Downtown Hampton Child Development Center

1. What ages of children do you serve?
We provide child care and education for children between 6 weeks and 5 years old. Children younger than 3 attend our Battle Road location.

2. What are your hours of operation?
Our hours vary by location. They are:
Battle Road Location: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Lincoln Street Location: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Shell Road Location: 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.

3. Are you licensed and accredited?
Yes! We are licensed by the State of Virginia and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, which recognizes high quality programs. For more information on the requirements for NAEYC accredited, please visit the NAEYC Web site at www.naeyc.org.

4. What is your teacher-to-student ratio?
The teacher-to-student ratio in each class depends on the ages of the children. In our youngest infant class, the ratio is 1:4. In our oldest four-year-old classes, the ratio is 1:8.

5. Do you serve children with special needs?
Absolutely. Our holistic program develops all children physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually. We serve children with a wide range of needs. Some of our children exhibit developmental delays and disabilities, or more severe challenges such as cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. Children with special needs are included in classes with other children grouped by age. Our Inclusion Specialist works directly with children with special needs, and also helps train our teachers.

6. Do you have a nurse?
We have a full-time nurse at each of our largest two sites, the Battle Road and Shell Road locations.

7. How qualified are your teachers?
We are proud of our well trained and highly qualified teachers. All teachers must have either a bachelor's degree or an associate's degree in Early Childhood Education. Many of our teacher assistants have college degrees as well. We consider continuing education a priority, and hold two weeks of teacher training before every school year. We also employ an Education Director, who coordinates and leads staff development throughout the year.

8. What curriculum do you use?
Children enjoy learning with a combination of three curriculums.

Creative Curriculum®, a hands-on program for infants through 5-year-olds that encourages children to learn through play.
Doors to DiscoveryTM, a literacy-based curriculum developed by the University of Virginia to help prepare the children for kindergarten.
Al's Pals, an interactive program that uses puppets and songs to teach social and emotional skills.

9. What is a typical day like?
Children learn best through play and by interacting with others. Children are encouraged to experiment and explore as they develop and learn. We provide opportunities for children to participate in large and small group activities as well as interest centers. A typical day may include activities such as:

Creative, open-ended art
Music and movement
Cooking
Toys and games, for small muscle development
Dramatic play
Enrichment activities, such as guest speakers and field trips
Problem solving
Language development
Literacy activities
Math and science
Outdoor exploration and play, for large muscle development
On-going opportunities for emotional and social growth

10. How do I apply?
You can download an application as a .pdf from the For Families page. Instructions for applying are also included on that page.

11. How much is tuition?
Our affordable fees for children ages 6 weeks to 2 years are set at a fixed weekly rate. Fees for children 3 years old and older are based on a sliding scale, and are calculated based on family income range and need. To find out the exact weekly fee for your child, please call us at 825-6200.

12. Where will I fall on the sliding scale?
Our sliding scale tuition rate, for families of children 3 and older, is calculated based on family income range and need. All families, regardless of income, qualify for the sliding scale. To find out the exact weekly fee for your child, please call us at 825-6200.

13. How do I get my child into the Hampton Four-Year-Old Initiative program at the Shell Road location?
Enrollment in Hampton's Preschool Initiative for Four-Year-Olds program is handled exclusively by Hampton City Schools. We partner with HCS to provide comprehensive services for 180 of the children in that program at our Shell Road location. To find out more about how to apply for that program, please contact the Early Childhood Department of HCS at 727-2448.