Parent Handbook
The following includes details about our various Stay & Play programs. If you have any questions, please contact Stay & Play Director, Laura Sheehan, at (603) 749-9754.
Hours
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Registration
Prior to receiving child care services the following must be received:
- Complete registration packet for each child that includes necessary child and parent information, emergency contact numbers and state required health and immunization forms.
- $30 non-refundable registration fee per family
- Security deposit equal to one (1) week’s tuition for each child. The security deposit will be applied to the child’s final week of enrollment, provided Stay & Play receives a two (2) week notice of termination.
Note: The application of such security deposit shall not act as a waiver of any other fees that may be due.
Click Here to Register
Tuition and Fees:
Stay & Play offers full and part time child care, as well as certified preschool program available either two or three mornings each week..
The HUB Board of Directors reserves the right to increase fees as necessary. We will always give as much notice as possible prior to any fee increase.
All clients:
- Tuition charges are calculated in half-hour increments.
- Stay & Play accepts cash and local checks made payable to Stay & Play.
- Cash Payments: All cash payments will be given a receipt. If a Stay & Play staff member is not available to take your cash payment, please see the HUB receptionist on the second floor.
- Check Payments: A locked mailbox for tuition payments paid by check is located in the entryway. Please note child’s name on the memo line of your check. Receipts will be given upon request for payments by check. A $30 charge will be assessed for returned checks. After one returned check, cash or money order payment will be required for future child care.
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Full and Part Time Clients:
- Upon registration, a written copy of the agreed upon schedule and fees will be signed by both the parent and the Program Director. Parents will be responsible for payment in full for the reserved time by close of business on Friday of the preceding week.
- Tuition is to be paid regardless of vacations, child illness, holidays, late drop-off, early pick-up, delayed openings or early closures.
- After 6 months of continual enrollment, weekly clients will be credited with “vacation” days equal to their weekly schedule. Thereafter these “vacation” days will be credited on January 1 and July 1. Use of a “vacation” day must be requested in writing in advance. The tuition fee for these days will be waived, and they may be used at the parents’ discretion.
- A late fee of $20 will be charged for tuition fees paid after 9 a.m. on Monday. Should an account become past due, parents must contact the Program Director to make arrangements for payment. Failure to do so may result in immediate termination of your child’s enrollment.
Drop-In Clients:
- Requests will be accommodated on a space-available basis.
- Please call as far in advance as possible to request time.
- Reservations must be secured with a credit card. The card may be processed as payment at the time of service, or as payment for cancellation or no show as below.
- Cancellations with at least 24 hours notice will not be charged. Cancellations with less than 24 hour notice will be charged at 50%. You will be charged full fee for your slot if you fail to cancel by your reserved time.
Withdrawal:
A two (2) week written notice is required when terminating services. The security deposit will be applied to the final week of enrollment.
If the child is withdrawn without proper notice, the parent will be responsible for an additional week of fees and the security deposit will be forfeited.
Absences:
Please call by 8 a.m. if your child is going to be absent. A child will be considered withdrawn and the security deposit forfeited after 5 days if no contact is made with the center.
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Late Pick Up
The center closes at 5:00 p.m. If you are late picking up your child at closing, a late fee of $15 will be charged for every 10 minutes, or part thereof.
For a time of the day other than closing (5 p.m.) you will be charged a late fee of $5 if you are more than 10 minutes late picking up. You will also be charged for additional childcare by the half hour increments after 15 minutes.
Center Closings:
Stay & Play will be closed for the following days, however tuition will be charged according to your agreed upon schedule:
- Martin Luther King Day
- Memorial Day
- July 4th
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Veteran’s Day
- Thanksgiving Day & the day after
- Christmas Day through New Year’s Day
Snow Days/Cancellations
Stay & Play will make every effort not to close due to snow or other weather conditions. Occasionally, however, we may have a delayed opening or early closure.
Tuition will not be charged if the center is closed for a full day. Delayed openings and early closures will be charged.
In the event the center must close early, we will make every effort to contact you by telephone with as much advance notice as possible.
