| Child Care Centers provide full or part-time care | | | | receive public assistance, children with a disability |
| for groups of children. These programs may care | | | | and low-income families. |
| for infants, toddlers and preschoolers and for | | | | 4.School Age Child Care (often called extended |
| school-age children. The principle requirement of a | | | | day or after school programs) provides care for |
| childcare center in Beverly Massachusetts is | | | | school age children before and after school or |
| that the center should provide care for at least | | | | during school vacations. |
| three or more children. The center should not be | | | | 5.Family Child Care is care for children in a |
| based in a residential location. The center should | | | | provider’s home. Licensed family child care |
| have sufficient space for classrooms, sufficient | | | | providers can care for up to six children (two |
| staff and caregivers, equipment, playgrounds, play | | | | under age two) at a time, including their own. |
| equipments and other materials. | | | | 6.If the provider has an approved assistant, the |
| The childcare centers of Beverly, MA should | | | | provider may care for up to 10 children. |
| ensure that they meet the minimum standards | | | | 7.Family Child Care Systems provide support to |
| for care as set up by the local Child Care and | | | | family child care providers including training and |
| Resource and Referral Agency. Some of the | | | | technical assistance. They also provide health and |
| childcare licensing requirements that are provided | | | | social service referrals to children receiving care |
| for compliance are: | | | | with these child care providers. |
| * Supervision of children | | | | Monitoring Child Care Regulations |
| * Discipline practices | | | | The Division employs child care consultants to |
| * Child/staff ratios | | | | ensure child care regulations are being met. The |
| * Sanitation practices | | | | consultants are located throughout the state and |
| * Staff education and training development | | | | are responsible for a caseload of licensed |
| In addition, centers are required to meet | | | | programs in one or more counties. The |
| sanitation, building and fire codes as required by | | | | consultants conduct annual unannounced site visits |
| other state agencies. The Star Rated License | | | | to evaluate compliance. Additional visits may be |
| System recognizes facilities for their voluntary | | | | made for a variety of reasons such as: |
| efforts to exceed these minimum standards. | | | | * Pre-licensing visits for new programs |
| 1.Infant and Toddler Care programs serve children | | | | * Complaint investigations, including abuse and |
| from birth through two years and nine months. | | | | neglect |
| 2.Nursery Schools, Preschools and Private | | | | * Technical assistance |
| Kindergartens typically provide care for children | | | | * Rated license evaluations |
| who are two years and nine months through five | | | | * Follow-up visits, as necessary |
| years of age. | | | | Documentation of information gathered during |
| 3.Early Head Start/Head Start programs provide | | | | these visits is available for the public to view. |
| child care for eligible children whose families | | | | |