff who have obtained a child development diploma or equivalent – typically consisting of a two-year program at an Alberta Public College.
As of Spring 2011, 12 of our staff are Child Development Supervisors (formerly “Level 3″ and we have six Child Development Assistants (formerly “Level 1″). Our goal is to have high-quality caregivers that meet or exceed the training requirements set by the provincial government.
Q: What are the daily activities at your daycare?
A: Activities vary from room to room and week to week. The activities at each of our six rooms are tailored to the developmental needs and interests of the children in those rooms. A program plan is developed and provided to parents each week, listing the activities planned for the next week. These program plans are developed based on the activities and subjects that the children are interested in. Also, each room has a routine that is followed on a daily basis, so that meal times and nap times are consistent.
Q: Do I need to be an employee of the federal government to have a child at your daycare?
A: No, however we give priority on our waiting list to children who have a parent or parents who are federal public servants. 75% of our spaces are set aside for children of public servants.
Q: How long is your waiting list?
A: Unfortunately, the demand for quality child care in Edmonton exceeds the supply of available spaces. We maintain two waiting lists – one for children of federal public servants, and one for children of the general public. As of spring 2011, typical waiting times on our ‘federal’ waiting list is one year, and on our non-federal list waits are 2+ years. We encourage parents to place their name on our waiting list as early as possible to increase the chances of securing a spot.
Q: What is your child guidance policy?
A: Please see our policies and procedures for details. We focus on redirecting children to more appropriate behaviours. The specific approaches used will vary depending on the age group. Approaches that are not used include physical punishment (spankings etc), withdrawal of needs such as food, verbal abuse (shouting), and time-outs.
Q: What food do I need to provide for my child at the daycare?
A: All food is provided by the centre with the exception of infant formulas, which must be provided by parents, ready to serve in a bottle. Due to allergy concerns, we ask that outside food not be brought into the centre, especially any foods containing nuts.
Q: What is your sick policy?
A: See our policies and procedures for full details. Parents are responsible for keeping their child at home if they have a fever, diarrhea/vomiting, undiagnosed rashes, other communicable diseases (other than upper respiratory tract infections i.e. common colds), lethargy/irritability, frequent coughs, or discharge from the eye(s).
Q: What is your late pick-up policy?
A: The facility closes at 6:00pm. Children must be picked up by this time or parents will be charged a late fee of $10 per 30 minutes late, payable directly to the staff member working late to care for the child.