Overview of Uptown Kids
Operating since August 1998, Uptown Kids has six classrooms and a licensed capacity of 86 children, serving ages 0-5 years. 70% of children are typically developing, while 30% have special needs. The morning preschool session utilizes the child directed High/Scope curriculum. As an inclusion model, therapists incorporate therapies into learning activities the child is engaged in, in the classroom setting. Typically developing children are natural role models for children with special needs and, with the assistance of an occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech language pathologist, and early childhood teacher, all children at Uptown Kids benefit from services. The afternoon curriculum at Uptown Kids reflects the environment of the morning, as children continue to engage in structured activities focusing on learning through play.

What are the hours of your program?
6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.

What is your program's educational philosophy?
All children can learn and benefit from an inclusion model with parent, community and staff support.

Could you describe your school?
Uptown Kids is located in downtown Wichita, Kansas, housed in a former bank building. Walls do not exist at Uptown Kids as shelving units are used to divide classroom space. Each classroom has a team of one teacher and at least one paraeducator. Therapists including a speech language pathologist and assistant, a physical therapist and assistant, an occupational therapist, bus driver and aide, food handler and social worker team with the classroom staff assuring outstanding opportunities for all children. With the High/Scope curriculum, classroom routines become very familiar to children during the three hours of the educational component. The majority of children stay the entire day, enjoying breakfast, lunch and snack with friends and the all-important naptime!

Classrooms are divided into six areas: nursery; 12-22 month toddlers; 22-30 month toddlers; 2-3 year olds; 3-4 year olds, and pre-kindergarten. Each August, similar to the school district, children transition into the next classroom. At Uptown Kids, four teachers are certified through the state of Kansas in early childhood, one teacher is a child development associate, while two are lead teachers with over 144 hours of child development hours through various agencies in the area. Special needs children are also seen by a full time early childhood special education (ECSE) teacher.

The facility is secured through a camera system and all visitors are screened prior to entering. The camera system is in place at all doors and all doors are opened only through an electronic system controlled at the front desk of the center. This provides parents with a high level of confidence.

Parents are invited to participate in monthly seminars facilitated by staff members. Topics during the 1998-99 school year include potty training, how to read to children, age appropriate toys, discipline through "love and logic", and several interactive evenings.