Y Early Childhood Program at Winooski

5 STARS + NAEYC Accredited

Coming Soon! Our trusted Y Early Childhood Program in Winooski — now open to the community!

A high-quality early care and education experience contributes to the growth and development of the whole child. Our early childhood program offers developmentally appropriate activities in respectful and nurturing environments, while meeting the needs of families. All programs are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), have received 5 stars on the State of Vermont Quality Rating Improvement Scale, and incorporate health and wellness into the curriculum to ensure children are developing healthy habits that will shape a lifetime of wellness. 

For more than 20 years, the highly respected Y UVM Medical Center Child Care program only served employee’s families. Now this program is also open to all families in our community!

Y Early Childhood Program at Winooski is a year-round program for children ages eight weeks to five years. Our experienced educators nurture children and build relationships that last for decades.

We have Preschool openings in the upcoming school year that begins on August 25, 2025! Use the link below to get started. 

Program Highlights

• A play-based, emergent curriculum developed using Vermont Early Learning Standards & NAEYC criteria. 
• Through authentic learning experiences, all children gain knowledge of the world around them and build a life-long love of learning. 
• Ample time outdoors on our loose parts outdoor classroom and visiting green spaces in the local community and Winooski school grounds.  
• Seasonal swim lessons for preschool aged children. 
• Free Y membership for enrolled child, providing discounted member rates on youth programming (swim lessons, dance, gymnastics).
• Opportunities to participate in other Y programs and events throughout the year.
• Family engagement is encouraged through a Parent Advisory Group.

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Location + Rates

Address: 405 Main St., Winooski (entrance and parking at the rear of the building located just off the Winooski Educational Center’s parking lot).

Ages: 8 weeks-5 years

Hours: Child care hours will be 7:00am-5:00pm and the center will be open from 6:30am-5:30pm. If you need care from 6:30-7:00am or 5:00-5:30pm, you will be charged for before and after care.

Tuition rates:
Infant: $470.00 / week
Toddler: $470.00 / week
Preschool: $458.00 / week

Billing Options: Weekly, to be charged on the Friday preceding the week of care, or monthly, to be charged on the first of each month.

A non-refundable one-week deposit is required upon registration. This deposit covers the first week of tuition. To learn more about specific financial policies, please see the 2025-2026 Family Handbook.

Financial Assistance

Vermont’s child care subsidy program now makes more money available to more families to help pay for child care. To see if you qualify, click here.

To help families who need additional support or are on the edge of eligibility for state subsidy, Y financial assistance may be available. To apply for Y assistance, a family must first apply for the Vermont child care subsidy. Ready to apply for Y financial assistance? Click the button below.

Important Information

Financial Policies + FAQs

The Y requires that payment be made by credit card/debit card, or a bank draft from a checking or savings account. You may choose to have your payment processed every Friday for the following week or on the first day of the month for all billing weeks in that particular month. If your payment is declined, the Y will attempt to reprocess the payment one additional time before contacting you. Please note that a 2.5% service fee is added to all card transactions.

Please submit a Child Care EFT Authorization Form with your program application to the Y at 298 College Street, Burlington, VT 05401. You may also email your EFT Form to the Business Office at [email protected].

Please Note:  All Early Childhood programs will have tuition due weekly throughout the year regardless of closings, such as the December holiday week, professional training, and snow days.

If your payment declines, the Y will notify you of the decline and balance amount due. It is your responsibility to communicate with the Y’s Business Office to ensure your balance is paid in full. If there is a lack of communication and your balance is not paid in full, the Y reserves the right to cancel your enrollment in the program. The child’s enrollment in any other Y program will not be permitted until the account is paid in full. It is the sincere wish of the Y that none of the above steps will need to be taken. We appreciate you keeping your account up to date. Please contact the Y immediately if your financial circumstances change and you are unable to make your tuition payments, prior to your weekly or monthly withdrawal.

Families receiving financial assistance from the State of Vermont are responsible for confirming that the Y receives a valid certificate and for paying the balance due until a certificate is received. Your child may not start a program without a certificate in place or payment in full. Families are responsible for their co-pay to the Y (the difference between tuition and financial assistance), as well as any remaining balance if eligibility is terminated. Y payment due dates and payment policies apply to all families, including those receiving financial assistance. 

Please note: 100% eligibility through the State does not necessarily mean 100% of your tuition is covered. You still may be responsible to pay a co-pay. 

Vermont’s child care subsidy program now makes more money available to more families to help pay for early child care. To see if you qualify, click here.

To help families who need additional support or are on the edge of eligibility for state subsidy, Y financial assistance may be available. To apply for Y assistance, a family must first apply for the Vermont child care subsidy. Ready to apply for Y financial assistance? Apply by clicking here.

We welcome you to contact the Business Office, at [email protected] or 802-652-8190 with questions. 

Act 166/ELP Funding:  The weekly rate for preschool tuition remains the same throughout the year. The amount owed by the families changes depending upon whether Act 166 funding is applied first. Act 166 funds (also referred to as ELP funds) are provided to all families with children who are ages 3-5 as of September 1st and it covers 10 hours per week for the first 35 weeks of the school year. Starting in the 36th week of the school year, the family is responsible for the full tuition. For more information, please refer to the ELP letter provided to you by your Director.

Absences:  There are no refunds or pro-rations for absences, partial weeks (e.g., the first week of school), sickness, full-day closings, holidays, or emergency closings (e.g. snow days).

December closing:  Tuition will be charged for the full week of the December closing.

One-week deposit:  The first week of care is due as a non-refundable deposit upon registration. Families with a subsidy certificate are not charged a deposit.

State Subsidy Assistance policies:

  • Families are granted 30 absences, calculated July-June each year (not January-December). After a family has used all 30 absences, subsidy will not cover the cost of your weekly tuition payment. This means that the family would be responsible to pay the tuition rate if you do not have any vacation days left. 
  • It is the family’s responsibility to communicate with the program Director when they plan to use vacation days.

If you choose to withdraw your child from the Y’s early childhood program, you are required to give the Y two-week’s notice.

If you have a question about financial assistance, billing, or payments, contact our Business Office at [email protected] or 802-652-8190.


Questions?

Contact Joanna Houston, Director of the Y Early Childhood Program at Winooski, at [email protected] or 802-338-9208.