P.E.T. - Hampden County, Massachusetts: Child Care, home daycare information

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Types of Licensed Child Care in Massachusetts

Family Child Care
Care is provided in the home of a person licensed by the state. There are 3 types of family child care:

Regular family child care – care provided by one adult for up to 6 children
Large family child care – care provided for up to 10 children with at least 2 adults
Family child care plus – care provided for 6 children, plus 2 school age children

The provider must be at least 18 years old and have experience in caring for children. The provider must attend a family child care orientation, have training in CPR and First Aid, and attend additional hours of training to maintain his/her license. The provider's home must be safe, clean and of sufficient size.

Child Care Center
This is a group child care setting for infants, toddler and preschoolers. Programs group the children by age, with class sizes and child/teacher ratios determined by state regulations. Child care centers are typically open all year and may offer part-day or part-week schedules in addition to full time care.

Infants: A child from 1 month to 14 months of age. Child/teacher ratio is 3/1
Toddlers: A child from 15 months to 2 years, 8 months. Child/teacher ratio is 4/1
Preschoolers: A child from 2 years, 9 months to kindergarten. Child/teacher ratio is 10/1

Preschool (Also known as Nursery School)
Preschool programs offer only part time sessions (part-week, part-day or both) usually for children 2 years, 9 months to kindergarten age. Generally these programs run on a school year schedule, are closed during school vacations and holidays, and may or may not offer a summer session.

School Age Child Care
A group setting in which care is provided for children Kindergarten age and up, before and/or after school and possibly during school vacations. These programs may be operated by public or private schools, or by community or private agencies. The child/teacher ratio is 13/1.

For Child Care Centers, Preschool and School Age programs the following applies:

A program that is safe, clean, comfortable, of adequate size, free from hazards, and has passed all local building, health, and lead paint inspections.
Evidence that all staff are qualified for their positions and that staff are appropriately supervised.
Evidence that EEC required staff to child ratios are always maintained.

For the complete list of EEC license regulations visit their web site at: http://www.eec.state.ma.us/

Other types of care that are not licensed by the state include care by an adult in the child’s home, care provided by a relative in the relative’s home, and programs run by public or private schools. Summer camps are licensed by the Board of Health in each individual city or town.

PRESCHOOL ENRICHMENT TEAM OFFICE

If you get lost or the doors of the building are locked, call 736-3900 and press ext. 120

Mass Pike Exit 6 - Springfield, at light at end of ramp turn left onto Rt. 291. Follow Rt. 291 to Exit 2B Dwight Street Exit, at end of ramp take left at light (this is Dwight St.). Through 4 sets of lights, turn right onto Bridge Street. Our office, at 293 Bridge Street, is on the left next to Cafe Manhattan.

From Rt. 91 South Exit 7 Downtown Springfield - stay in left lane and turn left at light, then left again onto E. Columbus. Turn right onto Worthington, through one light (Main St.) turn right onto Stearns and right onto Bridge Street. Our office, at 293 Bridge Street, is on the left next to Cafe Manhattan.

From Rt. 91 North Exit 4 Broad St., you are on East Columbus. Go through lights, turn right onto Worthington, right onto Stearns, right onto Bridge Street. Our office, at 293 Bridge Street, is on the left next to Cafe Manhattan.