I am a professional Child Care Provider, I am NOT a babysitter or your employee, I am a small business owner and as such expect my clients to show respect for my home, my family and myself.

My fees, hours and policies are well thought out and most times are non-negotiable... I realize the financial burden that child care places on parents. I also hope parents understand that as a business, child care places financial burden on the provider as well. These include, but are not limited to self employment taxes, higher grocery bills, extra utilities, insurance, safe toys and equipment. I also have financial responsibility to my own family which means I need to make a small wage. 

Please keep in mind that I am a SINGLE WORKING PARENT! This is my only source of income and like you, I too have demands on my time and a life outside of daycare. At Tir na nOg you are paying for a specific slot, NOT per hour or per day, so no discounts are given if your child does not come to care. This does not apply for the Drop-In Agreement. I have learned over the years what works and what doesn't...  some of the rules are in place due to my eco-healthy endorsement. 

If any of my policies seem unfair or unnecessary, please take a moment to think about that policy and how it might apply to your current working situation… I’m sure it will make sense in that light. If you have ANY questions, please ask them! Being a new parent can sometimes be very frightening, but it's also a blessing and it is very important that we communicate openly from the start!

I welcome families of any race, color, sex, religion, nationality, creed, sexual orientation, or marital status; I do accept children with sensory, mental or physical disabilities as long as it's within my scope of knowledge and ability to care properly for the child.

I respect and appreciate the trust you have placed in me in caring for your child. I believe that parents are the most important people in a child’s world, and I will make every effort to support you as a family. I will try to offer the very best care that I can for your child. You can help me by keeping me informed about health concerns, favorite foods, fears or special interests. I will try to share information about your child’s growth and activities during the time spent in my program.

Age appropriate activities are scheduled with flexibility allowed to respond to the needs of the individual child. I will provide your child with tender loving care, patience, understanding, and guidance in a happy home. Chores, such as picking up toys will likely be part of the day for the oldest children. It is here that your child will begin learning social skills and manners that will be needed the rest of their lives.

ENROLLMENT: When I agree to hold a Full or Part-time opening, I give up the right to fill that space and to receive tuition from that position. For this reason a non-refundable deposit is required to secure an opening; Parents are always able to place their names on my wait list for free.

 A child care slot will be considered open until a signed contract or letter of intent indicating a start date and a fee in an amount equal to one weeks tuition have been received. This will hold a child's space for up to 2 weeks; The fee will applied towards a child's last month of care, however fees are non-refundable should you decide not to have your child attend. 

Many parents start searching for care weeks even months before actually needing care. Each spot in my daycare equals 1/5 of my income. Consider how losing 20-25% of your income for weeks or months would financially hurt your family. I cannot afford to hold spots for free or turn away potential families unless I am certain that I have the spot filled. If a space is already open and available, I require half  a months fee be paid in advance for each month you want to hold a space past the original 2 weeks, that is unless another parent is wanting the spot, in which case I will offer you right of 1st refusal and the option to contract at full fee. Should you chose not to take the space, I will contract the other family and you will be put on the wait-list; because of how situations tend to change,  I place a limit of 6 weeks for half fee holds past the 1st 2 weeks, after that full fee will be required regardless of child's attendance. 

The holding fee will not be credited towards care, nor is it refundable if you change your mind - it is payment for holding a space open specifically for your child... No additional fee will be required should you place a deposit for an opening that is not available until sometime in the future (i.e reserving a space that a child will be aging out of say 3 months out - the above rules will apply should the space open early). The holding fee is how I determine a spot is truly filled for families not looking for immediate care.

ABSENCES: There are no make-ups or switched days in the event that a child is sick or out of town; payments are based on contracted days, not attendance and as such no credit will be given when a child is absent.

Monthly fees factor in my unpaid vacation time, Major holidays, and a few personal/professional days; This allows the childcare to operate with consistent, predictable care for your children while ensuring clear expectations to the best of my ability. Alternate payments will be considered... 

YOUR CHILD'S FILE: Please don't be offended when I ask that ALL your paperwork be turned in prior to starting care - it's important to have a way to contact you in an emergency and I need to know your child's allergies, likes/dislikes etc BEFORE I can properly care for them. Also, please let me know of ANY changes in your address, phone numbers, updates on child's immunizations, place of employment or emergency contacts immediately so that forms may be kept current.

ARRIVAL, DEPARTURE & OVERTIME: I only work the hours and days you have requested for your child up to 9 hours daily unless otherwise contracted. It is expected that your child will be dropped off and picked up on time, as per your scheduled hours, not daycare business hours. Doors to my home are unlocked 5 minutes prior to the 1st reserved start time each day and it will vary dependent on parent schedules.

I reserve the right to close early, on any given day after the last scheduled pickup or when all children have been picked up for the day. I will close for the day without notice to parents if no children are scheduled for that day or if scheduled children have not arrived within 60 minutes past their scheduled drop off time and parent/guardian hasn‘t called to report late arrival.

If you need to Drop-Off early or Work Overtime one day, PLEASE ask and get approval at least 12 hours in advance. $1 per minute is charged for each minutes over the 5 minute grace period that the parent drops-off early or picks up late without prior approval. The fees are to be paid when parent arrives to get their child THAT DAY.  I work Drop-ins and my private life around parent schedules and I really don't wish to work overtime, nor am I required too... I sometimes take a last minute request to help parents out, but it's not always possible.  Late arrival also does not mean you can pick-up late. Arrival and departure times are very important to maintaining the proper rhythm for the day. 

