Frequently Asked Questions
What will parents need to provide from home?
Families with infants are required to provide all items necessary to meet their child’s daily care needs. This includes an adequate supply of diapers, diaper cream, bottles, formula or expressed breast milk, and infant food as applicable. Parents must also provide crib sheets and/or a sleep sack for rest time, along with at least two complete changes of clothing. Pacifiers, comfort items (such as a small lovey), and any additional items specific to the individual needs of the infant should be supplied and clearly labeled.
For children in all other age groups, families are asked to provide items that support their child’s comfort and daily routine. This includes nap or quiet time items (such as a small blanket or comfort item), a labeled water bottle, lunch and snacks if not provided by the program, and at least two complete changes of clothing. For children who are not yet fully toilet trained, diapers and diaper cream must also be provided. Sunscreen should be supplied for outdoor play. During the winter months, appropriate snow gear—including a coat, snow pants, boots, hat, and mittens—is required. Parents should also provide any additional items their child uses on a daily basis to ensure consistency and comfort throughout the day.
How does payment work?
Tuition is billed on a bi-weekly basis and is due each Friday in accordance with the tuition schedule provided to parents at enrollment. Payments are to be submitted through the Brightwheel app. We also accept payments by check per requests.
What are the ratios for each classroom?
Forever Friends strictly adheres to the staff-to-child ratios established by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) for each age group. Maintaining appropriate ratios ensures the safety, supervision, and quality of care provided to every child.
Our classroom ratios are as follows: Infant classrooms operate at a 4:1 ratio; toddler classrooms at 5:1; preschool classrooms at 7:1; pre-kindergarten classrooms at 8:1; and school-age classrooms at 9:1. These ratios are consistently maintained in accordance with New York State regulations.
How can parents communicate with staff members?
All communication with administration and staff members is conducted through the Brightwheel app. This platform allows for direct and efficient communication between families and our team.
Throughout the day, staff utilize the Brightwheel app to document and share important updates, including health checks, meals and bottles, diapering, incidents, and photographs. This ensures that parents remain informed and connected to their child’s daily experiences in real time.
What is Forever Friends sick policy?
The Forever Friends Exclusion Policy is designed to protect the health and well-being of all children and staff. Children with a fever of 100.4°F or higher must remain at home and may return only after being fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
Children may also be excluded from care if they are too ill to comfortably participate in daily activities or if they exhibit symptoms including, but not limited to, lethargy, excessive coughing, difficulty breathing, unexplained or spreading rashes, vomiting, or frequent diarrhea.
Families are required to maintain a reliable backup plan and must be able to pick up a sick child within 30 minutes of notification. Final decisions regarding exclusion or return to care are made at the discretion of the Director to ensure the safety and well-being of the program community.