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104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota FL 34236

(941) 955-0935

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Menu
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Daycare / Preschool

Contact Us Click here to request more information

Early Care Center (ECC) License #580300082


941-366-9522

Welcome to Early Care Center!

Our Mission Statement

We believe that the Early Care Center of First United Methodist Church is summoned by God to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by ministering to young children and their families by providing a quality educational program which promotes developmentally appropriate growth: spiritually, physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively.

About the Early Care Center

The Early Care Center is open Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

First United Methodist Church has responded to the need in our community for safe, dependable day care by offering its facilities and enrichment experiences for young children in a Christian environment. The center is open to children of all races and creeds. Presently, Early Care Center serves families with children ages 6 weeks through 5 years of age.

Interested in a Tour?

We are honored to show our facility and accomplishments to anyone interested in our program.  A tour is required prior to enrollment.  Appointments are needed to ensure the availability of a qualified guide. For a tour contact the office at 941-366-9522 or click here to contact us.

Take a Virtual Tour

At this time we are unable to have in-person tours of the school.
Please take our virtual tour.


Want more information?

Click here

Our Programs & Accreditation

Early Care Center is a year-round program. We offer full-time care for Infants – 5 year olds and  offer Voluntary Prekindergarten (August-June).

Click here for our 2022-2023 brochure.

We are accredited by the United Methodist Association of Preschools (UMAP). This association has strict guidelines for our Christian curriculum as well as standards for environment and staff/child interaction. All preschool and VPK classes attend a worship service once a week and a week of Vacation Bible School in the summer. As a 4.5 STAR quality rated school by the Look for the STARS program, we have achieved professional and public recognition as providers of high quality care and education of young children.  Early Care received the 2013, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 Finalist Readers’ Choice Award for the Best Preschool from the Sarasota-Herald Tribune.

Programs

Infant & Toddler Programs

The ECC infant program is designed to support each child’s needs. The “open door” policy allows parents total access to their child. The infants are cared for by a team approach with parents and staff working together for the benefit of each child and his/her family.

Our program recognizes the importance of the premise that “Parents are the child’s first teachers.” We practice the “Safe Sleep” program, recommending that placing infants on their backs to sleep is the safest way for them to sleep until they are physically capable of rolling over by themselves.

Our toddler curriculum includes activities to meet the individual child’s needs.
The children are slowly introduced to this curriculum philosophy as they begin to explore their world. The Learning Center approach to educating young children is introduced in the Dolphin Room. Developmentally appropriate activities are planned to encourage independence and self-esteem.  

2022 – 2023 Rates

6 weeks – 18 months: $225.00/week
18 months – 30 months: $215.00/week  

***All programs are subject to a registration fee of $325.00***

Preschool Program

Our goal is to offer a warm and loving environment in which each child can grow at his or her own pace. The program is designed to provide for the physical, social, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth of the young child. By giving children the opportunity to participate in activities that are developmentally appropriate for them, they can grow to become unique individuals. We encourage each child to develop a good self-concept with the belief that he or she is special. We strive to support the individual child and help him or her to cooperate with others, solve problems, and learn to make choices with regards to his or her environment.

We offer extra programs such gymnastics. Kristi Mezick, our gross motor coach, visits the school weekly to provide gymnastic instruction to all of our preschool and VPK students.  This extra curricular activity is included in your tuition.

2022 – 2023 Rates:

2.5 year – 3.5 year: $210.00/week
3.5 year – 4.5 year: $205.00/week

***All programs are subject to a registration fee of $325.00***

Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Program

First United Methodist Church has responded to the need in our community for a quality VPK Program by offering its facilities and enrichment experiences to children in a Christian environment. Early Care Center is open to children of all races and creeds.

It is the goal of the VPK program to focus on those skills needed for your child to make a smooth transition into kindergarten. VPK Includes:

  • Provides a safe and healthy environment
  • Is staffed with loving, qualified teachers
  • Encourages early literacy and creative expression
  • Provides new learning experiences
  • Provides social opportunities
  • Encourages self-esteem with positive reinforcements

4 – 5 year: (child must be 4 by September 1)

2022 – 2023 Rates:

Full Time:

$205.00/week FT
$160.00/week FT (with VPK voucher, when VPK in session)

3 Hour Only: (9 – 12) 
FREE (with VPK voucher during School year only)
 

***All programs are subject to a registration fee of $325.00***

Click here for more information about VPK or how to receive a voucher from The Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota.

More Information

Activities

While we focus on preparing your child for the classroom learning environment, we emphasize just how much fun learning can be! Sure we will be counting and talking about colors…but perhaps it will be bugs, or butterflies, or dinosaurs that will be discussed. Each week your child’s teacher will provide you with a theme-based curriculum sheet so you can keep up to date on the activities your child will be learning about and discussion points to help you stay actively involved in your child’s education. There is no doubt that your child is going to experience a wide variety of activities at Early Care Center – everything from finger painting, to tasting new foods, to learning letters, to singing songs, to playing on the computer. One thing is for certain – we have something to offer every child!

Curriculum

The foundation of our lesson plans come from Beyond Cribs and Rattles, Beyond Centers and Circle Time, and Creative Curriculum. Our Christian elements come from Bible Zone and Hands on Bible. Another component of the lesson plans comes from Florida Standards Birth to 4 and Standards for VPK (Voluntary Prekindergarten). The children are assessed twice a year. Individual Education plans (IEPs) are incorporated into the lessons for the final piece. All of the components combine to create a developmentally appropriate experience for the children we serve.

Christian Education

Our center promotes Christian education through prayers at meal times, singing praise songs, and reading Bible stories throughout the week.

All preschoolers attend chapel one day a week. The lessons are based on our weekly curriculum. 

The summer week  of Vacation Bible School is free for all children age 3-5th grade.  Themes vary from year to year.

Meals

Parents are required to provide their child’s formula/milk or nutritious lunch.  Suggestions for lunch ideas can be found on www.myplate.gov.  Refrigerators and microwaves (for reheating only) are available in every classroom.

The center provides nutritious mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks.

Accommodations for breast feeding are happily provided.

Early Care Center Staff

The United Methodist Association of Preschools (UMAP) requires that each teacher of children two years and older be certified in one of the following ways:

Degree from 2 or 4 year college with at least 6 credits in Early Childhood

6 college credits in Early Childhood and 3 years of preschool teaching experience

Vocational Certificate in Early Childhood Education.

All of our staff is certified in First Aid, CPR, and AED. Each person is required to receive 24 hours of in-service training each year so their skills will motivate and challenge your child.

Early Care Teachers make the difference!

The Early Care Center staff is recruited for their abilities to work well with children. Employment is nondiscriminatory as relates to religion, race, and national origin. Active interchange between the church and the ECC staff contributes strongly to the positive relationship between the church congregation and Early Care Center.

Important Dates for 2022-2023

09/05/2022         Labor Day

11/24/2022         Thanksgiving

11/25/2022        Thanksgiving Holiday

12/26/2022         Christmas Holiday

01/02/2023         New Year’s Holiday

01/16/2023          Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

01/17/2023          Professional Day

02/10/2023          Professional Day – UMAP Conference

04/07/2023          Good Friday

05/29/2023          Memorial Day

07/03/2023          Independence Day  Holiday

07/04/2023          Independence Day

08/04/2023          Professional Day (estimated)

Employment Opportunities

Interested in making a difference in the life of a child? Consider a career in early childhood education at Early Care Center!

Click here for an application.

Contact ECC

Phone: 941-366-9522

Address:

104 S. Pineapple Ave
Sarasota, FL 34236

License #580300082

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104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota FL 34236

(941) 955-0935

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