Our Standards

Every member of our team meets or exceeds provincial licensing requirements:

• Early Childhood Educator (ECE), ECE Assistant (ECEA), or Responsible Adult (RA) certification — required for all staff who work directly with children
• Infant/Toddler Educator (ITE) certification — required for staff in our under-36-months program
• First Aid and CPR (infant, child, and adult) — current certification for all staff
• Criminal record check including vulnerable sector screening — completed before employment and renewed every five years

Learning never stops. All staff participate in regular training across the year, including child protection and mandatory reporting, positive behaviour guidance, food safety and allergy management, emergency preparedness, safe sleep practices, and cultural safety and inclusive practice.

• ITE: Infant/Toddler Educator
• ECE: Early Childhood Educator
• ECEA: Early Childhood Educator Assistant
• RA: Responsible Adult

• Children must be supervised at all times — this means staff must be able to see and hear all children
• Staff must be in close proximity to children (within sight and sound)
• Ratios must be maintained at all times, including during transitions, outdoor play, bathroom breaks, and emergency drills
• A second staff member must always be available to assist (even if not in the same room)

In Space frequently exceeds minimum ratios to ensure high-quality care. This means we may schedule additional staff beyond what is legally required.

If you become aware that ratios are not being met: 1. Notify the Site Manager immediately 2. Do not leave children unsupervised 3. Document the situation 4. Ratios must be restored before normal activities resume

1. Alert: Call out "FIRE — EVERYONE OUT!" to alert all rooms
2. Gather children calmly: Do not panic. Use a calm, authoritative voice
3. Conduct attendance check: Use the class list to account for every child
4. Exit via nearest safe exit: Lead children out calmly and quickly
5. Escort to meeting place: The designated meeting point for each location is: - Galactic 1 (3606 Allsop Road): [INSERT MEETING POINT] - Galactic 2 (3255 Stephenson Point): [INSERT MEETING POINT]
6. Carry emergency supplies: Grab the emergency backpack (first aid, contact list, water, blankets)
7. Head counts: Conduct a second head count at the meeting point; verify against In Space Hub records
8. Contact 911: From outside the building, once all children are accounted for
9. Notify Site Manager: If not already present, the Site Manager coordinates next steps
10. Parent notification: The Site Manager or designee notifies parents via In Space Hub and phone

NEVER re-enter the building until cleared by the Fire Department.

1. Drop, Cover, and Hold: When shaking starts, drop to the ground, take cover under sturdy furniture, and hold on
2. Stay away from windows, shelves, and exterior walls
3. Protect children: Shield children with your body if cover is not available
4. Wait for shaking to stop: Do not run outside during the shaking
5. After shaking stops: Account for all children; check for injuries
6. Evacuate if necessary: If the building is damaged, follow fire evacuation procedures to the meeting point
7. Shut off utilities if safe to do so: Gas, water, electricity if leaks are detected

1. Alert: A designated alert (e.g., code word, phone notification) signals a lockdown
2. Move children to secure rooms: Away from windows and doors
3. Lock doors, turn off lights, close blinds
4. Keep children calm and quiet: Use a calm voice; do not discuss the threat in front of children
5. Call 911: As soon as it is safe to do so
6. Take attendance: Account for all children
7. Wait for all-clear: Do not open doors until police or the Site Manager gives the all-clear
8. Parent notification: Parents are notified only when safe to do so, per police direction

1. Assess the situation: Is the child breathing? Conscious? Bleeding?
2. Provide first aid within your training
3. Call 911 for life-threatening emergencies (difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, unconsciousness, seizure, anaphylaxis)
4. Notify the Site Manager and the child's parents immediately
5. Stay with the child until help arrives or parents take over
6. Document the incident fully

If the centre must be evacuated and cannot return:

The Site Manager coordinates transportation to the alternate location and notifies parents.

Each location maintains an emergency supply kit containing: - First aid kit - Emergency contact list (printed) - Bottled water - Non-perishable snacks - Flashlights and batteries - Blankets - Battery-powered radio - Clipboard with class lists and head count forms

All drill records are reviewed by management and available for licensing inspection.

• If you are ill, do not come to work — see Sick Leave policy (Section 8)
• Staff are subject to the same exclusion criteria as children for contagious illnesses
• If you become ill during your shift, notify the Site Manager and arrange to go home

• All staff must maintain current First Aid and CPR certification
• First aid kits are located in each room and each vehicle
• Know the location of the nearest first aid kit and how to use its contents

All work-related injuries or illnesses must be reported: 1. Report to the Site Manager immediately 2. Seek first aid or medical attention as needed 3. Complete a WorkSafeBC incident report with the Site Manager 4. Follow all medical advice and return-to-work plans 5. Cooperate with WorkSafeBC if they investigate

• Report any hazards (slippery floors, broken equipment, unsafe conditions) immediately
• Do not attempt to fix electrical or structural issues yourself
• Use proper lifting techniques when moving equipment or assisting children