If you need to bring your child into child care later than your scheduled time or if you will be picking him early, please let me know in advance. While I want to encourage you to visit any time during the day, I need to know if children will be arriving or leaving during mealtime, naptime, or activity time.  I have found that if parents schedule well baby/doctor visits early in the morning or later in the afternoon, the children's routine is not disrupted as much as those mid-day appointments. Please write down doctor appointments and other planned absences for me... For unplanned absences, please call the night before or at least 1/2 hour before you child's scheduled arrival time.

We are a shoe free home, please remove shoes upon arrival or stay on the ceramic tile by front door when dropping off or picking up; blue hospital shoe covers available for bad weather days. When dropping off your child, please inform me of anything that may affect your child’s day. (if they woke up early, the time of their last feeding, any medicine they were given, etc.) If your child will be dropped off late or picked up early for any reason, please let me know as soon as possible to allow me to make adjustments to the day’s planned meals and activities. If your work schedule will vary on a regular basis, you will need to inform me of the time schedule needed for child care ahead of time.

Keep in mind it is normal for children to have difficulty separating from parents sometimes and your child may cry when being dropped off. Typically, the longer you prolong your departure, the more difficult it gets for your child.  A smile, a cheerful good-bye kiss and a reassuring word that you will be back are all that is needed.

NO CHILD WILL BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE MY HOME WITH ANY PERSON WHO IS NOT AUTHORIZED BY THE PARENT. Should I be unfamiliar with an authorized person, they will be asked for photo identification and the name must match what is in your file. This is for the protection of your child and you, so please ask anyone you authorize to pick up your child not to be offended by this policy.

CUSTODY ISSUES

This daycare has no legal authority to refuse either parent the right to pick up their child unless a court has granted temporary or permanent custody to one parent or to a third party and I have been furnished with a copy of the order bearing the court's signature. I will only write ONE CONTRACT and will expect payment from the contracting party; I do not allow one parent to pay one week, one the next situations. The following was put in because of a problem years ago that I do not want to repeat...

1. All custody issues must be resolved outside of daycare; this includes joint custodial cases; if accusations are aimed at me because I refuse to take sides, I will sue the parents for liable and damages to me and the childcare (this includes false abuse charges called into CPS)

2. Problems between custodial and non-custodial parents will be immediate cause for termination should they continue after ONE  warning. Additionally, the non-notice termination fee will apply.

3. I MUST HAVE custody paperwork showing in writing the terms including visitation rights and they may not interfere with my home life or business.

4. Should I be subpoenaed into court to testify, the parent that had subpoena issued will be required to pay for all lost wages for the days I have to close; this causes a hardship not only for me, but to the other families in care and I don't like to be put in the middle of someone elses issues.

NON CUSTODIAL PARENTS

1. Non custodial parent's must call and make an appointment to visit the daycare. The custodial parent must state in writing the terms of the visit and allowable times and it must match court documents. This also applies to phone calls

2. Non custodial parents that cause problems when picking up their child at the daycare will be permanently barred from the premises. If you show back up, you will be charged with trespassing.

3. Do not call and ask me for information about your child. You will have to obtain this from the custodial parent.

4. Do not call and ask if your child is in care. I am not at liberty to divulge this information to anyone than those authorized on the child's forms. If you want this changed then go through the custodial parent for authorization. I am a daycare provider, not a mediator for custody issues.

VISITATION:  Any parent/guardian of a child enrolled is encouraged to visit at anytime while their child is in care unless I have court papers saying otherwise. Please, DO NOT bring unannounced guests with you when you drop-off, pick-up or interview. It not only disrupts the children, but puts me in a very uncomfortable position. The door is always open to contracted daycare families during regular business hours. “Open door” does not mean unlocked. Doors to the house are kept locked unless a parent is expected for pick-up or drop-off; this is for the safety reasons and to keep strangers from just walking into the house (it has happened). This is my home 1st, a business 2nd

PHONE CALLS: I will try to answer the phone messages quickly, but please keep in mind that I may not be able to take a phone call immediately as the children's needs have priority; last thing I worry about is answering a call if I am changing a diaper or soothing a fussy child.

BUSINESS HOURS: Regular childcare is scheduled Monday thru Friday. We will figure your hours based on the work or school schedule plus fair commute time and this will become your "contracted hours".  Any changes to your schedule have to be discussed and re-scheduled based on my ability to meet your new need with my schedule.

Drop-in care is available Mon thru  Sat between 8am and 6pm when space is open... Fri & Sat date nights is 6-11pm; 48 hours notice requested for date nights.  Drop-in spaces are filled 1st come, 1st serve and are not guaranteed to be available at anytime. 

Please have the courtesy to give me at least 12 hours notice if you need to cancel, otherwise you will be expected to pay in full regardless of attendance...  Parents will also be billed for the full time requested if they are no show/no call and future care will not be scheduled until paid in full. No refunds of prepaid fees are given. Fees are due in full at child's drop-off in CASH. 

Use of Drop-in service does not constitute regularly contracted childcare. The agreement does not obligate me to continue to provide services to your family; IT IS NOT THE SAME AS FULL OR PART-TIME and IS NOT TO BE USED AS SUCH (I have had issues arise with a few families over this). I reserve the right to refuse admission to a drop-in child for any reason and at any time without liability.

CAR SEATS:  Please do not bring car seats into the house for arrival or departure... I cannot store car seats on the property or in the house while you are at work due to space  and safety issues, plus they can transport hitch-hiking bedbugs from a Gym, Hotel or other facility.

CLOTHING: Please bring at least 2 extra sets of clothing that may remain here; I will ask that you switch out clothing every 3 months so that clothes are fitting properly (babies grow so fast). Also, as the weather changes, make sure that your child has a coat, jacket, hat, mittens etc. to keep in line with the season.

• Please don’t send your child in with extra blankets, diaper bags or stuffed animals... 

• When you send in cloth items, it is best to send them in a Ziploc baggie.