HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE INC.
PARENT HANDBOOK
Hey Diddle Diddle Day School
520 Bethlehem Pike
Ft. Washington, PA 19034
(215) 654-9955
Little Diddle Preschool
440 S. Bethlehem Pike
Ft. Washington, PA 19034
(215)565-5866
Updated March 2025
Program Philosophy: We believe children are naturally curious. We encourage this by
providing a bright, friendly, caring environment, which allows children to learn while
having fun. We offer an outlet for their creativity by planning hands-on activities, which
allow students to work independently and together to achieve a common goal. We provide
opportunities to develop independence, confidence and a positive self-image. By having fun
and learning through play children learn to love school. Developing an appreciation for
education during the beginning steps of your child’s first years will carry through to their
formal schooling and beyond.
In accordance with our philosophy and purpose, the curriculum includes sharing and
conversation time; stories, songs and finger plays; creative art activities; food preparation;
science and nature activities; exposure to shapes, colors, numbers and letters; and
celebration of birthdays and holidays. Active learning takes place with the guidance of
curriculum that aligns with PA early learning standards. Outdoor play time is scheduled
daily, weather permitting.
1PROGRAM ACTIVITIES FOR HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT
Hey Diddle Diddle Day School,Inc is comprised of two schools at separate locations,
Hey Diddle Diddle Day School and Little Diddle Preschool. While they are in different
locations, the policies and procedures of these schools remain the same. We are a cohesive
school environment that works together towards the same mission. Our operating hours are
Monday – Friday from 7AM – 6PM.
Our school offers a full day of care with an educational program built into the daily
schedule. It is the philosophy of this preschool that early childhood should be a time of fun,
warmth, security, exploring and discovery. Preschool children are receptive to new
information, and search for an outlet for their creativity. Our program nurtures these
qualities.
Our purpose is to provide an atmosphere encouraging social, emotional, physical, and
intellectual growth and development of the whole child.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION STATEMENT
Hey Diddle Diddle Inc, advertises in the public media to make openings known to
all. Children are admitted regardless of race, creed, color, sex, national origin, or
handicapping condition.
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
We are closed nine days a year to observe the following holidays: Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day following Thanksgiving,
Christmas Day, the day after Christmas and New Year’s Day, and Martin Luther King Jr.
holiday which is used as a staff in-service day.
ADMISSIONS & SCHEDULING
1. Children ages 12 weeks to five years old will be admitted at any time during the year
based on vacancies in the building. Openings are filled on a first come first serve
basis.
2. The student schedule is based on a full day, a minimum of two days per week. We
accommodate full and part-week students. Part week scheduling will be arranged
based on roster availability that best suits your needs.
3. Due to state regulations, schedule changes are not permitted without at least one
week’s notice and are not guaranteed.
ENROLLMENT FORMS
Our licensing agency requires four forms on file and updated every 6 months for each child:
▪ Emergency Contact Form
2▪ Tuition Agreement
▪ Child Health Report including immunization schedule. Hey Diddle Diddle Day
School, Inc. only enrolls children on the American Academy of Pediatrics
immunization schedule with no exceptions.
▪ Progress Report Signature
▪
These forms can be found on the website: https://heydiddlediddle.net/
Other forms we require to be completed include:
-Care Plan, if applicable (on next page)
-Behavior and special needs policy and IEP or IFSP
-Permission for Topical Applications
Emergency Care Plan
Each child with asthma or allergies shall have an emergency care plan in writing on file with
the school. This plan provides information and instructions on how you can manage your
asthma.
It includes:
• Medicines
• Recognizing when symptoms get worse
• What to do in an emergency
If you do not have a written plan from your child’s pediatrician, take the form below to your
doctor and have them fill it out for you.
https://aafa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/school-or-child-care-asthma-
and-allergy-action-plan.pdf
IEP AND SPECIAL NEEDS POLICY –
Behavior and Special Needs:
Hey Diddle Diddle Day School works with families and intervention specialists to provide
the best environment for each child within our established program. When the parent or
legal guardian or the administration of this school identifies that a child has special needs,
the program director and or the facility owner and the parent or legal guardian will meet to
review the child’s requirements for care. The program can accept and continue care for
children for whom the facility is equipped or can reasonably be equipped to provide quality
care, and current staff members can provide a safe, supportive environment. The child’s
3needs will be specified in a care plan completed by early intervention and/or healthcare
professionals. Program decisions about accepting the responsibility of caring for children
with special needs are consistent with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities
Act.
Additionally, Hey Diddle Diddle Day School, inc. uses the Ages and Stages Questionnaire to
determine a students’ growth and progress in reaching their developmental milestones. It is
a series of questionnaires designed to screen early childhood development in the areas of
communication, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, problem solving, and personal-social
skills. Each questionnaire is also completed by the parent or caregiver. A trained staff
member and the child’s teacher will work together to fill out these questionnaires.
Hey Diddle Diddle Day School, Inc. will use these questionnaires to identify developmental
concerns. If there is a developmental delay that needs to be addressed, the administration
will hold a meeting with the parents to discuss the next steps. We can recommend:
1. 2. The child sees their pediatrician.
Early Intervention Services if the child is two or younger, and the Montgomery
County Intermediate Unit if they are three and older.
In the event an accommodation is required to promote the development of your child we
adhere to the following:
1. A care plan will be submitted to the school. Children who participate in the program
and who require special adaptations or accommodations not required by typically
developing children involved with the program must have a care plan that addresses
2. routines and emergencies appropriate for that child.
The care plan is completed by the individual’s health care professionals and
specialists with input from parents/legal guardians and the site director, to
determine the steps required to accommodate the child’s needs. For children who are
eligible for early intervention services, the care plan can be the Individual Family
Service Plan or Individual Education Plan developed with the assistance of the child’s
case manager.
3. The care plan must be reviewed and updated as necessary, each time the individual
has a follow-up visit with a health care professional or specialist, and no less than
every 6 months. Where appropriate, the information from the IFSP or IEP may be
referenced and attached
4. Hey Diddle Diddle Day School, Inc allows two therapists per week per child to be
seen in the school setting, unless it is an educationally related area receiving therapy.
There cannot be more therapists in a classroom on a given day than half the number
of children in that class (i.e.: a room of ten children cannot have 5 therapists visiting
on the same day). Therapists will coordinate with one another and the school to
5. provide the least disruptive schedule possible and notice for our planning purposes.
The staff, therapists, and family members will maintain communication concerning
the progress of the student receiving therapy. The IEP or IFSP will be submitted to
the school upon enrollment or within one week of compilation. Each revision or
4evaluation should be submitted to HDD and reviewed by those staff members
responsible for the student requiring written accommodations.
Our school employs strategies to promote age appropriate social, academic, and behavioral
growth. When the strategies do not provide enough support for a student to maintain
personal development, do not alter behavior harmful to the individual or others, or when
the care the student needs exceeds our staff training, the result will be termination of the
care agreement.
