Clayton Early Learning: Empowering Families and Children in Denver
Clayton Early Learning is a nationally recognized leader in early childhood education, dedicated to providing high-quality, research-based learning experiences for children from birth to age five. Through its various programs, including the Educare School, Head Start, and Early Head Start, Clayton utilizes a multi-generational, place-based approach to give all children an exceptional start while empowering families toward lifelong success. Serving the Denver County, Colorado area, Clayton addresses the unique challenges faced by economically vulnerable families, focusing on the long-term impacts on young children's healthy development and readiness for kindergarten.
Comprehensive Programs for Holistic Development
Clayton’s early childhood education programming is designed to address the particular challenges that exist for economically vulnerable families, and the long-term impacts they have on young children's healthy development and readiness for kindergarten. These comprehensive programs encompass all aspects of wellbeing and learning, including:
- Social-emotional health
- Physical wellness
- Academic success
- Family self-sufficiency
Educare Denver: A State-of-the-Art Early Learning Environment
The Educare Denver school, situated on the Clayton Early Learning campus, offers a state-of-the-art early learning environment for children from birth through age five. Classrooms are staffed with highly trained early childhood education professionals who partner with parents to support the optimal development of their children.
Family Services and Support
Enrollment in school-based programs at Clayton includes comprehensive family services. Each family is assigned a Child Family Educator (CFE) who helps them:
- Identify strengths
- Define needed services and supports
- Set goals
- Connect with additional support service providers
School-Based Programs
Clayton offers both full-year and 9-month school-based programs at its Educare school. The school features 12 Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms serving children from birth to age 5, as well as four Head Start classrooms operating on a 9-month schedule. These full-day programs provide early care and preschool services.
Read also: Discover Clayton State University
Home-Based Programs
Recognizing that participation in school-based programs may be challenging for some families, Clayton offers home-based early childhood programs. Families enrolled in these programs are assigned a Child Family Educator (CFE) who conducts weekly home visits, empowering parents as their child's first and most important teachers. In addition, small groups of children, parents, and their CFE participate in monthly group socializations where families learn new ways to prepare children for success in school.
Prenatal Program
Clayton Early Learning recognizes that a healthy pregnancy is crucial for a child's health and development. The prenatal program provides mothers and families with weekly home visits from a Child Family Educator (CFE), offering:
- Health and nutrition counseling
- Breastfeeding consultation
- Socialization opportunities
- Resource referrals
Early Head Start and Head Start HIPPY
- Early Head Start: For children birth to age three, families meet with their Child Family Educator at weekly home visits. Caregivers learn how to promote learning at home and gain confidence as their child's most important teacher.
- Head Start HIPPY: For children ages three to five, families receive weekly home visits from their Child Family Educator (CFE) who provides parents with tools, strategies, and resources to prepare children for the transition to kindergarten and promote strong, healthy families. Kindergarten-bound families enrolled in HIPPY are offered support in exploring and selecting a high-quality kindergarten program in their community.
Play & Learn
Clayton Play and Learn is a two-generation model designed to help parents and other caregivers prepare their children, from birth to age three, for school success through participation in activities that support children's development.
Clayton Cares Market: Addressing Food Insecurity
Clayton operates the Clayton Cares Market, a no-cost grocery and nutrition hub serving more than 200 families weekly with fresh, culturally relevant food and essential household items. Since opening in 2022, the Market has distributed over 180,000 pounds of food, reducing financial strain and improving access to healthier options. This work is essential in Northeast Denver, where many families live at or below 30% of the area median income and face persistent food deserts, rising costs, and related health inequities.
Community Partnerships and Collaboration
Clayton Early Learning works collaboratively with partner agencies across Colorado to promote high-quality early childhood care and education practices, reaching more children and their families.
Read also: Legacy of Clayton State University
Admissions and Eligibility
Clayton programs are provided at low or no cost to Head Start eligible families, based on individual family circumstances. In addition, as part of our commitment to serving the broader community, Clayton is now offering a limited number of private-pay preschool openings for children ages 3 to 5. There are no income restrictions for these slots. Families are encouraged to contact our admissions team for more information about eligibility criteria and to identify specific programs for which they may qualify. Enrollment in extended day programs may require funding through Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).
The bilingual team of admissions specialists works with parents to match them with the programs that best fit the needs of their children and family while guiding them through the application process. School-based programs serve children ages birth through 5 years old and are located at Educare Denver at Clayton Early Learning on the Historic Clayton Campus.
Health and Wellness
Trained health and wellness staff prepare fresh, nutritious meals daily that are served family-style to help children develop positive eating habits and encourage students to try a wide range of healthy cuisine.
Regulatory Oversight
The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) is responsible for the administration of health and safety rules and regulations for licensed programs. The Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration within CDEC conducts inspections and investigates complaints related to licensing rules and regulations.
CDEC's goal is to ensure that children are in healthy and safe licensed child care. When a child care program is not meeting all licensing requirements, CDEC may take enforcement actions, such as fines, probation, revocation, summary suspension, or denial of a license. Other actions may include a settlement agreement or a no action decision, when CDEC is satisfied that compliance has been achieved and will be maintained.
Read also: Unlock Your Potential
tags: #Clayton #Early #Learning #Denver #programs
