Preschool Childcare

The Bedford YMCA has a full day Preschool program for children ages 2 ½ through 5 years of age and is a licensed “Success by Six” provider. High reach learning curriculum is used in our program and we also offer swim lessons for the preschool children. Swim lessons are included in the weekly fee.

Our goal is to make this a happy and safe environment for your child that prepares them for kindergarten and beyond. Nationally, the YMCA is the largest, non-profit child-care provider with a history of stability built on Christian principles and values. Our services extend throughout the community reaching children of varied ethnic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.

The Bedford Area Family YMCA is committed to building strong children, strong families and strong communities. The Pre-School Daycare will provide support by assisting families with childcare services in an environment that is nurturing, challenging, safe and fun.

The YMCA PRESCHOOL program is based on the belief that preschoolers learn best by doing. Learning isn’t just repeating what someone else says; it requires active thinking and experimenting to find out how things work and to learn first-hand about the world we live in.

The YMCA PRESCHOOL program is a balance of child-and teacher-directed lessons focusing on skills and activities that are relevant and age-appropriate. The skills that we focus on each week fall into 6 categories:

1. Language skills
2. Perceptual skills
3. Problem solving skills
4. Memory skills
5. Gross motor skills
6. Fine motor skills

Preschool Rates:
$25 registration fee
$100 per week for full day care
Financial Assistance Available
Possible Part Time Positions, for more information contact:
Kelly Longstreet, Director of Preschool Childcare

Preschool Childcare Hours of Operation:
All yeah, full time childcare
7:00am - 6:00pm
Monday - Friday
Closed majoe holidays: (Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, day after Thanksgiving, week of Christmas to include Christmas Eve and New Years Day, Memorial Day and July 4th)
In most cases we follow Bedford County Schools inclement weather guidelines, but please check our website and local TV stations for accurate information.

The Bedford YMCA has several before and after school programs all over the county. Sites with before and after school include: Body Camp Elementary, Goodview Elementary, Stewartsville Elementary, and the YMCA. Sites with after school only include Forest Elementary and New London Academy. Children ages 5-12 are welcome in any of our programs. Programs include homework time, games, crafts, outdoor play, and a nutritious snack each afternoon. Registration is at the school during our program hours.

Program Hours:

Before School: 6:30am – 8:00am
After School: 2:30pm – 6:00pm

Weekly payment is due by 6:00 p.m. Monday the week of care.

The Bedford Area Family YMCA charges by the week. If a child attends one day of child care the charge is still by the week. The only exception to this is when two or more snow days occur in a given week or there are two or more scheduled days off in a given week due to holidays.

Please inform the staff at the site via the cell phone or calling the school office if your child/children will be absent due to illness.

With the help from The United Way of Central Virginia and JC Penney, financial assistance is available. ALL paperwork must be completed and attached before it will be reviewed.

For more information, please contact the Bedford Area Family YMCA at 540-586-3483.

The staff of the Bedford YMCA child care programs are the most important part of the child’s experience. Our top-notch staff includes college students, teachers, and other professionals. They are enthusiastic, mature, caring individuals selected on the basis of education skills, experience, personal warmth and the ability to relate to children.

Since our curriculum allows for the development of the individual, we will be able to “individualize” learning for those children who already have the needed skills, so that we can match their speed of learning and not allow them to become bored with the classroom.

The Bedford YMCA child care programs encourage children ages 2 to 13 years of age to attend. We do provide toilet training. The YMCA will address physically challenged and special needs children on a per request basis with the hope that we can serve all children who come to us. The Bedford YMCA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its personnel or admissions policies.

With the help of the United Way, the YMCA is able to provide FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE based on the ability to pay. This requires completing a scholarship application accompanied by proof of income. (No less than two check stubs and a copy of your most recent year’s W-2 forms). You must pay the stated amount granted on a timely basis or the assistance may be canceled. All scholarships are based on the availability of scholarship funds. Scholarships must be applied for biannually with updated information given each time of re-application.

Child Care Parent Handbook 2008-2009
Child Care Forms 2008-2009