Community Heart Early Learning Program
(Niigaanaki Day Care Centre)

Curriculum Statement 
 

Curriculum Statement 2011

Niigaanaki Day Care Centre

Supporting children’s learning

 

How does your garden grow?

 

All children should be able to grow to their full potential.

 

We support the learning styles and development levels of children through our program of planned, spontaneous and self-initiated opportunities and free choice cooperative play.

 

Sowing the Seeds…

 Just like seeds for the garden, each child needs nurturing and an enriching environment in order to grow to their full potential…

 

 

Niigaanaki Day Care is a 42 space preschool centre.  The centre is equipped with age appropriate furniture and materials. These materials (toys, books, puzzles, games, craft supplies), ensure that the children have access to items for each gender, differing cultures and developmental stages and abilities. These materials also encourage or support different skills.

• Pretend play, (dress-up clothes, kitchen areas)

• Fine motor development(Lego, scissors, beading)

• Large motor development (balls, bean bags, bikes, mats)

• Tactile (sand, water, playdough)

• Process art ( sparkles, markers, pompoms, crayons)

• A variety of many other materials and supplies.

• Based on the interests of the children, materials will be stored away or rotated back into the play space, accessible to all.

 

Based on the interests of the children, materials will be stored away or rotated back into the play space, accessible to all.

 

While outdoors, we make use of neighbourhood facilities and parks and our own fenced yard.  We are outdoors every day, weather permitting, and this allows the children to use their large muscles to run, jump, skip, ride bikes and to play ball games. An important part of our outdoor time is the chance to interact with nature and our community.

 

Our program is set up so that the children spend most of their day in mixed age groups, learning from each other and supporting each other.  The children separate into age groups for short periods of group time. 

 

A consistent flow to our daily schedule gives the children a sense of routine and comfort in transitions.  Our routines includes washroom time, snack and meal times, group time, outdoor play, a balance of large and small group activities as well as long periods of free play.

 

Every child has the opportunity to choose their play, and given time to explore and develop their skills. Each child with their own abilities and skills is welcomed to be a keen contributor by way of “hands on” learning experiences.

 

 

The Gardeners…

Each gardener provides a type of nourishment and therefore is an important part of the team. A positive, cooperative, supportive relationship ensures the child receives the care and support they need…

 

The child’s “Team of Gardeners” work together to support and encourage the child’s development.

 

Parents and Families

We exchange information with parents on a daily basis, from a sense of the child’s well-being to developmental milestones or concerns we may have.  The parent is the primary care giver and we strive to work together to meet the needs of the child and the family.

 

Staff Members

Our staff consists of formally trained and new Early Childhood Educators.  Each staff brings a variety of experiences and ideas to the centre.  Staff work closely together to develop a curriculum that best suits the children’s needs and interested.

 

Children

We strive to maintain positive relationships with the children through daily interactions and observation.

 

The Harvest…

All children blossom.  Some flower earlier and some are late bloomers, but their ideas and curiosity, together with the right environment, will help they grow to their full potential. 

 

During free play, the children have many opportunities to explore and experiment by choosing from a variety of materials accessible to them. We make sure that toys are rotated on a regular basis and that creative items are stocked on the shelves.

 

Play occurs both indoors and outdoors and at all times during the day.  Children naturally develop their Cognitive and Social-Emotional skills when they play.  Children further develop problem solving skills, build friendships, learn to communicate effectively and discover when given the opportunity to explore at their own pace.  We provide children with large blocks of time for free play for this learning and growth to take place.

 

We are always observing the children’s play. We place ourselves near the children to visually observe and listen to them but not to interrupt or disturb the play. 

 

 

If appropriate, staff will join in the play to model and use positive statements to gently guide, support and encourage the children. We look for opportunities to further play with ‘teachable moments’ by asking open ended questions and by introducing new materials.

 

Our schedule is set, yet flexible, and if needed, we allow the children extra time to expand on their learning experiences and to allow for the children to complete engaged activities.

 

When the children’s interests wane or change, we are open to modify the schedule to meet their needs by ending the activity or introducing new opportunities.

Planned experiences such as art, group times, field trips, etc. are age appropriate, based on children’s interests, and are planned to support active learning and to be fun. We plan, revise and initiate these activities, but they are ultimately directed by the children. The children actively participate or choose another activity they enjoy.

 

Routine times such as snacks, meals and toileting are used as one-on-one social times where conversations, singing and nurturing takes place, further building relationship and social skills.