Starting Child Care Mid-Year in Colorado Springs: It’s Not Too Late
It’s October. School has been in session for weeks, and the child care plan you made back in July isn’t holding up.
Maybe your work hours changed. Maybe you just moved to Colorado Springs and missed every enrollment date you heard about. Or maybe your child isn’t settling in where they are, and you can see it at pickup every afternoon.
Child care doesn’t run on a single sign-up day. Families start mid-year all the time, and a fall or winter start can go just as well as one in August.
Why Families Look for Child Care in the Middle of the Year
Most mid-year searches start with a change nobody planned for. A parent takes a new job or a different shift. A grandparent who was covering afternoons can’t anymore. A military family arrives on new orders at Fort Carson, Peterson, or Schriever in November instead of June.
Other times the change is about the child. A 3-year-old who was fine at home is suddenly ready for more structure and more friends. A preschooler in a large center seems lost in the crowd. Parents notice, and they start looking.
Whatever the reason, it helps to know you aren’t behind. You’re making a decision with better information than you had in the summer.
What a Mid-Year Start Looks Like at Zach’s Place
Zach’s Place at the Laurie Hillyard Family Center serves children from age 2.5 through 18. Our program is inclusive: typically developing children and children with disabilities learn and play in the same rooms, on the same schedule.
Getting started takes a few steps:
- Complete an application at sksfcolorado.org.
- Gather your child’s current shot records and a recent physical.
- Schedule a visit and intake so our team can get to know your child, your routines, and what you’re hoping for.
Openings change throughout the year by age group and schedule. The fastest way to find out what’s available for your child is to call us and ask about current openings.
Universal Pre-K after the school year starts
Zach’s Place is a licensed Colorado Universal Preschool (UPK) provider. Eligible children in the year before kindergarten can receive up to 15 hours of free preschool each week.
If your child is 4 and you haven’t used UPK yet this year, ask us how placement works now that the school year is underway. Families who need longer days can add extended hours on our sliding fee scale.
Why Starting Now Beats Waiting Until Next Fall
Waiting for a “clean” start next August can mean nine more months of patchwork care. For most children, a steady weekly rhythm matters more than the calendar date it begins.
Joining mid-year has a quiet advantage, too. The classroom routines are already set, so a new child walks into a predictable day: arrival, circle time, play, lunch, rest. Many children find that reassuring.
For 4-year-olds, every month of classroom time before kindergarten counts. Following directions in a group, taking turns, and managing a morning without a parent nearby are skills children build by practicing them.
Why Families Choose an Inclusive Program
Parents of typically developing children sometimes ask whether an inclusive classroom is the right fit for their child. In our experience, children learn patience, flexible communication, and real empathy from classmates who move, talk, and play in different ways.
Families of children with disabilities find a program where their child is a full member of the class, with staff who adapt the day to each child. Special Kids Special Families has been serving Colorado Springs families since 1998.
Making a Mid-Year Switch Easier on Your Child
A few small steps can make the first weeks smoother:
- Talk about the new school a few days ahead, using simple, upbeat words.
- Visit together before the first day so the building and faces feel familiar.
- Keep your morning routine the same: same wake-up time, same breakfast, same goodbye.
- Pack a small comfort item from home if your child has one.
- Tell teachers what worked, and what didn’t, in your child’s last arrangement.
Expect a few teary drop-offs. They usually fade as your child learns the rhythm of the day and starts looking forward to friends.
Child Care in Colorado Springs That Grows With Your Family
Zach’s Place is located at 4795 Granby Circle, Colorado Springs, CO 80919. Because we serve children from preschool age through 18, families don’t have to start over when a child moves from preschool into school-age care.
Ready to see if Zach’s Place is the right fit this year? Schedule a tour. Call 719-447-8983 or visit sksfcolorado.org to ask about current openings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child start child care in the middle of the school year?
Yes. Families join Zach’s Place at different points throughout the year. Openings vary by age group and schedule, so call 719-447-8983 to ask what’s available for your child right now.
Is it too late to use Universal Pre-K this year?
Not necessarily. Zach’s Place is a licensed Colorado UPK provider, and eligible children in the year before kindergarten can receive up to 15 hours of free preschool each week. Ask us how mid-year UPK placement works for your family.
What do I need to enroll at Zach’s Place?
You’ll complete an application at sksfcolorado.org and provide your child’s current shot records and a recent physical. Then we’ll schedule a visit and intake to get to know your child.
What ages does Zach’s Place serve?
Zach’s Place serves children from age 2.5 through 18 in an inclusive setting, with typically developing children and children with disabilities in the same program.
How much does child care cost at Zach’s Place?
UPK hours are free for eligible children. Extended hours are offered on a sliding fee scale, so cost depends on your family’s situation. Call us and we’ll walk you through it.
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FAQs about SKSF Child Care in Colorado Springs
Our staff are trained to support children across a broad range of developmental profiles in an inclusive classroom environment. Activities are thoughtfully adapted so that children with and without disabilities can participate together, each benefiting from the interaction. We maintain small group sizes, have an RN on staff, and coordinate closely with families to ensure each child’s individual needs are met throughout the day.
Yes. Zach’s Place is a Colorado Universal Preschool (UPK) provider. Eligible families may qualify for free, high-quality preschool hours during the year before kindergarten.
Childcare providers often encounter barriers like negative attitudes towards disabilities, limited access to adequately trained staff, and coordination difficulties between early intervention specialists and childcare teams. These challenges can hinder the creation of truly inclusive environments that effectively support children with diverse needs in Colorado Springs.
Yes. Zach’s Place is specifically designed and staffed to support children with a wide range of developmental needs, including autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other disabilities. We are the only licensed child care facility in the Pikes Peak Region that specializes in care for children with disabilities alongside their typically developing peers. Our team works with each family to understand their child’s individual needs before enrollment.
Inclusive child care programs in Colorado Springs are supported by key laws such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Head Start Act. These legislations ensure equal access to education and childcare services for children with disabilities and mandate the establishment and maintenance of inclusive practices within local childcare settings.
Colorado Springs offers a variety of special needs child care services including licensed childcare for children with disabilities, inclusive childcare settings, and specialized programs such as those provided by Special Kids Special Families (SKSF) and The Resource Exchange (TRE). These services cater to neurodivergent children and focus on individualized attention and skill development.
Zach’s Place operates on a sliding-fee scale based on household income, which means costs are adjusted to reflect what your family can realistically afford. Rates can be as low as $9 per hour for qualifying families. To find out what rate applies to your family, contact us to schedule an intake assessment — we’ll walk you through everything in a private, no-pressure conversation.
Yes. We provide licensed respite care services for children of all abilities, including those with developmental disabilities. Visiting families can inquire about short-term respite options to support travel or caregiver needs.
Yes. Zach’s Place is a licensed Universal Pre-K (UPK) provider. Eligible families can receive up to 15 hours of free, high-quality preschool per week in the year before kindergarten. Some families qualify for additional hours depending on income and other factors. Contact us to check your eligibility.
An inclusive preschool brings together children of all abilities in one shared learning environment. Children learn alongside peers with diverse strengths and learning styles, helping them develop communication skills, empathy, confidence, and cooperation in a natural classroom setting.