INCLUSION
Hey Diddle Diddle Inc is committed to provide inclusive care for each child. Therefore, all
children will remain with their designated class throughout the day. Therapists will push
into the classroom. They will either work beside their peers or will be taken aside for their
therapy session.
IEP Acknowledgment Form- IEP Sign Off.pdf
5FEES
The current tuition schedule shall be available on the website. The fee schedule lists
monthly and weekly payments for full and part time students. Tuition is to be paid in
advance each month, on your enrollment date or at the beginning of the week. Because
tuition is based on a calendar year and takes into consideration the few days we are
closed, there will be no credit given for the months including a scheduled
holiday, illness, or vacation beyond one week.
The first tuition payment is due on your child/ren’s first day, as well as one week of
tuition to be held as a deposit if it wasn’t paid at time of enrollment. The deposit payment
will be applied to your final tuition payment. You will be given a tuition information and fee
agreement, which will further outline these points.
SECURITY AND SAFETY-
Drop Off: Hey Diddle Diddle Inc. opens at 7AM. Parents may not drop off prior to this
time. We ask that parents drop off by 9AM, when the educational program starts. We are
flexible with appointments and other extenuating circumstances and ask for prior notice
when possible. HDD Parents are to walk their child to the playground entrance (back of
school) and wait with them until they are in the care of a teacher. LDP families are asked to
walk down the walkway and wait with child/ren until in the care of a teacher.
Action When No Authorized Person Arrives to Pick Up a Child:
1. The closing staff member will attempt to reach each authorized contact listed in
the child’s record.
2. If these efforts fail, the facility will call the director and/or owner to relieve staff
members from supervisory duty and they will continue to locate the child’s
3. guardians.
If there is no response from any of the child’s emergency contacts within two
hours the local police will be called for further assistance.
Late Policy: Hey Diddle Diddle Inc. closes at 6:00 pm. If parents arrive after 6:00 pm,
they are expected to pay a late fee. The late policy is $10.00 for every 10 minutes or portion
thereof that a parent/guardian is late. Parents should pay the waiting staff members the fee
when they arrive with cash. If the same family is consistently late, the staff member should
address it with administration so further steps may be taken from the office.
Student Return to School Policy- HDD remains flexible with accommodating child
appointments outside of school. If a child leaves our care for an appointment, they may
6return any time before 1pm. No student will be allowed to be dropped off at school after 1pm
as it is an interruption to our nap schedule and staffing.
Releasing Students: The adult will receive the child from the supervising staff person.
Court Orders and Custody agreements:
These shall be on file and honored by Hey Diddle Diddle. All children are legally permitted
to go home with their parents at any time, unless there is a court order stating otherwise.
Hey Diddle Diddle Day School, Inc. must have a copy of the court order on file. If a court
order prohibits a parent/ guardian from custody of their child, and they attempt to take
their child, the staff will:
1. 2. Keep the child in the building.
Call the police. Our policy is to involve law enforcement to mediate the custody
3. disagreement.
Call the child’s other parent or legal guardian.
If a parent or guardian arrives who is intoxicated: or otherwise visibly incapable of
bringing the child home safely arrives to claim a student, the staff will:
1. Keep the child in the building
2. 3. Call the police. Our policy is to involve law enforcement
Call the child’s other parent or legal guardian.
Safety Drills: Emergency drills are practiced every 60 days at minimum. Various times a
year as a school we will also practice “SHELTER IN PLACE or LOCK DOWNS”.
Emergency Plan: This school has a written emergency plan for in-house as well as outside
emergencies. A copy is kept in every classroom and reviewed annually by all staff
members. If a change should be made to the emergency plan, we will update all families via
Bloomz.
COMMUNICATION
Hey Diddle Diddle Day School, Inc. practices an open-communication policy. We feel that
communication is the bridge between home and school and the key to high quality care and
education. Please feel free to direct concerns toward the director or the assistant
director. The school utilizes an application that allows the staff to communicate with you
directly, a class collectively, or with the entire school. You will receive updates from the
teachers and directors as well as pictures and videos of the activities your child is engaged in
throughout the day on our communication app Bloomz. Before your family starts at either
7school you will receive an invitation to your class community where you will be connected to
your child/ren teachers as well as the school administration.
Electronic means of communicating is fast, efficient and relevant however, you are always
welcome to pick up the phone and call the school at any time during the day.
Bloomz: Bloomz is a communication application that promotes communication between
parents and staff. All staff members must create a log-in and password to use the app
throughout the day.
Infant and Tween Room Teachers are responsible for updating all bottles, naps, and food
updates throughout the day.
Toddlers, YPS, and OPS and PreK will post individual work in the portfolio feature and a
written report on the class feed each daily.
All teachers will post class pictures, photos of the curriculum, and other class relevant
updates at least once daily.
Teachers and administrators will use the message function to update/communicate with
parents individually.
Classroom Environment:
Keeping our schools clean is necessary to maintain a safe and welcoming environment.
While teachers are responsible for daily cleanliness, there is also a cleaning service that
comes once a week. The rugs and carpets are also deep cleaned professionally every 3
months. Below you will find our staff cleaning responsibilities;
8Cubby Contents-Each child has a labeled cubby in their classroom that is used throughout
their time at Hey Diddle Diddle Inc. This is where we put your child’s backpack that goes
back and forth from home and school each day. This should be checked regularly to ensure
seasonal appropriate clothing is available if needed. The following items should be in each
child’s backpack –
▪ Infant– Extra clothes (3 sets), bibs, pacifiers if needed, extra formula or breast
milk (in the freezer), extra crib sheet, diaper and wipes. *No Glass Bottles
▪ Tweens – Pre-Kindergarten– Extra clothes (2 sets) – underwear and shoes
included if children are potty trained.
DRESS
Children are encouraged to wear play clothes and comfortable closed toed shoes year-
round. Daily activities include active and messy play, and we do not wish the children to be
hindered due to their apparel. We ask for a change of clothes be kept in your child’s
backpack to keep us prepared for the unexpected. To ensure the return of all clothing items
to the proper owner, please write the child’s name inside the garment.
PERSONAL BELONGINGS
Toy guns and weapons are not welcome at our school. Hey Diddle Diddle Day School Inc. is
not responsible for your child’s toys. We do recommend you leave them at home.
Please label all personal items sent in (i.e. sharpie, initials, nametag.)
Daily Classroom Schedule: Each classroom has an established schedule for the day
which is adhered to consistently. A routine schedule establishes expectations for our
students and teachers and creates comfort and security.
THE GENERAL SCHEDULE FOR EACH CLASSROOM IS AS FOLLOWS:
INFANTS: Infant Room teachers use individual schedules for each baby, while still
adhering to the “lights out” from 1-3pm for naptime.
1. The individual schedule will be provided by the child’s parent or guardian and
updated every three months regarding feeding and sleeping routines.
2. Infants will be put to sleep on their back in their own individual crib with no
blankets or toys.
