Little Thinkers Preschool

When do you start offering enrollment? 

• Incoming Pre-K Three – Mid-February of the current school year 
• Current Pre-K Students – Receive intent to return letter on March 1 with a deadline of April 1 
• Incoming Pre-K Four – April 1 
• Financial Aid Applicants – Will reach out for proof of need mid-December and will begin offering enrollment mid-February

What are your enrollment requirements?  
Enrollment in Little Thinkers Preschool shall be open to any child that meets requirements, including their age at the start of the Preschool year, provided the program can meet the needs of that child. Enrollment shall be granted without discrimination regarding socioeconomic status, race, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, or cultural background.  

In determining whether a child will be admitted to Little Thinkers Preschool, the Preschool will consider the child’s chronological age, developmental progress, potential for positive Preschool participation and conduct, and the expressed commitment of the child’s family to support the mission, policies, practices, and curricular goals of Little Thinkers Preschool. 

Do I need to be a Thinkery member to apply to Little Thinkers Preschool?  
No. The academic-year tuition to the Preschool includes a yearlong Thinkery Family Membership. Current Thinkery members will have their membership extended for the duration their child is in school. 

What documents do I need to apply?  
No documents are needed just to register. However, if your child is selected for enrollment, you will need to provide the following:   

• Medical Report Form that includes a physician’s statement & signature  
• Current Immunization Record  that includes a physician’s signature & date 
• Medical Insurance Information (if covered)  
• Policy Acknowledgements  
• Hold Harmless & Indemnity Agreement  
• Confidential Information Form  
• Release of Child Authorization 
• Ointment/Sunscreen Authorization
• Emergency Contact Information
• Medical Release Form
• Guidance & Discipline Policy Confirmation

I found out my application was accepted. Now what?  
Once offered a spot, you will have 48 hours to accept or decline the offer by processing a $150 nonrefundable enrollment fee to confirm the child’s spot in the school.   

After 48 hours, if payment is not received, your spot will go to the next student on the waitlist. 

I’ve been assigned to a “Waitlist.” What does that mean?  
This means that your child is placed on the waitlist for the Preschool. Your child will move up as students accept and decline a spot on the offered list. If your child moves up to the offered list, Thinkery will send you an acceptance message and you will have 48 hours to accept or decline the offer by processing a $150 nonrefundable enrollment fee to confirm your child’s spot in the Preschool. 

Do you have a policy about accepting siblings?  
Yes. If a family is offered a spot and has more than one child that meets the criteria for enrollment, and there is a spot available, then all children within that family will be accepted into the program. (Note: “Sibling” means biological or legally adopted. Cousins, nieces, nephews, and unrelated children in home are not considered siblings.) 

I accepted my offer for enrollment. Now what?  
Once you’ve accepted your offer of enrollment, we will send you a welcome email with the required forms you need as well as our Little Thinkers Preschool handbook. To be fully enrolled, all families must submit completed documentation and must pay an application fee, enrollment fee, supply fee, and first month’s tuition, the amount of which is reviewed annually. The application, enrollment, and annual supply fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.   

We will periodically email you throughout the summer. Here is a breakdown of when and what to expect:  

• June: You will receive a newsletter with a behind-the-scenes look at what we’re doing to prepare for the new school year. The supply fee will also be due June 1.  
• Mid-July: We will send out a second newsletter on what to expect in August: Parent-Coffee Session, Meet the teacher, classroom tour, and teacher wishlist.   

When and where do I pay my tuition?  
All tuition payments must be made by 1^st of the month through Jovial. We do not accept checks as a form of payment for Preschool tuition.

If you have a question regarding your bill or a financial matter, please contact the registrar at preschool@thinkeryaustin.org.  
 

What are your classroom ratios? 
PreK-3 classrooms have a 2:15 student: teacher ratio and our PreK-4 classrooms have a 2:16 ratio. Each classroom had a lead teacher and a co-teacher.     

What are educator qualifications?  
Little Thinkers Preschool lead teachers have a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in the field of early education, elementary education, or special education, or have a degree in a non-related field with at least 36 hours of child development course work, or equivalent working experience in early childhood education. To work at the Preschool, all staff must receive 24 hours of pre-service training and 16 hours of orientation. 

What is Little Thinkers Preschool’s educational approach and curriculum?  
You can learn more about Little Thinkers Preschool’s educational approach and curriculum here.  

The curriculum is designed by our Little Thinkers Preschool educators and is guided by the Texas Pre-Kindergarten guidelines. The educators take these learning objectives and tailor them to meet the needs and interests of each class and meet weekly to discuss curriculum with the Site Director and go over plans and share ideas. All educators receive a minimum of 24 hours of in-service training each academic year, much of which is directly related to children’s growth and development as well as curriculum content. 

How much outside time do students receive? 
Outdoor play is a critical time of the day for children. In addition to music & movement activities indoors, as weather permits, each class will spend up to an hour in the morning during the regular day outdoors. 

 Children in extended care will spend an additional hour in the afternoons. The outdoor area will include activities that encourage gross motor play while promoting exploration, social skill building and calculated risk-taking. 

How much screentime do students receive? 
Occasionally educators may use educational videos or digital apps that are aligned with lessons. Otherwise, screen time is not used at the Preschool, except on occasions of persistent and ongoing bad weather. When screen time is used the program must be planned ahead of time. 

What is Little Thinkers Preschool’s approach to behavior and discipline? 
Educators are trained in the technique of re-direction to manage behavior. Children are encouraged to talk through their inappropriate behaviors with adult guidance and prompting. If children are unable to manage themselves during an activity or classroom center, teachers may remove them from that area and provide them with something else to do.   

Discipline is individualized and consistent for each child, appropriate to the child’s level of understanding, and directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control. Educators may only use positive methods of discipline and guidance that encourage self-esteem, self-control, and self-direction.  

Positive discipline and guidance techniques utilized may include recognizing appropriate behavior instead of focusing on unacceptable behavior, reminding the child of behavior expectations by using clear, positive statements, redirecting behavior using positive statements and using brief supervised separation from the group, when appropriate for the child’s age and development. Matters of discipline are ordinarily dealt with by the teacher or, if necessary, by the site director. In either case, this will be done in a close cooperative effort with the caregivers.  

Does Thinkery provide my child lunch or snacks? 
Caregivers are responsible for sending two nutritious snacks and lunch per day. 

Do students take naps?  
Nap or rest time is part of each child’s day. Providing children with a nap is a licensing regulation for children who are in care for more than 5 hours a day. If your child does not nap, then a rest period for 30 minutes is provided, followed with a quiet activity on their mats, while the other children are napping. Each child is provided a comfortable mat. Caregivers are asked to bring a small bed roll with an pillow attached. Our space is limited for storing sleeping items. These items will go home the last school day of the week to be laundered and to be returned clean the following school day. 

What security measures are in place to protect my child?  
Teachers are the “eyes and ears” of the Preschool and are the best deterrent to dangerous situations. They are trained in the procedures to safeguard your child in case of fire, dangerous weather, natural disaster, or an intruder. Classroom doors are locked and password-protected from intruders.