Early Learning Services

TLC Learning Center is licensed through the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and offers an inclusive and welcoming community in which each child’s learning experience is tailored to help them reach their fullest potential. We believe that inclusive education benefits every child, preparing them for success in school and beyond by fostering empathy, compassion, and a lifelong love of learning. We care for children in our early learning classrooms from eight weeks of age until they are ready for kindergarten, providing a continuity of care that enables kids to build a solid academic and social-emotional foundation in a nurturing and engaging classroom setting.

All TLC staff are trained in the Pyramid Model approach, which are evidence-based practices that support inclusion and healthy social-emotional development, while also fostering strategies to understand and address challenging behaviors in children. Each classroom is supported by a team of two to three experienced teachers, as well as occupational, physical, and speech therapists to ensure that each child receives what they need for the best possible start in life.

All TLC classrooms are open year-round, from 7:30am-5:30pm. We loosely follow the St. Vrain Valley School District schedule from August to June regarding holidays and breaks. We believe that children thrive with a balanced schedule that includes both time at TLC and time at home or in the community. Because of this, we ask that no child be on campus for more than nine hours per day.

At TLC we believe that caregivers are their children’s first and most important teachers, and that positive child outcomes in all areas of development are dependent upon successful collaboration between home and school, and the implementation of developmentally appropriate practice (DAP).

Curriculum tools are research-based and support each child’s cognitive and physical growth in conjunction with healthy social-emotional development. We use a variety of research-based curriculum tools including Creative Curriculum, the Pyramid Model Approach, YogaKids, and Young Athletes, among others.

Children’s progress is assessed throughout the year using the Teaching Strategies GOLD progress mapping system. Teaching Strategies GOLD is an assessment tool used for tracking student progress in the following areas of development: social-emotional; physical; language; literacy; cognitive; mathematics; science and  technology; social studies; and the arts. Ongoing observation and GOLD benchmarks are used by the classroom team to select goals and to plan effective instruction for groups as well as for individual students. Progress is checked three times throughout each program year, and teachers will share progress at bi-annual child progress conferences. GOLD is part of the Colorado Department of Education Results Matters initiative.

Quality Rating: The State of Colorado oversees early childhood programs across our state using a quality rating and improvement system called Colorado Shines. TLC has a Level Four Colorado Shines Quality Rating. This means that TLC’s programs have been assessed and rated as high-quality based on criteria such as workforce qualifications, family partnerships, administrative practices, learning environment, and child health.