Q: Q: Are parents encouraged to visit, stay, participate and provide input into Alpha Child Care’s program?

A: We encourage all of the parents to get involved in our Alpha programs including everything from parent surveys to volunteering on class trips. Parents are welcome to visit whenever they can and stay as long as they want. At Alpha Child Care we also have a Parent Committee made up of parents representing all classrooms working with our management to continually make improvements to the facilities and the programs that best benefit the children. If you ever have any questions or comments please feel free to speak with our Supervisors and Manager.

Q: What type of food and how often will my child eat at Alpha Child Care?

A: We offer home cooked meals and snacks by our experienced and creative cooks. There is early morning and afternoon snack and a lunch provided daily for children, except for infants who will follow their own meal schedules. The meals are nutritionally balanced to meet the needs of growing children. Alpha Child Care is a peanut and nut free facility. All drinking water and the water used for cooking are filtered through a press carbon block filter. See Download section of our website for the summer and winter menus.

Q: What happens if my child needs medication during the day?

A: At Alpha Child Care our first priority is keeping your child safe at all times. One way we ensure this is by following our policy on medication which is used to protect your child. Should your child have a prescription that must be given during the day, you must sign the permission forms giving us the exact instructions on administering the medication. We are not authorized to administer non-prescription medicine without a Doctor's note. Should your child require a prescription plus a non-prescription medication, the Doctor's note must state that both are to be given. A Doctor's note asking us to give Tylenol, Tempra or other non-prescription medication must also be specified. We need the amount of medicine and when it should be administered. The Doctors note will be considered good for 48 hours unless otherwise specified.

Q: When does my child move to the next room/level?

A: When you register, we put your child with a group of children who are the same age. However, children move to the next room according to their developmental level as it relates to the children in both their current class room and the room to which they will be moving. Each class room will have activities planned for all individual developmental levels within that age group.

Q: Who can pick up my child?

A: During the enrolment process we will confirm who is the legal parent or guardian of the child. We will ask you to list individuals who has your permission to pick up your child. If you are delayed at work, and you have dispatched a grandparent, aunt/uncle to pick up your child, simply give the day care a call to inform staff of the change. We will ask you the person’s name and relation. Upon arriving at the day care staff will request to see photo identification of the individual before releasing your child to them.

Q: What happens if my child is sick?

A: Should your child become sick during the day, we will call you at work/home/cell phone. Depending on the situation, we will ask you to come to the day care earlier than usual, or come immediately if possible. In order to minimize illness spreading throughout the centre we require that your child stay home for 24 hours after their temperature has returned to normal or their stomach has settled. If children do not have ample time to recover from their illness there is a high probability that they will become re-infected as their immune system is demished, and consequently, they are more likely to be sick for a longer period of time.
In the rare event of a serious medical event (seizure, anaphalatic reaction, etc.) Alpha staff will immediately administer first aid and call for an ambulance. (Alpha staff are trained in infant/childhood first aid and CPR) Parents will be called and informed of the event and where their child will be treated. An Alpha staff member will stay with your child until you arrive at the hospital.
Parents often ask if there is a fee rebate for vacation days and sick days. Unfortunately, Alpha can not offer fee rebates for days off. Alpha must continue to pay staff’s salaries, rent, etc. weather your child is at the school or not. Alpha cannot enrol another child to fill the space your child occupies.

Q: What are the fees?

A: Fees are different for each age group because the child/staff ratio changes for each age group. Infants require 1 teacher for every 3 children, while at the other end of the scale, Kindergarten children require 1 teacher for every 12 children. Consequently, fees for Infants are much higher than fees for Kindergarten children.
Every September, Alpha Child Care reviews it’s fee schedule and increases fees (usually by the cost of living) in order to give staff raises, pay rent increases, tax increases. Alpha Child Care is not a publically funded day care and as such, does not receive Health and Safety Grants nor the full Wage Grants of other public and non-profit day cares. To spite this, Alpha’s fee’s are comparable to other fully funded child care centres. Alpha maintains a Purchase of Services agreement with the Region of Peel in order to facilitate the needs of parents who require government fee assistance. Please call the day care for a no obligation quote.

Q: What daily comfort items will my child need to bring to Alpha Child Care?

A: Help us keep your child comfortable and healthy by bringing the following items every day:
• Blanket for your child’s bed
• Indoor shoes
• Outside clothes for appropriate weather
• Tooth brush, toothpaste and plastic cup to hold items
• Cuddly sleep companion or toy
• Complete change of clothes
• Sun screen (minimum of 25 SPF)
• Water bottle
• Diaper, cream & powder (if applicable)
Note: Please put your child's name on all of their personal belongings, including the outside of their backpack or carrying bag.

Q: Are there any special activities?

A: At Alpha Child Care there are many special activities for both the children and parents throughout the year. We offer French classes for the children, BBQs for both parents and children, concerts, carnivals, class trips and much more. Please see the Download section of our website for our monthly newsletter regarding upcoming events and special activities.