We are conveniently located on Route 125 in Freeport, ME (122 Wardtown Road). The center is situated 3.5 miles from I-95 Exit 22, and approximately 4 miles from L.L. Bean.
The learning center’s country setting offers ample opportunities for outdoor play. Children enjoy our large backyard, wooden play system, and four-season outdoor play house.
Our goal is to help every child to experience the joy of learning. We strive to teach the whole child by fostering social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth. We treat children as individuals and try to help them to reach their full potential. Children learn through play and social interaction with peer and teachers. Age-appropriate, teacher-directed, early-learning activities are supplemental. The program is designed to help each child achieve age-appropriate development by kindergarten entrance.
A curriculum guide is available on the LF website. LF is trained in the Maine Early Learning Development Standards (MELDS).
Our center is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
The center accepts enrollment for children ages 12 months through 5 years.
We provide care for as many as eight children (with two staff members) in the infant/toddler room and as many as 16 children (with two staff members) in the pre-school room.
I have worked as a child-care professional for more than two decades, including two years as an elementary-school teacher and over 31 years as the owner of a day-care center. I also hold a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and have two children of my own. The lead teacher in each classroom has a degree in the field of Education. Our assistant teachers have experience, training, some college courses, and a love for children. The staff is trained yearly in CPR and first aid, a Healthy and Safety course, and mandated reporting training. They also participate in staff meetings, take courses, and keep updated in current research in the field of early childhood education. Staff achieve at least 30 hours of training time yearly.
We feel that children benefit from interaction and active play. Therefore, television is used at the center only for special occasions.
We welcome you to come and visit your child. Parents/Guardians volunteer to be guest readers, guest cooking class instructors, and guest teachers (share an arts and crafts activity or learning game). Many parents/guardians also join the children at snack times on their child’s birthday celebration. Little Friends understands with greater communication and sharing we can improve the child, family, and school connection. We also provide monthly On Call Times, Daily Notes, and have a LF text line for enhanced communication. We encourage and welcome communication and participation in your child’s day!
Parents will receive a daily note about their child. Parents are offered monthly on call times with primary providers. Parents will receive text message updates and information for center activities and reminders. Text messages can also be sent regarding individual students for parent updates. The text line is for brief information, please use on call times for conversations and questions or email the director for conferences.
Please visit the LF website and review the Emergency protocols document. Parents will be notified of any emergency via TEXT ALERT. Should this happen, please do not text back, it is vital for staff to get all the information to all parents. Please do not jam up the text phone. Follow-up details will be sent out as soon as possible. Staying or returning to school will be evaluated by staff and responders. Text alerts will again be sent out regarding returning to school timeline.
All members of the LF staff are mandated reporters as established by Maine State law. Staff are required to report any suspected instances of child abuse or neglect. Staff are required to keep confidentiality other than reporting to the Director. This includes reporting any person responsible for the child, including staff. The procedures in place for reporting child abuse and neglect protect both the rights of the accused and the children in the program.
LF staff schedules ensures there is never a staff left alone at the Center. Staff can always rely on the Director to assist or can call emergency contact as listed in the Emergency Guide if needed.
Maine State rules require at least one hour of rest time for children on the full day schedule.
https://www.maine.gov/doe/about/contacthttps://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/https://211maine.org/
Rights of Children. Children receiving childcare from Child Care Facilities have the following rights:
Rights of parents and legal guardians of children receiving child care from Child Care Facilities:
Keeping children healthy and avoiding the spread of contagious illnesses is the
responsibility of both staff and parents/guardians. Staff responsibilities for providing
group child-care include taking special care to limit the spread of illnesses. While Little
Friends cannot prevent all sickness, staff and parents/guardians can reduce its
incidence and severity with good hygiene practices. Parents/guardians can support the
well being of all children by keeping children at home when sick and/or showing signs
of illness. Staff will notify parents/guardians and ask that ill children be picked up from
the center.
Please use the following guidelines when assessing whether your child should attend
the child-care center:
I. Guidelines for Exclusion from the Center
Fever: Axillary temperature of 100 degrees or above. (Masking a fever with
medication still does not change the contagious factor.)
Vomiting: If your child vomits at school, you will be called immediately to pick up your
child.
Diarrhea: If your child has three or more episodes of runny, watery stools, or any
occurrence of uncontained diarrhea while at the center, you will be called to pick up
your child.
Cold/Covid: A child should be kept at home if symptoms include green/yellow or excessive discharge, severe coughing, or difficulty breathing, without medication needed for 24 hours.
Blisters: Blisters (such as with Hand, Foot, and Mouth) should be dry and healed for 24 hours prior to returning to school.
Scabies/head lice/ringworm/pinworm: Please consult a physician for treatment.
