Our History

UTCS began as Temple Day Care Center in 1970. A childcare center established in the University United Methodist Temple for the University of Washington Students to have low-cost, reliable care, UTCS was one of the first centers in Seattle to offer childcare to children ages 1 to 2.5 years.

The idea for Temple Day Care Center came from a group of students who, in the summer of 1970, made arrangements for a temporary day care center using Temple facilities. A group of United Methodist Temple members saw in this temporary arrangement the answer to a long-standing need in the university community for a permanent day care facility in the area. These church members became the board of directors for Temple Day Care which opened in September 1970.

The main purpose of the center was to provide low-cost child care for student families by giving the parents the option of reducing their fees by working at the center.

Temple Day Care Center flourished and quickly outgrew the organizational capacity of the church. In 1982 we split from the church and reorganized as University Temple Children's School (UTCS). Since then, UTCS has been a premiere, independent, non-profit child care provider in the University District partnering with families and the community to lay a foundation for children to become active participants in a diverse world.

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In 2021, UTUMC was slated to be razed to the ground and UTCS needed to find a new home.

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In 2020, UTCS made the big change and moved to the UHeights Center, where we are today. Through the pandemic our teachers endured and supported our children and families. Childcare and in-person work has suffered greatly due to covid, but UTCS has persisted.

Since our move, UTCS has undergone a transformation. We have reopened all four of our classrooms after adding bathrooms and remodeling them all. We are very excited to welcome new families to our program and keep UTCS going strong for another 50 years and more.