Frequently Asked Questions

No, September and January start dates are most common. However, we accept registration throughout the year, depending upon availability.

No, we do encourage children to be in the potty training process. Children are always encouraged, in a positive manner in their potty training. We ask for those who are not fully trained that a bag of extra clothing, and diapers/pull-ups be left with your child.

We value the inclusion of students with special needs. The executive board, teachers and parents will work together to ensure the needs of all students are met

Participating parents, grandparents, or other caregivers will be an active participant in the running of the classroom a few times a month. On average if your child is attending preschool 2 times a week you will be on duty 2 or 3 times a month. Parents alternate between snack duty, and craft duty *** Please note duty days are suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will keep families up to date of any changes in this regard***

No, we have limited non-participation spots available for an increased cost. Everyone is required to attend membership meetings (approx. 4) throughout the year, and hold a committee position *** Please note in classroom parent participation is suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will keep families up to date of any changes in this regard***

Due to ministry regulations, only children enrolled in the school may be present in the school throughout a regular school day.

Committee positions are an integral part of the operation of the preschool. Tasks change yearly depending on the needs of the school. It may mean you bring home the school's laundry on an alternating basis, make play dough, organize fundraisers, help run a Mom-to-Mom sale, etc.

Executive positions are voted in by the co-op membership; president, vice-president, registrar, secretary, scheduler, fundraising co-ordinator and treasurer. Executive members are not required to hold a committee position, but are expected to attend executive meetings as well as membership meetings.

Yes, all co-operative members and their designates who plan to perform a duty day on more than 2 occasions during the school year must obtain a Record of Clearance.

