St. Mary's Daycare

Wonder. Learn. Grow. 

2 Canfield Rd, Nepean, Ontario K2H 5T1, Canada

(613) 596-6279

(3) St. Mary’s Daycare encourages the children to interact and communicate in a positive way and supports their ability to self-regulate

In each classroom there is at least 1 teacher who is a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) licensed by the College of Early Childhood Educators. Every staff member, volunteer, and student will be trained in health and safety protocols. Children are supervised by staff at all times as per the ratios set out for each age group. St. Mary’s follows the Ministry of Health and Safety guidelines and holds fire drills on a monthly basis. During fire drills all staff and children evacuate the building and proceed to our emergency location where attendance is taken before returning to the daycare. In the event of a real evacuation, parents are asked to pick their children up at the designated emergency location and to not enter the building once an evacuation has taken place.

All staff, volunteers and students will be trained in standard first aid and Infant and Child CPR (before hire and updated prior to expiry date) and the use of Epi-Pens. St. Mary’s Daycare will compile a file for each staff member and child who attends the daycare which will include documentation of immunizations. Educators are required to review all important information about the children prior to their starting in the classroom (allergies, medical and behavioural issues etc.)

Children’s immunizations are kept up to date and all illnesses are recorded in our communication logs. Children who are sick must be free of fever, vomiting and diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to the daycare.  We have a medication policy that states that all medication be labelled and kept in a locked box out of reach of the children (kept in kitchen, above stove); there is also a locked box that is kept in the kitchen fridge for any medications requiring refrigeration.  Medication may only be administered by an RECE, and shall be recorded on a medication log once given. Each child who is to receive medication will need a medication log, which is to be filled out by the parent, stating the specific dose of the medicine as well as the time in which it should be administered (should be the same as on the pharmacy label).

We encourage good hygiene habits at St. Mary’s Daycare, meaning that everyone (staff and children included) shall wash his/her hands upon entering the room, before and after eating and (of course) after using the washroom.

During the months of May-September we apply sunscreen to the children, which is provided by the parents. All sunscreens shall be labelled with the children’s name and kept out of reach from the children, in the classroom. Sunscreen is applied 30 minutes before going outside in the morning and in the afternoon.

At St. Mary’s Daycare we supply 2 snacks and a catered lunch (provided through Bytown Catering) on a daily basis.  All snacks and meals are based on Canada’s Food Guide and children are encouraged to eat from all four food groups. Allergies are posted in every classroom as well as in the kitchen and office. The daycare is a nut free facility , which means that we never cook with or buy any product containing nuts and nuts are strictly prohibited from entering the daycare.  We ask that no outside food be brought into the daycare (unless otherwise approved by the Supervisor). During summer months, kindergarten and school aged children will provide their own lunches. Please ensure that there are no nut products or products that may contain nuts in their lunch.  Staff at St. Mary’s Daycare is trained in the use of Epipen’s and follow up on the procedures yearly.

Staff at St. Mary’s does an excellent job at maintaining a clean and sanitary environment for the children. Washrooms are cleaned and disinfected after each washroom routine and floors are swept and mopped after every meal. Tables and chairs are cleaned daily and toys and games are cleaned and disinfected weekly or any time they have been “mouthed” by a child. All bedding is cleaned on a weekly basis (or as needed, when an accident occurs) and cots are disinfected as well.  All toys, games and furniture is kept in good working order. Any item that becomes broken will either be fixed immediately or thrown away upon discovery. St. Mary’s Daycare uses a professional cleaning company who comes every night to thoroughly clean all of the classrooms and washrooms. 

(7) Incorporate indoor and outdoor play, as well as active play, rest and quiet time, into the day and give consideration to the individual needs of the children receiving care

St. Mary’s Daycare is licensed by the Ministry of Education under the Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA).  Our teachers are trained Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECE) who are very professional and creative in implementing developmentally appropriate activities that engage and stimulate the children in a play based learning environment. All employees, volunteers and students are required to provide the daycare with a Police Clearance Check under the Vulnerable Sector before interacting with the children in our centre.

