Guidelines

Please do not attend if you or your child is unwell. Program Facilitators may refuse entry and/or ask you to end your visit early if you have symptoms and/or your symptoms of illness worsen during your visit.

Parents/caregivers remain on-site and are responsible at all times for the care and supervision of every child they bring to the program. Never leave your child(ren) unattended in any space including the hallway, washroom, cloakroom. Should you need to leave the programming space, please ask for support from another participant. BrightStart Caledon staff cannot be responsible in your absence.

Parents and caregivers are to help their children to tidy up between activities. This not only keeps our environment safe but helps children to understand that tidying up is part of the play process while simultaneously supporting early literacy and early math skills such as visual recognition and sorting.

Families are welcome to bring their own snack, however snacks containing peanuts, tree nuts or other nuts, seeds, or legumes are not permitted. To support children with allergies or special dietary restrictions, please do not offer food to children outside of your care. Hand hygiene practices are to be supported by washing hands before and after snacks and children are to be supervised and seated when eating in the designated areas. Adults are to clean off tables after their child finishes their snack.

Please keep hot drinks out of reach of children, in the designated areas and ensure they have a properly fitting lid. An unbreakable travel mug with a screw top lid is preferred and recommended.

Strollers are to remain either outside of BrightStart Caledon doors or in the coat areas. BrightStart Caledon is not responsible for lost or stolen property.

Please place your outerwear and shoes/boots in the space provided. Limit bringing valuables into the centre. In an effort to keep our floors safe for all participants, please bring a pair of clean indoor shoes with you to wear during the program. Although wearing sock feet is allowed, we do participate in emergency drills that may take us outside.

Each location has a maximum number of visitors determined by the Caledon Fire Department. When the maximum occupancy has been met, a “FULL” sign will be posted at the designated entry door. Program Facilitators can share with you when programs may be quieter. For the well-being of all participants, capacity limits may change. In order to ensure that all community families have an equitable opportunity to access their local centre, we reserve the right to limit participation.

Please use designated changing area when changing diapers. Soiled diapers are to be taken with you when you leave BrightStart Caledon. Plastic bags are provided in this area.

Snack and creative areas close 30 min prior to the end of Family Time Drop-in programs at all locations. In Bolton, the climber area also closes 30 min prior to closing. Thank you for your cooperation!

Time spent on devices during the program reduces the connections between you and your children. If you must take a call, please do not use the speaker or video call function on your phone, and limit personal non-urgent conversations and internet use. Unplug and Play!

We offer breastfeeding/chestfeeding friendly centres. If you would like a private space, please speak with a team member.

You are welcome to take photographs of your children at play. Please only take photographs of the children in your care. Video recording is strictly prohibited during the program.

Duty to Report Section 125 of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 (CYFSA) imposes a duty to report for everyone, including RECEs and Early Years professionals, to report suspicions of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, neglect and risk of harm to a children’s aid society.

BrightStart Caledon employees have a right to feel safe in their places of work. All participants must interact with other participants, staff, volunteers, the public and the environment respectfully at all times. Bullying, harassment, foul language, threats, microaggressions or any disrespectful behaviour towards the staff will not be tolerated and you will be asked to immediately leave the program.

Every issue and concern will be treated confidentially, and every effort will be made to protect the privacy of parents/guardians, children, staff and placement students, except when information must be disclosed for legal reasons (e.g. to the Ministry of Education, College of Early Childhood Educators, law enforcement authorities or a Children’s Aid Society). Please refer to the Privacy Policy.

Employees of BrightStart Caledon who are working as private individuals are in no way acing on behalf of or representing BrightStart Caledon. BrightStart Caledon assumes no responsibility for participants engaging in the private services of BrightStart Caledon employees.

Solicitation for any business or commercial activities, events or items is not permitted. Petitions of a political or partisan nature are not allowed to be circulated or displayed in BrightStart Caledon.