Safety

WE REMAINED OPEN DURING COVID-19
Elmhurst Premier Childcare has demonstrated we know how to provide the safest, cleanest educational childcare even during the most difficult of times. We made the decision to obtain emergency licensing and stay open throughout the shut down.

During a time of concern and unknowns, our Directors stay up to date and in close communication with our DCFS licensing rep, the DuPage County Health Dept and our Nurse.  This ongoing and close communication allows EPC to always have the most current CDC guidelines, local and state guidelines and our licensing requirements which help us maintain the safest environment for our children and staff.

Elmhurst Premier Childcare center implemented additional and enhanced procedures that help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

• Only staff and enrolled children are allowed inside the center.  Deliveries are dropped in the vestibule.
• Reduction of teacher-student ratios and elimination of combined classrooms.
• Temperature checks for all staff, children and parents during drop off.
• Limited drop off and pick up to one family inside the vestibule at a time.
• Increased frequency of hand washing.
• Frequent laundering of sheets and blankets used during naptime.
• Increased sanitation and disinfecting of touched surfaces and toys, including dishwashing at high temperatures for toys.
• Playground time is limited to one classroom at a time.
• UV sanitation stations in EVERY classroom for coats, hats, shoes, etc prior to wearing in a classroom or center.
• Continuous health and safety training, including CPR and first aid for all staff.
• Requiring children to remain at home for any signs of illness, including fever, and remain at home until fever free for no less than 24 hours.
• Teachers utilize face shields(facial communication is key for young children)

We have had to alter our hours, due to covid: Monday through Friday 7:30-5:30.  Regular hours are 6:30am-6:30pm Monday through Friday.

We are currently accepting CCAP families during Covid-19.

We accept children ages 6 weeks to 5 years.

We offer flexible full time, part time and hourly care and are offering tours via zoom to discuss an option that meets your family's scheduling needs.

Upon a family being fully enrolled, with all required paperwork on file, YES, drop in/hourly reservations are accepted.

We cannot allow any outside food, per DCFS and the DuPage County Health Department for children ages 15 months and older.  Parents provide food for infants rooms(6 weeks up until 15 months).  

Due to food allergies, Elmhurst Premier Childcare requests that only non food items be brought in to celebrate your child's birthday.  If you'd like to send in items, stickers are always a fun addition, along with birthday hats, etc are suggested.

We are closed the following holidays:

New Year's Day

Memorial Day(we encourage all of our families to walk with us in the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce Memorial Day Parade)

July 4

Labor Day

Thanksgiving Day

Day After Thanksgiving

Christmas Day

Early Closings:

Christmas Eve

New Year's Eve

Elmhurst Premier Childcare does not follow the Elmhurst School District 205 calendar.  We do our very best to remain open, unless we have severe weather conditions, we are open year round.  

 As a childcare provider, our eco friendly design includes low VOC paint, all equipment is made from sustainable, eco friendly wood(see Community Playthings), our supplies are eco friendly or organic, including crayons, markers and paint.  Natural branches are used to display artwork and decor throughout the classrooms with naturally derived accessories.  You'll see non live plants throughout our center, helping reduce toxins and helps bring nature indoors and improve our indoor air quality.  

Our radiant heated floors reduce toxins in the air and help keep our friends warm and toasty in the winter months.  We are very proud of this feature as we are one of the first, if not, the first childcare center, in our state to invest in heated flooring for our infant and toddlers!  

We believe, to date, we are the only childcare center that utilizes radiant heated floors in our infant and toddler rooms.   We only serve organic and natural foods, non GMO, grass fed meats and poultry and organic milk at our center.

Recycling bins are in our classrooms and throughout our center.  We also made the deicison to include recycling pick up along with our weekly trash.  Rain Barrels will be installed soon and we will continue to work towards creating a more sustainable childcare center for our children and teachers.

The first years of a child's life are critical to shaping their future and development. The quality of the environment you provide is crucial to this development.  We believe in creating a safer, greener environment in all we are doing and will continue to do.

We are currently accepting Childcare assistance, or CCAP during Covid-19 state restrictions. 

"Eco-Healthy Child Care® (EHCC) is a national program that partners with child care professionals to eliminate environmental health hazards found in or around child care facilities. These hazards can adversely impact children’s health."   Our center must comply with at least 24/30 environmentally healthy best practices.

Yes, we will occasionally close for training days for our teachers.  Dcfs and Elmhurst Premier does require teachers to attend ongoing training.  In the event we need to close the center either early or for a day, parents will be notified 2 weeks or more in advance.

Elmhurst Premier Childcare DOES offer special family and center events throughout the year!!  Please check with our center directly for details.