FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Are you a licensed daycare/preschool?
A: Yes, we are licensed by the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene/Bureau of Daycare (herein referred to as the DOH). We also offer a Pre-K for All program at our Flatbush location.
Q: What is your staff to child ratio?
A: Our staff to child ratio is 1 to 4 in the infant room and 1 to 5 in our toddler rooms. Preschool rooms vary by age and range from 1 to 6, 1 to 7, or 1 to 8.
Q: What are the qualifications of your staff and are they screened?
A: All of our teachers have either their Masters, Bachelors, and/or Associates degrees in Early Childhood Education. Every staff member is thoroughly vetted by fingerprint, background check and a personal interview process.
Q: Does your facility have an outdoor space, and how often do the children go out?
A: Our 5th Avenue and Fort Greene facilities do have private outdoor space in the rear of the school. Our Flatbush schools frequent the local playground just two blocks away adjacent to the local firehouse and police precinct. Weather permitting the children go out every day, twice a day during the school year.
Q: Do you provide meals, and how often do the children eat?
A: We do not provide meals for infants and young toddlers (less than 16 months of age). Children above 16 mos. and preschoolers can enroll in a meal plan for an extra fee. Parents are responsible for all meals as well as personal items i.e. bibs, utensils, etc..The children eat at least three times a day: morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack. Infants eat more often as their meals are supplemented by bottle feedings. Meals and/or bottles must be packed and labeled in a thermal container complete with ice pack. Bottles and dairy products are stored daily within our on site refrigerator as mandated by the DOH.
Q: How frequently are diapers changed?
A: This depends on the child, but normally speaking the younger the child the more often their diaper needs to be changed. Our caregivers and teachers are trained to check the children regularly. Most children will go through 4 diaper changes in a day while others will go through 4-5. Parents are responsible for providing diapers, wipes, creams and change of clothing for their child. Cloth diapers are not allowed.
Q: Do you provide potty training and/or does my child have to be potty trained to start?
A: Your child must be potty trained in order to attend the Preschool (2 yrs.+). Potty training begins in our toddler program and our staff provide a tremendous amount of support to your child and their classmates to ensure the potty training process is successful! New families entering our preschool must have their children at least 80% potty trained – can indicate they have to “go potty”, may have accidents but few and far between, consistently wake up dry after nap-time, etc. – by the time they start at Eladia’s Kids. Parents are responsible for providing a change of clothes for any accidents.
Q: Do the children nap and how often?
A: Yes, the children nap. How often depends on the age of your child. Infants nap as needed during the day. Toddlers and preschoolers generally nap once a day. The daily nap schedule for every school is between 1pm and 3pm regardless of the child’s age. Parents are responsible for bringing in bedding and blankets for naps.
Q: What if my child doesn’t want to nap?
A: We encourage every child to take an afternoon nap. However, we understand that some children have different sleep cycles and we are sensitive to this. If your child refuses to take a nap they will be given quiet activities to do while the other children sleep.
Q: What type of extracurricular activities do you provide?
A: In addition to our educational curriculum we also provide music, art, movement and foreign language.
Q: What does a typical day look like at Eladia’s Kids?
A: Please visit our About Us page and click on the link: Our Programs – A Typical Day.
Q: Do you provide daily reports?
A: Yes, we provide an electronic daily log via smart phone application. The e-log will give you a summary of your child’s day, including text, photos and video of their daily activities, how they ate, slept and played. The daily e-log will also provide additional comments such as curriculum updates and personal supplies that need to be brought in such as diapers, wipes, change of clothes, etc.
Q: Do you offer part-time care?
A: Yes, we offer a 3- and 4- day a week program. Part-time spots are limited at each school. Some schools offer an 8AM – 3PM schedule for our preschoolers only (2 years +).
Q: Is there a transition period for my child when they start?
A: Yes, the standard transition period is three days. Your child will be with us for two hours the first day, three hours the second day and six hours the third and final day of transition. This transition schedule is mandatory and is set by the school for the emotional health and well-being of the child.
Q: What is your sick policy?
A: We have a very specific sick policy which is covered in our parent handbook. The handbook is part of an electronic welcome packet that you will receive once you’ve registered your child. If your child exhibits symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, lack of appetite, jaundice, etc. you will be notified immediately and depending on the severity of the symptoms you will be required to pick them up from school as soon as possible. We understand that you are working parents and do not need to be notified about every cough and hiccup, however, we must maintain a clean and healthy environment for all of our students while they go through the process of building their immune system. Therefore, we have very strict rules regarding children when they are sick, and encourage all of our parents to review this section of the parent handbook.
