Find an Answer to Your Question

What resources does Bright Horizons offer to families?

Bright Horizons offers many resources to support families’ efforts to nurture children’s development, be actively involved in their education, and balance work/life demands. See www.brighthorizons.com/family-resources for more details on these tools. 

If I am no longer employed by Hormel Foods, what is the last day that my child can use the center?

If you are no longer employed at Hormel Foods, you can continue to utilize the center and will be moved to a community enrollment at the start of the following month.  

Can I pay to reserve a space at the center without attending?

Bright Horizons will hold a space for up to two weeks. After two weeks, you must enroll your child, or the space will be offered to another family on the waitlist. 

Will I receive a tuition credit for time away on vacation?

The center will not offer vacation credits. 

What curriculum will be used at the center?

Bright Horizons’ successful core curriculum World at Their Fingertips, will be used at the center. To learn more about the Bright Horizons curriculum, please visit brighthorizons.com/early-education-preschool/proven-approach 

Is there a sibling discount?

No, a sibling discount will not be offered. 

What is the process to withdraw a child from the center?

Families will be required to provide notice of intent to withdraw 30 days in advance of the last day of attendance. 

What other fees are required?

In addition to the tuition, you will be required to pay the following:  

• Registration Fee: A registration fee of $150 per family is due at the time of registration. After the initial enrollment period ends, families will be contacted by a Bright Horizons representative to discuss enrollment or wait list status.  

• Enrollment Deposit: An enrollment deposit equal to one month’s tuition will be due when the enrollment offer is accepted. The enrollment deposit will be applied to the first month of tuition. If a family chooses not to enroll their child after accepting the enrollment offer, the enrollment deposit will be forfeited. 

• Annual Re-Registration Fee: A $100 fee per family will be required each subsequent year to cover annual administrative and licensing fees. 

Are meals and snacks included in the tuition rate?

Breakfast, morning snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack will be provided each day and are included in the tuition. 

What are the qualities and qualifications of the teaching and care staff?

Bright Horizons works to recruit and hire the highest quality teachers. Their staff are nurturers as well as educators who encourage learning through exploration and partnership with parents. They’re trained to deliver the highest standard of care. All candidates undergo a thorough screening, including a Bright Horizons enhanced background check and state-required background checks. All teachers must meet state educational licensing and additional center requirements. 

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

Click here to read more information about this relationship. 

What is NAEYC accreditation?

Bright Horizons will follow the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) recommendations for staff-to-student ratios at the facility and also plans to pursue NAEYC accreditation for the center. 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. 

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

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

How is tuition paid?

Tuition is paid through ACH and is due on 25th day of the prior month. Example: September monthly tuition will be due on August 25. 

What is the capacity and teacher-to-child ratio per age group?

The ratios at the center are designed to support one-on-one interactions between the teachers and children, an in- depth understanding by the teachers of the individual needs of each child, and the formulation of consistent care- giving routines based on the teachers’ knowledge of the individual children. These teacher-to-child ratios also support enhanced development, particularly language development. 

What ages will the center serve?

The center has capacity for 130 children and will serve children ages 6 weeks through 12 years. 

Who is eligible to enroll in the center?

Full-time Hormel Foods employees are eligible for a tuition discount. Part-time employees, contractors or community families are eligible to enroll in the center.  

Can you provide more background on Bright Horizons?

Bright Horizons core business is employer-sponsored care. They were founded more than 30 years ago and now partner with more than 1,000 employers across the U.S., as well as in Europe, Canada, and India. Their client list includes more than three-fourths of the companies on Working Mother magazine’s “100 Best” list. In addition, their client list includes more than half of those named to FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For.” It should be noted that Bright Horizons has also been named to the FORTUNE list 19 times. Bright Horizons is an organization recognized for ethics, collaboration, community service, and excellence in the child care industry. They have extensive experience with opening new centers from the ground up and creating wonderful places for childhood. 

When is tuition billed and collected?

Tuition will be billed and collected monthly.  

Is part-time child care available at the center?

Part-time care is not provided at this time.  

Does Bright Horizons offer discounts to military families?

Tuition assistance for eligible military families is available at participating Bright Horizons’ centers when on-base care is not available. You can find more information and a map of participating centers here. 

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.