Programs at Lasell University

The Holway Early Childhood Centers (ECC) are located on the campus of Lasell University. We have two locations on campus. Rockwell is a traditional preschool with extended day flexibility for children 2 years 9 months through 6 years of age. The operating hours from Rockwell are 8am-6pm Monday- Friday.  The Barn is a full day program for children starting at 8 weeks of age through 6 years of age. The operating hours for the Barn are 8am-6pm Monday- Friday. Both programs are laboratory schools, which means that there is active participation by Lasell University undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty.  The schools share the same policies/procedures and are overseen by the Executive Director and two Associate Directors (one at each location). 

What the Holway ECC has to offer the child:

• A warm, loving, and safe environment for children where they will be comfortable and happy while being away from their own home
• Opportunities for being with other children in a setting conducive to the development of wholesome social relationships
• Assistance to children in developing a feeling of self-confidence
• Appropriate play and learning experiences that contributes to the developmental needs of the individual children in the program

What the Holway ECC has to offer the parent:

• Early childhood education and care for the child while the parents pursue their own work
• Opportunities to meet with other parents and educators who have as their common concern the interest and needs of the child
• Opportunities to grow in the understanding of child development through daily contact with Holway ECC staff and workshops offered by Holway ECC

Holway ECC Routines and Policies

Enrollment Procedures

Families must submit an application form with a $30 application fee, which is non‑refundable. Once application and fee are received, families will receive a confirmation postcard acknowledging their application to Holway ECC. We hold an annual Open House every October for perspective families, as well as, offer small group tours monthly. All parents are strongly encouraged to tour one or both Holway ECC locations and obtain a copy of the Parent Handbook before enrolling.

Special Accommodations
If any specific accommodations or special equipment are required the parent must submit this request in writing to the Executive Director at least 60 days prior to enrollment into Holway ECC. The Executive Director will review the request for accommodations and will notify the parent(s) in writing within 30 days if the accommodation(s) can be met. Should the request be denied, the parents have the right to a review of the decision by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (DEEC). Should Holway ECC not be able to provide appropriate care for the child, Holway ECC will provide the parents with referrals to other services. If service is provided, Holway ECC will notify the local special education provider for assistance. The Lead Educator is responsible for scheduling a follow‑up conference with the Special Education provider and the parent regarding the child’s progress.

The Lead Educator and co-educators within the child’s classroom may contact the agency or service provider, who is assigned to work with the child, for information and assistance with written parental consent. If no agency or service is involved the child’s progress will be reviewed within (3) months.

The Lead Educator will keep the Directors informed of all children who may potentially need a referral. A list of referral agencies is available to the parents and educators. This information is kept on file by the Directors. No referral is to be made to a parent without first notifying the Executive Director. Written parental consent must be given before any referral is made.

Re‑enrollment
Each Fall, families currently enrolled at Holway ECC will be given priority to re-enroll their child for the upcoming year according to their current contracted days. As far as changing ones contracted days to add or change days enrolled, priority is given to children of faculty/staff at Lasell University and to siblings of present/past Holway ECC students. Decisions for admission are made by the Executive Director.

Admission and Contracts
On acceptance, a family must sign a contract with a non-refundable deposit to hold the opening in the program. This deposit is applied to the first month's tuition for that year.

If your child is withdrawn before the end of the contract period, responsibility for tuition continues until Holway ECC can fill the vacancy. Holway ECC will not attempt to fill slots that are vacated in July and August. Holway ECC will attempt to fill these slots for the start of the new contract year in September. Parents will remain responsible for the tuition for their child’ slot until it is filled.

Tuition and Billing Policy

Monthly Tuition for the full day program is payable on the first of the month, payments are delinquent if not made by the fifth of the month.  For the morning programs at Rockwell only, the annual tuition is paid in 4 installments (July 1^st, September 1^st, November 1^st and January 1^st).  These installments are delinquent if not paid by the fifth of the month. On the 15^th of the month a $50 late fee will be assessed to your account for unpaid tuition. Please note: online payments have a delay in processing and take 3-5 business days to reach the university. The Centers do not remit bills.  Parents must schedule payments without reminders. 

Rockwell offers a flexible afternoon program where the number of hours needed each day after the morning program ends can be decided one month prior. Monthly calendars are distributed to families to select hours needed and an hourly rate will apply. The full balance of the hourly rate is due by the 15^th of the month prior with submission of calendar. If extra days are needed, and are available, an extra day fee is charged. Families may not share or swap days.  Parents requesting an extra day should make the request two weeks prior to the day needed. Families will only be granted two extra days per month. If more than two days per month are needed a contract change will need to be made (if class roster allows).  There is no reduction in fee, make-ups or switching of contracted days due to absences. Responsibility for tuition begins in September of the contracted year (July for Rockwell morning program).  If a child entering Holway ECC is not developmentally or chronologically ready to begin in their classroom by September, parents are still responsible for the tuition since the space is being held for their child. 

Scholarships
Holway ECC has a modest scholarship for those families that qualify. Parents are encouraged to apply each spring for the next contract year. Scholarship decisions are made by a committee of Lasell University members.

Behavior Management Policy
Our program is designed with the hope of instilling inner guidance in each child by creating a warm, nurturing atmosphere in which children can grow to be self-sufficient. We strive to help the children express their anger verbally rather than physically. Our goal is to help them behave in acceptable ways by preventing disciplinary situations when possible and by increasing a child's feeling of self-worth.

We strive to prevent disciplinary situations whenever possible. Listed below are the guidelines that Holway ECC follows:

• Verbally reward behavior that is acceptable
• Analyze the situation, if the undesirable behavior persists try to redirect the behavior
• Emphasize the positive rather than the negative
• Give choices whenever possible
• Prepare children ahead of time when transitions are necessary
• Avoid unnecessary situations that reduce children's feelings of satisfaction
• Have specific classroom rules and be sure all children are aware of them.
• Plan ahead and anticipate situations
• Keep children engaged to avoid situations that lead to misbehavior

When disciplinary measures are necessary, we take the following steps:

• Discuss the behavior and then redirect the child to another activity
• Calmly and confidently remove the child if the behavior persists
• Wait for the children to decide they are able to return to the activity
• Support the child's return to the activity to encourage success

We are committed to providing a warm and respectful learning environment where we nourish emotional growth. We acknowledge that any redirecting of a child must be carried through clearly and with respect.

As stated by the Department of Early Education and Care, we understand that physical punishment or isolation of a child is not acceptable treatment. It is also understood that no child shall be punished or in any way humiliated for soiling or wetting his or her clothing and that the denial of food or water is in no way acceptable. Additionally, no child will be forced to eat or use the toilet.