VOC operates eight child care centers in Holyoke, Chicopee, and South Hadley for children ages 6 weeks to -12 years old. Our goal is to assist parents who are working, in training leading to employment, or have other special needs. We provide a complete education program, meals, opportunities for parent involvement, and after-school care (at Chicopee locations). All Center-Based classrooms are staffed by qualified Early Education teachers.
- Each center provides a full schedule of age-appropriate activities that promote child development and learning
- Activities include pre-kindergarten literacy, art, science, math, language development, large motor development and social development
- Teachers nurture children’s physical, cognitive, language and social-emotional development to ensure they are ready for school
- All classrooms follow The Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies GOLD
- Nutritious breakfasts, lunches and snacks are served daily
- Parents are welcome to visit and encouraged to participate in Center activities
- All Centers adhere to standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children
General Eligibility
The Center-Based Child Care Program can serve any parent in Massachusetts who has a service need, is income eligible, and wants their child to attend one of our centers located in Chicopee, Holyoke, or South Hadley. Parents who wish to pay privately, without a subsidy, are also welcome to participate.
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Locations
Gorse Children's Center
- Located at 27 Morgan Street, South Hadley
- Located on the campus of Mount Holyoke College
- Serving children 6 weeks to 12 years old
- Open 7:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.
- NAEYC Accredited
- Level 4 on the QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement Scale), the highest level possible.
Why is Gorse Children's Center a great place to play and learn?
The Gorse Children's Center offers childcare programs that provide rich learning opportunities for children from South Hadley and the surrounding communities. The Gorse Children's Center is located on the grounds of Mount Holyoke College at 27 Morgan Street in South Hadley. Its building and playgrounds, as well as the campus itself, provide wonderful settings for play, exploration, and learning. The center also serves as the lab school for Mount Holyoke’s Psychology and Education Department.
- Located at 106 Stonina Drive, Chicopee
- Serving children 2.9 to 5 years old
- Open 7:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.
- NAEYC Accredited
- Level 4 on the QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement Scale), the highest level possible.
Cabot Manor Youth Program Tour
Why is Cabot Manor a great place to play and learn?
Cabot Manor Early Education and Care is a quaint 2 classroom preschool with ages ranging from 2.9 to 5 years of age. We are conveniently located directly off of 391 in the Elms College area. At our center children are provided with developmental appropriate activities while promoting social emotional development. We pride ourselves on providing a safe caring environment that fosters the whole child. We are QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement Scale) level 4 which is the highest rating you can achieve and is an indicator of a high quality program.
- Located at 334 Elm Street, Holyoke
- Serving children 12 months to 5 years
- Open 7:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.
- NAEYC Acredited
- Level 3 on the QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement Scale)
Why is Churchill a great place to play and learn?
Churchill Early Education and Care is a program that believes, “it takes village to raise a child”. Each person is important for the growth and development in the life of each child. We work hard on running a program that is welcoming to all. We strive to be successful and maintain a clean, warm and healthily environment.
VOC Churchill provides high-quality early education for children ages 12 months through 5 years. We use a developmentally appropriate curriculum, which focuses on all areas of development including Social Emotional, Cognitive, Physical, and Language while maintaining a safe and nurturing environmentChurchill-for-web-1a.jpg.
Our daily goal is to greet each and every child with a warm smile to help them integrate into their morning routine.
We serve a diverse community of people. Our staff comes from various cultural backgrounds, and is highly educated in the field of Early Childhood Education. As a community, we celebrate each and every child individually, using their cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
- Located at 374 Montgomery Street, Chicopee
- Serving children 2.9-12 years
- Open 7:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.
- After School program available
- Level 2 on the QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement Scale)
Why is Montgomery Street a great place to play and learn?
Montgomery Street Early Education and Care is a state of the art facility less than 2 years old! Licensed for 60 Preschoolers and 26 After School children, the classrooms provide ample space that meet the needs of childrens social/emotional and educational growth. Staff are warm, welcoming and engaging and provide nurturing classroom environments as well as innovative curriculum to support childrens natural curiosity of the world around them.
Our after school program services the following Chicopee Public Schools: Barry, Belcher and Streiber. Children receive homework help, engaging activities through science and technology along with language and literacy. Special guests come in on school vacations to add to the enriched curriculum. During summer vacation the school age program go on weekly field trips, work towards preventing summer reading loss through our collaboration with CLASP, and much more.
- Mt-Carmel-for-web-2.jpgLocated at 35 Mt. Carmel Ave, Chicopee
- Serving children 12 months to 12 years
- Open 7:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.
- NAEYC Accredited
- Level 4 on the QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement Scale), the highest rating possible
Why is Mt. Carmel a great place to play and learn?
Mt Carmel Early Education and Care center provides care to 120 children ages 12 months - 12 years. We have 17 amazing, highly qualified educators who provide quality educational learning activities throughout the day. Children have the opportunity to experience Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Literacy each day along with gross motor activities inside and outside. Our group child care center is NAEYC accredited and QRIS Level 4.
Our after school program was the first in the state to reach QRIS Level 4 (Quality Rating Improvement Scale), which is the highest rating you can achieve and is an indicator of a high quality program. We service three of the Chicopee Public Schools: Bowie, Fairview, and Stefanik. Children receive homework help, engaging activities through science and technology along with language and literacy. Special guests come in on school vacations to add to the enriched curriculum. During summer vacation the school age program go on weekly field trips, daily trips to the community pool for swimming, work towards preventing summer reading loss through our collaboration with CLASP, and much more.
- Located at 596 S. Bridge Street, Holyoke
- Children must be 3 years old by September 1, 2019
- Must live in Holyoke
- Open from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
- Must not be currently enrolled, or enrolled within the past 6 months, in a child care or preschool program.
Why is VOC Pre-K at Morgan a great place to play and learn?
Here at VOC Pre-K at Morgan, we are an early childhood program geared towards four-year-old children who will be entering kindergarten. The teachers create a safe, structured, and nurturing learning environment for all children.
Our learning is objective based as to educate the whole child. The children learn through play. We promote social emotional skills such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and responsible decision making.
Social-emotional skills help children to persist on challenging tasks, to effectively seek help when they need it and to be thoughtful in their actions. Our goal is to create kindergarten readiness and to help with a smooth transition from Pre-K to kindergarten.
- Located at 156 Cabot Street, Holyoke
- Children must be 3 years old by September 1, 2019
- Must not be currently enrolled, or enrolled within the past 6 months, in a child care or preschool program
- Must be a resident of Holyoke
- Open 7:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.
- Open year-round
Why is VOC's Pre-K at Lawrence a great place to play and learn?
The VOC Pre-K at Lawrence school provides a supportive learning environment for all children. We provide high quality education and support the healthy development of children enabling all children to be successful as school members and citizens. Opportunities are provided for meaningful family involvement that strengthens the capacity of families to support children's' learning, development, and overall well-being. We demonstrate respect, cultural sensitivity, and consideration for family concerns and perspectives.
