Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
Please Note, more will be added to this list list as other questions come up.
1.) Where Am I On The Wait List & How Long Is It?
Great question! Not an easy answer! To start with, Children First prioritizes siblings and children who are currently attending for all programs. We first ask current families if they want to change their slot request for the upcoming enrollment year (Sept. to Aug.) and then place siblings in available *matching* openings. Finally, we look at any open slots in each classroom and search for matching requests by age. A scenario might by that your child is 6th on the “born in 202X year” looking for a full-time slot. The slot opening is full-time. The previous 5 people in that same age-bracket are all looking for part-time spots. That scenario means that your child is 1st for *that slot* even though they are 6th for that age (and may be 30th on the all-school Wait List).
2.) When Will I Hear From You?
As soon as your child is next on the Wait List for a slot that will open up in their age-appropriate classroom (that opening will likely be 6-8 months away). We typically start this process in mid-winter.
3.) Are We Able To Take A Tour Once Called From The Wait List or Before?
We do not offer tours until your child’s name gets up to the top of the Wait List and we have a matching opening forecasted (that opening will likely be 6-8 months away).
4.) Should My Child Come On The Tour?
For toddlers and young preschoolers, it can often be distracting for parents to have to watch their child and listen to the information being shared. The tour is a decision-making opportunity for the parent/guardian. For families interested in our private kindergarten, it is important for us to meet the child and ensure that we are an appropriate placement for their individual needs.
NOTE: All children who get slots are offered a visit just prior to their start date that allows them to meet their teachers and see their classroom before their first day.
5.) Will You Accommodate Rotating Schedules?
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate rotating schedules. You would need to “own” all of the days that you might use.
6.) Is It Required For My Child To Be Potty-Trained?
No – being potty-trained is not required.
7.) Do Children Start On Any Specific Date?
While we technically have rolling admissions, we do have a typical enrollment window which is around mid-August to the first week of September. We sometimes have one or two earlier summer spots open up. We also try to stagger starts so that there are not too many students starting in any classroom or across the center on any given day.
8.) What Are The Hours Of The Center?
Our Toddler program is open 7 AM to 5:00 PM.
Our Preschool program is open 7 AM to 5:30 PM.
Our School-Age program is open 6:30 AM-5:30 PM.
Our CF Kindergarten-only program runs from 8 AM to 2:50 PM. This group can also add on Before School care and/or After School care to extend the day as early as 6:30 AM (Before School) and as late as 5:30 PM (After School).
9.) What Are The Drop Off and Pickup Windows?
Drop-offs should be completed by 8:45 (unless other arrangements have been made). Children may not be dropped off before their program opens (see above).
Pick-ups typically happen between 2:30 and 5:30 (unless other arrangements have been made). Children must be picked up before their program closes (see above). Late fees will be assessed for pick-ups after a program closes.
10.) How Many Hours Per Day Could A Child Be There?
While we do not have a formal policy, most children will be with us 8-9 hours a day. For longer periods, we will discuss with the family the impact on the individual child of a longer day.
11.) Does CF accept Vouchers?
Children First accepts families who are accessing Massachusetts’s Child Care Financial Assistance (“CCFA”also referred to as voucher or State subsidy). The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) helps Massachusetts families pay for child care and out-of-school time programs through federal and state programs. Out-of-school time programs include programs available before and after school. EEC partners with family access administrators to help families apply for and receive CCFA. These family access administrators include Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&R), contracted child care programs and Mass 211. They also provide resource and referral services for families exploring child care options.
CCFA FAQ: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/frequently-asked-questions-on-child-care-financial-assistance
Child Care Resource and Referral: https://childcare.mass.gov/eec_ccrrsearch
How to apply for CCFA: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/frequently-asked-questions-on-child-care-financial-assistance