3. 4. Infants will not sleep in swings or seats unless a note from their pediatrician is
provided.
The curriculum will be used for room decoration, sensory art, and toys.
5. Shoes are not to be worn in the infant room for sanitary reasons, along with no
bare feet. Socks or slippers will be worn.
6. All food will be provided by parents or guardians.
9Hey Diddle Diddle Day School / Little Diddle Preschool
TWEEN Rooms Schedule and Expectations
The Tweens room is primarily ones to eighteen months. To maintain regulatory
supervision, each teacher is responsible for half of the class when two teachers are present.
A typical schedule is as follows:
7:00 – 8:00 – Drop off
8:00 – 9:00 – Start Diaper changes (and other times throughout the day as
necessary)
▪ A teacher starts diaper changes, then helps them to wash their hands.
9:00 – 9:30 – Snack Time
▪ Snack is brought in from home. The children sit at the table while they wait for
their teacher to serve snack. They engage in conversation with the teacher and
each other. The children must be able to use their water/milk cup/bottle on
their own without any assistance. A friendly reminder we are a peanut and
tree nut free school.
9:30 – 9:50 – Circle Time
▪ The teachers sing morning songs and songs that relate to their theme of the
month. The children are engaged at the table for Circle time. The teachers sing
hand motion songs and have story time.
9:50 – 10:30 – Outside Time
▪ Sometimes the whole class walks outside (non-walkers carried, help can be
provided by the office staff) to the Tot Lot or we will split the class up where
some children stay inside then switch. The Tweens share the Tot Lot with some
of the younger children from the Toddler Classroom that are not age
appropriate for the big playground yet. We practice walking outside by
holding non-walkers hands.
10:30 – 11:30 – Art/Center Time/Group Play
▪ The teachers will take out centers that allow the children to explore. Some
examples of centers include kitchen, dress up, Legos, blocks, cars and trucks,
etc. While the children are engaged in centers, the other teacher will call a few
students at time over to complete an art project related to the theme. Children
will sit at the table with the art media given to them (paint, crayons, paper,
etc.) and complete the project with guidance. After their art project, the
children will then return to the centers.
11:30 – 11:45 – Diaper changes (and other times throughout the day as
necessary)
▪ One teacher changes the diaper, then helps them to wash their hands, following
the PA keys to quality procedure.
11:45 – 12:00 –Preparing Lunch
▪ The Children are engaged in an activity (songs, books, verbal interaction)
while preparing lunches from home (no peanuts or tree nuts).
1012:00 – 12:30 – Lunchtime
▪ The children sit at the table and eat their lunch. We provide bibs that the
teacher washes after lunch during naptime. The teachers monitor the students
closely as they eat and have conversations together. Children are not expected
to use spoons, but they are more than welcome to practice.
12:30 – 1:00 – Cleanup / wind down / books
▪ After the children are cleaned from lunch, they may get a book and bring it
over to their nap mat that their teacher has laid out for them. As the lights turn
off and the soothing music turns on, the teachers may pat backs or sing songs
to relax the children.
1:00 – 3:00 – Nap Time
▪ The children in the school sleep from about 1:00 – 3:00. The children stay on
their nap mats until the end of nap time at 3:00. The supervisory regulations
allow teachers take turns with their lunch breaks while the children are
sleeping.
3:00 – 3:30 – Diaper changes and potty (and other times throughout the day as
necessary)
▪ One teacher changes the diaper, then helps them to wash their hands.
3:30 – 4:00 – Snack Time
▪ Snack is sent in from home. The children sit at the table while they wait for
their teacher to bring in snack. They engage in conversation with the teacher
and each other. The children must be able to use their water/milk cup / bottles
on their own without any assistance. A friendly reminder we are a peanut and
tree nut free school.
4:00 – 6:00 – Outside Time/Group Play /Free Play/Pick Up
▪ Most children are picked up between 4:00 and 5:30. If it is nice enough to go
outside, the children will be out until around 5:15. If they cannot go outside,
there will be Group Play (play doh, parachute, bubbles, dancing) and free play
in the classroom until their parents come to pick them up.
*All times and activities subject to change*
11Toddler Rooms Schedule and Expectations
The toddler room is primarily older ones and young twos. A typical schedule is as follows:
7:00 – 9:00 – Drop off
9:00 – 9:30 – Diaper changes and potty (and other times throughout the day as
necessary)
▪ Hey Diddle- teacher starts diaper changes, then helps them to wash their
hands.
▪ Little Diddle-The children will go in two separate groups. They are to follow
their teachers into the child bathroom located through the Older Preschool
Room. Once there, the children sit and read books while their teacher prepares
the diapers. The child is to walk to the changing table when their name is
called. The teacher changes the diaper, then helps them to wash their hands.
▪ Diaper and pull up changes follow the “PA Keys to Quality” procedure.
9:30 – 9:45 – Snack Time
▪ Snack is sent in from home. The children sit at the table while they wait for
their teacher to serve snack. They engage in conversation with the teacher and
each other. The children must be able to use their water cup on their own
without any assistance.
9:45 – 10:10 – Circle Time
▪ The teachers call the children over to the rug where they sit for circle time. The
children are expected to sit on the carpet while the teachers go over the
calendar, weather, theme of the month, nursery rhymes, and songs. The
teachers will have the children engage in “action songs” where the children are
up and moving around.
10:10 – 10:40 – Art/Center Time/Group Play
▪ The teachers will employ centers that allow the children to explore. Some
examples of centers include play kitchen, dress-up, Lego’s / blocks, cars and
trucks, etc. While the children are engaged in centers, the other teacher will
work with students on an art project related to the theme. Children will sit at
the table with the art media provided (paint, crayons, paper, etc) and complete
the project with minimal guidance. After the art project, the children will
return to the centers. Around 10:40, the children help clean up the classroom
and get ready to go outside (weather permitting).
10:45 – 11:30 – Outside Time
▪ There are 2 playgrounds – the Tot Lot is for children under two years old and
the Big Playground is for children two years and older. Depending on how
many two years olds are in a group, we may have the younger in the Tot
Lot. We also will not bring a child to the Big Playground if we are not
confident in their gross motor skills crossing the pavement, climbing the
playhouses, and walking steadily on the woodchips as this could cause a safety
hazard.
11:30 – 11:45 – Diaper changes and potty (and other times throughout the day
as necessary)
12▪ Hey Diddle- teacher starts diaper changes, then helps them to wash their
hands.
▪ Little Diddle-The children will go in two separate groups. They are to follow
their teachers into the child bathroom. Once there, the children sit and read
books while their teacher prepares the diapers. The child is to walk to the
changing table when their name is called. The teacher changes the diaper, then
helps them to wash their hands.
▪ Diaper and pull up changes follow the PA keys to quality procedure.
11:45 – 12:00 –Preparing Lunch
▪ The Children are engaged in an activity (songs, books, verbal interaction)
while preparing lunches from home (no peanuts or tree nuts).
