Family Info & Policies

Everything families need to know

Hours, tuition, holidays, daily schedule, meals, uniform, and more — pulled directly from our Parent Handbook so you can find what you need in one place.

Hours

Hours, arrival, and pickup

We are open Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 5:30 PM. There is a 9-hour daily limit per child.

Morning arrival

The latest morning arrival is 9:30 AM. A child without a prior excuse will not be accepted later than 9:30 AM, so the day stays predictable for the whole classroom.

End-of-day pickup

  • Late pickup: a $10 per child fee applies if you arrive after 5:30 PM. The fee is added to the following week's tuition.
  • 9-hour rule: a $10 fee also applies if your child has been at the center for more than 9 hours.

Tuition

Tuition & payment

Tuition is charged on a weekly basis and is determined by the child's age group. Tuition is not based on daily attendance — your weekly payment secures your child's enrolled spot.

  • Payments are due every Monday
  • Cash only — no other forms of payment are accepted at this time
  • Late payments (received after Monday) incur a $20 late fee
  • Tuition remains due during scheduled center closures, including winter break, since enrollment guarantees your child's reserved space
  • At the end of the year we provide each family with a tax form showing the year's total tuition and co-payments

For current weekly rates by age group, please call us at (717) 295-1002 or ask during your tour.

Discounts

Discounts & referrals

  • Sibling discount: $30 off weekly tuition for the second child enrolled.
  • Referral credit: if you refer a family and they enroll, you receive $30 off your week's tuition as a one-time credit. There is no limit to how many families you can refer.

Closures

Holiday closures & winter break

Malave Child Care Center is closed for the following paid holidays. Tuition is still due for these days because your spot is held.

  • New Year's Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Presidents' Day
  • Good Friday
  • Memorial Day
  • Juneteenth (June 19)
  • Independence Day — if July 4 falls on Tuesday, we close Monday and Tuesday; if it falls on Thursday, we close Thursday and Friday
  • Labor Day
  • The day before Thanksgiving (closing at 3:00 PM)
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • The Friday after Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Eve
  • Christmas Day

Winter break

The center takes a one-week paid winter break from December 23 through January 1. We reopen the first business day after January 1.

Weather

Weather & emergency closures

We prioritize the safety of children, families, and staff above everything else. Occasionally we may close or delay opening due to inclement weather, frozen pipes, power outages, or other facility concerns.

Weather-related closures

For most weather situations we follow the Conestoga School District for closures and delays. If the City of Lancaster is under a declared emergency, we follow the city's guidance.

How you'll be notified

  • Pushed to your phone through the Brightwheel app as early as possible
  • Posted on the WGAL active closings list

Delayed openings

For delayed openings we open at 9:00 AM. The latest your child can arrive on a delayed-start day is 9:45 AM, and breakfast is not served on delayed-start days.

First two weeks

Two-week adaptation period

We give every new child two weeks to settle into their classroom. During the second week we'll talk with you about how it's going and confirm that the program is the right fit for your child.

If we don't think it's a good fit, we'll give you that week to look for another provider — no surprises, no pressure. We'd much rather make sure your child is in the right environment than push through a transition that isn't working.

Daily schedule

A typical day at Malave

Times vary slightly by classroom age, but every day flows through arrival, breakfast, activity, outside play, lunch, nap, snack, more outside play, and free play before pickup.

  1. 6:00 AM – 8:00 AM
    Arrival Llegada
  2. 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
    Wash hands & breakfast Lavarse las manos y desayuno
  3. 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
    Free play Juego libre
  4. 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
    Activity (art, music, math, reading) Actividad (arte, música, matemáticas, lectura)
  5. 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
    Outside play & creative learning Juego en el patio y aprendizaje creativo
  6. 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    Wash hands & lunch Lavarse las manos y almuerzo
  7. 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM
    Nap & quiet play Siesta y juego tranquilo
  8. 2:30 PM – 2:45 PM
    Wash hands & snack Lavarse las manos y merienda
  9. 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM
    Outside play & creative learning Juego en el patio y aprendizaje creativo
  10. 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
    Free play & departure Juego libre y partida

Spanish is spoken throughout the day in every classroom.

Meals

Meals & nutrition

All meals and snacks are included. Meals are made fresh daily by our chef and include a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. Outside food is not permitted unless your child has a documented medical condition.

