Where a child has not been picked up and the centre is closed

• Where a parent/guardian or authorized individual who was supposed to pick up a child from care and has not arrived by 6:00 p.m., program staff shall ensure that the child is given an activity, while they await their pick-up.

One staff shall stay with the child, while a second staff proceeds with calling the parent/guardian to advise that the child is still in care and inquire their pick-up time.  In the case where the person picking up the child is an authorized individual; the staff shall contact the parent/guardian first and then proceed to contact the authorized individual responsible for pick-up if unable to reach the parent/guardian.

• If after 15 minutes and the staff is unable to reach the parent/guardian or authorized individual who was responsible for picking up the child, the staff shall contact the authorized individuals listed on the child’s file. The child will be provided with a snack while waiting. Staff will notify the Supervisor/Executive Director or designate. If an alternate pick-up person is available to pick up, staff will confirm their identification before the child is released. Staff will leave a message on the parent’s telephone to let them know who has picked up their child and at what time this occurred.
• Where the staff is unable to reach the parent/guardian or any other authorized individual listed on the child’s file (e.g., the emergency contacts) by 7:00 p.m., the staff shall proceed with contacting the local Children’s Aid Society (CAS) (905) 895-2318or 1-800-718-3850.  Staff shall follow the CAS’s direction with respect to next steps.
• Staff will leave their name and phone number if they get an answering machine at CAS. Once the Children’s Aid worker calls back, staff will tell the Children’s Aid worker that they are calling from Kids Come First and that the staff have been unable to reach anyone to pick up the child. Staff will follow the Children’s Aid Worker instructions which may include calling the Police.
• Staff will wait for a Children’s Aid worker to arrive. This may take several hours. Staff will not go out or drive the child anywhere. When a Children’s Aid worker or police officer arrives at the centre, the staff will ask for identification before letting them in.
• If the parent/authorized individual arrives before the Children’s Aid worker arrives, release the child. Call Children’s Aid to report when the child was picked up. Also, let the Children’s Aid Society know the reason given as to why the parent was late.
• Document the incident in the communication book:

Note: Do not follow this procedure if the parent has given you a reasonable explanation for being late. An example of a reasonable explanation would be there was a bad accident on the road and the parent is stuck in traffic.

Dismissing a child from care without supervision procedures

Staff will only release children from care to the parent/guardian or other authorized adult.  Under no circumstances will children be released from care to walk home alone.

Glossary

Individual authorized to pick-up/authorized individual: a person that the parent/guardian has advised the child care program staff in writing can pick-up their child from care.

Licensee: The individual or corporation named on the licence issued by the Ministry of Education responsible for the operation and management of the child care centre and home child agency.

Parent/guardian: A person having lawful custody of a child or a person who has demonstrated a settled intention to treat a child as a child of his or her family.

Name of Child Care Centre: Kids Come First Child Care Services

Date Policy and Procedures Established: December 15, 2023

Date Policy and Procedures Updated:  March 2024

Date Policy reviewed: September 4, 2026

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Page updated September 2026