When is Hampton Lane Child Development Center Open?
Hampton Lane is open Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 5:45pm. We are open year round. We do not close for the summer!

At what age can a child start at Hampton Lane?
The children must be 2 years of age by September 1st to enroll. This is in-line with the Baltimore County Kindergarten registration.

What age groups are taught at Hampton Lane?
We have three classes:
Bears are 2 and 3 years old
Tigers are 3 and 4 years old
Pre-K Lions are 4 and 5 years old

Do children have to be potty-trained?
At Hampton Lane we believe it is unrealistic to put an age requirement on potty training. Children will be encouraged to reach this milestone when they are developmentally ready. We believe positive encouragement and nurturing will help them to reach this milestone at his or her own pace.

What are the requirements for teachers?
All full time teachers must have a minimum of an AA degree in Early Childhood Education with sufficient college credits. The majority have Bachelor Degrees in Early Childhood Education or a related field and several hold Master’s Degrees. All teachers must have a minimum of a 90-hour teaching certification issued by MSDE and be certified by MSDE which included a rigorous screening process including a background check. Our teachers participate in several continued educational training courses through-out the year, usually exceeding the state’s required amount. We also employ several part-time teacher’s assistants and aides that are currently in college working towards their undergraduate or Masters degree in Early Education or a related field. Our teachers are also encouraged to take part in the Maryland Credentialing Program.

Do you provide lunches or snacks?
At Hampton Lane we provide a nutritious morning snack and an afternoon snack. We ask the parents to provide a cold lunch. We will provide milk for all three meals. While we cannot heat up a child’s lunch, each classroom is equipped with a refrigerator to store perishable items. If a child has food allergies, a modified diet can be arranged.

What is the discipline policy?
We make every effort to reduce the opportunity for negative behaviors, however, on the occasion that discipline is necessary, we believe in using logical/natural consequences, redirection and encouragement of appropriate behaviors to gently and lovingly guide children in ultimately becoming self-disciplined. The goal is to develop problem solving skills and techniques to help the children make better decisions in the future.

Do you teach religion to the children?
Hampton Lane is an outreach ministry program from the Towson United Methodist Church. Our doors are open to any and all religions. We do not have daily religion class, however we do offer chapel twice a month during the school year (not during the summer). The chapel class is held in the church and taught by one of the Church staff. The teachings are usually non-denominational (except Christmas and Easter) and offer a moral uplifting message to the students.

How are parents kept informed about what is going on in the school and the classroom?
We have several avenues for sharing news and information with parents. The majority of our information is emailed to families. Each child has a cubby outside their classroom, which is used for notes from your teachers, as well as art projects and class activities.

• Weekly Lesson Plans
• Monthly Newsletters
• “Two-Tid-bits” information forms
• “Parents on Board” bulletin board
• Annual Calendars
• Monthly Calendars
• Parent/Teacher bulletin boards: Located outside the individual classrooms, includes the weeks lesson plan, information pertaining to that class and the classroom schedules.
• Teacher white boards: Our teachers write notes on the white boards daily during naptime and display them outside the classroom. They are a great communication tool, we recommend reading it to your child to open up the avenues of discussion.
• Extra announcements during the week will be emailed or placed in cubbies if requested.
• Facebook: Hampton Lane has Facebook page where school activities and pictures are posted. Only family members may request to be Friends on our Private page.
• Remind: Hampton Lane has a text service called Remind. It is primarily used for school closures or important announcements.

When is registration?
Registration opens each year in mid-January to currently enrolled students. In late-January, registration is open to the public. Please contact HLCDC for availability.

What are the fees?
There is an annual registration fee of $50 per child. We offer a 10% sibling tuition discount. Please check our Financial Policy for the current tuition rates.