Springer Day Care: Nuturing Today, Preparing for Tomorrow

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

Springer Day Care is a high quality, full-day preschool lab operated in conjunction with the Early Childhood Education program at highland Spring Technical Center in Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS). Springer Day Care was developed to provide high school students who are enrolled in the Early Childhood Education Program with real-world experiences working with young children, to draw teachers to schools identified as hard-to-staff. High school students attend daily classes in the Springer Day Care building where they learn child development and child care concepts. In addition to the traditional classroom instruction, students interact daily with preschoolers to apply the course concepts and gain real-world experience. Students prepare for child related professions such as child care, teaching, child psychology, and pediatrics. Being part of Spring Day Care provides students with a better understanding of both the challenges and rewards in working with young children. The Springer Day Care program is offered as a benefit to CPS employees by offering low cost, accessible child care.