We strive to provide a loving, caring, and safe environment in which all children are welcome to learn, work and play. Our staff members teach and model the basic Christian teachings of faith, hope, and love. We incorporate developmentally appropriate practice into our daily interactions with your children. We partner with our families and encourage your involvement in all of our programs. We always encourage family involvement and ask our parents to complete annual program surveys to help us maintain our quality of care.
Our mission is to foster the development of all children in our care physically, cognitively, emotionally, and spiritually. We want all children to know that they are loved by God and give them the opportunity to grow in His love on a daily basis.
All staff members of Little Lambs are enrolled in the MD State Child Care Credentialing Program at a level 3 or higher, which means they are maintaining a minimum of 18 hours of continuing education each year in areas of instruction across the Core of Knowledge Curriculum. We are also a Safe Sanctuary program, as dictated by the United Methodist Church's Book of Discipline. We employ their guidelines to safeguard against any abuse or mistreatment of children in our care.
Little Lambs provides full and part time educational programs to children ages 6 weeks through 12 years. We have infant/toddler care, preschool, and school age programs. We have before/after care as well as full day summer camp for our school ages children (ages 5-12).
Our Infant, Toddler, Twos, and Preschool I and II programs use the Investigator Club Curriculum, which is an MSDE approved curricula for these age groups. Our Preschool III and Extended Day programs use the MD State Children Study Their World Curriculum. All children will be assessed throughout the school year using MSDE approved assessment tools. Our PK4 classroom is using the Children Study Their World (CSW) curriculum developed and approved by MSDE.
Little Lambs Learning Center does serve children with diagnosed special needs, in accordance with doctor recommendations. We will work with therapists and local agencies to provide the best care we can, within our state mandated staff:child ratios. We will meet with parents on an individual basis to review the IFSP/IEP and make sure that we are doing all we can to help each child reach their developmental potential.
Children will engage in gross motor play for at least 30 minutes each morning and afternoon. Our playgrounds are separated by age groups (infants/preschool/school age). If we cannot go outside, we will take the children to the gym located in the Family Life Center for gross motor play.
According to MSDE: Children benefit from accreditation because their learning environments are exciting, positive, and growth-oriented. Parents of young children benefit from this process because their children are enrolled in learning environments that reflect the research and best practices of the field.
Little Lambs Learning Center is licensed and accredited through the Maryland Department of Education. Accreditation is re-evaluated on a regular basis to ensure that that our program continues to provide an excellent environment that promotes children’s health and education.
Maryland EXCELS stands for (EXcellence Counts in Early Learning and School-Age Care). It is a is a Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System. Childcare programs are evaluated and rated at a level from 1* to 5*. Little Lambs Learning Center is proud to be among a very few centers that are rated at a Level 5* in the Excels System. This means we provide the highest level of care and education available!
There is a non-refundable $100 registration fee due along with the registration form to enroll your child. If the class is full, this fee will secure your place on the waiting list. You will be contacted when a spot becomes available for your child. All required paperwork must be completed by parents and physicians and returned to the office to be processed a week prior to your child's start date.
Little Lambs participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) which is a federally granted* program. This program offers partial reimbursement for all meals and snacks served which meet the strict guidelines for nutritional value. We serve breakfast, lunch, and snack to all children enrolled.
All meals and snacks are prepared on site by our staff who are trained in all CACFP regulations and ServSafe guidelines. Menus are prepared weekly and posted on the parent board, as well as emailed out to families. We serve fresh fruit and vegetables each day for breakfast and lunch. We have limited the use of processed foods and sodium in our meals. Milk is served daily with breakfast and lunch, and snack 1-2 times per week. 100% fruit juice is served 1-2 times per week for snack.
Allergies and medically necessary dietary restrictions are accommodated in our menu planning process, provided we have a note from a doctor with specific instructions. Outside food and drink is not permitted.
Infants are offered house formula (parents are permitted to bring in breastmilk or other formula as well), cereal, and baby foods until children are ready to eat the food on our menus.
*In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, Little Lambs Learning Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.
11227 Racetrack Road
Berlin, Maryland 21811