First Church Academy for Young Children (FCAYC) operates as an outreach ministry of the First Church of Christ Congregational. We are housed in the First Church building, in West Hartford Center. We are a state licensed, non-profit program open to all children regardless of their faith backgrounds.
Hours of Operation: 7:30 am- 5:30 pm, Monday – Friday (drop off and pick up times are flexible)
We offer programming for children ages 6 weeks – age 5.

We are proud to have achieved NAEYC accreditation for the Academy. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) provides a framework for achieving excellence in early childhood educational programming through its accreditation process.
"We have been thrilled to join the First Church family this year. They truly make you feel like you are family. The staff know all the kids by name and build a culture that feels like a close community unlike other more “corporate” environments. Staff communication is great, from administration to the teachers. It is clear the children attending First Church are cared for and feel loved while also learning and growing in developmentally appropriate ways. First Church is a special place and a model for early childhood care."
Diana DiFiore
"As parents, we appreciate the thoughtful classroom programing and nurturing care from the FCA educators. Our kids love FCA-it has been wonderful joining this childcare community. At the end of the day, we’re grateful knowing our kids are in a safe and inviting environment that supports their development. A place they enjoy and we deeply trust caring for them"
Sara Rossley
"We love FCAYC. We feel so lucky to have secured a spot here five years ago and to have both of our boys go through this incredible program. It’s been the perfect blend of experienced, professional educators and a warm, laid-back community. Our children are happy and we know they are loved and safe-those are the most important things to us."
"We have been thrilled with the care and education that FCAYC provides for our son. The environment feels organized, well-run, and nurturing. We enjoy regular updates and conversations on our son’s development, and we can tell he loves his teachers. We have also met other like-minded families through the program-an added benefit."
Tara & Al Zayac
"First Church Academy is my children’s home away from home. They are both so happy. We couldn’t be more pleased with their growth and development, all due to how caring and dedicated their teachers are. Leaving your babies all day for five days a week is hard, but we know they are in the best hands at First Church Academy."