Parent handbook

Parent Handbook & Operational Policies

Christian in-home play-school policies for children 18 months through 13 years, drafted to cover the policy topics required of Texas Chapter 747 child-care homes.

Forms & downloads Start enrollment

Welcome

Wild Arrow Play-School is a non-denominational Christian in-home play-school led by Audrie Gaucin. The program provides warm, attentive care in a home setting while supporting each child's safety, development, and family routines.

Our daily environment may include prayer before meals, Bible stories, Christian songs, gratitude practices, and age-appropriate conversations about kindness, forgiveness, service, and God's love. Families may ask to review faith-based materials at any time.

Faith practices are offered in a caring, age-appropriate manner. Children are never punished, pressured, or shamed for a family's beliefs or level of participation.

Program snapshot

Operation: Wild Arrow Play-School
Owner / Operator: Audrie Gaucin
Location: 504 Cold Mountain Trail, Fort Worth, Texas 76131
Contact: 682-230-3325 · wildarrowplayschool@gmail.com
Ages served: 18 months through 13 years, subject to permit, ratios, and provider capacity
Regular hours: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday (Saturday tours by appointment)
Maximum capacity: As allowed by Texas Chapter 747 and the operation's permit

License / registration type and permit number are provided on request and posted on site.

Strict late pickup policy: $1 per minute after our 6:00 PM close, strictly enforced. The one-time $100 enrollment fee is non-refundable, and two weeks' written notice is requested for withdrawal.

Required operational policies

Release of children

· Children are released only to a parent, legal guardian, or authorized person listed in the child's enrollment record.
· Photo identification may be required before release to any person not personally known to the provider.
· We follow any valid court order signed by a judge that limits a parent's access or removal rights when a copy is on file.
· Parents must sign children in and out each day with accurate arrival and departure times.

Illness and exclusion

· A child who appears ill at arrival or during care may receive a health check and may be excluded when symptoms indicate the child cannot safely participate or may expose others.
· Parents are contacted promptly for fever, vomiting, diarrhea, uncontrolled coughing, suspected contagious illness, unexplained rash, or symptoms requiring medical evaluation.
· A child may return when symptoms have improved, exclusion criteria are resolved, and any medical clearance we request has been received.
· We may update illness exclusion practices to follow current public health guidance.

Medication

· Medication is administered only with parent authorization documented in writing, electronically in savable form, or by telephone for a single dose.
· Medication is never administered above label instructions or the directions of the child's health-care professional.
· Medication authorization expires one year after the authorization date unless a shorter period is stated.
· Medication is stored out of reach of children or in locked storage and documented on a medication administration record.

Medical emergencies

· We call 911 or seek emergency medical assistance for serious injury, difficulty breathing, severe allergic reaction, seizure, loss of consciousness, suspected poisoning, or any condition that may threaten life or safety.
· Parents or emergency contacts are contacted as soon as practical after urgent care is initiated.
· Each child must have current emergency medical authorization and emergency contact information on file.

Discipline and guidance

· Guidance is individualized, consistent, age-appropriate, and focused on safety, self-control, problem solving, and repair.
· We use redirection, clear choices, calm reminders, natural consequences, and brief supervised separation when appropriate.
· We prohibit corporal punishment and threats of it, punishment tied to food, naps, or toilet training, humiliating or yelling at a child, harsh or profane language, locked or dark rooms, restrictive devices for time out, and long periods of required silence or inactivity.

Age range and nap / rest safety

· We accept children 18 months through 13 years. Children younger than 18 months are not enrolled.
· Children 18 through 23 months are toddlers under Chapter 747, so supervision, activities, equipment, meals, toileting support, and rest routines are matched to each child's age and development.
· Children rest only in safe, age-appropriate sleep or rest areas and never in restrictive devices unless medically necessary with required documentation.
· If the program ever expands to infants younger than 18 months, infant-specific policies, forms, equipment, safe-sleep practices, and caregiver training will be updated before enrollment and confirmed with Child Care Regulation.

