Doretha Turnage
Director
Leads the school and sits with every family at the tour. She also teaches the fours and walks the rooms every morning.
A ministry of Elder Street United Methodist Church
Every hand goes up at circle time, and every answer is written down for families
Elder Preschool is for children ages 2 to 5 in Prattville. The day starts on the rug with a Bible story and a song, and we put in writing what we teach, who teaches it and how we guide a child before anyone enrolls.
What we tell every family
Six things you hear from us before you enroll
We say each of these at the tour and put them in writing, so you decide with the facts in front of you.
- 01
Who teaches your child
Doretha Turnage directs the school, and nine adults work in it. Each teacher's training is on a sheet we hand you at the tour, and every adult has a background check on file.
- 02
How many adults are in the room
Two adults to a room. We tell you how many children each adult looks after and the group size for your child's room before you enroll.
- 03
How we guide behavior
A teacher gets down to a child's level, says what happened and offers another choice. We don't use physical punishment, and we don't shame or isolate a child. You read our discipline policy before the first day.
- 04
What children do all day
Circle time, play, stories, art, snack, outdoor time and rest. Children pick up letters, numbers and getting along with others through play and routine, and a teacher tells you what your child worked on.
- 05
What we teach about faith
A Bible story, a song and a blessing at the table each day. Families of any faith or none are welcome, and no child is asked to pray or to believe anything in order to take part.
- 06
What we ask of families
A short enrollment form, the names of the adults who may pick up your child and, once you enroll, the health details we ask for privately. Nothing medical goes through this website.
Our notice and our numbers
What our exemption means and who is in the room
We are a church ministry, so Alabama does not license us.
License
Elder Preschool is a ministry of Elder Street United Methodist Church. It is exempt from state child care licensing under Alabama law for programs run by a church, so the state does not license it. We give every family this notice in writing before a child starts, with our discipline policy, our staff's training and what we teach about faith.
Adults to children
1 adult to 8 children
2-year-olds
Group size: 16
1 adult to 11 children
3-year-olds
Group size: 22
1 adult to 18 children
4-year-olds
Group size: 22
Group size
Up to 22 children
with 2 adults
Capacity
58
Ages 2 years to 5 years
Staff checks and training
- Background checks
- CPR and first aid
- Mandated reporter training
- Food handler training
Safety routines
Arrival and pickup
A teacher greets each child at the side door and signs them in. A child goes home only with the adults on your list, and we ask for ID until we know you.
The building
After drop-off the preschool's outside door is locked, and visitors ring the bell and sign in at the office. The church uses the other wing.
Discipline
A teacher gets down to a child's level, says what is happening and offers another way. We don't use physical punishment, and we don't shame a child. You get our policy in writing.
Allergies and snacks
Tell us about allergies at the tour, and we ask for the details privately once you enroll. We ask families not to send nuts, and the morning snack is simple.
Illness
A child with a fever or a contagious illness stays home. If a child becomes ill at school, we call you right away and a teacher stays close until you arrive.
Drills and headcounts
We practice fire and storm drills in every room, and we count heads whenever children move between the room and the playground.
Ask us about child care assistance
Sample details.
Our rooms
A room for each age, in the morning or all day
Twos come in the morning. Threes and fours can stay for the school day, with lunch from home and a rest after.
| Ages | Adults to children | Group size | Morning8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.Monday to Friday | School day8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Monday to Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twos2-year-olds | 1 adult to 8 children | 16 | Offered | Not offered |
| Threes3-year-olds | 1 adult to 11 children | 22 | Offered | Offered |
| Fours4-year-olds | 1 adult to 18 children | 22 | Offered | Offered |
Fees and what each is for
- Registration
- Opens your family's file and covers the forms. It is due once, when you accept a place.
- Monthly tuition
- Set by your child's room and by whether they come for the morning or the school day. We go through the figures with you on the tour.
- Supplies
- Art materials, a rest mat cover and the supplies for snack.
Sample programs.
The school year
Open mornings in the spring, school in August
We give the exact days at your tour. These are the months.
The school year
- Open house
Open mornings
Tuesday and Thursday mornings, February to May
Walk the rooms while the children are in them, and sit with Mrs. Turnage and a teacher for your questions.
- Applications open
Registration opens
February
Families already enrolled go first, then everyone else in the order we hear from you.
- Decisions
Places offered
April
- Event
Meet your child's teacher
Early August
Come with your child for a short visit to the room and a look at the cubby, the rest mat and the yard.
- First day
First day of school
Mid-August
Sample dates.
The team
Three of the nine adults you will meet at the door
Terrica Spann
Lead teacher, threes
Leads circle time for the threes and writes the note families read at pickup.
Ephraim Tuggle
Teacher, twos
Teaches the twos and leads the songs. He is also the church's musician on Sundays.
Families
What parents tell us
4.8
26 reviews
5★21
4★4
3★1
2★0
1★0
“Mrs. Turnage walked us through the discipline policy at the tour, page by page, and answered every question I had written down. I knew what to expect on the first day.”
Shontelle H.“My daughter comes home humming the songs from circle time. The teachers tell us at pickup what she worked on, and it is always something specific.”
Keon W.“We are not members of the church, and nobody made it feel strange. The faith part is simple and honest, and it was explained before we signed anything.”
Lashawn B.
Sample reviews.
Come and see the rooms
A tour is a walk through the rooms with the director, with time to read our notice and our discipline policy and ask what you like.
