Health & Safety - Iqra Childcare and Preschool

Meal

We serve breakfast, lunch, and snacks in the afternoon. Our childcare menu follows the Canadian Food Guide and Saskatchewan Ministry of Education guidelines. We source our food locally, emphasizing seasonal ingredients at their peak freshness. Our dedicated in-house cooking team ensures that all of our food offerings are executed to the highest possible standards. We serve halal meats. There are also vegetarian options. Our food is Peanut Free. If a child has allergies that require food substitutions, the parent must provide specialized foods. If you are sending food with your child or donating to centre activities, make sure the food is PEANUT-FREE, HALAL and also able to consume by vegetarian.

Nutrition

To ensure that our children are well-fed and eat healthy, we make sure to follow Canada’s Dietary Guidelines when serving them at the Iqra Childcare and Preschool. Our dedicated chef, an integral part of our staff, is committed to providing healthy and balanced meals that support the nutritional needs of growing children.

We understand the importance of meeting a variety of nutritional needs and cultural considerations. Therefore, we aim to satisfy cultural preferences and dietary restrictions as much possible. Our goal is to create a supportive environment where children can enjoy foods that meet their individual needs while following healthy eating guidelines.

Please note that although we try to accommodate special dietary needs, special foods and special foods such as soy milk, lactose-free milk and other alternative products must be provided by a parent, or guardian. This allows us to ensure that children’s special dietary needs and preferences are met.

We value open communication with families about dietary concerns and encourage parents/guardians to discuss special dietary needs and concerns with us. Our team is committed to working with families to create dining experiences that support each child’s nutritional needs.

Typical Daily Routine

Iqra Childcare and Preschool opens at 7:00 am. We start welcoming children at 7:00 am. Breakfast is served on arrival. We usually start classes at 9:00 am. At 9:30 am there is a light break with a nutritious menu. At 10:00 am activities and educational programs resume. Depending on the weather, we play outside at 11:00 am, visit local parks, go for walks or play in the outdoor nursery area. At noon, we offer lunch. Bedtime starts at 12:45 pm. Children who are awake can read books, do puzzles, and participate in other quiet activities while others sleep. Recess ends at 3:00 pm. We offer another snack break at 3:00 pm. At 3:45 pm we do other educational activities, including homework for school-aged children. At 4:45 pm we try to provide games outside until the parents come to pick them up. It also depends on the weather. The center closes at 6:00 pm and all children must leave the premises at this time. This schedule is very adaptable and adapts to the needs and interests of children. For example, if a child is engaged in an art or other activity when food is served, they can finish their activity and then be served a snack.

Sick Children

If a child is too sick to go to nursery, keep them at home. There is no “sick room” in the nursery, and the best place for a child to recover from an illness is at home. Children should not be medicated and then sent to childcare. If a child becomes ill during the hours of operation, parents will be notified and asked to withdraw their child from the program for the day. If your child does not go to child care due to illness or for any other reason, please inform someone at the center as soon as possible, about the reason for not coming. This will prevent the activity from being delayed.

Arrival and Pick Up Procedure

We are open from 7:00 am, Monday to Friday. Children are needed to be present at the child care by 8:30 am every morning.
Staff will sign children in and out daily. Parents are required to accompany their children into the building and notify staff that they are present.
Children need to be picked up by 5:30 pm.
If a child will not be attending, parents must notify the centre.
Children cannot walk home alone.
If someone other than the parent picks up the child, the parent must provide written or verbal notice with the person’s name and brief description.
For before and after school program, children must be picked up after the program.

Nutrition and Kitchen Policy

All meals provided at the center adhere to Canada's Dietary Guidelines for Healthy Eating. A four (4) week rolling menu plan is posted on the main notice board at the entrance to the childcare center and is also available on our website.
The food is minimally processed to preserve the nutritional value of the food.
The center provides breakfast, lunch, and 2 snacks per day for all children while attending the center.
Breakfast is food from at least 3-4 food groups. Morning and evening snacks are provided by each unit from at least 2 of the 4 food groups, one of which is a fruit or vegetable.
Lunch is one meal from each of the 4 food groups.
Parents provide information about children's meals and restrictions. These details are placed in the kitchen and dining room above.
Children are not allowed to enter the kitchen except to go outside or upstairs. Parents who bring their children into the kitchen are responsible for them.
The kitchen floor is swept and swept at least once a day.
All children are given food and drink throughout the day. Eating is encouraged, but not forced if the child does not want to eat.
Preschool children should be allowed to cook their own meals with the help of the teacher.
Persons involved in food handling and food preparation have completed a course in safe food handling recognized by the Regina Qu'Appelle Health District.
All food and special milk products for the child must be prepared by the parents/guardians.
Breakfast served daily at within 3 hours of the center opening, and no more than 3 hours between each meal or snack.