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Elmcrest Early Education Programs

Early Education at Elmcrest


Elmcrest Children’s Center offers high-quality early education programs at three locations in Syracuse and East Syracuse, serving over 200 children.

Our programs provide a nurturing and enriching environment for children from infancy through preschool, including:

  • Daycare
  • Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK)
  • Early Head Start
  • Special Education Services (SPICE)

Each location is designed to meet the unique needs of children and families, with programs tailored to support early learning, social development, and school readiness.

  • Elmcrest Early Education Center: Small Wonders Daycare, UPK, and SPICE
  • Northside Early Education Center: Daycare, UPK and Head Start
  • SPICE at Park Hill: SPICE
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The Elmcrest Early Education Center

Located on Elmcrest’s main campus at 960 Salt Springs Road, Syracuse, NY 13224, the Elmcrest Early Education Center offers high-quality early childhood programs designed to support children’s growth, development, and school readiness. Serving infants through preschoolers, the center provides Small Wonders Daycare, Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK), and SPICE, a specialized preschool education program for children with developmental needs. Each program fosters a nurturing environment where children can learn, explore, and thrive. For more information, please contact: (315) 446-3220

Small Wonders Daycare

General Information

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:

Eligibility & Enrollment

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 contact us at (315) 446-3220 e. general@elmcrest.org.

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

Classrooms & Curriculum

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.

Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK)

General Information

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.

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:

Eligibility & Enrollment

Children must be 3 or 4 years old by December 1st 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 (new email)

Classrooms & Curriculum

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 (Special Preschool Interventions for Children’s Education)

General Information

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:

  • Inclusive classrooms with children who are enrolled in the daycare and/or UPK component of our program, called “Special Class Integrated Setting (SCIS)”, with up to 15 children in the class;
  • “Special Class” rooms, for children with a high level of need who may be more successful in a smaller, more structured, and less stressful classroom environment; this classroom runs with only 6 children with special needs and a higher level of educational support.

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.

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:

Eligibility & Enrollment

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.

Classrooms & Curriculum

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.

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Northside Early Education Center

The Northside Early Education Center located at 516 Prospect Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13208, provides a diverse early childhood learning environment for children ages 18 months to 5 years.

The Center offers daycare, Early Head Start enrollment for toddlers, and free Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) in partnership with the Syracuse City School District. Focused on early literacy, math, and social skills, the programs aim to guide children toward a strong foundation for kindergarten and beyond. For more information, please contact: (315) 446-3220

Daycare for Children 18 Months to 5 Years

General Information

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 that focuses on early literacy, math, and social skills. The program includes breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack, along with fun and fitness activities on our playground.

Eligibility & Enrollment

Open to all families with children between 18 months and 5 years of age. Childcare subsidies may be available for qualifying families.

Families must receive approval from their local CPSE before enrolling in SPICE.

  • For information on the full-day program, please contact us at (315) 446-3220
  • For information on the half-day program, please contact us at (315) 434-3805

Classrooms & Curriculum

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.

Early Head Start Enrollment for Toddlers

General Information

The Northside Early Education Center offers Early Head Start enrollment for toddlers, focusing on comprehensive early education services. Early Head Start promotes healthy growth, cognitive development, and emotional well-being, offering personalized care and support for toddlers.

Eligibility & Enrollment

Eligibility requirements may vary, for more information, please contact us at (315) 446-3220 e. general@elmcrest.org.

Classrooms & Curriculum

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.

Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK)

General Information

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 City of Syracuse. UPK focuses on early learning, kindergarten readiness, and social development. The program runs from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and includes breakfast and lunch.

Eligibility & Enrollment

Children must be 3 or 4 years old by the district’s cutoff date and reside in the City of Syracuse.

Families must apply online through the Syracuse City School District’s Early Childhood Program and select Elmcrest Northside as their preferred location. [LINK]

To schedule a tour or for more information, please contact us at (315) 446-3220 e. GENERAL@elmcrest.org.

Classrooms & Curriculum

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.

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SPICE at Parkhill

Located in East Syracuse Minoa (ESM) School District’s Park Hill School at 303 Roby Ave., East Syracuse, NY 13057, the SPICE at Park Hill program offers a high-quality early childhood program designed to support children’s growth, development, and school readiness.

This Half-Day (2.5 hour) pre-K program serves preschoolers in a setting that provides a preschool special education program for children with developmental needs alongside ESM UPK preschoolers without developmental needs. It fosters a nurturing environment where children can learn, explore, and thrive together. For more information, please contact: (315) 446-3220

General Information

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:

Eligibility & Enrollment

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.

Classrooms & Curriculum

Our classrooms are

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Our Staff

Our dedicated staff deeply understand child development and are committed to meeting the individual needs of every child. With a genuine love for children and a passion for nurturing growth, our team helps build the foundational skills needed for lifelong success.

In our infant and toddler rooms, our highly qualified teachers specialize in the unique and ever-changing developmental needs of our youngest learners, providing a warm and supportive environment.

In our preschool rooms, our certified early childhood teachers bring expertise and enthusiasm to every lesson, creating an engaging and enriching experience that sets the stage for a bright future.