Health and Disabilities
Sick Child Policy
It is important that parents keep sick children at home. A child is to stay home from school when experiencing the following: Behavior that leads you to think he/she is not well, fever, vomiting or diarrhea, red eyes, thick yellow or green nasal discharge, persistent cough, unusual spots or rash, head lice, scabies or other infestations or a diagnosis by a health care provider of any of the infectious diseases. A child who is not feeling well may cause other children and adults to become sick.
Physical Examinations/Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSTD) /
Immunizations and TB Screened
The children must have a current physical, within one year of the date on the physical, an up-to-date list of immunizations, and the results of a tuberculosis screening on file upon enrollment.
Medication
No medication will be given to a child unless the parent/guardian signs the Authorization for Medication form stating that your child must take the medication during school hours. When possible, we strongly encourage medication to be given at home before or after school hours. If this cannot occur, we ask that you please inform the child’s Teacher/ Bus Monitor that the child has medication that will need to be taken during school hours. The form will need to be signed and the medication needs to be given to an adult. There are to be no medications in book bags or handled by children.
Extra Clothing / Diapers
Because accidents do happen (toileting, spilled water, milk, etc.), we request that you send an extra set of clothing (shirt, pants, socks, and underwear) for your child to keep in the classroom. Before sending, please label each article of clothing with your child’s name.
Soiled or stained clothes will be sent home in a plastic bag. Remember to send back new clothing.
Health Services
Wilmington Head Start, Inc. Values the health of our families and children. Health education is incorporated into the curriculum, and proper health and hygiene procedures will be followed daily in our classrooms. Periodically, WHS will provide education and training to families, staff, and interested community members on preventative health, oral health, and mental health topics and practices.
Positive Behavior Policy
WHS staff is committed to provide a nurturing environment that fosters positive self-esteem and individual growth in the children. Positive guidance demonstrates respect for the child and is meant to help the child develop social and emotional competence. Guidance is when adults teach children to solve problems, rather than discipline them for having problems they have not yet learned to solve. Appropriate Positive Guidance Techniques are used and encouraged at WHS.
Mental Health
WHS is dedicated to supporting the mental wellness of all the children, families, and staff. If your child’s teacher has a concern about your child’s learning style or behavior he/she will discuss it with you as well as make a referral to the Disabilities/Health Specialist or the Education Specialist for an observation. Together you and the staff will make a plan to address any concerns. If necessary, referrals to an outside agency will be made.
Parental permission is needed before any referrals can be made. Parents are also encouraged to discuss any concerns they have about their child with the Teacher or Family Service Advocate.
Child Find
WHS believes that early screening is essential to the learning process. It is our mission to have every child screened within 45 calendar days after the child enters the program. The purpose of Child Find is to screen children and identify any learning disabilities and/or needs, which could affect your child’s performance in school. No child will be screened without a signed parent’s permission.
Screening methods are simple techniques that focus on areas of speech and language, motor, conceptual development. The screening methods do not involve medical examinations. Parents are welcome to accompany their child during screening.
If screening results indicate the presence of concerns, you will be contacted to review the information and address the possibility of further assessment. These assessments can determine if the child is having a problem and identify what the problem could be.
Parents are encouraged to save a copy of the Child Find results to assist with kindergarten registration.
Behavioral Screenings
Within 45 days of entering the program, families will be requested to complete a copy of the Ages & Stages Questionnaire-Social Emotional. This questionnaire allows us to recognize which children are at risk for social or emotional difficulties, identify behaviors of concern to caregivers, and identify any need for further assessment.
Special Needs
WHS provides services to children with disabilities. The children participate in all activities to the extent of their abilities. WHS has partnerships with Red Clay School District and Brandywine School District. The partnership serves children with special needs in each of our programs. The children can attend a WHS preschool program for four and a half hours a day, or attend our full-day program, five days a week and receive services at the Head Start classroom. Services will be provided in the classroom by an Itinerate Teacher, or the child will attend a school district program the other half of the day as determined by their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Any special equipment required for the child is provided, as well as any training the staff may need to welcome the child to the classroom. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Edward Isabell, the Health Specialist at (302) 691-3584 Ext. 315.