Placement Students & Volunteers
Kid’s Mondo proudly welcomes placement students and volunteers into our programs. We believe these opportunities are a valuable part of learning and professional growth, while also enhancing the quality of care we provide. Volunteers and students support staff in daily operations, bringing energy and meaningful contributions to our centre.
Volunteer Opportunities
Are you looking for a rewarding way to give back to your community? At Kid’s Mondo, volunteers play an important role in supporting children’s development. Volunteers may interact directly with children in our programs under the supervision of trained staff. They are never left alone with a child or group of children, but their presence and attention make a lasting difference in the children’s lives.
Student Placements
We offer a variety of placement opportunities for students completing Secondary or Post-Secondary education or participating in community programs. Kid’s Mondo welcomes students from programs such as:
- Early Childhood Education (ECE)
- Child and Youth Care (CYC)
- Social Service Worker (SSW)
- Personal Support Worker (PSW)
- Other related fields
Students gain hands-on experience in our classrooms alongside our educators, and some may also have the opportunity to contribute to office and administrative work. These placements provide students with valuable learning experiences in childcare, while giving them the chance to see firsthand the positive impact they can have on children’s growth and development.
High School Students
Kid’s Mondo also supports high school students who are looking to:
- Complete volunteer hours for graduation
- Participate in a high school co-op program
- Explore career pathways in early childhood education and childcare
These opportunities allow high school students to learn in a professional childcare environment, develop important skills, and make a meaningful contribution to our centre.
Purpose
Kid’s Mondo welcomes placement students and volunteers into the various programs offered in our childcare program. We believe it is a valuable part of gaining experience in a childcare environment. Volunteers and students also play an important role in supporting staff in the daily operation of childcare programs.
This policy will provide supervising staff, students and volunteers with a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
This policy is intended to fulfill the obligations set out under Ontario Regulation 137/15 for policies and procedures regarding volunteers and students for childcare centres.
Note: definitions for terms used throughout this policy are provided in a Glossary at the end of the document.
Policy
General
- Students and volunteers will always be supervised by an employee and never permitted to be alone with any child or group of children who receive child care.
- Students and volunteers will not be counted in staff-to-child ratios.
- The director/supervisor is responsible for recruiting, orientation, and training volunteers and students.
Additional Policy Statements
- All persons expressing a willingness to become a volunteer must be screened, interviewed and placed within the Centre by the director/supervisor.
- All volunteers must complete a standard application form in order to establish suitability for placement within the Centre. We will make every effort to place the volunteer in a setting that best utilizes their interests and experience.
- The volunteer and the director/supervisor will mutually agree on the length of the commitment. Prior to volunteering at the Centre, the volunteer must sign an agreement outlining the Centre’s expectations and the volunteer’s role.
- The director/Supervisor may ask the volunteer to leave, provided written documentation shows the reasons for the request. All volunteers will receive a description outlining their duties and expectations.
Placement Students
College or university students may complete placements at our centre. These would include students from programs such as Early Childhood Education, Social Work and Child and Youth Care. Depending on their placement goals, they would likely plan and run a program or activity with the children, plan and present a parent education workshop, work on a project such as a parent education bulletin board, etc. The designated staff member supervises these students. The director/supervisor will review the Student Placement Orientation Package as their placement begins.
Volunteers
Volunteers can assist at the centre and can be a helpful addition to the program. Potential volunteers must be a minimum of 15 years of age (or 14 if currently attending high school) to volunteer. These include high school volunteers, who are required for graduation; field experience volunteers, who are required for educational purposes; and personal interest volunteers. Volunteers do not receive a salary or wage (excluding any expense reimbursement) for their services.
Volunteer duties would include assisting in craft or snack preparation, site cleaning, providing childcare alongside program staff, program set up, etc., although some long-term volunteers may run programs and activities. Centre staff/supervisors are designated as those responsible for supervising and providing jobs for the volunteers.
Hours are documented in the volunteer binder for each volunteer.
Student and Volunteer Supervision Procedures: Roles and Responsibilities
The licensee/designate must:
- Ensure that all applicable policies, procedures and individual plans are reviewed with students and/or volunteers before they start their educational placement or begin volunteering annually thereafter and when changes occur to the policies, procedures and individualized plans to support appropriate implementation.
- Ensure all students and/or volunteers have been trained on each child’s individualized plan.
- Ensure that a vulnerable sector check (VSC) and annual offence declarations are on file for all students and/or volunteers in accordance with the child care centre’s criminal reference check policy and procedures and Ontario Regulation 137/15.
- Ensure that expectations are reviewed with students and/or volunteers, including, but not limited to
The supervising staff must:
- Ensure that students and/or volunteers are never included in the staff-to-child ratios.
