Home-School Connection

OVERALL RATING (4.2)

Conducts an open house at start of school year

Conducts a parent-teacher meeting at start of school year

Conducts regular parent teacher conferences

Provides summary of child’s learning at end of year

Provides guidance on developmental goals for the following year

Provides guidance on best Kindergarten and elementary schools

Bright Horizons offers a variety of school-home connection materials. One is www.brighthorizons.com/growing. This is a site where parents can find resources, information, and programs designed to help their child grow, learn, and discover. From cultivating a love of books or channeling their child�??s natural curiosity into scientific inquiry to discovering valuable parenting tips and ideas, this parent resource Web site was designed with parents and families in mind. Our program for learning, The World at Their Fingertips, also has a World at Home component. The World at Home provides a database of activities for infants through school age children to do at home with parents, many that naturally flow from everyday life. The activities cover the curriculum spectrum - language, science, math, social skills and so on. Parents can draw off of this database to extend what is happening in the classrooms. They may also submit activity ideas to share with all of our faculty and families around the world. Bright Horizons has also teamed up with The Learning Network to offer Bright Horizons EarlyLearner, a wonderful online child development support service. Bright Horizons EarlyLearner allows parents and teachers to track each child's development and create an online portfolio. A portfolio includes parent-teacher Child Observation Records that map the child's growth and a journal to record experiences and insights from parents and teachers. Bright Horizons EarlyLearner also includes: �?� information about development �?� classroom activities targeted to the child's development �?� tips for parents and teachers �?� opportunities to question experts Bright Horizons EarlyLearner is integrated into The World at Their Fingertips approach to parent conferences and tracking development: a partnership approach designed to create a shared point of view on the child's development and goals for success. Children in our infant and toddler programs also receive daily notes sharing some of the day�??s highpoints as well as information on meals and diaper changes. Each child (infant through preschool) also receives a journal chronicling their time at the center. Journals are an interactive communication tool for parents and teachers to record highlights of both center and home life. Bright Horizons has an open door policy so parents can visit any time. Annual parent teacher conferences are also conducted for each child in the center.

Separation

OVERALL RATING (5.0)

Beginning of the year separation is handled through:
- Abbreviated schedule at start of school year
- Parents in classrooms early on

Director's and Parents' Comments

Director's Comments

Ensuring and facilitating a smooth and successful transition from Bright Horizons' preschool or kindergarten programs to public or private schools is a major goal and responsibility for all of our programs. Our responsibility is not only to provide the best educational experience that we believe is possible, but to prepare children for the schools they will be attending, many of which may be more structured and less developmentally appropriate than we might wish.
Our READY for SCHOOL program includes a set of materials designed to assist our centers in helping children succeed in school and life. These materials combine and highlight many of the excellent aspects of programs already existing and give guidelines for strengthening programs where that is needed. By providing quarter by quarter guidelines for both preschool and school-age programs, parents can feel confident that their children will leave Bright Horizons with the skills needed to succeed in school and life.

Drop-in Policy

Discipline

OVERALL RATING (5.0)
Parents' Opinions
Parents at this school, on average, believe that conflicts between children: are handled extraordinarily well in a way that not only gives me confidence in the safety of my child but also reassures me that my child (and his/her peers) are learning the early skills needed to socialize effectively with one another

Overview

Director's Description of Approach Toward Discipline

As child care professionals, we at Bright Horizons are committed to providing a supportive environment where children can experience and grow. That commitment and basic respect for children is reflected in our discipline policies and procedures, which are intended to help children learn self-discipline as they build self-esteem. It is our understanding that discipline encompasses all those actions taken by teachers to enhance the probability that children will develop effective behaviors that are personally self-fulfilling, productive and socially acceptable. The following guidelines have been developed to enable us to create a consistent and caring environment that teaches children to behave in responsible ways and to feel good about themselves.
Set realistic expectations for young children�??s behavior
Create an environment that enhances the probability that children behave in appropriate ways
Focus on positive communication techniques to gain children�??s cooperation
Turn destructive situations into constructive ones by giving the child alternatives Use natural and logical consequences to motivate and to empower children to make responsible decisions about their behavior
Teach preschool children to use problem solving skills and strategies to resolve conflicts

Parents' Notes on Discipline, Health and Safety

Parent #1
The Clubhouse is a surprise around every corner, indoors and out. There are lots of areas for creative play, physical activity and curious minds.

Extended Care

Application Process

Admissions Process