All closures and delays will be announced through the following media outlets:
- WERZ- 107.1 FM
- WTSN- 1270 AM
- WMUR – TV (Ch. 9)
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Sign-in Procedure
- Fill out the daily sign in sheet, including any information helpful to staff. You must leave a phone number of where you or someone you’ve designated can be reached.
- Drop-in clients should pay when signing in your child for your reserved time.
- Check in personally with staff so they know your child has arrived
- Please label all items belonging to your child (diaper bags, jackets, etc.)
Sign-out Procedure
- “Sign-out” your child by initialing the sheet and noting the time of departure.
- Check out personally with staff so they know your child is leaving
During arrivals and departures we encourage parents not to leave children unattended in cars or in the parking lot.
Child Safety and Authorized Release
For your child’s safety, no child will be released to a person not authorized by a parent. If someone other than a designated person is to pick up your child, you must notify Stay & Play staff in person or in writing. We will ask for a photo ID any time someone other than the parent picks up your child. No child will be released to a person under the age of 16.
In the case of legal separation or divorce, parents must have on file a copy of custodial agreement to avoid any confusion regarding who may pick up the child.
If you have not notified Stay & Play that you will arrive late and we cannot reach an emergency contact person; we are required by law to contact the police 1 hour after the scheduled closing time.
Refusal to Release a Child
For your child’s safety, no child will be released to a parent or designated person suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or who is abusive toward the child. In such a situation, the supervisory staff will contact other emergency contact people designated in your registration packet to retrieve the child. If no emergency contacts can be reached, staff may contact the Dover police for assistance.
Reporting Abuse or Neglect
Under New Hampshire law, any staff that has reason to suspect that a child has been sexually, physically, or psychologically abused or neglected is required to report to the State, the suspected abuse or neglect.
Confidentiality
Stay & Play places the utmost importance on maintaining the confidentiality of information about your child and family. All information provided to Stay & Play will remain confidential, unless the parent has given written permission to release such information.
Other Information
You are welcome to stay with your child until they are comfortable with the staff, space and other children. If your child is upset at your leaving, please call us in 15 minutes to be sure they have settled in.
We are trying to set the best examples for our children. Please refrain from smoking and the use of profane language on Stay & Play premises.
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Health and Safety
Illness Guidelines
The staff would like to provide a healthy, pleasant atmosphere for all children who enter Stay & Play. In order to protect your child and other children, we have set up some guidelines for you to follow. Please keep your child home if s/he has:
- Oral temperature of over 100.5.
- Conjunctivitis. An eye infection referred as ‘pink eye’.
- Croup, Bronchitis, or constant cough.
- Diarrhea and/or vomiting.
- Rashes that have not been diagnosed by a physician.
- Severe cold with temperature elevation, sneezing and nose drainage.
- Continuous nose drainage that is other than clear.
- Any contagious diseases, such as measles, chicken pox, or roseola.
- If a doctor diagnoses an ear or throat infection and places the child on an antibiotic, the child should be kept home for 24 hours after treatment has started.
- Any symptoms that prohibit the child’s participation in regular child care activities, such as extreme fatigue or lethargy.
Children must be free of fever, diarrhea, and/or not have vomited for 24 hours before returning to Stay & Play.
Please understand that when a child exhibits symptoms of illness, staff will contact parents and have the child picked up.
Children attending Stay & Play are expected to participate in daily activities. We are not able to honor requests to keep mildly ill children inside.
When a reportable communicable disease has been diagnosed among childcare staff or children, the Director will notify parents within 24 hours and will display on the parent information bulletin board a notice which includes the name of the disease and common symptoms.
Medications
Staff will dispense both prescription and non prescription medications ONLY with written authorization from a licensed health care provider and the child’s legal guardian. All medications must be brought in original container with current date, child’s name, physician’s name and instructions for administration, clearly stated on the label.
Please do not give medications to your children that they are to administer themselves, such as cough drops, salve, etc.
If you would like the staff to apply sunscreen and/or bug spray on your child please provide it in its original container marked with your child’s name. If you child arrives between 8:45and 9:30 please apply sunscreen and bug spray before arrival.
