The fundamental goal of the Early Learning Center (ELC) is to provide a safe, warm, nurturing atmosphere to promote each child's physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development. The daily curriculum and activities are designed to help children develop skills to think critically, creatively and independently. The curriculum allows for an age-appropriate daily routine and schedule of activities while maintaining particular attention to each child's individual interests and developing competencies.
How It Works
The ELC meets the needs of parents and children in three ways; child care, before-, and after-school care, and parent development. All children are assigned to age-appropriate groups and are provided with breakfast, lunch and a snack.
Child care services: The ELC offers day care combined with learning for infants and children age 6 weeks to 5 years old. Children arrive as early as 6:30 a.m. and stay as late as 6:30 p.m. Following breakfast, pre-schoolers progress through the day with structured activities in the major areas of child development – arts and crafts, dramatic play, language arts, math, manipulative play, science and geography.
Language and literacy development is infused in every activity. Children are read to, and practice listening and discussing what they have heard. Materials are sent home regularly for parents to continue and reinforce important educational and developmental skills with their child.
Before and Afterschool Care: The ELC also has opportunities for parents to make sure their school-age children up to 8th grade are in a safe environment before and afterschool. The activities follow the EW afterschool curriculum including academic and literacy enrichment, visual and performing arts, and social development.
Children may arrive as early as 6:30 a.m. At 8:00 a.m, children are walked to Bethune or Clymer Elementary Schools or the Sedgley Avenue Head Start. After care begins when the school day or Head Start center end their program, with children from Bethune and Clymer Elementary Schools walked back to the ELC. Parents must arrange for transportation if children attend other schools.
The ELC is open for children when the schools are closed for full and half-days, except on eight major holidays and when schools are closed due to snow.
Parent Development: Family-teacher conferences are scheduled twice a year to discuss in detail the care and progress of each child. In addition, monthly parent trainings and events are scheduled focusing on parenting and personal development. Topics include lead poisoning, discipline, literacy development, home ownership and energy assistance.
Fees are paid weekly. The ELC accepts AmeriCorps Care reimbursement for AmeriCorps members, state and county subsidies, and private pay.
