A High-Quality Preschool Experience, Right Here in Southbridge
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
If you've spent any time trying to find a preschool in Wilmington, you already know it's harder than it should be. Delaware doesn't fund preschool the way it funds K-12. There's no universal program and no single place to apply.
What exists instead is a patchwork — district programs, private providers, Head Start, co-ops that ask parents to pitch in — each with its own funding stream and eligibility rules. School districts don't receive state per-pupil dollars for preschoolers without disabilities. Those seats are limited, and some districts fill them by lottery, leaving families who aren't selected without a spot.
One district administrator told Spotlight Delaware that she regularly has to turn parents away, and that some families pursue a disability evaluation to improve their child's odds. But getting a seat isn't the only barrier. Parents told the same publication they feel like they're working to pay for preschool, and that's its own kind of exhausting.
How We Do Preschool
Here’s what the process looks like at Neighborhood House. There's no lottery and usually no waitlist. If your family qualifies for Purchase of Care, all you need to do is make a phone call. Right now, we have openings.
What's waiting on the other end of that call is a member of our Early Care and Education team, someone who can tell you about our Preschool Program and its low child-to-teacher ratio. The classrooms stay small on purpose, so teachers have the time and energy they need to focus on the kids. This allows play to take center stage, which is how young children learn best.
On any given day, there are kids painting or coloring, putting puzzles together, building block towers, or figuring out how to share when everyone wants the same truck. Our approach to learning is built on a simple idea: when children follow their own curiosity, through hands-on play, they're building math, language, and problem-solving skills without even knowing it.
Of course, giving kids the freedom to explore what interests them doesn't mean it's a free-for-all. Our teachers use The Creative Curriculum to shape what’s being taught, and they track each child’s development with Teaching Strategies GOLD, an assessment system that turns everyday observations into a clear picture of how each child is doing.
A Partnership from Day One
Once enrolled, you won't be guessing about your child’s progress. You'll know what they’re working on and how they’re developing. In our experience, children do better when the adults in their lives are on the same page, pulling in the same direction.
"Every child deserves a strong beginning," says Rhodah Harrell, our Site Coordinator. "At the Neighborhood House Early Learning Center, we inspire curiosity, nurture confidence, and prepare children to become lifelong learners.”
If that’s the kind of start you want for your preschooler, call 302.654.1420 to get them signed up.
Here's a one-page flyer you can print, post, or share with someone.