Sandy Hill Child Care

About

Sandy Hill Child Care is a licensed, non-profit day care centre. We are licensed for 20 toddlers and 24 preschoolers.

Story

OUR PROGRAM

Sandy Hill Child Care is a licensed non-profit daycare centre with the capacity to host 44 children, with the age ranging from 18 months to 5 years. The toddler program has 20 children enrolled with 4 educators. The preschool program has 24 children enrolled with 3 educators. The centre also has a housekeeper that is available to help in the program at any time. The centres hours are from 7:30am to 5:45pm. Although we have always operated as a theme based centre, we are currently changing our programming, allowing for a more creative program by following the influence of the children’s interests.

Mission

WELCOME TO SANDY HILL CHILD CARE

Sandy Hill Child Care is a multicultural centre. Our centre provides a relaxed and casual setting geared to the needs and interests of each child. It is our intention to provide an environment in which children will be able to express themselves through many outlets. We offer a variety of programming, including gross motor, art and role play activities. We also encourage as much outdoor play as possible, which includes implementing the program outdoors as the weather permits.

Program Statement
Sandy Hill Child Care supports the belief that it is responsible for providing the opportunity for children to explore and play in a safe and nurturing environment. The environment we have created is meant to support positive learning experiences through a variety of avenues that encourage each child to learn and grow at their own pace.
At Sandy Hill Child Care it is our belief that each child is a competent, capable and curious being. With this theory in mind it is our intention to provide an environment that will foster belonging and well-being, as well as engagement in the program with an opportunity for individual expression. The following sections will outline how we intend to support the growth of your child in our program.

Well-Being
Patterns of eating, physical activity and sleep are established in early childhood and continue into later life. Family and cultural preferences are taken into consideration at Sandy Hill Child Care. Our centre provides nutritious food and beverage choices provided by our holistically trained on-site chef. It is our goal to create a positive eating environment with food and portion sizes that are appropriate to your child’s cues for hunger or fullness. The educators have created a safe and stimulating space for active play indoors as well as outdoors. Each child’s need for rest or sleep varies. Our program offers a quiet, darkened setting for each child to rest/sleep. Should your child not need to sleep a quiet wakers program is also offered.

Communication
The educators at Sandy Hill Child Care seek the co-operation of the parents to secure an information sharing highway that will create the opportunity for positive interactions between the child’s peers, parents and the child care providers. We seek parents input and stress on going communication between home and the centre. In an effort to keep parents up to date a daily log is completed daily by each educator which provides a brief description of your child’s day. Families are important contributors with unique knowledge of their child’s strengths, experiences and stressors. Any information shared by families is welcomed and encouraged in order to best help us understand your child’s unique qualities. It is also our intention to provide assistance to parents in any way possible, by sharing knowledge of any outside services offered to them.

Community Involvement
As long standing members of Sandy Hill, we feel that it is important to stay active in our community. We have currently partnered with one of the local senior residences. The connections shared between both age groups have been a positive experience for the children, residents and staff alike. The program is also involved with the Rideau Library, which allows the children exposure to various sources of literacy. We also invite members of the community into the centre in order to create unique learning experiences for your child.


Self- Care and Regulation
Sandy Hill Child Care is committed to providing a high quality, and safe environment to support each child’s growing need for independence. We offer times to practice self-help skills daily, such as getting dressed or putting on their own shoes. Self- regulation is about how each child is able to effectively deal with stressors. These stressors can come from various aspects of each child’s lives such as: biological, emotional, communication, cognitive and social skills. Our trained educators will recognize and support each child’s varied abilities for self-regulation and will provide environments that will reduce stressors, while recognizing and supporting the child’s efforts and abilities to self-regulate.




Our Goals
The goal at Sandy Hill Child Care is to offer a space for children to foster their need for play through exploration and inquiry. We provide a well-rounded environment for children to participate in child-initiated and adult supported activities. Our program is dedicated to implementing a positive learning space that will incorporate and encourage each individual child the support to learn and develop at their own unique pace.

Staff Support
Sandy Hill Child Care is committed to having trained/ qualified educators. To ensure this, each educator will have the opportunity to attend several workshops throughout the year, ensuring the children are receiving the most up to date care!