Welcome

Welcome to the TLC Learning Center Blog, where nurturing success in all children has been our goal since 1956.

At TLC, our mission is to provide comprehensive early childhood education and therapeutic services to assist each child in reaching his or her highest potential!  We aim to ensure that every child who leaves TLC will enter kindergarten ready to learn, able to interact with his or her peers building lasting friendships, and have every opportunity to succeed regardless of their circumstances, environment, or other challenges they may have.

You may know that  TLC has been awarded the highest rating 4-Stars by Qualistar, which is a Quality Rating System that measures the quality of child care programs in Colorado on a provisional to 4-Star scale.  The Qualistar Rating™ is an important part of Colorado's child care Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). Qualistar says Providing high-quality early childhood education isn’t a simple task. Though most programs consistently strive to improve quality, financial realities make it a tough road for even the most dedicated providers. Programs participating in the Qualistar Rating™ have taken an important step in their quality improvement journey. As part of the Qualistar Rating™, programs are given a profile that reflects an objective view of both their strengths and areas for improvement. This profile offers valuable suggestions on how to improve the overall quality of their program. I am very happy and proud to represent the TLC Learning Center Staff who is 1 of only 3, 4-Star Rated Childcare Centers in Boulder County and the Only 4-Star Center in Longmont!

While this outside "stamp of approval" is something we are proud of, what we are most proud of is the quality of care in all of our classroom from our infant & toddler classrooms, to our preschool classrooms, and our therapeutic services in the classrooms, in the center, and in homes.  The TLC model is unique in that we provide education services for children with typical development, special needs, developmental delays, and from high-risk backgrounds all in the same setting. We offer donor-funded scholarships to families in need, providing the best early childhood education and pediatric therapies possible for children. To increase our ability to serve children in economic need, we participate in the Colorado Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP), the Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) in partnership with the St. Vrain Valley School District, and Medicaid, enabling us to serve children not just of all abilities, but from all socio-economic backgrounds. This helps us give children a bright future regardless of background, and helps enable working parents to continue supporting their families by offering low-cost early childhood services. Colorado has a strong need for services that cater to working parents, as the state ranks in the top 10 least affordable for early childcare and education . Further, a large dearth exists in the number of infant, toddler, and preschool spots in Boulder County that are available for children from low-income families or with special needs who qualify for state funded childcare assistance. This absence negatively impacts working parents and families, who may have difficulty balancing child care duties and working hours, especially when the cost of care can outweigh a paycheck. Centers that accept the Colorado Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP) are even more difficult for families to secure space in, due to high demand. These findings are echoed by the St. Vrain Early Childhood Council, the Boulder County Early Childhood Council, and Qualistar Colorado's 2013 Signature Report.  TLC works to meet the needs of community through child and family education and health services all in the least restrictive environment, allowing children to receive the best care and services, while families can work knowing their child's needs are all being met.  Our goal is to be an extension of the family and to partner with parents as they are their child's first and most important teacher.

As you read the following blogs, I'd encourage you to reflect on your own upbringing and your early childhood experience and hopefully you will see that the folks who post blogs here are 100% committed to being the best they can be to ensure that our children have the best chance to be the best they can be for a bright future for us all!

Thanks and come see us anytime!

Matt Eldred

Executive Director