There are questions everyone asks when it comes to their child and entering daycare. Chapter1 Daycare has put together some of our more commonly asked questions to hopefully help you find the answers you need.
If your question is not answered below, do not hesitate to reach out to us with your questions.
Should I put my child in daycare while I’m at home?
Sometimes parents just need some time to themselves! Whether you are a stay at home parent who needs a day or two to get some important things done without distractions or you’re a work from home parent who needs a few hours daily without having to get snacks, timeouts or to clean up, day care could be very beneficial for your child too. Daycare can be great socialization for your child, as well as a much needed break for everyone. Daycare is the stepping stone to future education, and Chapter1 Daycare is prepared to help both you and your child/ren transition easily.
Is your daycare accredited?
Yes we are accredited by Accreditation Of Early Learning & Care Services (A E L C S). Accreditation standards were developed by Human Services in consultation with the child care field and key stakeholders. The standards are above and beyond the licensing requirements and focus on outcomes for children, families, staff and community to support children’s optimal early learning and development.
What are your hours and days of operation?
7:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Friday. We are closed on all Statutory holidays. We can remain open for you on Boxing Day, Easter Monday, and Veterans Day if you require so please provide us with advance notice if you need child care service on those days, otherwise we will remain closed.
Is there a waitlist?
Not at this time.
Do caregiver have first-aid / CPR and child development training?
Not at this time. Yes! All our staff have the necessary training and certification to care for your child. Please review the Staff bio on the homepage.
Does the staff to child ratio ever change?
Provincial laws stipulate the maximum number of children allowable per staff member as follows:
Infants less than 12 months – 1:3
Infants 12 months to less than 19 months – 1:4
19 months to less than 3 years – 1:6
3 years to less than 4.5 years – 1:8
What qualifications do the childcare staff / caregivers have?
The staff of Chapter1 Daycare will meet or exceed the Provincial requirements of education and training. All will have First Aid & CPR certificates. Each room is lead by a provider with a diploma in Early Childhood Development or a degree in Education. Additional staff are formally trained in Early Childhood Development or the equivalent. All staff will have up to date Police clearance certificate (Vulnerability Sector Search).
Are you a peanut-free environment?
Chapter1 Daycare strives to be peanut-free although we cannot guarantee that all food served will meet peanut free requirements. If your child has any known dietary concerns or allergies, please let us know at the time of Registration (indicate on the form or inform the Program Director). Chapter1 Daycare cannot be held liable for health impact on registered child due to non-disclosure during registration.
How do your daycare workers communicate to me about my child’s progress?
We know feedback is essential for you as the parents. The fact is, we’re there and you’re not, and we understand this is already difficult on you. We strive to provide all the necessary feedback on your child’s growth pertaining to Social, Physical, Intellectual, Cognitive, and Emotional aspects. We have a Daily Activity Report that provides you with a full grasp of your child’s development while within our care at Chapter1 Daycare. We are currently undertaking a state of the art online communication system through this site that will enable you to receive more frequent updates by the caregiver and allow you to post any questions to the caregiver about your child’s progress. If at any time you’d like to discuss your child’s development in person, do not hesitate to communicate with one of our daycare workers. We are here for both you and your child.
Are there any times throughout the year that you are closed?
The daycare is closed on statutory holidays and mandatory public closures. It is open on Easter Monday. Boxing Day and Civic Holiday are optional. We notify all registered families on whether daycare will be open or closed prior to both holidays. This is based on the level of demand we have for staying open on those two days by registered families.
Do you charge a Registration Fee?
Once upon a time the starts were perfectly aligned and we had no such fee. Currently, we do have a set fee of $30 as a one time registration fee.
What is your policy regarding sick children?
We do our best to be supportive of the working parent and at the same time, operate within the health standard guidelines mandated by Calgary Public Health. If a child is feeling somewhat under the weather but is able to function within the program and is deemed not to have any communicable illness we will allow them to remain. Communicable illnesses, other than colds, require exclusions which are determined by Calgary Public Health. We have a first aid room exclusively for this purpose. Parents have to be notified immediately when such illnesses are discovered and under the Provincial licensing requirement, the parent has to pick-up his or her child within a reasonably quick time.
