hi sarah
A parent pack - i call mine a 'welcome pack' - is a package of info you give out to a prospective new parent - i tend to try and make sure they are likely to sign rahter than handing them out to just anybody cos it takes a lot of putting together, contains all the info about my setting (which I'd hate other minders getting hold if they were being naughty and wasting my time) and time-wasters also waste my money!
Mine's about 5 pages long and contains my personal info for parents on the following -
•My mission statement
•About me (like a brief CV)
•Opening hours (and please don't come early cos i won't be dressed / ready etc)
•Settling in notes
•Clothing / belongings information (if they bring it and fight over it i'll put it somewhere safe; i can't be held responsible if they lose it or break it)
•Working in partnership with parents (you are your child's first and best educator and i worship every word you say)
•Ofsted (i will tell you when they cometh and give you details of my grading when they goeth)
•A typical term-time day (routines info)
•Fees
•Holidays (all the ones i can pre-book eg Christmas week, bank holidays)
•Back-up (my cminder friend who cannot absolutely guarantee a place so get your own mug if i'm ill)
•My healthy eating statement
•Birthday parties (don't send cake it's not healthy eating! Poor little things!!)
•Food for special occasions (we will experiment and i'll let you know about successes - let me know about allergies pls!!)
•Early education and development (BTTM & FS info)
•Information re. Babies & children under 2 (supporting breastfeeding, extra care and attention etc)
•House rules (called goals nowadays - must change that bit)
•Support eg stranger danger, crossing roads, honest age-appropriate answers given to those tricky questions
•Nappies & toilet training (changing on demand, will support toilet training but don't be daft about it - 1 is tooooo early)
•My home (who's here and what bits i use for minding
I then include my contracts and forms to be completed acc to the age of the child and a short precis of my policies and procedures
Hope this helps
Sarahx