Creative Years Child Development & Learning Center, is licensed by the State of New Hampshire’s Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Child Care Standards and Licensing, and complies with all of the standards put forth by that Department.  We are licensed by the City of Nashua’s Environmental Health Department for food service.

In the office, posted on the wall, is a copy of all the required licenses we need to operate our center. There is also a copy of the center’s statement of findings and the names of all personnel that are CPR and FIRST AID certified.

Admissions

Children who are between six (6) weeks old up to twelve (12) years of age are eligible to enroll. Enrollment is on a rolling basis.

Procedures

Admission requirements and enrollment procedures are as follows:

When you register your child a non-refundable fee is due. The registration fee is an annual fee due in May of each year for all children who attended the prior school year.

The registration fee for our summer camp program is due by June 1^st.

The registration fee for our before and after school program is due by July 1^st.

All children must have a registration form on file completely filled out with emergency contacts and numbers.

Parents must review and up-date their child's registration form yearly or as situations change.

Tuition Payments

Tuition is payable in advance.  Monthly payments are due on the first of each month.  Weekly payments are due on the Friday prior to the week your child will be attending.

Full tuition is required regardless of the child’s absence. We could not operate or provide qualified staff for your child if we gave refunds for snow days, holidays, vacations or sick days.

Any tuition payment that has been neglected for a period of longer than two weeks will receive written notification for immediate payment of balance.  If balance is not paid within three days a second written notice will be issued specifying a specific date by which all payments will be due.  If payment is not received by that date a third and final notification will be issued stating the termination of your child’s place in the program.

Withdrawals

If a child needs to be withdrawn from our center, a two-week notice is required so that another child can fill the vacancy. Should more notice be possible, it would be appreciated.

Late Fee

Creative Years closes at 6:00 p.m. sharp! The late fee is as follows: For any time after 6:00 p.m. you will be charged five dollars for the first minute and one dollar for each additional minute. Some of you may feel that this is an unreasonable late fee just as my staff feels staying after 6:00 p.m. is an unreasonable imposition on their personal time. Arriving at 6:04 or 6:05 may seem insignificant to you, but to our closing staff who were kept late and had to change or cancel evening plans, this is no small issue. Therefore, you will receive a bill the following day, which must be paid, in cash, to the staff member who was inconvenienced by your tardiness. There will be no exceptions to this policy.

Drop Off / Pick Up Procedures

All children are to enter and leave the center through the front door.  Each parent or guardian is provided with a key swipe that logs your child in and out of the center each day.  We ask that you be diligent in using this key swipe daily.  If you should forget your key please inform the Director so she can log your child into the computer for that day.  Should you lose your key there will be a $10.00 charge for its replacement. 

If someone other than the parent or guardian is to pick up a child we ask that you inform the Director and provide the alternate pick-up’s name.  This alternate pick-up should appear on your child’s registration in order for us to release your child to them.  We ask that all individuals other than parents or guardians who do not possess a key swipe to bring a photo I.D. to the front desk upon arrival.  These I.D.’s will be used to verify the name of the person on your child’s registration form. 

Attendance / Absences

We would appreciate that you call us at 603-880-7304 should your child not be coming to school on a particular day or will be arriving late. 

Cell Phones

We ask that you please refrain from using cell phones inside the center.  Please finish all calls before entering the building or ask to use the staff room.  We see the excitement of each child as their parents arrive to pick them up.  They have so much to tell you and we do not want you to miss out on this very important part of the day.

Clothing

Children are encouraged to wear play clothes.  Daily activities include active and messy play, and the children should feel comfortable enough to enjoy themselves without worrying about their clothing.  We also go outdoors daily and play on a variety of surfaces.  We ask that if you choose to place open-toe shoes or sandals on your child that you also provide a pair of sneakers or other enclosed toe, rubber soled shoes so that your child can fully participate in all outdoor activities.  This also helps to eliminate many outdoor injuries. 

All spare clothes and shoes should be clearly marked with your child’s name to ensure its safe return.  Please make sure your child has an extra change of clothes in his/her cubby in case of an accident. 

Supplies

Infants – We ask that you supply formula, diapers, bottles, pacifiers (optional), crib sheet, blanket and a change of clothes for your child.  Once your child begins to eat table food the center will supply all meals.  If your child has a particular stuffed animal or security blanket that may be brought in as well.

Toddlers – We ask that you supply diapers, a change of clothes and a crib size sheet and blanket. 

Three Year Olds – We ask that you supply a crib size sheet and blanket and an extra change of clothes.

