Child Care & Preschool Programs: Overview
A HIGH QUALITY PROGRAM NOT ONLY KEEPS YOUR CHILD SAFE BUT ALSO
SUPPORTS YOUR CHILD'S LEARNING ON ALL DEVELOPMENTAL LEVELS: PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL & SOCIAL, LANGUAGE, COGNITIVE


For help understanding your options in Hamden for infants and
preschoolers


 Call Hamden's Partnership for Young Children 203-407-3111 or
Center Based Programs

• Also called child care, daycare, preschool, nursery school or group child care, early care and education. They are located in a variety of locations and buildings.
• These programs provide ECE to 7 or more children in a classroom setting.
• Children under age three are in groups of 8 or less with at least one adult for every 4 children.
• Children over three are in groups of 20 or less with at least one adult for every 10 children.

• Program Hours vary. Many programs are open 10 hours/day, year round. Others, often called preschool or nursery school, operate 2.5 - 5 hours/day during the public school year, September to June.
• Some programs that operate 10/hours/day will accept children on a part time basis. This is more often a possibility with children over three as spaces for children under three are often filled.

Licensed Home Based Programs

• Child care is also provided in the licensed provider’s home and are also called family child care.
• Providers care for up to 6 full-time children and 3 school-aged children. Family Child Care Providers can care for only two children under age two, unless the provider has an assistant.
• Some providers offer very flexible hours.

Care provided by a Relative, Babysitter or Nanny

• This type of care is currently not monitored by state or local officials. Individuals who provide this type of child care and receive payments from the Care4kids program are required to participate in introductory training.

March 2019
Licensing

• Center and home based programs are required to be licensed; public and parochial schools programs are exempt from licensing.
• For Child Care Licensing information call the CT Office of Early Childhood 1-800-282-6063.

Accreditation

• Several national organizations offer accreditation to child care providers. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the most common one for center based programs.
• Accreditation guidelines are generally stricter than those for licensing.
• Accreditation is voluntary and not required by state law.

Choosing an Early Care and Education Program


LOOK FOR PROGRAMS:

• That welcome parents to drop by the home or center at anytime
• Where the activities and materials excite the children and offer just the right amount of challenge
• With teachers trained in child development or early education specific to your child’s age
• Where warm and friendly adults are actively involved, talking and playing with children, rather than just watching them and telling them what to do
• With indoor and outdoor spaces that are clean, safe and well organized, with age appropriate equipment and a wide variety of well-maintained toys and educational materials
• That have staff who can explain the skills children are learning while they

are playing
For more information on choosing an ECE program go online to
families.naeyc.org