As school districts try to determine how to educate children safely in light of COVID-19, the YMCA of Greater Brandywine (YGBW) has announced that it will open learning centers with small staff-to-student ratios to support families when the school year begins.
A provider of licensed child care, YGBW runs child care, preschool and prekindergarten programs, a state-licensed kindergarten program and several before- and after-school care programs. Since Chester County moved to the yellow phase of the state's reopening plan in early June, YGBW has safely provided camp and child care to more than 1,000 children weekly using stable groups, as well as implementing health and safety guidelines recommended by the CDC, Department of Human Services, Chester County Health Department, American Academy of Pediatricians and Pennsylvania Board of Health.
Just as YGBW has done with its child care and camp programs this summer, stable groups, where children are with the same small cohort of peers and staff daily to limit exposure to and the spread of COVID-19, will be implemented at YGBW learning centers. Each stable group will have a maximum of 12 students.
YGBW's learning centers, available for students in kindergarten through sixth grade who are doing virtual learning, will provide full-day care from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays, with the option for care afterward until 6 p.m. Students will receive academic support, social enrichment, physical fitness activities and more. Wi-Fi will be provided with students bringing their own device and headphones.
Students will have dedicated academic support to help them complete their schoolwork. Each group of 12 students will be supervised by a YGBW staff member, and a degreed teacher or educational specialist will be available for every two groups, ensuring a staff-to-student ratio of 1-to-8.
After surveying more than 1,000 parents and guardians in Chester County, YGBW found that respondents want to ensure their children are provided with social opportunities and physical fitness, in addition to academic support. Given YGBW's mission to support youth development, promote healthy living and encourage social responsibility, these are natural components of all YGBW programs and will be a focus of YGBW's learning center programs.
Registration opened on July 31 for families that have opted for a full virtual option through their school. As school districts make decisions and finalize their plans for the school year, YGBW is prepared to adapt its program to meet additional needs such as supporting those who do a mix of virtual and in-person learning and possibly offering learning centers at local schools.
The program will be offered at seven YGBW branches to start: Brandywine YMCA, 295 Hurley Road, Coatesville; Jennersville YMCA, 880 W. Baltimore Pike, West Grove; Kennett Area YMCA, 101 Race St., Kennett Square; Lionville Community YMCA, 100 Devon Drive, Exton; Octorara YMCA Program Center, 104 Highland Road, Atglen; Oscar Lasko YMCA & Childcare Center, 1 E. Chestnut St., West Chester; and Upper Main Line YMCA, 1416 Berwyn-Paoli Road, Berwyn.
Capacity is limited. Financial assistance is available. For more information, readers may visit https://ymcagbw.org/learning-centers.
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