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Immunization Records and Health Forms
The State of New Hampshire requires yearly physical exams and updated immunization records. Health forms are good for one year from the date of the last physical exam. You are required to provide these forms upon registration. You will be notified if you need to update these forms during the year. Failure to complete these forms as requested may result in termination from the program.
Appropriate Clothing
Please bring your child prepared for outdoor play. Open toed shoes are not permitted. Coats and boots should be labeled. Even if we are not going out to play, it is important to provide these items in case of an emergency. Children must wear shoes indoors. In the winter months we ask that you bring sneakers for indoor play. Activities and occasional bathroom accidents necessitate that an extra set of clothing (underwear, shirt, pants, socks) be available in you child’s bag, or they can be stored here in our spare bathroom. If wet or soiled clothes are sent home, please return a clean extra set your next scheduled day.
If you need assistance with obtaining clothing, please speak with the Director.
Rest Time Materials
Please bring in a small sheet to cover nap time mats. These will be sent home the last day of each week to be washed. We welcome children to have items that will comfort them during rest time, including a small pillow, one stuffed animal, and a familiar blanket. Please remember to label all items.
Injuries
Occasional minor injuries, such as bumps or scratches are to be expected in the course of normal child care, and will be treated with basic first aid procedures by trained staff.
In the case of a major injury, an assessment is made by trained supervisory staff and the decision to call an Emergency Medical Team (EMT) will be made. Whether or not an EMT is called, the parent will be contacted immediately.
Childcare Program
Stay & Play offers children the choice of individual play at its many play stations, or participation in group games, stories or crafts facilitated by staff. Staff will try to encourage children to participate in group activities and will take cues from your child regarding his or her preferences. The following schedule is an approximate daily outline we intend to follow:
Daily Schedule
8:00-9:30 Self Directed Play: Children have free play
9:30-9:45 Snack and Bathroom
9:45-10:30 Outdoor Play- Weather permitting, everyone goes out
10:30 Morning Circle Time
10:45-11:30 Morning Activities
11:30-12:00 Lunch
12:00-1:30 Rest time (nap or quiet activities such as books, puzzles and drawing)
1:30-2:30 Outdoor Play
2:30-2:45 Snack and Bathroom
2:45-3:00 Afternoon Circle
3:00-3:45 Afternoon Activities
3:45-4:15 Organized group games
4:15-5:00 Self Directed Play
Stay & Play provides snacks, water and juice. Parents are to provide a ready-to-eat lunch requiring minimal assistance or preparation from staff if their child is attending at lunch time.
Philosophy/Discipline
At Stay & Play, we accept and respect children’s feelings. Emotions are allowed; actions
may be limited. It is okay for children to be angry and express their anger, but it is not okay to hit or be mean to others.
Our program uses a variety of positive discipline techniques that are designed to teach and encourage desirable behavior. These techniques include redirection, distraction, changing the environment and calm down times. We use positive language, instead of telling a child what they can’t do, we try to tell them what they can do. An angry child would be encouraged to use words instead of fists. A child running inside would be reminded of running feet outside, walking feet inside. A child will be separated from the group only when the child is in danger of hurting himself/herself or others.
If inappropriate behavior becomes a repetitive issue of safety for the child and/or others, staff will work with parents to help identify why and what we can do to help prevent negative behavior. While every effort will be made to resolve matters of concern, the Director may determine that a child’s placement in the program may not be in their best interest. In the event that we recommend termination of services, staff will work with you to make a referral to a more appropriate program.
Please keep us informed of any changes in your home that may affect your child’s feelings, attitudes, or behaviors.
Toileting/Diapers
Please provide an appropriate number of disposable diapers for you child’s day. At least every three hours staff will check children in diapers and change them if soiled or wet.
Toilet training will be individualized and conducted in accordance with a plan developed by the child’s parents and staff. Toilet training will not be forced at Stay & Play. Please do not bring children in pull-ups. Training pants and underwear work best for toilet training success.
Children who can use the bathroom on their own are encouraged to go to the bathroom after snacks and lunch and before going outside. They may also use the bathroom at any time in between.
Items From Home
Personal toys are not allowed at Stay & Play. If they are brought to the center, they will be held until the child is picked up.
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