PARENT HANDBOOK

We know that choosing the best childcare facility for your child can be very tasking. We are here to make the journey an easier and exciting one. We take pride in working with families and children as they shift into a new environment.

Your child’s first week with us will be all about welcoming and inviting your child into our schedules, letting your child to adjust at his or her stride, and allowing your child’s teacher to get acquainted with your child. This handbook contains important information about our school and will answer many of the questions that you may have about us.

If at any time during your registration you have any questions, we will be happy to assist and encourage you to bring them to the School Director. Please be aware that this handbook may be updated periodically to accommodate the interest of our families. Please read it completely and have it always available during your kid’s time with us here.

We are excited to have you join our family and we look forward to providing top quality care and education for your child!

School Hours

Hours of Operation:

Monday through Friday— 7:00am-5:00pm

School numbers: 07025550026, 07025550027

Director: Shirley Echendu – shirley.echendu@shirleytreasures.org

School website: www.shirleytreasures.org

Our mission

To provide a safe, reliable, positive learning environment using the Reggio Emilia philosophy of early childhood education and offering the highest quality education. To recognize and value each child’s individual needs and strengths as unique. To support children in acquiring moral values and attitudes.

Core values

Honesty, Integrity, Commitment to innovation and development, respect, kindness.

VISION

To impart in our children higher-order thinking and logical analysis skills, and foster age-appropriate growth and learning.

Attendance Policy

We request that children arrive for a regular day no later than 7:00 a.m. Most of the daily schedules are based on having all our staff and children on time for activities and play times. We have an ‘Open door’ policy. Parents/Guardians may come and go as they please. We welcome you to be a part of classrooms and any daily activities.

All children should be dropped off prior to 7:00 a.m. daily

Late Arrival Policy

In the instance you will be late, please call the office and let the School Director know for activities, available to accommodate your child’s arrival.

Personal Property

Shirley’s Treasures does not assume any responsibility for personal property including, but not limited to clothing, cameras, cell phones, purses, wallets, vehicles, lost, damaged or left unattended on school premises.

Drop Off/Pick Up Times and Procedures

Drop off and pick up must be by a person 18 years or older. Teachers will sign all children in and out daily. Please make sure that people who are authorized on your pick-up list are clearly aware that they may have to present a photo ID more than once-, if it is not on the regular pick up list.

Late pick-up

If you will be arriving late for pick-up, please know that we understand there could be circumstances beyond your control, but a phone call is requested. A parent beyond 30 minutes late will be charged a NGN1000 fee plus NGN100 every 5 minutes after the first 30 minutes. This amount is paid to staff that must remain to provide care until you arrive.

Special custody arrangements

It is compulsory that all custody arrangements be presented in writing during the initial enrollment or as a change in family events occurs. No verbal arrangements will be accepted. Please submit any court ordered documentation. Only persons listed on the custody arrangement and enrollment as authorized persons for pick up will be able to pick up the child. Photo ID’s are mandatory.

School Trips

We believe that an important part of Early childhood learning emanates from the ability to include certain activities. We believe that organized visits to businesses that support learning is essential to allow children to learn and connect with the wider community. We schedule routine trips and permission slips are provided and explained to families at the time of enrollment. Parents can decide if their child or children will attend.

Picking Your Child Up During the School Day

If you are picking up your child during the day, please notify the School Director who will notify the teachers of expected times so that the child is ready.

After School Care

Shirley’s Treasures Schools have services available for our children. If your child will be absent from this program, we ask that you notify the School

Swimming/Water Play

We will occasionally host outdoor water play using sprinklers and water tables. Parents are asked to follow the lesson plan schedule and provide appropriate water clothing and shoes. Located in your enrollment packet is the permission slip for your child to participate in our water learning activities. Staff responsibility during water play is critical to the safety of the children. Children who do not participate in water play will remain outdoors but will do a separate activity with another staff member. Staff will be assigned designated roles during the water play time.

Outdoor Play

The School will provide outside play for the all age groups in suitable weather daily. Our older toddlers will receive outside play time when able to master the playground area, or for buggy rides. We will adjust scheduled outdoor times due to rain, or high heat. If the children are not able to play outdoors, then gross motor activities will be conducted inside.

