Iowa City daycare from Bright Horizons

Early education and preschool that's more than daycare

When selecting a care for their child, working parents don't need to choose between convenience and quality. Bright Horizons in Iowa City prioritizes school readiness while also offering flexible schedules all year round.

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Comprehensive early childhood curriculum

We have a number of convenient locations throughout the area of Iowa City.

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A Proven Approach for School Readiness

What parents and teachers have to say about Bright Horizons graduates

94%

of teachers said that Bright Horizons graduates were ready to accept new responsibilities and greater independence.

Curriculum elements such as Caring Matters and Toward a Better World support important social skills, helping children to express themselves, resolve conflict, and work cooperatively with classmates and teachers.

97%

of parents report their child entered elementary school prepared and ready to meet the demands of their new school.

Our integrated and emergent curriculum gives young children the ability to expand beyond strong foundations in reading, writing, and math to understand not just what to learn, but how to learn.

98%

of Bright Horizons’ parents and teachers agree Bright Horizons’ graduates entered elementary school with a strong enthusiasm for learning.

Bright Horizons teachers encourage children to ask questions, fostering more than just an interest in facts -- but a thirst to understand how things work.

97%

of parents said their child entered school with the ability to approach a challenge in an innovative or creative way.

In our classrooms, education is more than facts and figures, but inspires children to innovate, problem solve, and apply information in creative and resourceful manners.

93%

of teachers agree that the Bright Horizons’ graduates in their classrooms were well prepared with the literacy and math skills they needed for academic success.

Our graduates leave our centers confident students who are ready to manage the academic, social, and behavioral expectations of the first year of elementary school and beyond.

94%

of teachers said that Bright Horizons graduates were ready to accept new responsibilities and greater independence.

97%

of parents report their child entered elementary school prepared and ready to meet the demands of their new school.

Our integrated and emergent curriculum gives young children the ability to expand beyond strong foundations in reading, writing, and math to understand not just what to learn, but how to learn.

98%

of Bright Horizons’ parents and teachers agree Bright Horizons’ graduates entered elementary school with a strong enthusiasm for learning.

Bright Horizons teachers encourage children to ask questions, fostering more than just an interest in facts -- but a thirst to understand how things work.

97%

of parents said their child entered school with the ability to approach a challenge in an innovative or creative way.

In our classrooms, education is more than facts and figures, but inspires children to innovate, problem solve, and apply information in creative and resourceful manners.

93%

of teachers agree that the Bright Horizons’ graduates in their classrooms were well prepared with the literacy and math skills they needed for academic success.

Our graduates leave our centers confident students who are ready to manage the academic, social, and behavioral expectations of the first year of elementary school and beyond.

94%

of teachers said that Bright Horizons graduates were ready to accept new responsibilities and greater independence.

Our programs

Working parents shouldn’t have to choose between child care and early education. With age-specific support for every stage

Infants

Preschool

Toddlers & Twos

Pre-Kindergarten

Elementary Schools

Before & After-School

Summer Camps

Montessori Schools

What I should know about Bright Horizons

I've looked at other preschools in Iowa City that have long waitlists. What if I want to enroll at a Iowa City Bright Horizons center but space is not available?

You can select up to 3 Bright Horizons child care locations to be registered at, including the center you are most interested in. By registering, you are confirming your strong interest in all 3 centers. We will add you to our wait list and you will be offered a space as soon as one becomes available. While waiting for a space to become available at your first choice location, many families will choose to enroll at their 2nd or 3rd choice temporarily until space becomes available at the center they are most interested in. In many centers, a child currently enrolled at a Bright Horizons location has priority over the general community so enrolling at another location will not only solve your care needs but will also give you additional priority in getting into your 1st preference. Our goal is to accommodate families as soon as space allows. During the entire process, we will keep in touch with you regarding your status.

Can we start preschool at Bright Horizons in Iowa City in the summer?

Yes! We have age-appropriate programs for preschool and Kindergarten Prep that run year-round. Many families choose to begin a preschool program in the summer, before the rush of back-to-school in the fall.

What is the background check process for preschool staff at Bright Horizons Iowa City?

Bright Horizons conducts a comprehensive background check on all prospective employees and frequent visitors. In Iowa City, the state of IA Department of Youth and Families requires background checks for employees of a daycare or licensed child care facility.

Bright Horizons background checks consist of a county criminal record check for the past seven years performed in all counties that a person has lived, worked or attended school. In addition to the county criminal search, a sex offender search, OFAC search, and a social security verification trace are also conducted.

Is it safe to send my child to an Iowa City daycare or preschool?

We continue to monitor area and local public health guidelines, look to our medical expert, and use our considerable experience to guide our health and safety practices. We’re prepared to respond quickly and adjust those health and safety practices as needed.

Are preschool staff at Bright Horizons in Iowa City trained in CPR and First Aid?

All Bright Horizons Iowa City staff are trained regularly in CPR /First Aid and Universal Precautions. You can feel confident that your child is safe and receiving the best care possible while in our care. Families of children in our care use the MyBrightDay app to get photos, real-time updates on care, learning, and milestones, and stay up to date on important notifications.

What do children learn in Iowa City preschool?

In the preschool program at Bright Horizons, we focus our daily experiences on comprehensive, optimum development of each child: mind, body, social self, and character. Here's how we do it:

Preparing Children for Success in Life by:

Approaching life as an invitation to learn
Becoming a confident and competent lifelong learner
Becoming a confident and competent user of technology
Developing emotional intelligence: personal power and social skills

Preparation for Academic Excellence by:

Developing the social and cognitive skills necessary for school success
Achieving excellence in language and literacy
Developing an engaged, reflective, inquisitive mind and appreciation of science
Achieving excellence in logical/mathematical understanding

Providing a Rich and Rewarding Childhood by focusing on:

Happy days
Wonderful relationships
A World of experience

How much does preschool in Iowa City cost?

Preschool tuition is dependent upon your child’s age, developmental level, and the location of the school you have chosen. To get a customized tuition quote for Bright Horizons in Iowa City, please call or visit a center to learn more. Our center staff can talk through your family's needs to help calculate what tuition would look like for you.

Does Bright Horizons in Iowa City have a daycare preschool program?

Yes. Most of our locations offer preschool and kindergarten preparation programs for children to start working on getting ready for school. We're happy to schedule a safe, personalized Zoom visit for parents who would like to learn about why Bright Horizons can offer more than a daycare. Come see what school readiness at Bright Horizons Iowa City looks like.

Is Bright Horizons hiring preschool teachers in Iowa City?

Yes. Please visit our careers site to view all active Bright Horizons job openings in your area. Our careers site allows you to search for all open positions (part-time, full-time, and temporary) in our centers, including positions at client center that only enroll families who work for specific employers.

Is Bright Horizons a good place to work in Iowa City?

Yes, but don’t just take our word for it! We’ve been named 20 times as one of FORTUNE's 100 Best Companies to Work For, and are honored to be the only child care company to ever make the list.

How are working parents supported by Bright Horizons in Iowa City?

Bright Horizons supports the whole family because we know that success at work and success at home go hand-in-hand. We designed our centers, programs, and schedules to keep the needs of both children and parents in mind.

Does Bright Horizons have summer preschool in Iowa City?

We have a partnership with Steve and Kate's camp locations as well as our Summer Explorations programs for children ages 3-5 and 6-12.

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Iowa City daycare from Bright Horizons

Early education and preschool that's more than daycare

Comprehensive early childhood curriculum

A Proven Approach for School Readiness