Curriculum Overview ~
The uniqueness and beauty of Durango Early Learning Center is that each teacher is able to express their own personality and passion in their classroom design and structure, truly being individual within a common approach. Each teacher is qualified to work within the early year setting and required to complete 15 hours of service training per year. DELC strives to provide a warm, secure atmostphere where children can actively grow.

Some of our benefits include:

• We have small classes with low teacher ratios.
• We require parental participation more info
• We have caring, experiences and qualified teachers.
• We have weekly multi-aged group activities.
• We support individualized programs.

Schedule Options ~
We currently offer offer toddler through transitional-kindergarten programs,
extended childcare and a Summer school.

Toddlers (on average classroom ratio is 3 to 9)
3/4 day is 7:30 - 3:30
Full day is 7:30 - 5:30

Preschool (on average classroom ratio is 1 to 8)
1/2 day is 7:30 - 12:30
3/4 day is 7:30 - 3:30
Full day is 7:30 - 5:30

Schedule Overview ~

Toddler Room ( 18 months - 2.5 years)
The toddler room accomodates 9 children each day.  Our lead teacher has two assistants. During the busier times of the day we have all three members of staff
on duty.

Preschool (2.5 years - 5.5 years)
Creativity, exploration and experimentation are balanced with teacher facilitated themes and projects. Lead teachers plan their days to include the children's journey of music, movement, art and story telling. They reinforce all the previous learning that has taken place and build on it. The children experience longer circle time, letter recognition and construction and each child keeps a journal. All of our children, even those who have experienced turmoil in their lives, leave Durango Early learning Center as confident, socially able and life long learners.

Afternoon Schedule ~
The afternoons have a structured schedule between 12:30 and 5:30 with a keen sensitivity of the needs of the children and the teachers.  The whole preschool comes together so ages will range from 2.5 years to 5.5 years.

11:30 - 12:00 Lunch
The children eat with their classteacher and friends, sometimes classes will double up and engage in a social picnic together.

12:00 - 12:30 All school recess

12:30 - 2:55 Nap and Snack
Children who need a nap come in at 12:30 and are pottied and are read to until 12:55.  They are then encouraged to sleep and are woken up between 2:30 and 2:45, ready to enjoy a light snack before they join the resters outside.

12:45 - 1:30 Rest
Children who don't nap, we have rest time.  They come in at 12:45, use the bathroom, collect their water bottles and then listen to two or three stries before resting quietly with a book or puzzle until 1:30.  After rest we go outside and engage in physical play, e.g. climbing frame, parachute games, sand and water or just using our imagination outside. 

1:30 - 2:00 Motor Activities

2:00 - 2:30 Lunchbox Snack
The children finish off any food left in their lunchboxes

2:30 - 3:30 Recess

3:40 - 4:40 Clubs
After the 3:30 pick up, the children that are with us for the remainder of the day are divided into mixed age groups and participate in teacher directed activities, these are usually creative activities that focus on fine motor and cognitive skills. Some of the club activities include: science, french, gardening, cooking, spanish, and 'keep fit', to name a few.

4:30 - 5:00 School Snack

5:00 - 5:30 Small group calming activities