Backup Childcare
We have a backup childcare program to provide reliable, short-term childcare on those occasions when your usual childcare arrangements are not available (e.g., school holidays or caregiver is sick) and you need to work. Bright Horizons Family Solutions, a top-quality backup care service, runs the program, for which postdoctoral researchers are eligible.
There are five Bright Horizons centers throughout Manhattan and one in Jersey City, New Jersey. These centers are open from 8:00 AM to 5:45 PM and serve children between three months and up to 13 years of age. Additionally, child care centers are available across the region as well as nationally (Bright Horizons Backup Care Advantage). In-home care is also available nation-wide on an hourly basis.
There is a co-payment charged for all backup care services and each dependent is eligible for 20 days of care per year.
Child Care and Pre-School
There are many local child care centers and pre-schools but they may have waiting lists. If you are joining Memorial Sloan-Kettering, we recommend that you begin your search as soon as possible, particularly if you will need infant care. LifeCare®, cited above, is one good resource for searching for child care.
Our staff has very limited access to Bright Horizons Childrens Center at New York Presbyterian Hospital - located at 435 E. 70th St., New York, NY 10021. The Center provides daycare and preschool services. For more information, call 212-746-6543 or visit the Bright Horizon's Web page.
Nursery School
There are also many excellent nursery schools in the area. However, nursery schools are different than child care centers because they do not provide full-day care, children begin as a group in the fall, and the admissions process may be competitive and include interviews with parents and children.
Among the options, children of Memorial Sloan-Kettering staff are eligible to apply to the William Woodward Nursery School, which serves the children of all the local medical institutions and is currently located at 430 East 67th St, New York, NY 10065. Children must be at least 2 years old. For more information, please call 212-744-6611.
LifeCare® can also assist Memorial Sloan-Kettering employees in searching for nursery schools.
Private Schools in NYC
For a listing of private schools in the area (including nursery schools), the Parents League is an excellent resource.
A non-profit organization of parents and independent schools, the Parents League offers all families with children -- toddlers through teens -- current information on education, entertainment and enrichment opportunities. The League's New York Chapter has a helpful, informative Web site.
Public Schools in NYC
Most public schools begin with Kindergarten, and children must turn five years old during the calendar year that they are starting school. There are a limited number of public pre-kindergarten programs in the city. Children attend the public school that is zoned for where they live for elementary school (K-5), then either a zoned school or specialized school for middle school (grades 6-8) and a specialized school for high school (grades 9- 12). There are also gifted and talented programs beginning in Kindergarten, which require testing and for the parents to be NYC residents during the prior school year.
For information about public schools in New York City, the New York City Board of Education's Web site is a comprehensive resource.
Helpful Resources
View a list of school information sources.
