FAQ – Robert E. Simon Jr. Children's Center

Childcare FAQs

Is there a wait-list?

Yes, we have a wait-list for all age groups. We also have an “in-house” wait-list for siblings of children currently enrolled. To get onto the wait-list, there is a non-refundable application fee per family.

Do you offer any discounts?

We offer a sibling discount to our preschool families when two or more children are enrolled. The sibling discount is 10% off of the older child’s tuition.

We also offer a 10% military discount to our families when the child’s parent or guardian is active duty.

What is tuition, and do you have availability?

Please contact the center by phone or email to get the current year’s tuition rates and availability information.

Are there any extra fees for yoga, creative art, Music For Life, etc.?

The Simon Center does not charge any extra fees for special programs.

Do you provide formula or baby food?

For infants, we will provide formula, box cereals and jar foods, or parents can bring in breast milk or formula and baby food from home.

Do you provide breakfast and lunch?

As a full-day preschool program, we provide a catered cold breakfast, a hot lunch and a light afternoon snack. We also accommodate children with various food restrictions, including a daily vegetarian lunch as an option.

Do you require parent volunteer hours?

While our families are not required to volunteer hours to the center, there are many opportunities to become more involved. Formal opportunities include serving as a member of our parent-led board of directors or assisting with our annual silent auction. Less formal opportunities include reading to your child’s class, supporting monthly fundraising events, assisting the center with your unique talents and countless other ways.

Do you require parent volunteer hours?

While our families are not required to volunteer hours to the center, there are many opportunities to become more involved. Formal opportunities include serving as a member of our parent-led board of directors or becoming a classroom ambassador. Less formal opportunities include reading to your child’s class, assisting with fundraising events, assisting the center with your unique talents and countless other ways.

Does Your Staff Participate in Ongoing Training?

Staff receive ongoing in-service training. We provide three professional development days during the year and the staff is encouraged to attend available workshops, courses, webinars and conferences to stay current in the field of Early Childhood Education. All full-time staff have completed CPR and first aid training.

What Is Your Inclement Weather Policy?

We have a simple weather policy. If Fairfax County Public Schools have a delayed opening, the Robert E. Simon, Jr. Children’s Center will be open from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM.

If Fairfax County Public Schools are closed, we will be open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

In the event that the federal government is closed due to inclement weather, we will be closed.

The Center Director has the discretion to close the center for the day or close early in extreme situations.

What Is Your Illness Policy?

UPDATED COVID-19 restrictions:

We are striving to maintain our current “better-safe-than-sorry” philosophy regarding when a child should remain home if ill. Any children or staff in the center with runny noses, sneezing, and other signs of respiratory illness increase the amount of droplets within the center. Since we know that COVID-19 is spread by droplet transmission, we ask that anyone with these symptoms stay home if possible.

Our standard illness policy:

In order to maintain a healthy and safe environment, children will be sent home if they have a fever of 101.0°F or higher, if they have diarrhea or vomit (two or more times), if they cannot fully participate in the daily activities, or if they have other signs of illness.

If the child is starting to get sick, the teaching staff will give parents a “courtesy call” at the temperature of 100.5°F.

Children can return to the Robert E. Simon, Jr. Children’s Center after they are symptom-free for 24 hours, or after their first 24 hours on medication. Upon return, if medication needs to be administered during the day, we have several staff members who have completed Medication Administration Training (MAT).