Licensed preschools in Salem, NH: how to choose

Endless Opportunities for Children, a preschool and daycare at 47 Pelham Road in Salem, New Hampshire, is licensed under licence number 06875 and offers toddler care, preschool and pre-K. You can book a tour on our website or call 603-704-1205 and ask to see the licence for yourself. Below is how to check any Salem preschool's licence, how to weigh reviews, and what to ask when you visit.

Is Endless Opportunities for Children licensed?

Yes. Endless Opportunities for Children is a licensed preschool and daycare in Salem, New Hampshire, and our licence number is 06875. That number is the thing to carry with you when you compare schools, because it lets you look the school up rather than take anyone's word for it.

We are at 47 Pelham Road, Salem, NH 03079. We are a preschool and daycare, which means we care for children in the toddler, preschool and pre-K years under one roof.

If you would like to see the licence in person, ask on your visit. Any school that holds a licence should be glad to show it to you and to tell you its number. You can book a tour on our website, or call 603-704-1205 and we will find a time that suits you.

What programs does the school offer in Salem?

We offer three programs: toddler care, preschool and pre-K. Between them they cover the years before a child starts kindergarten, so a family does not have to change schools as a child grows.

Toddler care is for the youngest children in our care. In a toddler room, a day is commonly built around routine: meals, rest, play and time with familiar adults. Preschool is where children usually begin to spend more time in small groups, with stories, songs, art and early number and letter play. Pre-K is the year that leads towards kindergarten, and many parents want to understand what it involves, so we explain it on our pre-K in Salem page.

You can see all three side by side on the programs page. If you are weighing options for a younger child, our guide to toddler daycare options in Salem covers what to look for.

How can you check that any Salem preschool is licensed?

Start by asking the school for its licence number. A licensed centre will have one, and it should be able to tell you without hesitation. Then check that number against the state's childcare licensing records instead of relying on a website or a directory listing.

Next, look at the licence itself on your visit. Check that the name on it matches the name of the school, and that the address is the one you are standing in. Ask whether the licence covers the age group your child falls into.

It also helps to ask how the school handles things like staff changes and what happens if a licensing visit finds something to fix. A good answer is a plain one. If you would like a wider look at what to check, our article on licensed childcare centers in Salem walks through the questions in more detail.

How much should reviews count when choosing a preschool?

Reviews are worth reading, but they are one input, not the decision. A rating tells you how some families felt about their experience. It does not tell you whether a room is the right fit for your child.

When you read reviews of any school, look for patterns rather than single comments. Does the same point come up again and again? Are the comments recent? Do they describe specifics, such as how a drop-off went or how a teacher communicated, or are they general praise or complaint?

Then test what you read against what you see. Visit, watch how adults speak to children, and notice how the room feels at a quiet moment and a busy one. Reviews can help you build a shortlist, and a visit is how you choose from it. Your own sense of the place, and your child's reaction to it, will tell you more than a star count.

What should you ask on a preschool tour?

A tour is your chance to ask everything the website cannot answer. Some questions parents commonly find useful:

What is the school's licence number, and may I see the licence? Which age groups are in which rooms? What does a typical day look like for my child's age? How does the school share news about my child with me during and after the day? What happens when a child is unsettled or finds drop-off hard?

It is also fair to ask about the practical side: which days and hours you can use, what you need to bring, and how the school handles the move from one program to the next. Write your questions down before you go, and take notes while you are there. To arrange a visit with us, use the admissions page to book a tour.

Which Salem and nearby families does the school serve?

Our school is in Salem, New Hampshire, at 47 Pelham Road. We also serve Windham, Pelham, Atkinson, Londonderry, Hampstead and Derry in New Hampshire, and Methuen, Lawrence, Dracut, North Andover and Haverhill across the state line in Massachusetts.

If your drive takes you past Pelham Road on the way to work, that may make the school easy to fit into your day. Families often think about the route as much as the room, so it is worth trying the trip at the time you would really make it.

You can read more about who we are on the about page, and see the school for yourself in the gallery. Questions about whether we fit your situation are welcome through the contact page or by phone on 603-704-1205.

What is the first step if you want to visit?

The simplest first step is to book a tour through our admissions page. You will see the school, meet the people who would care for your child, and have the chance to ask about the licence, the programs and anything else on your list.

If you would rather ask a question first, send an inquiry through the contact page or call 603-704-1205. Tell us your child's age and what you are looking for, and we can point you to the right program.

If your child is around three, our article on preschool programs in Salem for 3-year-olds explains what that year commonly looks like and what to ask. Whatever you decide, take your time, check the licence, and visit more than one school.