12:00 – 12:30 – Lunchtime
▪ The children sit at the table and eat their lunch. They use their words if they
would like something else from their lunch box. The teachers monitor the
students closely as they eat and have conversations together. Children are
expected to practice using spoons and forks as needed.
12:30 – 1:00 – Clean up / wind down / books
▪ After the children are wiped down from lunch, they may get a book and bring
it over to their nap mat that their teacher has laid out for them. As the lights
turn off and the soothing music turns on, the teachers may pat backs or sing
songs to relax the children.
1:00 – 3:00 – Nap Time
▪ The children in the school sleep from about 1:00 – 3:00. If they wake up early,
they may have books on their bags. The children stay on their nap mats until
both teachers come back at 3:00. The teachers take turns with their lunch
breaks while the children are sleeping.
3:00 – 3:30 – Diaper changes and potty (and other times throughout the day as
necessary)
▪ Hey Diddle- teacher starts diaper changes, then helps them to wash their
hands.
▪ Little Diddle-The children will go in two separate groups. They are to follow
their teachers into the child bathroom located off of the Older Preschool
Room. Once there, the children sit and read books while their teacher prepares
the diapers. The child is to walk to the changing table when their name is
called. The teacher changes the diaper, then helps them to wash their hands.
▪ Diaper and pull up changes follow the PA keys to quality procedure.
3:30 – 4:00 – Snack Time
▪ Snack is sent in from home. The children sit at the table while they wait for
their teacher to bring in snack. They engage in conversation with the teacher
and each other.
4:00 – 6:00 – Outside Time/Group Play /Free Play/Pick Up
▪ Most children are picked up between 4:00 and 6:00. If it is nice enough to go
outside, the children will be out until around 5:15. If they cannot go outside,
there will be Group Play (play doh, parachute, bubbles, dancing) and free play
in the classroom until their parents come to pick up .
▪ *All times and activities subject to change*
13Young Preschool Schedule and Expectations
The Young Preschool students are primarily two-year-olds. A typical schedule is as
follows:
7:00 – 9:00 – Drop off
9:00 – 9:30 – Diaper changes and potty (and other times throughout the day as
necessary)
▪ The children will go in two separate groups. They are to follow their teachers
into the child bathroom located by the toddler classroom at Hey Diddle, and by
the Older Preschool Room at Little Diddle. Once there, the children sit and read
books while their teacher prepares the diapers or goes to the potty. The child
is to walk to the changing table when their name is called. The teacher changes
the diaper, then helps them to wash their hands. If they are potty trained, the
child goes onto the potty and then washes their hands.
9:30 – 9:45 – Snack Time
▪ Snack is sent in from home. The children sit at the table while they wait for
their teacher to bring in snack. They engage in conversation with the teacher
and each other. They are to use their words if they would like a second helping.
9:45 – 10:10 – Circle Time
▪ The teachers call the children over to the rug where they sit for circle time. The
children are expected to sit on the carpet while the teachers go over the
calendar, weather, theme of the month, nursery rhymes, and songs. The
teachers will have the children engage in “action songs” where the children are
up and moving around.
10:10 – 10:40 – Art/Center Time/Group Play
▪ The teachers will take out centers that allow the children to explore. Some
examples of centers include kitchen, dress up, Legos, blocks, cars and trucks,
etc. While the children are engaged in centers, the other teacher will call a few
students at time over to complete an art project related to the theme. Children
will sit at the table with the art media given to them (paint, crayons, paper,
etc.) and complete the project with little guidance. After their art project, the
children will then head back to the centers. Around 10:40, the children help
clean up the classroom and get ready to go outside (weather permitting).
10:45 – 11:30 – Outside Time
▪ There are 2 playgrounds – the Tot Lot is for children under two years old and
the Big Playground is for children 2 and older. The Young Preschool Class
plays in the Big Playground. They are also able to do chalk in the area outside
of the Pre-k class or tot-lot at Hey Diddle or outside of the Tot Lot in Little
Diddle.
11:30 – 11:45 – Diaper changes and potty (and other times throughout the day
as necessary)
▪ The children will go in two separate groups. They are to follow their teachers
into the child bathroom located in the toddler classroom in Hey Diddle and off
of the Older Preschool Room in Little Diddle. Once there, the children sit and
14read books while their teacher prepares the diapers or goes to the potty. The
child is to walk to the changing table when their name is called. The teacher
changes the diaper, then helps them to wash their hands. If they are potty
trained, the child goes onto the potty and then washes their hands.
▪ Diaper and pull up changes follow the PA keys to quality procedure.
11:45 – 12:00 –Preparing Lunch
▪ The Children are engaged in an activity (songs, books, verbal interaction)
while preparing lunches from home (no peanuts or tree nuts).
12:00 – 12:30 – Lunch time
▪ The children sit at the table and eat their lunch. They use their words if they
would like something else from their lunch box. The teachers monitor the
students closely as they eat and have conversations together. Children are
expected to practice using spoons and forks as needed.
12:30 – 1:00 – Clean up / Wind down / Books
▪ After the children are wiped down from lunch, they may get a book and bring
it over to their nap mat that their teacher has laid out for them. As the lights
turn off and the soothing music turns on, the teachers may pat backs or sing
songs to relax the children.
1:00 – 3:00 – Nap Time
▪ The children in the school sleep from about 1:00 – 3:00. If they wake up early,
they may have books on their bags. The children stay on their nap mats until
both teachers come back at 3:00. The teachers take turns with their lunch
breaks while the children are sleeping.
3:00 – 3:30 – Diaper Changes and Potty (and other times throughout the day as
necessary)
▪ The children will go in two separate groups. They are to follow their teachers
into the child bathroom located off of the toddler classroom in Hey Diddle and
off of the Older Preschool Room in Little Diddle. Once there, the children sit and
read books while their teacher prepares the diapers or goes to the potty. The
child is to walk to the changing table when their name is called. The teacher
changes the diaper, then helps them to wash their hands. If they are potty
trained, the child goes onto the potty and then washes their hands.
▪ Diaper and pull up changes follow the PA keys to quality procedure.
3:30 – 4:00 – Snack Time
▪ Snack is provided twice a day. The children sit at the table while they wait for
their teacher to bring in snack. They engage in conversation with the teacher
and each other.
4:00 – 6:00 – Outside Time/Group Play /Free Play/Pick Up
▪ Most children are picked up between 4:00 and 6:00. Weather permitting, the
children will be out until around 5:15. If they cannot go outside, there will be
Group Play (Play-doh, parachute, bubbles, dancing) and free play in the
classroom until they are picked up by a parent.
*All times and activities subject to change*
15Older Preschool Schedule and Expectations
The OPS is primarily three-year-old children. A typical schedule is as follows:
7:00 – 9:00 – Drop off
9:00 – 9:30 – Diaper changes and potty (and other times throughout the day as
necessary)
▪ Hey Diddle- When instructed by the teacher the children will line up opposite
the sinks in the potty line and wait until there is no one in the bathroom located
off of the Pre-K classroom. If a child needs help or assistance with a
diaper/pull-up the pre-k teacher will assist. When finished the child will go out
to the sink in the OPS classroom and wash their hands.
