Spotlight
VIP TOTS Spotlight – Child Care Center
VIP Tots Early Learning has been a cornerstone of the Hemet/San Jacinto Valley area for over 40 years, serving families since 1979. With a consistent, holistic, and comprehensive approach, VIP Tots provides educational opportunities that extend beyond the classroom, offering early learning classes in inclusive, diverse environments for children ages 18 months to 6 years. Their mission is to deliver high-quality early learning services to children and families from all walks of life.
VIP Tots is committed to creating engaging and inclusive environments where young learners are empowered and supported. Recognizing that children are the foundation of our society, VIP Tots believes education should start early. The curriculum is child-centered, and teachers strive to foster a safe, inclusive learning atmosphere that nurtures each child’s unique potential. Their vision focuses on honoring the inherent worth and value of every child, guided by a deep sense of care and respect.
The center’s philosophy asserts that every young child and their family—regardless of ability—deserves the right to participate fully in a broad range of activities within families, communities, and society. By providing inclusive experiences for children with and without disabilities, VIP Tots helps foster a sense of belonging, positive social relationships, and optimal development and learning.
With a rich, 45-year history rooted in community service, VIP Tots was founded by Joann Hameister, a dedicated mother seeking specialized care for her child with special needs. Unable to find suitable support, Joann established VIP Tots as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, quickly becoming a leader in specialized early childhood education. Today, VIP Tots has grown into a comprehensive early learning center that champions diversity and inclusion for all children.
VIP Tots partners closely with each family to identify individual needs and develop tailored care plans that bridge the home and the center, ensuring seamless, consistent support. Serving children from 18 months to 5 years old, VIP Tots offers a range of programs, including CSPP, CCTR, and the Early Start Home Program through the Inland Regional Center, with services guided by Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP).
Operating Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm, the center provides nutritious meal services, family support meetings, monthly parent cafés, a resource table, and the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) to foster strong family partnerships. As a participant in the Riverside County Quality Start Program, VIP Tots uses high-quality assessment tools such as the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP), Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), and Environment Rating Scale (ERS) to ensure all children enjoy a developmentally appropriate and engaging learning environment.
Facilities include an outdoor playground, technologically equipped classrooms, and a dedicated Special Education Local Planning Area. Currently, VIP Tots serves 95 children onsite and 35 through home service programs, supported by a skilled team of 40 staff members. The center offers competitive compensation, and most staff have completed at least 12 Child Development units, with many pursuing or holding associate or bachelor’s degrees.
Recently, VIP Tots celebrated the completion of its Outdoor Classroom, made possible by First 5 Riverside County and ARPA infrastructure grants. We also receive support from RCOE in this project. This innovative space transforms the playground into a dynamic outdoor learning environment, allowing children to explore and engage with hands-on materials outside the traditional classroom.
VIP Tots stands as a model child care program, recognized for its unique community partnerships and comprehensive support for families. With a variety of offerings, including early learning, early intervention, home services, and outdoor classrooms, families often remain with VIP Tots until their children graduate preschool or TK and move on to elementary school.
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