The Owl Tree

What it is named for

Non-standard hours

An owl works the shift everyone else has gone home from. This centre is named for the parents whose work does not stop at five — the shift nurse, the warehouse picker, the driver, the person whose second job starts when the first one ends.

Scheduling designed around shift and gig work rather than a nine-to-five day
Evening routines that are a real programme, not supervised waiting
Handover notes for a parent who was not there at pickup

Meet the director

Director — to be appointed

This centre is still choosing the person who will lead it. We would rather say that plainly than put a name here for the sake of it. If you have run a room, held a licence, or spent years doing this well and quietly, we would like to hear from you.

Talk to us about leading it

At a glance

The shape of it

Infant–PreK

Ages served

Planned capacity

Shift & gig

Schedule built for

In formation

Current status

Status, stated plainly. This centre is in formation. It is not open, it is not enrolling, and nothing on this page should be read as an offer of care or as a representation about a licence. The page exists so the people building the network can see what each centre is meant to be.

A day here

What your child’s day is shaped like

Nothing here is running yet. This is the day the centre is being built to have, written down so you can hold us to it.

The late start

Doors open for the shift that begins when everyone else’s is ending.

Evening programme

A real programme after six — stories, food, wind-down — not supervised waiting in a coat.

Dinner

A proper meal at a proper table, because a child in evening care should not be eating in the car.

Wind-down

Pyjamas, quiet, low light. Children go home ready for bed instead of wired.

Handover

Written notes for the parent who was not there at pickup, so nothing is lost between shifts.

A story for the name

Who Is Awake

When the sun went down, the wood got worried.

It always did. All day there had been birds shouting and squirrels arguing and somebody somewhere hammering at a tree, and then all at once it went dark and quiet and everyone was alone with the noises.

“Something is moving down by the stream,” whispered the mice.

“That is the stream,” said a voice from the top of the bare tree.

“Something is in the brambles.”

“That is a hedgehog, and she is having a lovely time, and you are to leave her alone.”

The mice thought about this. “Are you going to be up there all night?”

“All night,” said the owl.

“Every night?”

“Every night. That is the job. You go to sleep. I will know what everything is.”

So they went to sleep, all of them, the whole dark wood full of small things breathing, and up on the highest branch two round eyes stayed open and counted them.

Somebody has to be awake at the hours nobody else covers. It may as well be somebody with very good eyes.

About ninety seconds out loud. Ours to tell, yours to borrow at bedtime.

Questions parents ask

Straight answers

When does it open?

There is no opening date, and we would rather say that than invent one. The chip at the top of this page says “in formation” for exactly that reason. If you want to be told when there is real news, email us and we will tell you.

Does it hold a licence?

No, and this page does not suggest otherwise. Nothing here is an offer of care. If and when there is one, its number will be printed on this page — and not a day before.

What ages?

It is being planned for infants through pre-kindergarten.

Can I look round?

Not yet — there is no building to look round. When there is, you will be able to stand in it before you decide anything, which is the only way to judge one of these.

How do I ask a question?

Email info@theopportunitytree.com. A person reads it.

Ask about The Owl Tree