Find an Answer to Your Question

What is the relationship between Bright Horizons and The Partnership for a Healthier America?

For more information about this relationship, click here.

Can I visit my child at the center anytime I’d like to?

Yes, Bright Horizons has an open door policy.  You are encouraged to visit your child anytime.

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

We suggest you register with Bright Horizons.  You can select up to 3 locations to be registered at, including the center you are most interested in.  By registering, you are confirming your strong interest in all 3 centers.  We will add you to our wait list and you will be offered a space as soon as one becomes available.  While waiting for a space to become available at your first choice location, many families will choose to enroll at their 2^nd or 3^rd choice temporarily until space becomes available at the center they are most interested in.  In many centers, a child currently enrolled at a Bright Horizons location has priority over the general community so enrolling at another location will not only solve your care needs but will also give you additional priority in getting into your 1st preference.  Our goal is to accommodate families as soon as space allows.  During the entire process, we will keep in touch with you regarding your status.

What is Bright Horizons' process on checking the background of their employees?

Bright Horizons conducts a comprehensive background check on all prospective employees and frequent visitors. The background check consists of a county criminal record check for the past seven years performed in all counties that a person has lived, worked or attended school. In addition to the county criminal search , a sex offender search, OFAC search and a social security verification trace are also conducted. For all location employees, program licensing background checks required by the state are also performed.

Do you have a playground? How much outside time is provided daily? What are the available outdoor activities and spaces like? What do you do in the event of inclement weather?

We aim to go outside twice daily for about 40-45 minutes. On "red" days, our groups do not go outside, but make use of our Gross Motor Room to exercise. On "yellow" days, groups use caution and can stay outside for 10-20 minutes depending on the weather. On "green" days, groups can go outside for their entire 40-45 minute period.  The Gross Motor Room is a room designed for children to move freely, but safely, with structured choice activities such as an obstacle course or a “foam block” jungle gym. 

We have a beautiful playground, which was completely renovated during the summer of 2009. Our playground serves both our Toddler and Preschool Programs, allowing siblings to play together. We have separate climbing structures for Toddlers and Preschoolers, a water trough for exploration, a play house, and two large play platforms. There is a separate but adjacent outdoor play space for Infants as well. 

Our playground includes the Bright Horizons on the Charles Community Garden.  We grow our own blueberries, basil, zucchini, and sunflowers. 

We offer children choices, from building a choo-choo train out of large blocks for everyone to ride to the zoo, to riding a bike, to climbing, to water play, to a cool grassy place for contemplation. 

Our campus is adjacent to a large wooded path, which provides the children the opportunity to safely view a variety of wildlife: squirrels, geese, rabbits, woodchucks, robins and even a hawk are all regularly sighted. 

Our families also love to enjoy the large lawns which flank our playground, a space they will utilize during pick-up and drop-off, where children may enjoy a quick game of tag together before their car trips home.  Some families have even been known to pack picnics for a quick snack al fresco.

In addition, our center is located within the same complex as the Arsenal Center for the Arts, and children are able to go on supervised walks with the teachers to observe up close and personal some amazing outdoor art installations. 

BHOTC is also just a few minutes walk from the lovely Arsenal Park.  Arsenal Park features a climber/swing area as well as a water play area.  This makes a great change of pace for our Preschool children, and gives them something to look forward to on hot summer days.

Are all staff trained in CPR and First Aid?

All Bright Horizons staff are trained regularly in CPR, even if not required by the state. First Aid is taught as required by state licensing agency/regulations so that you can feel confident that your child is safe and receiving the best care possible at our center.

Are your staff all EEC certified? What is EEC certification? What else can you tell me about staff qualifications and experience?

The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (also referred to as the EEC) maintains state-wide standards and regulations as they relate to early childhood education and care, including teacher certification. All BHOTC classrooms are supervised by certified staff with years of teaching experience, and all BHOTC programs are taught by one or more certified teachers. The majority of our support staff are certified by the EEC or in the process of becoming certified.  If you have a specific question about EEC certification, or EEC programming and regulations, please contact The Commissioner's Office at the EEC.

The average staff member at BHOTC offers 5 years experience working with children in a professional context. Their background reflects a diversity of experience that may include: nanny or au pair experience, private or public school teaching experience, early childhood program experience, and of course- many of our staff have their own children. 

