The search for the right preschool for your child can be exciting and more than a little overwhelming.
It is our goal to make this process as smooth as possible for you and your child. Above all else, we want our children to enjoy their time at preschool and develop positive associations with the concept of school. This is just the first step in their academic careers and our goal is to lay the foundations. Preschool is a place where we play, have fun, learn and make friends. It is a place where there are interesting and engaging activities planned just for us. It is a place where we get to hear stories and use our imaginations. It is a place where we learn and grow and get ready to go to kindergarten!
At NECEC our primary goal is to provide your child with high quality preschool experience that inspires them and makes them excited about school. The early childhood years are not just preparation for future schooling, they are a valuable part of life in their own right!
At NECEC we know that a true academic preschool is one that focuses on laying the educational foundations upon which all other learning will be built. In child development circles, the terms used to best describe our preschool program would be:
Play-Based ● Emergent Curriculum ● Relationship-Oriented ● Developmentally Appropriate
These terms can be found throughout the early childhood research literature and are supported by many, many studies, so another term that we would use to describe our curriculum is research-based.
Uniquely Qualified
- We are a small preschool program where nobody gets lost in the crowd. A place where everyone knows your name!
- We prioritize low teacher/child ratios (1 to 5 for toddlers and 1 to 8 for preschoolers) so teachers can really get to know each child and build relationships which maximize children’s opportunities for learning and connection with others.
- We truly embrace early childhood research and focus on providing developmentally appropriate learning opportunities based on traditional theories and current educational research.
Our Jamboree Joins Us
Every Monday and Thursday, at the end of the day, the whole center comes together for music, movement, singing, and dancing!
Sociodramatic Play Events
In addition to daily opportunities to participate in a variety of types of play within our classrooms, we like to design large-scale “Sociodramatic Play Events”. This type of play is considered by researchers to be the most advanced form of symbolic (or pretend) play as it showcases and enhances their development across all domains- language, social, emotional, physical and cognitive. For one week each month, we set up materials and props around a familiar theme such as doctor’s office, grocery store, camping, or restaurant in the central area of our center so that each class can rotate in and out engaging in this imaginative play.
Outdoor Curriculum
Our shady playground provides opportunities for gross motor play and discovery. Other outside activities for your child include:
- Art easels
- Sensory tables
- Dramatic play house
- Roomy sandbox
- Gardening bins
Teachers plan for our outdoor curriculum just as they do for our indoor learning activities. The outdoors is an extension of our classrooms!