Assessments & conferences
We regularly assess each child’s developmental progress using the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards and share our findings with you. Assessments inform lesson planning, and you may request a conference at any time.
Attendance, drop-off & pick-up
Families may enter at 6:30 a.m. and should arrive early enough to depart by 6:00 p.m. Children have accurate internal clocks — please keep to your schedule, and call if you’re running late so we can let your child know.
All children must be checked in and out using your personal code on the tablet in the foyer. Accurate attendance is required by our licensing agency in case of emergency.
Health policy
A certificate of good health (no more than 12 months old) and up-to-date immunizations are required at enrollment, with health forms updated annually until your child enters school. Children new to group care often catch more colds at first — immunity builds with time. Please keep your child home with fever of 100.4°F or higher, vomiting, diarrhea, unidentified rash, reddened eyes or listlessness.
Medication
Medications are administered per State Day Care Licensing Regulations with written authorization; they must be in original containers and unexpired. See Forms for the medication and care-plan documents.
Safety & safe sleep
Equipment is designed for rugged play and safe use, staff are trained in first aid and CPR, we hold regular fire drills, and our Registered Nurse Consultant monitors health and safety practices. Accidents are documented and you’re informed the same day.
Infants sleep per the OEC Infant Sleep Arrangement Policy. Children under 3 may not wear hazardous jewelry, including teething necklaces.
Naps & rest
Infants nap on their own schedules. Older children rest for one to three hours; non-sleepers may “read” or play quietly on their cots after an hour. School-agers enjoy books and quiet games.
Clothing & belongings
Children go outside every day in all weather — please send layers, and in winter coats, hats, snowsuits, boots and mittens; in summer a sun hat, swimsuit, towel and water shoes. Keep one full change of clothes (3–6 during toilet learning) in the cubby and label everything. Toys stay home; one small, soft nap item is welcome for children over 13 months.
Cornerstone provides linen service for cot sheets, crib sheets and bibs, and PABA-free SPF 30 sunscreen with written permission.
Breakfast
We do not run a breakfast program. Children arriving before 8:00 a.m. may bring simple, peanut/nut-free finger foods in disposable containers. A nutritious snack is served around 9:00 a.m.
Schedules & tuition
Full-time, part-time and flex-time schedules are available, along with school-age care. Tuition may be paid monthly, bi-monthly or weekly. Details on deposits, prorated tuition, late fees and withdrawal are in the full Parent Handbook, available at enrollment.
Developmental needs
Children benefit from interacting with one another, and children with developmental advances, delays and differences enrich our programs. If a concern arises, we’ll meet at a mutually convenient time to agree on next steps, which may include a professional evaluation.
Non-discrimination
Cornerstone welcomes families of all shapes and sizes. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation, national or ethnic origin or ability.
Guidance, not punishment
Positive guidance
Self-discipline is best — and children in an active, engaging, child-driven program rarely need correction. We help children develop self-discipline when we:
- Act as we expect them to act
- Set reasonable, positive expectations
- Respect their feelings and need to express them
- Trust them to succeed and offer good choices
- Calmly resolve issues
We recognize positive behavior at every age, redirect younger children, and use problem-solving with older toddlers and preschoolers.
Time to reset
A brief time-out is the only sanction we use, and only for children 2.9 years and older — never punitive, always supervised, and limited to one minute per year of age. A child experiencing big feelings may visit the office with one-on-one support to regain calm before rejoining friends.
For recurrent concerns, teachers partner with families (and, if needed, outside experts) to build a plan together.
Corporal, humiliating, frightening or otherwise harmful methods are strictly prohibited.
Protecting every child in our care
As mandatory reporters, our staff are trained annually in recognizing and reporting abuse and neglect, and Cornerstone accepts that responsibility without equivocation.
- Every child is checked daily upon arrival
- Staff note and share changes in behavior, mood or expression
- An open-care environment: large rooms, many windows, few doors — and an open-door policy for parents
- Positive ID required for every adult entering
- Children released only to authorized, identified adults
- Referrals to counseling resources available on request
Come see Cornerstone in action.
We invite you to visit as often as you like. Book a tour and meet our educators, see the classrooms and explore our playgrounds.