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Schedule a TOUR

Please schedule a tour by setting an appointment online.

Our PHOTO GALLERY

We take photos for every special occasion, check out the gallery.

Upcoming EVENTS

Listed here are the events we always look forward to.

Contact Information
icon phone 11624 Lockwood Drive
Silver Spring, Maryland 20904
icon phone Phone:443-905-0444
  Fax:      301-593-1951
icon email Email: info@smart-edearlylearningcenter.com
We are open 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM

For Parents

Smart-Ed Early Learning Center Policies for Parents

1. Policy for Working in Partnership with Parents

We have open door policy and we take our pride in working in collaboration with parents/families. We strongly believe that together we will make a difference and help our children thrive to the best of their potential. There will be times and ways you can get involved in your child’s daycare learning and development experience.

You are welcome to participate in the following:

  • Coming and talking about your job,
  • Helping your child at home with the concepts we are studying here (see monthly newsletter)
  • Helping your child prepare for “Show and Tell”
  • Accompanying your child during the field trips

At Smart-Ed Early Learning Center:

  • We encourage children to contribute stories of their everyday life to the center.
  • For families who speak languages in addition to English, we will develop means to ensure their full inclusion.
  • We work in partnership with parents to ensure that the learning, cultural, dietary and any additional/special needs of children are met.
  • Meetings are arranged to share the progress of your child with you.

2. Policy for Child Abuse and Neglect

As a child care center we are mandated reporters to the Department of Social Services if we feel a child is being abused or neglected. Always be sure to let your director know when you drop your child off, if he/she has any unexplained cuts or bruises. All children that come to daycare with injuries have them logged into the child’s file.

3. Policy for Health and Safety

Smart-Ed Early Learning Center is a “well-child care facility”. At no time do we provide sick childcare. The following illness policies will be strictly enforced, for the health, wellbeing and safety of all concerned.

3.1 Sick Child Policy

Under no circumstances may a parent bring a sick child to the Center, if the child shows any signs of illness, or is unable to participate in the normal routine and regular day care program. Sick children will expose all children and staff members who they come in contact with. These people can in turn expose the other children. Sick children want care from their parents in the comfort of their own homes. If other children become ill due to exposure to your sick child, either because he/she was returned to day care before full recovery or because he/she was not picked up promptly upon notice of becoming ill, other parents will be unnecessarily inconvenienced. Because this is disruptive to other children and their families, your cooperation on this issue is extremely important. Every effort is taken to reduce the spread of illness by encouraging hand washing and other sanitary practices at Smart-Ed Early Learning Center.

If your child is unable to participate in the normal activities of the daycare (including being able to play outside), then your child MUST stay home.

Children will be visually screened when they arrive in the morning. In the event a child becomes ill and needs to be picked up, the parent(s) will be called and are expected to come pick the child up within one hour (60 minutes). If the parent(s) cannot be reached, or have not arrived within an hour, the emergency contact person will be called and asked to come pick the child up.For the benefit of our staff and other children in our care, a sick child will not be permitted to return to care for 24 hours after condition has returned to normal. The child may return 24 – 48 hours (depending upon the illness) after they have received the first dose of an antibiotic. If a child receives an antibiotic for an ear infection, he/she may return to day care immediately if he/she has been free of other symptoms mentioned for at least 24 hours. If you aren’t sure about whether or not to bring your child to care, please call the director to discuss it. Allergy related symptoms, and non-communicable illnesses do not require exclusion if you have a note from your doctor.

3.2 Symptoms requiring removal of child from day care

  • Fever: Fever is defined as having a temperature of 100°F or higher taken under the arm, 101°F taken orally. (a child needs to be fever free for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to the center).
  • Sore throat, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, earache, irritability, or confusion.
  • Diarrhea: runny, watery, bloody stools, or 2 or more loose stools within last 4 hours.
  • Vomiting: please do not bring your child if they have vomited in the night.
  • Breathing trouble, sore throat, swollen glands, loss of voice and continuous coughing.
  • Runny nose (other than clear), draining eyes or ears.
  • Frequent scratching of body or scalp, lice, rash, or any other spots.
  • Child is irritable, continuously crying, or requires more attention than we can provide.

