Early Education

Small Wonders Daycare provides a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. The program operates an infant room, a toddler room, and multiple integrated preschool classrooms. Children participate in activities that promote early literacy, math, and social skills while preparing for kindergarten. The program also includes FREE breakfast, lunch, an afternoon snack, and access to an outdoor playground and indoor gym.

Hours of operation 7:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. weekdays.

Click HERE to see the daycare calendar.

Open to all families; availability may vary based on age group. Childcare subsidies are accepted for the cost of daycare.

Applications are available at the Early Education Center at 960 Salt Springs Road, Syracuse.
To schedule a tour or for more information, please email us at earlyed@elmcrest.org.

Please complete the Parent Referral Form and submit it to earlyed@elmcrest.org.

Our classrooms are diverse and inclusive, welcoming all children into a supportive learning environment. Learning takes place through play, using a developmentally appropriate approach enriched with engaging materials. Daily activities are thoughtfully planned to be fun, interactive, and hands-on, fostering creativity and encouraging curiosity in learning.

Each classroom provides dedicated spaces for dramatic play, sensory play, block play, creative art, and writing centers. Children also have access to literacy and math materials, as well as fine motor manipulatives. Classrooms designed for younger children include developmentally appropriate cause-and-effect toys and materials to support their early learning experiences.

Elmcrest partners with the Syracuse City School District to provide free Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) for eligible 3- and 4-year-olds who reside in the school district. Our UPK program follows the Syracuse City School District curricula to help children develop critical thinking skills, cognitive skills, language skills, pre-literacy skills, and motor skills, as well as to facilitate their social-emotional growth. Our goal is for children in our UPK program to enter kindergarten with the necessary skills for success!

Children in our UPK program may be eligible to extend the day by enrolling in wrap-around daycare at the Center, for care that is available until 5pm on school days and all day on school breaks. See Small Wonders Daycare for more information about our daycare component of the Center.

The program also includes FREE breakfast and lunch, and access to an indoor gym and outdoor playground

Hours of operation for UPK:  8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., according to our UPK School Calendar

Click here to see the UPK program calendar.

Children must be 3 or 4 years old by December 1^st of the upcoming school year. Only children who are residents of the City of Syracuse are eligible for the free UPK program.

To be eligible to enroll, families must first complete an online application through the Syracuse City School District’s Early Childhood Program and select Elmcrest as their preferred location.

To schedule a tour or for more information, please contact us at 315-446-3220 or email us at earlyed@elmcrest.org.

Our classrooms are diverse and inclusive, welcoming all children into a supportive learning environment. Learning takes place through play, using a developmentally appropriate approach enriched with engaging materials. Daily activities are thoughtfully planned to be fun, interactive, and hands-on, fostering creativity and encouraging curiosity in learning.

Each classroom provides dedicated spaces for dramatic play, sensory play, block play, creative art, and writing centers. Children also have access to literacy and math materials, as well as fine motor manipulatives. Classrooms designed for younger children include developmentally appropriate cause-and-effect toys and materials to support their early learning experiences.

SPICE provides full-day special education services for preschool children with developmental delays or disabilities in six early education classrooms. These classrooms serve children in mixed-age groups, where children at all levels of development are in classrooms together with a high level of teacher support. There are two different models of classroom at SPICE:

• Our program Social Worker offers specialized support for families with monthly parent groups as well as having training in The PLAY Project Autism Intervention and AutPlay^® Therapy, both evidenced-based play-based interventions for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)/Neurodivergence.
• We have a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) on our team who offers ongoing educational and behavioral support for our Special Class rooms. The BCBA also provides consultation and support to other classrooms in the building as needed.

All children attend the SPICE program for 5 hours per day, on a school schedule. Our high ratio of adults to children offers children the opportunity for more adult interaction and attention. Each child is given the support they need to learn and grow in an inclusive or special class setting.

The program also includes FREE breakfast and lunch, and access to an indoor gym and outdoor playground.

