Starting Point Child Care
Starting Points Child Care is a privately held, single-location child day care center and preschool in Knoxville, Tennessee, offering full-day programs for infants through school-age children, after-school pickup, and summer camp services to local families.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersKnoxville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Starting Point Child Care does
Starting Points Child Care is a privately held child day care center and preschool headquartered at 11749 Snyder Rd in Knoxville, Tennessee. The company has operated for over 25 years (founded circa 1999–2000) and changed ownership in October 2022 when Dorothy Raymond acquired the business. It is licensed by the Tennessee Department of Human Services and holds Gold Sneaker Facility certification for nutrition and planned physical activity.
The center delivers a tiered classroom program covering infants and toddlers, twos, preschoolers (ages 3–5), and school-age children, alongside an after-school program with pickup at Farragut Primary, Farragut Intermediate, Hardin Valley Elementary, Knoxville Christian School, and Ball Camp, plus a themed summer camp with field trips. Curriculum is anchored in Tennessee Early Learning Development Standards with portfolio-based assessments and individualized learning goals. Enrichment add-ons include the Fun Time Gymnastics "Gym Bus" (on-site gymnastics in a converted school bus), a soccer program run by Carroll Sports Academies, and an outdoor classroom featuring what the company describes as Knoxville's first natural playground (recognized with an Honorable Mention in the 2013 Southern Early Childhood Association Exemplary Outdoor Classroom Contest). Teacher-to-parent communication runs through the Preschool2Me app, a third-party platform; no proprietary technology is identified.
The business operates on a recurring tuition model with quote-based pricing (rates not publicly disclosed). Enrollment is direct-to-consumer via phone, website contact, and in-person center tours, with no formal sales team. The company markets primarily through organic Facebook, a YouTube channel, its website, and word-of-mouth referrals, and it reports serving 24+ Knoxville-area communities. Following the October 2022 ownership transition, the center operated on a provisional license for three months before receiving a continuous license and temporarily lost its prior 3-star Quality Star Rating; a new rating was anticipated for October 2024 after completing seven quality assessments under new ownership.
Starting Point Child Care firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Starting Point Child Care
- Legal name
- Starting Points Child Care
- Website
- https://startingpointschildcare.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Starting Points Child Care is a privately held, single-location child day care center and preschool in Knoxville, Tennessee, offering full-day programs for infants through school-age children, after-school pickup, and summer camp services to local families.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Starting Point Child Care industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Child Day Care and Preschool Services
- NAICS
- Child Care Services (624410), Child Care Services (62441)
- SIC
- Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Full-Day Childcare Centers (EDACAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Preschool Programs within Childcare Centers (EDACABAL), Infant & Toddler Classrooms within Childcare Centers (EDACAGAC)
Keywords
Where Starting Point Child Care is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Knoxville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Starting Point Child Care business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Child Care and Preschool Tuition: Weekly or monthly tuition fees for child care and preschool programs covering infants, toddlers, twos, preschool, and school-age children. Tuition rates are quote-based and not publicly disclosed on the website.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Starting Point Child Care product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Starting Points Child Care is a licensed preschool and child day care center in Knoxville, TN offering age-based programs for infants, toddlers, twos, preschoolers, and school-age children. The center delivers a curriculum aligned with Tennessee Early Learning Developmental Standards, supplemented by enrichment offerings such as an on-site Gym Bus gymnastics program, a soccer program, and a nature-based Outdoor Classroom. Tuition is paid on a recurring weekly or monthly basis for full-day care, preschool, after-school pickup service, and summer camp.
Product overview
Starting Points Child Care is a preschool center offering a comprehensive child care program with multiple age-based classroom programs including Infant/Toddler, Twos, Preschool, After School, and Summer Camp. The center provides a well-rounded curriculum focused on nature-based, play-based learning with enrichment activities including a Gym Bus (gymnastics), Soccer Program, and Outdoor Classroom natural playground. The programs use developmentally appropriate activities based on Tennessee Early Learning Developmental Standards, with assessments including portfolios, individual learning goals, and parent/teacher conferences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Infant and Toddler Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Children develop writing, reading, and social skills by age 5 as documented in parent testimonials
Companies that use Starting Point Child Care
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Starting Point Child Care technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Starting Point Child Care partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Fun Time Gymnastics (Gym Bus)minorThe Fun Time Gymnastics bus is an innovative on-site preschool program that teaches gymnastics and basic motor skills. The converted school bus offers tumbling area and specially designed equipment (balance beams, mini trampoline, parachutes, bars, incline mats) for preschoolers.
