There’s no cost to your program.
Your team can receive classroom support from an experienced specialist without adding to your program’s expenses.
Infant and Toddler Specialist Network
Coaching and Support for Infant and Toddler Classrooms
Your infant and toddler educators need support they can use in the classroom. As the North Central regional office for Virginia’s Infant and Toddler Specialist Network, Foundation First brings coaching, training, and guidance to your team, so educators can respond to children’s needs with confidence.
What it is
Work With a Specialist in Your Classroom
he Infant and Toddler Specialist Network is a statewide program supporting educators who care for children from birth through 36 months. Our coaches work alongside your team on everyday classroom needs, including how educators respond to children, arrange the room, and support a child who needs extra attention.
This support is available to eligible VQB5 classrooms serving infants and toddlers.
What you get
Three Types of Support
Classroom Coaching
Work with a coach to set goals, strengthen teaching practices, and develop an improvement plan with your educators, so they have support putting it into practice.
Educator Training
Give your team opportunities to learn together through free training for educators in VQB5 programs, offered online, in person, or through a combination of both.
Guidance When Needed
Get help with questions about infant and toddler care, along with resources your educators can use to address the needs in their classrooms.
The team
Meet Your Infant and Toddler Team
Infant and Toddler Specialists
Our specialists help educators with teaching, curriculum, and the classroom environment through coaching and training, so your team can create a safe, healthy place for young children to learn and grow.
Michelle Davis
Amaia Hedd-Williams
Paula Bellville
Infant and Toddler Behavior Consultants
When a child needs additional support, our consultants offer classroom observations, developmental screenings, and parent education to help educators and families understand the child’s needs and how to respond.
Catherine Grimes
Tina Castro
Family First Newsletter
Funding rules change, new programs are introduced, and deadlines come and go. We send one email a month informing you what's available and what it means for you. No jargon, and nothing you didn't ask for.
One email a month. Unsubscribe any time.
Start With
The Childcare Eligibility Checker.
Virginia has funding programs for families at many income levels. Our eligibility tracker walks you through a few quick questions and points you toward the programs most likely to help.
Lead Agency · Ready Region North Central
A coordinated early childhood system across eleven localities in North Central Virginia.
Ready Region North Central brings together local agencies, early childhood providers, and families to build a seamless, family-centered system. Our goal is to make it easier for every child and caregiver in our region to access the supports they need to thrive.
Learn more about Ready Region