Children in SPICE also receive special education services in accordance with their school district Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Therapy services offered at SPICE include on-site speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, and social work. Our program social worker provides support and information for all families in SPICE as needed, from the very beginning stages of enrollment to the transition to Kindergarten.

In addition, families may have access to some specialized resources that are unique to our program:

• Add something on the Play Autism/AutPlay info from Shelly  
• We have a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) on staff who provides consistent educational and behavioral support for our special class rooms, as well as for other classrooms in the building as needed.

SPICE is available for children who reside in Onondaga County, Madison County, or Oswego County.

Hours of operation for SPICE:  8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., according to a school calendar

Click here to see the SPICE and UPK program calendar.

This program is available for 3-year-old and 4-year-old children who have received a preschool evaluation through local school district Committees on Preschool Special Education (CPSE). Children must be approved through their home school district’s Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) to qualify for a Full Day special education preschool program. Once approved, families may contact our program to inquire about openings, schedule a tour, and learn more about the SPICE program.

For more information please contact us at 315-446-3220.

Our classrooms are diverse and inclusive, welcoming all children into a supportive learning environment. Learning takes place through play, using a developmentally appropriate approach enriched with engaging materials. Daily activities are thoughtfully planned to be fun, interactive, and hands-on, fostering creativity and encouraging curiosity in learning.

Each classroom provides dedicated spaces for dramatic play, sensory play, block play, creative art, and writing centers. Children also have access to literacy and math materials, as well as fine motor manipulatives. Classrooms designed for younger children include developmentally appropriate cause-and-effect toys and materials to support their early learning experiences.

The Northside Early Education Center offers daycare for children ages 18 months to 5 years. Children engage in a nurturing and developmentally appropriate learning environment in our toddler rooms and preschool rooms, which promote early literacy skills, math skills, and social-emotional skills to prepare children for kindergarten. The program includes FREE breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack, along with fun activities on our playground.

Hours of operation: 7:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. weekdays

Click HERE to see the daycare calendar.

Daycare is open to all families; availability may vary based on age group. Childcare subsidies are accepted for the cost of daycare.

Applications are available at the Northside Early Education Center at 516 Prospect Ave in Syracuse. To schedule a tour or for more information, please contact us at (315)-477-0780 or northsideearlyed@elmcrest.org.

Please complete the Parent Referral Form and submit it to northsideearlyed@elmcrest.org

Our classrooms are diverse and inclusive, welcoming all children into a supportive learning environment. Learning takes place through play, using a developmentally appropriate approach enriched with engaging materials. Daily activities are thoughtfully planned to be fun, interactive, and hands-on, fostering creativity and encouraging curiosity in learning.

Each classroom provides dedicated spaces for dramatic play, sensory play, block play, creative art, and writing centers. Children also have access to literacy and math materials, as well as fine motor manipulatives. Classrooms designed for younger children include developmentally appropriate cause-and-effect toys and materials to support their early learning experiences.

Northside has a special collaboration with Head Start for a limited number of children to dually enroll in Head Start while also attending our daycare. We have both Early Head Start spots in our toddler room and Head Start spots in our preschool room. Early Head Start provides services that support early learning and development, health, and family well-being, beyond what is offered through daycare. Regular developmental assessments are included in the program. A Head Start Family Worker is located at the center and is available to meet with families for resources or support as needed. Families of children enrolled in our daycare and Head Start also receive extra resources, such as free diapers and wipes while at the center, special events, and more.

Please refer to the Northside Daycare section for more information about the center.

Interested families must enroll in daycare at the center to be eligible for Head Start spots. Families may already be approved for Head Start before coming to our center or can apply to Head Start while at our center.

Eligibility is income-based and completed through Head Start. Click here for more information. 

For questions or more information, please contact us at (315)-477-0780 or e. northsideearlyed@elmcrest.org.