At St. Mary’s Daycare, we view the child as competent, capable, curious and rich in potential. We encourage our children to realize their own abilities and to show positive behaviour that respects everyone. We expose our children to a variety of environments to help them to explore and satisfy their curiosity. Open – ended questions help our children to expand their imagination and think deeper than they usually would.

 At St. Mary’s Daycare we believe that the parents and staff should have a very close relationship where we can work together as a team to make the daycare experience seem as close to home for the child as possible. We have a wide open door policy in which we allow the parents and staff to communicate through email, telephone, notes, documentations and meetings to keep everyone up to date and informed on how the child is developing as well as how and what they like to explore in the daycare. 

Children at St. Mary’s Daycare are provided the opportunity to explore a variety of activities to help them to reach their full potential. Through interactions with the children and observations the Educators are able to provide activities (both quiet and active) that incorporate the children’s interests all while meeting the emotional and developmental needs of each individual. 

St. Mary’s Daycare has set out our goals for the children’s learning and development to be consistent with the ministry of education and through the principles stated in “How Does Learning Happen?” which states that children are competent, capable, curious and rich in potential. At St. Mary’s we view the child as follows:

      - Every child has a sense of belonging when he or she is connected to others and contributes to their world.
      - Every child is developing a sense of self, health, and well-being.
      - Every child is an active and engaged learner who explores the world with body, mind, and senses.
      - Every child is a capable communicator who expresses himself/herself in many ways.

(6) St.Mary’s Daycare Plans for and creates positive learning environments and experiences in which each child’s learning and development will be supported

(4) At St. Mary’s Daycare we will foster the children’s exploration, play and inquiry

(1) St. Mary’s Daycare will promote Health, Safety, Nutrition and Well-Being of the children

Parents are welcome to visit and are encouraged to participate in their child’s classroom. The Centre has adopted the Class Dojo App and St. Mary’s face book Page as ways for educators to correspond with parents throughout each day by sending photos, documentation and updates. Teachers will keep communication open via short discussions, notes, phone calls and emails.  Each class sends out a Parent/Teacher meetings whenever necessary.

St. Mary’s Daycare is encouraging the parents or children’s relatives who are willing to come to the centre to play with the children and read them stories. We welcome also Librarian volunteers to come to the daycare and read books with the children. St.Mary’s Daycare offered free French program and Music program for the children to encourage them discover their abilities and interests. Staffs are interested in attending any workshops provided by College of E.C.E.s which provide ongoing professional development and resources.Parents are given the chance to accept or refuse that their child/ren participate in any of the programs offered such as French program, music, Face book Page and all other activities the children will be involved in.

(5) Provide Child-initiated and adult supported experiences

(11)  Document and review the impact of strategies set out in this statement on the children and their families

(2) St. Mary’s Daycare supports positive and responsive interactions among the children, parents, child-care providers and staff

St.Mary’s Daycare staff will follow the guidelines of the CCEYA in setting our program.  We strive to provide equal opportunities for all children to find the active and quiet time that meets their individual needs.  We make use of the playground for two hours every day, weather permitting, providing a variety of active materials.  Nap time is offered for two hours per day after lunch. We are also prepared for the early wakers children with quite interesting activities.

At St. Mary’s Daycare we pride ourselves on having excellent relationships with parents. We have an open door policy with parents to ensure that information is being relayed on a day to day basis. Staff greets the parents and children each day upon arrival to the daycare and deliver information pertaining to the child’s day upon departure. Staff and parents are encouraged to keep in touch through email, phone calls and written notes. If there is a request for parent/teacher meetings to discuss the needs of the child, the staff members will arrange a time in which it is appropriate. Artwork, written work and documentation panels are posted throughout the daycare on display for parents to take a look at and see what types of activities are happening during their child’s day.

