Policies
Age Requirement
Your child must be the required age of the program prior to September
1st of the year he/she enters the program. Exceptions to this policy
are limited to the discretion of the Director and Staff.
Behavior Policy
If a child's behavior is consistently unacceptable, out of control,
or in any way detrimental to the wellbeing and development of himself/herself
or that of the other children, the parents, teacher and Director
will meet to review the situation and plan a solution. If, after
a period of two weeks, the child has not progressed and continues
to have a negative impact on the class, he/she will be asked to leave
by the Playschool Director and Board of Directors.
Delayed Openings
When West Chester School District announces a 2-hour delayed
opening, we do the same. Our day will begin at 11:00am and run until
1:00pm. The children will not be served a snack during this time. If
your child is staying for lunch, that will begin at 1:00pm with Playtime
and Enrichment to follow. We will post a message on the answering
machine in the early morning with this information. You can find
information about the WCASD closings and delays on the radio, local
television stations, and online at the school
district website (and local television websites). Please
see Debby or Lynn if you have any questions.
Weather-Related Delays and
Closings
Playschool closings for snow and other inclement
weather follow WCASD. For example, if WCASD has a two-hour delay,
we have a two-hour delay, and if WCASD closes, we are closed for
the entire day. For information about school delays or closings,
please listen to local television or radio stations (for example,
WCOJ 1420 AM). Our School Code is #2851. You may also call the
main Playschool number (610-692-6538) for a recording with information. Phone
chains are NOT utilized for school closings.
Class Size
The Board of Directors will adhere to the following guidelines
for maximum class size, but has the option of altering class sizes under
special circumstances:
2-Day Class: 15
3-Day Class: 16
4-Day Class: 16
Friday Fun: 16
Enrichment: 16
Playtime: 6
Clothing
Casual clothes are recommended at Playschool. Also, send an extra set
of clothes marked with your child's name in a Ziploc bag (accidents
do happen!). Since the children go outside most days, we ask parents
to send boots, hats, mittens, and any other weather-appropriate gear.
Jackets and sweatshirts should not have ties, as this would post
a choking hazard. Also, please mark all shoes and outerwear with
your child's name.
Daily Arrival and Departure
Drop-off time for the morning classes is from 8:50-9:00am. Pick-up
time is 12noon. Check the bulletin board for any pertinent information
(i.e., field trips, special supplies, classroom activities, changes,
etc.). The parent must bring their child into the classroom and a
staff member must acknowledge the child's presence. A child cannot
be left outside the building or at any place inside the building
without a supervising adult. When a child is picked up from Playschool,
the parent will sign out and get his/her personal belongings. There
is a fine for failure to sign out. Reminder: A child
will be released only to the parent unless a signed authorization
is given to the teacher. "Blanket" authorization for individuals
other than the parents to pick up the child may be filed with the
Director. Authorized persons (other than parents) picking up a child
will be asked to show their driver's license for identification.
Health
Each child will have in his/her file an age-appropriate health assessment
and current immunization record. Playschool requires that children
who have not been immunized complete an immunization waiver form.
Although the Playschool staff understands the needs of working and student parents, all children must be protected from infection. For the protection of children and staff, your child should be kept home and will be sent home if he/she displays any of the following symptoms:
- Three episodes of diarrhea
- One projectile vomiting
- An elevated temperature (100.6° Fahrenheit or greater)
- Discharge from the eyes
- Drainage from the ears; and/or
- Unexplained rash
Your child must be fever-free for 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medication, before returning to Playschool. If a child has been exposed to, or diagnosed with, a contagious disease, details must be reported to the Playschool staff. Among conditions categorized as "highly contagious" are: strep throat, pin worms, viral infections, measles, mumps, chicken pox, fifth's disease, scarlet fever, head lice, conjunctivitis (pink eye), diarrhea, impetigo, etc.
To help us meet staff/child ratios, we request that parents notify Playschool on the morning of the days the child will not be in attendance or if the child will not arrive at the scheduled time.
Medicines
Prescription medicines, and Tylenol and Benadryl in emergency situations,
may be dispensed by any Playschool employee, only if permission is
given on the Emergency Contact card.
