Eighteen months to five years · Elm Street, Montpelier
The whole day, hour by hour. And what a week costs.
Both are on this page because every nursery in this town keeps them behind a phone call. You should be able to work out whether we fit your week before you speak to anybody.
- Open7:30 – 17:30
- Weeks a year49
- Places64
- Staff22
- Here since2007
A Tuesday, start to finish.
Wednesdays the two o’clock block is the forest morning instead, all year round.
07:30
Doors
Early drop-off opens. Breakfast is out until 8:15 for anybody who wants it, and about a third of the children eat here.
Included in the full day rate. There is no early-drop surcharge.
08:30
Everybody in
The school day starts. Rooms settle, the register goes in, and a staff member is on the door until 9:00 for late arrivals.
09:00
Free play, indoors and out
Both doors open, children choose. Staff are on the floor rather than running an activity — this is the longest single block of the day and it is deliberate.
10:15
Snack, then the yard
Fruit and milk at the table, all four rooms, then everybody outside whatever the weather short of lightning. Waterproofs live here; you do not need to send any.
The block parents ask about most, which is why it is written out.
11:15
Small groups
Twenty minutes in threes and fours — stories, counting, letters for the preschool room, and speech support for the children who have it timetabled.
11:45
Lunch
Cooked in the building by Aggie, who has been here nine years. One menu, no packed lunches, allergies catered without a separate table.
12:30
Sleep or quiet
Toddlers and twos sleep. Threes and fours have forty minutes of quiet — books, cushions, no screens — and are not made to lie down.
Children who have stopped napping are not made to start again.
14:00
Out again
The yard, or a walk to the recreation ground for the preschool room on dry days. Wednesdays this is the forest morning instead, all year.
15:00
School day ends
First pick-up. Anybody staying moves into the two back rooms so the building quietens down rather than emptying in stages.
15:30
Tea
A proper one — sandwiches, fruit, something warm in winter. Children going home at five have eaten.
17:30
Doors close
Late collection is $12 for the first fifteen minutes and $12 for each fifteen after, and it goes to the two staff who stayed. It has been charged four times this year.
What a week costs, both columns.
Fees in full, and the subsidy| Pattern | Hours | A week | On the state program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five full days | 7:30–17:30 | $385 | $96 |
| Four full days | 7:30–17:30 | $316 | $79 |
| Three full days | 7:30–17:30 | $243 | $61 |
| Five school days | 8:30–15:00 | $279 | $70 |
| Three school days | 8:30–15:00 | $176 | $44 |
Lunch, both snacks and tea are in the fee, and so are the waterproofs. There is no registration fee and no deposit. The right column is what a family at the highest level of state support typically pays — about a third of ours are on it, and most of them assumed they earned too much.
How long the wait actually is.
Counted 1 August 2026
Acorn
18 months to 2 years
14 waiting
Typically about 9 months from joining the list.
12 places · staffed 1 to 4
The long one. If you are expecting and thinking about eighteen months, this is the list to join now.
Hazel
2 to 3 years
6 waiting
Typically about 4 months from joining the list.
16 places · staffed 1 to 5
Rowan
3 to 4 years
2 waiting
Typically about 2 months from joining the list.
18 places · staffed 1 to 8
Children moving up from Hazel take their places first, which is most of the movement here.
Elder
4 to 5 years, the pre-K partner year
Places now
No list. Ring and we will arrange a settling-in week.
18 places · staffed 1 to 8
Usually has room, because it runs on the state pre-K calendar and families move on to kindergarten together.
Acorn is the long one at 14 children and about 9 months. Elder has room today. Cheapest pattern on the table is three school days at $176, and the full week is $385.