Inclusion Policy

KFNS is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful environment where all participants feel valued and supported. 

We believe every child deserves meaningful access to nature-based learning and opportunities to participate with dignity, respect, and belonging.

We strive to provide reasonable accommodations to support participants of varying abilities, identities, backgrounds, and learning needs, consistent with the principles of the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s guidance on accessible education.

At KFNS we approach behaviour management proactively by creating a positive, supportive, and developmentally appropriate learning environment that promotes safety, belonging, and respect. As part of our community-building and daily risk assessment practices, participants are regularly involved in learning about and co-creating safe and appropriate expectations and boundaries.

Behaviour Principles

To ensure a safe & positive experience for everyone at KFNS, here are our guiding Behaviour Principles:

• Be kind and respectful to yourself, others, and all living things;
• Respect diversity and inclusion;
• Care for the learning environment and equipment;
• Be prepared and ready to learn;
• Support others in their learning;
• Use safe and appropriate behaviour;
• Follow safety rules and guidelines; and,
• Participate with a positive attitude.

• Considers each participants’s developmental stage, abilities, and individual needs;
• Sets clear expectations and provides appropriate support for success;
• Focuses on the behaviour, not the participant;
• Uses positive, respectful, and consistent guidance;
• Supports participants in developing self-regulation, communication, decision-making, and conflict-resolution skills;
• Encourages accountability, empathy, and respect for others; and,
• Involves ongoing communication and collaboration with parents/guardians to support consistency and share effective strategies.

Inappropriate & Unsafe Behaviour

• Inappropriate behaviour refers to actions or language that make others feel uncomfortable or unsafe, or that do not align with our Behaviour Principles.
• Unsafe behaviour refers to actions that place a participant or staff member at risk. Examples may include:
  • Not responding when called;
  • Leaving designated boundaries;
  • Hiding from staff;
  • Engaging in unsafe risk-taking without staff awareness or support;
  • Physical aggression, violence, or threatening behaviour toward others; and,
  • Repeatedly disregarding safety instructions or guidelines.

Responding to Inappropriate or Unsafe Behaviour

When inappropriate or unsafe behaviour occurs, KFNS staff will take a supportive, consistent, and safety-focused approach. Depending on the situation, the following steps may be taken:

• Staff will immediately address the behaviour and, when necessary, remove the participant from the group to ensure safety and provide support and regulation.
• Staff will work with the participant to identify the behaviour, review expectations, and develop strategies to support safer and more appropriate participation.
• KFNS staff will collaborate to ensure consistent expectations, responses, and support strategies.
• Parents/guardians will be informed of significant concerns and may be consulted to better understand contributing factors and identify effective support strategies.
• Ongoing communication between KFNS staff and parents/guardians may occur to monitor progress and support consistency.
• Staff will continue to provide guidance, follow-up, encouragement, and positive reinforcement to support the participant’s success.

If a participant’s behaviour continues to present a significant safety concern for themselves or others despite reasonable interventions and support strategies, KFNS may suspend or withdraw the participant from the program temporarily or permanently. In these circumstances, refunds will NOT be issued.

KFNS reserves the right to immediately suspend or expel a participant in cases of severe, threatening, violent, or abusive behaviour toward participants, staff, volunteers, or others, or where immediate safety is at risk. Parents/guardians will be contacted immediately and required to arrange prompt pick-up of the participant. Refunds will NOT be issued in these circumstances.

Please keep our community’s wellness in mind and stay home if you are unwell.

At KFNS, we aim to promote good hand hygiene, and to support masking for those families who wish to wear masks in our enclosed spaces, because as we have learned these are effective measures to prevent transmission of illnesses/viral infections by droplets and aerosols.

If a member of your family/household is immunocompromised, we encourage you to reach out so that we can discuss how best to support your family in our space.

