The Academy for Little Children (ALC) strives to ensure children and families have a warm, welcoming and engaging experience as they make memories with us.
Development
Children’s development is fully supported through a research based, developmentally appropriate curriculum. The Academy adheres to NAEYC’s definition of curriculum and supports intentional teaching practices both in curriculum planning and implementation.
Outside Time
Our program is guided by the Caring for Our Children guidelines in regards to our Outdoor Policy. Teachers take children outside everyday regarding the temperature is 15 degrees (considering wind chill) and 90 degrees (considering the heat index). Caring for Our Children also guides our hand washing procedures for staff and children within the facility. Our Nurse on staff is responsible for all hand washing and diapering procedure orientations.
Experiences
Within a child’s time at the Academy, they will have many experiences aligned with the Rhode Island Early Learning and Development Standards as well as Creative Curriculum. These experiences will engage children into many activities throughout each part of the day. We believe in a Responsive Care curriculum throughout all the classrooms from Infants to Pre-Kindergarten as each child is treated as a unique individual with needs of their own. Through observations, authentic assessments and differentiated teaching methods, our children guide our curriculum, schedules, materials, and classroom learning environments by their interests, cultures and ability levels.
Individualized Learning
Each child will always be encouraged to achieve, learn and grow at his/her own pace. As individuals, all children enrolled in the ALC will be accommodated to the best of our ability whether they have a physical disability, developmental delay, social integration needs or a sensory processing disorder. The Teachers will make every effort along with the Director and Education Coordinator to collaborate with families, Early Intervention, Child Outreach, and other community resources a child may need to succeed.
School-Family Connection
There is a consistent outreach and partnership with families through daily communication, weekly emails, social media closed group connection on facebook for only ALC families and staff, monthly newsletters, conferences, our open door policy and various school wide events. We believe strongly in the home/school connection as we strive to work with families to give their child the best experiences and care throughout the most influential developmental years.
Curriculum
The overall program curriculum framework is used to guide and support Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) and Intentional Teaching Practices within the classroom level curriculum.