The Educare Denver school located on the Clayton Early Learning campus is a state-of-the-art early learning environment for children from birth through age five. Our classrooms are staffed with highly trained early childhood education professionals who partner with parents to support the optimal development of their children. In addition to early childhood care and education, enrollment in school-based programs at Clayton includes comprehensive family services, including the assignment of a Child Family Educator (CFE) who helps families identify strengths, define services and supports needed, set goals, and connect families to additional support service providers. Part of the Educare Learning Network, an early childhood education system nationally recognized for excellence, Clayton offers a variety of school-based enrollment options:

School-based, full-year – Full-day center-based early care and preschool at Clayton’s Educare school. The school has 12 Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms that serve children from birth to age 5. The school operates 5 days per week for 12 months a year and is open from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm.

School-based, 9 month – Similar to the 12-month option described above, this full-day program takes place at Clayton’s Educare school with four Head Start classrooms. It operates 5 days per week, September through May, and is open from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm.

Clayton’s home-based early childhood professionals bring high-quality learning programs directly to families for whom participation at a school-based program may be difficult. Families enrolled in home-based programs are assigned a Child Family Educator (CFE) who works directly with parents and children in their homes. Weekly home visits with a CFE empower parents in the role of their child's first and most important teachers. Small groups of children, parents, and their CFE also attend monthly group socializations where families learn new ways to prepare children for success in school. Clayton offers a variety of home-based enrollment options:

Prenatal Program: A healthy pregnancy has a direct influence on the health and development of a child. Mothers and families enrolled in the prenatal program receive weekly home visits from their assigned Child Family Educator (CFE), offering health and nutrition counseling, breastfeeding consultation, socialization opportunities, and a wide range of resource referrals. Services are extended through the child's first months of life, providing the best opportunity for healthy pregnancies, positive childbirth outcomes, supportive postpartum care for the parents and child, while enhancing parent-child attachments and empowering parents as confident, nurturing, and responsive caregivers.

Early Head Start for children birth to age three. Families meet with their Child Family Educator at weekly home visits where caregivers learn how to promote learning at home and gain confidence as their child's most important teacher. In addition to home visits, participating families attend monthly socialization events during which our team of Child Family Educators provides resources, engaging activities for children, and an opportunity for families to connect with other parents and caregivers with similarly aged children.

Head Start HIPPY for children ages three to five. Families receive weekly home visits from their Child Family Educator (CFE) who provides parents with tools, strategies, and resources to prepare children for the transition to kindergarten and promote strong, healthy families. Kindergarten-bound families enrolled in HIPPY are offered support in exploring and selecting a high-quality kindergarten program in their community. Bi-lingual staff is available to support non-English speaking families.

Clayton Early Learning works collaboratively with partner agencies across Colorado to promote high-quality early childhood care and education practices, reaching more children and their families. Currently, Clayton community partnerships include:

Denver Community Sites:
- Catholic Charities Early Childhood
- Early Success Academy
- Florence Crittenton Early Childhood Center
- Little Einsteins Academy
- Little Folks Learning Center

Alamosa County/San Luis Valley Community Sites

Summit County Community Sites

Play & Learn – Clayton Play and Learn is a two-generation model designed to help parents and other caregivers prepare their children, from birth to age three, for school success through participation in activities that support children's development. Play and Learn sessions meet twice weekly for two hours.