Discounts

We offer a variety of discounts for our families. If applicable, a family may utilize one discount for following items:

Sibling Discount 10% (Comes off the second child)
Local Teacher 5% (Must show school ID)

Note: One discount per family

Mindfulness Programming

Our Mindfulness programs are inclusive of the whole person, mind, body and spirit, promoting a calm, focused, alert, aware and creative state of mind contributing directly to the development of cognitive, performance and executive functioning skills.

Mindfulness is an experiential activity that can support one’s mental, emotional and spiritual health. We teach children and adults alike how to quiet their mind, be in the present moment and heal from the inside out. We believe that everyone has the potential to manifest their own goals through mindfulness practice.

Shirley’s Treasures has developed both individual and group sessions for all ages to learn about meditation, energy, and focus. Our programs include Mindfulness, Yoga, Movement, work, Nutrition, Mentoring, Meditation, and Life Skills classes

Management of Communicable Diseases and Illness

Here in Shirley’s Treasures, we make it a priority to have a neat and healthy environment for the children. If this is your child’s first experience in school or a group setting, they may be more prone to illness as their body is building up its immunity.

As part of our admission policy, you will be required to prove to us that your child has taken all vaccinations and Immunizations required for the child’s age. We strongly advice against bringing a sick child to us to avoid spread of illnesses.

If a child is undergoing medication, and has to be administered during school hours, such prescription medication must be accompanied by a data which must include

Child’s full name
Doctor’s name and phone number
Name of medication
Dosage amounts and times to be administered
Method of medication (that is IV or oral, etc)
Reason for medication
Date medication will end
Directions for medications
Parent’s name and signature

If your child becomes ill for any reason while in our care, they need to be picked up within the hour from the time the parent is informed of the illness.

The following precautions shall be taken when a child shows symptoms of a communicable disease:

The School shall immediately notify the parent of the child’s condition.
A child with any of the following signs or symptoms of illness shall immediately be isolated and discharged;

Diarrhea- Three or more unusually loose stools in a 24-hour period.
Severe coughing
Difficult or rapid breathing
Yellowish skin or eyes
Redness of eyes, discharge, matted eyelashes, burning or itching of eye Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
Untreated infected skin patches
Unusually dark urine and/or gray or white stool
Evidence of lice, scabies, or other parasitic infestations
Vomiting more than once, or once with any other sign or symptom of illness

Children should not return to the school until they are free of symptoms for at least 24 hours.

Diseases for Immunizations

Chicken Pox
Diphtheria
Hemophilic Influenza Type B
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Influenza
Measles
Mumps
Pertussis
Pneumococcal Disease
Tetanus

We appreciate and support the rights of parents to decide if their child will be immunized. To provide the safest environment and for the safety of other children and staff, we will enroll any child who is not immunized or up to date with their immunizations. We do make exceptions for children that are allergic to the required immunizations and are unable to take them. This must be documented by the primary physician stating that this is the exact reason.

Medications

The School will administer medications only after the request for medication form is filled out entirely by the parent. A doctor will be required to fill out Box#2 for prescription medication taken for an extended period and any OTC medicine that will need to be administered for more than 3 days or does not have proper dosage information.

Note:

Medication may NOT be stored in book bags, diaper bags, or handed to teachers in the classroom. All medications must go to the Director to ensure all forms have been completed properly.

Accidents/ injuries

We will ensure that your child is safe, and will monitor your child closely to avoid injuries, if any accidents /injuries occur, we will attend to it using our First Aid Kit, and you will be duly informed before any measure is taken. For serious injuries, you will be called upon, and the child taken to our hospital.