Q: What if my child gets sick? Can you administer medicine, and how soon can they return to school?
A: We do not have an on-site nurse and therefore are unable to administer any medication of any kind with the exception of an EpiPen or epinephrine injection used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions. Parents must notify the school in writing of any allergies and must provide the school with an EpiPen or epinephrine injection should your child’s allergy require it. If your child is running a fever, the child may not return to school for at least 48 hours after the fever breaks without the aid of a suppressant such as Tylenol or Motrin. We also require that you submit a doctor’s note stating that the child is able to return to school. This is all mandated by the DOH.
Q: What if my child is hurt while at school? Will I be notified?
A: Yes, if your child sustains any injury while under our care you will be notified in person at pick up or via telephone immediately pending the severity and timing of the injury. In addition, you will also be required to sign an incident report which explains how your child sustained the injury, who was supervising at the time and how the injury was treated – if treatment was deemed necessary. Signed copies of the report are placed within your child’s file. Copies of your child’s report may also be provided upon request.
Q: May I come by and visit my child at school during the day? May I call to inquire how he/she is doing?
A: Given that most of our parents are full-time working parents, visits inside the schools are not allowed as it creates an expectation in your child that he or she is being picked up which will invariably cause an upset when the visit is over. Visits to your child’s classroom take place during parent events held throughout the course of the year offering quality time with your child in the classroom. Calls/electronic communications – emails or text messages via the classroom mobile app – to the school will be answered in as timely a manner as possible. Managers and teachers are charged with prioritizing the care and well-being of the children first and then returning inquiries when time allows. If a concern or matter is urgent, we encourage you to call our main office at 718-230-7560 so your message can be conveyed to your child’s teacher. As always we encourage parents to get to know your school’s site manager who will gladly update you on how your child is doing.
Q: How late can I drop off my child and how early can I pick them up?
A: DROP OFF: We recommend dropping your child off by 9:15am. This curriculum of the day begins at 9:30am sharp and we prefer our students be allowed some amount of time to settle into the classroom. Drop off at the 9:30am mark, interrupts the critical morning circle time not only for your child but other students as well. EARLY PICK UP: Many of our parents are educators and will often pick up their child as early as 4pm. We recommend pick up be no earlier than 3:30pm so as not to disturb your child’s afternoon nap/PM snack time. Early pick up for the occasional doctor’s appointment or early trip departure is also allowed. LATE DROP OFF: Please keep in mind that if you need to bring your child in late for any reason (doctor’s appointments and the like,) that we do not accept drop-offs later than 11am. This is a strict policy so as not to cause confusion for our little ones who will have a hard time acclimating to the day’s schedule after that time.
Q: Is there an early drop-off and/or late pick-up schedule?
A: School hours are from 8am to 5:30pm Monday through Friday. Earliest drop-off is at 8am and latest pick-up is at 5:30pm. However, if you are running late we ask that you notify us in advance – via a message on the app or to a call to the main office 718-230-7560 so that we can let your child know as well as make the proper accommodations to have one of our teachers stay late. There is a $2/minute late fee which will be deducted with your tuition payment and added to your next billing cycle.
Q: How often are you closed?
A: We are open year ’round and observe most major holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. We are also closed for Summer recess which begins after the third Friday of August. Classes resume the Wednesday after Labor Day. Click here to download calendar: Eladia’s Kids 2019-2020 Calendar – FINAL ECR^
Q: Do I still pay tuition even though the school is closed for holidays and Summer recess?
A: Yes, tuition is contracted annually. Your child’s tuition is divided into twelve installments to make payments more manageable for our families. It is not a month-to-month contract. The short-term trimester contract is paid in full, in advance of your child’s start date.
Q: How do we go about arranging a tour and can we bring our child with us?
A: To arrange a tour go to our Admissions page, follow the “schedule a tour” link and fill out the form. Once we’ve received your submission we will follow up with you to schedule a visit. Given that we receive numerous inquires daily please allow 5-10 business days for your inquiry to be returned. Your child is required to attend the tour with you. We feel it is critically important that your child has an opportunity to visit the school and engage in the school environment. This allows parents and the admissions team to witness how your child responds to our environment and to assess if Eladia’s Kids is right for your child. If you are pregnant/expecting we recommend you follow up with us once the baby has arrived and mother and child have fully recovered from delivery and are able to attend – typically, six weeks after the baby is born. Click here to: “Schedule a Tour”.