Not Sure What Qualities to Look for in a Child Care Setting? Here Are Some Helpful Questions to Ask Yourself and the Center Before Making Your Decision!
What type of qualifications should I be looking for in my child’s teachers?
Normally, a typical child care center will require:
- A minimum of a high school diploma or GED certificate
- A minimum of 6 credit hours in Early Childhood Education (ECE) coursework
- A supervised teaching experience in an ECE setting
- And, must be enrolled in a Child Development Associate (CDA) program to be completed within one year of hire
OR - Child Development Associate (CDA) credential in Early Childhood
- A supervised teaching experience in an ECE setting
OR - Bachelors or Associates in Early Childhood Education or a related field*
- A supervised teaching experience in an ECE setting.
At the Coggeshall Club, we look for individuals who are nurturing and respectful, have previous experience caring for children, have a degree in child development or education, and are willing to support our mission and join our community. For a more in-depth look at what we ask of our full-time team, check out our job descriptions here.
What is the Early Childhood Program Philosophies? What should I be looking for?
There are a number of different philosophies including Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, Play-Based, and Cognitive Based.
At the Coggeshall Club, we have a unique offering. Our child development program has a Reggio Emilia based philosophy which is supported by our play-based, Montessori style, program. Montessori is an educational philosophy that focuses on a holistic, self-paced, and experimental approach to learning. Our philosophy is unique as we have a blend between Montessori and Reggio Amelia. The Coggeshall Club’s curriculum is driven by the child’s interests, which are then compared to the RIELDS (Rhode Island Early Learning Development Standards) to meet the developmental goals. Our monthly themes are driven by what the child is interested in. For example, if the children are interested in dinosaurs, we will then guide the learning through that interest. We strive to meet every child’s needs here at the Coggeshall Club in order to grow to their fullest potential.
How will I know how my child’s day is going? Will there be any communication with teachers throughout the day?
We use a childcare app called Brightwheel that is used primarily for communication between parents and teachers. to track sign-ins and outs, manage ratios, capture classroom milestones, communicate with families, share photos and videos, manage tuition, and much more.
What is the caregiver to child ratio?
The state requirements for Caregiver-Child Ratio:
- Infant 1:4
- Yearling 1:4
- Toddler 1:6
- Preschool 1:9
- Pre-K 1:10
We are a small facility with a capacity of 39 children in total. We find it extremely important to give each child the care that they deserve without overwhelming the teacher or the child, which is why our ratios look a little bit different. At the Coggeshall Club, Our ratios are:
- Infant 1:2
- Yearling 1:4
- Toddler 1:6
- Preschool 1:6
- Pre-K 1:8
What is the atmosphere and environment of the facility?
The atmosphere of the Coggeshall Club can be described as welcoming, safe, and cozy. We are very positive here and want to make sure your whole family feels comfortable and nurtured from the second you arrive. While most childcare facilities are a place that you drop your little ones off and head out, the Coggeshall Club is a place for the parent as well. We pride ourselves on the community feel that you get when you are here, all while your kiddo is thriving downstairs.
Are childcare centers required to have a nurse on staff?
In the state of Rhode Island, having a registered nurse on staff is not a requirement. Safety is a top priority here at the Club, which is why we have a registered nurse on staff 3 hours per day and always on call for any emergencies or questions.
What if there is an emergency while my child is at daycare?
The state of Rhode Island requires 50% of staff to have their CPR certification for any potential emergencies, and we are proud to say that 90% of our team has earned their CPR certification as well as ALICE training. On top of the proper staff training, as mentioned above, we have a registered nurse on call at all times.
How do you handle discipline or behavioral problems?
Our teachers take pride in using positive reinforcement and language with the children at the Coggeshall Club. We do not tell our students that they cannot do something, we rather direct them to do something else.