Find an Answer to Your Question

What is the process for enrolling in our center?

Applicants begin the enrollment process by registering through our Family Information Center and selecting University of Virginia Medical Center as the employer. The registration fee is non-refundable.

When your registration is received, you will be contacted regarding the availability of space. Prior to enrollment, the center will schedule a time for you to meet with your child’s primary teachers and to learn more about the Bright Horizons’ program. 

What ages does the center serve?

The Sharon L. Hostler Child Development Center has a capacity of 152 children and will serve children ages 6 weeks through pre-kindergarten. In addition, the center will provide holiday and summer programs for school-aged children through age 6.

Is part-time care available?

We currently offer part-time care for children that are 16 months and older.

Are meals provided at the center?

We offer a morning snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack. All meals are prepared at the center.

Is there a sibling discount?

No, there is no sibling discount.

If the program is full, how soon can I enroll my child?

If the program of interest is full, the child will be placed in the wait pool. As the children in the wait pool “age up,” they will be moved to the next age group’s wait pool and placed in the pool in accordance with their lottery draw order and the date care is needed. The aging up process will not affect the child’s place in the wait pool (their wait pool date remains the same from age group to age group).

Most often, spaces will become available when children transition from one age group to the next or when families withdraw their children from the center to attend elementary school. However, priority plays a key role in determining which child is offered the next open space; in other words, availability and priority both influence selection criteria:

• Siblings of children who are already enrolled receive priority over non-enrolled families. When a space becomes available, the offer will go to a family with a sibling first. This policy helps to keep families together and provide convenience to parents who already have children enrolled.

• The next priority is based on the priority tier established by the UVa Physicians Group.

• The receipt date of the application in each tier will receive the next priority: the earlier the receipt date, the higher the priority.

• When a space opens in a particular age group, the age of the child in the wait pool must match the available space.

If I am expecting can I go ahead and register?

Yes, registrations for unborn children are accepted with a due date noted and a paid registration fee.

How long do I have to accept or decline an offer?

Offers will be made via e-mail and/or by phone. Parents are then required to accept the space by responding to the e-mail or phone message within 48 hours or 2 business days. If the center doesn’t hear from the family after 48 business hours, two (2) courtesy calls (work and home) will be made to the family to make certain they received the e-mail and subsequent the phone calls. If the center is unable to reach the parent as a result of the phone calls, this will automatically count as a decline.

Parents can decline a space up to two (2) times before being automatically removed from the list. After the second decline, if a parent would like to get back/remain on the wait list for the center, a new registration fee will need to be paid. The registration date will be the new date in which the center receives the registration fee.

Who is eligible to use the center?

The Sharon L. Hostler Child Development Center, managed by Bright Horizons, is open to UVA Physician Group employees, School of Medicine employees, Medical Center employees, and UVA faculty and staff.

Are you allowing prospective parents to visit centers?

Yes! Prospective parents can schedule a center visit by completing our Tuitions and Openings form from our center website. 

How is Bright Horizons ensuring the health and safety of families and staff at our centers?

At all of our centers, rigorous health and safety practices are a foundation of the way we care for children. These include:

• An illness and daily health check policy that strives to mitigate the spread of illnesses
• Frequent cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces and toys; frequent laundering of soft items 
• Regular maintenance of the center, equipment, and supplies, updating and replacing items as needed 
• Secure entrances to all centers 
• Strict handwashing and sanitary policies to prevent the spread of illnesses 
• Curriculum that emphasizes healthy practices for children 

Strict safety and security procedures are designed to keep our families and staff protected. 

What are the educational goals of Bright Horizons?

During your search for the perfect child care partner, this is among the most important questions you can ask.  For over 30 years, we’ve been a company that is guided by our HEART Principles and an unerring belief in putting children first. 

