Derbyshire Preschool
Celebrating over 50 years of excellence, Derbyshire Preschool serves children from 6 months – Pre-Kindergarten. We'd love to share with you why so many families continue to choose Derbyshire as the nurturing preschool environment they want for their children. Please contact us if you have any questions, and check out our Facebook page. We look forward to meeting with you.
We will begin accepting online applications for the 2025-2026 School Year starting Monday, November 4th, 2024. You can access the online application on our website or through the mailing list beginning that day!
Tuition and Fees
Please see the Tuition & Fees flyer for the applicable school year you are considering.
$150 Application Fee + 10% Tuition Deposit due at time of enrollment (both non-refundable).
Philosophy and Curriculum
Philosophy
Derbyshire Preschool is a developmental program that nurtures children’s social-emotional, physical, intellectual, spiritual, and creative development. We strive to provide a loving and nurturing environment for children, parents, and staff wherein they can experience love, trust, acceptance, and achievement. Our goal at Derbyshire Preschool is to lay a foundation for a life-long love of learning, and to partner with families in the development of their children.
Curriculum
Our curriculum at Derbyshire Preschool is designed to actively engage children in hands-on, multi-sensory activities that are meaningful to them in their different stages in development. Developmentally-appropriate practice emphasizes that activities should be both challenging and achievable for children.
We use the award-winning, research-based Learning Without Tears curriculum for 2 year olds - PreKindergarten. Children are also introduced to "Mat Man," a fun character who teaches them key school readiness concepts in math, reading and writing using exciting fun music, manipulatives, and books. Strong literature provides the foundation for carefully planned activities that are often done in small groups where children have the opportunity to explore specific concepts with their teacher and peers.
We believe that play should be the center of a well-balanced curriculum, and provide children the opportunities to develop the necessary skills and knowledge essential for later school success -- opportunities for conflict resolution, problem solving, enhancing pro-social behaviors, and developing processing skills.
Our Staff
The teachers at Derbyshire Preschool are selected on the basis of classroom educational experience as well as personality, love for children, and ability to work effectively with young children. Our highly qualified staff is both experienced and well-educated, many having taught previously in Elementary Education. The curriculum is guided by their thorough understanding of how children learn and develop both intellectually and socially.
Classrooms
Classrooms are designed to meet the specific needs of each child. Our school has many classrooms for the children to explore, including a STREAM Lab, Discovery Room, Music Room, Multi-purpose Room for indoor recess and sports, a bike hall, and a "Wiggles and Giggles" room for our youngest Cherubs.
Derbyshire Preschool Programs
Cherub Infants • 6 Months to 12 Months
Our program is closely attuned to the predictable sequences of normal infant development in the areas of motor skills, language and communication, cognition, and socialization. Our Cherubs enjoy a music class taught by our own music teacher once a week, and play in our "Wiggles and Giggles" room to promote large motor development skills. Because of our low child-to-teacher ratio, plenty of time is allowed for holding and cuddling the children. At pick-up, teachers discuss with parents the foods their child has eaten, how long he or she has slept, his or her disposition and activity level, noted symptoms of illness or discomfort, special experiences during the day, and any extraordinary achievements such as a new word or a first step. We feel it is a great privilege to have the opportunity to share these precious moments with you and your child, so we celebrate milestones together!
Cherub Toddlers • 13 Months to 24 Months
Toddlers are those who are transitioning from infancy into toddler-hood. Our Toddlers have flexible schedules that include outdoor time, arts and crafts, learning with music, reading, as well as open playtime. This age group begins to explore their world through sensory experiences; they may play in a sand table, play with play dough, create an art project, or engage in various other experiences in which they can touch, smell, or hear. Music is taught weekly by our music teacher who introduces them to rhythm instruments, repetitive songs, classic rhymes, literature, and movement. Toddlers also enjoy our "Wiggles and Giggles" playroom that encourages large motor development.
Cherub Twos • 24 Months to 35 Months
Our 2-Year Old programs are designed for children between the ages of 24 to 35 months. Each of Derbyshire’s classrooms has its own bathroom, and for Twos, this is ideal for potty training! We maintain parents’ practices regarding potty training. When you think you and your child are ready to begin potty training, we will assist you in accomplishing this skill for your child.
In an effort to prepare children for our preschool program, Twos are introduced to center play where they experience learning in a dramatic play area, blocks center, library area, and experience sensory learning with sand, corn, play dough, etc. Twos also enjoy plenty of outdoor time right outside their classroom door on a large playground that features a large sandbox and climbing equipment as they demonstrate they are ready for a larger outdoor area.
Preschool • 3 Years to 5 Years
In our Preschool program, the primary emphasis is placed on cognitive skills. Our curriculum concentrates on pre-reading, reading, mathematics, science, creative arts, and music. Spiritual values are strongly promoted through exemplary interaction, prayers before meals, and bi-weekly chapel taught by Elizabeth Tuck, the Children and Families Ministries Director at Derbyshire Baptist Church.
Planned activities are used to reinforce the natural learning that is part of every activity in a child’s day. We encourage each child to learn by doing and experiencing in a safe and well-supervised environment. We use in-house field trips and other special opportunities to extend children’s knowledge of the world around them.
Pre-Kindergarten (PK)
Derbyshire Preschool's PK program will prepare a child fully for kindergarten. The curriculum concentrates on reading readiness, mathematics, art, music, science, writing, language development, and dramatic play. Our reading, mathematics, and science programs encourage problem solving, observation, and appreciation of the world around them. Learning Without Tears, as well as additional thematic units relevant to this age group are used to teach every class in the preschool. This program is comprehensive and will prepare your child for a successful future.
Art
We are very proud of our art program where each child can be inspired to create their own unique masterpieces. In addition to the art children create daily in classrooms, they are given the opportunity to learn more about famous artists and places in history.
Music
Music is taught once a week by our music teacher who introduces the children to rhythm instruments, songs, classic rhymes, literature, and creative movement. An Open House Spring Music Day and rising Kindergarten Graduation are planned for our preschoolers to show off their hard work. Collaboration between classroom teachers and the music teacher creates an environment for expanding their learning through music and reinforcing concepts taught each day.
STREAM • Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics
Our STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) Program utilizes hands-on activity learning about how things work and also exposing our Preschoolers to technology. The Preschoolers learn to work within small groups to have conversations about what they are experiencing and learning. Each Preschool class comes to the "STREAM Lab" to work on their projects, taught by our own STREAM leader once a week.
Wiggles and Giggles
Our Wiggles and Giggles Room is available to provide additional opportunities for large motor development utilizing various pieces of equipment including balance beams, slides, jumping dots, and large foam blocks. Each of these pieces of equipment is arranged on mats to provide the safe and fun environment for growth and exploration!
After-School Enrichment
We offer after-school programing for 3 year olds and up (potty-trained required) until 1:15 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Our Preschoolers have lunch with friends, and enjoy an activity with a vendor such as Pop, Hop & Rock and Soccer Shots.
Contact Derbyshire Preschool