Safety and Security

Every parent can leave their child with us knowing that we take extra precautions to provide a safe, clean, secure environment for their child. Child care and safety are Minnieland’s NUMBER ONE priority.

Every Minnieland Academy has a set of child care safety and security protocols that we strictly enforce. Some of the highlights include:

SECURE DOORS & ENTRANCES:

Our schools are equipped with an electronic access entry system that allows only authorized individuals to enter.
Access Codes are changed often and are time sensitive, so even those with codes can only access the school during regular hours.

Child Care and Safety at Northern Virginia's Minnieland Academy

VISITOR PRECAUTIONS:

Those without codes must be allowed in by a front desk employee and will be accompanied throughout the building.
Photo identification is required from all unfamiliar visitors.
No child will be released to any unknown person without written authorization and proper identification.

BACKGROUND CHECKS:

All employees are thoroughly screened and undergo criminal background checks and Federal database fingerprinting before they can be employed by one of our schools. Teachers conduct strict accountability “name to face” identification procedures to ensure all children are accounted for while transitioning to and from classrooms, playgrounds, buses and throughout the day.

EMERGENCIES:

All Minnieland Academy schools have emergency preparedness plans in place for severe weather, fire, lock-down conditions or other disaster situations and an emergency evacuation plan is in place at each school.
Monthly drills are held to ensure staff and children can calmly and quickly follow through with the procedures.

SAFE TRANSPORTATION:

Minnieland Academy transports children in a fleet of specially designed buses approved by the Department of Transportation.
Each driver must pass a defensive driving course and Motor Vehicle record check.
Our vehicles are regularly inspected and maintained for safety.
The drivers have access to emergency phone numbers and assistance from the school, if needed, at all times.

FOOD SAFETY:

All Minnieland Academy cooks must complete a “Food Safe” training program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Child Care Food Program
We welcome breastfeeding mothers, and we have careful policies for separating breast milk from formula.
Minnieland Academy does not serve peanut butter or peanuts. However, we do not claim to be a “peanut-free” environment due to cross contamination that occurs during the processing of some foods.

SAFE PLAYGROUNDS:

Minnieland Academy schools have high-quality playground equipment that is safe and kid tested.
All fall zones and landing areas have areas with licensing-approved levels of soft surfaces.
All playgrounds are age appropriate and age segregated.
All outside playgrounds, pools, and water-play areas are inside secure fences with locked gates.

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