Our Programs

Program Activities, Play Areas and Child Development

In every program at Leq’a:mel Childcare Centre, the daily curriculum includes art, circle time, indoor play, and outdoor play. Monthly themes are incorporated based on the children’s interests to foster engaging learning experiences.

Leq’a:mel Childcare Centre employs program themes to stimulate children’s learning and provides monthly newsletters to keep parents informed about their child’s educational journey:

Infant & Toddler Program

Infant & Toddler (8 Spaces)

3 – 5 Year Olds Program Routine

3-5 year olds (19 spaces)

After School Program (Kindergarten – 12 years old)

Afterschool Care (14 spaces)

Afterschool care is provided from 2:30-5:30 on regular school day. During School district breaks (eg. summer, spring break etc.).

We will offer care for school age children from kindergarten to age 12, from 7:30 am – 5:30 pm.

NO Transportation will be provided to and from school at this current time.  Subject to change, a policy will be created with the details of transportation of children to and from school are planned with safety procedures.

Rest/Nap Policy

Children will have a daily rest time where they can relax their body and play with quiet activities after lunch or can lay on a cot for a nap. Children are not required to sleep; they are required to have a rest time. Parents are to provide bedding for their child, and they will need to take home weekly for a wash. Parents can send comfort item such as a stuffed animal, binky, or a pacifier. Pacifier must come in a container labeled with the child’s name on it. During naptime, staff will pat gently on child’s back, rub child’s back or caress head and will also cuddle with the child if needed.

Bathroom Policy

Children ages 3 and up are provided with access to the bathroom for their bath rooming needs. Children are assisted if they ask for help. Children under 3 years old are diapered at a change table. Children can start potty training at 2yrs old and will need to wear a pull-up until they are able to communicate that they need to go to the bathroom. Once the child learns to verbally say they need to go to the washroom is when the child can be switched to being in underwear.

Diaper Changing Procedure:

1. Gather diapering supplies.
2. Put gloves on.
3. Pick up child from under the arms (arm pits) and place on diaper change table.
4. Remove child’s shoes and pants and set aside.
5. Pull open the diaper straps and remove and place into garbage nearby.
6. Hold child legs up for wiping their bottom, wiping front to back and dispose wipes.
7. Apply the child’s diaper cream if needed
8. Remove gloves and toss into the garbage.
9. Place new diaper on child and put their pants and shoes back on.
10. Place child back down to the floor by lifting under the arms.
11. Sanitize hands with nearby hand sanitizer.
12. Staff and child proceed to bathroom sink to wash hands.

Active Play Policy

Children are required to engage in active play for a minimum of 60 minutes a day. Active play can be indoor or outdoors to get the body moving and hear rate up. Indoor active play activities would be music and movement, yoga, or busier play in designated area. Outdoor play consists of many active play options for the child. Running, jumping, climbing, and playing with outdoor toys to get their body moving.

Field Trips and Walks

Leq’a:mel Childcare staff will plan field trips that encourage learning experiences related to monthly themes or Aboriginal culture. When a field trip is planned, parents or alternate family member will transport their own child to and from the field trip location and will stay with their child for the duration of the field trip. Leq’a:mel Childcare staff will meet parents at the field trip location. Cost of the Fieldtrips will be covered by fundraisers and/or parent. If a parent opts out of the field trip, a staff will be available to provide childcare if there are enough children not attending the fieldtrip or the possibility the parent will need to find an alternate care for the day.

Parents have an option to sign consent to take your child out on nature walks into the community. Leq’a:mel Childcare Centre will require permission to take your child out on a walk in the event of evacuation.

Photographs and Videos

Parents have an option to sign consent for your child to have their photograph and/or video taken for advertisements, Childcare promotions, Childcare website, and social media pages. Parents have an option to sign consent for practicum students to take photographs and videos.

Devices and Screen time

Leq’a:mel Childcare Centre will not be allowing any screen time in the childcare facility unless it is for Educational Purposes, or special occasions if not for educational purposes parents will be notified prior to and all programs will be rated G. Children are encouraged to engage in daycare program activities. Leq’a:mel Childcare staff request you keep your child’s device at home.
Leq’a:mel Childcare Centre is not responsible for any broken, lost, or stolen devices brought into the Centre.

Home Toys Policy

Children are required to keep home toys at home. Leq’a:mel Childcare Centre has a variety of toys supplied at the daycare for the children to play with. Leq’a:mel daycare is not responsible for any broken, lost, or stolen toys that are brought into the daycare.

Late Pick-up Policy

When Children are pick up late past closing. Parents are charged $10 in the first 5 minutes and then charged $1 for every additional minute late.
(Example: 10 minutes late past closing would be $10 + $5($1/min) = $15)

Guidance and Behaviour

Leq’a:mel Childcare staff will guide your child behaviour with a variety of strategies. Our environment is set up to peek your child’s interest in play. Leq’a:mel Childcare staff will engage with the children and develop relationships with your child. The children are valued, their emotions are acknowledged and Leq’a:mel daycare staff listen to what the child has to say about what they need. Leq’a:mel Childcare staff redirect behaviour by guiding the child into play and focus on acknowledging and encouraging the positive behaviour. Children will hit and push or fight over a toy and this is common as they are learning how to resolve conflict. Sometimes the children have disagreements, Leq’a:mel Childcare staff encourage communication between children to resolve their conflicts. We help the child develop the words they want to say to each other.

Biting

Sometimes children bite. Children with less vocabulary to express what they want and/or being able to express their feelings, the child is frustrated, they will bite. Sometimes biting occurs because a child is teething and other instances where in defence if another child is hitting or pushing.

Aggressive Behavior

Aggressive Behavior defined as punching, choking, kicking, throwing toys and furniture that is exhibited by a child that causes serious physical harm to other children and staff. Every effort will be made to try to implement behaviour strategies to reduce/eliminate aggressive behaviour. Care Plans and Referrals made to Child Resource and Referral on reserve or off reserve will be made for support for the child. Leq’a:mel Childcare Centre reserves the right to suspend services until the child is approved for a support worker and reserves the right to terminate childcare immediately where strategies are not working with a child with aggressive behaviours. Care Plans are developed to help design an individual strategy or plan to meet the needs of the child. Care plans are developed between Leq’a:mel Childcare staff and parents and with other professionals if required. Referrals can be made by Leq’a:mel Childcare staff and parents to seek support for a child with aggressive behaviours or seek assessments for special needs. Children with Special Needs will possibly need a support worker to help them with participating in the daily routine.

Trial Period and Termination of Services Policy

Leq’a:mel Childcare Centre has a 60-day Trial period. Leq’a:mel daycare will terminate services effective immediately when parents refuse to work cooperatively with the care plans and support services for their child. Leq’a:mel Childcare Centre will not tolerate disrespectful and hostile parent behaviour and will terminate services effective immediately.