Just a note: Many times our child care may get blamed for the illness of a child, meaning that we have “allowed” sick children to come here.

3.3 Medical Emergencies

Minor bumps and scratches are inevitable, but we make every effort to keep the children safe through supervision and childproofing. Minor injuries receive appropriate first aid, and if an emergency injury or illness occurs, you will be contacted as soon as possible. If necessary, your child will be taken to the nearest hospital where you will be asked to meet us. If we can not reach you, we will call the emergency contact person. It is your responsibility to inform us in case emergency contact information changes.

Parents are responsible for all costs involved in emergency medical treatment, including emergency transportation, if required. The owners of Smart-Ed Early Learning Center, will not be held liable for any sickness/injury of either parent/guardian or child while on these premises.

3.4 Medication

For your convenience, medication will be administered to children when required but only when we receive Medication administration form with Doctor’s and parent’s approval and signature. The medication must be prescribed by a physician, and must be accompanied by the pharmacy’s original label with the child’s name, doctor’s name and dosage to be given. Medications at Smart-Ed Early Learning Center are administered by a designated trained staff.

3.5 Physical restriction

Parents are responsible for informing the center in writing about any physical restrictions that refrains the child from participating in any given activity.

3.6 Allergies

Notify immediately about any allergy detected on the child and bring a doctor’s notice.

3.7 Clothing

Children should arrive dressed for play. We like to have fun! Having fun involves outdoor play and lots of messy activities, so make sure that your child is dressed appropriately. You will be expected to supply an art smock to protect clothes from paint or other art materials, and bibs to keep food stains to a minimum. Clothing should be comfortable and seasonally appropriate for outdoor play. Each child must have an extra set of clothing in the Center.

3.8 Hygiene/ Cleanliness

We do our best to maintain strict cleanliness and hygiene standards. Children’s hands are washed before and after meals and after toileting. We use paper towels for drying hands, so children do not have to use the same towel. All employees are required to wash their hands frequently and also use antibacterial gel.

Infants and other children sleep in separate cribs or pack and plays, with clean sheets and blankets used only by them. The list of relevant supplies required from home is enclosed. Children also use separate cups, plates, bowls and eating utensils that have been thoroughly washed. High chair trays, etc. are disinfected after each use. We disinfect toilet seats and clean potty chairs between each use.

3.9 Items brought to the Center

Children can bring a small bag pack to carry a sweater or his/her favorite toy show and tell activities. They may also bring a stuffed toy that helps them comfort and feel secure. However, aggressive toys such as guns, swords or TV characters are not allowed in the center. Jewellery is not allowed in the center. We are not responsible for the lost of any valuable item. Junk food, candy and chewing gum are not permitted.

3.10 Meals

We participate in the Food Care Program therefore we will provide meals to children. Meals will consist of breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack. Children who arrive after meal times should be fed before they arrive. Menus will be posted on the bulletin board just inside the door. We will honor a parent’s religious or philosophical objections to a menu item and the parent can substitute any objectionable item with an item from home.It is our belief that infants should be fed on demand.

If parents have another feeding schedule in mind, we will need to discuss, so that the infant’s needs will be adequately met. If your child has allergies, and requires a modified diet, we must be notified of this in writing. We will need to have a physician’s written instructions describing any foods the child is not permitted to eat. An appropriate substitution will be made, if possible. If a child has so many allergies that he/she cannot eat from our menu, we may require the parents to provide his/her lunch and snacks.

We never force a child to finish what is on his/her plate, but we do encourage each child to try one or two bites of everything. Sometimes they are surprised by what they like!

