About
UPC Discovery Early Learning Center is a ministry of United Presbyterian Church. Our NAEYC-accredited faith-based early childhood program serves toddlers, preschoolers and their families in half day and full-day programming throughout the year. The facility, conveniently located at the corner of Allen and Northmoor Roads, is in the heart of Peoria. It features Reggio-inspired indoor environments and 10-acre campus with a pond, woods trails, and a creek.
What Sets Us Apart:
We received the highest rating, The Gold Circle of Quality, which recognizes programs that have demonstrated quality on ALL standards.
The Illinois Quality Rating System (QRS) is administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services and recognizes programs that demonstrate quality on all fifteen standards, as validated by an independent state-approved assessor.
A Gold Circle program meets or exceeds specific quality benchmarks for learning environment, instructional quality, administrative standards, group size, ratios, qualifications, and professional development. We received the highest rating, The Gold Circle of Quality, which recognizes programs that have demonstrated quality on ALL standards.
We’re proud of our accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
What does it mean to be NAEYC accredited? NAEYC Accreditation was developed to help parents find the best possible early childhood experience for their children. Administration and faculty complete a rigorous self-study of 10 high-quality early childhood education standards, including the environment, staff qualifications, training, procedures, and curriculum. Then, a validator visits the center, observes teachers and children in action, and evaluates the facility and play areas. After becoming accredited, validators may make additional unannounced visits at any time.
NAEYC Accreditation is a reputable indicator of quality that correlates with children’s greater readiness and success in school and beyond, increased educational attainment rates, and overall healthier lifestyles.
UPC Discovery has been accredited since 2017 and has maintained accreditation through additional self-study and site visits in 2017 and 2022.
UPC Discovery’s outdoor area is a Certified Nature Explore Classroom.
The 30-minute video below, Discovering Nature Classrooms in Early Childhood, sponsored by the Illinois State Board of Education for Apples Video Magazine, shows our children, parents, UPC Discovery staff, and Nature Rangers sharing the benefits of the Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom over one year.
Our campus is also an official National Wildlife Habitat and a Monarch Way Station; the children learn about those programs.
UPC Discovery is Allergy Certified by The Red Sneaker Program.
The key to preventing a potentially serious reaction in a child with a known allergy is avoiding exposure to the relevant allergen. However, many children, especially young children, are not aware of an allergy until they are exposed to an allergen and have an anaphylactic reaction. Therefore, it is essential that childcare programs have detailed plans for avoiding accidental exposure to allergens for children with identified allergies and recognizing and treating allergic reactions and anaphylaxis in all children.