Four Year Olds and Kindergarten – We ask that you supply a change of clothes.

Other items may be brought in such as sunscreen, hats, etc., but please make sure to write your child’s name on all items to be kept in your child’s cubby.  Additionally, we do not typically allow toys from home to be brought in during the school year unless it is a school vacation week or during the summer months.  We realize that your child may have a special blanket and/or stuffed animal used for rest time and this we will allow to be kept in the cubby, but please help us by not bringing in toys from home as these tend to get lost amongst our “school” toys.

Toilet Training

Toilet training is a large part of our Toddler Curriculum.  We encourage teachers and parents to closely work together to achieve a successful toilet training experience for each child.  During this process we ask that you provide a few pairs of underpants each day.  We also ask that you refrain from bringing Pull-Ups to school as these items closely resemble diapers and in our opinion, do not help to successfully toilet train your child.  We recognize that each child is different and the rate at which they will reach consistent and successful use of the toilet will vary.  Our teachers are knowledgeable in this process and can offer a lot of advise and suggestions for making this toilet training experience as smooth as possible. 

Transition Process

Throughout your child’s early educational experiences there will be many transitional processes.  Children entering a center for the first time must experience the transition of being away from their parents or guardians.  Similarly, when children move from one room to another they must transition to a new teacher and environment.  At Creative Years we try to make your child’s transition process as easy as we can. 

For children entering our center or any center for the first time we realize separation anxiety might be an issue.  However, having worked with many children throughout the years we know that children are very resilient and adjust to new surroundings easier than parents might think.  In the beginning it is usually best if the child arrives to school around the same time each day in order to develop a routine.  Children like consistent routines and do well when they are adhered to, especially in the beginning.  We welcome parents to stay for as long as they like, but many times children do better in the initial stages when a quick drop off is maintained.  Parents may use our video monitors to see how quickly their child becomes involved in classroom activities.

When transitioning from one room to the next we always begin the process two weeks before the actual moving date.  We introduce the child to his/her new teachers and allow them to spend a short amount of time in the new classroom to become acclimated with the children, teachers and new environment.  Each day the time spent in the new classroom increases until the child is ready to make the transition. 

Birthdays

A birthday is a very important and exciting day in a child’s life. If you wish, you may send in cupcakes, cookies, ice cream or any other treat for your child to share with his/her classmates on this very special day.

Behavior Guidance Plan

Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS)

Creative Years uses PBIS as its school-wide behavior management program. Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) is a national behavior management system that is currently in place in many schools and early childhood settings across the country. 

PBIS is “a sustainable, proactive process that improves social, behavioral and academic outcomes through positive, preventive evidence-based strategies and data-based decision-making” (Muscott & Mann, 2003).  More simply, PBIS focuses on the positive.  We want children to feel capable of handling their behaviors and to do so in a positive way. 

Creative Years has three school wide rules (behavioral expectations): Be Safe, Be Kind and Treat Our Things with Care.  These rules are directly taught to the students, consistently reinforced and rewarded and re-taught as necessary.  In order for children to feel confident and capable of handling their own behaviors we must first teach them what is expected and not assume prior knowledge.  For example, during the first week of school the children may learn how to safely play on the playground.  At the appropriate time, the classroom teacher will take out his/her students to the playground where a mini-lesson will be taught on what types of behaviors are expected on the playground.  The children will practice these behaviors and positive behaviors will be reinforced. 

What makes this program successful is the collaboration of parents and teachers.  By using consistent language, consequences and reinforcements the children quickly learn what is expected of them.  Our staff is always willing to support our parents in this process by providing information, answering questions and giving suggestions.  Throughout the year we have a few Parent Information Nights along with Parent / Child breakfasts with Mrs. Sprout (our school mascot).  These events are intended to keep you updated with school wide behavior progress. 

Referral Process

Our staff is well trained to educate and care for each child.  Part of this process includes detecting developmental delays and/or suggesting special services that might be in the best interest of the child.  If such a situation should arise we would follow the procedures listed below:

1. Teachers regularly observe every child.  If a teacher notices behavior that is of concern they will make written note of such behaviors.
   
   
2. Teachers will notify parents of the behaviors they have witnessed.
   
   
3. With parental consent, the teacher, Director and/or outside specialist will conduct further observations.
   
   
4. All parties involved will discuss their observations.
   
   
5. A meeting is held with the parents to discuss findings and suggest appropriate services if necessary.
   
   
6. Regular observations and meetings are held to review the case.

Staff Qualifications