Nurturing Futures: Exploring IU Health Day Early Learning Programs

Day Early Learning is a network of premier, community-based early learning centers that instill essential skills in children, empowering them to thrive in kindergarten and beyond. By building their knowledge and abilities to process new information, these programs lay the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. IU Health Day Early Learning, located just north of IU Health Methodist Hospital on 21st and Senate streets in Indianapolis, provides high-quality early childhood care and education for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years. The center boasts 12 spacious classrooms, an indoor gross motor area, and two outdoor playgrounds that include garden beds and a butterfly garden, creating a stimulating and safe environment for children to learn and grow.

A Focus on Holistic Development

At Day Early Learning, the foundation to a lifelong love of learning for a child begins with nurturing relationships with their teachers. The teachers work to build a strong, trusting relationship with each child and develop partnerships with families. The classrooms are focused on guiding growth and development in a child-centered environment. Play is encouraged while providing robust experiences that foster curiosity, bring out self-expression, build collaboration and flexible thinking skills. The curriculum and tools support the approach to teaching and learning and are aligned with Indiana’s Early Learning Foundations.

Curriculum and Assessment

All Day Early Learning classrooms utilize The Creative Curriculum, a research-based early child care and education curriculum. The learning objectives of the curriculum are aligned with Indiana’s Early Learning Foundations and include child-focused activities that address language and literacy, math, cognitive, science, social-emotional and physical development. Each child’s classroom will have an individualized lesson plan posted every week. Each activity on the lesson plan is purposeful and intentionally planned based on the teachers’ observations of each child in the classroom.

Regularly assessing each child’s growth and development allows teachers to tailor lessons and activities to the needs of each individual child. All Day Early Learning centers use several methods to assess each child’s growth and development including TS GOLD® observations and the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA).

Prioritizing Health and Safety

Your child’s health and safety is the first priority. Addressing your child’s health needs ensures they can focus on learning. The programs work to prevent illnesses through health and safety policies. When illnesses do occur, school leaders will inform parents of the illness, symptoms and incubation period, per Indiana State Licensing regulations.

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Nutrition and Well-being

Children at Day Early Learning receive a healthy breakfast, lunch and two snacks a day at the centers. Meals are designed to be balanced and include fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, while limiting the amount of sugars and processed foods. Weekly menus are posted in the center. The menus are reviewed by a certified nutritionist, approved by the Indiana Department of Education and meet the Gold Standard from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for Child Nutrition Programs. Additionally, the culinary team members are Serv-Safe certified to ensure food safety. The programs support both breastfed and formula-fed babies, following the wishes of the parents and physicians when it comes to the baby’s individual nutrition needs. The Day Early Learning centers provide iron fortified infant formula and developmentally appropriate baby foods. For all infants between the ages of 6 weeks to 12 months, a feeding plan must completed and signed by the child’s pediatrician.

Qualified and Caring Staff

Day Early Learning carefully reviews each candidate’s qualifications and background. A national and state criminal history as well as a child protection services background check is completed on each potential staff member. The classroom team members have specialized training in child development. All school team members participate in learning opportunities to grow their practice and deepen their skills. Each individual receives ongoing support toward achieving their professional goals. A minimum of 20 hours of training is required annually.

Teachers must have either a bachelor’s or an associate degree in early childhood education. Classroom support professionals must have a high school diploma and CDA or 12 college credits in early care and education within two years of hire. All teachers are trained in Universal Precautions, first aid and CPR.

The staff includes dedicated professionals like:

Cassondra: Brings 17 years of experience in early care and education and is dedicated to empowering children and team members alike. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in special education and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Elementary Education with Autism Certification.
Allison: Joined Day Early Learning and has eight years of experience working in licensed child care settings. The Team Lead works collaboratively with school leadership to lead and nurture growth of team members and to improve teacher practice within the school.
Monica: Has been with Day Early Learning and has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with an infant/toddler specialist certificate.
Nicole: Joined Day Early Learning and holds a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Educational Psychology.
Laura: Is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nurse who has been with Day Early Learning for more than 10 years. Prior to her time at Day Early Learning, she worked in a neonatal intensive care unit, a developmental pediatric office and a pediatric primary care office.

Positive Discipline Approach

Day Early Learning schools use a positive approach that helps children navigate peer interactions and their own emotion regulation. Physical punishment of any type is prohibited. Educators support children with words and actions to equip them with skills necessary to generate solutions and resolve conflicts. Day Early Learning team members use redirection, make environmental changes, model appropriate behavior and offer one-to-one support that helps a child develop skills they need to successfully engage in the classroom. Should a child experience the continual need for behavior support, Day Early Learning calls upon the child’s family to assist. The School Leader will schedule a family conference and create a plan to best support the child’s development.

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Commitment to Affordability

As a nonprofit, Day Early Learning's goal is to provide high-quality, accredited early childhood care and education at a price families can afford. Many families qualify for discounts or financial aid. IU Health employees are eligible for a discount. Tuition rates vary based on county. The weekly fees are due the Friday before each school week. The organization welcomes many different financial aid options, including CCDF vouchers (Child Care Development Fund) and On My Way Pre-K. Additionally, Early Learning Indiana offers a tuition assistance program for families based on income. These scholarships are derived from the contributions of generous supporters: United Way of Central Indiana, corporations, foundations and individuals.

Parent Involvement

You are your child’s first and most important teacher. You are always welcome at Day Early Learning. Feel free to visit the center and participate in special programs and activities. Your participation is important to your child’s success. The organization hopes to create a welcoming environment for you and your family to be engaged in your child’s early learning journey. The doors are always open. Feel free to visit the school to have lunch with your child or volunteer your time and participate in special programs and activities.

Daily Schedule and Outdoor Time

The children are required to spend at least 60 minutes outside playing each day, 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon. Below is a sample of what a typical day looks like in the schools. Each child’s daily routine will be posted in their classroom.

Teacher-to-Child Ratios

To ensure that each child receives individual attention, and in accordance with Indiana licensing requirements, Day Early Learning’s teacher-to-child ratios are as follows:

Infant (0-12 months): 1 teacher to 4 children, Max of 8 children per class
Toddler (1 -2 years): 1 teacher to 5 children, Max of 10 children per class
3 years: 1 teacher to 10 children, Max of 20 children per class
4 years: 1 teacher to 12 children, Max of 24 children per class

Consistency is important for young children. Each child will be with the same teacher and peers for the majority of each day.

Food Policy

Both licensing and the Federal Food Program require the children to be served meals and snacks that are prepared in the kitchen or catered by a licensed vendor. Day Early Learning cannot serve sack lunches or food items brought in by parents. If you wish to bring in special snacks or treats on your child’s birthday, you may do so as long as the food is purchased from a store.

Potty Training

The potty training schedule is determined by each child’s developmental level, and generally is introduced in the 2-year-old room.

Vacation Time

Families can take two weeks of vacation time at 50% of cost each year.

Immunization Records

Indiana State Board of Health regulations require Day Early Learning to maintain current immunization records for all enrolled children. To help stay in compliance, please provide an updated copy of your child’s physical and immunization record after each well-child visit. These forms ensure the program is supporting your child’s health and development in line with program standards. Families enrolled in the Early Head Start (EHS) program are required to a Well-Child Check Form following each visit.

Emergency Closings

Day Early Learning strives to serve working families. As an essential service to working parents, Day Early Learning centers will generally not close for severe weather. The most up-to-date closing information can be found on the Day Early Learning family hub. There are no refunds for emergency closings.

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