Parent Handbook
Contact Us
If you need to speak to someone about billing, making a payment, registration, schedule changes or other general information, please call our Main Office.
MAIN OFFICE
734-506-8239
SCHOOL SITES
The recommended method to contact someone at the school site is by sending a MESSAGE through the Brightwheel Account messaging service.
If you need to reach someone from our program at your child's school during Before Care or After Care, please contact your designated School Site listed below. Our site leaders prioritize the safety and well-being of the children in our program above all else. Please understand that they may not always be able to answer the phone immediately, but they will return your call as soon as possible.
For urgent matters, consider sending a text message so the Site Leader can quickly see your request. Alternatively, you may also contact the Main Office, and we will do our best to locate someone to assist you.
Absence Notification or Drop-in Requests:
Please send a Brightwheel Message when communicating an absence or reservation.
For Up-to-Date Contact Information:
Please visit our website: https://www.mandmextracare.com/contacts/
Mission Statement
M&M Extra Care allows parents who work to know that their child is well cared-for in a high quality out-of-school time setting. We provide experiences with the child in mind and strive to support a safe, inclusive, and enriching environment where students can develop their cognitive, physical, social, and emotional capacities. We believe that strong partnerships with families, co-workers and school-day teachers will aid in the growth and development of each child. Our team of professionals are provided with an equally safe and cooperative workplace where honesty, integrity, trust, respect, and ongoing professional education is our primary responsibility.
Admission Requirements and Enrollment Procedures
Prior to enrollment the parents must provide the following, utilizing online registration:
Paid non-refundable registration fee and completed registration form.
Completed child information record
Childcare contract
Signed Forms: 1) Health Statement, 2) Playground Statement, 3) Notebook Notification Statement and 4) Information Packet Documentation
One week’s notice, in writing, is required if the child is to be permanently removed from this program. One week’s fee will be accepted in lieu of notice, and, in fact, will be due with notice of plans to discontinue enrollment. Utilizing the online Schedule Change Form meets this requirement. Failure to notify M & M of removal from program will result in a full week charge after the last date of attendance.
M & M Daycare reserves the right to discontinue childcare services to any child without notice if: i) the child(ren)’s continued participation in the program creates a direct threat to the safety of the child, other children or day care staff; or ii) if payment of childcare or other fees is not made when due; or iii) if Parent(s) engage in inappropriate parent conduct.
Fees and Payment Plans
Registration Fee – A non-refundable, $45 registration fee is required for the first child per family, prior to each school year. Additional siblings each pay a $25 registration fee.
Please refer to the current year Rate Chartto determine your weekly fees.
Fee Adjustment: M & M Daycare, Inc. reserves the right to adjust fees with a (30) day written notice.
Contracted Weekly Schedule – means you select a certain schedule that you stick to for your child to attend care. The benefits of a contracted schedule are that a place is saved for your child, and you realize a discounted rate.
Drop-in Clients pay a significantly higher daily rate than Contracted Daily or Weekly Clients. Payment for drop-in care is due when service is rendered. Openings for drop-in care are on a space-available basis and cannot be guaranteed.
Half-days of School: Childcare may be available on ½ days of school and on in-service days. Fees for ½ days of school and in-service days are charged in addition to regular fees, and current rates are posted on mandmextracare.com.
Late Pickup: Additional fees will be charged for children left in our care after the stated closing time. The current late pick-up fee is $5 per 15 minutes. Parents who are late more than 3 times during the school year will be charged $1 per minute late fee and are subject to suspension from program.
Fees are due in advance and payable no later than Monday of each week. A $5.00 fee may be assessed each week if your account is not paid in full by Wednesday and your child may not be accepted until your fee is paid, except under special circumstances prearranged and agreed to by the director. All payments must be made online, using the Brightwheel billing platform. It is a secure online billing and childcare management program.
Fees for additional care and drop-in care, which will be provided on a space-available basis, are due when services are rendered.
Schedule Change: There is a One-Week minimum notice required for reduction or removal from program. Your first schedule change is free, subsequent changes result in a $10 schedule change fee. Examples of schedule change would be from before and aftercare to just before care, or from M-F care to MWF care. Parents MAY NOT change a schedule simply to avoid paying for a paid holiday. Please utilize the schedule change form link on the Tools & Forms page of our website.