St. Mary’s Daycare practices and encourages interactions that are inclusive to all in order to create a learning environment that is positive for everyone. Areas in the classroom are not gender defined as all children are encouraged to play with and experience every aspect of the classroom. We provide an atmosphere of cooperation, friendship, inclusion and sharing. The educators do their best job to model this type of behaviour through interactions with coworkers, children and parents.

Educators always encourage self-help skills in the children. We view the child as being capable and will give every opportunity for each child to develop to their fullest potential. Children are encouraged to do as much for themselves as possible. We feel that the child should always be trying his or her best. Educators will allow for the child to complete each task to the best of their ability without (or before) becoming frustrated or discouraged. We will assist children when needed, however staff will allow for the children’s skills to be challenged in order to facilitate the development of new skills when appropriate. It is also encouraged that the children be helpful to each other and in the classroom as well.

All staff members will follow the CCEYA guidelines for Behaviour Guidance. We will guide the children’s behaviour through the use of positive language, positive reinforcement and encouragement. Educators will never use prohibited practices, i.e. corporal punishment, confinement, verbal degradation or deprivation of basic needs (including food, clothing or bedding). 

(8) Foster the engagement of an ongoing communication with Parents about the program and their children

Goals and Approaches To Meet Our Program Statement

Educators of St .Mary’s Daycare will use documentation, reflection, as well as formal assessments such as ITERS-R(Infant and Toddler Environmental Rating Scale – Revised) and ECERS-R (Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale – Revised) to continually evaluate our program and its effects on the children and their families.  

 Staff, Students, and Volunteers will read this Program Statement and sign off prior to interacting with the children, when the statement is updated and on an annual basis.  The Director will review this yearly.

Each program in St .Mary’s Daycare  will use a binder for observations, plans and documentation to support understanding.  Documentation will be shared with families. Also incidents will be recorded and signed from both, involved educators and parents of the involved child/ren.

St.Mary’s Daycare welcomes all the visitors from within our field as well as E.C.E. students and High School Co-op students.  We also, with Parents’ permission, allow Carleton University students to use our centre for any practicum work and projects.  We allow students from Algonquin College to do their placements in our center under the supervision of RECE onsite supervisor.

Educators use positive language and behaviours when talking with the children and other adults in order to be good role models in the classroom. At St. Mary’s we work to help the children to develop their communication and problem solving skills in order to allow them to become competent in using different forms of communication to solve any problems they may face.When encouraging self-regulation we strive to create an environment where each child feels safe and can feel supported to find a variety of ways in which to express how they feel. We as educators work to teach the children to recognise how they feel (emotions) and to discover many ways in which to deal with them affectively and in a calm manner.

(9)  Involve local community partners and allow those partners to support the children, their families and staff

Educators at St. Mary’s Daycare encourage the children to make their interests known in a variety of ways.  To discover those interests, they observe, listen and talk with the children and document their interactions.  Using the 4 Foundations of How Does Learning Happen (Belonging, Well-Being, Engagement and Expression).Educators are interested in creating an environment that allows the children to explore the world around them, with their natural curiosity and exuberance.  Through play based learning, children will develop the skills needed to expand their abilities as well as their knowledge and understanding of their world.

(10)  Support Staff, home child care providers or others who interact with the children at a child care centre or home child care premises in relation to continuous professional learning

Using regular observations of the children’s activities and interactions will us to plan a program that will stimulate the interests and development of the children.  We will provide a variety of activities, both active and quiet, which will meet the needs of the developing child regardless of the level of need and development.  We will make changes in our environment and program as the children’s interests and developmental needs in all developmental cognitive and physical skills.

Our Program Statement

St. Mary’s R.E.C.E. Educators will follow the child’s lead in our interactions and in developing an environment that enriches the opportunities for exploration.  Reflecting on our documentation we discover the child’s current interests, which guide us in the materials we provide and the opportunities we offer in all areas of the child’s development.  We also consider the different needs of the group, individuals.  The environment will then be set up to encourage the children to challenge their abilities, expand their interests and develop relationships.