Programs

Building the Best Tomorrows

Programs

Building the Best Tomorrows

Programs

Building the Best Tomorrows

At Excel Learning Centers (ELCs), we strive to develop trust with families and grow students into successful adults and role models for the next generation. As such, ELCs utilize the unified Creative Curriculum™ which offers a variety of educational activities specifically designed for your child’s individual age group. We also believe that children learn best through play and employ similar opportunities (e.g., dramatic play, playground time, puzzles, manipulatives) to focus on the whole child and strengthen each domain within.

ELCs offer programs for four distinct age groups: infant/toddler, preschool, NC Pre-K/Head Start and elementary. Throughout our programs, we teach children respect for others and their feelings; instruct on other cultures and ways of life; promote language skills, courtesy, patience, thanksgiving, and health practices; and encourage life long learning. ELCs also utilize a childcare app to give parents and caregivers a real-time peek into their child’s day. Stay connected by receiving updates about naps, meals, play, and learning activities via web, email, or text message, or communicate with teachers via web, mobile device, or smartphone.

Infants

Offering a strong start for babies, our ELC caregivers provide comfort, predictability and a nurturing environment. Babies develop their own schedules, so we make sure to follow their leads so they’re relaxed, supported, and engaged for these earliest days of learning.

  • A low infant-to-staff ratio from trained care providers offers consistent, loving attention
  • Educators engage babies via games of peek-a-boo, quiet time, singing, cuddling and movement
  • Teachers and staff are trained in CPR and First Aid

Toddlers

Full of energy and curiosity, our toddlers learn through everyday routines. The beginnings of independence, friendships, and skills-building are on full display, so our educators focus such inquisitiveness toward learning early language, math, science and other key building blocks.

  • Smaller, focused class sizes afford individual attention and care
  • Activities, both teacher- and child-directed, are focused on early literacy, physical expression/coordination, and creative thinking
  • Educators facilitate age-appropriate learning opportunities alongside social skill development

Preschool

Ninety percent of a child’s brain is developed by age five! That’s why preschool—with critically important cognitive, physical, and socio-emotional stimulation—impacts a child’s development long-term. Preschool helps produce:

  • Higher high school graduation rates
  • Reduced instances of crime or teen pregnancy
  • Greater socialization and earning potential throughout their lives

ELCs’ preschool program encourages these animated, imaginative three- to five-year-olds to think, connect, explore, question and learn well. This includes solving problems, resolving conflicts, playing cooperatively and developing independence.

  • Teachers help strengthen a lifelong love of learning through play and activities
  • Students develop language, literacy, numeracy and communication skills
  • Outside play hones gross motor skills and coordination
  • Group setting grows self-esteem, self-confidence and emotion management skills

NC Pre-K and Head Start

ELCs offer two different state-funded programs that support kids toward school readiness: North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten and Head Start.

  • NC Pre-K is designed to provide 4-year-olds who might not otherwise attend preschool with the opportunity to access educational curriculum and beneficial learning experiences
  • Head Start supports children ages 0-5 from families with low income by enhancing cognitive, social, and emotional development via language, literacy and other program basics
  • Both programs support emotional, health, language, physical, cognitive and social development

Junior Kindergarten

(4 years old to 5 years old)
This option is a great in-between step for students who:

  • Miss the state’s age cutoff
  • Are getting ready for Kindergarten or
  • Would benefit from differentiated curriculum prior to starting school

Offered at Excel locations 2 (17th Street, Wilmington) and 4 (601 N. 35th, Morehead), the Junior Inspectors Classroom focuses on math, science, early literacy, writing and social skills to prepare children for Kindergarten—and the rest of their schooling career. Students in the Junior Inspectors Classroom will:

  • Gain critical academic building blocks that align with state learning standards
  • Grow their social-emotional, developmental, and school readiness skills

Learn more about our Junior Inspectors Program (PDF) »

Elementary

ELCs offer a safe, organized, and supervised environment for school-aged students that takes a child-initiated, child-led approach to learning. This means children get to challenge and extend their thinking (and others’) to create new knowledge in collaborative interactions.

  • Homework support and technology access keep kids learning strong
  • Learning and experiences come to life through stories, photos and other creative outlets
  • Special excursions infuse excitement into routines, while Summer Programs incorporate hands-on activities and fun-filled “vacations” for school-agers

Summer Camp

Excel Summer Camp is an exciting adventure of activities, field trips, special visitors, and much more all summer long!

From our tiniest infant campers to our more seasoned school age campers, we provide full day programming in a fun camp-like setting to keep children engaged and active!

Enroll your child in one of our summer programs for the perfect combination of physical activity and learning opportunities such as:

  • water-play and sprinkler fun
  • cooking projects
  • science experiments
  • book clubs
  • special center visitors and programs
  • field trips and theme activities