We're Here for You

OUR STAFF

How are staff screened prior to employment? Staff are screened in a variety of ways, including: a national criminal background check (fingerprinting), Rhode Island’s Department of Children Youth and Families’ CANTS clearance(background check), college transcripts, letters of recommendation and medical reports. Staff is also required to stay currently certified in First Aid and CPR.

How do staff stay current in appropriate practice with children? Each staff member completes a minimum of 20 hours per year of in service training on a wide variety of topics.

PAYMENTS

How often do I pay? Parents must pay on Friday by 6:00 p.m. for the coming week. Parents who pay after that time, will be accessed a $10 per child late fee until the account is current. Parents can pay once a month or bi-weekly, as long as the parent is paying ahead, not behind.

Where do I pay my bill? Please ask your director where the basket is with the payment cards. Insert your payment into the envelop (do not write anything on the card) and place the entire envelop into the locked payment box outside your directors office. If you opt for automated bank checks, please make sure your director knows ahead of the first payment. 

Do I pay for days my child is absent due to illness? Yes, our teaching staff must remian at our location during the day if your child is scheduled to attend by Rhode Island State law. If your child does come in and we do not have teachers at our locations could be fined and shut down by DCYF, the Fire Department, and the RI Education Board.

Do I pay for days my child is absent for a family vacation or simply a day off? If a family has been full time (5 days per week) for 3 months, you are entitled to 5 vacation days per year. The vacation days do not need to be used together. Please let your director know if you are planning to use vacation days. If you are part time (do not come 5 days per week, or are just before or just after school) you are not entitled to vacation days. To calculate your tuition when using vacation time, simply take your weekly tuition, divide by the number of days you come each week, and then multiply by the number of days you are coming that week.

What if I need to add a day? You can a day during the week if space is available. Take your weekly tuition rate, divide by the number of days you come each week, and this would be your daily rate. Your daily rate is what you would pay for the extra day.

How is tuition factored? The more days per week you come, the less it is per day. For example, if you are full time during the school year and then go to part time in the summer, your daily rate will change. Please see the tuition sheet for more information.  

Do I pay for holidays? Yes. There are 10 holidays per year the school is closed.

Will the Center accept payment from a subsidizing agency? Yes.

Do I have to pay the registration fee each year? No as long as you stay continuously enrolled. If you dis-enroll for more than 30 days, you must pay the registration fee again.

ELIGIBILITY AND SCHEDULING

Do I have to reapply each year to keep my child’s space? You are automatically given a space as long as your are continuously enrolled. However, if you dis-enroll for more than 30 days, you must leave your registration fee and your deposit for the first week you return in order to reserve your spot.

If my child comes in late or misses a day, can my child stay later or come another day to make it up? No. Time can not be traded or banked for future use.

END OF THE DAY CHILD PICK-UP

Can I call the Center when someone else is going to pick-up my child? No. You must fill out the necessary forms BEFORE anyone else can take your child. We cannot take changes in the authorized pickup list via fax or phone.

What happens if I am late picking up my child? You are charged a late fee. If a parent is repeatedly late, he/she may be asked to find alternate care for their child. Please see your handbook for our policies.

MEALS AND TREATS

How will I know what my child eats during the day? We provide cereal for breakfast and two snacks daily. Selections are provided on a rotating schedule. Please refer to the posted snack/breakfast calendar to see what is offered for a particular day.

May I bring birthday treats for my child? Yes, but only store-bought items that are peanut and peanut-oil free may be brought into the Center.

Can my child have peanut butter in their lunch? No, we are a peanut-free center.

CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES

Does the Center have a curriculum? Yes, each room has a prepared curriculum.

How will I know what my child does during the day? Daily reports are sent home with children in the Infant, Toddler, Preschool, and Pre-K rooms.

Will my child play outside in the winter? Yes, as long as the temperature is above 32 degrees and weather permits. Please bring mittens, hats, and boots so your child can enjoy the outdoors.

HEALTH CONCERNS

May child come to school when he/she is ill? No. Home is the best place for children when they are contagious or recuperating. Your handbook lists contagious illnesses that require a child’s absence.

Will the Center give my child medicine? Yes, but only if you fill out a Medication Consent Form and give it to the Lead Teacher. ALL medicine must be kept in the infant room. The only prescription items kept in the children’s classroom are inhalers and epi-pens.

