Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Daycare & Preschool in Alexandria and Lorton, VA
Looking for infant care, daycare, preschool, or after-school care in Alexandria or Lorton, Virginia? Below are answers to the most common questions families ask about The Nest Academy's programs, curriculum, tuition, enrollment process, and child care services.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
1. What age groups do you serve at your Alexandria and Lorton daycare centers?
We welcome children at all three of our Northern Virginia locations:
Del Ray, Alexandria: Infant care, toddler care, and preschool programs for children from 6 weeks to 5 years old.
Cameron Street, Old Town, Alexandria: Infant care, toddler care, and preschool programs for children from 6 weeks to 5 years old.
Lorton: Infant care, toddler care, preschool, before-school, after-school, and summer programs for children from 6 weeks to 12 years old.
Our daycare and preschool classrooms are designed to meet the developmental needs of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children.
2. What are your hours of operation?
Our daycare and preschool centers in Alexandria and Lorton are open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Extended care may be available upon request. Please contact your preferred location for details.
3. Do you offer part-time or drop-in care?
Yes! We offer full-time, part-time, and limited drop-in child care options depending on availability.
Our flexible scheduling helps families in Alexandria and Lorton find child care solutions that fit their needs. Contact us to learn about current openings.
4. What's the difference between your daycare and preschool programs?
Our daycare program provides nurturing infant and toddler care that focuses on safety, social-emotional development, and early learning experiences.
Our preschool program builds on those foundations through hands-on learning, STREAM activities, positive pedagogy, and kindergarten-readiness skills for children ages 3 to 5.
Families throughout Alexandria and Lorton choose The Nest Academy because we combine high-quality child care with an engaging educational environment that helps children develop confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.
5. What are the benefits of positive pedagogy in preschool?
Positive pedagogy is an educational approach that helps children develop confidence, resilience, independence, and a positive attitude toward learning.
Rather than focusing solely on academic achievement, positive pedagogy encourages children to build strong social skills, emotional awareness, creativity, problem-solving abilities, healthy relationships, and self-esteem.
At The Nest Academy Preschool in Alexandria and Lorton, positive pedagogy is integrated into daily learning experiences, helping children feel supported, valued, and motivated to explore new ideas. This approach helps prepare children not only for kindergarten success but also for lifelong learning and personal growth.
6. Why do families choose our Preschool / Daycare center?
Families choose The Nest Academy because of our experienced teachers, accredited programs, play-based curriculum, positive pedagogy philosophy, and nurturing learning environment.
Since 1999, we have helped children build confidence, independence, social skills, and a love of learning through high-quality daycare, preschool, and child care programs.
With convenient locations in Del Ray Alexandria, Cameron Street Alexandria, and Lorton, Virginia, families can access trusted child care close to home and work.
DAILY ROUTINE & CURRICULUM
7. What does a typical day look like for a child?
A typical day includes a balance of:
Free play and structured learning
Circle time
Arts and crafts
Outdoor play
Snacks and meals
Nap and rest time
We follow a consistent routine to help children feel safe, secure, and confident. Predictable schedules support healthy development, strong self-esteem, and positive learning experiences.
Each classroom follows a structured daily schedule that is tailored to the children's age and developmental stage.
8. What preschool curriculum do you use?
The Nest Academy Preschool uses a play-based, developmentally appropriate curriculum designed to support children's cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development.
Our preschool curriculum incorporates STREAM learning:
Science
Technology
Reading
Engineering
Art
Math
Through hands-on experiences and guided exploration, children develop critical thinking skills, creativity, communication abilities, and kindergarten readiness while having fun in a nurturing environment.
9. Do children spend time outside?
Absolutely! Outdoor play is an important part of our daily routine.
Weather permitting, children enjoy supervised outdoor play every morning and afternoon in our secure playground areas.
During the summer months, we offer additional age-appropriate outdoor activities designed to help children stay active, explore nature, and enjoy time outdoors safely.
MEALS & SNACKS
10. Do you provide meals and snacks?
Yes. We provide nutritious, child-friendly snacks and meals that follow health and nutrition guidelines.
We also provide catered lunches from a trusted local catering company that has partnered with us since 1999. Families are welcome to review our menus at any time.
11. Can you accommodate food allergies or dietary restrictions?
Yes. We take food allergies and dietary restrictions very seriously.
