Preschool Options
Studies have shown that having a quality preschool experience makes a huge difference in the future success of a child.
A “preschool experiences” may include a part-time preschool/nursery school, an all-day child-care program with a pre-school curriculum, or shorter classes/programs that the child attends.
This ECCS article explores the free programs, traditional preschool/nursery schools, and the all-day, center-based preschool care options available in Southington. There are several additional programs located in nearby towns.
These lists are presented in alphabetical order and expanded descriptions and registration details were provided by the schools or their website. You are encouraged to visit and ask about the program details, starting when your child is two.
Free Drop-in and Short Term programs
The Resources section also includes lists enrichment programs run by local organizations, including science, dance, art, and music. There are also Resources listings for sports, playgrounds and outdoor spaces, healthcare providers, support services, and more.
Family Resource Center
The Family Resource Center of Southington offers fun and free family programs for children ages birth to 5 years. Programs are offered year-round. Programs are happening inside with limited capacity and outside.
Contact Shannon Fitzsimons at sfitzsimons@southingtonschools.org to receive their program newsletter or send them a message through their Facebook page.
Strong School, 820 Marion Avenue, Southington
Web Site: https://www.facebook.com/FRCSouthington
Southington Public Library
The Southington Library has more than just books. You can also check out videos, CDs, backpacks of educational materials, shaped cake pans, and more.
The Children’s department has a puppet theater, computers with educational programs, train table, blocks, and other toys, although many of these items are packed away due to Covid restrictions.
Programs are being offered both online and in-person. Their children’s in-person programs are free to attend; though the more popular programs may require you to sign up beforehand and to put down a refundable $3/6 deposit (which you get back when you attend the program! It just saves your spot!).
Note that online registration is not opened until about 2 weeks prior to the event, until then the registration link will say “No places left.”
Programs are promoted at the Children’s circulation desk, on their Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/SouthingtonKidsPlace/, and on the Library’s Calendar of Events.
Southington Library, 255 Main St, Southington
Phone: (860) 628-0947
Web Site: http://www.southingtonlibrary.org
Part-day traditional preschool/nursery schools programs
Each of these preschool/nursery school options are for 3 or 4-year-olds and run for a partial day. Registration for the following fall starts in December to February depending on the program.
Check the Childcare Openings page for availability at each of these programs. The Preschool/Nursery School category of our Town Resources directory lists additional programs outside of Southington.
A few places also offer programs for 4 or 5-year-old children who meet the age eligibility requirements but aren’t developmentally ready to start Kindergarten.
For those programs that mention a December 31st cut off, check out this When to Start chart by birth year.
Bright Beginnings Child Care Center and Nursery School
Childcare center licensed for age 6 weeks to 10 years which also offers a part-day, preschool option.
Four-year-olds meet M/W/F mornings, Three-year-olds meet Tu/Th morning. Extended day is available through their childcare program.
185 West Main St
Plantsville, CT 06479
Phone: 860-621-9770
Central Christian Academy
1505 West St
Southington, CT 06489
Phone: 860-621-6701 x2006
http://centralchristianonline.org/
Grades – 3 year-old-kindergarten through 12th
School Hours: 8:15 am – 2:50 pm
Central Christian Academy uses only the finest Christian school curriculum, books, and material.
Greater Hartford area Open Choice and Magnet Schools
The Connecticut State Department of Education’s Regional School Choice Office (RSCO) coordinates the Open Choice and Magnet School programs. Southington children can attend a Hartford district school through the Open Choice program or apply to the lottery to attend a magnet school with a specialized educational theme. There are over 40 schools in the program across the Hartford region serving Pre-K 3 to grade 12.
The RSCI lottery application period usually runs from November through late January of each year. Late applications are accepted through the summer.
Transportation is not provided for pre-K students.
Phone: 860-713-6990
http://www.choiceeducation.org
Plantsville Community Nursery
Plantsville Community Nursery School, the oldest continually operational nursery school in the state, closed its doors in June 2018.
Southington Catholic School
133 Bristol St
Southington, Connecticut 06489
Phone: 860-628-2485
http://southingtoncatholicschool.org/
NEASC Accredited, PreK 3 through Grade 8
Registration happens through the spring.
