Find an Answer to Your Question

What is AMS and why is your affiliation important?

The American Montessori Society (AMS) is the foremost advocate for quality Montessori education. AMS sets the high professional standards that inform Montessori education as practiced in AMS-accredited schools and taught in AMS-affiliated teacher education programs. AMS is also a hub of all things Montessori: an information center for its members, the media, and the public; a voice in the public policy arena; and a mobilizing force for the global Montessori community, through support services, research, and professional development events. Visit the AMS website to learn more and discover the many resources they provide.

Are all faculty trained in CPR and First Aid?

All Bright Horizons faculty members are trained regularly in CPR /First Aid and Universal Precautions, even if not required by the state. You can feel confident that your child is safe and receiving the best care possible at our school.

How can I obtain information about tuition?

Our tuition is dependent upon your child’s age, developmental level, and the location of the school you have chosen. We also recommend that you visit our school for an in-depth conversation with a member of our administration team, so we can help discuss the best options for your family and child. Visiting is also the best way for you to learn about our school community and to determine if a Montessori education is right for you and your child. Please contact our school to learn more.

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.

Can I visit my child at school any time I’d like?

Brookfield Academy has an open door policy. However, to avoid disrupting lessons in the classrooms, we do ask that you contact us in advance to arrange the best time to visit. We also recommend talking with your classroom teacher about how we can best accommodate you. We strive for building partnerships with parents that will best meet the needs of your child and family.

What is your admission process?

Please visit our Admissions page.

How can I learn more about the Montessori Method?

We welcome your visit and the opportunity to share more about a Montessori education. Our administration team is available to discuss our school, to answer any questions you have, and to arrange a convenient time to meet with you. We encourage you to visit our school to see the Montessori learning and teaching in action. We carefully schedule these visits to ensure that the children’s learning is not disrupted. Our school also offers Parent Education Workshops throughout the year to help parents continue to learn about the Montessori Method as well as what and how children learn. There are also many resources available through books, websites, and video that we recommend.

What are the educational goals of a Bright Horizons Montessori School?

Bright Horizons teachers strive to provide the highest-quality Montessori curriculum and learning environment for each individual child. Every member of our community is valued for their distinctive abilities, talents, and personalities. We embrace diversity in all its forms at all levels of the Bright Horizons family.

The goals of a Bright Horizons Montessori School are to:

• Stimulate the development of the total child: emotional, social, physical, and academic
• Create a nurturing and accepting environment in which each child feels secure, respected, and loved
• Provide an enriched, stimulating educational setting with safe limits in which each child is an active explorer
• Encourage each child to become self-directed and independent
• Provide a framework of conscious discipline
• Inspire creativity and the development of a positive self-image in each student
• Establish a cross-cultural environment and introduce concepts of global peace

Visit the Montessori Curriculum page to learn more specific details about learning at each age group.

Do you provide meals at school?

Students can order from our hot lunch menu or pack a healthy lunch.

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.