FAQs
What is the teacher to infant ratio?
1:4 ratio
How many teachers are there?
4 to 5 teachers/staff
How often are toys and supplies cleaned?
We focus on natural, clean ingredients. Carpets are cleaned bi-weekly. All toys are bleached weekly with the proper bleach mixture. Center dishes are also beached and air dried daily. Home dishes are rinsed and set home daily.
What is the sick policy?
We cannot accommodate sick children. Please make other arrangements if your child becomes sick at home. If your child becomes sick while attending Ellie’s, we will contact you or your emergency contact if you cannot be reached. Children must be picked up within 1 hour of communication. Children are allowed _ sick days per year. After that, termination or fees may ensue. Children are required to remain home for 24 hours after their last vomiting or diarrhea incident and a doctor’s note may be required to return back.
What safety measures do you have in place?
Door codes are given to parents and other emergency contacts listed (if needed to contact). Children are checked in and out each day by a staff member. No child will be released to anyone under the age of 18. Pickups other than the noted and approved parent must show ID and approval from the parent to do so. We have an open door policy that allows parents to come and be a part of their child's day.
Is there a disaster plan?
Fire, Tornado, Disaster, and Lock Down/Evacuation policies are all put in place and noted in the policies handbook.
Does my child need to be potty trained? Potty training is an individual learning process and the timing is different for each child. ELP staff encourages parents to communicate the progress and steps being taken at home for potty training. ELP staff will work with children of all ages to accomplish the goal of potty training. Extra clothes to be sent with your child are requested if they are currently being potty trained, in case of accidents.
How do you communicate with the parents?
Conferences are offered bi-annually, reviewing any development checklists, ASQs(ages and stages questionnaire) completed, and milestones of the child. Communication is recommended as frequent as it is needed between parents and staff. Please do not hesitate to reach out or request a meeting in person.
What do I need to bring/supply?
Parents provide cold lunches/ infant food & formula. We provide snacks, milk, & water. Parents provide their own formula or breast milk as of Oct 2021. At Least 4 bottles and a full can of formula is required at enrollment. Parents are required to provide an extra set of (labeled) clothing to leave at ELP (underwear, socks, pants, shirt) and shoes if potty training. Diapers and wipes are also to be supplied by the parent. A list of supplies needed when you enroll for your child is listed in the contract.
How do you handle discipline?
We are a bully free facility. If a child exhibits any of the following negative behaviors, it may result in a behavior plan and/or dismissal from the program. This includes any verbal bullying including but not limited to derogatory comments, calling another child bad names, or teasing. Physical bullying: such as hitting, kicking, shoving, and spitting. In either situation either verbal or physical abuse will not be tolerated. In this case the proper authorities will be notified, and charges will be pressed as deemed necessary. Only positive redirection and good example role modeling is used at ELP. No child will be subjected to verbally abusive or degrading comments from the program staff. No physical discipline involving striking, slapping, pinching, hitting or biting a child will be used. A child may be briefly held by an adult if this is deemed necessary to control the child's behavior. A child may also be removed from the classroom and taken to another room if deemed necessary. Timeouts are to never be given, even if requested by the parents.
Do you spend time outside and if so, how long and what activities?
Daily walks (weather permitting). Our younger children ride in luxury in one of our quad strollers. Hikes, and scavenger hunts regularly to explore our world around us. Outdoor activities and play are scheduled and included in each room’s schedule (provided to parents/guardians). They are all set up to be age appropriate, as such, they vary. Topics of study are often carried outside also in our outdoor play area. Our play area both has a sand table, a gardening box, and a nature nook which are equipped with shovels, wheelbarrows, construction equipment and a hose /sprinklers in summer. The children often engage in large, group projects that last over many weeks.
Are meals provided?
Parents provide cold lunches/ infant food & formula. We provide snacks, milk, & water.
Are any enrichment activities offered?
Depending on the class/age, we brainstorm and come up with enrichment activities that will best suit each age group for an exciting, growing environment where children can learn and experiment outside the box of everyday learning.
What do you mainly teach children?
Depending on the age and class, we teach Emotional Development, Social Development, Kindergarten Readiness, Body Awareness, Sensory Development, Language Development, Cognitive Development, Arts & Crafts, Music & Dance, Science & Discovery, Creative Dramatics, Physical Coordination – Large /Small Motor.
What are the hours of operation and rates?
6am - 6pm, Monday - Friday. Rates depend on part-time or full-time care/hours. A $100 deposit is required to hold your child's spot but can be put towards your first week's care. A $10/hr drop in fee if charged if there is room. We use Tuition Express: https://www.procaresoftware.com/tuition-express/.
Is screen time limited?
Children under 2 years of age, we allow 15 mins of screen time (TV, video, and computer) Children, 2 years and over should watch less than 30 minutes per week at childcare. We do not allow screen time during snack and meal time.
Do you have any vaccination/immunization policies?
Children are required to be up-to-date on their immunizations (or an appointment due to receive them in a timely manner) to be enrolled at & Center’s, unless there is a medical or religious reason. Current immunization records must be faxed to 1-844-269-7942. Along with a recent physical on the: Child Health Report Form signed by their Doctor.
How do you accommodate children with allergies or special medications?
The parent must sign an Authorization for Administration of Medication form prior to us administering medication. https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/files/forms/pdf/0059.pdf. Next inform and train the teacher in the classroom (if needed) how to administer the medication. If medication is delivered by a device staff will need to be properly trained on how to use it. All medication must be in the original container and labeled with child’s name, name of drug, dosage directions for administering, date and physician’s name. All medication requiring refrigeration is kept in a marked locked container in the refrigerator. A blanket medication form may be completed for medication like inhalers. These expire when the medication expires, and a new form will need to be completed and may require a physician note. Information will also be shared of all special needs /allergies of the children enrolled and any special instructions.
Do you go on field trips?
Teachers may periodically request additional fees for special activities such as field trips and special supplies for crafts. These are to be paid in cash to the teacher in charge of the occasion; this is a separate fee, not to be included with your tuition payment.
Is there nap time?
We have daily nap time. Tummy Time for awake non-mobile infants is provided daily. (These are the accepted guidelines of the NSIDPSC). All children not sleeping ,or having awoken within 30 minutes, are then allowed to get up and resume in quiet activities. ELP supplies each child under the age of 1, a pack n play, cot or mat and a snug fitting sheet. Parents are to provide a zip sleeping bag to be taken home and washed every Friday. Sleeping bags and blankets are stored in our mat closet on the shelf self-contained.
Do you have a sign in sheet?
Children are checked in and out, daily by a staff member at the door before the parent can drop off or pick up.
Is anyone else in the building?
No one else is allowed in the building except parents dropping and picking up. You are welcome to call and check on your child throughout the day as much as you wish. We have an open door policy for parents/guardians.
What is your drop off/pick up policy?
A parent or guardian must accompany children into and out of the building. You will be given an access code on your child’s first day of attendance. If problems arise it is your responsibility to notify the Center so we may change the code to protect the safety of the children and staff at ELP. When dropping off /picking up please shut off your car. Parents must turn cell phones off when dropping off or picking up children. Under no circumstances is any child to be left unattended inside or outside of the building. You are expected to leave with your child; you may not let them run ahead of you into the parking lot. Do not send anyone under the age of 18 to pick up your children whether they are siblings or not. Teachers will sign your child in, at
the time of your child’s arrival, and out, at their departure.