Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What age groups do you accept?
We accept children from 6 weeks to 5 years old. Our classrooms are divided into infant, toddler, and preschool age groups to ensure age-appropriate learning and care.

2. What are your hours of operation?
Our center is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We also offer early care services from 6:30-7:00 AM and aftercare hours from 5:00-5:30 PM.

3. Do you offer part - time schedules?
Yes, we offer full day schedules of 5 days a week, as well as 2 day or 3 day part time schedules.

4. What curriculum do you use?
At our early learning center, we embrace a play-based, emergent curriculum that is both developmentally appropriate and deeply engaging for young learners. Rooted in an anti-bias approach, we create inclusive environments where every child feels seen, valued, and empowered to explore their world. We believe that children are capable and competent, guiding our planning process as co-creators of their educational journey. Through reflective and responsive teaching, our educators design rich learning environments that spark curiosity, deepen inquiry, foster play, and encourage collaboration. By considering each child’s interests, cultural backgrounds, and developmental levels, we craft meaningful experiences that integrate all areas of learning, ensuring that every child develops a strong sense of belonging and connection. Play is at the heart of our approach, serving as the primary vehicle for learning. Through hands-on exploration in the arts—painting, drawing, writing, building, storytelling, music, movement, and dramatic play—children expand their understanding of the world. We weave math, science, literacy, and social-emotional learning into these experiences, supporting children as they pose questions, seek solutions, develop friendships, and express their unique perspectives. Our teachers learn alongside children, carefully observing their interests and thinking, fostering an environment where curiosity is nurtured and a lifelong love of learning is ignited.

5. What are your tuition rates?
Our weekly rate is $470 for the core hours of 7AM to 5 PM which includes meals. The daily rate for early or after care is $8 per day or $12 per day for both early care and after care.

6. Do you offer part-time or drop-in care?
We offer both full-time and part-time enrollment options. Drop-in care is not a service we provide.

7. What is your teacher-to-child ratio?
Our ratios align with state licensing regulations:

● Infants (under 24 months): 1 teacher per 4 children
● Toddlers (2-3): 1 teacher per 5 children
● Preschool (3-5): 1 teacher per 10 children

8. What safety and security measures do you have in place?
We prioritize safety with secure entry systems, background-checked staff, CPR/First Aid-certified teachers, and regular emergency drills. All visitors must check in at the front desk.

9. Do you provide meals and snacks?
Yes, we provide nutritious breakfast and lunch that meet state nutritional guidelines. We ask that families provide a morning and afternoon snack. We accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies as needed.

10. How do you handle allergies and medical needs?
We work closely with families to accommodate food allergies and medical conditions. Medications can be administered by specific staff that have completed medication administration training. We require proper documentation from a healthcare provider and families must complete a medication administration form first. We also work with families to ensure a child has an up to date action plan regarding a variety of medical conditions.

11. What is your sick policy?
To maintain a healthy environment, we ask that children remain home if they have a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or other contagious symptoms. They may return after being symptom-free for 24 hours without medication.

12. What is your guidance/ discipline policy?
We use positive reinforcement to encourage desired behaviors, acknowledging and celebrating positive behaviors to motivate children and build their confidence. We strive to demonstrate kindness, empathy, and respectful communication in all our interactions with children, families and other staff members; modeling appropriate social and emotional skills. We provide clear, consistent expectations and limits in a way that is easy for children to understand. We design engaging, structured environments that reduce the likelihood of challenging behaviors by offering choices to foster autonomy and develop decision-making skills. We use redirection to gently guide children toward acceptable alternatives when they exhibit challenging behaviors. We get curious and teach problem-solving techniques that help children recognize emotions, express themselves appropriately, and work collaboratively to resolve conflicts. We are empathetic and understanding of children's behaviors and work in collaboration with families to help identify prosocial alternatives and identify strategies to empower children to engage with their community in a way that is safe, respectful, and developmental appropriate.

13. Do you offer potty training support?
Yes! We work with families to support the toilet learning journey when children show readiness, using a consistent and encouraging approach.