3 and 4-year-old students in the half-day program are in school from 8-11:30 pm and full-day students are in school from 8-2 pm with lunch and rest time. Parents can choose 2-5 days a week with half or full-day options. Children should turn 3 before December 1st of the year enrolled. Before and Aftercare is also available when needed. The Pre-4 program successfully prepares children for a smooth transition to kindergarten. Students wear school uniforms.
Southington Catholic School is a Christ-centered, nurturing learning community that fosters Catholic faith-based values in our students while achieving academic excellence. Students of all races, ethnicities, and religions are welcomed at Southington Catholic School and admission is offered to all qualified applicants whose needs can be fully met by the school. Contact them to arrange a tour.
Southington Community YMCA – Nursery School and Nursery School Plus
29 High St
Southington
860-426-9568
http://www.sccymca.org/youth-development/southington-ymca/child-development
Contacts:
Chrissy Cassesse, Director of Child Care, at ccassesse@sccymca.org or 203.272.3152 x510
Kari Robarge: Early Childhood Director, (P) 860-426-9542, (E) krobarge@sccymca.org
Amber Knight: Registrar, (P) 860-621-8130
Tours – By appointment only.
Registration for the Fall opens in February. Link to all Registration Forms: http://www.sccymca.org/registration-forms
Children may join any of our EC programs at 2.8 years of age and fully potty- trained.
Nursery School – The partial-day, partial-week Nursery School program is a state-licensed program offering classes MWF from 9-11:30 AM for 4-year-olds and TTH from 9-11:30 AM for 3-year-olds. Nursery School curriculum follows the CT ELDS (Connecticut Early Learning Developmental Standards) as well as Learning Without Tears and is located in the secure, spacious and stimulating environment of early childhood classrooms on the 2nd floor in the main YMCA building. Swimming is included for 4-year-olds. Children must be fully toilet trained and out of pull-ups.
Nursery School Plus (Nursery School Extended) – Children will participate in the regular nursery school program and then have additional time with teachers for more individualized instruction with an emphasis on Pre-K readiness skills, including activities in math, science, and literacy. The program runs MWF from 9-1 for our 4-year-olds. Children will bring lunch from home and be provided with a morning snack. Swimming is included on Fridays. This program will be located in the early childhood classrooms on the 2nd floor in the main Y building. Children must be fully toilet trained and out of pull-ups.
Southington YMCA also offers a full-day preschool program and a full-day, Jump Start program for children who are eligible to start Kindergarten (see below).
Southington Public Schools Integrated Preschool Program
Note that Southington Public Schools is required by State law to provide preschool and support services to children with special needs, but it does NOT offer preschool to all students in town. The fee they charge for community peers is comparable to what is charged by privately run preschools.
Wrinn Preschool Center at Hatton Elementary School and Strong Elementary School
The Integrated Preschool Program of Southington Public Schools provides quality preschool center-based activities to three and four-year-old children in Southington. A portion of enrolled students are typically developing children who serve as peer models for students who require special education. The preschool staff use the Early Learning and Development Standards to prepare children for kindergarten. Through developmentally appropriate play, language experiences are nurtured to foster independence, increase self-esteem, and maximize learning in a positive, encouraging environment.
Open House or tours: Available upon request to the Special Education Coordinator. **Tours are temporarily suspended due to precautions related to COVID but please feel free to contact the Special Education Coordinator with any questions.**
NEW for 2023-2024: The preschool application form is posted mid-December and will be submitted online. Children are accepted into the program if they are determined to be a good fit for the community peer role. This is determined after an application has been submitted and children attend a small group activity/observation in early winter.
Applications for community peers are available online at: https://www.
Session days/times:
Hatton AM Session runs from 8:35 AM to 11:15 AM
Strong AM Session runs from 9:05 AM – 11:45 AM
Hatton PM Session runs from 12:25 PM to 3:05 PM
Strong PM Session runs from 12:55 PM – 3:35 PM
Three-year-olds attend two or three AM sessions per week. Four-year-olds attend three or four PM sessions per week. There are no sessions held on Fridays. Parents/Guardians are responsible for transportation of community peers.
Preschool registration occurs late spring and parents will be notified how to register online once their child has been accepted into the program. Community peers are charged a non-refundable acceptance fee of $25 annually in addition to a tuition fee (which is comparable to the other nursery schools in town). Registration forms, including a record of required immunizations, will be necessary for those students accepted into the program as a community peer.
Parents will be notified by mail in August of the child’s teacher, start date, and days per week.