The health and safety of our children and our staff is our number one priority Covid-19 Policies and Procedures August 20, 2020 Introduction The Ministry of Education has issued new guidelines and strict health protocols for the safe return of children and staff to child care centres during COVID-19 Jacks’ and Jills’ Co-Operative Preschool will adhere to the following additional health and safety protocols as laid out by the Ministry of Education and The Health Department Mandatory staff training in the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Enhanced cleaning policies: disinfection of the space, toys and equipment Mandatory screening of staff, parents/guardians, children and essential visitors Limitations on visitors A COVID-19 response plan according to Public Health An on-site inspection by a Public Health inspector must occur prior to any use of the school facility insuring all safety requirements outlined for childcare providers have been met Space Set-Up and Physical Distancing The Ministry recognizes that physical distancing between children in a child care setting is difficult and encourages child care centres to maintain a welcoming environment for children Activities that do not involve shared objects or supplies will be made available All adults in a child-care setting are required to wear medical masks and eye protection while inside the child care premises Children are encouraged but not required to wear a mask. Masks are not recommended for children under the age of two. Equipment and Toy Usage Toys and equipment are cleaned and disinfected daily Mouthed toys are cleaned and disinfected immediately after the child is finished using it Sensory materials are single use (available to the child for the activity) and labelled with the child’s name Food Provisions No self-serve or food sharing. Meals are served in individual portions, using utensils Hand hygiene practiced by staff and children Staff must wash hands prior to serving food Staff wash hands as needed during food preparation, and clean and disinfect kitchen area and utensils as necessary steps for food preparation Children wash hands before and after meals and snacks Adequate spacing will be implemented to practice physical distancing while eating for children and staff Enhanced Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Frequently touched surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected at least twice a day (i.e. doorknobs, sinks handles, light switches, toilet and faucet handles, electronic devices, tabletops, countertops) A cleaning and disinfecting log will be kept by staff to track and demonstrate cleaning schedules The washroom facilities will be cleaned between each use The classroom disinfectant will be approved for use by Hamilton Public Health Health Screening Procedures All individuals including staff, students and authorized visitors entering the child care centre must be screened prior to entry Daily records of the screening results will be retained for records Individuals who answer yes to any of the screening questions will not be permitted entry to the childcare centre Parents will be reminded of this procedure through visible signage at the entrance or drop-off area Screening protocol will require the following: Screening Log Use of hand sanitizer (at least 70-90% alcohol) Space allowing for a minimum of 2 meters distance between screener and the person being screened, or physical barrier (Plexiglas) Screener must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to perform temperature check and ask screening questions, and record results in screening log if they have not yet been submitted electronically PPE required by staff at time of screening will include: facemask, eye protection (goggles or face shield), gown, gloves or strict use of hand sanitizer containing at least 70-90% alcohol content between screenings Signage regarding proper hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and proper mask use Staggered drop off may be implemented Thermometers must use protective cover or disinfected between uses Access at Program starting time will be exclusively for children attending the program, for a controlled admission process Floor markers will be used to maintain physical distancing After screening, and access is granted, anyone entering the facility must perform hand hygiene upon entering There will be ongoing monitoring of staff and children for symptoms and signs of illness A Response Plan for managing ill staff/children will be available at the centre. COVID-19 Childcare Screening Visitor Log PPE Recommendations Staff Role Type of PPE required PPE conservation guidelines Screener Droplet and contact precautions, including: Surgical /Procedure Masks Re-usable face shields or goggles Gowns Gloves (optional). If not wearing any, practice handwashing Follow conservation guidelines for masks to extend use. Recommendation: 2 Face Masks/day 1 Gown/day Staff member in cohorts Providing care for a sick child (suspect case of Covid-19) Face Masks Re-usable face shields or goggles Gowns Gloves (optional). If not wearing any, practice handwashing Cleanup of bodily fluids with the risk of splashing/soiling of clothing: Face Masks Re-usable face shields or goggles Gowns Gloves Masks, gloves and gowns should not be re-used and be discarded. Recommendation: 1 Face Mask/cohort/week 1 Gown/cohort/week 2 Sets gloves/cohort/week Environmental staff/ Staff moving in-between classrooms Staff that are involved in tasks that do not required close contact or direct care to children and are moving in between cohorts should wear: Face Masks Follow conservation guidelines for masks to extend use. Recommendation: 2 Face Masks/day Exclusion of Sick Children and Staff Staff and children will be monitored for symptoms and signs of COVID19. If a child or staff member becomes sick at school they will be isolated and family members will be contacted for pick-up If the sick person is a child, a designated staff must perform hand hygiene and put on PPE to care for the child until a parent/guardian arrives. This designated staff will be responsible for ongoing monitoring and related documentation. After any contact with the ill child, hand hygiene is a must In a designated isolation area in the same room the ill child attends, the ill child will be kept at a minimum of 2 meters from others, a physical barrier, floor markers could be used to enforced the physical distancing The ill child will be provided with tissues and reminded of hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and proper disposal of tissues All items used by the ill person must be cleaned and disinfected by the cleaning staff designated for that cohort. Items that cannot be cleaned (paper, books, cardboard puzzles, etc.) will be removed and stored in a sealed container for a minimum of 7 days Other children, including siblings of the symptomatic child, and child care staff/providers in the program who were present while the symptomatic child or staff member/provider became ill will be identified as a close contact and grouped together The local public health unit will provide any further direction on testing and isolation of these close contacts Symptomatic staff and/or parents of symptomatic children should call Public Health COVID-19 line All childcare settings are required to report the following to the Ministry of Education as a serious occurrence: A suspected of confirmed case of COVID-19 in a child or staff member A declared outbreak and a room/school closed Individuals who are tested Children/staff who test negative for COVID-19 must be excluded until 24 hours after symptom resolution Children/staff who test positive for COVID-19 must be excluded from child care centre for 14 days after onset of symptoms and clearance has been received from Hamilton Public Health Individuals who are not tested Ill children/staff, if not tested, must be excluded for 14 days from onset of their symptoms Management of a single case in a child/staff A single positive case in a child/staff results in an outbreak being declared at the child-care centre All members of the cohort are to be excluded from the child-care centre for 14 days Outbreak Response Once at least one child/staff has presented with new symptoms compatible with COVID-19, the child-care centre will immediately implement an outbreak assessment at the child-care centre, the following measures must be taken: Required Steps in an OUTBREAK Consult and follow directions from Public Health Notify all family, staff, and essential visitors of the facilities outbreak status (i.e. email, letters and signage) Enhance cleaning and disinfecting procedures Enhanced screening procedures (i.e. increased frequency of health checks). More frequent hand hygiene with children and staff Review staff training on proper PPE use Declaring an outbreak over In consultation with Public Health, the outbreak can be declared over if no new cases have occurred in 14 days from the last day of attendance of the most recent COVID-19 positive staff/child Mandatory Training Enhanced health policies and procedures Instruction on cleaning and disinfection How to safely conduct daily screening and keep a daily attendance records. Proper mask use Proper hand hygiene What to do if someone becomes sick Public Health developed the following videos and posters to assist with the understanding of the staff’s role in stopping the spread of COVID-19. The staff must complete this training prior to reopening: 7 Steps of Hand Hygiene - https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/videos/7-steps-handhygiene Putting on Gloves - https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/videos/ipac-gloves-on Putting on Mask and Eye Protection - https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/videos/ipac-maskeyes-on Taking off Mask and Eye Protection - https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/videos/ipac-maskeyes-off Taking off a Gown and Gloves - https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/videos/ipac-gowngloves-off Taking off Full Personal Protective Equipment - https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/videos/ipac-fullppe-off Communication with Families Families will be provided with the school’s enhanced health and safety manual prior to joining the program to ensure they are aware of their expectations and promote confidence in the safety measures in place Physical distancing option for communicating with parents by telephone, video conferencing and emails Visible signage will be posted at entrances and drop off areas to explain the screening process Non-essential visitors are not permitted at this time The health and wellbeing of our children, families and staff is our priority. If you have any questions you are welcome to contact our supervisor (Diana Guild). You will be playing an important part in the safety of our program by complying with these safety guidelines. Your active involvement is required and appreciated. Thank you.