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

For job listings and to complete the application process, please visit www.brighthorizons.com/careers.

What is The World At Their Fingertips?

Bright Horizons curriculum, The World at Their Fingertips, is our unique curriculum designed to engage children in active learning that prepares them for school while helping them achieve their individual potential and fostering a spirit of community. It includes curriculum elements such as Language Works, Math Counts, Science Rocks, ArtSmart, Our World and Well Aware that cross all age groups. For more on information on our curriculum, click here.

Can you please give me directions to the center?

Bright Horizons on the Charles is located within The Arsenal On the Charles Office Park. Our address is: 400 Talcott Avenue, Watertown, Massachusetts 02472.   Please visit The Arsenal On the Charles Office Park weblink above for a printable map.

For Those Who Drive: 
Below are directions from Mass Pike East and Mass Pike West.  Bright Horizons on the Charles offers convenient and free parking, located just in front of our main entry. If it's your first time visiting, you'll see a buzzer at the front door.  Please buzz and someone will gladly let you in.  Feel free to call ahead if this is more convienent.  Once you are enrolled, we'll coordinate a keypad code for your usage.

For Those Who Take Public Transportation: 
The nearest subway stations are Central Square and Harvard Square, both on the Red Line. Harvard Square station is fully handicapped accessible.

There is a free shuttle service which runs between The Arsenal on the Charles Office Park and Harvard Square. The shuttle runs three (3) times each hour beginning from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  There is a pick-up/drop-off stop located about 30 feet from the front of our school. Just let the driver know where you’re headed.  If it's your first time visiting, you'll see a buzzer at the front door.  Please buzz and someone will gladly let you in.  Feel free to call ahead if this is more convienent.  Once you are enrolled, we'll coordinate a keypad code for your usage.

From Mass Pike East

• Take Mass Pike Exit 127 (Newton/Watertown).


• Turn LEFT back over Mass Pike and continue straight on Galen Street (to Watertown Sq.).


• Continue on Galen Street for approx 1 mile.


• At the five-way intersection, bear RIGHT onto North Beacon St. (Do not take a hard right onto Charles River Road).


• Continue for approx 100 yards and then stay LEFT at the fork onto Arsenal St.


• Continue on Arsenal street for approx another mile.


• The Arsenal on the Charles entrance is on the RIGHT- The Talcott Avenue entrance is located across the street from Roma Tile and Grainger's.

 

From Mass Pike West

• Take Mass Pike Exit 127 (Newton/Watertown).


• Turn RIGHT onto Galen Street (to Watertown Square).


• Continue on Galen Street for approx 1 mile. At the five-way intersection, bear RIGHT onto North Beacon Street (Do not take a hard right onto Charles River Road).


• Continue for approx 100 yards and then stay LEFT at the fork onto Arsenal Street. Continue on Arsenal street for approx another mile.


• The Arsenal on the Charles entrance is on the RIGHT; The Talcott Avenue entrance is located across the street from Roma Tile and Grainger's.


• Bright Horizons on the Charles is located ACROSS from the Bright Horizons World Headquarters (Corporate Offices).

What is The World at Home?

The World at Home offers parents opportunities to extend their child's learning through brief activities that are voluntary, fun, and fit into the busy lives of families. The World at Home recognizes 3 fundamental assumptions:

What are the educational goals of Bright Horizons?

Comprehensive, optimum development
of each child: mind, body, social self, and character.

Preparation for Success in Life

• Approaching life as an invitation to learn
  
• Becoming a confident and competent lifelong learner
  
• Becoming a confident and competent user of technology
  
• Developing emotional intelligence: personal power and social skills

Preparation for Academic Excellence

• Developing the social and cognitive skills necessary for school success
  
• Achieving excellence in language and literacy
  
• Developing an engaged, reflective, inquisitive mind and appreciation of science
  
• Achieving excellence in logical/mathematical understanding

A Rich and Rewarding Childhood

• Happy days
  
• Wonderful relationships
  
• A World of experience

How can I obtain information about tuition?

Tuition varies by center, schedule and by individual classroom. To find out more information about tuition, please contact the center directly.

Where can I learn more about other Bright Horizons locations?

To find other locations, please visit www.brighthorizons.com/locator.

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.

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.