FAQS
About Our Centers
We are open from 7 am to 6 pm. The teachers go home at 6, so please be sure to arrive by 5:55 each day to avoid late fees for departing after 6:00.
Yes, our center has a 5-star accreditation rating and is Eco-Healthy Child Care® certified.
Yes. AsheBridge is accredited by the National Accreditation Commission of the Association for Early Learning Leaders. This holds us to a higher standard of quality – kind of like the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.
Yes. AsheBridge is accredited by the National Accreditation Commission of the Association for Early Learning Leaders. This holds us to a higher standard of quality – kind of like the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.
We are proud to be privately owned. We are not a franchise and operate without the corporate constraints that national chains experience.
We currently serve children age 6 weeks until the start of kindergarten.
We believe that education for young children should focus not only on social-emotional development, but also intellectual development through acquisition of academic skills. Research shows that young children learn best by doing, by actively – and literally – having a hand in their learning. No worksheets here, just busy, focused learning!
Yes! Teachers plan experiences based on children’s interests and appropriate educational concepts. Children are actively involved in experiences which include foundations of science, technology, engineering, math, creative arts, language arts, music, movement and dramatic play. In addition to STEAM learning, a comprehensive creative arts component as well as social-emotional learning share equal footing with academics for a balanced education.
New Year’s Day, President’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Fall Break, Winter Break, and 3-4 Teacher Development Inservice Training Days per year.
The majority of our families are private pay. We accept a very limited number of vouchers and are contracted with local counties and the military programs. Please call to find out if we have any subsidized openings.
We offer a preschool program with daycare hours. This allows us to provide the best environment for children to learn and grow, while still meeting the childcare needs of families. We are different than a daycare center, which just provides “babysitting” supervisory care for kids.
Enrollment
Please call the school at 919-762-0605; though we have an open door policy for enrolled families, we ask that you schedule your initial tour of the facility. This ensures that we are available to spend plenty of time with you and answer all of your questions.
First, schedule a tour and meet our amazing staff. During your second visit, your child visits the classroom while we review paperwork at your orientation meeting. After this, your child is ready to begin! More details can be found here.
Tuition
Tuition is due monthly on the first of each month. You may register for secure automatic payment processing, or alternatively, may submit a paper check each month.
Staff
All employees have a complete local and federal background check prior to beginning work, and on a regular basis thereafter.
Classrooms are led by approved NC Lead Teachers. Most of our teachers have degrees in Early Childhood Education or their Child Development Associate® credential, while others are in the process of finishing their degrees.
Yes, our teachers are Pediatric First Aid/CPR certified by an approved American Heart Association trainer.
All staff members receive an additional 20 hours of health and safety training each year in addition to classes in best practices, educational philosophies, and other early childhood education topics.
Classrooms
We provide daily reports, notes, pictures, and videos through the Procare app. Paper reports are offered to families if needed.
Each day begins with circle time, which includes things lke story time or show and tell. Activity centers, teacher-led lessons, fun activities, nutritious meals and snacks, rest time, and outdoor play take care of the rest of the day.
Children play outside twice a day, weather permitting. Age-appropriate playgrounds as well as expansive natural playscapes provide ample exploration. We will reduce the amount of time spent outside in the event of precipitation or extreme temperatures.
Ratios vary by age. Infants are 1:4, 1’s are 1:5, 2’s are 1:8, 3’s are 1:10, and 4’s and 5’s are 1:12
It is natural for children to test limits and rules. Our staff uses positive management strategies including redirection, anticipation/prevention of problems, positive reinforcement, logical consequences, and encouragement rather than competition, comparison, or criticism. Most importantly, we recognize that part of this process is providing children with the tools and support they need to express their feelings and needs in acceptable ways. We abstain from corporal punishment or other humiliating or frightening disciplinary techniques.
When possible, we will work as a team with outside professionals to implement an individualized plan that supports the child’s inclusion and success. It may be determined that we do not have adequate expertise or resources for the child’s educational, medical, or other needs, especially in situations where safety is at risk.
Meals
AsheBridge Children’s Academy provides a nutritious morning snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack that meet the USDA meal requirements for children.
No, all meals and snacks are provided. All children eat the same thing together. We do not make exceptions for food preferences. Parents are required to provide infant formula/milk and baby food.
