Health & Safety at Play2Learn Academy
Practical procedures, trained staff, and everyday routines designed to help children feel secure, supported, and cared for
Choosing childcare means trusting other people with your child’s safety, health, comfort, and well-being. At Play2Learn Academy, health and safety are built into the way our centers operate each day—from secure entry and approved child release to staff training, illness procedures, medication handling, emergency preparation, transportation, and outdoor play.
Our goal is not only to maintain clear procedures. We also want children to feel emotionally secure, families to understand how care is handled, and parents to know who to speak with when they have a question or concern.
Play2Learn Academy serves families from three Davis County locations in Bountiful, Clearfield, and Layton. While each center has its own children, families, and staff, the same broader expectations for safety, supervision, training, and communication guide our approach across all three locations.
A Safe Environment Starts With Everyday Procedures
Childcare safety is built through the small things that happen consistently throughout the day.
Children are checked in and out through the Pro-Care App by a parent, guardian, or approved emergency contact. Families are responsible for keeping authorized pickup information current so staff know who is permitted to take a child from the center.
Daily routines also help staff keep track of arrivals, departures, schedule changes, absences, and school-day adjustments for children who use transportation.
These procedures are simple, but they matter. They help create clear accountability around who is responsible for a child at each point in the day.
Secure Access and Approved Child Release
Children spend a significant part of their early lives in childcare, and those hours matter. They are opportunities to form friendships, develop language, learn how to express feelings, become more independent, explore new ideas, solve problems, and gain confidence.
That is why Play2Learn Academy approaches childcare as part of a child’s larger development rather than simply a solution for the hours parents are working.
Our mission is to create a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment where children are valued, families are respected, and learning happens through love, play, and discovery. We support children socially, emotionally, intellectually, and physically as they build a foundation for lifelong learning.
That philosophy extends across the different stages of care we provide, from infant and toddler care through preschool and Pre-K, along with after-school care and summer programs for school-age children.
Staff Training & Preparedness
The people caring for children are one of the most important parts of a safe childcare environment.
Play2Learn staff complete a minimum of 40 hours of training each year. Training covers areas including child development, Positive Guidance, sanitation, nutrition, medication procedures, recognizing signs of illness, communicable diseases, age-appropriate activities, and injury prevention. Staff are also required to maintain current CPR/First Aid and Food Handler certifications.
Ongoing training helps teachers and caregivers stay prepared for the many situations that can arise during an ordinary childcare day—from helping children develop healthy routines and guiding behavior to recognizing illness and responding when an unexpected situation occurs.
Supporting a Healthy Childcare Environment
Young children spend time playing closely together, sharing spaces, and participating in group activities. Maintaining a healthy environment depends on clear routines and cooperation between staff and families.
Families are asked to notify the center when a child will miss care because of illness. Children who are ill or showing symptoms of a contagious condition may need to remain home or be picked up from the center.
If a child becomes sick while in care, the family is contacted so the child can return to the comfort and care of a parent or guardian. Families are also notified when their child may have been exposed to a contagious illness. These practices are intended to support the child who is sick while also helping protect the health of other children and staff.
Because individual health situations can differ, families should contact their center directly when they have questions about whether a child is ready to return to care.
Medication and Health Information
When medication must be given during childcare hours, Play2Learn follows clear handling and storage procedures.
Medication must be provided in its original container and clearly labeled with the child’s name and the correct dosage. A medication release form is also required, and medication is given directly to office staff rather than being left in backpacks or cubbies. Medications are kept in locked storage, including locked refrigerated storage when necessary.
Families are also required to provide current immunization records or the appropriate exemption documentation as part of enrollment and ongoing care. These procedures help staff manage important health information consistently and keep medication secured away from children.
Emergency Preparation
Families hope emergency procedures never need to be used, but preparation matters. Each child must have emergency contacts on file. In the event of a serious illness or emergency, Play2Learn will attempt to contact the child’s parent or guardian and may obtain emergency medical care when the situation requires it.
Fire drills are conducted monthly, and disaster drills are held twice each year. If a fire, power failure, or natural disaster requires children to leave the center, staff move them to the nearest safe location and contact parents or emergency contacts as soon as possible.
In a life-threatening emergency or missing-child situation, Play2Learn administration will call 911 and contact the family or emergency contact.
Regular practice helps staff and children become more familiar with what to do if an emergency occurs.
Safe Transportation for School-Age Children
Transportation is an important part of Play2Learn’s school-age and after-school programs. Play2Learn follows Utah booster-seat requirements and uses appropriate safety restraints during transportation. Children who require booster seats are placed in the appropriate restraint, and children under age 12 do not ride in the front seat.
School pickup procedures are also clearly defined. Drivers wait at designated pickup locations for a limited period after dismissal. If a child does not arrive as expected, the driver and center work together to contact the family and, when needed, the school.
If transportation is delayed or another issue occurs, parents and the school are notified.
Because participating schools and routes can change, families should confirm current transportation availability directly with their Play2Learn location.
Outdoor Play, Weather, and Air Quality
Outdoor play is part of the regular Play2Learn day. Children are scheduled for morning and afternoon outdoor periods totaling at least 60 minutes, with outdoor time adjusted when temperatures move outside the center’s comfort range.
Staff also monitor weather conditions and air quality. Children are not taken outside when air quality reaches Orange or worse.
Families are encouraged to send weather-appropriate clothing and footwear so children can participate comfortably and safely.
Outdoor time gives children space to move, build coordination, interact with peers, and enjoy a different learning environment from the classroom while staff continue to monitor conditions.
Emotional Safety and Positive Guidance
Health and safety are not only physical. Children also need to feel respected and supported when they are upset, frustrated, learning boundaries, or having difficulty with another child.
Play2Learn staff are trained in Positive Guidance techniques. Teachers use approaches such as modeling, redirection, helping children express feelings with words, and positive reinforcement. Play2Learn does not use corporal punishment, abusive or demeaning language, or withholding food, rest, or toileting as discipline.
When behavior creates an immediate safety concern, staff intervene, help the child calm down, and talk through the situation in a developmentally appropriate way before the child returns to the group when appropriate. This approach supports clear expectations while recognizing that self-control, communication, and social skills develop over time.
Communication With Families
Parents should know who to speak with when they have a question or concern. Play2Learn encourages open communication between families and caregivers. Parents are encouraged to begin with their child’s teacher or caregiver when a concern arises. If additional help is needed, they may speak with the director or assistant director, and ownership can become involved when necessary.
That communication matters because health, safety, and well-being are shared responsibilities. Families know their children best. Teachers see children in the classroom, during activities, and in interactions with peers. Sharing information helps both sides respond more effectively when a child’s needs or circumstances change.
Health & Safety Across Our Davis County Centers
Play2Learn Academy provides childcare and early-learning programs at three Davis County locations: Bountiful, Clearfield, and Layton.
Each location follows Play2Learn’s broader approach to health, safety, training, supervision, and family communication while serving its own local community.
We encourage parents to visit the center they are considering, meet the local team, ask about the procedures that matter most to their family, and see the environment firsthand.
Come Get to Know Play2Learn Academy
Reading about a childcare center can answer many questions, but there is no substitute for seeing the environment and meeting the people who will be part of your child’s day. We invite you to visit the Play2Learn Academy location nearest you, meet our team, learn more about our programs, and ask the questions that matter to your family.
