Summary

Contact Info

A STEP ABOVE CHILDCARE CREATIVE LEARNING CENTER
7323 MERCHANT COURT
Sarasota , FL 34240
astepabovechildcarecl.com

Tel: (941) 907-8828
Fax: (941) 907-1565

Director: Kristen
astepabovechildcare@usa.com

Admissions Director:
Monica

General Approach to Learning

Play-based

Play-based with some structure

Predominantly teacher-led instruction

Montessori

Waldorf

Co-op

Reggio-Emilia

Application Information

Applications accepted

While child is in utero, upon birth, after a face-to-face meeting at the school

Deadline for applications

Rolling

Key Statistics

Total enrollment

52

Student/teacher ratio

9:1

Age cutoff for enrollment

1 months

Extended day

Yes

School year

Year round program

Kindergarten Placement

Kindergartens that preschoolers from this school are now attending

McNeal, Gene Whitt, Outer Door Academy

Survey Information

Director survey: Yes

Savvy Source survey: Yes

General Info

Basic Stats

Total enrollment

52

Student/teacher ratio

9:1

Established

2003

% of teachers with:

- Bachelors

4%

- Masters

1%

- Teaching credentials

8%

- CPR

8%

- First aid

8%

Transportation and Drop-off Policies

Transportation

- Parents bring their children to and from school

Dropoff Procedure

- Parents walk their child into the classroom

- 7:30 AM is the earliest time a parent can drop off a child

Late Pickup Policy: children left at the school 10 minutes after close will be charged

Features of the Preschool

Provide a third year	Yes
• We have structured curriculums for each age group.

Provide a kindergarten and elementary school program

No

Affiliated with a religious institution

No

Some experience serving children with special needs	Yes
• We are able to handle various children with special needs

Accreditation, Membership & Awards

Accreditation by the National Association of Young Children

Yes

Other Accreditations

ECA

Facilities Include:

Classrooms (with bathroom attached)

Classrooms (with kitchenette attached)

Music room

Art room

Library

Enrichment room - Pre-Ballet, Tap Dance etc...

Playground

Director's Comments

Question to director: Do you have any additional thoughts on what parents should consider when looking at your school? Is there any advice that you would like to provide to prospective parents?
A Step Above Childcare is an Educational based learning center. Enriching the lives of children through the schools Enrichment programs. Private and Secure with Cameras for parental viewing.

School Philosophy & Day in the Life

School Philosophy and Mission

A Step Above Childcare believes strongly in enriching the lives of children. We believe that children should receive a wide variety of activities and learning experiences throughout the day. Small class sizes are apart of the schools learning environment.
This provides more one on one time with the child's teacher and offers a better learning environment.

Typical Day-In-The-Life At This School

School opens at 7:30 a.m.
Children arrive to the sound of music and open center time. Followed by a morning snack and story time. Afterwards the children enjoy time out on the playgrounds. When they return they go into a world of learning Followed by lunch that is provided by the school.
A time for rest and classical music is a relaxing time for one and all. The afternoon features art projects open centers and fun times. Enrichment classes begin and children attend various programs such as Pre-Ballet, Tap Dance, Drama, Art, Musicals, Computer classes etc. At the end of the day children relax to a Walt Disney movie with popcorn to enjoy.

Curriculum & Teaching Approach

General Approach to Learning

Play-based

Play-based with some structure

Predominantly teacher-led instruction

Montessori

Waldorf

Co-op

Reggio-Emilia

Curriculum and Teaching Approach


Language					YES
Oral language	-	-	-	-	n/a
Nursery rhymes, poems, songs	-			-	n/a
Storybook reading	-			-	n/a
Emerging literacy skills	-			-	n/a

Cognitive Development					n/a
Math and number sense	-			-	YES
Time & space	-			-	YES
Sci. reasoning/physical world	-			-	YES
Music	-			-	YES

Visual arts	-	-	-	-	YES
Physical activity	-			-	YES

Other subjects taught	Sign Language, Spanish, Music Lessons, Science, Solar System, Extensive Art, Cooking, Computer Lessons, Photography,Gardening, Tap & Ballet, Drama, Musicals.				n/a

Director's Comments

High Reach Learning along with our enrichment programs provide children with a well rounded learning environment.

Quality of Teaching

Director's Comments on Individualized Teaching

Individualized Teaching

Description of how teachers work with children who are
"behind," "excelling" or "different" from the majority of students

All teachers are certified in teaching Early Education.
All staff members are trained in CPR and First Aide.
Teachers are enrolled in continuous educational classes.

Home School Connection

Director's Comments

Children recieve report cards, annual summaries, progress notes, parent news letters, open house, parent and teacher meetings, family days, cook outs and school get togethers.

Separation

Beginning of the year separation is handled through:
- Pre-entry meetings with parents at school
- Small group sessions
- Extra staff dedicated to handle separation
- Parents in classroom early on

Director's and Parents' Comments

Director's Comments

We redirect the children's attention to an area of interest in the classroom.

Discipline, Health and Safety

Overview

Director's Description of Approach Toward Discipline

We use 3 forms of discipline.
The time out method for discipline.
Talking with the children as to why the behavior is unacceptable.
Redirecting a negative situation into a positive one is another approach in which we use for discipline.

Director's Response to a Sample Discipline Scenario

Description of how teachers handle the following scenario: Child A and Child B are good friends and usually play together. One day, Child A decides to play with Child C and tells Child B, 'I don't want to play with you today. I'm playing with Child C instead.'

The teacher would talk to child a,b, and c as a group asking a and b how they would feel to be left out re-enforcing that playing as a group is much more fun.

Food Allergies

- We ask parents to provide child-safe snacks for their allergic child

- WE KEEP A LIST POSTED IN EACH CLASSROOM AND IN THE SCHOOLS KITCHEN

Medications

- PARENTS MUST PROVIDE A MEDICATION SHEET WITH INSTRUCTIONS. THE TEACHERS GIVE THE MEDICATIONS AS DIRECTED

Ages, Schedule & Tuition

Extended Care

- This school does have extended care

Notes on Schedule and Extended Care

Notes

7:30 A.M. - 8:00 A.M. / 5:30 P.M. - 6:00P.M.
3:00 P.M. - 5: 30P.M. / 6:00 P.M.

Calendar Year

School Year

Year round program

Application & Admissions

Application Process

Applications are accepted: While child is in utero, upon birth, after a face-to-face meeting at the school

Parent visits tours are: Recommended

Child interview process: CHILDREN ATTEND FOR A PARTIAL DAY PRIOR TO ENROLLING

Parent interview process: Director-parent

Deadline for applications: Rolling

Admissions Process

Acceptance criteria: First-come basis

Notification occurs: Rolling

Parents must submit deposit within the following timeframe of receiving notification of acceptance: ONE WEEK

Financial aid is available.

Director's Comments

Comments

WE OFFER A SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM AS WELL AS A SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM. WE HAVE TWO INFANT ROOMS THROUGH PRIVATE PRE-K.

Age/Child Requirements

Child must be 1 months to enroll.

Child does not need to be potty trained to enroll.

Kindergarten Placement & Tips

Kindergarten Placement

Kindergartens that preschoolers from this school are now attending

McNeal, Gene Whitt, Outer Door Academy