Do you have some questions about Haymarket Children’s Academy (HCA)? It is perfectly normal if you do, as it is not a small task to pick the best Nursery, Preschool, and School-age program for your little one! And, when you ask questions, you can better understand how everything works.

From finding a flexible schedule that works for you to the qualifications of our teachers, let’s take a look at answers to some FAQs about HCA: 

At what age does HCA accept students?

We accept all children from 4 weeks old to Elementary School, including our private Primary School. The exact age, along with the corresponding program, is given below as they navigate through HCA:

• Nursery: 4 Weeks – 12 Months
• Discovers 1: 12 Months – 18 Months (1 Year – 1.5 Years)
• Discovers 2: 18 Months – 24 Months (1.5 Years – 2 Years)
• Explorers 1: 24 Months – 30 Months (2 Years – 2.5 Years)
• Explorers 2: 2.5 Years – 3 Years
• Adventurers 1, 2, & 3: 3 Years – 4 Years
• Voyagers 1, 2, & 3: 4 Years – 5 Years
• Junior Kindergarten: Upon Assessment
• Kindergarten: 5 Years by December 31
• 1^st Grade: 6 Years
• Before and After Care Kindergarten – 5^th grade
• Camp Blue Ridge 5 Years to 12 Years

When is HCA open?

Our hours are Monday through Friday, 6:30 AM – 6:30 PM. We serve breakfast for the early arrivals and when weather permits, enjoy outside time before core curriculum times begin.  

How are children grouped in classrooms?

We group the children based on multiple factors, but the most important one is age. We place children in their appropriate program so that they’re among peers that are at similar stages of development.

What is the teacher-student ratio at HCA?

At HCA, we believe in providing the utmost attention and care to every single student. 

For children of 4 weeks up to 1.5 years old, we have a teacher-student ratio of 1:4. This ensures that proper care and attention are given to each child.

For children between the age of 1.5 – 2 years, our teacher-student ratio is 1:5 as these children become more independent and confident. And for those in the age group of 2 – 3 years old, our ratio is 1:8.

Finally, for students between the age of 3 and primary school age, the teacher-student ratio is 1:10, such as for Adventures 1, 2, & 3 and Voyagers 1, 2, & 3. School age ratio for before/aftercare and camp days is 1:18.

Will I get updates on my child’s activity at school?

Yes, we provide detailed reports about your child’s activities at the school. This includes information about the activities, eating schedule, play time, books read, potty schedule, etc.

And, besides the usual information, we also include pictures and videos of your child’s day at the preschool. All of this information is provided through our #1 Child Care Management Software, which is Procare Solutions with real-time updates!

We also provide monthly newsletters with the important events for each month. Finally, parents can find us on Facebook & Instagram where they can learn more about what their kids are learning on a daily basis.

What are the qualifications of your teachers?

Our teachers & staff at HCA are highly educated and hold relevant experience in their respective fields. We incorporate teachers to our team who have a passion for teaching & loving children. We also provide a mentorship program, early education training, and additional learning materials and resources to our teachers. This ensures that they know about the latest concepts in their relevant fields for the wellbeing of your child so that they succeed in life.

Which learning approach is used by the HCA?

The lessons your child learns before first grade are vital to their future learning endeavours. Early childhood education helps shape children’s minds and character and creates a strong foundation upon which all future learning is based.

We follow a play based and project-based learning model, which helps a child to actively learn while having fun at the same time. In addition, this learning model also helps in the development of critical thinking along with the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical skills of your child.

Do you have nap time at HCA?

According to research, sleep is essential for children to recharge energy levels and retain any newly learned information.

That’s why the Nursery and Preschool programs have a dedicated nap time appropriate for each age group’s schedule. During nap time, the lights in the classroom are switched off, and soft music is played in the background. For the little one programs, we also have morning naps as they need more sleep, depending on the age. For those that are outgrowing naptime there is a 30-minute quiet time and then quiet activities to do while friends are still sleeping. Classes are equipped with cots and mats, and each child has his/her own “bed” for napping.

How often are the toys in the classroom sanitized?

All the toys and items present in the classrooms are properly sanitized daily. In fact, cleaning the classrooms and toys is part of our teachers’ checklist during naptime. Also, every surface is disinfected at the end of the day. In addition, our facilities manager and cleaning crew properly clean and sanitize every evening. 

Do you also provide food to the students?

Yes, everything is included in the child’s tuition fee, from healthy meals to diapers & wipes, and snacks!

Unlike other preschools that outsource the food, we have on-site Chef at HCA that prepares delicious & healthy food for our students.

Additionally, the food prepared by our Chef is organic and locally sourced, and we use halal meat in order to ensure that your child only eats the best!

As for toddlers and younger children, we provide organic milk and other age-appropriate food. We also provide a vegetarian menu if desired.

Do you accommodate students with allergies or any dietary restrictions?

Yes, we collect detailed information about your child’s dietary restrictions and allergies at the time of registration. This information is then placed in the Classroom, Dining Room, and Kitchen at a visible location along with your child’s photo. The chef and teachers partner with one another by using a system that keeps everyone safe. 

Does my child need to be potty trained for admission to the program?

No, we don’t have any potty-trained prerequisite for children in the Nursery or Preschool. In fact, we help potty-train our young students at HCA. 

What sets HCA apart from other schools?

Our culture of kindness, our core values, and being privately owned (not a franchise) are a few things that highlight HCA’s unique atmosphere. It’s also ideal that our campus is off the main road in a safe and secure Plaza. But it’s our team that sets us apart from other programs. We have administrators with 20 years of experience in early childhood education and several team members that have been with us for over a decade. Continuity of care and excellent leadership is key for the success of everyone that joins the HCA family. If you still have any further questions, feel free to contact us!