Our History
Skipwith Academy has a rich history of providing exceptional educational opportunities and nurturing care to working families in the Richmond area since 1996.
Safety & Security
Every parent can leave their child with us knowing that we take extra precautions to provide a safe, clean, secure environment for their child. It is Skipwith Academy’s NUMBER ONE priority.
Health & Nutrition
Skipwith Academy places an exceptionally high emphasis on your child’s health & wellness, with healthy meals and snacks and regular physical activity.
Pathway to School Readiness
Skipwith Academy’s educational program is individualized for each child. We provide a variety of options for learning, not only based on the age of the child, but also his or her prior learning, maturity, and academic stage.
Enriching Environments
Our schools are equipped with large bright areas for groups and smaller age-specific classrooms for age-appropriate learning. Our innovative and creative playgrounds offer imaginative ways for children to play and explore.
Teacher Training & Support
When you walk into any of our schools, you are welcomed into the Skipwith Academy family of well-trained and caring professionals who make learning fun while promoting independence and problem-solving skills.
Find a Skipwith Academy near you. See Schools
History of Skipwith Academy
Our anchor school on Townes Road has a rich history of early childhood education in Richmond. The original day school was built on land that was purchased in 1890. The English style Tudor mansion was built in 1927 and became a day school in the mid 20th century. Today, Skipwith Academy comprises an educational network of nine licensed facilities, serving infants through school age children. In 2016, we chose to rebrand all of our Richmond area schools with the Skipwith Academy name. We welcome this opportunity to embrace our history in the region, celebrating and commemorating our contribution to the families we serve.
Safety & Security
Every Skipwith Academy has a set of safety and
security protocols that we strictly enforce.
Safety measures include:
- Secure doors and entrances with electronic access codes allow only authorized individuals to enter.
- Access Codes are changed often and are time sensitive, so even those with codes can only access the school during regular hours.
- Those without codes must be allowed in by a front desk employee and will be accompanied throughout the building.
- Photo identification is required from all visitors
- No child will be released to any unknown person without written authorization and proper identification.
- Most schools are equipped with closed-circuit security cameras that are visible in a manager’s office.
- All employees are thoroughly screened and undergo criminal background checks and are trained in security measures by Child Protective Services.
- All Skipwith Academy schools have emergency preparedness plans in place for severe weather, fire, lockdown conditions or other disaster situations and an emergency evacuation plan is in place at each school.
- Monthly drills are held to ensure staff and children can calmly and quickly follow through with the procedures.
- Skipwith Academy transports children in a fleet of specially designed buses approved by the Department of Transportation. Each driver must pass a defensive driving course and Motor Vehicle Record Check.
- Our vehicles are regularly inspected and maintained for safety.
Safety measures include:
- Secure doors and entrances with electronic access codes allow only authorized individuals to enter.
- Access Codes are changed often and are time sensitive, so even those with codes can only access the school during regular hours.
- Those without codes must be allowed in by a front desk employee and will be accompanied throughout the building.
- Photo identification is required from all visitors
- No child will be released to any unknown person without written authorization and proper identification.
- Most schools are equipped with closed-circuit security cameras that are visible in a manager’s office.
- All employees are thoroughly screened and undergo criminal background checks and are trained in security measures by Child Protective Services.
- All Skipwith Academy schools have emergency preparedness plans in place for severe weather, fire, lockdown conditions or other disaster situations and an emergency evacuation plan is in place at each school.
- Monthly drills are held to ensure staff and children can calmly and quickly follow through with the procedures.
- Skipwith Academy transports children in a fleet of specially designed buses approved by the Department of Transportation. Each driver must pass a defensive driving course.
- Our vehicles are regularly inspected and maintained for safety.
- All Skipwith Academy cooks must undergo a “Food Safe” training administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Child Care Food Program
- Skipwith Academy schools have high-quality age appropriate and age segregated playground equipment that is safe and kid tested.
- All fall zones and landing areas have areas with licensing-approved levels of soft surfaces.
- All outside playgrounds, pools, and water play areas are inside secure fences with locked gates.