4. Safety plan for Emergency evacuation

The safety of the children and staff members at Smart-Ed Early Learning Center is of prime importance. The purpose of the emergency evacuation plan and preparedness practices is to provide procedures to be followed by the director, staff members to insure the safety of its children and staff members.

We do fire drills once every month. We will not do fire drills when the temperature is below 20 degrees or above 85 degrees. The designated emergency meeting areas are ‘Parking lot and quadrangle’

4.1 Policy for Emergency Preparedness

  • Evacuation plan is always available for immediate review by staff, parents, and Child Care Licensing during business hours.
  • The map of the two designated sites in case of evacuation are posted on the board
  • Fire drills are conducted every month and other disasters at least every 6 months to train each child, of capable age, on the emergency evacuation procedures during drills.
  • Children are involved in the drill in a way that will not frighten them. For example, we tell them that we are practicing ways to keep them safe “in case of” an emergency instead of calling the exercise a fire drill, evacuation drill, etc.
  • We use drills to help us evaluate, modify, and update our plan to make it more effective and efficient.

4.2 Evacuation Plan

1. In the event of an emergency the director or her designee will be notified as soon as possible 2. In the event of a fire, bomb threat, electrical, chemical or other emergency that would require the evacuation of the building, all staff members adhere to the following:

  • Call 911, indicating the need of assistance from the Local Fire Department/ Law Enforcement
  • Make certain that all children and staff members are accounted for and are safe.
  • Evacuate all children and staff members to the designated area safely
  • Adhere to predetermined evacuation routes, if possible; however, we do not hesitate to adjust these routes to avoid dangerous areas.
  • All children and staff members with special needs are to be assisted as needed.
  • Activate the fire alarm immediately
  • Evacuate the building of the center following evacuation plan displayed on the wall

5. Policy for Discipline

At Smart-Ed Early Learning Center staff members are absolutely not permitted to use any form of physical punishment, including spanking. Staff members may not single out a child for ridicule, threaten harm to the child or the child’s family, and may not specifically aim to degrade a child or a child’s family. They may not use harsh, demeaning or abusive language in the presence of children. We use the following disciplinary techniques where they are age appropriate:

  • Giving Choice, Problem Solving
  • Natural and Logical Consequences, Ignoring
  • Redirecting , Time Out

Discipline does not mean punishment. Discipline is teaching a child how to be safe, how to behave on his/her own and how to know the difference between right and wrong. The staff will use praise and positive methods of discipline and guidance to encourage self-expression and self-direction of the children in the Center. The limits may be set at times in order to keep children from losing control or causing harm to themselves or others. Time Out is only one way to handle a situation and allows the child to regain control of his/her actions and feelings. Time away from the group will not exceed the following schedule. A timer will be used.

Preschoolers: 2 to 3 minutes
School-age: 3 to 5 minutes

Smart-Ed Early Learning Center has the policy of:

  • NO PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT
  • NO VERBAL ABUSE: NO BELITTLING OR DEMEANING CHILDREN
  • NO LOUD OT ANGRY VOICES
  • NO ISOLATING CHILDREN OUT OF SIGHT OR HEARING OF THE STAFF
  • ANY PHYSICAL ABUSE SUCH AS HITTING, SLAPPING, FLICKING, KICKING ARE NOT TOLERATED, SUCH ACTS ARE CONSIDERED AS CORPORAL PUNISHMENT BY THE LAW AND IMMEDIATE TERMINATION BY THE SMART-ED EARLY LEARNING CENTER

If there is a need we will consult you since you know your child best. Children’s temper tantrum, screaming, pushing, biting or abusive language among children and to staff will not be tolerated.

A conference with the parent will be held. Together, we will try to find a solution. You may be called to remove your child if his/her behavior prevents us from being able to properly care for the other children. If the problem continues, other arrangements for the care of the child will have to be made, for the safety and well being of all.