Insurance for Daycares in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Beyond

Choosing Insurance for Your Daycare 

When it comes to shopping for insurance coverage for your daycare or preschool, it helps to have someone in your corner who understands the unique aspects of your business. Just like children, all childcare businesses are unique- whether you run an after-school program, a Montessori kindergarten, or a nursery school. When it comes to selecting insurance policies for your daycare or preschool, it helps to have choices. At Cross Insurance, we work with national carriers as well as regional insurers. With offices in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and Florida, a local agent may be closer than you think. Reach out today to see how we can help find a policy for your daycare or preschool.

What Childcare Facilities Need Insurance? 

As a childcare provider, the safety of the children in your care as well as your staff likely stays at the top of your mind. Even with safety classes and training, an accident could still happen at your facility. Childcare facilities that should consider insurance include but are not limited to:

– Preschools
– Nursery Schools
– Kindergartens
– After School Programs
– Montessori Schools
– Non-Profit Preschools

What Insurance is Required for Daycares and Preschools? 

Depending on what state you run your childcare business in, you may be required to have insurance. Typically, state rules require you to have a general liability policy that is active. If you have employees, you may also need workers’ compensation.

What Are Some Common Risks for Daycares or Preschools? 

Even with proper supervision, children are a population that are vulnerable to a variety of risks. A child could trip and fall in the parking lot. Outdoor play equipment could break while children are using it. A child could spill cleaning supplies on their face and need to receive medical attention. While keeping a safety checklist is important, there is no way of knowing what risks your daycare will run into in the future, which is why having appropriate coverage for your business is essential.

General Liability Insurance for Daycares 

If a child in your care were to injure themselves playing outside at your facility, would your business be covered? General liability insurance typically covers things such as bodily injury and property damage.

Abuse and Molestation Liability  

If a member of your staff is accused of physical abuse, your facility could be hit with hefty court fees that could be detrimental to your business. Abuse and molestation liability can help cover fees for lawyers and courts. If you are not sure if your current policy includes abuse and molestation coverage, check with your local agent.

Commercial Property Insurance for Daycares 

If you own the building your daycare or preschool is located in, having property insurance is a smart idea. Commercial property insurance typically protects your building in case of a fire or sometimes vandalism. A commercial property policy can also protect your furniture and any exterior signs that you may have for your daycare or preschool. Commercial property insurance plans vary from policy to policy, and additional coverages can typically be added, such as breakage of glass.

Is a BOP Right for Your Daycare or Preschool? 

A BOP, or business owner’s policy, takes a commercial property policy and bundles it with a general liability policy. If you are looking for these coverage types for your daycare or preschool, a business owners policy may be more cost effective than purchasing the coverages separately.

How Much is Insurance for Daycares? 

Many factors can impact the cost to insure your daycare. The coverage types that you choose will impact the price, but so will the location of your business, how many employees you have, and what services you offer. For example, if you offer overnight care, you will require different coverage than a childcare facility that does not. By reaching out to us, we can gather more detail to provide your daycare or preschool with a custom quote.

Other Coverages for Daycares and Preschools 

If you have vehicles as part of your business and offer transport or field trips, you should consider a commercial auto policy. Typically, commercial auto policies have higher coverage limits than personal policies.

Daycare Safety Tips 

As a childcare provider, there are a number of things that you can do to reduce the chance of there being a safety incident at your daycare or preschool. Providing employees with a safety checklist to evaluate the environment before any children arrive can help create a safe environment. Below are some ideas of items to include:
– Items such as cleaning supplies, staplers, and scissors out of child reach
– Staircases blocked with childproof gates
– No liquids or slippery areas on the floor
– Toys have no broken or loose pieces that could become choking hazards
– Fixtures that could topple over such as bookcases secured to the wall

How Do I Get a Quote for my Daycare or Preschool? 

To request a quote for your daycare or preschool, you can submit our form here. You can also reach out directly to one of our offices in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, or Florida to connect with a local professional who will collect more information about the type of your childcare business.

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This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.