Illness Policy

• In the following cases, we ask that participants and staff stay home from KFNS for at least 48 hours after their last symptom has subsided:
  • Fever/Temperature over 101°F or 38.3°C
  • Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea – not related to other known causes or conditions (for example, transient vomiting due to anxiety in children, chronic vestibular dysfunction, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, side effects of medication)
• In the following cases, we ask that participants and staff stay home from KFNS until their symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours:
  • Cough – not related to other known causes or conditions (for example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
  • Shortness of breath – not related to other known causes or conditions (for example, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic heart failure)
  • Decrease or loss of taste or smell – not related to other known causes or conditions (for example, nasal polyps, allergies, neurological disorders)
  • Muscle aches or joint pain – not related to other known causes or conditions (for example, getting a COVID-19 vaccine and/or flu shot in the last 48 hours, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia)
  • Extreme tiredness – general feeling of being unwell, lack of energy and not related to other known causes or conditions (for example, getting a COVID-19 vaccine and/or flu shot in the last 48 hours, depression, insomnia, thyroid dysfunction, anemia, malignancy)
  • Sore throat – painful swallowing or difficulty swallowing, not related to other known causes or conditions (for example, post-nasal drip, acid reflux)
  • Runny or stuffy/congested nose – not related to other known causes or conditions (for example, seasonal allergies, being outside in cold weather, chronic sinusitis)
  • Headache – not related to other known causes or conditions (for example, getting a COVID-19 vaccine and/or flu shot in the last 48 hours, tension-type headaches, chronic migraines)
  • Abdominal pain – not related to other known causes or conditions (for example, menstrual cramps, gastroesophageal reflux disease)
  • Decreased or no appetite (young children only)
  • Isolation directive – you have been told by a healthcare provider that you should currently in quarantine, isolating or staying at home
• Should the above-mentioned situations/symptoms arise while at KFNS, the affected participants/staff will be asked to return home immediately.

Communicable Diseases Policy

• Communicable diseases include, but are not limited to, COVID-19, measles, chicken pox, mumps, flu, strep throat, viral pneumonia, conjunctivitis (pink-eye), etc.
• Participants and staff affected by communicable diseases are asked to stay home from KFNS until their health care providerhas communicated that it is safe for them to attend.
• We ask all participants and staff to inform KFNS of any positive COVID-19 test results and infections of known communicable diseases arising within 5 days of attending a program so that we can support and protect immunocompromised members of our community.
• Any outbreak of communicable disease will be communicated to participants and staff via email.
• Should the above-mentioned situations/symptoms arise while at KFNS, the affected participants will be asked to return home immediately.

Immunization & Measles Policy

• Children: please provide proof that your child is up-to-date on all mandatory vaccines.
• Adults: for participating adults (Acorns & Oaks program and staff), please provide proof that you have received two valid doses of measles-containing vaccine (e.g., MMR or MMRV) past 12 months of age.
• For participants/staff that are exempt from immunizations for medical or religious reasons, please complete the necessary paperwork provided by the Government of Ontario as proof of exemption.
• Proof must be uploaded to your Amilia account or sent via email at least 1 week prior to the session start date.
• If there is a case of measles at KFNS, participants/staff that have not provided proof or do not have two valid doses of measles-containing vaccine (e.g., MMR or MMRV) will be excluded.
• Participants/staff may return to KFNS when they meet one of the following criteria:
  • 21 days have passed since their last exposure to measles and there are no further cases in the KFNS community
  • a measles outbreak is declared over
  • there is proof of lab confirmed immunity
  • they have received their second dose of measles-containing vaccine

Head Lice Policy

• Head lice may affect participants/staff at KFNS.
• Head lice is not considered a communicable disease but rather an annoying condition which spreads rapidly. If head lice or nits are present, we ask that you:
  • Contact staff at KFNS immediately so that other families can be informed (the affected individuals will remain anonymous).
  • Follow the treatment suggestions from KFL&A Public Health.

Back to top of Our Policies page.