What are your hours?
How long have you been providing child care?
Are you licensed/certified/registered?
How many children do you care for and what are their ages?
What is your vacation and illness policy?
What are your fees?
Do you participate in a food program?
Do the children have computer access?
What kinds of training or experience do you have?
What is your policy for giving medicine?
Can parents "drop by" for a visit anytime?
What are your discipline policies?
What would a typical day be like for my child?
How do you handle emergencies?
Are children ever transported in a vehicle in your care? If so do you have a valid driver's license and clean driving record?
What kind of feedback will you provide about my child at the end of each day?
Can you provide me with a list of references?

What are your hours?
5:30am till 6:00pm.

How long have you been providing child care?
SSU Inc. has been providing quality child care in Lorain County since 2001

Are you licensed/certified/registered?
Yes we are licensed through the Lorain County Department of Job and Family Services. We also have E.L.I. certification as well as a Step Up To Quality 1 star achievement award.

We care for children ages 6 weeks through school age. We also provide special needs care. Our staff to child ratios are as follows:

Main Campus Lorain
Infants 1-4 max group of 2-8
Toddlers 1-7 max group of 2-12
Preschool 1-10 max group of 2-20
School age 1-14 max group of 28

Firelands Campus South Amherst
Infants 1-5 max group of 1/5
Toddlers 1-7 max group of 2/14
Preschool 1-12 max group of 2/22
School age 1-12 max group 2/22

What is your vacation and illness policy?
SSU offers families two weeks per year of free time off for a scheduled vacation. This time may not be used by the day. One full week must be taken to receive this offer. Our illness policy is that of the Ohio Department of Health. We do not provide sick childcare at our facilities. There is no exception to fees when a child is absent due to illness.

What are your fees?
Please call Ms. Ethel at 440-246-0300 or Ms. Susie at 440-986-2019 for program fees. Our rates are comparable to state reimbursement rates in Lorain County and we offer many discount programs such as multiple child discounts, Lorain County Human Service Vouchers, and E.L.I. programs.

Do you participate in a food program?
We are currently seeking information to join the food program. All of our current meals meet food program requirements.

Do the children have computer access?
Both Lorain and South Amherst campuses have computers available to their preschool and school age programs. Educational games are selected based on current curriculum and students have weekly supervised access.

What kinds of training or experience do you have?
Staff member qualifications vary from substitutes to lead teachers. At Small Scholars University you will see that we value who is working with our children. Our preschool programs are all instructed by O.D.E. licensed teachers who follow the early learning content standards set forth by the state as well as the creative curriculum.

Our childcare center will administer all prescription medication as long as the proper dose, and label with instructions is intact on the original package. There are certain forms that must be completed by the parent and care giver before medication is administered. Medication will not be administered if all state compliance standards are not met. The administrator has the final determination if we are unable to provide your child’s medication request.

Can parents "drop by" for a visit anytime?
Yes, we have an open door policy. We ask that you check in at the office before walking in the building. This is just a general safety concern.

What are your discipline policies?
At Small Scholars University we believe in the guidance approach to discipline. All children are given the opportunity to make the right choice and correct any negative behaviors with little guidance from their teacher. Some examples of our methods would be giving the child other choices of activities that would be appropriate, or redirecting a child from a play center into another area that will allow the child to become more engaged in activities. We use time outs for children, never longer then one minute per the child’s age. No corporal punishment is used. Students with behavioral issues will be referred to the administrator. Parents will be informed of issues and may be asked to seek a medical evaluation. Any student who continually puts him/herself, other students or staff in danger may be asked to leave the program.

Please tell me what a typical day might be like for my child?
Every age group and class room has their own schedules. Infants are cared for on a schedule that is most like home. You provide us with your child’s schedule and we allow your child the ease of transition from home to childcare. Toddlers and preschool children share similar routines of early arrivals, free time, morning snack, activity time, play ground, lunch, rest time, afternoon snack, activities, large motor, and departure. School age children have an active summer camp schedule that includes field trips and daily crafts. Before and after school care provide students with morning and afternoon snack time, home work time, and free play.

How do you handle emergencies?
Small Scholars University is prepared for any type of emergency situation. We have detailed plans posted in every room for fire, tornado, power loss, and national security alerts. We practice safety drills every month to ensure our staff are well trained in the event of an emergency. At all times there is staff available that is trained in pediatric first aid, C.P.R., child abuse and communicable disease training.

Are children ever transported in a vehicle while in your care? If so, do you have a valid driver's license and how is your driving record? Small Scholars University Firelands Campus in South Amherst does provide bussing to and from Amherst and South Amherst Schools. Our bus is inspected annually by a licensed mechanic, and weekly by staff to ensure it is in proper running order. Staff that drive the vehicle are well trained and licensed drivers who have passed a pre-employment drug test.

Can you provide me with a list of references?
Please see our parent testimonials page.