St. Thomas More Happiness Preschool
Daycare center in Darien, CT. 374 Middlesex Road, Darien, CT 06820
About the program
St. Thomas More Happiness Preschool is a licensed daycare center in Darien, Connecticut, on the state register since 1975. It is licensed for 106 children and serves infant, toddler and preschool ages.
Happiness Preschool is a faith-based program operated by St. Thomas More Church in Darien, Connecticut.
The program follows a faith-based approach.
Tuition and capacity
Tuition: not listed. St. Thomas More Happiness Preschool does not publish a fee schedule on its website. Programs in the area that publish full-time tuition have a median starting price of $1,967 a month.
Licensing and safety
Open the state record →Most violations are record-keeping, training or maintenance items, and nearly every program has some. Read what each one was and how fast it was fixed. Connecticut records each regulation cited at an inspection with the date it was closed. The state does not assign a risk level. The text shown is the regulation the program was cited under.
Professional development [19a-79-4a(a)(2), (h)(1-2)]
Regulation: Documentation of professional development for each program staff who cares for the children, including new employee orientation and annual training for current program staff on the child care center or group child care home policies, plans and procedures. Program staff, including the director, shall complete health and safety training no later than three months after the date of hire. Written verification of ongoing training that is at least one percent of the total annual hours worked. As of A
Parent notification of illness or injury [19a-79-5a(a)(3)(B)]
Regulation: The operator shall immediately notify the parent of a child enrolled if such child exhibits or develops an illness or is injured while in the care of the child care center or group child care home.
Outdoor space [19a-79-7a(h)(1-9)]
Regulation: There shall be access to a minimum of seventy-five (75) square feet per child of outdoor space for the number of children using the space at any one time. The outdoor area shall be fenced or protected for safety. Outdoor play equipment shall have a shock absorbing surface, under and around, that shall effectively cushion the fall of a child, except where the child is sitting or standing at ground level. The shock absorbing surface shall be maintained at a depth of at least eight inches, be free
Individual care plan- signed by parents/staff [19a-79-5a(a)(2)(E)]
Regulation: An individual plan of care for any child with special health care needs or disabilities when it is necessary that special care be taken or provided while a child is in attendance shall be developed and implemented with the child's parent(s) and health care provider and updated, as necessary. The plan shall include appropriate care of the child to prevent and respond to a medical or other emergency and shall be signed by the parent and program staff responsible for the care of the child.
Policies [19a-79-3a(d)(2) thru (8) &/or19a-79-7a(d)(11)(A)]
Regulation: The operator shall implement and annually review specific written policies, plans and procedures that include, but not necessarily be limited to discipline, when a child is not picked up as planned, emergencies, supervision of children, general operating policies, and personnel policies. The operator shall notify the parent(s), staff and the Office of Early Childhood within five (5) days of changes in these policies, plans and procedures. Where toilets and sinks are shared by children and adults
Show all 20 violations on file
Individual Care Plan (Signed by Parent/Staff) [19a-79-5a(a)(2)(E)]
Regulation: The operator of a child care center or group child care home is responsible for maintaining on the licensed premises a current record for each child enrolled. A copy of the record shall be available and provided upon request to the Office of Early Childhood, the child's parent(s) and the local health director. It shall include an individual plan of care for any child with special health care needs or disabilities, developed with the child's parent(s) and health care provider and updated, as nece
Staff Health Records [19a-79-4a(a)(1) and/or 19a-79-4a(a)(2)]
Regulation: A file shall be kept on the licensed premises for each employee of the child care center or group child care home which shall include an acceptable medical statement and a written report of a negative tuberculin test.
Consultant Agreements/Contracts [19a-79-4a(h)(1) and/or 19a-79-4a(h)(2)]
Regulation: A written plan for consultation services shall be developed, signed annually by the consultant and implemented. These services shall include an early childhood educational consultant, a health consultant, a dentist or dental hygienist consultant, a social service consultant, and a registered dietitian consultant for those programs that serve meals. Consultative services shall include annual review of written policies, plans and procedures, annual review of education programs, availability by tel
Logs/Visits Documented [19a-79-4a(h)(2)(G)]
Regulation: A written plan for consultation services shall be developed, signed annually by the consultant and implemented. Consultative services shall include documenting the activities and observations in a consultation log that is kept on file at the facility for two years.