Vacation Charge: There is a One-Week minimum notice required for vacation rate. Client is billed 50% of contracted care or $20 per student, whichever is less. Please utilize the schedule change form link on the Tools & Forms page of our website.
Nonpayment Suspension: Clients 2 Weeks or more past due shall be suspended from utilizing services until full payment is made. In addition, clients will be required to pay a $25 per student reinstatement fee to return to care, depending on space availability.
School Suspension: If your student will be absent from M & M care for an extended period due to student suspension (more than 5 days), you must use the schedule change form to notify us. A "vacation" fee of 50% or $20 (whichever is less) per week is due during the suspension period instead of your weekly invoice fees. Since this event cannot be predicted, like an extended illness, the regular one-week vacation notice will not be required. Invoices are not adjusted for suspensions of less than 5 days.
Schedule/Hours of Operation
The Extra Care program will operate Monday through Friday from 6:30-8:15 AM and from 3:00-6:00 PM. Extra Care is open on all days that school is in session. If there is no school because of holidays and winter or spring breaks, there will be no Extra Care.
Regularly Scheduled Clients pay the same weekly rate, regardless of the school schedule, except the three full weeks of winter and spring break. This policy allows us to give staff paid vacation days - something everyone appreciates for a job well done.
If the school is closed due to situations beyond their control (for example: snow, ice, flood, electrical/heat difficulties, etc.) there will be No Care, however, you will still be charged for the day. (Our expenses still remain even if school is closed).
You will be charged for all days that you agree to have your child attend care. If your child does not attend due to extended illness or family emergency, you may submit a special circumstance schedule change form with a $20 (or 50% of care, whichever is less) weekly fee.
Absence Notification and Drop-In Reservation
If your child will be absent from aftercare, please MESSAGE your school Site Leader, using the Brightwheel messaging system, no later than one (1) hour prior to service, if your child is normally scheduled for that day.
To utilize Drop-In or additional service, please MESSAGE your school Site Leader by 10 am, using the Brightwheel messaging system, to make an aftercare reservation. If it is an emergency, please message us as soon as possible.
Contact numbers can be found on Page 1 of this Handbook as well as on the Contact Us Page found on our website.
Meals and Snacks
Simple Breakfast for before-school students and PM snacks for all after-school children are served each day at no additional charge.
Lunch is not provided; children should bring a sack lunch on the half-days of school or in-service days. A pizza lunch may be available for an additional charge.
Sample Daily Schedule (will vary by grade and site)
6:30 AM Arrival; open-ended activities, group games and optional homework
7:00 AM Light Breakfast Snack - Provided by M & M
8:00 AM Before-School Student Dismissal
2:30 PM Staff arrives, receives students upon dismissal
3:15 PM Free Play / Outside play
3:45 PM Bathroom Break, Wash Hands, Snack Time
4:00 PM Mandatory Homework Time (those without homework
may quietly read or do provided activity sheets).
4:45 PM Group Games and Activities/ Art Projects/ Clubs
5:15 PM Choice (open-ended) Activities
6:00 PM M & M Extra Care closes for the day
A well-organized, well-supervised and stimulating atmosphere will be provided to minimize any need for discipline.
Positive methods of discipline that encourage self-control, self-direction, self esteem and cooperation shall be used.
If a discipline problem should arise involving a child, we will discuss the problem with the parents and staff and work out a solution together.
Corporal punishment of any type will not be used. All of the following means of punishment shall be prohibited:
Hitting, spanking, shaking, biting, pinching, or inflicting other forms of corporal punishment.
Restricting a child’s movement by binding or tying him or her.
Inflicting mental or emotional punishment, such as humiliating, shaming, or threatening a child.
Depriving a child of meals, snacks, rest, or necessary toilet use.
Excluding a child from outdoor play or other gross motor activities.
Excluding a child from daily learning experiences.
Confining a child in an enclosed area, such as a closet, locked room, box, or similar cubicle.
