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		St. Paul's Child Care Educational Facilities
	Mural by Jean Morrell

Student Capacity | Center Philosophy | Tour of Physical Plant | About Safety | Student Projects

Capacity

Our facility underwent a meticulous and extensive licensing evaluation by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services recently. We are pleased that NYState has renewed our license based on their most recent and careful examination of our facility in 2007. Under their guidelines, we can accommodate a maximum of 44 children divided in the following way: 16 Infants (Children from 6 weeks to 18 months, with a staff ratio of 1/4 infants) 12 Toddlers (Children from 18 months - 3 years, with a staff ratio of 1/5 toddlers) 16 Three and Four Year olds (with a staff ratio of 1/7 children)

Child Care "Without Walls"

Say Cheese    During the development of our Child Care Facility, our Philosophy was to create an Open Module Center rather than confining each class to a specific room. In Open Module style, class areas are separated by movable partitions rather than walls. (Note the following diagram.) There are a number of reasons why we believe that the "Without Walls" method is the best way to create a child care Program:   Social Awareness: Hearing other children at play, children develop a sense of social awareness of relating to children other than in their family group. We believe that it is a superior way to begin social skills at all age levels. The awareness of a need to fit into a group experience is good preparation for the day they enter formal schooling. Positive Stimulation: Children frequently attempt to imitate the skills and dexterity of older children. This provides motivation at a level appropriate for their ages. Team Teaching: Because of easy interaction between staff operating with different groups of children, there can evolve a "Team Teaching" concept in which staff members share their areas of expertise, as well as being available to each other in the event of problems. Director Supervision: Because the Director's office overlooks the entire facility, she is able to keep careful control on all events taking place in the Center, and can oversee operations on a moment to moment basis if needed.

A Tour of the Physical Plant

This is a floor plan of our Childcare Center on the ground floor of the Church, showing the positions of movable dividers in their standard positions. The area size listed exceeds New York State requirements for the maximum number of children in each location. Entryways all have small gates to prevent curious children from leaving their areas, while the "Maze-like" quality of our center holds great fascination for all new comers! In 4/2001 we reconfigured our space to accommodate an additional 8 infants, which was approved by the State of New York. The areas set aside for the different age groups are defined in different colors. Infants (pink); Mobile Infants (yellow); Toddlers (blue); 3 and 4 yr olds (blue-green). Three and Four Yr Olds: Under the direction of the Director and her staff, age appropriate curriculum is being developed for this group. To look at some of the specialized areas set aside, look at the Center Floor Plan Diagram below and click on the area of interest within this room. (There is one choice for an overall view of the 3&4year old area). The ramp leads via two exits to the newly renovated (September 2007) Out of Doors Play Area (light green). Ancillary areas such as Staff Lounge and Director's Office are peach colored.

Click on the space of interest in the following floor plan to see a picture of the actual area. (On average, pictures load in 30 seconds or less.)   Click HERE for driving directions to the Child Care Center

About Safety

	A prime consideration for all parents leaving their children at a Childcare Center is SAFETY. This is a list of the various safety elements which have been built into our Center: A Sprinkler System built to the maximum specifications as required by the Town of Rye Brook, actually exceeding NYState requirements for Fire Protection. Smoke Detectors as positioned –— not only in the Center itself –— but throughout the remainder of the Church as well. Easy ramp access to the outside in case of Emergency. Specialized emergency cribs so that one Staff Member can exit a number of children at once along the ramp through exit doors. Another advantage of the mobile partitions is that they can be opened quickly in event of emergency. Protocols are in place for transportation of children to Medical Centers in an emergency. Our large Out-of-Doors-Play-area is completely fenced in, and has a new poured rubber surface. Access security is maintained by locking all doors to outside visitors during the hours of operation (consistent with Fire Codes), each of which can be easily opened from the inside in the event of an emergency. A Card Access Security system is in place, allowing only parents (or properly designated alternates) and staff to enter the Center during hours of operation.

	Student Projects (examples)