License Premise Clean/Good Repair/Safe [19a-79-6a and/or 19a-79-7a]
Regulation: The building, equipment and services shall be maintained in a good state of repair. A maintenance program shall be established that ensures that the interior, exterior and grounds of the building are maintained, kept clean and orderly, free from accumulations of refuse, dampness, stagnant water, dilapidated structures and other health and safety hazards.
Individual Care Plan (Signed by Parent/Staff) [19a-79-5a(a)(2)(E)]
Regulation: The operator of a child care center or group child care home is responsible for maintaining on the licensed premises a current record for each child enrolled. A copy of the record shall be available and provided upon request to the Office of Early Childhood, the child's parent(s) and the local health director. It shall include an individual plan of care for any child with special health care needs or disabilities, developed with the child's parent(s) and health care provider and updated, as nece
000 No Violations [-]
Regulation: -
Ratio: 1 Staff to 10 Children [19a-79-4a(c)(4)(A) thru (C) &/or 19a-79-4a(c)(6)]
Regulation: There shall be at least one (1) program staff person for every ten (10) children, or fraction thereof in attendance at all times. When there is a mixed age group, the lower required ratio for the age of the youngest child shall prevail. During nap time, when all of the children in the group are sleeping, the overall staff child ratios shall be maintained on the licensed premises. At no time shall a group of children be left unsupervised.
Hot Water/Steam Pipes Protected [19a-79-7a(e)(6)]
Regulation: Hot water or steam pipes located in areas accessible to children shall have adequate protective covering which is maintained safely and in good repair.
Consultant Agreements/Contracts [19a-79-4a(h)(1) and/or 19a-79-4a(h)(2)]
Regulation: A written plan for consultation services shall be developed, signed annually by the consultant and implemented. These services shall include an early childhood educational consultant, a health consultant, a dentist or dental hygienist consultant, a social service consultant, and a registered dietitian consultant for those programs that serve meals. Consultative services shall include annual review of written policies, plans and procedures, annual review of education programs, availability by tel
Logs/Visits Documented [19a-79-4a(h)(2)(G)]
Regulation: A written plan for consultation services shall be developed, signed annually by the consultant and implemented. Consultative services shall include documenting the activities and observations in a consultation log that is kept on file at the facility for two years.
Current Fire Marshal Certificate [19a-79-3a(e)(2)]
Regulation: The operator shall post the current fire marshal certificate in a conspicuous place, accessible to the public.
Individual Care Plan (Signed by Parent/Staff) [19a-79-5a(a)(2)(E)]
Regulation: The operator of a child care center or group child care home is responsible for maintaining on the licensed premises a current record for each child enrolled. A copy of the record shall be available and provided upon request to the Office of Early Childhood, the child's parent(s) and the local health director. It shall include an individual plan of care for any child with special health care needs or disabilities, developed with the child's parent(s) and health care provider and updated, as nece
Oral/Topical/Inhalant/Injectable Medications: Authorized Prescriber/Parent Permission/MAR [19a-79-9a(b)(3) and/or 19a-79-9a(b)(4)]
Regulation: Except for nonprescription topical medications, no medication shall be administered to a child without the written order of an authorized prescriber and the written permission of the child's parent(s) which shall be on file at the facility. Individual written medication administration records for each child shall be written in ink, reviewed prior to administering each dose of medication and kept on file at the facility for at least two (2) years after the child is no longer attending the program
Operable CO Detector on Each Level [19a-79-7a(e)(18)]
Regulation: Child care centers and group child care homes that utilize combustible fuel shall be equipped with at least one (1) operable carbon monoxide (CO) detector on each occupied level of the facility.
Getting there
374 Middlesex Road, Darien, CT 06820
Questions about St. Thomas More Happiness Preschool
Is St. Thomas More Happiness Preschool licensed?
Yes. St. Thomas More Happiness Preschool holds an active Child Care Center licence from Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (licence DCCC.13246), with a licensed capacity of 106 children. The state record was synced in September 2026.
Has St. Thomas More Happiness Preschool had any inspection violations?
Connecticut records 11 violations for St. Thomas More Happiness Preschool in the last three years, across 6 inspections on file. The median daycare center in the area has 12. Each one is listed above with the date it was corrected.
What ages does St. Thomas More Happiness Preschool take?
St. Thomas More Happiness Preschool is licensed to serve infant, toddler and preschool ages, and is open 9 am to 1:30 pm, Mon to Fri.
How much does St. Thomas More Happiness Preschool cost?
St. Thomas More Happiness Preschool does not publish tuition on its website. Ask for the full fee schedule on a tour, including registration, supply and late pick-up fees.