▪ Little Diddle-The children will go in two separate groups. They are to follow
their teachers into the child bathroom located off of the Older Preschool
Room. Once there, the children sit and read books while they wait for
their turn on the potty. The can go to the potty and then wash their hands.
9:30 – 9:45 – Snack Time
▪ Snack is sent in from home.. The children sit at the table while they wait for
their teacher to bring in snack. They engage in conversation with the teacher
and each other. They are to use their words if they would like a second helping.
9:45 – 10:10 – Circle Time
▪ The teachers call the children over to the rug where they sit for circle time. The
children are expected to sit on the carpet while the teachers go over the
calendar, weather, theme of the month, nursery rhymes, and songs. The
teachers will have the children engage in “action songs” where the children are
up and moving around.
10:10 – 11:00 – Art/Center Time/Group Play
▪ The teachers will take out centers that allow the children to explore. Some
examples of centers include kitchen, dress up, Legos, blocks, cars and trucks,
etc. While the children are engaged in centers, the other teacher will call a few
students at time over to complete an art project related to the theme. Children
will sit at the table with the art media given to them (paint, crayons, paper,
etc.) and complete the project with little guidance. After their art project, the
children will then head back to the centers. Around 11:00, the children help
clean up the classroom and get ready to go outside (weather permitting).
11:00 – 11:30 – Outside Time
▪ There are 2 playgrounds – the Tot Lot is for children under two years old and
the Big Playground is for children 2 and older. The Older Preschool plays in the
Big Playground. They are also able to use chalk or sensory tables in the area
outside of the Tot Lot.
11:30 – 11:45 – Diaper changes and potty (and other times throughout the day
as necessary)
▪ Hey Diddle- When instructed by the teacher the children will line up opposite
the sinks in the potty line and wait until there is no one in the bathroom located
off of the Pre-K classroom. If a child needs help or assistance with a
16diaper/pull-up the pre-k teacher will assist. When finished the child will go out
to the sink in the OPS classroom and wash their hands.
▪ Little Diddle-The children will go in two separate groups. They are to follow
their teachers into the child bathroom located off of the Older Preschool
Room. Once there, the children sit and read books while they wait for their
turn on the potty. The can go to the potty and then wash their hands.
11:45 – 12:00 – Preparing Lunch
▪ The Children are engaged in an activity (songs, books, verbal interaction)
while preparing lunches from home (no peanuts or tree nuts).
12:00 – 12:30 – Lunchtime
▪ The children sit at the table and eat their lunch. They use their words if they
would like something else from their lunch box. The teachers monitor the
students closely as they eat and have conversations together. Children are
expected to practice using spoons and forks as needed.
12:30 – 1:00 – Cleanup / wind down / books
▪ After the children are wiped down from lunch, they may get a book and bring
it over to their nap mat that their teacher has laid out for them. As the lights
turn off and the soothing music turns on, the teachers may pat backs or sing
songs to relax the children.
1:00 – 3:00 – Nap Time
▪ The children in the school sleep from about 1:00 – 3:00. If they wake up early,
they may have books on their bags. The children stay on their nap mats until
both teachers come back at 3:00. The teachers take turns with their lunch
breaks while the children are sleeping.
3:00 – 3:30 – Diaper changes and potty (and other times throughout the day as
necessary)
▪ Hey Diddle- When instructed by the teacher the children will line up opposite
the sinks in the potty line and wait until there is no one in the bathroom located
off of the Pre-K classroom. If a child needs help or assistance with a
diaper/pull-up the pre-k teacher will assist. When the child finishes, they will
go out to the sink in the OPS classroom and wash their hands.
▪ Little Diddle-The children will go in two separate groups. They are to follow
their teachers into the child bathroom located off of the Older Preschool
Room. Once there, the children sit and read books while they wait for their
turn on the potty. They can go to the potty and wash their hands.
3:30 – 4:00 – Snack Time
▪ Snack is sent in from home. The children sit at the table while they wait for
their teacher to serve snack. They engage in conversation with the teacher and
each other.
4:00 – 6:00 – Outside Time/Group Play /Free Play/Pick Up
▪ Most children are picked up between 4:00 and 6:00. If it is nice enough to go
outside, the children will be out until around 5:15. If they cannot go outside,
there will be Group Play (play doh, parachute, bubbles, dancing) and free play
in the classroom until their parents come to pick up.
*All times and activities subject to change*
17Pre-Kindergarten Schedule and Expectations
The Pre – Kindergarten is primarily four-year-olds. A typical schedule is as follows:
7:00 – 9:00 – Drop off
9:00 – 9:30 – Potty (and other times throughout the day as necessary)
▪ Hey Diddle- When instructed by the teacher the children will line up opposite
the sinks in the OPS classroom and wait until there is no one in the bathroom
located off of the Pre-K classroom. When the child finishes, they will go out to
the sink in the OPS classroom and wash their hands.
▪ Little Diddle- The children will go in two separate groups. They are to follow
their teachers into the child bathroom located off of the Older Preschool
Room. Once there, the children sit and read books while they wait for
their turn on the potty. They can go to the potty and then wash their hands.
9:30 – 9:45 – Snack Time
▪ Snack is sent in from home. The children sit at the table while they wait for
their teacher to serve snack. They engage in conversation with the teacher and
each other. They are to use their words if they would like a second helping.
9:45 – 10:10 – Circle Time
▪ The teachers call the children over to the rug where they sit for circle time. The
children are expected to sit on the carpet while the teachers go over the
calendar, weather, theme of the month, nursery rhymes, and songs. The
teachers will have the children engage in “action songs” where the children are
up and moving around.
10:10 – 11:00 – Art/Center Time/Group Play
▪ The teachers will take out centers that allow the children to explore. Some
examples of centers include kitchen, dress up, Legos, blocks, cars and trucks,
etc. While the children are engaged in centers, the other teacher will call a few
students at time over to complete an art project related to the theme. Children
will sit at the table with the art media given to them (paint, crayons, paper,
etc.) and complete the project with little guidance. After their art project, the
children will then head back to the centers. Around 11:00, the children help
clean up the classroom and get ready to go outside (weather permitting).
11:00 – 11:30 – Outside Time
▪ There are 2 playgrounds – the Tot Lot is for children under two years old and
the Big Playground is for children 2 and older. The Older Preschool plays in the
Big Playground. They are also able to use chalk or sensory tables in the area
outside of the Tot Lot.
11:30 – 11:45 – Potty (and other times throughout the day as necessary)
▪ Hey Diddle- When instructed by the teacher the children will line up opposite
the sinks in the OPS classroom and wait until there is no one in the bathroom
located off of the Pre-K classroom. When the child finishes, they will go out to
the sink in the OPS classroom and wash their hands.
