Safe Arrival and Dismissal Policy

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Last Revised: 2023-12

Last Reviewed: 2024-03

This policy will provide staff, students and volunteers with a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities for ensuring the safe arrival and dismissal of children receiving care, including what steps are to be taken when a child does not arrive at Silver Creek Centre for Early Learning & Development as expected, as well as steps to follow to ensure the safe dismissal of children.

This policy is intended to fulfill the obligations set out under Ontario Regulation 137/15 for policies and procedures regarding the safe arrival and dismissal of children in care.

Note: definitions for terms used throughout this policy are provided in a Glossary at the end of the document.

●       Silver Creek Centre for Early Learning & Development will ensure that any child receiving child care at the child care centre is only released to the child’s parent/guardian or an individual that the parent/guardian has provided written authorization the centre may release the child to.

●       Silver Creek Centre for Early Learning & Development  will only dismiss children into the care of their parent/guardian or another authorized individual.  The centre will not release any children from care without supervision.

●       Where a child does not arrive in care as expected or is not picked up as expected, staff must follow the safe arrival and dismissal procedures set out below.

1. When accepting a child into care at the time of drop-off, program staff in the room must:
   • greet the parent/guardian and child.
   • ask the parent/guardian how the child’s evening/morning has been and if there are any changes to the child’s pick-up procedure (i.e., someone other than the parent/guardian picking up).  Where the parent/guardian has indicated that someone other than the child’s parent/guardians will be picking up, the staff must confirm that the person is listed on [the Intake Package or where the individual is not listed, ask the parent/guardian to provide authorization for pick-up in writing (e.g., note or email).
   • document the change in pick-up procedure in the daily written record and the child’s Intake Package file.
   • sign the child in on the classroom attendance record.

Absences or lateness

1. To report an absence, parents must email the office promptly at roshana@silvercreekpreschool.com or call the office at 416 249 9770 before 9:30 a.m.
2. Three consecutive unexplained absences will warrant a meeting to discuss how staff can support the family getting to the program.
3. Parents must notify the office immediately by phone or email if they will be late.

Where a child has not arrived in care as expected

1. Where a child does not arrive at the child care centre and the parent/guardian has not communicated a change in drop-off (e.g., left a voice message or advised staff at pick-up), the staff in the classroom must:
   • inform the office, and then must commence contacting the child’s parent/guardian no later than 9:45 am or 1:45 pm.  Staff will telephone the primary contact who is listed on the information page of the intake package and then record the details for the child’s absence in the daily communication book if contact was made. Staff will leave a message if no response is received. Staff will then telephone the secondary contact that is also listed on the information page. Staff will record the details of the child’s absence if contact was made. If staff is unable to reach either the primary or secondary contact, they will inform either the Executive Director or Teacher Lead who will follow up.
2. Once the child’s absence has been confirmed, program staff shall document the child’s absence on the attendance record and any additional information about the child’s absence in the daily communication book.

Releasing a child from care

1. The staff who is supervising the child at the time of pick-up shall only release the child to the child’s parent/guardian or individual that the parent/guardian has provided written authorization that the centre may release the child to. Where the staff does not know the individual picking up the child (i.e., parent/guardian or authorized individual),
   • confirm with another staff member that the individual picking up is the child’s parent/guardian/authorized individual.
   • where the above is not possible, ask the parent/guardian/authorized individual for photo identification and confirm the individual’s information against the parent/guardian/authorized individual’s name on the child’s file.

Where a child has not been picked up as expected at the end of the program.

1. Where a parent/guardian has previously communicated with the staff a specific time or timeframe that their child is to be picked up from care and the child has not been picked up by 11:30 (AM program) or 3:30 (PM program), the teacher shall contact the parent/guardian  by phone call and advise that the child is still in care and has not been picked up.
   • Where the staff is unable to reach the parent/guardian, staff must leave a message for the parent/guardian and then call the emergency contact. Where the individual picking up the child is an authorized individual and their contact information is available, the staff shall proceed with contacting the individual to confirm pick-up as per the parent/guardian’s instructions or leave a voice message to contact the centre.
   • Where the staff has not heard back from the parent/guardian or authorized individual who was to pick up the child the staff shall proceed with contacting the local Children’s Aid Society (CAS). To report child abuse or neglect call 416-924-4646 or toll free at 1-866-527-0833. The call will be answered 24 hours a day. Staff shall follow the CAS’s direction with respect to the next steps.

Where a child has not been picked up and the centre is closed

1. Where a parent/guardian or authorized individual who was supposed to pick up a child from care and has not arrived by 11:30 (AM program) or 3:30 (PM program), staff shall ensure that the child is given a snack and activity, while they await their pick-up.
2. One staff shall stay with the child, while a second staff proceeds with calling the parent/guardian to advise that the child is still in care and inquire their pick-up time.  In the case where the person picking up the child is an authorized individual, the staff shall contact the parent/guardian first and then proceed to contact the authorized individual responsible for pick-up if unable to reach the parent/guardian.
3. If the staff is unable to reach the parent/guardian or authorized individual who was responsible for picking up the child, the staff shall contact the emergency contact listed in their file.
4. Where the staff is unable to reach the parent/guardian or any other authorized individual listed on the child’s file (e.g., the emergency contacts) by 12:30 pm or 4:30 pm the staff shall proceed with contacting the local Children’s Aid Society (CAS). To report child abuse or neglect call 416-924-4646 or toll free at 1-866-527-0833. The call will be answered 24 hours a day.

Staff shall follow the CAS’s direction with respect to next steps.

Dismissing a child from care without supervision procedures

1. Staff will only release children from care to the parent/guardian or other authorized adult.  Under no circumstances will children be released from care to walk home alone.

Glossary

Individual authorized to pick-up/authorized individual: a person that the parent/guardian has advised the child care program staff in writing can pick-up their child from care.

Licensee: The individual or corporation named on the licence issued by the Ministry of Education responsible for the operation and management of the child care centre and home child agency.

Parent/guardian: A person having lawful custody of a child or a person who has demonstrated a settled intention to treat a child as a child of his or her family.

Regulatory Requirements: Ontario Regulation 137/15

Safe arrival and dismissal policy

50.  Every licensee shall ensure that each child care centre it operates and each     premises where it oversees the provision of home child care has a policy respecting the safe arrival and dismissal of children that,

(a)   provides that a child may only be released from the child care centre or   home child care premises,

(i)    to individuals indicated by a child’s parent, or

(ii)   in accordance with written permission from a child’s parent to release the child from the program at a specified time without supervision; and

(b)   sets out the steps that must be taken if,

(i)    a child does not arrive as expected at the centre or home child care premises, or

(ii)    a child is not picked up as expected from the centre or home child care premises.