Enrolment & Withdrawals

Our centres are popular places and the demand for quality child care in Victoria is very high. We strongly recommend that you place your child on our waitlist as soon as you know that you will need child care. Once all pertinent information is entered, children are assigned a Waitlist number.

To apply, please fill out our online application form.

Waitlist prioritization

The Child Care Services Office maintains a wait list and parents are offered a space, in the appropriate age group, in the order in which their child's name appears on the wait list and according to the prioritization listed below. Three attempts are made to reach the enrolling parent and then the next name on the Waitlist will be contacted. A child remains on the waitlist until the enrolling parent withdraws their name or the parent can no longer be reached.

Internal: An internal waitlist, based on age, is established for children already enrolled who are graduating to the next centre. Children move internally when they are of age for the next centre, as space becomes available in the next centre, and when developmental readiness is determined by both staff and parents.

Sibling Priority: For siblings of children already attending one of our centres and who have been on our waitlist for 6 months or more, priority will be given to them once spaces have been filled by our internal waitlist.

External: An external waitlist is maintained and follows our mandate of offering quality child care to Camosun College students, Camosun College staff/faculty, and community members. Families are offered a space based on availability, date of application to the waitlist, and waitlist prioritization.

Waiting list priority is given in the following order:

#1 – Internal Transfers & Siblings
#2 – Children of Students
#3 – Children of Staff/Faculty
#4 – Children of Community Members

Please note: It is your responsibility to notify us of any change in personal information and requested date of enrolment so that your waitlist application is always current. You may contact us via childcare@camosun.bc.ca or phone 250-370-4880.

Invitation

Once a space becomes available and you are interested in actually accepting the space, you and your child will be invited to attend a Parent Tour of the centre. Due to the popularity of our centres, it is important that you respond to that call as soon as possible. The Parent Tour will give you the opportunity to see the Centre, meet the staff, and ask any questions you might have about our centre.

Admission

Admission of a child requires a meeting with the Sr. Educator or Manager, an orientation visit to the Center with your child and a completed registration package, including health history, payment of the first month’s fees, and payment for subsequent months on file. Parents who are students or staff at the College are required to leave a current copy of your timetable so that we can contact you in case of an emergency.

Gradual entry

Admission begins with a gradual entry to your child’s centre. Our hope is that through the gradual entry process, we will accomplish the following goals:

that separation between the child and family will be gradual and positive;
that the child and centre staff develop a positive relationship before the child is left on his/her own;
that the child and family are gradually introduced to, and become familiar with, the routines, activities and philosophy of the centre;
that the child has a secure start to his/her child care experience with the support of both family and child care staff.

The Senior Educator will contact you regarding entry procedures so that your child can be gradually integrated into the Center.

Confidentiality

Once you have enrolled your child, the Parent Agreement and related registration forms will go into the child's file. All information about children and families in this file is considered confidential and is stored in a secure place.

Withdrawal and Termination of Services

When you are planning to withdraw your child from the program, two months notice is required and a Child Care Services withdrawal form must be submitted to the Child Care Office. Withdrawals are accepted at the end of each month and there is no reduction in fees due to early withdrawal.

The staff is committed to providing a caring and supportive environment for all children and families. However, termination of services may be required if:

Fees for service are not paid in accordance with the Parent Agreement and suitable arrangements cannot be agreed upon.
A family does not abide by expectations outlined in the Parent Agreement and successful resolution of the differences is not achieved.
The parents cannot reach a custody agreement.
A family member harasses, threatens abuse or commits a violent act towards staff, child or other individuals involved in the program.
Child Care Services is unable to satisfactorily resolve problems of late pick up with a family.
The child’s needs require more support than Child Care Services and supporting agencies can offer.
The child’s behaviour is severely disruptive or physically threatening to the well-being and safety of other children or staff and additional supports to accommodate the child are unavailable.

Termination of services is a last resort measure. Before Camosun College Child Care Services determines we cannot continue to provide services to the child, steps will be taken to accommodate the child’s needs. Such steps include: working with the family to identify other more suitable programs and resources, consulting with professional support resources, requesting increased staffing through the funding ministry, referring to appropriate services for staff training or intervention.