Home Daycares in North Amherst

Take our 5-minute survey to see 3 daycares that match your preferences, timeline, and what matters most to you.

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Age

Small-scale child care programs near you

When smaller is better, home daycare is the best. Find great options for infants & toddlers near you.

Ms. Cathy

Play-Based Learning

I have 20 years of experience taking care of young children. For me, one of the best parts of working with children is that they start to show you their little personalities. I feel so fortunate to experience that every day and to share my skills and experience with families through my home-based child care program, where I focus on learning through play. I aim to create an environment that is nurturing and warm for the children I care about so much. So many parts of this job are fun, but I especially love to take children outside to explore and play. I can't imagine spending my days any other way. I’m also proud to do this important work. That’s especially true when I think about all the children and families I've impacted over the years. I love children so much that I just can't imagine waking up each morning without having fun activities to plan and little munchkins to play with! The sounds coming from my home are joyful and giggly and even after the decades I've spent caring for littles, I wouldn't have it any other way!

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Ms. Shirley

Play-Based Learning

Children and parents love Ms. Shirley’s daycare in Florence for its small-scale, personal feel. Fully licensed by the state, her program focuses on infants and toddlers, and the mixed-age range helps children learn to socialize in a small group setting. Parents often prefer home daycare when looking for options that are closer to home, where they can develop a long-term relationship with the provider. Many come to see the provider as an extension of the family, leaning on them for advice on all sorts of parenting questions. Check out Ms. Shirley’s full profile and take the survey to see if she is a good match for your family.

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Ms. Sarah

Infant Care

Children and parents love Ms. Sarah’s daycare in Holyoke for its small-scale, personal feel. Fully licensed by the state, her program focuses on infants and toddlers, and the mixed-age range helps children learn to socialize in a small group setting. Parents often prefer home daycare when looking for options that are closer to home, where they can develop a long-term relationship with the provider. Many come to see the provider as an extension of the family, leaning on them for advice on all sorts of parenting questions. Check out Ms. Sarah’s full profile and take the survey to see if she is a good match for your family.

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Ms. Nilsa

Play-Based Learning

I became a mother 13 years ago and I went to school to study early childhood to be a preschool teacher. My favorite thing about caring for children is watching them explore and discover. That has been a highlight for me throughout my7 years of experience. I have worked as an early childhood educator in daycare centers, and most recently I have been working in my own daycare program. People have said that I create an environment that is comfortable and happy. I focus on building independence, and I especially love to watch them express themselves. I’m proud when I think about all the children I've helped grow and learn. That's what makes this work so special.

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Find out rates & availability for daycares in North Amherst

North Amherst

There are 4 licensed home daycares in North Amherst. Most parents don’t know that home daycare is regulated by the Department of Early Education and Care, just like the big preschool centers.

For more daycare recommendations in North Amherst, take our 5-minute survey.

Other daycares near North Amherst

All of these nearby daycares are licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care. While they don’t work with NeighborSchools, you can visit the government website here to try to contact them directly.

Sandra Gottschall

956 N Pleasant St, Amherst, MA

License # 9047636

Licensed for 6 since 2001

Sandra Gottschall runs a licensed Family Child Care program in Amherst. As with all home daycares in Massachusetts, her program is licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care, which ensures that she’s completed trainings in childhood development, health & safety. Home daycares like this are a great option for parents looking for small-scale, personalized child care.

Suzanne Morse-Rilla

992 E Pleasant St, Amherst, MA

License # 9030884

Licensed for 10 since 1997

This home daycare in Amherst is led by Suzanne Morse-Rilla, a licensed Family Child Care educator. By choosing licensed child care, you can rest assured that the provider has passed a government-issued background record check, and that the home daycare environment has been inspected by the state licensing department. With a maximum of just 10 children, this program is a good option for parents close to home near Amherst.

Karen Isabelle

996 E Pleasant St, Amherst, MA

License # 9028925

Licensed for 6 since 1986

Home daycares like Karen Isabelle’s are a favorite with parents who want a small-scale child care program near Amherst. All daycares on NeighborSchools are fully licensed, so you know they’ve passed a background record check and educators have completed trainings in childhood development, health & safety. This daycare takes just 6 children, so each child gets lots of individualized care while learning to socialize in a small group setting.

Laura A. Read

20 Grantwood Dr, Amherst, MA

License # 9045688

Licensed for 8 since 2001

Family child care provider Ms. Laura runs this daycare out of her home in Amherst, Massachusetts. She’s licensed by the state to care for up to 8 children, which means she’s completed required trainings and continuing education hours. Family child care programs can be a great fit for parents that want their child to get lots of individualized care and attention.

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FAQs

Your family is unique to you, but some of your questions might not be. 😉 Here’s what most parents want to know when starting out.

What is NeighborSchools?

Hey there, nice to meet you 👋 We’re a new-ish startup that helps new-ish parents find daycare.

We know how hard finding good child care can be - especially for first-time parents. But really good care is what gives you the peace of mind to go back to work and feel confident that your child is getting the stimulation, socialization, and support they need to learn and grow.

So we created NeighborSchools to make this piece of parenthood a whole lot easier. We say “easier” because, let’s be honest, it’s still a big thing to figure out, but working together we can help you find some good options, understand the whole process, and choose a program you’ll feel really good about.

How’s it work?

Most first-time parents don’t know exactly what they’re looking for, so we created a simple survey that will ask you questions about your lifestyle, your daily routines, and your preferences for child care. We’ll then share 3 personalized recommendations that we think might be a good fit. We’ll also give you a timeline that maps out when we would suggest you start touring programs, choose a daycare, and pay a deposit to secure a spot. Your timeline is based on when you want to start care - so you set the pace, and you decide when you’ve found the right match.

Is there a cost?

Nope. Our daycare recommendation service is free for parents. The other half of our business is helping these small-scale daycares with software and services that handle all their administrative tasks, like online contracting, payment processing, and licensing requirements. Before NeighborSchools, services like these were only designed for large corporate child care centers, and part of our mission is to level the playing field for small, independent child care programs. That’s why we picked the name NeighborSchools - we’re all about making child care more personal, more human, and more equitable for the incredible individuals who do this work and care for our children.

How do I know if I’m ready to take the survey?

Generally, if you’re here, you’re ready. The survey lets us give you 3 recommendations to consider, but it’ll also help you better understand what factors to consider, and what questions to be asking right now. It’s simple things like where you live, your child’s date of birth, when you want to start care, and if you have any preferences around program philosophy or language of instruction. If you’re planning 6+ months ahead, it’s a great way to get started, and if you’re hoping to start daycare in the next 2-4 months, it’s definitely time to get started. Click here to start the survey.

How do I know if a daycare has openings?

Each program has a limited number of spots for each age range, so we need to know your schedule and child’s age before we can share availability. The survey covers these basics, as well as factors like drop-off and pick-up times to make sure that recommended programs fit your daily routine. Once we know your child’s age and schedule we can share rates and costs as well.