Daycare & Preschool Guide 2026

Who We Are

At Miss Nicole’s Creative Learning Center, we blend the warmth and familiarity of a home daycare with the structure, curriculum, and resources of a high-quality early learning center. Our goal is for every child to feel safe, loved, and confident- like they are spending their day in a true second home! We are proudly family owned and operated!

Nicole holds a BA in Psychology and an MS in Elementary Education and has been working in the Early Childhood Education field since 2009. Her passion for early learning led her to open a home daycare in 2015 and expand to our Orange location in 2018. Nicole is fully certified in Child/Infant CPR, AED, EpiPen, medication administration, and First Aid.

Our Director, Lex, holds an AS and a BA in Early Childhood Education/Child Studies, along with an Early Childhood Teacher Credential (ECTC) for Preschool. She is a Level 12 of 15 with the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, a State of Connecticut Certified Head Teacher and I hold an Educational Consulting Certificate.

She has been working in the early childhood education field since 2009, with extensive experience supporting children from birth to age 9. Additionally, she is certified in child and infant CPR, AED, EpiPen administration, medication administration, and First Aid.

Our Educational Philosophy

We believe children learn best through play, exploration, and meaningful relationships. Our classrooms follow a flexible schedule that balances structure with freedom, allowing each child’s interests, abilities, and developmental needs to guide their learning.

All classrooms use the Funshine Express curriculum, guided by the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards (CT ELDS), supporting age-appropriate learning while nurturing the whole child—academically, socially, emotionally, and physically.

Our creative, play-based approach supports:

• Language development and early literacy

• Problem-solving and critical thinking

• Fine and gross motor development through indoor and outdoor play

• Social-emotional growth, independence, and confidence

• Creativity through art, music, movement, and dramatic play

Children attending full days enjoy rest or quiet time on individual cots (with bedding provided by families), as well as nutritious morning and afternoon snacks and milk provided daily.

A Safe, Healthy & Connected Environment

Each classroom is equipped with a Medify Air MA-WM35 purifier (Woodbridge), Rabbit Air MinusA2 Germ Defense air purifier (Orange) which use True HEPA H13 filters to remove 99.9% of particles down to 0.1 microns. Families stay connected throughout the day using the Brightwheel app for updates, messages, and photos.

We are open Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–6:00 PM.

Class Sizes and Ratios (Woodbridge)

• Infants: 1:4 ratio | Max 8 infants

• One-Year-Olds (“Wild Ones”): 1:4 ratio | Max 8 one-year-olds

• Two-Year-Olds (Tremendous Twos): 1:5 ratio | Max 10 two-year olds

• Pre-K 3: 1:10 ratio | Max of 14 three-year-olds

• Pre-K 4: 1:10 ratio | Max of 18 four-year-olds

• Pre-K 5: 1:10 ratio | Max of 20 five-year-olds

Class Sizes and Ratios (Orange)