Mealtimes

  • Breakfast: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM (not served if your child arrives later, or on delayed-start days)
  • Lunch (1 year old): 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
  • Lunch (2+ years): 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Lunch (infants): as needed throughout the day
  • Afternoon snack: 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM

Infants

Parents provide formula and baby food for infants. Everything else — milk, breakfast, lunch, and snack — is provided once your child is on table food.

Uniform

Uniform & footwear

Children 1 year and older wear a simple uniform. The goal is fewer morning struggles for parents, lower clothing costs, and a calm classroom where children can focus on learning.

Uniform

  • Top: red collared shirt
  • Bottoms: navy blue pants, skirts, or jumpers (no jeans)
  • Sweaters (indoors): red, navy, black, white, or gray only

Footwear

For safety, only Velcro or slip-on shoes (sneakers or simple school shoes) are allowed. Shoes with laces, Crocs, and light-up shoes are not permitted — the small batteries inside light-up soles are a serious choking and chemical hazard if a child swallows one.

Other items

  • Toys, coins, and small jewelry from home are not permitted (choking hazards, items get lost or broken, and children rarely want to share things from home)
  • Naptime comfort items are welcome — we'll keep them in a separate area until naptime

Health

Health & sick policy

We follow guidance from Caring for Our Children, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, and the CDC. To protect every child in the room, please keep your child home (or pick them up if they develop symptoms during the day) for any of the following:

  • Fever of 101°F or higher (100.4°F or higher for COVID-related concerns)
  • One or more episodes of vomiting
  • One or more episodes of diarrhea
  • Pink eye (red eyes with discharge)
  • Strep throat, influenza, mumps, measles, chicken pox, or whooping cough
  • Lice, scabies, ringworm, or impetigo

If your child becomes sick during the day we will call you immediately. Please pick up within an hour, or arrange for someone on your emergency contact list to do so.

COVID-19

We follow current state regulations. Temperatures are checked at arrival, and any child or adult with a fever of 100.4°F or higher cannot attend that day. Please notify us right away if your child or anyone in your household tests positive.

Medication

Medication policy

We administer prescription medication only. Over-the-counter medications — pain relievers, cough syrup, allergy medicine — will not be given unless they are accompanied by a current prescription and written instructions from your child's doctor.

What we need from you

  • Medication in the original container with the pharmacy label (child's name, dosage, instructions)
  • A signed Medication Authorization Form (we'll provide it)
  • Conversation with the director before the first dose so we can document everything

If you'd like to give your child an over-the-counter medicine during the day, you are welcome to stop by and administer it yourself.

Inclusion

Inclusion & special needs

We welcome children with IEPs, IFSPs, developmental delays, and special health needs. Our practices align with the Pennsylvania OCDEL inclusion standards, IDEA, and the ADA.

We partner with Pennsylvania Early Intervention and IU13, adapt classroom routines and materials to fit each child, and train staff regularly on inclusive practice.

Read more about inclusion at Malave on the About page →

Communication

Communication & conferences

  • Brightwheel app — daily updates, photos, reminders, and closure notifications
  • Parent conferences twice a year — in the evening or at pickup, depending on what works for your family
  • Twice-yearly child observations — written observations and shared goals you can review at conferences
  • Bumps and bruises log — you'll get a verbal or written note about everyday scrapes so nothing comes as a surprise

Visitation

Open-door policy

You are welcome at the center any time during business hours. We just ask you to be mindful of mealtime and naptime so the classroom can stay calm for the rest of the children.

This policy is here to build your trust in us as your provider — if you ever want to drop in and see how the day is going, please do.

Behavior

Behavior support

We see discipline as guidance and teaching, not punishment. Our staff are trained to redirect behavior, talk through feelings, and give children words and choices to handle hard moments. Safe environments and predictable routines do most of the work for us.

If a child consistently shows behaviors that put themselves or others at risk, we partner with the family to put a written behavior plan in place. We may also refer to community resources such as Pennsylvania Early Intervention or IU13 for additional support — the goal is always a team-based approach that supports the child both at school and at home.

Special days

Birthdays & celebrations

We love celebrating! Birthdays are marked with a small classroom party — just talk to us in advance to plan it out. Parents bring decorations and a treat to share.

We also celebrate Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Easter in the classroom. If you'd prefer that your child not participate, please keep your child home for those days.

Have a question we didn't answer?

Schedule a tour or give us a call — we're always happy to walk through anything in person.

Schedule a Tour Call (717) 295-1002