Privileges may be removed when certain expected behaviors are not followed.
Discipline Policy
A well-organized, well-supervised and stimulating atmosphere will be provided to minimize any need for discipline
Positive methods of discipline that encourage self-control, self-direction, self esteem and cooperation shall be used.
If a discipline problem should arise involving a child, we will discuss the problem with the parents and staff and work out a solution together.
Corporal punishment of any type will not be used. All of the following means of punishment shall be prohibited:
Hitting, spanking, shaking, biting, pinching, or inflicting other forms of corporal punishment.
Restricting a child’s movement by binding or tying him or her.
Inflicting mental or emotional punishment, such as humiliating, shaming, or threatening a child.
Depriving a child of meals, snacks, rest, or necessary toilet use.
Excluding a child from outdoor play or other gross motor activities.
Excluding a child from daily learning experiences.
Confining a child in an enclosed area, such as a closet, locked room, box, or similar cubicle.
Privileges may be removed when certain expected behaviors are not followed.
Parent Notification
All communications will occur through the Brightwheel App messaging system. Parents are required to create an account and download the app to their mobile device for communication, sign-in and sign-out, in addition to billing and payments.
Accidents, Injuries and Incidents
Please refer to the following page for a list of procedures used regarding Incident and Accident reporting.
Illnesses
Brightwheel notifications will be sent out in the event a communicable disease has been reported (such as lice, scarlet fever, etc.).
Parent Requirements
Please make sure your contact information, including email address and cell phone number is updated at all times. Visit our website (tools and payments page) for quick links to update your information.
Parents may also update approved contacts and their own contact information by editing their profile within their Brightwheel account.
Procedures for Incident and Accident Reporting
Child Injuries and Accidents
1. Child falls and cries; injury and first aid administered, or any falls above ground
o Report in Brightwheel
o Incident Report in Brightwheel
o Call or Brightwheel Message Parent
2. Child falls and cries; no apparent injury (e.g., trip, no skinned body parts)
o Report in Brightwheel
3. Child is hurt; minor injury visible (bump, cut, scrape)
o Report in Brightwheel
o Incident Report in Brightwheel
o Inform at Pickup
4. Child is hurt; severe injury visible (bleeding, intense pain) or any injury to head/face
o Report in Brightwheel
o Incident Report in Brightwheel
o Call or Brightwheel Message Parent
o Inform at Pickup
5. Choking (Heimlich maneuver/first aid administered)
o Report in Brightwheel
o Incident Report in Brightwheel
o Call or Brightwheel Message Parent
o Inform at Pickup
6. Fell off play set, hits head, first aid administered
o Report in Brightwheel
o Incident Report in Brightwheel
o Call or Brightwheel Message Parent
o Inform at Pickup
7. If any first aid is given (ice packs, bandages, etc.)
o Report in Brightwheel
o Incident Report in Brightwheel
o Inform at Pickup
8. Nose bleed
o Report in Brightwheel
o Incident Report in Brightwheel
o Inform at Pickup
9. Vomiting
o Report in Brightwheel
o Call or Brightwheel Message Parent
o Inform at Pickup
Behavioral Incidents
1. Fighting (physical, injury or not)
o Report in Brightwheel
o Call or Brightwheel Message Parent
o Inform at Pickup
2. Fighting with words, hurt feelings, no injury
o Report in Brightwheel
o Possibly inform at pickup
3. If a child is hit by an object, no apparent injury
o Report in Brightwheel
o For some, inform at pickup
4. If a child uses bad language or calls another child a name (bullying)
o Report in Brightwheel
o Possibly inform at pickup
Other Notable Events
1. When a child hits or injures another child
o Report in Brightwheel (for both victim and hitter)
o Possibly inform at pickup
2. Fire and/or building evacuation
o Report in Brightwheel
o DHS Report
o Call or Brightwheel Message Parent
3. Severe injury requiring ambulance, hospital, doctor visit, etc.
o Report in Brightwheel
o DHS Report
o Call or Brightwheel Message Parent
4. Terror threat (lock-down)
o Report in Brightwheel
o DHS Report
o Call or Brightwheel Message Parent
Health Policies and Procedures
Symptoms Requiring Removal of a Child from the Child Care Setting:
Fever - at or greater than 101 degrees
Vomiting
Body rash with fever.
