EARLY CHILDHOOD
The Dunham Early Childhood Center (ECC) has been specially designed to meet the needs of two-year-olds and their families. Inspired by Reggio-Emilia, the ECC’s theme-based curriculum includes early literacy, phonics, math, science, technology, and gross motor skill development as well as explorations in Bible, music, movement, world languages, and art. The ECC program runs five days a week with 10- and 12-month options available.
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Early Childhood
What sets Dunham apart from other private preschool programs in Baton Rouge is our acknowledgment that every child is fearfully and wonderfully made. While our Early Childhood Center (ECC) for two-year-olds and our PreK3 and PreK4 classes are part of our Lower School division, we understand that our youngest learners have unique needs and have designed an early learning program that helps them learn and develop in all areas—intellectually, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
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SMALL CLASSES & CARING TEACHERS |
CONVENIENT LOCATION |
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Early Childhood FAQs
| Is there an application fee? |
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| Yes. A non-refundable $50 application fee must be submitted online with the Early Childhood application. |
| What is the birthday cut-off to enroll in the Early Childhood Center? |
| Children must turn two on or before August 1 to be eligible to enroll in the two-year-old program. |
| Does my child have to be screened prior to being accepted into the Early Childhood Center? |
| No. There are no screening or testing requirements for entry into our two-year-old program. |
| How many teachers and students per classroom? |
| The Dunham Early Childhood Center is small by design. There are only 10 children per classroom with a lead teacher and an assistant teacher. |
| What are the hours of operation, including early and late care? |
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The Dunham Early Childhood Center is open from 7:30 am – 6:00 pm Monday through Friday. Learning activities will begin at 8:00 am and conclude by 3:00 pm. There is no extra charge for early or late care. Families who do not need early or late care may arrive as late as 8:30 am and pick up as early as 3:00 pm. Early care is available from 7:30 am to 8:00 am. During this time, children will participate in self-selected activities in the classroom such as table-top activities, block play, library time, and more. |
| What are the carpool procedures? |
| Carpool runs from 7:30-8:00 am and 3:15-3:30 pm each day. Teachers are in the carpool line during these times to assist with drop-off and pick-up and ensure that children are safely transported to and from their classrooms. Parents who arrive before or after morning or afternoon carpool times will need to park and walk into the building to drop off or pick up their children. |
| I don't need aftercare. May I pick up my child before 6:00 pm? |
| Of course! Although early and late care are included at no extra charge, parents may pick up their children as early as 3:00 pm. |
| Is the Dunham Early Childhood Center open in the summer? |
| Yes. Families who need summer care may sign up for the 12-month program. |
| Are lunch and snacks provided? |
| Yes, snacks and a hot, nutritious lunch is served each day. There is no extra dining fee for lunch or snacks. |
| Does my child have to be potty-trained to attend? |
| No. Our staff assists students in the Early Childhood Center with toilet training during the school day. |
| Do Dunham Early Childhood Center students wear uniforms? |
| No. Children should wear comfortable clothes and closed-toed shoes. |
| WhAT IS THE TUITION FOR THE ECC? |
| Tuition for the 2024-2025 school year is $13,950 for 10 months (August to May) and $16,740 for 12 months (August to July). Families may pay monthly or annually. Tuition is all-inclusive; there are no extra fees for dining, technology, or early/late care. |
| Is tuition assistance available? |
| Tuition assistance is not available for the Dunham Early Childhood Center. |
| Are children enrolled in the Dunham Early Childhood Center automatically eligible for PreK-3 the following year? |
| No. ECC parents who would like their children to be considered for PreK-3 will be contacted in the fall to fill out a form giving our staff consent to conduct a PreK-3 assessment in the classroom. The screening fee is $50 and will be added to the student billing account. The screenings will take place during a normal school day, and the staff will communicate the results to parents. Students whose screenings indicate PreK-3 readiness will be issued a re-enrollment contract in December for the next school year. |
Families interested in applying to the Dunham Early Childhood Center should visit our online portal to submit an application.* You will be asked to create a username and password in order to save and submit your application. If you have any questions or need assistance, please email our office or call us at (225) 767-7097 ext. 324.
Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee placement in the two-year-old program. Space is limited with priority given to siblings, faculty, and alumni. Once your application is received, a member of our staff will contact you regarding space availability and the next steps in the admissions process.
Admissions Update: Due to overwhelming demand, we are no longer accepting applications for the 2024-2025 school year. Applications for the 2025-2026 school year are open.
*Please make sure you select Early Childhood Center as your child's entering grade to access the correct application.
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