El Nidito
Early Childhood Education
El Nidito / The Little Nest
The Family Center/La Familia is proud to offer El Nidito, our state licensed, Colorado Shines rated, Early Care and Education (ECE) Program for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years.
At El Nidito we believe that all children are unique and valuable, deserve respect, and to feel a sense of belonging. Children develop socially, physically, emotionally and cognitively through positive relationships, intentional learning environments, and child and staff directed learning. We offer the opportunity for children to learn and grow in a way that is appropriate to their development through a strength and play-based approach to joyful and engaged learning.
All children bring multiple assets to the program as unique individuals and as members of families and communities. Embracing the center’s core values of trust, compassion, diversity, equity, inclusion and love, our experienced educators build on each child’s strengths to help all children achieve their full potential.
Community-Based Early Care and Education
El Nidito offers high quality, tuition-based ECE for children ages 6-weeks through 5-years. The program is open year-round, Monday- Friday from 7:30 am – 5:30 pm with the exception of holidays and in-service days. To increase families’ access to ECE, El Nidito offers sliding scale tuition assistance and accepts the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP).
Early Head Start
Offered in partnership with Poudre School District (PSD), Early Head Start (EHS) is a program that serves infants and toddlers under the age of 3, providing cost-free early care and education at El Nidito for qualifying families. Early Head Start provides early, continuous, intensive and comprehensive child development and family support services. El Nidito currently offers the only center-based Early Head Start programming in Larimer County. Families can find more information about qualifying factors and the application process on PSD’s Early Childhood Education website.
Universal Pre-K
Universal Preschool (UPK) Colorado ensures that every child in the year before they are eligible for kindergarten is eligible for up to half-day (15 hours) of state-funded, voluntary preschool beginning in the 2023-24 school year. El Nidito offers UPK with extended day options for qualifying 4-5 year olds. Families with eligible children, can apply now for UPK Colorado.
Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP):
The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) helps families that are homeless, working, searching for work or in school find low-income child care assistance. Families that are enrolled in the Colorado Works Program can also use CCCAP services. Get more information and apply here.
Sliding Scale / Scholarships:
We provide sliding scale rates and scholarships for families in need of financial assistance. Please reach out to info@thefamilycenterfc.org for more information.
Tuition Information:
Discount of 10% for additional children in care. Annual registration fee is $50.00 for the first child, $25.00 for the second child and $10.00 for each additional child.
Wait List
Thank you for your interest in the El Nidito Early Care and Education program. Due to an overwhelming number of waitlist requests, we are only able to add expecting families to our waitlist at this time. Please continue to check our website for updates to this situation.
For expecting families, once you have completed the online submission form, your information will be added to our waitlist and you will be contacted if a spot becomes available that meets your request.
Adding your name to the waitlist does not guarantee a spot.
*All children must be fully immunized – only medical exemptions are accepted.
El Nidito Forms
Complete these forms prior to your child’s start date and return them to the office in-person, by mail or email. If you are a current family, we have compiled additional forms you may need throughout the year. If you have any questions about our forms, our team is always available to provide the answers you need.
Every child deserves high-quality care and education.
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