▪ Little Diddle- The children will go in two separate groups. They are to follow
their teachers into the child bathroom located off of the Older Preschool
Room. Once there, the children sit and read books while they wait for
their turn on the potty. They can go to the potty and then wash their hands.
1811:45 – 12:00 –Preparing Lunch
▪ The Children are engaged in an activity (songs, books, verbal interaction)
while preparing lunches from home (no peanuts or tree nuts).
12:00 – 12:30 – Lunchtime
▪ The children sit at the table and eat their lunch. They use their words if they
would like something else from their lunch box. The teachers monitor the
students closely as they eat and have conversations together. Children are
expected to practice using spoons and forks as needed.
12:30 – 1:00 – Cleanup / wind down / books
▪ After the children are wiped down from lunch, they may get a book and bring
it over to their nap mat that their teacher has laid out for them. As the lights
turn off and the soothing music turns on, the teachers may pat backs or sing
songs to relax the children.
1:00 – 3:00 – Nap Time
▪ The children in the school sleep from about 1:00 – 3:00. If they wake up early,
they may have books on their bags. The children stay on their nap mats until
both teachers come back at 3:00. The teachers take turns with their lunch
breaks while the children are sleeping.
3:00 – 3:30 – Potty (and other times throughout the day)
▪ Hey Diddle- When instructed by the teacher the children will line up opposite
the sinks in the OPS classroom and wait until there is no one in the bathroom
located off of the Pre-K classroom. When the child finishes, they will go out to
the sink in the OPS classroom and wash their hands.
▪ Little Diddle- The children will go in two separate groups. They are to follow
their teachers into the child bathroom located off of the Older Preschool
Room. Once there, the children sit and read books while they wait for
their turn on the potty. The can go to the potty and then wash their hands.
3:30 – 4:00 – Snack Time
▪ Snack is sent in from home. The children sit at the table while they wait for
their teacher to serve snack. They engage in conversation with the teacher and
each other.
4:00 – 6:00 – Outside Time/Group Play /Free Play/Pick Up
▪ Most children are picked up between 4:00 and 6:00. If it is nice enough to go
outside, the children will be out until around 5:15. If they cannot go outside,
there will be Group Play (play doh, parachute, bubbles, dancing) and free play
in the classroom until their parents come to pick up.
*All times and activities subject to change*
19Nap Period Expectations for the School Day Program
Our schools offer a full-day program that includes a 2-hour nap period after
lunch.
Nap time is about 1pm-3pm throughout the school, excluding the infant rooms where each
child is on their own nap schedule. During these hours, the lights are dimmed, soothing
music is playing, and all children are laying on their own *rest gear. Our nap period is
scheduled as two hours, however most of our students do not sleep for that duration. Nap
time is dictated by your child, falling asleep and waking when ready. We cannot force sleep
– either to or not to on our children.
Nap time is important for our program for the following reasons:
• Our program is a full day with each student present for 7-10 hours a day. Down time
daily during this time frame while sleeping or not, is a necessity for overall health
and well-being.
• We strive to promote independence and self-care. The skill to rest, relax and calm
oneself is vital to development now and to carry to adolescence and adulthood.
• Our students need rest to compensate for our active schedule dictating a different
activity about every 20-30 minutes throughout the day.
Non nappers during nap time are Resters.
• We do not force your child to sleep, nor do we force them to stay awake.
• We recognize and support our children who have developmentally outgrown the
need to sleep during the day. These children simply do not fall asleep, and we have a
plan in place to accommodate them.
School days are different for our students because they are on a different timetable than
non-school day, therefore they may sleep here and not on the weekends. They may be more
tired at school from getting up, ready and out of the house earlier, and receiving constant
sensory input within a group of peers and in general, if your child is tired, they sleep, if not
we have the above plan in place. When a child is deprived of the rest time required that day,
the afternoon is difficult and challenging for them to continue to participate in active plans.
If there are nap time related concerns, please contact your administration.
Below is a Situational Plan for Rest time at HDD
During the first half of nap time… All children must remain on their nap mats
and rest their bodies.
If your child does not fall asleep in the first
hour…
Then we have an alternate plan for them
which includes quiet activities for them to
do on their rest mats.
If your child does fall asleep during the rest
time period…
We will not force children to stay awake or
wake up. The amount of sleep your child
gets is dictated by them and we will allow
them to rest for the duration that their
bodies need until three o’clock.
20*rest gear: a nap mat or sleeping bag the appropriate size for your child. Any looped straps
or ties will be cut off to prevent a hazard. Beyond this layer of rest equipment, you may send
a soft lovey for your child to sleep with if they are accustomed to having a blanket or stuffed
animal. This will stay with the nap mat in your child’s personal storage cubby.
TRANSITION POLICY
(Infant Room through Pre-K): Hey Diddle and Little Diddle begin the transition
process to a new classroom with ‘taster days’
. This involves the child visiting their new
classroom for a day or two based on availability to familiarize them with their new
classroom, teacher and peers. Before these taster days, there will be a transition message
sent via Bloomz to the parents with the following information:
-Scheduled transition date to new classroom
-New class invite for Bloomz
Transition Policy (Pre-K- Kindergarten): Between the months of April- June there
will be books read during morning meeting/ circle-time about going to school and
Kindergarten, books about meeting new friends, getting a bus to school, etc.
As a school we provide 2 evaluations a year (see below). In our Pre-K classroom, there is an
optional “Call Conference” provided to our parents by the Pre-k teacher. The contents of this
call are based around areas including:
-Concerns from school or home
-What is being achieved and what needs to be worked on
-Kindergarten registration and information from relevant schools when available.
Each year each school has its own graduation ceremony. Family and friends are invited to
attend. The graduating Pre-K class wear caps and gowns and are presented with a
certificate. This event takes place within the first two weeks of June, which is followed by
our Summer Camp Program. Leading up to the summer camp program the Pre-K nap
schedule begins to be reduced on a weekly basis to ensure they are ready for the
kindergarten transition of no nap.
MEET AND GREETS – We offer “meet and greets” for new parents and children to come
into the building to meet their teacher and see their classroom. These meet and greets occur
a few weeks before the child will be new to the school or new to the classroom. We also offer
21a Back To School Night in the beginning of September and welcome all parents into the
building at that time.
Curriculum: Each classroom has a different curriculum that is followed throughout the
year. Each curriculum aligns with the Early Childhood Learning Standards. Each lead
teacher completes a daily lesson plan aligning with their curriculum which is reviewed by
their administration.
Student Evaluations: Our students’ progress is assessed continually as they play and
learn throughout each day. Our teachers recognize that each child learns at a different pace
and plan specific activities to help each child reach their potential. Developmental
observations are prepared twice a year to help us relay information about the children to
their parents. Each child receives three evaluations per calendar year. These evaluations
take place in October, January, and June. They are used to measure a child’s skills and
areas of improvement. The October evaluation is a small assessment of the child since the
beginning of the school year. This is a simple way to determine how the start of the school
year is going. The January and June evaluations are a more comprehensive assessment of
their motor, social, emotional, language, and communication skills.
