FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

How are children disciplined?
What happens if my child is sick?
How do I go about enrolling my child at Thomas Learning Centers?
Do you accept Social Services payments?
What meals do you serve?
How many teachers are there per student?
Do you take the children on field trips?
Can my child bring toys to school?
Do you serve special needs children?
What are your rates?

How are children disciplined?
Most of the time, kids are too busy at Thomas Learning Centers to get into trouble. But, kids will be kids, and when they do need discipline, we do not punish them. Instead, we view discipline as the opportunity to facilitate children's growth in self-direction, problem solving and decision making. Punishment causes anxiety and can be demeaning and unhealthy. Patience and consistency are the keys to effective discipline at our Centers.

Our teachers are careful to reinforce positive behavior and redirect children by suggesting alternative activities. Often, children misbehave out of boredom. Getting them interested in something new usually curbs the problem. We also make a point to praise children to support their positive self-image. Our daily routine also includes rest time for the youngsters. When kids become over tired, a nap can restore their happy outlook.

If other methods don't work, we will put a child in "time out". Time out allows kids to spend some time alone to cool down and collect themselves. As they cool down, we then have the chance to talk to them one-on-one. We can talk about what the child is feeling, better ways to handle the problem next time, even role-play alternative solutions!
Our Parent Handbook details fully our Discipline guidelines. Be sure to ask for a copy when you visit one of our Centers.

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What happens if my child is sick?
Our health and safety procedures help us to ensure the well-being of all children in our care while doing whatever we can to accommodate the needs of parents.

If a child has minor symptoms, we prepare an Under the Weather report and allow the parent to choose whether to pick the child up immediately or wait until the end of the day. Sever symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever over 100 degrees or an undiagnosed rash must result in immediate, supervised isolation while the child awaits immediate pickup. Please refer to our Parent Handbook which has a complete list of conditions that require us to exclude your child from care.

Children who are sick upon arrival may not be left in our care. If a child is sent home for illness 2 days in a row, we require a doctor's note for re-admittance. To prevent infecting others, children who are prescribed antibiotics for common illnesses must have taken them for 24 hours before returning to the Center. It is best to set your child's anti-biotic schedule so that medication does not need to be administered at school. However, we are able to administer medication in many cases, following specific, government regulations.

We also communicate closely with parents regarding children's health. It is crucial that parents report any incidence of serious, contagious diseases to the Center Director so that we can follow the Department of Health's recommendations and procedures.

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How do I go about enrolling my child at Thomas Learning Centers?
First, we recommend that you visit the Center near you to see what it is like. Come in any time! Be sure to print and bring our coupon which waives the registration fee! When you visit, the Center Director will give you a tour, introduce the staff and answer any questions you may have. From there, you simply complete the required paperwork and choose a starting date for your child. Please note that Colorado law requires every child entering a childcare program to have proof of immunization upon enrollment.

Choose the Center most convenient for you for a map and directions and to learn more:

Lakewood
Westminster

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Do you accept Social Services payments?
Yes. Each of our schools accepts childcare subsidies from various counties in the Denver Metro area. For specific information, refer to our section on the Center near you. Give the Center Director a call if you need any assistance in this area. It is a pretty simple process and we are happy to help:

Lakewood
Westminster

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What meals do you serve?
All of our Centers serve breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack every day. For additional detail, visit our section on Nutrition.

How many teachers are there per student?
Our Centers follow the state recommendations for teacher to student ratios at minimum and many of our Centers have a greater number of teachers per student than is required. It is important to us that each child receive individual attention every day. Ask the Center Director for specifics about your Center of choice.

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Do you take the children on field trips?
Absolutely! Children 5 and over enjoy connecting with the world at large on our Center-sponsored field trips. They go bowling and roller skating and visit museums and take nature walks. We also emphasize in-house field trips. Refer to our section on Field Trips for more detail and be sure to read the information about the specific Center you are interested in for detail on activities that are unique to that Center.

Lakewood
Westminster

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Can my child bring toys to school?
Our Centers provide an ample supply of toys and equipment for your child's use. However, many children enjoy having a blanket or a teddy bear to give them a sense of security while away from home. Any personal items, including toys or money, are the responsibility of the child. It is important that you label any other personal effects such as backpacks, books, coats and so forth with your child's name.

Do you serve special needs children?
Yes. Children with special needs will be accepted if they can benefit from our facilities and we can reasonably adapt our program to meet your child's needs. Please communicate openly regarding your child's special needs and your expectations for his/her experience in our Center. In this way, we can build a program that truly benefits your child.

What are your rates?
Our rates are very competitive but vary by age and are based on your schedule. Please ask the Center Director at your school of choice for our current rate sheet when you call or visit.

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