How often does my child need a medical appointment? When in enrolling, you must provide a current immunization record, provide documentation by a doctor’s stating the last physical exam, and for children who are under 6 years old, documentation of a lead screening. Each time any of the three requirements are updated, please provide us with copies for your child’s records.

What happens if my child is ill or hurt while in the center? Staff is First Aid and CPR certified. If it is something they are trained to handle, such as scrapes and bumps, they will apply bandaids and ice as necessary. If they need assistance, we have a nurse on staff for part of each day who they can refer to. If your child is hurt, you will receive a accident report, which is signed by the teacher, person in charge, and the parent. This record is kept in your child’s file. If your child is ill (please refer to your Parent Handbook for a list of illnesses and criteria), we will contact you to pick up your child and you will need to pick up your child within one hour. 

PARENT AND FAMILY INVOLVEMENT

May I come visit my child at the Center during the day? Parents/Guardians are always welcome at any time.  If you plan on stopping by to say hello to your child, please let your child know ahead of time, if possible, so they are not confused/upset when you leave. 

Do you have opportunities for family involvement? Thoughout the year, we have lots of family events.  Typically, they are 1-2 months apart and vary from mornings to afternoons.  Our End of Summer picnic is during lunchtime.  All extended family and friends are invited to our events, but please make sure to fill out the proper forms so we know who to expect.     

In what ways can I be involved in my child’s program?  Parents/guardians receive summaries of their children’s curriculum.  You are welcome to bring in things from home to supplement the curriculum.  These items should be given directly to your child’s teacher who will share them with the class and then return them to a parent/guardian at the end of the day.  Items should not be of any monetary value or sentimental.  Good examples are a bird’s nest during bird week, shells during ocean week, or a green tomato ready to turn red during earth week, etc.

I have a special talent, can I share it with the class?  Please let your child’s teacher know if you have a talent to share with the class.  Do you play the guitar, do you know how to make playdough from scratch, or maybe you’re just great at reading a book.  We’d love to have you share your talents with your child and their friends.    

How do I request a parent conference? We provide parent conferences twice a year AND upon request. Feel free to request one from a Lead Teacher or the Director.

Should I notify the Center if there are questions surrounding custody issues? If there is a custody issue, you must provide the director with documentation. 

Will you include non-custodial parents in the program? Yes, if the custodial parent agrees.

TRANSPORTATION AND FIELD TRIPS

How are children transported to/from school and during field trips? The Early Learning Centers vehicles.  Drivers have their driving records checked in addition to the required background checks.  If your child requires a booster seat according to state laws, you must provide the booster seat/car seat.   

Will I be notified of field trips? Our School Age children go on field trips each day when school is not in session (ex. School vacations, summer time, and teacher development days).  All other age groups do not go on field trips; however, in the summer, we offer optional swimming lessons to children ages 3 and up at a private pool for an additional charge.

SCHOOL AGE PROGRAM

How do I know what to pay for my school age child? Refer to your tuition handout.  When school is in session, you would pay the Kindergarten, Before and After School, Before School, or After School rates.  When there is December, February, April, or Summer vacation, you would pay the Summer/Vacation rate. 

What if there is a planned school system day off during the week (such as a teacher development day)? 

For children Before and After School: Take your weekly tuition and divide by the number of days you come per week to get your daily rate.  Take that rate and multiply it by the number of days during the week which you will be coming before and after school.  Then take your vacation rate, divide it by the number of days you come per week to get your daily rate.  Take that daily raid and mulitply it by the number of days during the week which you will be coming full days.  Add the two final numbers to get what you need to pay for the week.

For children just before or just after: The charge is $29 additional.

For Kindergarten children in our half day program: There is no additional charge.

What if there is an unplanned school system day off during the week (such as a snow day)?  There is no additional charge for unplanned school system days.  We are always open during snow days unless there is a Governor-ordered state of emergency.  The children will remain at the Early Learning Center for the day with no additional charge.  Should there be an early release from school, we will take care of getting your child to our center for you unless otherwise directed.  

Will I be notified of field trips? Our School Age children go on field trips each day when school is not in session (ex. School vacations, summer time, and teacher development days).  All other age groups do not go on field trips; however, in the summer, we offer optional swimming lessons to children ages 3 and up at a private pool for an additional charge.