Southington High School Nursery School
720 Pleasant Street
Southington
Part of the Southington High School Family and Consumer Science class on early childhood, called “The Preschooler”.
UPDATE: This program is not being run in the 2022 -2023 school year. The schedule for 2023 will be determined based on student interest, the school budget and Covid restrictions. The goal is to meet 3 mornings a week for ages 3-5 during the fall semester. For the HS students, this class is a comprehensive study of the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development of the young child. Developmental theories will be explored and application of course concepts will be utilized in Southington HS’s nursery school.
Contact Erin Proctor at eproctor@southingtonschools.org
Village Green Nursery School
37 Main Street, Southington
(860) 628-6958 x113
Registration for the following fall opens in January.
The 3-year-old program is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 to 12:00. Class size is limited to 12 children.
The 4-year-old program is on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00-12:00. Class size is limited to 12 children.
Extended Day Program is offered for the children in the 4-year-old program only. Children have the option to stay until 1:30, adding an additional 1.5 hours to their day. This program is limited to 12 children and is more structured, focusing on kindergarten prep skills.
Village Green is a family-oriented program that encourages parent involvement in the classroom. They also offer evening family events such as Bedtime Story Time, Dessert for Dads, Mother’s Day Tea, and an annual Family Dance. Village Green has a lending library for the children and a parent section that offers parenting books as well as Literacy and Science Kits for at-home family activities.
They accept the CT Care4Kids childcare subsidy for working parents and have limited scholarships.
Zion Lutheran Nursery School
531 Woodruff St
Southington, CT 06489
Director Colleen Clark
Phone: 860-628-6007
http://www.zionlutheranct.org/zcns/
Registration for the following fall opens in December for returning families and January for new families.
• The 3-year-old program will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 until 11:30.
• The 4-year-old program will meet Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 until 11:30, with an optional extended day until 1:00 on Fridays.
• The pre-K program is geared towards those children with “late in the year” birthdays who are not ready for the rigors of all-day kindergarten. It runs 5 days a week, although 4-year-olds can start on a 3 day a week schedule and then move to 5 days.
The Zion Christian Nursery School is a church-sponsored Nursery School and serves as an outreach to the community. The program is designed to be developmentally appropriate for children while also providing the academics they will need for the future. The staff will help the child develop a sense of self-worth, an appreciation and respect of the uniqueness of others, and give the child the foundation needed for learning. Children come together in an atmosphere of acceptance and caring, which encourages sharing, creativity, and respect for themselves and others.
Full-day Programs
The following places offer full-day childcare with a preschool curriculum for 3 and 4-year-olds. These run year-round with open enrollment.
Call for the latest availability or check the Childcare Openings page. The Childcare Center category of our Town Resources directory lists additional programs outside of Southington.
Many family childcare providers also offer a structured pre-school program, see their listing on the Resources page.
Bright Beginnings Child Care Center and Nursery School
Licensed full daycare for age 6 weeks to 10 years. They also offer a nursery school and before and after school care for Strong and Oshana Elementary Schools.
185 West Main St
Plantsville, CT 06479
Phone: 860-621-9770
Giggles and Grins Childcare Center, LLC
Licensed for age 6 weeks to 5 years.
Call for availability.
21 Cummings St
Plantsville, CT 06479
Phone: 860-621-3408
Jack and Jill II Day Care Center
Licensed for age 6 weeks to 6 years. This location opened in 2017. Jack and Jill, founded in 1954, also has a location in Cheshire.
Call for availability.
1593 Meriden-Waterbury Tpke
Milldale, CT
Phone: (860) 426-3766
Web Site: http://www.jackandjillchildcare.com
Margaret C Griffin Child Development Center
Full day, year-round programs for ages 3-5, fees based on a sliding scale. The Care4Kids childcare subsidy is accepted.
They prioritize families who are “income eligible,” which is based on income and family size.
240 Main St
Southington, CT 06489
Phone: 860-621-5885
Web Site: http://www.griffinchildcenter.org
My Little Rascals Daycare
Licensed for age 6 weeks through 10 years old. The Care4Kids childcare subsidy is accepted.
445 North Main Street
Southington, CT 06489
Phone: 860-276-0123
Web Site: http://www.mylittlerascalsdaycare.org
My Little Rascals Too
Licensed for age 6 weeks to 5 years. The Care4Kids childcare subsidy is accepted.
Opened a new area for infants and toddlers in September 2019 and re-purposed their old rooms for older children. Call about openings.
