Early Learning Center
High quality early learning experiences in a safe, nurturing environment
The University of Delaware Early Learning Center is a full-day early education center for children ages birth to 5th grade
Our experienced professionals nurture and develop the natural curiosity of children as they explore the world around them. At the ELC, your child will experience a safe and enriching high quality program that values diversity and ignites an excitement for learning.
Curriculum that supports learning and development
Our team of professional educators are eager to partner with your family to provide optimal development and learning outcomes for your child. Our curriculum honors the diversity of each family while promoting learning across all developmental domains. We emphasize:
- Language and literacy
- Social/emotional skills
- STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math)
Infants & Toddlers
- 8 classrooms with 16 teaching professionals
- Intentional Indoor and Outdoor Learning Environments to explore, develop and grow through play
- Partnerships with families to share observations, complete screening tools and develop goals for learning and development
- Curriculum designed to support social and emotional growth and positive peer interactions
Preschool/Pre-K
- 8 classrooms with 16 teaching professionals
- Learning enriched through learning centers and group projects in both indoor and outdoor spaces
- Developmental screeners and observational assessments are used to support individual children and classroom development
- Lesson plans developed to support social/emotional skills necessary to prepare children to move onto kindergarten
School Age
- Program for before and after care for three area school: West Park Place, Newark Charter School and Aspira Academy
- Drop in care for additional school age children throughout the year
- Summer Camp program, with an emphasis on topics of interest, discovery learning and active engagement
- Remote learning support for children ages Kindergarten through 5th grade
Our Learning Spaces
Our indoor and outdoor spaces support the development of healthy and safe habits for children and adults. The indoor learning space is where children develop a unique understanding of self and how to participate in a community. The space is designed by professional teaching teams to support each child’s development through exploration, discovery and cooperative play. The ELC outdoor learning environment is currently being repurposed in collaboration with Engineers without Borders, the UD Landscape and Architecture Department, NCC Master Gardeners, UD Facilities, as well as the ELC staff, children and families.
Protecting health and safety during COVID-19
In coordination with local and state regulators, regional accreditation agencies and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Early Learning Center has developed and implemented new screening and sanitation procedures that have minimized the risk of transmitting the novel coronavirus. These include two drop-off areas where children are screened with a temperature check (must be below 99.5 degrees) and a review of COVID-19 symptoms.
“The ELC made us feel welcome and safe. We received regular parent/teacher meetings and updates on our daughter’s progress. She was very prepared for kindergarten. We felt blessed that we were able to participate in the ELC and its programs and staff for such an important period of her childhood. We highly recommend the ELC to every new parent we talk with!”
-Tom Ilvento & Ling Liu
Learn more about the Early Learning Center
302-831-6205
Fill out the contact form below to find out more about the Early Learning Center and/or to schedule a virtual tour. A member of our team will be in touch!