The Bedford United Methodist Preschool's mission is to be the FIRST choice for providing high quality, affordable childcare and education in a safe, loving environment that instills Christian values and provides stimulating learning experiences.

We offer:

• Excellent staff-child ratios - your child will receive personalized attention
• Affordable daily rates
• Nurturing staff trained in Early Childhood development
• Structured, creative learning curriculum
• Christian oriented activities
• Music, Art and Drama classes
• Nutritional meals and snacks
• Specialized Summer programs
• Before and after school care
• Parental observation and involvement
• Secure supervised play time
• Licensed, accredited facility
• PA. Keystone Stars participant
• Locker & Monitored entry system

From infants to 12 year-olds, you can be assured that our enthusiastic, responsive staff is committed to building and enhancing the foundation for your precious one's growth and achievement.

Come and see what makes us different and let us enrich your child's future...

At our center, our vision is to provide top- quality, affordable childcare for children in our area. With an open-door policy, I welcome and encourage parental/guardian interaction and feedback. Your ideas and suggestions are vital not only to the success or our program, but more importantly, to the success of your child.

My staff and I are dedicated to providing a unique, challenging curriculum that ensures your child will grow and learn in a safe, positive, Christian atmosphere in their home away from home. Thank you for the opportunity to make a difference and share in your child's development.

The purpose of the Bedford United Methodist Preschool/Daycare Center is to provide a high quality experience in which children can sing and grow in God's Love. The Center is owned and operated under the supervision of the Administrative Board of the church and is an extension of the ministry of the congregation.

The Center is licensed by the State of Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) and must meet the standards for childcare as determined by the state. We are inspected at least annually by a Licensing Representative of DPW and must meet the high quality standards regarding staff, health and safety, enrollments, ratios, and record keeping in order to maintain our licensure. Our license is prominently displayed in our Center. The center ia also a participant of the Keystone STARS Program. The STARS program is a PA. initiative to increase the quality of child care. The STARS Program gives our Center the recognition that we exceed state licensing regulations.

Registration

Upon contacting our center, a short telephone interview will be conducted. Some basic information will be obtained. Our Parent Handbookwill be mailed to you. Within two weeks of our mailing, you will receive a telephone call to set up a center tour.

We encourage all prospective clientele to visit our center and speak with our staff at any time. Any questions concerning our center should be referred to our director.

Our Preschool and Daycae Program provides curriculum based upon the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Department of Public Welfare's Early Learning Standards for Infants and Toddlers and for Pre-Kindergarden. Key learning areas for Infants and Toddlers are specific areas of development that, combined, represent the whole child. They include: Approaches to learning and cognitive development,communication and emerging literacy; creative expression; physical and motor development; social, emotional, and personal development; and family, early learning and community partnerships.

Key learning areas for Pre-kindergarden are, again, specific areas of development that, combined, represent the whole child. They include: Approaches to learning; creative arts, language and literacy; mathematics; personal social; physical-health; program partnerships; science; and social studies. Our preschool program also follows several area School District's Kndergarden Expectation Guidelines.

The above curriculum requires an equal amount of teacher-directed & child-directed activities combined with a daily schedule. Christian Education is an important part of our program and is offered on a daily basis.

Our Preschool Program consists of age-appropriate educational experiences that promote a positive self-image and challenge the developmental needs of the child. The Preschool program involves a scheduled daily routine combing structured, teacher-directed and child-directed activities.

Structured activities include music, children's literature, and reading readiness skills. Materials used for this purpose include rhythm instruments, cassette recordings, storybooks, big books, puppets, paper. pencils, crayons, markers, paints, computers, and various items for sorting, counting, and manipulating.

Child-directed free-play is an important experience for children to learn social skills and language development. It is a time for creativity, exploration, curiosity, and thinking. It is through play that children come to understand the world around them.

A wide variety of play activities and materials are available to the children each day. Play areas include... Dramatic play, Manipulative toys, Sensory materials, Computer games, Art materials, Toys sets, Music, Audio/visual. Opportunity for large motor activity is provided each day in the outdoor play area or in Fellowship Hall (downstairs).

Meals are provided by the Center for all children enrolled at no additional cost. Our meals are nutritious, well-balanced meals, which are in compliance with the State and Federal Child and Adult Food Program and the USDA guidelines. The food is prepared here at our center by Mrs. Vicki Brown who is trained in child health and nutrition.

Breakfast will be served every morning from approximately 8:00AM to 8:30AM. A hot, catered lunch will be served from 11:00 to 12:00 noon. After naptime (2:45-3:15pm) the children will receive a snack consisting of milk or juice and a bread, or fruit/vegetable component.

All children will be served the meals provided by the center. Our food contract states that food and/or beverage cannot be brought into the facility. If your child has an allergy to particular foods, a doctor's excuse is mandatory. No exceptions.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964(voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

*Note: These fees apply to all children enrolled in our center.
*We participate in the PA State Human Services ChildCare Subsidy and the County Board of Assistance ChildCare Subsidy Programs.
*All payments due by Friday of the current week in the church office. Checks payable to B.U.M.P. 

* A fee of $25.00 will be charged for any NSF checks issued to BUMP.

State licensing requires the completion of the following forms:

Emergency Contact Information Form - This form includes vital information concerning your child, persons to be contacted in case of emergency, health insurance coverage for your child, special needs that your child may require, parental permission for emergency care, transportation by the facility, walks, and administration of first aid. This information must be updated every six months or when a change occurs.

Child Health Appraisal Form - This is a form for your child's physician to complete. We must have a complete record of your child's immunizations upon enrollment. Preschool children are required to have a Health Appraisal completed annually. School Age children must have a Health Appraisal every two years. We will not accept enrollment of any child who does not receive the recommended immunizations. This must be updated on a yearly basis.

Agreement Forms - The Agreement Form and its Addendum is a contract outlining our financial and scheduling agreements. You will receive copies of these documents.

CACFP Enrollment Form - Each child must have a completed Enrollment form for our food Program. This Form includes the child's schedule and the meals he will need.

Enrollment Supplement Form for Infants - this form determines the responsibility for providing infant formula as part of the CACFP.

Income Verification Form - This form contains information, which is the basis for our reimbursement form CACFP for the children's meals. All children enrolled in our program must have an income verification form completed and on file.