1850 West Street
Southington, CT 06489
Phone: (860) 392-8942
Web Site: http://www.mylittlerascalsdaycare.org
The Nurturing Nest and Early Learning Center
Licensed for age 6 weeks to 6 years, from 6:30 am to 6 pm on a Monday to Friday, Tuesday/Thursday or Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule.
1721 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike
Southington, CT
Phone: 860-276-0013
Web Site: https://nurturingnestct.com/
info@nurturingnestct.com
St Dominics Childcare Center
Licensed for ages 6 weeks to 5 years.
1050 Flanders Street
Southington, CT
Phone: 860-628-4678
Web Site: http://saintdominicchurch.com/child-care-center
Stork Club, Inc.
Southington location licensed for age 6 weeks through 8 years old. The Care4Kids childcare subsidy is accepted.
Additional locations including Cheshire and Meriden.
1348 West St
Southington, CT 06489
Phone: 860-276-1031
Web Site: http://www.storkclubs.com/
Town & Country Early Learning Centers
Licensed for age 6 weeks through 12 years of age. Offers infant, toddler, preschool, kindergarten readiness, school-age vacation and summer camp programs. They offer before and after school care, are on the Thalberg bus route, and provide van transportation to and from Kelley, Flanders, and Derynoski. The Care4Kids childcare subsidy is accepted.
1137 West St
Southington, CT 06489
Phone: 860-628-7900
Web Site: http://townandcountryelc.com/
YMCA Learning Center – Preschool and Jumpstart
YMCA Learning Center offers full-time care for children age 3 to 5. The Care4Kids childcare subsidy is accepted.
The YMCA also has a nursery school program, see above, and after school care.
30 High Street
Southington, CT 06489
http://www.sccymca.org/youth-development/southington-ymca/child-development
Contacts:
Chrissy Cassesse, Director of Child Care, at ccassesse@sccymca.org or 203.272.3152 x510
Kari Robarge: Early Childhood Director, (P) 860-426-9542, (E) krobarge@sccymca.org
Amber Knight: Registrar, (P) 860-621-8130
Preschool– 860-426-9542
Tours – By appointment only.
Ages 3-4. Children may join at 2.8 years of age and fully potty- trained. Link to all Registration Forms: http://www.sccymca.org/registration-forms
Drop off begins at 6:30 AM and Pick up is 5:30 PM. Extended care is until 6:00 PM for an additional fee.
The full-day, preschool program is a state-licensed program and is located in the secure, spacious and stimulating environment of the YMCA Learning Center. Program options are M-F (Free Family Membership included), MWF or TTH. Teachers focus on social, emotional, creative, physical, and cognitive skills. We follow the CT ELDS (Connecticut Early Learning Developmental Standards) for curriculum planning as well as Learning Without Tears. Children may join any of our EC programs at 2.8 years of age and fully potty- trained. Additional enrichment opportunities may include an introduction to yoga, zumba, sports, and group games. Children must be fully toilet trained and out of pull-ups.
Please note additional enrichment opportunities (i.e. swimming, field trips, special guests, etc.) may be offered in your child’s program, and only full-time enrolment guarantees that your child will be included in all activities. Part-time enrolment may cause your child to miss some of these enrichment opportunities depending on the day(s) your child attends.
Jump Start– 860-426-9542
Tours – By appointment only.
Jump Start registration opens in February
Openings are still available for the 2019-2020 school year.
Child must be eligible for Kindergarten. Link to all Registration Forms: http://www.sccymca.org/registration-forms
Drop off begins at 6:30 AM and Pick up is 5:30 PM. Extended care is until 6:00 PM for an additional fee.
The Southington YMCA is thrilled to offer a curriculum focused Pre K program to prepare your child for Kindergarten. Children must be eligible to attend kindergarten to enroll.
This program is taught by a Senior Teacher certified in Elementary Education K-6th. The daily schedule runs much like a Kindergarten classroom with a focus on Connecticut Common Core Standards including Math, Literacy, and Science. Performance standards include relating number to quantity, using complex sentences and vocabulary to describe ideas and experiences, writing to convey meaning, and engaging in scientific inquiry. Enrichment opportunities may include swimming and field trips. Please note that full-time enrollment guarantees that your child will be included in all activities, trips, and special projects! Full-time enrollment also includes a free family membership to the Y.
