Sinclair’s Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC), run by Mini University, now allows children ages six-weeks through five-years-old to be enrolled.
Sinclair’s center previously only offered childcare for preschoolers with three classrooms for the age group. The childcare center worked to achieve the licensing and space necessary to accommodate other age groups. On Jan. 4, they began accepting six-week-old infants as well as toddlers.
The child care center is located in Building 9 on campus. Services are available to staff, former and current students as well as those in the community.
Sinclair and Mini University began their collaboration around three years ago, bringing Mini University to oversee Sinclair’s center. Mini University is part of the 2% of Ohio childcare centers that is nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. It also received a five-star rating by Step Up to Quality.
Mini University is a childcare center with its headquarters in Beavercreek. It currently has five childcare centers and partnerships with other public services, including Wright State University and Miami Valley Hospital. Mini University’s lead teachers have at least a four-year degree in education. The assistant teachers have at least an associate degree or a CDA.
The teachers create lesson plans for the enrolled children and use The Creative Curriculum. This includes plans for each individual child to help them reach the areas of learning for his or her age group. Even the youngest enrolled – six-week-old babies – have lesson plans written up for them.
“That’s more routines with the little ones,” said Mini University Program Administrator Nicole Myrick. “The teachers go based on what the infants need to know… [or] where they’re at developmentally so [that includes] working on the tummy time, social-emotional and just getting to know different people.”
The toddlers have similar goals in their lesson plans, but the amount of details is increased. Both age groups spend time outside. The toddlers also participate in activities in such small groups. There are also different areas in the classroom in the Pre-K group that allows the children to get in touch with their interests. These sections include discovery, writing, art, and stories or books.
“Children learn through play,” said Myrick. “So the children have free rein of going through the interest areas.”
Sinclair students and staff are given top priority in the ECEC. Those who previously attended the school receive the level of priority after this. People who live in the community are also welcome. The overall goal, however, is to meet the needs of those involved with Sinclair.
The center is open from 6:30 a.m. until 5:45 p.m. on Monday through Friday. The days the children spend there are like typical school days. Current students and faculty have the options of a two or three-day week along with the five-days. Those who previously graduated or live in the community currently only have the five-day option.
The center follows along with the school’s schedule,closing during times such as spring and holiday breaks. It also recently expanded its schedule:
“When we were open before, we used to close in the summertime,” said Myrick. “Now we are now open all year round,even through summer classes.”
Parents can contact the center to begin the process of having their children enrolled. They can go to Mini University’s website for contact information.
“Once they reach out to us… we start going through the process of what they want [or] what the needs are and go from there,” said Myrick.
Mini University’s prices are broken down by age groups, including infants, toddlers, and pre-school level.
Sinclair students who receive the Pell Grant can be eligible for the CCAMPIS Grant to save up to $900 off tuition on each child. Mini University also offers different discounts for the different priority levels enrolled as well as for the community. Preschool attendees can receive assistance from Preschool Promise as well as the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) Scholarship. There is assistance that is available for military families through Child care Aware as well. The center also accepts public funding.
“We try to bundle as many as possible so if you qualify for one, we don’t just stop there,” said Myrick. “If you qualify for multiple, we will give you as many discounts as we can to help with pricing.”
Mini University also offers a sibling discount, which allows for a discount on children that are enrolled along with or after their siblings.
Rebekah Davidson
Intern