- Carroll Sports Academies (Soccer Program)minorSoccer preschooling program for boys and girls that improves soccer skills, coordination, balance, counting, colors, listening, confidence, and teamwork. Coach Chris has over 15 years of experience working with children.
- Preschool2MecoreCommunication app used as the primary tool for teacher-parent communication. Parents have access to weekly lesson plans along with receiving pictures and comments about their child's day. Received positive feedback from parents.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Starting Point Child Care competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cadence Education: Operator of multiple early childhood education brands (e.g., Cadence Kids Preschool, Gateway Montessori) offering infant through school-age care. Comparable service portfolio to Starting Points across all age tiers, with broader scale and multi-state footprint.
- Learning Care Group: Operates multiple child care brands (Childtime, La Petite Academy, Tutor Time, Montessori Unlimited) serving infants through school-age children. Comparable core service offering to Starting Points across all age tiers, with broader scale and multi-brand portfolio.
- Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Large publicly-traded operator of child care and early education centers with employer-sponsored care as a core differentiator. Relevant as the dominant scaled incumbent in the same regulated child care category Starting Points operates in, though Bright Horizons focuses on employer partnerships and a national footprint.
- KinderCare Learning Centers: One of the largest for-profit early childhood education providers in the U.S., operating hundreds of centers offering infant through school-age programs. Comparable in core product mix (infant/toddler/preschool/after-school) but at vastly greater scale and geographic breadth.
Direct peers
- Crème de la Crème: Premium early learning and child care centers offering infant through pre-K programs with enriched curriculum and on-site enrichment activities. Comparable to Starting Points in its premium tuition positioning, enrichment-led value proposition (similar to Gym Bus/soccer), and full-age-range program structure.
- The Goddard School: Franchised preschool system offering infant through pre-kindergarten programs with a play-based, accredited curriculum. Comparable in age range, curriculum-driven approach, and parent-trust positioning to Starting Points' preschool and after-school programs.
- Primrose Schools: Franchise network of accredited early childhood education schools offering infant care through after-school programs with a balanced-learning curriculum. Direct comparable to Starting Points in services, age range served, and curriculum-led positioning, though distributed nationally via franchisees rather than as a single site.
- Little Sunshine's Playhouse & Preschool: Franchise preschool network offering infant, toddler, preschool, and pre-K programs with a Reggio Emilia-inspired, play-based curriculum. Comparable to Starting Points' nature-based, individualized-learning approach and full-day program structure for working families.
Others
- Care.com: Online marketplace connecting families with child care providers, including daycare centers, nannies, and sitters. Not a direct operator but represents the demand-side channel through which many Knoxville-area parents evaluate child care options alongside Starting Points.
Regional players
- Knox County Schools (Pre-K Programs): Public school district operating Tennessee Voluntary Pre-K (VPK) and Head Start programs in the same Knoxville-area communities Starting Points serves. A regional competitor and demand alternative for preschool-age families, though restricted to pre-K rather than the full age range Starting Points covers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Starting Point Child Care social profiles
Digital presenceStarting Point Child Care compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Starting Point Child Care financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Starting Point Child Care leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Starting Point Child Care funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Starting Point Child Care M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Starting Point Child Care
What does Starting Point Child Care do?
Starting Points Child Care is a licensed preschool and child day care center in Knoxville, TN offering age-based programs for infants, toddlers, twos, preschoolers, and school-age children. The center delivers a curriculum aligned with Tennessee Early Learning Developmental Standards, supplemented by enrichment offerings such as an on-site Gym Bus gymnastics program, a soccer program, and a nature-based Outdoor Classroom. Tuition is paid on a recurring weekly or monthly basis for full-day care, preschool, after-school pickup service, and summer camp.
Is Starting Point Child Care a public or private company?
Starting Point Child Care is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Starting Point Child Care founded?
Starting Point Child Care was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Starting Point Child Care based?
Starting Point Child Care is headquartered in Knoxville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Starting Point Child Care make money?
One revenue line is on record: child Care and Preschool Tuition.
Who are Starting Point Child Care's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cadence Education, Learning Care Group, Bright Horizons Family Solutions and KinderCare Learning Centers. Direct peers are Crème de la Crème, The Goddard School, Primrose Schools and Little Sunshine's Playhouse & Preschool. Care.com is listed as an others. Knox County Schools (Pre-K Programs) is listed as a regional player.
Does Starting Point Child Care have an API?
No public API is recorded for Starting Point Child Care.
What industry is Starting Point Child Care in?
Starting Point Child Care's product category is Child Day Care and Preschool Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACAAAA, Full-Day Childcare Centers, with a secondary code of EDACABAL, Preschool Programs within Childcare Centers. Its NAICS code is 624410 and its SIC code is 8351.