Dropped from the Goochland School system due to budget woes, Tender Tots has been taken over by the Goochland Family YMCA, which began registration for the preschool program this week.

Currently housed in the Goochland Specialty Center, the 23-year-old program serving three- to five-year-olds will be in the same building again this fall but will be run by the YMCA instead of the schools.

Sandy Wilcox has been with Tender Tots for six years but she will have another assignment with Goochland Schools when the new school year starts in the fall.

“I am sad,” said Wilcox. “I’ve been teaching pre-school for 15 years.”

YMCA Program Director Jan Kenney is looking for a new teacher to take over Wilcox’s position.

Kenney has assured Goochland Elementary School Principal Dianna Gordon that the program will have a certified teacher this fall, and the two discussed candidates last Friday when Kenney visited the Specialty Center.

Tender Tots is more than just a preschool, according to Wilcox and Kenney.

“It’s not just daycare, it’s more structured,” said Wilcox.

Kenney said Tender Tots will use the “creative curriculum,” the same proven curriculum as all other YMCA preschool programs. The creative curriculum focuses on each child’s academic preparedness by modeling lesson plans after the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening Pre-Kindergarten (PALS Pre-K) test.

Wilcox said Tender Tots is for parents looking for a preschool option that is more “academic.”

Children learn pre-reading skills, such as print awareness, the alphabet and other skills.

“It’s really amazing what they take into kindergarten,” said Wilcox.

The program will begin in the fall in conjunction with the county school calendar.

Participants must be YMCA members, but a YMCA Community Membership may be purchased for an annual fee of $25 for an individual or $50 for a family, said Kenney.

Also under the YMCA, children can be enrolled for full week or three day programs, for a full day, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or a half day, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

Fees for the program range from a high of $595 for all day full week enrollment to $185 for a half-day three day program for a YMCA member.

Kenney said the program would be able to serve 18 children but if demand exceeds that projected figure, the YMCA would consider hiring a second teacher.

“I’m grateful that this service will continue,” said Wilcox.

Financial aid will be available for families that qualify, said Kenney, an option unavailable when the program was run by the school system.