Parent /Teacher Meetings

Parent / Teacher meetings will be held quarterly for all classrooms. This conference is a chance for you to discuss your child’s progress over the course of the school year, as well as give you an opportunity to speak to your child’s teacher about any concerns / advice for helping your child at home. Your child’s teacher will share formal assessments with you and answer any questions you may have

SCHOOL SCHEDULE

Little Penguins (less than 1 year) Daily Schedule

7am – 8:30am: Arrival/Free play

8:30am – 9am: Breakfast

9am – 9:30am: Routine care

9:30am – 9:45a: Outdoor Play

9:45am – 10am Wash hands and faces

10am – 10.30am: Arts/Dramatic play

10:30am – 11am: Language & Literacy

11am – 1130am: Routine Care

11.30am -12pm: Lunch

12pm -2pm: Nap time/Outdoor Play

2pm – 2.30pm: Routine Care

2.30pm – 3pm: Afternoon snack

3pm – 3.30p: Music & Movement

330pm – 4pm: Fine motor

4pm-4.30pm: Routine care

4.30pm-5pm: Free play/Departure

Todds & Twos (1-2 years) Daily Schedule

7am – 8am: Free play/Arrival

8am – 8.30am: Breakfast

8.30am -9am: Routine care

9am – 9.30am: Outdoor Play

930am – 10am: Wash hands

10am – 10.30am: Art/Dramatic play

10.30am – 11am: Language & Literacy

11am -11.30am: Routine Care

11.30am – 12pm: Lunch

12pm – 2pm: Nap time/Outdoor Play

2pm – 2.30pm: Routine Care

2.30pm – 3pm: Music and Movement

3pm – 3:30pm: Fine motor

3.30pm – 4pm: Routine care

4pm -4.30pm : Science & Math with loose parts

430pm – 5pm: Free play/Departure

Daisies (2-3 years) Daily Schedule

7am – 8:30am: Arrival/Free play

8:30am -9am: Breakfast

9am – 9:15am: Routine care

9:15am – 9:45am: Science & Math with Loose Parts

9:45am – 10am: Sensory play/Manipulatives

10am – 10:30am: Art (STEAM)

10:30am – 11am: Outdoor play

11am – 11:15am: Routine Care

11:15am – 11:45am: Lunch

11:45am – 12pm: Wash Hands

12pm – 2pm: Nap

2pm – 2:15pm: Routine Care

2:15pm – 2:30pm: Afternoon snack

2:30pm – 3pm: Outdoor play

3pm – 3.30pm: Music & Movement

3.30pm – 4pm: Language & Literacy

4pm – 430pm: Routine care

4.30pm – 5pm: Free play/Departure

Preschoolers (3-4 years) Daily Schedule

7am – 8:30am: Arrival/ Free play

8:30am – 9am: Breakfast

9am – 9:30am: Math & Technology (STEAM)

9:30am – 9:45 am: Science & Discovery with Loose Parts

9:45am – 10am: Sensory play/Manipulatives

10am – 10:30am: Large Group

10:30am – 11am: Handwriting

11am – 11:30am: Outdoor play

11:30am – 11:45am: Wash hands

11:45am – 12:15pm: Lunch

12:15pm – 2:15pm: Nap

2:15pm – 2:30pm: Afternoon Snack

2:30pm – 2:45pm: Outdoor play

2:45pm – 3:15pm: Art (STEAM)

3:15pm – 3:45pm: Music & Movement

3:45pm – 4:15pm: Language & Literacy

4:15pm – 4:30pm: Small Group

4.30pm – 5pm: Free play/Departure

Kindergarten (4-5 years) Daily Schedule

7am – 8am: Arrival/Free play

8am – 8:30am: Handwriting & Journaling

8:30am – 9am: Breakfast

9am – 9:30am: Math

9:30am – 10am: Science & Discovery with Loose Parts

10am – 10:15am: Sensory play/Manipulatives

10:15am – 10:45am: Art (STEAM)

10:45am – 11:15am: Large group

11:15am – 11:30am: Routine Care

11:30am – 12pm: Outdoor play/Wash hands

12pm – 12:30pm: Lunch

12:30pm – 2:30pm: Nap

2:30pm – 3pm: Afternoon snack

3pm – 3:30pm: Outdoor play

3:30pm – 4pm: Music & Movement

4pm – 4:30pm: Language & Literacy

4:30pm – 4:45pm: Small group

4:45pm – 5pm: Free play/Departure