Footsteps Family Centre - Admissions and Withdrawals
Admission and Withdrawal Policy
Clients wishing to apply to Footsteps Family Centre are to create an account on the One List registry/waitlist www.thunderbaychildcare.ca. Footsteps Family Centre will give priority to those on the One List waitlist registry as follows:
1 - Staff
2 - Siblings of children already attending
3 - Full-time
4 - Part-time
Prior to enrollment, a tour of the Centre will be arranged to familiarize the family with the staff, the surroundings and our policies, as well as complete the required registration & contract forms.
Prohibited Practices
Footsteps Family Centre shall not permit:
a) Corporal punishment of a child.
b) Physical restraint, unless the physical restraint is for the purpose of preventing a child from hurting himself, herself or someone else and is used only as a last resort and only until the risk of injury is no longer imminent.
c) Locking of the exits of the child care centre for the purpose of confining the child, or confining the child in an area or room without adult supervision, unless such confinement occurs during an emergency.
d) Use of harsh or degrading measures or threats or use of derogatory language directed at or used in the presence of a child that would humiliate, shame or frighten the child or undermine his or her self-respect, dignity or self-worth.
e) Depriving the child of basic needs, including food, drink, shelter, sleep, toilet use, clothing or bedding
f) Inflicting any bodily harm on children, including making children eat or drink against their will.
Acceptable Behaviour Management
Footsteps Family Centre recognizes each child’s individual feelings and actions. Support and time will be allowed to let each child express his/her emotions and moods in a positive manner. Positive measures are used in order to help a child learn to deal with all emotions in an appropriate manner. The goal of discipline is to teach the child safe, socially and developmentally appropriate skills and abilities to increase both self-control and skill acquisition. A positive environment is created by skilled staff who provide consistency, structure and appropriate intervention strategies. Disciplinary measures, through the use of behaviour management strategies, are used to prevent unacceptable behaviour and avoid crisis situations. When the need arises, children will be disciplined in a positive manner, at a level that is appropriate to their ages and developmental stages. Acceptable Behaviour Management Strategies:
1 - Clear expectations
2 - Choices
3 - Redirection
4 - Planned ignoring
5 - Caring gestures
6 - Humour
7 - Hurdle helping
8 - Removal of triggering object
9 - Limits
10 - Controls
11 - Logical consequences
12 - Natural consequences
13 - Time away
