Dakota Learn & Play Child Care Center
About DL&P CCC
The Dakota Learn & Play Child Care Center is operated by the Dakota School District and is a DCFS licensed facility serving children age 3–10 years. (Children must be toilet trained) The center has been awarded a silver circle of quality through ExceleRate Illinois. This award means the Dakota Learn & Play Child Care Center has gone above and beyond the necessary requirements to ensure high standards for your child's first school experience.
The Dakota Learn & Play staff realizes the uniqueness and importance of each child. Children are encouraged to express themselves through our child oriented study units. Our preschool curriculum is based on the Illinois Early Learning Standards and Creative Curriculum. We encourage growth through group and individual activities to further each child's development physically, mentally, cognitively, emotionally, and socially. It is our goal to prepare your child for success upon entering elementary school.
The center is located in Room 1 of the Dakota Elementary School. Programs offered include preschool, full- and part-time child care, and before- and after-school care. The center is open from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Preschool classes are offered Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
The Dakota Learn & Play Child Care Center is open year round, but closes for 2 weeks in August for cleaning and maintenance. Enrollment is open to children of any school district. The center is funded with the tuition parents pay to have their children attend. We do accept state subsidized payments for eligible families. Information about the state-subsidized child care assistance program is available from the director or at www.ywcanwil.org/child-care-solutions/. We also offer the Grace Mueth Memorial Preschool Scholarship for a child age 3-5 years to attend preschool. The scholarship covers 50% of the monthly preschool tuition. An application for the scholarship is available from the director.
Yearly registration is held each March, but new clients may register at any time if we are not at full capacity. Names can be put on our waiting list if openings are not available. For more information about the Dakota Learn & Play Child Care Center, please call Melissa McAloon at 1-844-632-5682, ext. 271, or email mmcaloon@dakota201.com.