Quality Early Childhood Education & Child Care
The Winsted Area Child Care Center, Inc. (WACCC) is a nationally accredited, state-licensed non-profit corporation that has delivered early childhood education to thousands of families since 1979. Just under fifty employees serve over 200 families in two facilities located in Winsted, Connecticut, USA. Our capacity on any one day is 186 children.
WACCC was the first early childhood education facility in the Community and only facility in Winsted to earn accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children or “NAEYC” in 1986. We are also a United Way recognized Agency and a School Readiness program.
We are the only early childhood education facility in Winsted that provides care for children ages six weeks to 12 years through the three programs we run: (1) Infant and Toddler, (2) School Readiness Preschool, and (3) Before and After School enrichment.
Our main site, which we refer to as the “Center,” hosts an infant and toddler program for up to 32 children ages six weeks to 36 months. This site also provides a school readiness preschool for up to 80 children three to five years of age. The school readiness program focuses on academic achievement and kindergarten preparation.
We refer to our second site as “BASE”: an acronym for Before and After School Education Program. It provides care before and after school hours for up to 74 school-age children ranging in age from five to 12. This program is also open during snow days, school vacations, and a full-time camp is offered during the summer.
Our Center hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 6:30 am to 5:30 pm. The Before and After School Education Program (BASE) provides services to children from Kindergarten through age 12 during the hours of 6:30 am to 9:00 am and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday. BASE is also open during school vacations and operates a summer program from 6:30 am to 6:00 pm from late June to the end of August.
Here are our highlights:
Everyone is welcome. Our program is proud to enroll children of all backgrounds and cultures. Our non-discriminatory policy states that all children are welcome, regardless of their race, financial standing, and developmental abilities, including the ability to be toilet trained. We believe that children should not be pushed to achieve this milestone and therefore offers changing facilities throughout the building, including one of our preschool rooms. WACCC has a moral obligation to serve all children, including those with special needs.
Healthy living is encouraged. We promote healthy living through exercise and gross motor activities, exploration of recreational interests, all-inclusive (non-adversarial/non-combative) games, and providing nutritional meals and snacks.
Education is part of the deal. We work with children on reading and writing, science, mathematics, social studies, and character development.
Playing is important. Because we we provide children with the chance to socialize with peers, we can help children develop their own tools necessary to develop strong conflict resolution skills, independent thinking and how to be assertive without being aggressive.
Children get fed. WACCC is proud to offer a CACFP approved food and nutrition program with the support of the United Way: offering breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack to families at no additional cost. Many of our families may not be able to afford these meals on their own. Likewise, it is uncertain that meals provided from home would be nutritious. By offering a food program, we can ensure that children from low-income families are provided with a hot and nutritious meal daily. Our nutrition program also provides children with a healthy social experience while building valuable self-help skills.
We connect parents with resources. When parents don’t know where to turn, they come to us to help find resources for their kids. Examples include:
Our diverse partnership with local agencies enables us to provide referrals to families in need. They include Northwest Center for Family Services and Mental Health, Department of Social Services, Child First, Birth to Three, Head Start, CHAMPS After School Enrichment Program, and EdAdvance.
We operate much like a family, working together to help young children achieve academic excellence and strengthen the family unit.
WACCC was the first early childhood education facility in the Community and only facility in Winsted to earn accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children or “NAEYC” in 1986. We are also a United Way recognized Agency and a School Readiness program.
We are the only early childhood education facility in Winsted that provides care for children ages six weeks to 12 years through the three programs we run: (1) Infant and Toddler, (2) School Readiness Preschool, and (3) Before and After School enrichment.
Our main site, which we refer to as the “Center,” hosts an infant and toddler program for up to 32 children ages six weeks to 36 months. This site also provides a school readiness preschool for up to 80 children three to five years of age. The school readiness program focuses on academic achievement and kindergarten preparation.
We refer to our second site as “BASE”: an acronym for Before and After School Education Program. It provides care before and after school hours for up to 74 school-age children ranging in age from five to 12. This program is also open during snow days, school vacations, and a full-time camp is offered during the summer.
Our Center hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 6:30 am to 5:30 pm. The Before and After School Education Program (BASE) provides services to children from Kindergarten through age 12 during the hours of 6:30 am to 9:00 am and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday. BASE is also open during school vacations and operates a summer program from 6:30 am to 6:00 pm from late June to the end of August.
Here are our highlights:
Everyone is welcome. Our program is proud to enroll children of all backgrounds and cultures. Our non-discriminatory policy states that all children are welcome, regardless of their race, financial standing, and developmental abilities, including the ability to be toilet trained. We believe that children should not be pushed to achieve this milestone and therefore offers changing facilities throughout the building, including one of our preschool rooms. WACCC has a moral obligation to serve all children, including those with special needs.
Healthy living is encouraged. We promote healthy living through exercise and gross motor activities, exploration of recreational interests, all-inclusive (non-adversarial/non-combative) games, and providing nutritional meals and snacks.
Education is part of the deal. We work with children on reading and writing, science, mathematics, social studies, and character development.
Playing is important. Because we we provide children with the chance to socialize with peers, we can help children develop their own tools necessary to develop strong conflict resolution skills, independent thinking and how to be assertive without being aggressive.
Children get fed. WACCC is proud to offer a CACFP approved food and nutrition program with the support of the United Way: offering breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack to families at no additional cost. Many of our families may not be able to afford these meals on their own. Likewise, it is uncertain that meals provided from home would be nutritious. By offering a food program, we can ensure that children from low-income families are provided with a hot and nutritious meal daily. Our nutrition program also provides children with a healthy social experience while building valuable self-help skills.
We connect parents with resources. When parents don’t know where to turn, they come to us to help find resources for their kids. Examples include:
- Referrals to address speech, occupational and physical therapy,
- Arranging for families in need of help around the holidays and throughout the year in collaboration with the Winsted Rotary Club, the United Way of Northwest Connecticut, and the Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut;
- Hosting annual clothing and toy swap for parents looking to temper the cost of clothing for quickly growing children.
- Hosting an annual giving tree provides holiday gifts to families in need, nurtured exclusively through donations.
Our diverse partnership with local agencies enables us to provide referrals to families in need. They include Northwest Center for Family Services and Mental Health, Department of Social Services, Child First, Birth to Three, Head Start, CHAMPS After School Enrichment Program, and EdAdvance.
We operate much like a family, working together to help young children achieve academic excellence and strengthen the family unit.
For more information on specific programs, curriculum, assessments, etc., please utilize the drop-down menu under the Program Information Tab.