Tender Heart Day Care
Licensed for 35 children from infancy to 5 years. Takes CCFA and runs Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative.
1098 Blue Hill Avenue, Dorchester Center, MA, 02124
Listing details last changed Jun 28, 2026
Tender Heart Day Care is a center-based child care program in Dorchester Center, Massachusetts.
Capacity
35
Ages
birth to 5 years
License & details for Tender Heart Day Care
- Facility type
- Center-based care
- Early education and care for young children in a non-residential setting such as a school or community center. Also called group and school age programs. Source: MA Department of Early Education and Care, Licensed and Funded Programs dataset (opens in a new tab)
- License
- Licensed
- License status
- licensed
- Accepts subsidy
- Yes
Ages and room sizes at Tender Heart Day Care
Licensed seats by age group, from the state record. Massachusetts’s staff-to-child ratio is beside each group (1:4 means one staff member for four children).
- Infants7 seats, state ratio 1:3
- Toddlers18 seats, state ratio 1:3 to 1:10
- Preschool10 seats, state ratio 1:10
States draw age groups in different places. Where a group spans more than one of the state’s rows, the ratio reads as a range. These are the state’s limits, not a promise about this center’s own staffing.
Programs & services
- Public programs
- State Pre-KChildcare subsidy vouchers
License and inspection timeline for Tender Heart Day Care
First licensed
October 2003
23 years on the state record
An inspection is a visit by state licensing staff to check that a program follows health and safety rules. Inspection reports are public records. Where the state record has them, we show the most recent date and how many are on record; the state’s reports have the details.
How it compares in Dorchester Center
| Measure | This center | Typical in Dorchester Center |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed capacity | 35 children | 37 children |
| Youngest age served | Birth | 2 years 9 months |
| Years licensed | 23.0 years | 20.8 years |
Dorchester Center has 8 licensed centers. Tender Heart Day Care is one of 3 that take infants, one of 8 that offer Pre-K and one of 8 that accept child care subsidy.
Where Tender Heart Day Care is
Pin placed from the address on the state record.
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Staff-to-child ratios in Massachusetts
Massachusetts sets a maximum number of children per staff member in licensed child care centers. These are the rows for the ages this center serves. 1:4 means one staff member for four children.
- 0–14 months
- 1:3
- 15–32 months
- 1:4
- 33–71 months
- 1:10
Rule: 606 CMR 7.10(9)(b) (up to 15 months) (opens in a new tab); 606 CMR 7.10(9)(b) (15-33 months) (opens in a new tab); 606 CMR 7.10(9)(b) (33 months to school age, full day) (opens in a new tab). This is the state’s limit, not a promise about this center’s own staffing.
Paying for care in Massachusetts
Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA) (opens in a new tab) is Massachusetts’s child care subsidy program. Agency: Department of Early Education and Care (EEC); waitlist via MyChildCareMA, managed by Mass211 with CCRRs.
The state record lists this center as accepting subsidy. Confirm with the center before you enroll.
Tour checklist for Tender Heart Day Care
Check each question off as you ask it. Write the answers in the margin.
Questions parents ask about Tender Heart Day Care
Does Tender Heart Day Care accept child care subsidy?
The state record lists Tender Heart Day Care as accepting child care subsidy, such as Massachusetts's child care subsidy program (CCFA). Confirm with the center before you enroll.
What ages does Tender Heart Day Care serve?
Tender Heart Day Care is licensed to care for children from infancy to 5 years. The state record lists these age groups: birth to 5 years.
Does Tender Heart Day Care offer Pre-K or Head Start?
The state record lists Tender Heart Day Care as taking State Pre-K (Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative). Ask the center about openings and how to apply.
How many children is Tender Heart Day Care licensed for?
The state record lists a capacity of 35 children. By age group: 7 infants, 18 toddlers, 10 preschoolers. Capacity is the most the license allows, not how many children are enrolled today.
Is Tender Heart Day Care licensed, and when was it last inspected?
The Massachusetts record lists Tender Heart Day Care's license status as licensed. The state's own reports have the details.
Where this information comes from
Licensing details on this page come from public records kept by Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (opens in a new tab)
This information is sourced from public records and may be incomplete or out of date. For the most current and accurate details, please verify directly with Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care or contact the center directly. Clear Day does not rate, rank or endorse any center.
Data updated Nov 1, 2026 · Source: Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care public records · Check this license on EEC Licensed Child Care Search (Massachusetts) (opens in a new tab) · How we compile this →
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Own this center? Get a free website
We build it from a few questions you answer, no code and no design skills needed.
- A hosted website built with you
- The enrollment assistant
- A leads inbox for every inquiry