Poll: Hand/Policy/Rule Book/Contract

[mamac]

Ok. I'm going to take a stab at this. This is a multiple choice poll. Please choose one of the top three options plus a number of pages that will include the total of all the literature you provide to parents.

Please also note in comments if your font is larger or smaller than a 12 pt font.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Parent Handbook is size 12 font.
It is 12 pages including the front cover and table of contents. 13 pages if you include the parent's copy of the discipline and guidance policy. The parents do not sign it. There are no forms included in it.

They must sign/fill out:
Parent Handbook agreement -- they sign this
Contract (this contains the agreement on days/hours/what's provided/and the general rules that you can be termed at any time and no refunds are given -- they sign this)
Enrollment form (this contains contact information and agreements for their child to participate in various things -- they do sign this at the end)
Child questionnaire
Child health statement paper (which must be filled out and requires additional paperwork)
Discipline and Guidance policy

[Blackcat31]

Mine is 21 pages, size 14 font.

I am required by the state to put a laundry list of things in it as well as have several other forms and papers filled out.

[My3cents]

I have a separate paper that outlines anything important in my policy book that needs to be addressed, it takes initials all the way down. A contract, schedule of my day, medical forms, general information intake and then a couple of other things that the state and food program require me to pass out.

I use a higher font than the 12 and think I use comic sans too-

[mamac]

My handbook is 9 pages Century Gothic 11 pt.
My contract is 5 pages Calibri 10 pt.
My state regulations and required info is 6 pages Arial 11 pt.

This does not include any extras such as permission slips or the state's enrollment packet which is another 9 pages.

I'm not sure why I used so many different fonts but I am very picky about how everything lines up on the page. I like to have each section end before starting a new page. I have even changed the spacing in some areas just to make sure everything fits where it's "supposed" to.

[JoseyJo]

I have a contract in 10 pt font right now- 5 pages. I am in the process of streamlining it; making it 12 pt font w/ bullet points and taking out all the unnecessary legalize I thought I needed when we started 5 years ago! I am hoping to get it to less than 3 pages 12 pt.

We have 20 (!!) pages of forms to fill out and sign. - 6 pages are my creation (contract, about your child, etc), 14 are required forms by the state.

I also include a handout on:

Love and logic (our preferred disciple style)
Our daily schedule
Appropriate winter wear
Appropriate field trip day clothing
Items needed for summer (swim suit, sunscreen, bug spray, etc)
Separation Anxiety/how to handle do/pu

[melilley]

I have a handbook/policy book that is 10 pages long in 10pt.font and is not signed, separate discipline and illness policy that is signed-3 pages, plus a contract that is signed, a weekly rates, payment policies and fees that is 2 pages long, an individual contract for each family that is 1 page and is signed, plus a few permission slips, state paperwork, and a checklist for parents when they start, a child questionnaire, food program paperwork, and medication paper for things like sunscreen and diaper cream. I'm sure I have more papers, I just can't think.

[spud912]

Gosh I have issues! What can I say...I like to write !

During interviews, I give parents the handBOOK.
Parent Handbook:

• Introduction Letter (1 page)
• Reference (1 page)
• Policies and Procedures....12 pages, cambria size 12
• "Portfolio"......includes my bio and lots of info about what I do.....18 pages, size 12 (but has a lot of photos)

If things go well and they sign up, here is what we go over and fill out:

• Contract (includes policies and procedures): 14 pages, (3 pages filled out, initial all the other pages)
• Registration (includes medication, photography release, etc): 12 pages, all filled out
• Questionaire (I ask some get-to-know your child questions): 2 pages, filled out

[MarinaVanessa]

My contract is 9 pages long (5 pages printed front and back), Verdana 10 font and is broken down into sections. It starts with a cover that explains the agreement, names the parties covered in the contract and lists the first day of enrollment, last day of enrollment, first day of this contract (for clients that make changes or are given new contracts to sign) and the last day of the contract. Then the contract covers 8 sections: an agreement to follow the handbook, business hours/hours of care/additional care available, payment and fees, Holidays/vacations/personal days/attendance, illness policy and the termination procedure, a part where they initial that they received licensing forms and other documents and finally a statement that says that they agree to the terms with a place for them and me to sign.

