Frequently Asked Questions
If you have additional questions, feel free to contact us.
Why do we have a sliding scale?
Leila Day has been helping working families provide care for their children since 1878, originally serving children of immigrants working in the garment factories of New Haven nearly 150 years ago. We continue to honor that history by working hard to ensure that our programs are accessible to families of diverse economic means. Our full-day Preschool, Kindergarten, and After School program tuition are based on a sliding scale determined by family income. We also participate in Connecticut’s Early Start Program and Care4Kids programs, which offer additional subsidies to qualified families. To be able to offer financial aid to more than 60 percent of our families, we have a proud tradition of active fundraising efforts by our staff, Board and current families, and we are fortunate for the generosity of many individual donors, including many former families who benefited from Leila Day’s financial aid in the past. To receive financial aid, families must provide financial information through the application process.
Do children at Leila Day nap?
The schedule for all full-day programs includes a quiet time when the teachers help children relax their bodies and rest their minds. Children in our preschool programs bring a comforting blanket, pillow or soft toy to their cot to rest or sleep in the early afternoon. Children who don’t fall asleep may bring a book or quiet activity to their cot. Kindergarteners' rest time is shorter and provides children with a balance to their busy and interactive days.
What happens if my child doesn’t care for the food?
Leila Day’s chef prepares breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack on-site daily. The bi-weekly menus are always posted on our website. Fresh fruits and vegetables are served every day and most of our food is made “from scratch.” Family-style meal service is an integral part of our school culture, with children and adults all eating together. During meals, rich conversations happen, and children learn practical skills such as table manners and utensil use.
We do not make menu modifications for individual taste preferences, as young children can be notoriously picky eaters. However, every meal has multiple components, and children always find something they like to eat. We do adjust our menu for individual children with any documented food allergies or medical restrictions, and we accommodate vegetarian and pescatarian eaters. We do not serve any pork or pork products, and we are a nut-free school. While observing any required restrictions, we encourage children to try new foods. We view meal times as an opportunity for children to build a healthy relationship with food by listening to their bodies, exploring new foods at their own pace, and learning to trust their own hunger and fullness. Parents are often pleasantly surprised by what children eat when they see their friends and teachers enjoying something new at school!
Do children need to be toilet trained to attend Leila Day?
We do not require that children be toilet trained in order to attend Leila Day as we understand that this is one of many areas where children develop at different rates. For children who are not using the toilet at the time they start at Leila Day, teachers will work closely with the family, and the family’s pediatrician, to support the child as they move from diapers, to pull ups, to underwear, and are able to consistently go to the bathroom independently.
How do you handle discipline?
Attention to children’s social and emotional development is threaded throughout every aspect of teaching and learning at Leila Day. Leila Day’s goal is to help children develop the internal controls needed to behave appropriately in groups and in relation to one another. We want children to learn how to take care of themselves, how to take care of each other, and how to take care of their environment. Leila Day teachers help the children navigate the rhythms of each day by providing clear limits and expectations, consistent boundaries, and gentle guidance. We support the children in learning routines and responsibilities, while also helping them recognize and express their feelings.
Do the children go outside in bad weather?
Engaging in the natural world is one of Leila Day’s core values, and our curriculum has a special emphasis on outdoor learning. We are fortunate to have an extraordinary amount of outdoor space, and each classroom has its own carefully constructed outdoor classroom. We also take every opportunity to explore and play in East Rock Park and in the surrounding community. Children go outside a minimum of twice every day regardless of the season, adhering to the belief that there is no bad weather, only the wrong clothing. We work closely with families to ensure that each child is appropriately dressed to safely and comfortably enjoy outdoor experiences in every season. We carefully monitor the weather conditions and advisories with children's safety and wellbeing as our top priority.
Is Leila Day a Montessori School or a Reggio Emilia school?
Leila Day is not a Montessori School, a Reggio School, a Waldorf School, a Forest School, a Free School, or a Bank Street School. Our philosophy and practice draw on all the best traditions and practices of progressive early childhood education, and we are committed to reflecting on our practice as a collaborative learning community.
If my child is accepted, will I have to apply again for the following year?
You only apply once. After your child is enrolled, they can continue at Leila Day for as long as your family chooses—through preschool, Kindergarten, and into our afterschool program. There is no need to reapply as your child moves through each program.