Children begin returning to select Early Childhood Education centers

Children at the Early Childhood Education center in London were recently welcomed back by staff with a festive pumpkin patch. The London Child Development Center was the first of the program’s centers to reopen after seven months of virtual instruction. Courtesy/TCOE

After seven months of serving children virtually, those enrolled at a number of Early Childhood Education (ECE) Child Development Centers are beginning to return for in-person instruction.

The first center to welcome children back was the London Child Development Center. Ten students returned to a warm welcome from staff and a festive fall pumpkin patch. “I’d like to thank the staff for all of the hard work and dedication to this transition of offering on-site care again,” said ECE Administrator Dr. Alex Elliott. “Together, we have taken time to rethink each step of our day – from the kitchen staff needing to find new ways to serve food, to custodians rearranging their cleaning schedule, to teachers learning new strategies to encourage social distancing in the classrooms.”

Dr. Elliott reports that the program will begin reopening one site or classroom at a time in the coming weeks. The slow and methodical process will involve collaboration with school districts where many of the ECE centers are located.

“Parents are excited to hear that we have started to reopen,” said Dr. Elliott. “We have reassured them that they have a choice of whether their child attends in-person or continues virtually, and that we are committed to serving them and their children however they feel most comfortable.”

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