Philosophy 1. Support the spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical growth of each child. 2. Support and encourage each child to enjoy lifelong learning 3. Parent involvement is invited and encouraged in the program to foster relationships and trust between children, parents and teachers. 4. We do have a flexible practice that is implemented throughout our planning, guidance and reflection regarding children in our program. 5. An inclusive program that adapts to every child's needs and abilities. Play based learning-Academic Learning At Early Learning & Childcare of the North, we do balance our philosophy so that learning through play is balanced with academics. Our program will allow children to adopt a facility learning style that includes a kindergarten readiness framework whilst still being play-based and developmentally suitable. As, early childhood educators we strive to find a balance because of the benefit from both learning styles, and we share this knowledge with our families. Allowing different types of learning opportunities will help children grow in all aspects of their development. Our curriculum is grounded in the idea that children are inquisitive, and play is an integral part of early childhood development. Play in a well-structured and regularly stimulating environment helps children discover who they are as they grow and develop their cognitive skills, social skills and emotional skills. Social/emotional development is at the heart of our curriculum. We offer experiences that help you feel like you are a competent person, internalize self-discipline, and develop a positive way of interacting with others. Each child is nurtured and supported, but teachers also strive to foster a sense of community, and a sense of each child as an active and valuable part of the group. Educators create an environment where information is accessible through a wide range of resources and experiences. We are committed to teaching the whole child, with an emphasis on all areas of growth. Our units of study enhance and support skill development, from nutrition units to incubation of eggs and our pen pal project, and other topics that are interesting to young children. Our approach to letter recognition is based on the Orton and Gillingham approach, which emphasizes the connection of letters and sounds in order to help children develop and improve their ability to read. There are different levels of reading instruction for children: sound level, word level, sentence level, conversational level, and more. The Orton approach emphasizes the word level. However, solid letter sound knowledge is essential from the very beginning. We use a handwriting without tears approach in our Pre-K program, which promotes Kindergarten readiness. We show your child the pathway to reading through multi-sensory tools and hands-on learning materials, as well as exciting learning opportunities. As a Northern Childcare Facility, we explore all kinds of living things. Animals are particularly exciting because of their movement, communication, and interaction. We believe that early exploration of animals will help your child to understand the natural world around them and how it changes over time. Guiding Principles We Believe: • Each child is a unique and a valued individual • Every family brings unique life experiences • Educators and early years practitioners are valuable contributors, rich in experiences and knowledge, who create inclusive environments that enrich the development of all children and families • All employees and volunteers contribute to the continuity of high quality, supportive and responsive programming and operations. • Welcoming environments and inclusive design create friendly access points that enhance child and family well-being. • Equitable and inclusive practices celebrate diversity, foster a culture of acceptance of acceptance and belonging and support the optimal development of all children and families • Active collaboration with diverse communities and professionals facilitates partnership in support of all children and families. • We value and respect the needs and strengths of all children and are dedicated to celebrating the individual child while encouraging participation in a collaborative, inclusive, and respectful community.