Animals

· Animals are present on the premises at all times. Animals are supervised, kept away from food preparation, and separated from children when needed for safety.
· Required vaccination documentation for pets is maintained when applicable.
· Animals showing illness, aggression, or unsafe behavior are not accessible to children.

Physical activity

· Children have daily opportunities for indoor and outdoor active play as weather, health, safety, and individual needs allow.
· Please send children in clothing and footwear that permit running, climbing, crawling, art, sensory play, and outdoor movement.
· On days with extreme heat, cold, storms, poor air quality, or unsafe outdoor conditions, we offer indoor gross-motor activities.

Parent rights

· Parents may enter and examine the child-care home during hours of operation without advance notice.
· Parents may review publicly accessible records, their own child's record, staff training records upon request, HHSC inspection reports, and online compliance history information.
· Parents may file a complaint and will be free from retaliation for exercising parent rights.
· Parents may obtain a copy of our operational policies and procedures at any time.

What families bring from home

· Snacks, a nap mat, and a labeled cup are brought from home each day. Please label everything with your child's name.
· No candy or fast food is permitted. Please send simple, nourishing snacks.
· Nap mats go home regularly for washing; cups are sent home daily for cleaning.

Emergency preparedness

· We maintain a written emergency preparedness plan covering evacuation, relocation, sheltering, lock-down, communication, essential documents, ongoing care, and reunification.
· Our designated alternate shelter is the McDonald's at 287 / Saginaw Main. If we must evacuate, children are relocated there and remain supervised until reunification.
· Reunification procedure: we call and text every parent and/or guardian to come to the alternate shelter and pick up their child as soon as possible.
· Upon arrival at the alternate shelter, each child's adult must show photo identification before the child is released.
· Emergency drills and safety inspections are documented and retained with licensing records.
· Parents must keep emergency contact information current at all times.

Health checks

· Health checks may be conducted when a child appears ill, has a known exposure, returns after illness, or when public health conditions require screening.
· Health checks may include observation of appearance, breathing, behavior, skin, temperature if needed, and parent-provided health information.

Vaccine-preventable disease policy

· If the licensed child-care home is not located in the provider's own residence, we maintain required information on vaccine-preventable diseases for employees.
· If this policy is not applicable because the home is located in the provider's own residence, the statement is kept on file and confirmed with Child Care Regulation.

Unassigned epinephrine auto-injectors

· This operation does not maintain unassigned epinephrine auto-injectors unless a written policy is added and we comply with applicable Texas DSHS requirements.
· Child-specific epinephrine or allergy medication may be administered only according to the child's medical plan and medication authorization.

Christian curriculum and family partnership

· Our curriculum may include Bible stories, Christian music, prayer, creation-based nature learning, scripture memory in age-appropriate language, service projects, and character formation.
· Families may share traditions, family culture, and care preferences so we can support each child respectfully.
· Birthdays, holidays, and celebrations are handled in a way that protects allergies, food safety, and family preferences.

Access to standards, hotline, and HHSC

Texas minimum standards: hhs.texas.gov — Child Care Regulation minimum standards
Search Texas Child Care & compliance history: childcare.hhs.texas.gov
Texas Abuse Hotline: 1-800-252-5400 · txabusehotline.org
HHSC Child Care Regulation central office: 4601 W. Guadalupe St., Austin, TX 78751-3146 · 512-424-6500
Fort Worth child-care licensing contact: 817-321-8604

Parent acknowledgment

At orientation, each family signs: “I acknowledge that I received, reviewed, and had the opportunity to ask questions about the Wild Arrow Play-School Parent Handbook and Operational Policies.”

682-230-3325

wildarrowplayschool@gmail.com

504 Cold Mountain Trail, Fort Worth, TX 76131

These policies are drafted for a Texas Chapter 747 licensed or registered child-care home using the September 2024 HHSC water-safety updates. Final wording is confirmed with our Child Care Regulation inspector; this page is not legal advice.