Safe Release of Children Policy
At Newleaf Learning & Childcare Centre, the safety and well-being of every child is our highest priority. Children will only be released to individuals who are authorized by the parent or legal guardian.
Authorized Pick-Up
Children will be released only to:
- A parent or legal guardian
- Individuals listed on the child’s authorized pick-up list on the registration form
Staff may request photo identification at any time to verify the identity of the person picking up the child.
Parents or guardians are required to:
- Sign their child in at drop-off and provide an estimated pick-up time
- Sign their child out at pick-up
If alternate arrangements for pick-up or drop-off are required, parents must notify the centre in writing. The person picking up the child must provide valid photo identification, and their name must appear on the child’s authorized pick-up list.
For safety reasons, children will not be released to anyone under the age of 16.
Custody and Court Orders
In situations involving custody arrangements or court orders, the centre must receive a copy of the current legal documentation.
Parents must provide:
- A copy of the custody agreement or court order
- A photo of the non-custodial parent, if applicable
If a non-custodial parent attempts to pick up the child in violation of the court order, staff will:
- Calmly explain the centre’s Safe Release Policy.
- Ensure the safety of all children and staff.
- Contact the custodial parent immediately.
- Contact police authorities if necessary.
Impaired Pick-Up
The centre will not release a child to a parent or authorized individual if staff believe the person is unable to provide safe care, such as appearing to be impaired by alcohol, drugs, or other substances.
In such situations, staff will:
- Contact the other parent or guardian immediately.
- If the other parent is unavailable, contact another authorized pick-up person or emergency contact listed on the child’s file.
- If no authorized person can be reached and staff believe the child may be at risk, the centre will contact the police and the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) for guidance and support.
At Newleaf Learning & Childcare Centre, these procedures are in place to ensure that every child is released safely and responsibly to an authorized caregiver.
Late Arrival and Pick-Up Policy
At Newleaf Learning & Childcare Centre, maintaining consistent arrival and departure times helps ensure the smooth operation of the program and allows educators to provide appropriate supervision and staffing throughout the day.
Arrival Guidelines
When children are dropped off at the centre, they must be awake, alert, clean, and ready to participate in the program. Children should arrive in weather-appropriate clothing so they can comfortably take part in both indoor and outdoor activities throughout the day.
Children should not attend the centre while under the influence of medication that may affect their ability to safely participate in daily activities.
Parents are asked to provide a regular drop-off and pick-up schedule so that staffing can be planned accordingly.
If your child will be arriving late, please notify the centre by phone call or text message. If a child arrives after 10:00 a.m. without prior notice, the centre reserves the right to refuse care for that day as staffing and programming may already be arranged.
When arriving late, parents are asked to drop off their child quickly and quietly in order to avoid disrupting classroom activities.