Frequently Asked Questions
We are not a nut-free facility. However, we will serve allergy-free food menu alternatives to any child with a food allergy. For any child that is on a lactose-free diet, we request that you provide the proper milk for your child (soy, almond, etc). We will label it with your child’s name and the date we receive it. Because some of our students do have food allergies, we cannot accept any homemade items to share with classmates. If an item is brought in for a party or birthday, it should be discussed with the director ahead of time and must be a store-bought item.
Yes, you are welcome to come anytime to breastfeed your child.
Yes, cloth diapers are permitted. We will send them home with your child every night, and we cannot wash them at the school.
No, we have our own calendar. We are closed on the ten major holidays and a winter break that may include Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. It’s a component of the benefits package for our teachers.
We may remain open on snowy and severe weather days as long as safety permits. Opening and closing times may change based on the severity of the weather. On days when you suspect a possible late start or closing, please check local news channels KSDK5 or FOX2News. We will make every attempt to open the center; however, it is our goal and first priority to keep our faculty members and families safe. If the local elementary schools are closed and Learning Lodge West remains open, school-age children are welcome to attend. In cases of serious emergencies such as earthquakes, fire, storms, or loss of power/water, parents will be notified immediately, and children will be cared for until parents or emergency contacts arrive.
We love outside play! Outdoor play is a part of our daily routine. Children should be prepared to play outside each day, weather permitting. Children go outside with their class twice a day for 30 or more minutes each time. We follow the temperature guidelines from the Child Care Weather Watch. In general, we stay inside when conditions indicate a temperature below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (Child Care Weather Watch). If we are unable to go outside, indoor recess is planned in our gym for gross motor activity.
Yes, you may withdraw or change your schedule for the summer; however, your spot is not guaranteed for the Fall. In February, we complete re-registration, where parents have the opportunity to tell us their scheduling preferences for the summer and the coming school year. If we are able to meet those requests, we will coordinate it with you. If a waitlist in your child’s class exists and creates a possible problem for you to return in the Fall, it will be communicated to you.
Should a child become ill at school, the child’s parent/guardian will be notified and asked to make arrangements to pick up the child within one hour (emergency contacts will be called if we do not hear from a parent or the student is not picked up in a timely manner). If you are called to pick up your child due to an illness, please know that the decision is not only made for the well-being of your child but also for the other children and employees in the room. Learning Lodge West reserves the right to decide when a child needs to be excluded from the center due to health concerns and when the child may return.
In the event of a minor injury or accident, LLW staff will administer basic first aid. All injuries or illnesses will be documented and reported to parents immediately (accident report form). In cases of injury or accident in which an ambulance is not needed, but immediate medical attention is required, we will contact the parents via phone or email, depending on the situation. We cannot transport children to a hospital or doctor’s office. Injured children shall be transported for medical aid by parents or by calling 911 for an ambulance.
At a minimum, we follow Missouri State ratio guidelines for our classrooms. The two-year-old classroom operates at a lower ratio, and most of our other classes do, too. Missouri State Teacher/Child ratios are:
- Infant/Toddler - 1:4
- Two Year - 1:8
- Preschool and K-Prep 1:10
- School-age - 1:16
Our teachers may have a formal college education, years of work experience in early childhood, or a combination of both. We provide 12 hours of annual training directly related to child care and early learning, as well as CPR and first aid.