Our classrooms are diverse and inclusive, welcoming all children into a supportive learning environment. Learning takes place through play, using a developmentally appropriate approach enriched with engaging materials. Daily activities are thoughtfully planned to be fun, interactive, and hands-on, fostering creativity and encouraging curiosity in learning.

Each classroom provides dedicated spaces for dramatic play, sensory play, block play, creative art, and writing centers. Children also have access to literacy and math materials, as well as fine motor manipulatives. Classrooms designed for younger children include developmentally appropriate cause-and-effect toys and materials to support their early learning experiences.

Elmcrest partners with the Syracuse City School District to provide free Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) for eligible 3- and 4-year-olds who reside in the school district. Our UPK program follows the Syracuse City School District curricula to help children develop critical thinking skills, cognitive skills, language skills, pre-literacy skills, and motor skills, as well as to facilitate their social-emotional growth. Our goal is for children in our UPK program to enter kindergarten with the necessary skills for success!

The program includes FREE breakfast and lunch, along with fun activities on our playground.

Children in our UPK program may be eligible to extend the day by enrolling in wrap-around daycare at the Center, for care that is available until 5pm on school days and all day on school breaks. See the Northside Daycare section for more information about our daycare component of the Center.

Hours of operation for UPK:  8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., according to our UPK School Calendar

Click HERE to see the Northside UPK School Calendar.

Children must be 3 or 4 years old by December 1^st of the upcoming school year. Only children who are residents of the City of Syracuse are eligible for the free UPK program.

To be eligible to enroll, families must first complete an online application through the Syracuse City School District’s Early Childhood Program and select Elmcrest Northside as their preferred location.

To schedule a tour or for more information, please contact us at (315)-477-0780 or email us at northsideearlyed@elmcrest.org.

Our classrooms are diverse and inclusive, welcoming all children into a supportive learning environment. Learning takes place through play, using a developmentally appropriate approach enriched with engaging materials. Daily activities are thoughtfully planned to be fun, interactive, and hands-on, fostering creativity and encouraging curiosity in learning.

Each classroom provides dedicated spaces for dramatic play, sensory play, block play, creative art, and writing centers. Children also have access to literacy and math materials, as well as fine motor manipulatives. Classrooms designed for younger children include developmentally appropriate cause-and-effect toys and materials to support their early learning experiences.

The SPICE (Special Preschool Interventions for Children’s Education) Program provides special education services for preschool children with developmental delays or disabilities. This half-day program operates a 2.5-hour morning session and a 2.5-hour afternoon session, and is offered in collaboration with the East Syracuse Minoa School District PreK program at Park Hill School. SPICE classrooms follow an inclusive model, integrating children with and without special needs.

Children in this program receive services in accordance with their school district Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Therapy services offered at SPICE include on-site speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and counseling. Our program social worker also provides support and information for families as needed.  

SPICE at Park Hill is available for children who reside in Onondaga County, Madison County, or Oswego County.

Hours of operation:

• Morning session 9:00am – 11:30am
• Afternoon session 12:30pm – 3:00pm

Click here to see the SPICE at Park Hill School Calendar:

This program is available for 3-year-old and 4-year-old children who have received a preschool evaluation through local school district Committees on Preschool Special Education (CPSE). Children must be approved through their home school district’s Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) to qualify for a half-day special education preschool program. Once approved, families may contact our program to inquire about openings, schedule a tour, and learn more about SPICE at Park Hill.

For more information please contact us at (315) 434-3805.

Our classrooms are diverse and inclusive, welcoming all children into a supportive learning environment. Learning takes place through play, using a developmentally appropriate approach enriched with engaging materials. Daily activities are thoughtfully planned to be fun, interactive, and hands-on, fostering creativity and encouraging curiosity in learning.

Each classroom provides dedicated spaces for dramatic play, sensory play, block play, creative art, and writing centers. Children also have access to literacy and math materials, as well as fine motor manipulatives. Classrooms designed for younger children include developmentally appropriate cause-and-effect toys and materials to support their early learning experiences.