There is a no nit policy allowed during a lice treatment.
Rash/blisters/sores: Please consult a physician to diagnose any unexplained skin
symptoms.
Redness/discharge from eyes: Please consult a physician to confirm or rule out pink
eye and or cause of eye discharge. A Dr note is required for conjunctivitis
clarification/diagnosis. A child is considered contagious during the signs and symptoms
period and can return when symptoms improve.
Any physician-diagnosed contagious disease: Consult a physician for treatment
and to determine a plan for inclusion.
Anesthesia: Parents/guardians agree to keep children home for a minimum of 24 hours following medical procedures requiring anesthesia.
General unwellness: The parent/guardian will be contacted if a child repeatedly
complains of sore throat, stomach-ache, earache, or other pain or discomfort. If a child
is exhibiting unusual behaviors (specific to the child) such as lethargy or prolonged
crying, a parent/guardian will be contacted to establish a plan or to pick up the child.
Readiness for participation: Please do not send your child to school if he or she is
unable to participate in the normal day’s activities.
II. Guidelines for Inclusion/Return to the Center
Fever, vomiting, diarrhea: Children may return to the center once they have
experienced 24 symptom-free hours (without medication).
Cold: Children may return with mild cold conditions only, free of signs of respiratory
illness.
Antibiotics for contagious condition: A child may return after taking the medication
for 24 hours.
Physician-diagnosed contagious condition: Please submit a physician’s note
indicating the child’s readiness to return.
Anesthesia: A child may return to school faster medical procedures requiring anesthesia after a minimum waiting period of 24 hours and only when they are well enough to participate in a full day’s activity.
Unwellness: Please return the child to school only when well enough to participate in
a full day’s activity.
III. Determination of Exclusion/Inclusion
The final decision on whether to exclude a child from the center will be made by the
center director and the staff caring for the child. Each case will be considered on an
individual basis.
Any illness that requires greater care than the child-care staff can provide without
compromising the health and safety of the other children will be a determining factor for
inclusion or exclusion. Likewise, a child needing a great deal of one-on-one attention
and time may jeopardize the staff’s ability to provide proper care for all children and will
be a determining factor for exclusion/inclusion.
Medication: We can administer antibiotics and other medication to your child only with
written and signed consent.
Vaccination: Maine State laws require updated immunization records. The only
allowable exception if for medical reasons and a DR note is required.
Schedule of Payment
The fee is to be paid weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, by Venmo ( preferred) check or cash can be paid monthly only. A late fee of $5.00 will be charged for any late payment. Payment is due on the last day of the week your child attends. Exceptions will be made if your child is absent due to illness or emergency. Please plan to pay promptly upon your child’s return.
Please note that all accounts are paid in advance, toward the following week or month of care.
The fee is still required when a child is absent due to vacation, sickness, school closings, or other personal reasons.
There is a fee of $100.00 to enroll. There is an annual $100.00 fee due in September for re-registration.
The charge for returned checks is $35.00.
Fees paid on a weekly basis must be set to auto pay through Venmo and paid on Fridays for the FOLOWING week of care.
Holidays and Vacations
The fee is still required on the following holidays and vacation times when the center is closed: Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day (July Fourth) Break, Columbus Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Break, Christmas Break (determined by the Freeport Public School calendar, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day,) 1 week paid vacation in April (also in accordance with the Freeport School calendar), as well as 2 staff days during the months of March and June.Late Fee
Part-Time Enrollees
Contract Signature and Agreement
Snow Days
Early Release/Delayed Opening
Emergency Closings
Parents are required to conduct a health screening assessment at home prior to the child being dropped of at Little Friends.
Have "Health screening assessment" linked to new form on Forms page called the same. Form is attached.
Transition into LF
Children often reflect the affect and attitude that they see and hear from their parents. If a parent is anxious, worried, or nervous a child will sense this and they too will be anxious, worried, and nervous. LF has found a simple, brief goodbye coupled with positive communication is most successful.
Notification of Child’s Absence
Drop Off, Pick Up
Parents/ guardians assume responsibility of their child at all times when on school property, including indoor and outdoor play areas as well as the driveway.Emergency at School
Cases of Illness
Appropriate Dress
Change of Contact Information
Materials to Be Provided
Parents Guardians agree to supply a nutritional lunch and two snacks daily.
Birthdays
Potty Training Policy
LF is here to support a successful, consistent, and positive potty-training experience for you child.Signs a child is ready to learn to use the toilet:
Written Notification/Withdrawal Policy
here to download this info guide.Application and Registration - $100.00
Yearly Renewal Registration Fee - $100.00
(Due in September)
Daily Fee plus $10
here to download a copy of our rate schedule.Jane Purdy, Owner/Director
Payment Options
