Community Education offers programming to support young children and their families. Preschool and family education help support learning at the earliest developmental stages. Childcare options are available to support working parents and their children by offering enrichment and learning activities during work hours.
Attention :
Priority based budget reductions: The district shared the priority based budget reduction information with families on March 5. You can read the original message and view the priority budget reduction recommendations (updated April 19) here.
The district has also published an FAQ. This document will be updated as needed.
Early Childhood
Childcare
Early Ventures is a child care center for infants, toddlers and preschoolers licensed by the Department of Human Services. We offer a variety of schedule options and are located at the NCEC. Kid Ventures is a certified school-age care program that offers a variety of enrichment and recreation activities. KidVentures is hosted at all elementary schools from 6:30 a.m. to school start and until 6 p.m. after school ends, Monday through Friday.
ECFE
Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) provides comprehensive program
offerings, services and resources that educate, support and strengthen
families with children ages birth to kindergarten entrance. It is an enjoyable,
informal place to learn with other kids and parents and to meet new friends.
ECFE classes are held at the Northfield Community Education Center, 700
Lincoln Parkway.
Preschool
Hand in Hand Preschool is a public-school preschool that supports and
nurtures young children as they grow, learn and develop. Our licensed
teachers prepare children, ages 3 to kindergarten entrance, for continued
success in the elementary years. Hand in Hand Preschool is located at the
Northfield Community Education Center, 700 Lincoln Parkway.
Screening
Early Childhood Screening is a free health and developmental screening that is required
once before a child enters a public preschool or kindergarten. The best age to screen is
3 ½ but we welcome 4- and 5-year-olds who have not been screened. Screenings are
held at the Northfield Community Education Center (NCEC), located at 700 Lincoln
Parkway. At this time, it may be difficult to find a screening appointment online. Please email Libby at lstanton@northfieldschools.org for English or mrocha@northfieldschools.org for Spanish to answer your scheduling questions.
Bridges to Kindergarten
Bridges to Kindergarten is a free summer program held at each of the 3 Northfield elementary
schools. Bridges will be held August 11-15, 2025 to help ease the transition into kindergarten. If needed, transportation is available.