Enroll Your Child for Thornwell’s 4K Program and Build Foundations for Success!

Thornwell is proud to announce that enrollment for our Thornwell Child Development Center 4K program is now open! Our program aims to provide every child with a solid foundation filled with motivation, positive interactions, and essential skills necessary for a lifetime of learning and success in school.
Norman Dover Jr., Vice President for Educational Services, says that Thornwell’s 4K is “a special place for children to receive a strong learning foundation,” which will give them the boost they need to succeed in 5K and elementary school. Our program has been meticulously designed to promote social, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive growth through developmentally appropriate activities and engaging learning experiences. All of this unfolds in an environment that is friendly, professional, and family-focused.
Our 4K Program is centered around promoting self-control, following instructions, and cooperation – key elements crucial for a successful school experience. The ultimate goal is to prepare children for the exciting adventure of formal education.
One of the things that set Thornwell apart is our commitment to accessibility. Thanks to the support of the Child Development Educational Program (CDEPP) funding by South Carolina First Steps, qualifying families can enroll their children for FREE! For those who may not qualify, there’s still an opportunity to join this impactful program with a tuition fee.
If your child is 4 years old on or before September 1st, they are eligible to apply for Thornwell’s 4K Program. The program runs during regular school hours (7:30 am – 2:30 pm) with an after-school option available (2:30 pm – 5:30 pm). Plus, we’ve got meals covered, ensuring your child stays fueled for their learning adventure.
Thornwell encourages parents to witness the wonder of our program firsthand by meeting our dedicated staff and teachers and taking a tour of the classrooms. Join us in shaping young minds and unlocking the potential for success!
“4k provides more of what prepares children to better meet the expectations and challenges of primary education.” – LaVerne Roberts, Director of Thornwell Child Development Center
What documents do I need to enroll my child?
- Birth Certificate
- Medicaid Card
- Current Shot Record
- Proof of Residency
Who is Eligible for South Carolina First Steps?
For the 2022-23 school year, your child must be:
- 4 years old on September 1, 2022
- Eligible for Medicaid, free/reduced-price lunch, or SNAP/TANF recipient; experiencing homelessness or transiency; or in foster care
- A resident of South Carolina
- Siblings of four-year-olds enrolled in the First Steps 4K program now qualify for childcare scholarships thanks to a partnership between SC First Steps and the SC Department of Social Services.
What if my child has a sibling?
- Siblings, ages 0-12 of enrolled First Steps 4K students can qualify for free child and after-school scholarships
- Sibling scholarships can be applied toward enrollment at any licensed child care center or afterschool program that participates in ABC Quality, the state’s voluntary quality rating and improvement system
- First Steps 4K + Siblings ensures care and education for the whole family, leaving no child behind.
- Families can apply online for both First Steps 4K and First Steps 4K + Siblings at Free4KSC.org.
What is Thornwell’s Child Development Center?
During the first five years of life, children are busy learning skills, making connections, and forming relationships that affect their adult lives. Under the guidance of qualified teachers, Thornwell Child Development Center provides an educational program that emphasizes growth in all developmental areas—social, emotional, physical, cognitive (intellectual), and spiritual—as a holistic, interrelated process. Each child, each teacher, each parent is accepted as a person of worth, value, and respect.
Thornwell Child Development Center is committed to developmentally appropriate teaching methods and techniques. Play is the language of children and the foundation of quality preschools. Through play, the developmental needs of young children are met. Using developmentally appropriate practices, Thornwell teachers support and promote optimal development in the areas most important to young children: establishing a sense of trust and safety; developing a sense of autonomy with connectedness; realizing a sense of empowerment and worth; forming an appreciation of diversity among people; constructing the foundations of morality and social responsibility; and having opportunities for meaningful play. The learning environment is rich, varied, warm, stimulating, and safe for young children’s healthy development.