Safety and Well-Being at Bright Horizons

At Bright Horizons, the safety and well-being of children and staff are both our priority and responsibility. We believe in creating environments where children can learn, grow, and thrive, supported by staff who uphold our standards of care and integrity.

 

Our care is rooted in transparency, accountability, and partnership with families. We work to build every Bright Horizons center to reflect the security, excellence, and peace of mind families expect and deserve.

 

Safeguarding Children at Our Centers

Safeguarding begins with our hiring and screening practices and is embedded throughout our policies, practices, trainings, and operations. Our safeguarding efforts work together to support our goal of operating with the highest standards. Our safety practices and protocols are developed in compliance with state and local licensing requirements.

 

Enhanced Classroom Safety Practices

We have enhanced a number of classroom safety practices, including the implementation of cameras, further strengthening the safety and security of classroom technologies, and adding third-party experts in child protection to help inform and continuously improve our practices.

 

Safety-First Learning Environments

Bright Horizons centers are designed to support active supervision and safe learning both physically and technologically.

 

Key elements include:

  • Center design: Our centers are open and bright and play areas are designed to support visibility for supervision and to promote safe movement.

  • Safety features: Our furniture, fixtures, and equipment include safety features such as rounded edges, anti-tipping mechanisms, and safety guards.

  • Dedicated devices: Separate iPads are used for children’s learning and for operational or administrative tasks.

  • Secure photo sharing: Photos are shared [only] through approved, secure parent communication platforms.

  • Approved educational apps only: Classroom iPads are restricted to vetted, appropriate educational applications.

  • Data security: Protective features such as blocked uploads and access restrictions help prevent unauthorized sharing or misuse.

  • Physical security: Our centers have a secured point of entry and exit, and every visitor is required to sign-in.   

  • Regular classroom oversight: We conduct regular classroom observations, including unannounced visits, as well as regular quality and health and safety audits.

 

Employee Vetting, Training, and Development

Safety and quality begin before a teacher enters our classrooms. Bright Horizons conducts comprehensive background checks in compliance with all regulatory requirements, along with reference checks, prior to hiring. Educators also participate in ongoing training and professional development throughout their careers. This includes:

  • Required onboarding and state-mandated training

  • At least 40 hours of training for new hires and approximately 30 hours of annual ongoing training

  • Completion of the 100 Days of HEART onboarding program, grounded in our values of Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork

  • Annual health and safety training to remain current on critical protocols

  • At least two full days of professional development each year, focused on critical topics in child care and early education

  • Monthly staff meetings focused on team alignment and continuous improvement

 

How We Respond

Bright Horizons proactively self-reports and reviews incidents as part of maintaining each child’s safety and well-being.

 

When an incident occurs, our processes include ensuring the child’s safety and well-being, notifying and supporting families, reporting to regulatory agencies when required, conducting appropriate reviews, and taking corrective action when appropriate. 

 

Our teams are trained to “see something, say something,” and leadership conducts regular unannounced classroom visits to reinforce accountability and oversight.

 

Culture of Transparency

We embrace transparency, open communication, and expert input. Families are encouraged to ask questions, share concerns, and connect with center leadership at any time. We maintain an open door approach and engage third-party experts to help ensure our practices remain strong, current, and responsive.