Eye discharge – thick mucus or pus draining from the eye, or pink eye.
Yellowish skin or eyes.
Head lice or other communicable illness/disease.
First Aid Procedures
A complete first aid kit, ice packs, and emergency numbers will be kept on the premises. Parents will be notified of all accidents and a record of injuries that require first aid will be kept on each child.
Medical Emergencies (unconsciousness, severe bleeding, etc.)
Immediate first aid will be given. An ambulance will be called, and the recommendations of the paramedics followed. Parents will be notified as soon as possible. Parents are responsible for any expenses incurred as a result of emergency room care, ambulance, etc.
Medication Management
Medication, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or individual special medical procedures, will be given or applied only with prior written permission from Parent (using online Medication Permission Form). Prescription medication shall have the pharmacy label indicating the physician’s name, child’s name, instructions, and name and strength of the medication and shall be given in accordance with those instructions. M & M Daycare will not honor any instruction that contradicts the instructions given by the physician (for prescription drugs) or stated on the label (for over-the-counter drugs).
M & M Daycare or caregiver will maintain a record as to the time and amount of any medication given or applied.
The medication shall be in the original container, stored according to the instructions, and clearly labeled for the specific child. The M & M Daycare/caregiver will keep the medication out of the reach of children and will return the medication to Parent or destroy it when no longer needed.
Child Release Policy
As a condition of providing childcare services, Parent must supply the names of at least two individuals to whom M & M Daycare may release the child in the event of an emergency.
Parent or Guardian MUST sign their student(s) out using the Brightwheel app. Students may not dismiss him/herself from the school or playground.
M & M Daycare will not release the child until the parent has communicated through their account on Brightwheel. This ensures the safety of the student.
If an individual is unknown to M & M Daycare, the individual will be required to show positive identification in the form of a valid Michigan Driver’s License, before the child will be released.
Parents must be aware that employees of M & M Daycare are not properly trained to make assessments relating to intoxication or other impairment and therefore assumes no responsibility to assess the competency or condition of any authorized individual appearing to pick up the child.
Inappropriate Parent Conduct
Parents must be aware that adults serve as role models for children. Additionally, M & M Daycare, Inc. is responsible for protecting the children in care, and for providing a safe workplace for staff members. Therefore, it is critical that, while on program property, each Parent conduct himself or herself in a professional and rational behavior at all times.
M & M Daycare reserves the right to immediately terminate the childcare contract if the Parent behaves inappropriately.The following actions are grounds for immediate dismissal (please note, however, that this is not an exhaustive list of inappropriate behaviors).Acts of violence, including assault and battery;Harassment of or threats against the staff, other persons or children;Possession of illegal substances or firearms;Verbal or physical abuse of any child;Profanity; or Indecent exposure.
Miscellaneous Information
Parents have free access to all areas of the program that are used by their children.
No smoking or vaping is allowed on the school grounds at any time.
We are required by law to report any suspected child abuse or neglect.
This Program Handbook contains the policies and procedures of M & M Extra Care. It is meant to serve as a reference guide. It is not meant to cover every aspect of the childcare program or every situation, which might arise. Parents should be free to contact the Director with questions concerning the contents of this Handbook.
We reserve the unilateral right to add, delete or amend the policies and procedures in this Handbook upon thirty (30) days written notice to parents.
This Handbook is the exclusive property of M & M Daycare, Inc. and is intended for the exclusive use of the parents/guardians of enrolled children. This Handbook may not be copied or distributed to any third party without the express written permission of M & M Daycare, Inc.
M & M Daycare will maintain and conduct all practices relating to enrollment, discipline, and all other terms and benefits of childcare services provided in a manner which does not discriminate against any child, parent of family on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex or handicap.
Each child has a right to confidentiality. All information pertaining to children in the program, including all reports, records, and data are confidential and used for internal purposes only. Information pertaining to children enrolled in the program will not be released to third parties without the express written permission of Parent, unless required by statute, court order or licensing mandate.