What’s important when considering nursery schools?

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What is Nursery School?

Early Education and Preschool

In the years before elementary school, children are making huge developmental leaps, learning to express themselves, explore the world, and make friends. Nursery schools help support their growth and development while instilling a love for learning.

Finding the right nursery school for your family can be a challenge. More than simply choosing a daycare, you want a an early education and preschool solution that can capture the joys of childhood while providing the academic, social, and physical skills that will pave the way for success in school and life.

Search by zip to find programs at a Bright Horizons center near you!

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FAQs: What do parents ask about nursery schools?

Is Bright Horizons a nursery school?

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Yes, most Bright Horizons centers have child care for children up to 6 years old. Learn about tuition, openings or schedule a meeting to visit our:

Or, Search by Zip to find a Bright Horizons child care center in your local city.

What nursery school programs does Bright Horizons have?

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Our early education programs offer more than a typical nursery school. Our goal is not just to help children learn, but to cultivate the joy of learning at all ages. We are currently enrolling in our:

  • Preschool program: Our preschool classes are designed to prepare children for kindergarten and all the big steps ahead, supporting inquisitive young minds as they tackle new challenges, take chances, and experiment with new things.
  • Pre-Kindergarten: Our kindergarten preparation programs support children during a time of enormous and exciting growth, building the academic, social, and physical skills that will get them ready for school.
  • Summer camp: Through Summer Explorations at Bright Horizons®, your child will have the opportunity to enjoy everything summer has to offer.
  • Toddler care: Our toddler preschool programs provide a place to test out and learn new skills, make new friends, and celebrate the joy of wonder and discovery.
  • Infant care: Our newborn and baby daycare programs provide safe spaces, welcoming environments, and inspired caregivers that support all your baby’s developmental milestones
 

How does a parent compare nursery school programs?

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It can be hard to find the right child care provider when you're comparing nursery school options.. Advice from other parents, web searches through search engines, or online web portals from state or local governments can provide lists of daycares to consider. For a parent whose company provides on-site child care, back-up care or summer camp as a benefit, the human resources department will be able to provide information. If your company provides a daycare benefit through Bright Horizons, please log into your account to access your benefits. If your company does not provide this benefit, search by zip to find a Bright Horizons center near you.

Is it safe to send my child to nursery school?

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Ask each nursery school or child care provider you're considering to take the time to explain all health and safety policies to you. Consider asking:

1. How will you contact me if my child gets sick at when they are in your care?

2. Can a mildly ill child (stuffy nose, cough) still come to nursery school?

3. How do you decide if a child needs emergency medical care?

4. Are nursery school staff trained in first aid and CPR?

5. How do you approach wellness, exercise, healthy eating and self-care for children?

Bright Horizons is trusted by parents including many doctors and nurses, to care for their children. We’ve partnered with pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Kristin Moffitt of Boston Children’s Hospital to implement enhanced safety protocols for all areas including daily health screening, distancing, cleaning, and disinfecting. Our goal is to ensure that all of our health and safety practices in every center are in line with recommendations provided by the CDC and requirements of state and local municipalities. All Bright Horizons centers have the well-being of children, families, and staff at their core.

Does Bright Horizons have a daycare waiting list?

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Depending on where you live, and schedule you need for care, you may see waiting lists for nursery school, preschool and daycare. You can select and register with up to three Bright Horizons child care locations, including the center in which you are most interested. By registering, you are confirming interest in all three centers. Once registered, we will add you to our waitlist and offer you a space as soon as one becomes available. Our goal is to accommodate families as soon as space allows, and so during the entire process, we will keep in touch with you regarding your status. While waiting for a space to become available at the first-choice location, many families enroll at their second or third choices temporarily until space becomes available at their first-choice centers. Enrolling at another location will not only solve your immediate child care needs, but will provide you priority access to your first preference.

Are there specific philosophies in early childhood education?

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Different child care providers have different ideas about how a child should grow. A parent should familiarize themselves with the early childhood learning philosophies a daycare uses before entrusting a child to that facility. Learn more about what makes the Bright Horizons curriculum different in its approach to support early learning and the support Bright Horizons provides to working parents and daycare teachers.

Are lower child to teacher ratios always better at a nursery school?

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The ideal child to caregiver ratio changes as children grow. An infant needs a lot of attention to thrive, whereas a preschooler needs more freedom to explore. Child-to-teacher ratios may differ from state-to-state. 

How can I compare nursery school costs?
 

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Child care center costs will depend upon on your child’s age when they begin care as well as the center location where you'd like to attend. To get a customized tuition quote for Bright Horizons, we will set up a Zoom or in-person meeting with you to discuss your family’s needs and calculate what tuition would look like for you.

A Bright Horizons teacher helps a young child learn to read while practicing health and safety in a mask

Meet Our Inspired Teachers

Our Teachers Make Bright Horizons More than Nursery School

At the center of each Bright Horizons preschool classroom are the remarkable teachers who have dedicated their careers to early childhood education. Parents have called our teachers “magical” for their amazing ability to observe what makes each child tick and to support those very things that ensure the most individualized learning path.

Investing in our teachers is the best way to support your child’s development. That's why Bright Horizons teachers get our full support to advance their careers and skills through training, certificates, and college degrees.

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Meet Our Teachers

Bright Horizons vs. nursery school programs

Bright Horizons offers early education and preschool for every stage and age. Our centers, programs, and schedules are carefully designed to meet the needs of both children and parents, and to inspire young minds to be curious and creative.

From newborn daycare and toddler care to our preschool daycare programs and pre-k schools, we offer a seamless child care and educational experience for the first five years of life. Your child will thrive in classrooms where learning comes alive, filled with age-appropriate activities and materials that provoke curiosity at each developmental stage.

Bright Horizons is leading the way in child care and early education.

Our programs are crafted with over 30 years of experience, research, and time spent listening to what working families need from child care.

Bright Horizons programs offer:

  • Locations and hours that fit the needs of working families
  • Teachers who are current on the most effective education techniques
  • A proven curriculum based on the latest research on early education
  • Programs that nurture the whole child (social, emotional, physical)
  • Centers that make sure children feel safe and loved
  • Resources that support parents as well as children

Search by Zip to find a Bright Horizons Near You!

Our approach to curriculum goes beyond nursery school education

The Bright Horizons curriculum is designed by experts to meet children where they are developmentally, leveraging each child’s interests to structure daily activities and create an individualized learning path.

Our programs offer:

  • Joyful, appropriate, and meaningful learning that encourages investigation, exploration, and discovery
  • Well-rounded care with attention to cognitive, social, and physical development
  • A focus on promoting independence and self-confidence
  • Learning approaches that adapt to each child, incorporating their strengths and interests
  • Confidence-building opportunities to make decisions and solve problems
  • Stem learning that promotes future-forward skills
  • Safety, security, and cleanliness practices that meet or exceed all state, local, national guidelines

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Child Care Checklist

Comparing different preschool options? Print out our checklist to make it easy to make comparisons and choose the best preschool for your family.

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Get Started Today

Find a center near you to get started with Bright Horizons

Or call us to start the conversation 877-624-4532

Bright Horizons offers more than a traditional daycare. It helps parents looking for education-based Boston daycare, NYC daycare, Chicago daycare, Washington, DC daycare, Los Angeles daycare, San Francisco daycare, Seattle daycare and local daycares in other cities. It also provides back-up daycare and elder care, employer-sponsored child care, employer tuition assistance, workforce education, and student loan repayment programs. Bright Horizons Global Headquarters is located in Newton, Massachusetts, USA.