Parent Conferences: Along with short informal daily conversations between our
parents/guardians and our teachers/staff, we offer opportunities for parents/guardians to
sign up for conferences with their child’s teacher and/or administration. This allows us to
• Review the child’s adjustment to care and development over time
• To reach agreement on appropriate disciplinary measures
• To discuss the child’s strengths, specific health issues, special needs, and concerns
• To stay informed of family issues that may affect the child’s behavior in care
• To identify goals for the child
• To discuss resources that parents/guardians can access
• To discuss the results of developmental screening
Conferences are offered during each official assessment in January and June. However,
teachers and staff are available at any point for a conference if a parent would like to talk
about their child at any point during the school year.
Television: There are televisions present in most classrooms, aside from the infant rooms.
An educational/theme related program will be displayed for the children to enjoy
22occasionally not to exceed 30mins. If a child chooses not to watch, an alternate activity is
provided.
DISCIPLINE:
• We work to prevent the need for disciplinary action through prevention. We engage
our students, and offer a peaceful classroom environment, with consistent schedules
and expectations.
• Then we redirect, redirect, then time out.
• If administration needs to intervene, they will do.
• If certain behaviors are prohibiting the child from thriving in their environment, Hey
Diddle Diddle Inc. will remain in contact with their parents to consider next steps.
•
Teacher/Caregiver Interactions With Children:
Teachers/caregivers support social and emotional learning by talking and listening to the
child and playing with and responding to the child’s needs. They lead, using positive
guidance and redirection, planning to prevent problems, encouraging appropriate behavior,
using consistent clear rules, and whenever possible, involving in problem solving to foster
the child’s own ability to become self-regulated. If the child understands words, logical
(disciplinary) consequences are explained simply to the child before misbehavior occurs and
at the time of any disciplinary action. Teachers/ caregivers encourage children to respect
other people, be fair, respect property, and learn to be responsible for their actions.
Extra-Curricular Activities: Hey Diddle Diddle Inc. offers extra-curricular activities
that all children ages 2 and up can partake in.
▪ Amazing Athletes-
“At Amazing Athletes, we’re on a mission to inspire active
futures for the next generation, using sports as a catalyst to empower kids to
discover their inner strength & athletic abilities.”
o At Hey Diddle Diddle and Little Diddle Preschool, Amazing Athletes comes
during the Fall and Spring for 8 weeks. Each week has a designated day and
time slot. Parents receive paperwork prior to the season starting. They sign
up and pay through the organization. They also provide a winter “Karate Zoo”
for the Older Preschool and PREK Class.
23PARENT INCLUSION & PARTICIPATION
As a school that celebrates all holidays and occasions, we do invite our parents/guardians
where possible to contribute/ come join or volunteer, depending on the event. Sign-up
sheets either for items or volunteer help will be posted on Bloomz
▪ Back to School Night
▪ Halloween Parade
▪ Carnival Day
▪ Pre-K Graduation (Open invitation to families of the Pre-K graduating class)
▪ Parent Conferences- Parents have the opportunity to sign up for conferences
to discuss their child’s evaluation findings (see page 22)
PLAY AREAS / PLAYGROUNDS
Weather Permitting: There are two outside time slots scheduled per each classroom per
day. However, the weather does not always allow for this. Per STARS recommendation,
children are expected to go outside UNLESS –
▪ Temperature/heat index are 90 degrees or higher
▪ Temperature/heat index are 26 degrees or lower
▪ There is an air quality alert
▪ There is precipitation falling
If the classroom does not go outside, the children do a gross motor activity in its place
(moon bounce, relay race, dance party, etc.).
Hey Diddle Diddle: Hey Diddle Diddle has four playgrounds – a smaller, enclosed
playground for children under two (tot-lot), larger playground with slides, a playground
with swings, and a grassy area.
Little Diddle Preschool: Little Diddle has three playgrounds – a smaller, enclosed
playground for children under two (tot lot), and two larger playgrounds designated for
children two and up (Big Playground and Grass Playground). At Little Diddle, the teacher
and children must cross a driveway to get to the two larger playgrounds. When crossing the
driveway, the teacher must stop the children after they get out of the gate. Children are
instructed to look both ways before crossing the driveway.
Snacks: Hey Diddle Diddle Inc. asks you to provide two nut free snacks per day. One snack
is offered between 9:00 – 9:30 and the other snack between 3:30 – 4:00.
Water Cups: Children are to come to school with a clean water cup each day. Cups will be
refilled as needed, and put in the refrigerator during each nap time. This ensures that the
cups will be ready for the children in the afternoon. Children will have access to water at all
24times of the day while in their classrooms. While outdoors, we have a water cooler on each
playground that the children have access to
Lunch: Parents provide a peanut and tree nut free lunch for their child each day. Each
lunch is packed in a labeled lunch box free of glass containers and glass bottles and put in
the refrigerator in their classroom. Pizza is ordered on Fridays for families of children ages 1
and over that choose to partake. It is $3.50 per Friday – parents can pay cash or check, or
Venmo weekly or monthly.
Birthday Treat List: There is an approved list of treats that parents may like to bring on
their child’s birthday. Please see the birthday list below:
Hey Diddle Diddle Inc.
SCHOOL BIRTHDAY PARTY POLICY
We love celebrating birthdays with your child. In an effort to keep all of our students as
safe as possible, Little Diddle Preschool is making every effort to avoid contact with known
anaphylactic allergens. We limit the snacks we provide to our students to only those allergen free
and free of cross contamination, and ask that you do the same by sending to school ONLY the
snacks listed below to share with the whole group.
Any of these snacks are special when served at school because it is out of our norm. The
birthday experience is about sharing and the celebration of the child’s special day. Thank you for
your consideration and support in keeping the food-allergic child safe from having a life-
threatening allergic reaction at school.
Food Items:
Plain Pizza (ordered from Little Italy, Fort Washington)
Soft Pretzels from Philly Soft Pretzel Factory
Individual pack of Oreos
Apple Slices Snack Bags
Popsicles
Fruit Roll Ups
Fruit Snacks
Goldfish
Pirate Booty
25Jello
Rice Krispie Treats
Cheese sticks
School Safe Brand cupcakes
Aldi Brand Ice Cream Sandwiches
MadeGood Bars
Yogurt tubes or pouches
Birthday plates and napkins are also welcome
Please note: Food labels/ingredients may change over time, so it is always recommended that
you read the label before purchasing snacks. Please read labels carefully to make sure that
products are nut free. This included labels that read “May contain traces of peanuts/nuts”.
