Return Home Alone Policy
RETURN HOME ALONE POLICY
Purpose
This policy supports families by allowing flexibility in after-school arrangements while promoting independence, responsibility, and safety for children.
Eligibility and Permission Requirements
- The granting of “Return Home Alone” privileges is only available to a child in the program who is 10 years of age or older, who has been accepted by TOPP KIDS, subject to any exception approved by the CEO of TOPP KIDS.
- Compliance by the parent/guardian with all requirements of this policy, including the provision by the parents/guardians of the child of a signed copy of the Child Return Home Alone Permission, Waiver and Release Form and
- An Return Home Alone Route Map is obtained before a child can leave the program on their own.
- An individual aged 13 or older must be at home to receive the child.
Procedure
- The parents/guardians must provide a signed copy of the Child Walking Home Alone Permission, Waiver and Release Form on an annual basis which has been approved and accepted by TOPP KIDS.
- A parent/guardian must provide a dated, written permission (note, email or text) each day stating that the child can leave the program on their own and at what time they can be released.
- TOPP KIDS staff will record the receipt of the written permission in the Return Home Alone Tracking Sheet. A copy of the note, email or text will be retained in the records of TOPP KIDS.
- Before the child is released from the program on their own, TOPP KIDS staff will call or text the designated parent/guardian for verbal or written confirmation that they are being signed out and going home. Once the parent/guardian has approved the transfer of care, the child will be signed out of the program and the care of TOPP KIDS. The phone call and departure time will be recorded by TOPP KIDS staff in the Return Home Alone Tracking Sheet.
- The staff member signing out the child from the program will be responsible to communicate to all other members of the staff at that program site the fact the child has the required permission and has been signed out.
Safety Guidelines
The granting of “Return Home Alone” privileges is subject to the acceptance of child in the sole discretion of TOPP KIDS, which discretion shall be exercised by TOPP KIDS on a case by case basis taking into account such factors as TOPP KIDS deem relevant, including without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the distance to be travelled by child and the child’s developmental readiness.
Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Policy, TOPP KIDS reserves the absolute right in its sole discretion to cancel the child’s “Return Home Alone” privileges or refuse to sign out a child from the Program on any given day if TOPP KIDS staff believe it is in the best interests of child to do so, including situations of inclement weather, the child expressing concern over traveling alone or if the child appears to be ill. In the event of such a decision being made by TOPP KIDS, staff will contact the designated parent/guardian to make alternate arrangements.
Documentation Required
- Signed copy of the Child Return Home Alone Permission, Waiver and Release Form and
- Signed copy Return Home Alone Route Map
Documents shall be emailed to registrations@toppkids.com and a copy is to be stored in the child’s file and shall be effective only for the Program year for which it was given and shall expire at the end of such Program year.
Program Documentation
The Child Return Home Alone Tracking Sheet and all written communications with parents/guardians, including daily written permissions, and staff notes related to the Return Home Alone Policy shall be stored in the Program site and forms stored in the child’s file.
All documents listed within this policy shall be retained for a minimum of three years following the expiry of the year to which they apply.