- Ensure that students and/or volunteers are supervised at all times and never left alone with the children.
- Introduce students and/or volunteers to parents/guardians.
- Provide an environment that facilitates and supports students’ and/or volunteers’ learning and professional development.
- Provide students and/or volunteers with clear expectations of the program in accordance with the established program statement and program statement implementation policy.
- Provide students and/or volunteers with feedback on their performance.
- Work collaboratively with the student’s practicum supervising teacher.
- Monitor and notify the centre supervisor/director of any student and/or volunteer misconduct or contraventions with the centre’s policies, procedures, prohibited practices or individual plans (where applicable) in accordance with the child care centre’s written process for monitoring compliance and contraventions.
Additional Procedures
Limitations
- Volunteers and students are not to communicate a child’s progress with parents/guardians.
- Volunteers are not responsible for planning or evaluating staff’s program plans; however, their ideas are welcomed. Students will collaborate with their designated RECE regarding program assignments from the Educational Institution.
- Volunteers and/or students are not to be in charge of a group on field trips.
DRESS CODE:
All volunteers and/or students are expected to dress comfortably and respectfully, following centre policies.
HEALTH ASSESSMENT:
Section 57 (1) and (2) of The Child Care Early Years Act states that each person working in a Child Care Centre is to have a health assessment and immunization(s) as recommended by the local medical officer of health, except where the person objects in writing to such immunization(s) or religious grounds or a legally qualified practitioner gives medical reasons in writing to the operator as to why the person should not be immunized. An exception form must be notarized in order to be valid. However, in such situations, the Centre reserves the right to refuse the application of any volunteer or student who has not complied with the Health Assessment requirements.
REQUIREMENTS
- A 2-step, 2-part TB skin test or chest X-ray
- Up-to-date immunization (s) or written statement of refusal. (Notarized waiver is required) *Please note that anyone who is not immunized will not be permitted to volunteer during a communicable disease outbreak.*
- Any Local Requirements.
- Must be fit to work in Childcare.
It is the responsibility of the manager/supervisor to explain the necessary medical requirements. A Medical Information form is available to be provided to the physician of their choice and returned to the Centre prior to commencement of duties.
NOTE: The Child Care Centre Supervision of Students and Volunteers Policy will be reviewed by all employees before commencing employment and annually afterwards. Employees will be required to sign and date that they have reviewed and will adhere to the terms and conditions set out in the policy.
SIGN OFF LETTER FOR VOLUNTEERS/STUDENTS FOR TRIPS AND OUTINGS
VOLUNTEER/STUDENT POLICY FOR TRIPS AND OUTINGS
Kid’s Mondo would like to take this opportunity to thank you for offering your help to be a volunteer with a group. To ensure the safety of everyone participating, we ask that you read, sign and respect the guidelines below. Have a great trip!
- You will be paired with a staff member in a small group- always maintain contact with your group. Staff will make decisions in the children’s and the program’s best interests. Please follow their lead.
- You must stay with your assigned teacher and group. Please do not wander off on your own. Students/Volunteers CAN NOT supervise children on their own and must always stay with a staff member.
- Children must be supervised at all times. No child is to be left unattended.
- A staff member of the centre must be notified should you need to leave your group (i.e. Washroom/break/emergency call).
- A staff member of the centre must escort children to and from the washroom facilities. Students and volunteers are NEVER to escort children unsupervised by a Staff member.
- Areas such as playgrounds or open fields should be monitored for hazards.
- In the interest of health and safety, please only offer food or beverages supplied by the centre or the child’s parent. This includes treats/gifts purchased from a gift shop.
- Please do not allow the children to eat or drink on the bus.
- Please encourage children to walk (avoid carrying children except in emergency situations).
- Smoking is not permitted while supervising the children.
- Please review Kid’s Mondo (Prohibited Practices and Positive Interactions and Child Abuse) Policies. Volunteers are expected to follow these policies while supervising children.
- Staff are legally responsible for the children at all times. However, we rely on your cooperation in helping us supervise the children and inform the staff of any unsafe situations. If you feel something is not safe, report it to the staff you are with immediately.
Glossary
Licensee: The individual or corporation named on the licence issued by the Ministry of Education responsible for the operation and management of the child care centre.
Staff (Employee): Individual employed by the licensee (e.g. program room staff).
Student: An Individual who is enrolled in an education program/school and is completing a placement.
Volunteer: An individual who participates in the child care program and interacts with children in care but is not paid by the licensee (e.g. parents assisting on an occasional or recurring basis with child care programming, such as excursions, field trips, etc.)