At Bright Horizons, we know that childhood is a treasured time. We believe it is our responsibility to provide environments and experiences that capture the joys of childhood, nurture each child’s individual growth and development, and pave the way for success in school and life. We promise to:

• Nurture and care for the whole child
• Craft and integrated curriculum based on expert research
• Support and develop each teacher
• Implement an emergent, inquiry-based approach to learning
• Cultivate curiosity and creativity through projects, exploration, and play
• Encourage children to be confident experimenters and problem solvers
• Build an inclusive and respectful community
• Create joyful places for childhood

Can children with special needs enroll in a Bright Horizons center?

Yes! Bright Horizons strives to and has successfully accommodated a wide range of special needs and individual differences in our group programs.  We believe in inclusive programs that attempt to meet the needs of a wide range of children and which focus on each child’s strengths. We support a collaborative team approach – the teacher, director, specialists, and parents. The team will work closely together to try to maximize each child’s opportunities for learning, growth, and development, and to attempt to eliminate any barriers or safety issues which a group program may present.

Does Bright Horizons perform background checks on its employees?

The safety of the children in our care is our highest concern.  Bright Horizons maintains stringent hiring practices and conducts criminal background checks on all teachers and caregivers in our centers. This check includes a criminal record search and a cross-reference check to determine prior convictions or other records of criminal activity that would call into question an employee’s’ suitability to care for children. Additional elements of our required background checks include verification through the Office of Foreign Asset Control and Sexual Offender Database Search. The frequency for updating criminal background checks for employees depends on state or other center-specific requirements.

What is The World At Their Fingertips?

Our research-based World at Their Fingertips® curriculum meets children where they are developmentally, with Signature Practices that build confidence and excitement about learning at every age and stage. In every classroom, our goal is to help children do more than learn; it’s to cultivate the joy of learning. And our emergent approach — teaching skills by leveraging a child’s own interests — enables teachers to tailor activities and projects for the specific talents and needs of each child in the class. Learn more about our specialized programs for babies, toddlers and preschool children, and how we prepare children for school and life beyond. 

Are all staff trained in CPR and First Aid?

All Bright Horizons center staff are trained in CPR and first aid.  Once an employee is hired, they are required to fulfill 16 hours of training through our new employee orientation. This training takes place over a two-day period, where the employee spends time observing each age group in the center. Teachers must successfully complete first aid and CPR training, in addition to local licensing and/or Department of Health requirements (e.g., food handler safety card.)

I'm interested in applying for a job at this center. Is there someone I can contact?

Absolutely! Named one of Fortune Magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For 20 times, we are proud of the environment we create for our educators. We are always looking for great teachers, and offer competitive benefits and innovative programs. like our Horizons Teacher Degree program. For job listings and to complete the application process, please visit the Bright Horizons jobs and careers page at https://careers.brighthorizons.com. 

Where can I learn more about other Bright Horizons locations?

We have many centers across the US, and each center reflects the unique personality of its leadership and community. To find the best fit for you and your family find a child care center near you.

I'm not quite ready to enroll in the center but I am interested in continuing to hear about what is happening at the center. How can I get information more regularly?

We encourage any family interested in center information, regular updates, and invitations to the many events we are planning, to contact us.

What is NAEYC accreditation?

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has developed standards to define and recognize quality child care programs. In order to be accredited, a child care program must meet a variety of strict criteria, including having a well-trained faculty, good staff-child ratios and group sizes, and a comprehensive curriculum, as well as meet stringent health and safety standards. The program must also provide meaningful opportunities for family involvement.

What if I’d like to enroll but the center doesn’t have space available?

Finding the right daycare and early education solution can be a lengthy process. Our best recommendation is to start early! Even if your preferred Bright Horizons center doesn’t currently have space available, we still recommend registration for your first choice center.  At Bright Horizons, you can register at up to three locations. Once registered, we will add you to our wait list and you will be offered a space as soon as one is available. For many families on a wait list, Bright Horizons offers the ability to enroll at a nearby center on a temporary basis, or until your first choice center becomes available. If you’d like further advice on how to find the best preschool for your family, take a listen to our webinar on finding a quality preschool program.