My Handbook is 36 pages long (18 pages printed front and back), Garamond 12 font and is also broken down into sections (chapters). Each chapter is broken down into categories. My handbook covers everything in my contract plus more and explains everything in detail. I like to spell out to my clients what I expect of them as well as what they can expect from me. This is my table of contents:

About Us 7
...From the Provider 7
...Group Setting 7
...Non-Discrimination 7
...Childcare Philosophy 8
...Mission Statement 8
...Licensed Childcare 8
...Mandated Reporter 8
...Provider Training 8
Enrollment 9
...Waiting List 9
...Priority 9
...Admission 9
...Supplies 10
...Trial Period 10
...Hours, Services & Fees 11
...Daycare Hours 11
...Security Deposit 11
...Tuition 11
...Accepted Forms of Payment 12
...Invoices 13
...Receipts 13
...Late Payments 13
...Holding Fee 13
...Returned Checks 13
...Late Pick-Up & Early Drop Off Fees 13
...Late Pick-Up Fee 13
...Early Drop-Off Fee 14
...HOA Fees 14
...Unpaid Tuition & Fees 14
General Information 15
...General Services 15
...Full-Time Child Care 15
...Part-Time Child Care 15
...Additional Services 15
...Drop-In Childcare 15
...After/Before Hours Childcare 15
...Weekend Childcare 16
...Making a Reservation 16
...Arrival & Departure 16
...Sign-In/Out 16
...Late Arrivals 17
...Smooth Separation 17
...Prepared for the Day 17
...Releasing a Child 17
...Child Custody 18
...Parking 18
...Noise 18
...Referrals 18
...Privacy Policy 18
Rights 18
...Children’s Rights 18
...Parent’s Rights 19
...Provider’s Rights 19
Substitutes & Employees 19
...Policy Revisions 19
...Attendance 21
...Full & Part Time Attendance 21
...Provider Sick Days 21
...Vacations 21
...Provider Vacation 21
...Client Vacation/Absences 21
...Holidays 22
The Program 23
...Infant & Toddler Program 23
...Nap Time 23
...Field Trips & Outings 23
...Vehicle Transportation 23
...Pets 24
...Supplies 24
...Clothing 24
...Footwear 24
...Bottles & Cups 24
...Diapering Supplies 25
...Cloth Diapers 25
...Blankets & Pillow 25
...Security Objects 25
...Forgotten Supplies 25
...“Loaner” Items 25
...Meals & Snacks 26
...Donations 26
Child Practices 27
...Toilet Training 27
...Daycare Rules 27
...Basis of the Rules 27
...Adequate Clothing 27
...Personal Property 27
...Behavior Policy 28
...Guidance (Discipline) Policy 28
...Damages 29
Health & Safety 31
...Illness Policy 31
...Symptoms for Exclusion 31
...Universal Health Precautions 32
...Medication 32
...Antibiotics 32
...Hygiene 33
...Immunizations 33
...Cleaning & Disinfecting 33
...Smoking 33
...Emergency Contacts 33
Emergency Policy 33
...Minor Injuries 33
...Medical Emergencies 34
...Fire 34
...Utility Outages 34
...Evacuation Procedures 34
...Fire Evacuation Drills 34
...Emergency Supplies 34
Termination 35
...Parent Withdrawal 35
...Provider Termination 36

[littlemissmuffet]

Handbook is 8 pages long, 12pt font and contract is one page long, 10pt font.

[earlystart]

I'm one of those people with a ton of paperwork. Size 11 font, Calibri. I email all the forms though (they can fill them out on the computer), and the parents print out the contract and licensing forms themselves (saves me paper and ink).

4 page Welcome Packet
17 page Policy Handbook
6 page Contract
3 page mandatory licensing forms

[originalkat]

Parent Handbook:
10 pages including the cover (It is in 12 point font.)
State required paperwork:
3 pages for Health forms
1 Authorization for Med. Care
1 Field Trip form
Other Paperwork I require:
Fee Contract
Policy Agreement
Child's Developmental History
Photo/Video Release
Emergency contact/pickup card
Food Program Paperwork
Informational Info I send home After Tour
Behavior Plan
Sample Menu
Curriculum Brochure/Theme List
Sample Newsletter
Parent References

So I think that is 26 or so pages.