The Best Daycare Centers in Unionville, TN
Discover the best licensed daycare centers in Unionville. Quality childcare with qualified staff and safe environments.
Top Daycare Centers in Unionville
Kiddie Academy of Murfreesboro
Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care
Kiddie Academy of Murfreesboro offers a comprehensive Life Essentials® curriculum that focuses on character development, STEM learning, and literacy. The center features highly qualified teachers with early childhood education credentials, maintaining low teacher-to-child ratios for personalized attention. Their secure facility includes keypad entry systems, comprehensive camera monitoring, and rigorous safety protocols. The academy provides nutritious meals and snacks through their proprietary menu program. Their educational approach emphasizes hands-on learning through play-based activities, technology integration, and outdoor exploration in age-appropriate playgrounds. Parents appreciate the regular communication through their mobile app with daily reports, photos, and developmental updates.
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Primrose School of Murfreesboro
Primrose Schools
Primrose School of Murfreesboro operates with the exclusive Balanced Learning® approach, blending teacher-directed and child-initiated activities. Their curriculum emphasizes character development, literacy, and STEM through their proprietary Harmony & Heart® music program and early literacy initiatives. The center employs degreed teachers with specialized early childhood training and maintains excellent staff-to-child ratios. Their secure campus features monitored access, comprehensive security systems, and age-separated playgrounds with safety surfaces. The school provides balanced, chef-prepared meals and emphasizes health and safety through their exclusive partnership with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Parents consistently praise the school's communication, structured learning environment, and focus on whole-child development.
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The Goddard School of Murfreesboro
Goddard Systems, Inc.
The Goddard School of Murfreesboro utilizes the F.L.EX.® (Fun Learning Experience) program that promotes academic, social, creative, and physical development through play-based learning. Their faculty includes early childhood educators with degrees and ongoing professional development. The school maintains rigorous safety standards with secured entry systems, comprehensive background checks, and regular safety drills. Their learning environments feature modern classrooms, multiple playgrounds with age-appropriate equipment, and dedicated learning centers for art, music, and STEM activities. The curriculum includes Spanish exposure, sign language, and technology integration. Parents highlight the school's excellent communication, developmental progress reports, and the balance between structured learning and creative exploration.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about daycare and childcare services in Unionville, TN
What are the typical costs for full-time daycare for an infant or toddler in Unionville, TN?
In Unionville and the surrounding Bedford County area, full-time daycare costs can vary based on the type of facility. For a licensed daycare center, you can expect to pay approximately $130 to $180 per week for an infant or toddler. In-home family childcare providers may offer slightly lower rates, typically ranging from $110 to $150 per week. These costs are generally lower than in larger metropolitan areas like Nashville or Murfreesboro. It's important to note that many facilities include meals and snacks in their weekly rate, but you should always confirm what is included. Financial assistance may be available through the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) Child Care Certificate Program for eligible families.
How can I verify if a daycare provider in Unionville is properly licensed and check their compliance history?
All licensed childcare providers in Tennessee are regulated by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS). You can verify a provider's license and review their compliance history, including any past violations, by using the online **Child Care Provider Lookup Tool** on the TDHS website. Simply enter the provider's name or Unionville's zip code (37180) to search. For Unionville specifically, you can also contact the local TDHS Child Care Licensing office that serves Bedford County for additional information. Always visit a facility in person and ask to see their current license, which should be posted visibly. This is a critical step to ensure the provider meets state standards for safety, staff-to-child ratios, and training.
Are there any licensed daycare centers or preschools in Unionville that offer part-time or drop-in care options?
Due to Unionville's smaller, rural community size, most licensed childcare providers primarily offer full-time, set weekly schedules to maintain stable enrollment and staffing. Traditional drop-in or hourly care is very rare. However, some in-home family daycare providers may offer more flexible part-time arrangements (e.g., 2-3 days a week) based on availability. For true drop-in needs, parents often look to larger neighboring towns like Shelbyville or Murfreesboro, which have national chains or larger centers that may offer such services. It's best to call providers in Unionville directly to inquire about any potential part-time openings, as these spots are limited and often fill quickly.
What is the average waitlist time for infant care at daycare facilities in Unionville, and when should I start looking?
For infant care (children under 18 months), waitlists in Unionville can be significant due to strict state-mandated staff-to-child ratios, which limit available spots. It is common to encounter waitlists of 3 to 8 months, especially at the most sought-after licensed centers or highly recommended in-home providers. Given this, it is strongly advised to begin your search and get on waitlists as early as possible—ideally during your second trimester of pregnancy. When contacting providers, ask specifically about their waitlist policy, any associated fees to hold a spot, and how often they update families on their position.
What are some local resources for finding and evaluating childcare options in Unionville and Bedford County?
A key local resource is the **Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Network**, specifically the agency serving our region. They maintain a database of licensed providers and can offer personalized referrals for Unionville. You can reach them by calling 1-800-462-8261 or visiting their website. Additionally, the **Bedford County Health Department** can provide guidance on health and safety standards. For community-based insights, many Unionville parents use local Facebook groups (e.g., "Unionville, TN Community" or "Bedford County Moms") to ask for personal recommendations and experiences with specific providers, which can be invaluable for evaluating quality and fit.
Childcare Insights for Unionville
As the school year winds down and the warm Tennessee sun lingers longer each day, many parents in Unionville find themselves facing the annual question of summer childcare. Searching for "summer daycare near me" is more than just finding a place for your children to stay; it's about securing a safe, engaging, and enriching environment where they can thrive during these long, freeform months. For families in our close-knit Unionville community, the ideal summer program blends the care you trust with the adventure that summer promises.
In a town like Unionville, the personal touch matters immensely. When exploring local summer daycare options, consider looking for programs that embrace our unique setting. The best providers often incorporate the natural beauty of Middle Tennessee into their daily activities. This might mean nature walks that teach children about local flora and fauna, outdoor water play to beat the heat, or simple, shaded picnics that make the most of our sunny days. A quality summer daycare will understand the rhythm of life here, planning around potential summer storms and knowing the value of a good porch or a breezy pavilion for afternoon activities. It’s worth asking potential centers how they utilize outdoor space and if their weekly themes or projects have a local connection, making your child’s summer experience uniquely rooted in our area.
Practical considerations are paramount. Start your search early, as spaces in reputable programs in and around Unionville can fill quickly, especially for the popular summer months. When you visit a facility, go beyond the checklist. Observe how the staff interacts with the children—are they engaged and present? In a smaller community, you often have the advantage of hearing firsthand experiences from other parents at the grocery store or community events. Don’t hesitate to ask for references; a confident provider will be happy to connect you with other local families. Furthermore, inquire about the structure of the day. Summer should feel different from the school year, so a balance of scheduled activities, like arts and crafts or group games, with ample time for free, imaginative play is ideal. A great program will have a calendar full of special "summer-only" events, perhaps a weekly visitor, science experiments, or local storytelling that breaks the routine and sparks joy.
Finally, remember that the best summer daycare in Unionville will feel like an extension of your own values and your child’s needs. It should be a place where they make new friends, perhaps even with neighbors they haven’t met yet, and return home with stories of their day. Trust your instincts as a parent. The right environment will not only give you peace of mind while you work but will also provide your child with a season of growth, discovery, and fun right here in our own community. By choosing a local summer daycare that understands the heartbeat of Unionville, you’re investing in a summer your child will remember fondly, filled with the simple, joyful moments that define childhood in our corner of Tennessee.