Programs
At Smart Start Childcare and Learning Center we strive every day to ensure our program and our facility demonstrates our focus on quality based on best practices surrounding safety, education, health and wellness for the children, families and community we serve.
Safety
Every day, we go above and beyond state licensing standards to ensure safety. Our staff are certified in pediatric CPR and first aid and undergo re-certification every year. Indoor and outdoor safety checks are completed every day and a risk reduction plan is created and reviewed bi-annually to prevent potential injuries from occurring. In addition to having a nurse onsite, we also have a health consultant visit every month to educate and inform staff on a variety of aspects related to illness prevention, health and safety.
Curriculum
Our belief is that each child progresses at his/her own unique pace and, therefore, activities are tailored to meet the individual needs of every child. Our daily structured and unstructured rituals are based on The Creative Curriculum which is the same curriculum elementary schools use for kindergarten screening and school readiness assessments. In addition to The Creative Curriculum, we also utilize principles of Emergent curriculum and Reggio.
Our Creative Curriculum
The Creative Curriculum is designed to create daily routines and meaningful experiences that respond to children’s strengths, interests and needs. This curriculum is fully aligned with the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework and state early learning standards. Using exploration and discovery as a way of learning, The Creative Curriculum enables children to develop confidence, creativity and lifelong critical thinking skills.
Since studies show birth through 5 years of age are the most formative years, we take every advantage of immersing our curriculum into all our activities throughout our day with the commitment to ensure all Smart Start children are Kindergarten and School Ready.
Activities Centered Around Health & Wellness
Activities are based on the Creative Curriculum, Emergent Curriculum and Reggio and are centered on health and wellness for children. Activities to meet the goals and objectives of promoting physical, intellectual, social and emotional development of the children in each age category are focused on eleven interest areas: Blocks, Dramatic play, Toys and Games, Art, Library, Discovery, Sand and Water, Music and Movement, Cooking, Computers and Outdoors.