Childcare Specific Program Policies Version: January 29, 2021

It is important that we have consistency in all our childcare programs and each staff member is
familiar with our policies and adheres to them.

When on shift you are there to ensure the safety of the children and to be a positive adult mentor. The
way you mentor a child is to build a safe relationship with them; this means you need to be actively
involved in what they are doing not just supervising.

Outside Play Area - Children are only permitted in the playground after it has been checked for hazards
and a leader is present to supervise. Children are not permitted to walk freely between the playground
and the school. They must follow the same check in/ check out and buddy procedures as the gym.
If children will be using a non-fenced in area for outdoor play, staff will situate themselves around the
perimeter of the play area. Staff will also mark the play area boundaries with cones and will walk the
children around the area showing them where the boundaries are.

When there is a playground trolley - Only one child at a time is permitted on the trolley.
Children waiting for a turn are to be lined up on the ground, not the platform.
No child is to climb onto the platform until the child who is on the trolley has both feet on the platform
and is in an upright, balanced position.
No Kindergarten child is permitted on the trolley unless a BNH staff or volunteer is spotting them. *The
proper way to spot a child is by holding their hips so you can stop their fall if their hands slip off.

Gym - No child is permitted to use the gym when there is no adult present. When children are traveling
from the classroom to the gym or from the gym to the classroom they must; tell the leader in the room
they are leaving, have a partner and check in with the leader in the new location. The leader in the gym
will take the cell phone, when children arrive in the gym, they will call the classroom to let the other
leader know. The stage is out of bounds unless being used for a specific program. A leader must be on
the stage to supervise.

Bathroom - When in the portables, children are able to go to the washroom on their own. When in the
classroom, gym or outside, children need to have a partner to go to the washroom and a staff person
must be within eyesight of the door. They will check out with a leader and then upon their return check
back in with the same leader. If the children have not returned from the bathroom within 10 minutes,
the leader who checked the children out will go to the bathroom to check on them. When on out trips
leaders will take the children in groups large enough to maintain ratios and at regularly scheduled times.
If a child needs to use the washroom at an unscheduled time, the leader escorting the child will take the
appropriate number of children needed to maintain ratios.
Kitchen - No child is permitted to be in the kitchen area without an adult. When the stove or oven is in
use children need to be sitting at the table unless they are helping the leader. If this is the case, only one
child at time is to be near the stove. All cleaning supplies and knives are to be kept locked up when not
in use. When the kitchen is not in use it should be locked. (If possible)

Bike, Skateboard or Scooter - With written permission from their parents, children are permitted to use
the following items in a BNH afterschool program: bicycle, skateboard, roller blades, or scooter.

Children must have the appropriate safety equipment on while riding or skating. Appropriate equipment
includes a CSA approved bike or skateboard helmet, wrist guards, knee and elbow pads fitted for that
child. They may only ride in designated areas, away from roads and other program participants. (No
parking lots) There must be a staff person present in the designated riding area at all times. They may
only ride during designated times and only ride their own equipment. All regular risk management
procedures are to be followed at all times.

BNH is not responsible for the safety of their equipment, bikes and scooters must be locked up in the
designated bike area on the school grounds. These items are not permitted on out trips.

Cell Phones and all other electronic devices - Are to be put away and not used at all while you are
working. If you are text messaging, talking on your phone or listening to your music; you are not giving
the children your full attention. You are also not being an active member of the staff team. If you need
to make a call for an emergency reason you can use the centre phone after speaking with your
supervisor.
Staff are not permitted to take photos/videos of the children without permission from their parents
and for program related purposes. Only BNH may use these photos for related activities such as;
program brochures, in program documentation, website, etc. All photos/videos are only to be taken on
a BNH approved device by an approved staff person and are the property of BNH.
Staff are never permitted to post photos/videos of children on their personal social media sights, send
to other people or to have on their own devices (cameras, cell phones, etc.).
Staff are not permitted to have contact with children from our programs outside of the BNH program
they are in - This includes offering child minding services or related services such as private lessons,
friending them on social media, attending birthday parties, etc.

Dressing for the Weather - This is a reminder that programs will have outside activities and outdoor
field trips regardless of the weather. For some centres staff drop off and pick up children from other
school locations either by walking them or taking public transit. When you are on shift, you need to
make sure you are dressed for the weather in order to participate in the activities and maintain the
safety of the children.

If you are not physically fit enough to work in cold or raining weather you need to provide the Hub
Coordinator with a letter from your doctor stating this. If you are not able to fully participate, this may
limit the amount of shifts given to you.
All BNH locations are Scent FREE Zones - We have both staff and participants who have scent related
allergies. Please refrain from wearing perfumes, colognes or other products with a strong scent.
Reporting Incidents - All incidents no matter how minor must be reported to your direct supervisor by
the end of the day. A BNH incident report must be completed and submitted to your direct supervisor
within 24 hrs of the incident. Parents must be informed upon pick up of their child about the incident. If
for some reason this does not happen then a phone call must be made to the parent that same day.

If it is a serious incident the centre’s licensing office must be informed and a reportable incident form
completed and submitted to licensing within 24hrs. Reportable incidents include the following:

o Aggressive/Unusual Behaviour
o Attempted Suicide
o Death
o Disease Outbreak/Occurrence
o Emergency Restraint
o Emotional Abuse
o Fall
o Financial Abuse
o Medication Error
o Missing/Wandering
o Motor Vehicle Injury
o Neglect
o Other Injury (requires a doctor or hospital visit)
o Physical Abuse
o Poisoning
o Service Delivery Problem
o Sexual Abuse
o Unexpected Illness

Any staff found in violation of these policies is will be subject to disciplinary action including the
possibility of immediate termination of their employment with the Burnaby Neighbourhood House.