14. How do you communicate with parents?
We provide daily reports via an app, monthly newsletters, and regular parent-teacher conferences. Families are always welcome to reach out with any concerns.

15. What is your enrollment process?
Typically families would be able to schedule a tour of our school but because our new center is still under construction we are offering a variety of Q&A sessions and in person Meet & Greet events. Families will then complete our enrollment application and submit required forms and deposits to secure a spot. Enrollment is based on availability.

16. Is there a waitlist?
If a class is full, we offer a waitlist. Spots are offered as they become available in the order of sign-up priority.

17. What happens in case of inclement weather or emergencies?
While our ONE Arts programs follow the local school district for school closures, we will try our best to remain open even if there are school closures. In the event of severe weather emergencies, in which it would be unsafe for all of our staff to get to the center, we might need to close some of the classrooms or possibly the entire center. Families will be notified via our communication app, email, or phone in such situations.

18. Do you offer sibling discounts?
No, we do not offer a discount for siblings.

19. How can I schedule a tour?
While we understand a family's desire to tour the space before moving forward with your application we are unable to offer tours of our facility due to our construction timeline. We are hosting several meet and greets at our playground in May and will be offering visits to the classrooms prior to our opening date. Normally, we encourage families to visit and see our program in action and hope to answer any questions since we are unable to offer tours.

20. What do I need to bring for my child?
For infants and toddlers, please provide diapers, wipes, a crib sheet, extra clothing, and any necessary comfort items. Families will also provide bottles for infants and any milk or formula. For preschoolers, a change of clothes and crib sheet with a small blanket for nap time are recommended. Please make sure to pack appropriate gear for your child to go outside in all types of weather! We also ask families to back a lunch box of snacks, which will be served twice throughout the day as well as a water bottle.

21. How can I contact you for more information? You can reach us by email and check out our website. We would also be happy to chat on the phone with you but would need to schedule a time for a call first. We are also planning several information sessions in March and April. We’re happy to answer any additional questions you may have!

22. If I don’t want my child to start until July, August or September, will you hold the space? All families are asked to pay 2 weeks of tuition for their deposit, this guarantees your spot. Your deposit will be applied to your last two weeks for care as long as you give a one month notice of withdrawal. We will waive our hold the spot fee for the month of June. If families want to hold the spot longer we will then ask that you pay 50% tuition starting in July until your child starts.

23. What accreditations does ONE Arts have?
When we open, we will apply for a STARs provisional level 3 through Vermont’s Step Ahead Recognition System. Our goal is to continue improving and eventually achieve 5 stars, reflecting our commitment to providing high-quality early childhood education.

24. Do you accept subsidies?
Our center accepts several subsidies to support families in Vermont:

● CCFAP (Child Care Financial Assistance Program):
Helps eligible families cover the cost of childcare based on income and family size. Please review the information here for income guidelines and eligibility information.

● Act 166 (Universal Pre-K Funding):
Offers up to 10 hours per week of publicly funded pre-kindergarten education for children ages 3-5 at participating programs. Our center will be a partner program providing UPK so there will be additional subsidies available during the district school year (September- June) but excludes breaks. Families must register with their school district for this benefit.

These programs make quality child care more accessible and affordable for families. We are more than happy to support families with more information about any of these subsidies and can help navigate the application process!

25. How do you support children with special needs?
We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all children, including those with special needs. Our educators collaborate with families and specialized professionals to develop individualized plans that meet each child’s unique needs and abilities. We adapt our learning environments, provide developmentally appropriate accommodations, and use a strength-based approach to help every child thrive. By fostering a culture of respect and belonging, we ensure that all children feel valued and supported in their learning journey.

26. When will we know if we have secured a spot?
Family selection for enrollment will take place on April 17th. Shortly after, we will notify families and then can move forward with the enrollment process, which involves collecting a two week deposit, creating an account on Brightwheel, which is the platform we use for billing, communication and more with families, and completing all necessary paperwork.

27. What employees are eligible to apply?
At this time, any full - time UVM-Health Network employee is eligible to apply.