Please inform us of any allergies, sensitivities, or special dietary requirements, and we will work with your family to create a safe and appropriate meal plan.
All staff members involved in food service maintain Food Service Manager certification.
HEALTH, SAFETY & SECURITY
12. What are your health and safety procedures?
Providing a safe and healthy environment is one of our highest priorities.
Our health and safety practices include:
CPR and First Aid certified staff
Daily cleaning and sanitizing procedures
Strict handwashing and hygiene practices
Secure entry systems
Visitor check-in procedures
Supervised sign-in and sign-out processes
Ongoing staff training in safety practices
We continuously review and update our procedures to ensure the well-being of every child in our care.
13. What happens if my child gets sick at daycare?
State regulations require that each child receive a brief health screening upon arrival.
If a child appears unable to comfortably participate in daily activities due to illness, they may not be admitted for the day.
Children who have experienced symptoms of illness within the previous 24 hours should remain at home until symptoms improve.
Examples of symptoms that may require a child to stay home include:
Fever
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Green discharge from the eyes or nose
White patches or blisters in the mouth
Unusual irritability
Lethargy
Persistent cough
Swollen lymph nodes
Parents will be notified immediately if a child becomes ill during the day and arrangements will need to be made for prompt pick-up.
If your child is diagnosed with a communicable illness such as pink eye, chickenpox, or strep throat, please notify us immediately so we can take appropriate precautions and communicate with families when necessary.
14. What are your epidemic or seasonal illness policies?
We follow all guidelines and recommendations from local and state health authorities.
When necessary, we may implement enhanced cleaning procedures, health screenings, illness monitoring, and additional preventive measures to help protect the health and safety of our children, families, and staff.
ENROLLMENT & PAYMENTS
15. How do I enroll my child in your preschool / daycare?
Enrollment is easy.
Contact The Nest Academy to schedule a tour of our Del Ray, Cameron Street, or Lorton location. Our team will answer your questions, discuss program options, and guide you through the registration process.
Because classroom availability is limited, we encourage families to schedule a tour as early as possible.
16. Is there a waitlist?
Yes. When a classroom reaches capacity, we maintain a waitlist.
Families may add their child's name to the waitlist. Any waitlist fee is non-refundable but may be credited toward the first month's tuition upon enrollment.
We will notify families as openings become available.
17. What are your tuition rates?
Tuition varies based on your child's age, program selection, and enrollment schedule.
Please contact us for current preschool, daycare, infant care, and after-school program tuition rates.
We are happy to provide a personalized tuition sheet based on your family's needs.
COMMUNICATION & FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
18. How do you communicate with parents?
Strong family communication is a key part of our philosophy.
We communicate through:
Phone calls
Email
Daily reports
Classroom updates
Photos and activity summaries
Center newsletters
We also use Procare Connect as one of our primary communication tools.
19. Do you offer parent-teacher conferences?
Yes. We schedule two parent-teacher conferences each year and are always happy to discuss your child's development and progress.
Parents and teachers may also request additional conferences as needed. To minimize disruptions during the day, appointments should be scheduled in advance.
20. Can I visit during the day or drop in to observe?
Yes. We maintain an open-door policy for enrolled families.
For the safety of all children, visitors must follow our check-in procedures. Identification may be requested from new family members until staff become familiar with them.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS & EVENTS
21. Do you celebrate holidays and birthdays?
Yes. We celebrate birthdays, seasonal events, and cultural traditions in a fun, inclusive, and age-appropriate manner.
Families are welcome to bring nut-free treats for birthday celebrations. Please coordinate with our office staff in advance.
For safety reasons, candles are not permitted.
22. Do you take field trips?
Yes. Our preschool-aged children may participate in occasional educational field trips.
Families are notified in advance, and permission forms are required. Parents may also have opportunities to volunteer as chaperones.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
Schedule a Tour of Our Alexandria or Lorton Daycare Today
Whether you're looking for infant care, toddler care, preschool, or after-school programs, The Nest Academy is here to help.
Locations
📍 Del Ray, Alexandria
📍 Cameron Street, Old Town, Alexandria
📍 Lorton
Phone
📞 (703) 518-5150
Email
📧 admin@thenestacademy.com
Contact us today to schedule a tour and discover why families throughout Alexandria and Lorton trust The Nest Academy for quality daycare, preschool, infant care, and early childhood education.