No, children may not bring home food into the center. Please finish all breakfast and snacks at home or in your car prior to entering the building.
Yes, infant parents are required to send prepared bottles and baby food while in the infant room. Starting in the toddler room, children all enjoy the prepared meals and snacks with their friends.
We can accommodate minor allergies (with medical documentation) or meat-free diets, assuming the family provides substitute items of equal nutritional value. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to work with generalized dietary restrictions, such as gluten intolerance.
Diapers & Potty Training
Yes, diapers (up to size 6) and wipes are provided at no extra charge for infants, toddlers, and 2’s.
Yes, you may bring your own disposable diapers and wipes.
No, we only use disposable diapers.
Children begin sitting on the potty when they are 2 years old and show interest in doing so. It is our goal to finish potty training before the 3rd birthday. While we recognize that every child has their own timetable for this, we expect toilet use by children in older classrooms.
Health
Yes, children are required to be immunized. We believe in the safety and efficacy of immunizations, therefore, we do not allow exemptions to the immunization policy for religious or philosophical reasons.
Yes and no – Children need to be immunized on time. Families who elect to stagger immunizations need to start the process early enough, or complete it rapidly enough to ensure that the series is fully completed in the required time frame. We do not allow exemptions to the immunization schedule for religious or philosophical reasons.
AsheBridge Children’s Academy does not administer prescription or over-the-counter medications, except those needed for emergency medical conditions. Parents are welcome to stop in to personally administer medication that needs to be taken mid-day. With parental permission, we will administer emergency medication for conditions such as severe allergic reactions.
Afternoon sunscreen, diaper rash cream, insect repellent and other topical creams will be applied at your request with signed authorization form. All topicals must be in cream or lotion form as we are not allowed to use aerosol sprays.
We cannot provide care for unwell children. Parents are asked to immediately pick up stick children from school and keep them home until they are symptom-free without medication for a full 24 hours without using medications like Motrin or Tylenol to stop those conditions. If antibiotics are prescribed, children must be on the antibiotic for at least 24 hours prior to returning to school. Please note that sick children will be sent home even if they don’t have a fever.
Illness Policy Specifics
May not attend with a fever or 100° or more at any time in the last 48 hours. Children may return to school if they didn’t have a fever yesterday or today.
May not attend with heavy nasal discharge that is not clear and needs to be wiped frequently.
May not attend with excessive/constant coughing that interferes with participation in activities. Children may return to school when the cough is subsiding.
May not attend if there was any diarrhea yesterday or today. Children may return to school if they didn’t experience diarrhea yesterday or today.
May not attend if there was any vomiting yesterday or today. Children may return to school if they didn’t vomit yesterday or today.
May not attend with any rash, except diaper rash or rashes caused by diagnosed medical conditions such as eczema. Children with rashes may return to school when the rash is gone, or with a doctor’s note stating that the rash is not contagious. Children with contagious rashes may not return until all mouth blisters are fully healed and all skin blisters are not moist/open, regardless of a doctor’s note to the contrary.
Children may not attend with red eyes with discharge. Children may return to school after a full 24-hours on medication, or the following day with a doctor’s note stating that the condition is not contagious.
Children may not attend if they have head lice or nits. Please keep your child at home for at least 24 hours after treatment so that you can be certain the treatment was fully effective before returning.
Certain conditions require exclusion from childcare, such as MRSA and strep throat. Children may return to school after at least 24 hours on antibiotics, and at least 24 hours after any other symptoms have cleared up.
Is lethargic, irritable, or persistently crying – children must feel well enough to participate in normal daily activities to stay at school.
Teething is not a reason for exclusion. Teething can cause a low grade fever (under 100°), crankiness, loose bowel movements, or a clear runny nose. However, teething does not cause the above exclusionary conditions to occur.
We reserve the right to modify this policy at any time without notice in the event of an outbreak or if a contagious illness is present in the program.
Emergencies
Yes, and all staff members have been trained in our comprehensive emergency plan.
Yes, we have monthly fire drills and regular emergency drills.
No, an individual determination is made for each weather event based on forecast and actual local conditions. Closings will be announced on WRAL-TV (Time Warner Cable channel 3) and WRAL.com.