You’re Expecting—Now What About child care?

We know—when you find out you’re expecting, one of the first things you think about (after names, nurseries, and strollers) is child care. And every week, we get emails from excited, expecting parents who want to join our waiting list. Some even joke that we’re the third group of people they’ve told—after their partner and their own parents.

We love that. Truly. It means families know we’re doing something special here.But we also have a system—and it’s different on purpose.

Here’s how it works:

You Can Apply the Spring Before Your Child Is Eligible to Enroll

To apply to Sea Island Sprouts, your child must be turning 1 on or before September 1 of the upcoming school year. Applications open each spring for children who will be 1 by that cutoff.

If your child is younger than that—or not born yet—you’ll need to wait until the next cycle.

We do this for two big reasons:

1. To Be Fair to All Families

We want every family with a 1-year-old to have a fair chance at joining our community. If we allowed applications from families before their baby was even born, our entire school could be filled with waitlisted babies who haven’t even arrived yet.

That doesn’t feel right to us.

We believe in giving families a fair, accessible, and transparent enrollment process based on the actual, lived needs of the moment—not who found out about us first.

2. Because We Want You to Tour With Your Child

We know that choosing a preschool isn’t just about the walls and the toys—it’s about the feeling you get when you walk in the door.

We want your child to be part of that experience.To watch how they explore, how they react to our spaces, how they connect with our staff.

We want families to make this decision with their child, not just for their child. Because we’re not looking to be a short-term solution—we’re looking for a long-term partnership.

We want to be the right place for your child’s growth, not just the right place to check a box.

You can read more about why we ask families to tour with their child in this blog post.

What If I’m Pregnant or Have a Baby Under 1?

That’s wonderful—and congratulations!

While we can’t accept an application until your child is eligible, you’re still welcome to explore our website, follow us on social media, and get to know our philosophy and approach. When your child is the right age, we’ll be here and ready to walk through the process with you.

When and How to Apply

We typically open enrollment each spring (March–May) for the following school year. To stay in the loop, keep an eye on our interest page. Touring is the first step, and applications are only offered after the tour.

So if your child is turning 1 by September 1, you're right on track.If not—hang tight. We'll see you next year.