Guilford Child Development, the HS/EHS grantee in Guilford County for over 40 years, provides a range of individualized services for families enrolled in the HS/EHS program.

We go beyond the traditional preschool program to further enhance the development of your child and help you and your family achieve school and life success.

What type of services do you provide?

• Education
• Family and Community Partnerships
• Nutrition
• Disability Services
• Health Services (medical, dental, mental health)
• Parent Involvement

How can your HS/EHS program benefit my family?
Our comprehensive family-centered program can help you...

• Prepare your child for success in school
• Further your education
• Get a better job
• Make new friends
• Provide more for your family
• Become a better parent
• Feel better about yourself
• Become self sufficient
• And much more!

Refer to the main menu (upper left) or click here to for more information about our Head Start/EHS services.

Guilford Child Development (GCD) strives to ensure that all children who complete Head Start enter the public school system ready to succeed.

Why should I choose GCD’s Head Start/Early Head Start Program to prepare my child for school?
In addition to providing a safe, nurturing environment where your child can grow and excel, Guilford Child Development...

• Provides a high-quality comprehensive preschool education that prepares your child for school and life success.
• Helps your child develop socially, intellectually, physically and emotionally.
• Provides an individualized and developmentally appropriate approach to learning.

 High-Quality Education

• Our goal is to meet the quality guidelines described by Head Start Performance Standards, the North Carolina Child Day Care Licensing Law and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation criteria.
• GCD operates thirteen 4 and 5 star centers in Greensboro and High Point. 
• GCD operates 11 centers, 4 in High Point and 7 in Greensboro accredited by the NAEYC.

Creative Curriculum
All classrooms follow the Creative Curriculum for early childhood learning. Children learn through play, active participation in group activities and peer interaction.

• Designed to ensure that your child is skilled in speaking and understanding, phonics, book knowledge and appreciation, print awareness and concepts, and early writing and alphabet knowledge.
• Field trips provided to enhance the educational experience.
• Computer activities are designed to stimulate early literacy and improve math, science, and other child developmental skills.
• Progress monitored throughout the school year using Teaching Strategies Gold, a web-based program that measures outcomes in the following eleven domain areas.
  1) Physical Development & Health
  2) Social & Emotional Development
  3) Approaches To Learning
  4) Logic & Reasoning
  5) Language Development
  6) Literacy, Knowledge and Skills
  7) Mathematics Knowledge & Skills
  8) Science Knowledge & Skills
  9) Creative Arts Expression
  10) Social Studies Knowledge & Skills
  11) English Language Development 

Refer to the main menu (upper left) for specific program and center information

All Guilford Child Development Head Start/Early Head Start centers strive to create positive, safe, and appropriate learning environments so that your child will grow with confidence.

What will a typical day be like for my child?
The daily program schedule differs between Head Start and Early Head Start but you can generally expect the following: 

• Your child will engage in free-choice activities, breakfast, and group activity designed in large ‘blocks’ of play/work time. 
• Your child will eat breakfast and lunch in a family-style manner. 
• Quiet time after lunch will help your child transition into a quieter afternoon. 
• Time for listening to stories and sharing experiences concludes an unhurried day.

Fox 8 Video - GCD Classroom

What types of activities will my child participate in?
Our teachers adjust activities according to the needs of individual children. 

Following are some of the typical classroom activities:
(also see Head Start and Early Head Start)

• Sing songs
• Read a poem
• Talk about the days activities and choices for the morning
• Share news
• Computer (all centers have Internet access)
• Finger plays
• Movement
• Write experience story
• Playground
• Nature discoveries

• Skills
• Knowledge
• Confidence
• Self Esteem
• Self Worth
• Respect for the physical environment
• Ability to make decisions and solve problems
• Ability to express and represent thoughts, feelings, and experiences
• Capacity to use natural curiosity

Refer to the main menu (upper left) for specific program and center information

Guilford Child Development’s Head Start/Early Head Start program is a FREE comprehensive child development program for low-income families.

What are the income limits?
Income limit is based on family size and household annual income in accordance with Federal Poverty Guidelines.

What are the age requirements?

• Early Head Start: Eight (8) weeks – three (3) years of age (on or after September 1)
• Head Start: Priority given to children four (4) years of age on or before August 31. There are a limited number of slots available for children who will be three (3) years of age on or before August 31.

What about children with special needs?

• GCD's Head Start/EHS program is set up to meet the needs of all children of qualifying families.
• We recognize your child as an individual who has unique strengths, limitations, and needs.
• A percentage of our slots are reserved for children with special needs.
  
  Learn more about our disability services >>

What if I'm pregnant?
If you are a first-time mom, click here to learn more about Guilford Child Development's Nurse-Family Partnership program.

How do I enroll my child?
For complete enrollment information, visit our Head Start/EHS enrollment page or click the "Apply" tab above.

Refer to the main menu (upper left) for specific program and center information

The FIRST STEP in the enrollment process is to complete our Head Start/Early Head Start application.

What are my choices for submitting an application?
Please choose ONE of the following options:

• Call any one of our 13 preschool center locations to make an appointment. You only need to complete one application at one center, and you can go to any of our center locations.
• Complete our easy online registration contact form. Based on the information you submit, we will direct you to the appropriate center where you can complete the application process.
• Call (336) 369-5097 to speak with one of our Child Care Parent Counselors (M-F 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.)

What information will I need to bring to my appointment?

1. Verification of total family income for the past 12 months
2. Verification of child’s Birth (birth certificate)
3. Child’s Current Physical Exam (with current immunizations)
4. Dental Exam
5. Copies of social security cards for the child, parent/guardian and all household members, if applicable
6. Medicaid card, if applicable

When will I know if my child is accepted?
All applicants are placed on our waiting list until space becomes available.

Due to the many factors affecting the time you are on the waiting list, we cannot provide any time approximations. However, we will contact you the moment you are accepted into the program.

Once you’ve been accepted, you may choose whether or not to accept placement of your child into the program.

Please note:  The same application is used for Head Start and Early Head Start. However, these are separately funded programs. You must reapply when your child moves up from Early Head Start to Head Start.

Refer to the main menu (upper left) for specific program and center information