Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
General Inquiries
What are your hours of operation?
Our North Vancouver and Coquitlam locations operate Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Our Langley location operates Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. *Effective September 2024, our Langley hours will switch to a 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. schedule.
Are your childcare centres open year-round or only during school calendar months?
With the exception of our North Vancouver preschool program (which runs September to June), our centres operate as a 12-month program, and all enrolments are indicated for the year. There are no fee waivers for vacations or when a child is not in our care for any reason.
Does the Centre close at any time during the year?
Rainforest Learning Centre is closed on all statutory holidays, Remembrance Day, Easter Monday and the Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We close at 12 p.m. on December 24, every year.
In addition, our child-care centres are closed for two separate weeks during the calendar year: the week between Christmas and New Year’s and the last week in August.
Do I need to drop my child off by a specific time each day?
We ask that you please have your child at our centres by 9 a.m., unless teachers have been otherwise notified of special circumstances.
Do you offer Pro-D Day child care?
Yes, we offer Pro-D Day child care, but priority is given to full-time before- and after-school care children who require Pro-D Day or Non-Instructional Day care based on the school district calendar in which the centre is located. There is an additional charge for these days.
Registration & Fees
Do you charge a registration fee? How much is it?
At Rainforest Learning Centre we collect a one-time, non-refundable registration fee of $250, as well as a non-refundable, half-month deposit for each new child joining our program. This deposit will go towards the first month’s fee payment. The registration fee includes one earthquake kit, premade by a professional first-aid company.
Why do you charge a registration fee?
We charge this fee for every child that registers in order to secure placement and cover the additional administrative duties required in accepting registration.
How are your child-care fees charged?
Child-care fees are charged on the first of each month in the form of a Pre-Authorized Debit Agreement.
Do you accept the Affordable Child Care Benefit (subsidy)?
Yes, we accept the Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB) subsidy, but it is each family’s responsibility to apply to the Affordable Child Care Benefit program and maintain their application status.
Are you a part of the government Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative?
Yes, Rainforest Learning Centre participates in the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI). As organizations need to apply for this program annually, we can only guarantee the reduction to the specified date each year.
Do you have a waitlist?
Some of our programs can have a lengthy waitlist, depending on the time of year and which program it is. If interested in any of our programs, we encourage parents to contact the Registration department at [email protected] as soon as possible.
Will my fees be reduced if my child is sick or on vacation?
Refunds are not issued for times of non-attendance nor for centre closures. Fees are calculated based on the number of ‘care days’ per month and for the whole year.
What is your withdrawal policy?
Should circumstances arise where it is necessary to withdraw a child from our program, two months’ written notice is required on the first day of the preceding month (i.e. notice on March 1st for a May 1st withdrawal).
Do you offer a gradual entry process?
For some children, a gradual entry process may be beneficial. We will discuss each child’s needs with the family and determine if gradual entry is appropriate.
Program Offerings
Do you offer half-day child-care or preschool programs?
Our group daycare and infant and toddler programs are full-day programs but offer both full- and part-time schedules. Our North Vancouver preschool offers a half-day program held in the mornings.
For before- and after-school care, do you provide a pick-up and drop-off service to and from elementary school?
We offer pick-up/drop-off transportation to and from Blacklock Fine Arts Elementary (Langley location) and Queensbury Elementary (North Vancouver location). As we are located on these school grounds, we provide easy drop-offs in the morning from our centre to their classroom and pick-ups in the afternoon from the classroom to our centre.
Does my child need to be fully potty-trained to attend Rainforest daycare programs?
Children do not have to be fully potty-trained to be able to register for one of our programs. We are happy to assist with toilet readiness as it becomes developmentally appropriate to do so.
However, it is recommended that children registered in our North Vancouver half-day preschool program wear pull-up diapers.
Are children required to nap at your centres?
Rainforest Learning Centre offers a rest and relaxation period in our child-care programs. During this time, all children are required to spend 45 minutes resting on their beds. After this time, children who are not sleeping will be given quiet activities to explore until their peers are awake.
There is no nap time in our before- and after-school care programs nor our half-day preschool program.
Does your early childhood education program include outside time?
All of our programs ensure a minimum of 60 minutes of outside time per day. Our all-day childcare programs spend two hours outside per day. This is a component of our curriculum, and it is offered rain or shine.
Child-Care Staff
What is the ratio of staff to children for each program?
The ratio of staff to children for each child-care program is as follows:
- Infant and Toddler — 1:4
- Pre-K — 1:8
- Preschool — 1:10
- School Age Program — 1:12
What are the qualifications of your staff?
Most educators at Rainforest Learning Centre hold a minimum of an Early Childhood Education Certificate, as well as a valid First-Aid Certificate.
From time to time, we may employ students who are working towards their Early Childhood Education license. These students are considered Assistants and may hold an Early Childhood Education Assistant License (ECEA) or a Responsible Adult (RA) certificate.
Many of our educators also have a Special Needs Certificate, and/or an Infant/Toddler Certificate. For our school-aged programs, teachers may hold an Early Childhood Educator Assistant (ECEA) Certificate or a Responsible Adult (RA) Certificate.
All educators are required to undergo a criminal record check at the time of hiring. We check all references thoroughly during the hiring process.
If you have other questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out directly.