Frequently Asked Questions
TC4 opens 7:30 am and closes at 5:30pm.
We are licensed by the Office of Early Childhood and are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
All of our full time staff are First Aid, CPR, Medication and Epi-Pen trained.
Yes, with the appropriate authorization forms filled out by your child’s health care professional.
We use Creative Curriculum® and the state of Connecticut’s Early Learning and Development Standards as the basis for planning learning experiences, implementing teaching strategies, and observing and documenting child progress.
- Infants/Toddlers: TC4 uses Creative Curriculum® for Infants, Toddlers and Twos and Teaching Strategies GOLD® Assessment Tool for Infants, Toddlers and Twos.
- Preschool: TC4 uses Creative Curriculum for Preschool and The Connecticut Preschool Assessment Framework .
We use a variety of assessment tools including Teaching Strategies GOLD® for Infants and Toddlers, the Preschool Assessment Framework for Preschoolers, Ages and Stages Questionnaires® (ASQ) and ASQ®:Social-Emotional to assess child progress.
Our Teachers have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field. Our Teacher Assistants have a minimum of a current Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential OR an Associate degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field.
All of our teachers attend annual professional development training and/or formal coursework to advance their skills based on their individual professional development plans.
All of our classrooms have one full time teacher and two full time teacher assistants who rotate shifts throughout our hours of operation. You may occasionally see a substitute teacher assistant, student teachers, volunteers, or Trinity College students.
Outdoor play is an integral part of our program. Our classrooms go outside when the temperature is above 25 degrees Fahrenheit. In warmer weather, we may go outside in light rain. We believe there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.
TC4 is unable to provide care for children who are ill. Staff conducts daily health assessments to observe any changes in behavior, signs of illness or injury, increased body temperature and complaints of not feeling well. If a child has a temperature above 101°F, they will be asked to remain at home. In the event your child becomes ill while at TC4 and needs to leave the program, staff will notify a family or emergency contact to pick up the child. In the meantime, the child will be provided with resting space in an isolated area and supervised until picked up. Families should arrange for emergency backup care in the event of illness.
Click here to learn more about our Current Rates.
Our program accepts Care4Kids funding. In addition, we have spaces in our program that are funded through the City of Hartford Department of Families, Children, Youth and Recreation. If your child qualifies for one of these funded spaced, your weekly fee is calculated based on your family size and income, using the Office of Early Childhood’s Fee Schedule. There are certain requirements to qualify for these spaces. Please contact us for more information.
We collect a $30 processing fee in advance of enrollment. Once your child is enrolled, this fee will be credited toward your first week’s tuition. We also collect a deposit equal to two weeks tuition, which will be applied to your account when your child leaves the program.
Enter your information on the waiting list form on our website here. You can then contact our Administrative Assistant at (860) 297-5208 to determine space availability and schedule a tour.
TC4 accepts payments from Care 4 Kids for families who are currently enrolled in the Care 4 Kids program. Families are responsible for completing redetermination paperwork. TC4 will complete a Parent-Provider Agreement for newly enrolled families with Care 4 Kids funding and at redetermination.
Labor Day New Year's Day
Thanksgiving Memorial Day
Day after Thanksgiving Independence Day
Christmas Day
In addition, the Center is closed for 2 1/2 days at the end of August to allow for building maintenance, program set up, and professional development, as well as two additional days during the year for professional development . These dates will be announced as far in advance as possible each year. The center is closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Occasionally, inclement weather makes traveling unsafe for families and staff. Our practice is to keep the Center open as much as possible. We urge families to use discretion and consider the safety of your child while traveling to the Center.
There are a limited number of full-day part-week options available. The options are Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Tuesday/Thursday. TC4 does not provide part day options.
At TC4, transitions are timed to allow for children’s positive development. As children progress and space becomes available in the next age group/classroom, we begin to plan for children who may be ready to move up.
TC4 provides a morning and afternoon snack that includes at least two food groups. We provide milk and water at snack time and mealtime. Families are responsible for sending in lunch.
Your weekly tuition payment is based on annual cost of care expenses spread out over 52 weeks. Fees remain the same regardless of holidays, professional development days, inclement weather, maintenance, family vacations, child absences, and closures deemed necessary by the Board of Directors and/or Executive Director.
We have an APRN who visits the center weekly to do classroom visits, review paperwork and answer staff or family questions.
At TC4 we believe each child requires time for a brief period of inactivity, solitude, calmness or tranquility which for some children may include period of sleep or nap.
All of our staff go through background checks and fingerprinting. The program has security cameras at each entrance, in classrooms, and in hallways. In addition, our entry doors are locked and controlled by Trinity College. Staff and families gain entrance through the use of identification cards or key fobs provided at enrollment.
