Birth to Five
School Readiness Program
Head Start/Early Head Start

Open Enrollment All Year
Free for Families that qualify!

Click to print application forms

Center Based Application
Home Based Application
Add'tl Family Member Form
Expectant Mother Application
Child in Care Statement Form

Learn More

"Research shows that providing a high quality education for children before they turn five yields significant long-term benefits."

- National Education Association

The EOP Birth to Five School Readiness Program is a federally funded early education program known as Head Start and Early Head Start.  It is a complete and comprehensive Kindergarten Readiness program, providing services to families in Chemung County.  This program is free of cost for families who qualify.

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Overview

  • Center and Home based program options

  • Expectant mother services and referrals

  • Research based curriculum

  • Health and Developmental screenings

  • Referrals

  • Socialization skills

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The foundations for school readiness begin in pregnancy and continue throughout early childhood. For infants and toddlers, school readiness refers to the developing capacity of children to:

  • Self-regulate

  • Develop close, secure personal relationships with adults and peers

  • Demonstrate curiosity in, pay attention to, and explore people and objects in the environment

  • Exhibit a sense of self-confidence

  • Communicate effectively

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Head Start

Head Start serves young children ages 3-5 years old, from low-income families to help prepare them to succeed in school. It runs on a 10 month schedule, September-June.  the primary goal is to promote children's development through services that support early learning, health, and family well-being.

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Early Head Start

Early Head Start provides similar services as preschool Head Start programs, but they are tailored for the unique needs of infants and toddlers, ages birth to 18 months old.  The program runs year round. Early Head Start programs promote the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of infants and toddlers through safe and developmentally enriching caregiving. This prepares these children for continued growth and development and eventual success in school and life.

 

Center Based 

The center-based option prepares children for a classroom setting.  The Early Head Start classrooms run 12 months a year (18m-2yrs old).  The Head Start classrooms run 10 months a year from September-June (3-5yrs old).

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  • Multiple locations throughout Chemung County. 

  • Serving ages 18 months-5 years old

  • Monday-Friday from 8am-2:30pm

  • Nutritious Meals

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Home Based

Home-based services offer an opportunity to work directly with the parents, as early as pregnancy to support healthy family growth and development.  Parent's, the most important people in the world to a child, are offered parenting education in the setting that is most familiar and has the most meaning to both the child and the parents. Promoting secure parent-child interactions and school readiness experiences in the home provide a foundation for parents to weave learning moments into the family's daily routines.​

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For over fifty-three years, EOP Inc. has been a community leader in building collaborative partnerships to provide individuals and families with the tools to overcome barriers and lead healthy, stable and economically self-sufficient lives.  The Birth to Five School Readiness, Head Start and Early Head start program is proud to be a part of this agency and will continue to work together to Strengthen the Fabric of Our Community.

Mother and Baby