Health & Nutrition
Skipwith Academy places an exceptionally high emphasis on child care health &
wellness with all of our children and facilities.
Our Heath and Nutrition Program
- Each morning, a health assessment is made of every child.
- To prevent any diseases from spreading, we continue to monitor for symptoms during the day and notify parents when a child is too ill to stay at school.
- All toys and other materials are disinfected on a scheduled basis.
- Teachers undergo training procedures in diaper changing and food preparation.
- All Skipwith Academy schools maintain strict health and safety cleaning codes.
- All staff members who dispense medication must complete medication administration administration training.
- Medications are stored securely out of the reach of children.
- We serve a hot, homemade breakfast and lunch daily at no extra charge in a family style setting.
- Milk, fruits, sources of protein (meat, fish or cheese), and vegetables are components of each daily menu.
- Our meals and snacks meet the nutritional standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Child Care Food Program.
- Children assist with setting the table and clearing the table at the end of the meal.
- Teachers sit and eat with the students and encourage table conversation.
- This style of dining teaches good manners, decision-making, and learning to serve others.
Our Heath and Nutrition Program
- Each morning, a health assessment is made of every child.
- To prevent any diseases from spreading, we continue to monitor for symptoms during the day and notify parents when a child is too ill to stay at school.
- All toys and other materials are disinfected on a scheduled basis.
- Teachers undergo training procedures in diaper changing and food preparation.
- All Skipwith Academy schools maintain strict health and safety cleaning codes.
- All staff members who dispense medication must complete medication administration administration training.
- Medications are stored securely out of the reach of children.
- We serve a hot, homemade breakfast and lunch daily at no extra charge in a family style setting.
- Milk, fruits, sources of protein (meat, fish or cheese), and vegetables are components of each daily menu.
- Our meals and snacks meet the nutritional standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Child Care Food Program.
- Children assist with setting the table and clearing the table at the end of the meal.
- Teachers sit and eat with the students and encourage table conversation.
- This style of dining teaches good manners, decision-making, and learning to serve others.
Enriching Environments
More than just a daycare, Skipwith Academy is your child’s home away from home
With large, bright classrooms, award-winning books, enticing toys, arts and crafts, and engaging educational activities, the best in early education happens here. Our aim is to provide a welcoming environment for learning, exploration and growth and give top priority to the safety and security of each child.
As children grow they need challenging, safe, durable equipment that helps them progress in developmental physical skills. That is why Skipwith’s playground designers create age-appropriate environments with state of the art play equipment.
Skipwith Academy is committed to supporting health and nutrition by planning physical activities both indoors and outdoors, serving nutritious foods and implementing gardening and cooking experiences.
Gardening experiences provide children with the opportunity to learn about life cycles, environmental awareness, responsibility, and cooperation through working together.
During the summer, Skipwith Academy students look forward to spending afternoons at our on-site private pools and splash areas. We have trained lifeguards on duty. Teachers swim and play with the children in the pool and provide supervision while the children enjoy one of the best delights of our Summer Camp program.
Teacher Training & Support
Skipwith Academy chooses professional, caring educators who love working with children
Skipwith Academy schools are staffed with trained, enthusiastic individuals who have been selected, not only for their educational backgrounds and experiences, but also for their understanding of and dedication to young children. Many of our teachers and most of our management hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in an Early Childhood related field or a Child Development Associates Credential (CDA)
The education of teachers and managers is deliberate and tiered by level of expertise. An Individualized Training Program is created for each teacher and manager that describes learning goals over the course of the year. There are periodic formal assessments done by the education specialists to determine each teacher’s progress in implementing what they have learned. Managers also receive systematic classes on educational leadership, which helps them to better support the needs of the teachers in their school.
Skipwith Academy is committed to supporting families and children in the communities we serve. We provide a variety of options for learning, not only based on the age of the child, but also his or her prior learning, maturity, and developmental stage. Our curriculum is based on a learning plan for meeting the emotional, physical, social, and cognitive needs of children using developmentally appropriate practices in a supportive environment.