26UV Protection and Sunscreen/Bug-Spray
Topical Request Form Updated.pdf
During the months of late May- September we ask that children are sent to school with
sunscreen already applied. Once the permission form has been handed in and labelled
sunscreen/bug-spray bottles are provided, staff will reapply the lotion in the afternoon for
outside recess. We ask the below page is completed before starting and up-dated annually
upon request.
Sick Policy: A sick child is to be kept at home. The wellness of all the children and staff at
the school is jeopardized when a sick child is brought to school, additionally your child will
not get the rest and care needed to recover. It is beneficial for parents to establish a back-up
caregiver for the days when their child cannot attend. Many communicable diseases start
with cold like symptoms. If at any time the staff feels a child is too sick to remain in the
classroom, they will call the parents and expect them or another adult whom they designate
27to promptly pick their child up. We do not offer sick care. If any of the following conditions
exist, the parent will receive a phone call from the school requesting they pick up their child
immediately:
– A temperature of 100.4 or above
– Contagious diseases, not exclusive of chicken pox, measles, mumps, roseola
– Vomiting or diarrhea
– Impetigo, lice or ringworm until treated for 24 hours
– Severe cold with fever, coughing, sneezing, runny nose.
-Any type of throat infection until treated for 24 hours.
*A child may return to group care when they are 24 hours fever, vomit, or diarrhea free
without the aid of medication.
HDD asks that parents keep the staff aware of any illness their child may be experiencing to
enable the staff to better care for each child as well as maintain the health of the other
children at the school.
Medicine Administration: Administration of medicines at HDD are limited to:
– Prescription or non-prescription (over the counter) ordered by the
prescribing health professional for a specific child with written permission of
the parent/guardian. Written orders from the prescribing health professional
should specify medical need, medication, dosage, and length of time to give
the medication.
– Labeled medications brought to HDD by the parent/guardian in the original
container (with a label that includes the child’s name, date filled, prescribing
clinician’s name, pharmacy name and phone number, dosage/instructions,
and relevant warnings)
▪ Parents must give permission via Bloomz or email to administer the medication.
▪ Teachers and admins of HDD must fill out the medicine log when administering
medicines and store medication in the “Medicine Lock Box” (located in the upstairs
kitchen at HDD or office in LDP)
Termination and Suspension from Care Agreement by Hey Diddle Diddle Day
School Inc.
Suspension-
28There is one cause that will necessitate suspension from the care agreement by Hey Diddle
Diddle Day School Incorporated – suspension of care is when a child may not come to Hey
Diddle Diddle for an allotted period of time, but they may return when the issue is settled
1). We reserve the right to suspend care when the tuition payments are a week past due. If
they are two weeks past due, the child cannot attend HDD but they are still required to pay
the full tuition. When the outstanding tuition is settled, before two weeks (expulsion) they
may return to regularly scheduled attendance.
Expulsion-
There are four causes that will necessitate termination from the care agreement by Hey
Diddle Diddle Day School Incorporated and therefore expulsion from Hey Diddle Diddle
Day School and/or Little Diddle Preschool.
Delinquent tuition: We reserve the right to refuse service when tuition payments are two
weeks past the due date. The process is as follows:
1. Monthly statements reflecting the tuition balance will be emailed to the payees
providing consistent awareness for the account. Contact the Accounts Executive
2. if there is an error in either transmission or in the statement itself.
Written and verbal notification will be extended to the payee in the event of
3. nonpayment.
The opportunity to bring the past due amount to current will be extended to the
start of the following week of care. If the account remains delinquent,
termination of the care agreement will result and nonattendance at the school
will be immediate.
Parental behavior: If Hey Diddle Diddle Day School, Inc. deems the behavior of parents
or guardians to be disrespectful or physically or verbally abusive towards other parents or
staff immediate termination of the care agreement will ensue. The process is as follows:
1. 2. The Director or Owner will notify the family verbally and in writing.
Expulsion from the school will be immediate in response to verbal or physical
abuse and may include law enforcement.
Child Behavior:
If a child exhibits developmental or behavioral concerns we will inform parents of the next
steps, including but not limited to a diagnosis or early intervention if necessary. Parents and
guardians will be expected to communicate special care needs, follow early intervention
evaluations, and submit medical records relevant to the child’s daily care. Parents and
guardians will be expected to participate in a behavior modification plan discussed and
agreed upon by home and school.
The absence of expected cooperation in caring for your child will result in the following
actions:
291. The Director will communicate in writing or verbally, the request for
cooperation in modifying a harmful or disruptive behavior or submitting
relevant documentation.
2. If a period of two weeks passes without response, termination of the care
agreement will occur. One week’s notice will be given verbally and in writing.
When a child exhibits consistent behavioral concerns including but not limited to biting,
physical aggression, or attempting to leave school property. The process is as follows:
1. Written and verbal communication will be relayed to a family representative
2. regarding the behavioral or developmental concern.
A meeting will be held with the director and parents or guardians to establish a
clear understanding of the concerns, and to develop strategies to modify the
behaviors.
3. Termination of the care agreement will result if a child injures others (including
biting) six times within a one-month period. One week’s notice will be given,
unless the injury required medical attention. In that case no notice will be
given, and immediate termination will be enforced.
The needs of a child cannot be met: When the parent or legal guardian of a child
identifies that a child has special needs, the program director and or the facility owner and
the parent or legal guardian will meet to review the child’s requirements for care. The
program can accept and continue care for children for whom the facility is equipped or can
reasonably be equipped to provide quality care and current staff members can provide a
safe, supportive environment. The child’s needs will be specified in a care plan completed by
early intervention and/or healthcare professionals. Program decisions about accepting the
responsibility of caring for children with special needs are consistent with the requirements
of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
If the program is no longer able to accommodate the child’s needs because the needs cannot
be met within the structure of the established program being offered or will pose an undue
burden as defined by federal law, or safety standards are compromised, the process is as
follows:
1. Written communication will be relayed to parents or guardians to outline the
concerns for care within the program.
2. 3. Strategies will be discussed, agreed upon and put in effect, if possible, to
address the care concerns during a meeting with the director.
If progress with the strategies in place are not enough to provide the child with
4. success, or a safety concern is identified, the care agreement will be terminated.
The parents or guardians will be informed verbally and in writing of the intent
to terminate care. Fourteen days’ notice will be given unless the safety issue
warrants less time including immediate termination.
The well-being of each student is our top priority. We hold the responsibility of keeping our
children safe and ensuring they each have the tools necessary to grow and thrive with us in
30the forefront of our awareness. Talking to our parents about a child’s needs outlying what
this school can provide is not an easy task, however one that does uphold our responsibility
for providing the best possible care.
IN SUMMARY
Hey Diddle Diddle Day School, Inc. was established to provide a quality learning
environment as well as offering a home like atmosphere. Every child is equally important to
the staff and will be treated, as we would like our child to be treated. This handbook serves
to maintain clear expectations and efficient communication which is crucial to a home and
school relationship beneficial to your children. Please feel free to discuss any questions or
concerns with the directors and owner.
We hope you find much happiness here.
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