Admitting Children

Carriage House Day Care is open to all children regardless of race, creed, ethnic, or cultural background whose parents live or work in the area. Carriage House serves children from six weeks to twelve years of age. Special needs children are included in the program. The center is licensed for 96 children per day.

Families wishing to enroll a child in the program complete a registration form and submit it to our office. Vacancies in the program are filled on a first-come, first-served basis with preference given to full-time enrollment. When available, enrollment preference is given to siblings of current enrolled children. Once notified of an opening the deposit and registration fee is required and must be paid prior to your child’s first day of enrollment. In addition to your child’s entire enrollment packet must also be completed and turn in prior to the first day of enrollment.

Full or Part Time Schedules

Though preference is given to full-time enrollment, Carriage House does offer a space-sharing program where two part-time spaces must equal one full-time space. Part-time includes two or three day schedules and full-time is equivalent to four or five days. In the event a part-time space is not sharing with another, we will give the parent the first right to accept the full-time space if a request is made for this last full-time slot.

Schedule Changes or Withdrawal Procedure

If you need to change or terminate your child’s enrollment for whatever reason, we must have two weeks’ written notice. No verbal notice will be accepted. Whether requesting a change in schedule or withdrawing a child, from the program, parents are responsible for payment of present status. A change in schedule may be made, if space is available.

Payment Policy

Tuition payments are due on Friday for the upcoming program week. Monthly payments may be made on the last Friday of the month prior to the program month being paid for.

You are responsible for your child’s tuition amount based on his/her scheduled days, regardless of any days your child is ill, on vacation, or does not attend for any other reason.

Payments are required by check or money order to assure proper credit to your account and should be payable to Carriage House Day Care.

Late Payment Fee

Tuition payments cover teachers’ salaries so promptness is imperative. If payment is not received by Wednesday at 9:00am of the program week, a $5.00 per day late fee will be charged. If payment is delinquent for two weeks or more, a 30-day notice to suspend or terminate enrollment may be given. At that time a payment arrangement will be agreed upon, and as long as it is being adhered to, your child’s enrollment will be continued. In the event that payment is not made, you will be responsible for any and all expenses or fees associated with collecting payments. Please communicate any problems with the Co-Directors in order to avoid this situation and we will work closely with you to set up payment arrangements in order to bring your account current.

Non-Sufficient Fund (NSF) Fee

If a check is returned for non-sufficient funds (NSF) or for any other reason, a $25.00 fee will be charged to cover our banking costs. If two or more checks are returned all future payments must be made by money order and/or bank check.

Enrollment Deposit

An enrollment deposit (equivalent to one week’s tuition) is due prior to your child’s first day of enrollment but may be required in advance to reserve enrollment space. This deposit will be applied to your child’s last week of enrollment, as long as the required two weeks’ notice is given. In the event that your child care needs change prior to enrollment, this deposit is non-refundable.

Annual Registration Fee

When enrolling your child, you will be required to pay an annual registration fee which is due upon enrollment and each anniversary year thereafter.

Family Discount

Families enrolling more than one child, will receive a 10% discount off of the fee of the oldest child(ren). (up to two children per family)

Late Pick-Up Fee

Carriage House Day Care closes at 6:00 p.m. If any child is not picked up on time, a $25.00 late fee is charged for each fraction of/additional 15 minutes per child that is picked up after 6:00 p.m.

Vacation Credit Policy

You are allowed one scheduled vacation week per enrollment anniversary year (after the first six months of enrollment in each anniversary year) without tuition payment for each child enrolled in the Center. Your child must be absent for five (5) consecutive days when the program is in operation (holidays are except/excluded).

You may request your vacation credit, with a minimum of two weeks notice, at any time and prior to your eligibility date (i.e. six months after your enrollment anniversary date). If you are not eligible for the credit when you take your vacation, we will credit your account the week you become eligible. You may also request portions of your full vacation credit, however, the total credit will be applied to your account once you have completely used your total vacation credit.

One week’s vacation consists of your child(ren)’s regularly scheduled days for one week in which they are not in attendance (and is equivalent to your weekly tuition payment or parent share). Requests can be made on the Vacation Credit Request Form.

Drop in enrollees are not eligible for this credit. Once notice is given to terminate enrollment, you are no longer eligible for vacation credit.

Vacation credits must be requested and used in your anniversary year since they cannot be carried over to each new anniversary year.

NOTE: The vacation credit is based upon the current rate/payment or in the event of part-time or schooler’s rates, it is based upon the schooler or part-time rate paid during the current anniversary or school year.

Financial Assistance

The State of Connecticut Child Care Certificate Program is available to working parents who are eligible. The State also offers assistance to parents who attend school. For further information and to determine your eligibility, please contact CT Care 4 Kids.

Parents are required to pay all fees not covered by Care 4 Kids (deposit, registration, etc…) In addition, until a certificate is issued with Carriage House’s name on it, parents are responsible for all tuition fees. Once the certificate is issued, accounts will be credited accordingly.

It is the responsibility of the parent to report any and all employment changes to Care 4 Kids. If for any reason, a certificate is cancelled, you will be responsible for all tuition and fees not covered by Care 4 Kids.

Holiday

In order to maintain your child’s enrollment and to operate on a functional level, no reduction in program tuition will be given for regularly scheduled Center closings or holidays.

The Center will be closed on:

• New Years Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day and the day following
• Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
• New Years Eve – close early

*In addition Carriage House will utilize 2 floating holidays annually. Closings for the upcoming year will be announced each December.

Other Closings

The center will be open during inclement weather, including public school snow days. However, in the event the center loses power which cannot be restored OR the Governor declares that non-essential employees need not report to work, the center will follow his directive. Parents will be notified of such a closing via the communication app for the Center.

The center reserves the right to close if weather conditions present a safety risk.

 

Each family will be provided with a Handbook that outlines all policies.  Families will be notified of policy or regulatory updates through newsletters, special notices, center communication app, or other ways.