Creating and Operating a Day Care

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Abstract

Philosophers usually believe that learning should be an adventure to a child and only limited by their imagination and dreams. They believe that early childhood education should help young children with their teachers to explore the world, question things and discover in a good environment that stimulates. Children are usually born with a great ideas, creativity and desire to learn which only begins when trusting relationships are built. The curriculum for children should be flexible and emerge from their ideas, thoughts and imaginations. They usually learn by developing their own hypothesis and try to deduce their own conclusions while exploring the world to learn more. Children are very collaborative and respectful because of their communication skills. Day care centers are always aiming at ensuring they cater for the children to enable them grow and develop optimally. This essay is a description and guideline of Sweet Home day care center.

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Creating and Operating a Daycare

An Introduction to Sweet Home Day Care Centre

Welcome to Sweet Home day care center. We are a Reggio philosophy based, parent involved and community involved day care center established under Reggio philosophy serving the people living in south Vancouver. We specialize in the 3-5 year old program.

Our Philosophy

Our goal is to develop a 3-5 year program that motivates and encourages the physical, emotional, intellectual, social and creativity growth of children in a safe, eco-friendly, fun filled and nurturing environment.

Brief History

Sweet Home care center started in 2000 out of a concern to create a safe environment where children would be catered for, develop optimally and become their best. It has grown from serving just 3 families to cater for the larger community while today catering for over 25 families with two branches mainly concentrating on 3-5 year old children.

Expectations

The duration we have served the community has made us emerge as a reliable, flexible and child centered day care. The children we cater for develop in all areas with observations from parents of their improved communication, social skills and play. Most of our children have always developed to display exemplary talents, communication skills and basic life skills. The community has benefited from improved hygiene standards, social skills and team spirit. Our main aim is to ensure children feel safe and secure. We also offer families counseling to enable parents understand their child better. In summer, we carry out tree planting as part of our play

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sessions to benefit the community. (Malaguzzi, 2008)

Our Goals

We adopt Reggio philosophy to ensure that our curriculum is child centered and aimed at maximum play. Our main goals are:

To

enable children feel safe and secure

Help

children acquire good social skills

To

enable children develop independence and good problem solving skills

To

enable children develop high levels of self esteem and self confidence

To

create an environment that motivates creativity and natural play

Monthly Operating Budget

Sweet Home

Monthly Attendance Rooster

Maximum number of child places is 12

Child’s Name

Mon

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Creating and Operating a Daycare

Tues

Wed

Thur

Friday

Total

1. Beverln             F

\

\

\

\

\

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Creating and Operating a Daycare

5

1. Jack              T

\

\

\

\

4

1. Margaret              W

\

\

\

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Creating and Operating a Daycare

\

4

1. Tyra              S

\

\

\

\

\

5

1. Jamcky              H

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\

\

\

\

4

1. Faith             J

\

\

\

\

\

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Creating and Operating a Daycare

5

1. Hope              T

\

\

\

\

4

1. Serena             S

\

\

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\

\

\

5

1. Willy             G

\

\

\

\

\

5

1. Peterson             W

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\

\

\

\

\

5

1. Queen             H

\

\

\

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3

1. Venus             W

\

\

\

3

Total number

12

12

8

9

11

52

Full Time children = 6

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Part time children = 6

Hours of Operation Mondays – Fridays

Opening time: 8.30 Am

Closing time: 5.30 Pm

Day Care Fees

1 Day per week (costs per month) – $170

2 Days per week (costs per month) – $ 320

3 Days per week (costs per week) – $ 470

4 Days per week (costs per week) – $ 600

Fulltime Costs per month – $ 800

Operating Budget

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Sweet Home: Month of September, 2009

Income:

Full time children. 6 children (5days) * $ 800 = $ 4,800

Part time children 4 children (4 days) * $ 600= $ 2,400

Part time children 2 children (3days) * $470 =     $  940

Donations/ fundraisers: $ 70,000

Total Income for the Month:

$ 78,140

Expenses:

Staffing

Mrs. Margaret W

$ 17,000

Mr. Jefferson J

$ 15,000

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Creating and Operating a Daycare

Miss Christine D

$ 14,000

Mrs. Whalers F

$ 9,500

Mr. Smith K

$ 7,500

Staff Costs:

Staff benefits

$ 3,000

CCP & EI

$ 500

Professional development

$ 1,000

Total Staff Expenses                                                                                                                                                                                $

63,000

Operating Costs:

Fixed Costs

Rent/ mortgage

$ 1,500

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Creating and Operating a Daycare

Business License

$ 1,000

Hydro/ utilities

$ 500

Bank statements/ loans

$ 400

Internet and phone

$ 600

Photocopies

$ 250

Repairs and maintenance

$ 300

Advertising and postage

$ 450

Total Fixed Costs

$ 4,000

Other Expenses

Art supplies

$ 140

Petty cash

$ 100

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Field trip fund

$ 500

Food/ groceries

$ 750

Office Stationary

$ 170

Education equipment

$ 150

House keeping/cleaning supplies

$ 395

Miscellaneous

$ 35

Total for other Expenses                                                                                                                                                                 $

2,240

Income total:

$ 78,140

Minus Expenses: $ 69,240

Total Profit: $ 8,900

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Additional information

Staff

Part Time

Mrs. Whalers is a substitute teacher responsible for part time teaching. She also serves as a support staff for half days. She has an early childhood care certificate and has been working with sweet home since it started. Mr. Smith is an after school teacher responsible for organizing after school plays and trips. He also helps in support work. He holds a certificate in early childhood care and a vast experience of child plays and games.

Full Time Staff

Mrs. Margaret is the director of the center responsible for overall running. She has a vast experience of working with children for 15 years. She holds a Masters degree in early childhood care and project management skills. Mr. Jefferson is responsible for guiding the children through the play and activities. He is a qualified graduate in early childhood care. He has an experience of teaching for the last 15 years, 10 of which were in day care centers. Miss Christine is a cooperative teacher who also serves as support staff. She has an experience of 10 years working in child programs. She is a qualified graduate of early childhood care and has a degree in counseling psychology.

Estimation of Housekeeping and cleaning supplies

I0 Bottles of bleach each @ $ 4.56    == $ 45.6

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10 Bottles of disinfecting cleanser @ 3.68== $ 36.8

6 packages of paper towel for each child @ $ 25 == $ 150

Liquid hand fill soap filled 10 times @ $ 16.26 == $ 162.6

Total expenses           $ 395 (Malaguzzi, 2008)

Conclusion

Sweet Home fulfils the regulations of Vancouver and the Reggio philosophy. The budget is reasonable as the income exceeds the expenses. The day care center thus creates a good environment for the children to develop and attain their full potential. It creates a safe, friendly, fun filled and nurturing environment while offering a home atmosphere.

Reference

Malaguzzi, L (2008). The Reggio Philosophy, Retrieved on 25 September, 2009 from http://zer osei.comune.re.it/inter/index.htm

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