Is there a scheduled nap time for all of the age groups?
Yes, it is a mandate that there must be a scheduled rest period for the infants, toddlers and preschoolers. We recognize that some preschool children will not be comfortable about nap time and we are respectful of this. Quiet activities are provided for children who are unable to nap and calming music is played throughout this period of time to help the children relax and feel at ease with the rest period. The scheduled nap time is from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM each day. We do not conduct any tours of the facility during the nap time.
Where can I view the daycare fees?
Please click on the Register link on top right corner of the webpage. On that page, please scroll down to the menu titled ‘First Child’. The drop down menu will reveal the fees. You do not have to register to view the fees. The posted fees do not reflect any promotional discounts applicable. The promotions are always listed on our homepage.
How can we contact you?
Through several ways. We have a presence on several social media platforms that you can connect to by using the social media icons on the top menu of every page. We have a live chat feature available on our website that is operational during certain hours of the day. You can also leave an off-line message through the chat feature. Our email is info@chapter1daycare.com. We can be reached by phone on our easy to recall toll free line 1.844.CALL.C1D. All calls on this number go through a routing system where it first calls our daycare land line. If not answered within certain rings, it transfers to the three different members of the Chapter1 Cares Team consecutively, thereby ensuring that your call is answered 98% of the times without having to leave us a message. If you end up leaving us a message, a text notification is sent to the Team and we will return your call immediately if we can. Since your child’s well-being is involved, we want you to have the most stress-free experience.
What is Chapter1 Cares Team?
Chapter1 Cares is the name of the Concierge Team that is independent of the daycare core staff and caregivers. The team is here to address any questions or concerns you may have about registration, your child, or for that matter any general question that you may need an answer for but don’t want to waste your precious time searching for online. We will continue to roll our new services so that you can enjoy more quality time with your family. Just email us at info@chapter1daycare.com or use our Live chat feature (limited hours) on the website.
How can I schedule a tour?
Please refer to the ‘How can we contact you’ response for the various ways of getting in touch with us. As you explore this website, you will also find ‘Schedule A Tour” button on various sections. You can use that as well.
I am sold. How do I register now?
Please click the Register link on the top right corner of the webpage. The process takes approximately 10 minutes and you are done. No long winded question forms to fill out, print, scan involved.
What are your payment options?
To keep our daycare fees down, we do not accept credit card payment at this time. We accept cash, personal check, bank draft, or Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD). Please let us know your preferred method of payment. We send out an invoice the week prior to the beginning of each month. Payment is due by the 5th of each month without any penalty charges.
What is your policy on Late Pick Up?
We offer an unique program to all our members called the ‘Oops-Save Card’. This allows you to have 15 minutes in total of grace period for any late pick up. After the 15 minutes are used up, the standard late pick up fee of $1 per hour is charged to a maximum of $30 per hour. Our daycare is open from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM so the chances of encountering a late pick up is remote. We have you covered for most contingencies.
Is parking available?
There is no on-site parking. However, street parking and private parking lots are available all around the centre. Generally, the street parking is free before 9AM and after 6PM. However, please ensure you observe all posted parking regulations prior to parking on the street. Chapter1 Daycare is not responsible for any parking tickets or towing expenses associated with parking for drop-off / pick-up purposes.
I am a caregiver. Are you currently hiring?
We are continuously looking for the most qualified childcare caregivers in the market as good talent is always hard to find in any industry and childcare is no exception to this truth. Positions that we typically fill are for Child Development Assistants / Workers / Supervisors (former Levels 1, 2, 3) and cooks / kitchen assistants. Since this daycare is not currently accredited, staff is not eligible for the accredited wage top-up subsidy from the Province although the pre-accreditation wage top-up is available. We offer competitive rates along with select benefits. Most importantly we offer a very collaborative environment for every staff so that they feel their work is appreciated, their voice is heard, and their input is received. The most critical factor to success of daycare is the well being of each child and that is dependent entirely on having qualified AND happy staff. If you feel you meet both requirements, please email us with your resume and covering letter.