• Inform the Site Manager of your pregnancy so accommodations can be made
• You will not be required to perform tasks that pose a risk to your pregnancy
• Exposure to certain illnesses (e.g., Fifth Disease, chickenpox) may require temporary reassignment

• All food surfaces must be hygienic before and after use
• Hot water maximum 49°C at all taps accessible to children
• Follow handwashing procedures before and after food handling
• Perishable food must be refrigerated promptly

• Know the allergies of every child in your care
• Review allergy information at the start of each shift
• No food sharing between children
• Keep children's food separate and clearly labelled
• Be aware of cross-contamination risks during food prep and serving
• For children with severe allergies, additional precautions may include separate eating areas and hand-washing protocols

• Know which children have EpiPens and where they are stored
• EpiPens are stored in an unlocked, accessible location in each room
• EpiPens travel with the child on all outings
• All staff are trained in EpiPen administration
• If a child shows signs of anaphylaxis: Administer EpiPen immediately, call 911, notify parents

Use positive, proactive guidance that teaches children social-emotional skills. All behaviour is communication — our role is to understand what the child is communicating and help them find better ways to express their needs.

• Set clear expectations: Rules are simple, consistent, and age-appropriate
• Positive reinforcement: Notice and praise desired behaviours
• Redirection: Gently guide children toward appropriate activities
• Modelling: Demonstrate the behaviour you want to see
• Problem-solving: Help children find solutions to conflicts
• Emotion coaching: Name feelings and teach coping strategies
• Consistent routines: Predictable schedules help children feel secure

• Physical punishment (hitting, spanking, shaking, pinching)
• Deprivation of food, rest, or outdoor time as punishment
• Humiliation, shaming, or threatening language
• Isolation or exclusion from the group as punishment
• Restraint (unless immediately necessary to prevent harm)

When a child's behaviour requires intervention: 1. Ensure safety of all children first 2. Intervene calmly — get to the child's level, use a calm voice 3. Set a clear limit: "Hitting hurts. We use gentle hands." 4. Redirect: Guide the child to an appropriate activity 5. Teach alternatives: "When you're angry, you can stamp your feet or tell me." 6. Document if the behaviour is repeated or significant

Notify the Site Manager immediately if: - A child is repeatedly aggressive or unsafe - A child's behaviour poses a risk to others - A child is consistently withdrawn or distressed - You need support developing a behaviour plan

When a child has ongoing behavioural difficulties, follow the 6-step progressive support process outlined in the Parent Handbook, Section 23. As staff, your role is to: - Observe and document factually - Implement the support plan consistently - Communicate with the family professionally - Report progress and concerns to the Site Manager

All staff at In Space Universe are mandated reporters under BC's Child, Family and Community Service Act. You have a legal obligation to report any suspicion that a child is in need of protection. This duty is individual — it does not require supervisor approval.

• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Neglect
• Exposure to family violence

1. Report immediately to the Site Manager
2. The Site Manager will contact MCFD at 1-800-663-9122
3. If the child is in immediate danger, call 911 first, then MCFD

• Document your observations factually (what you saw, not what you think)
• Do not interview the child or confront the suspected abuser
• Do not discuss your suspicion with colleagues (other than the Site Manager for reporting purposes)
• Report even if you are not certain — it is MCFD's role to investigate

1. Listen calmly without showing shock
2. Believe the child — false disclosures are extremely rare
3. Do not ask leading questions — let the child tell their story
4. Do not promise to keep it a secret
5. Document exactly what the child said using the child's words
6. Report immediately to the Site Manager

• Report immediately to the Site Manager and Director
• The accused staff member will be removed from contact with children
• MCFD and licensing will be notified within 24 hours
• Cooperate fully with any investigation

• No staff member will face retaliation for a good-faith report
• Your identity is protected to the fullest extent of the law

Report any of the following: - Any injury to a child (even minor) - Any injury to the head, face, or teeth - Any incident between children (biting, hitting, etc.) - Any allergic reaction - Any medication error - Any missing or unsupervised child (even briefly) - Any behaviour resulting in a child being sent home - Any property damage - Any unusual event affecting a child's well-being

Step 1 — Immediate Response - Provide first aid - Ensure safety of all other children - Stay calm

Step 2 — Document - Complete an Incident Report Form within 30 minutes - Write objectively — what you observed, not what you interpreted - Include: date, time, location, children involved, witnesses, what happened, first aid provided

Step 3 — Notify - Notify the Site Manager immediately - For serious incidents, the Site Manager notifies parents immediately - For minor incidents, parents are notified via In Space Hub by end of day

Step 4 — Follow-Up - The Site Manager reviews all incident reports daily - Be available to discuss the incident if needed - Implement any preventive actions identified

The following are classified as Serious Occurrences and must be reported to licensing within 24 hours: - Injury requiring medical attention (doctor, hospital, ambulance) - Suspected abuse or neglect - Missing child - Police involvement - Environmental hazard (gas leak, structural damage) - Communicable disease outbreak

The Site Manager completes the Serious Occurrence Report and submits it to Island Health Licensing.