Standards of ethical behavior in early childhood care and education are based on commitment to the following core values that are deeply rooted in the history of the field of early childhood care and education. We have made a commitment to:

• Appreciate childhood as a unique and valuable stage of the human life cycle

• Base our work on knowledge of how children develop and learn

• Appreciate and support the bond between the child and family

• Recognize that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture, community, and society

• Respect the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each individual (child, family member, and colleague)

• Respect diversity in children, families, and colleagues

• Recognize that children and adults achieve their full potential in the context of relationships that are based on trust and respect

Families schedule a tour with the Child Care Coordinator to get an overview of the child care center to see if it is a fit with a family’s child care needs. Prior to enrollment families will have an opportunity to meet with the child’s primary caregiver and discuss the classroom schedule, routine, and what to expect. Once the classroom visit is completed, the Child Care Coordinator will give the parent(s)/guardian(s) the enrollment paperwork. Families will receive a Child Care Handbook. The Child Care Coordinator will review the most important policies. Enrollment paperwork must be completed and returned prior to the child’s first day, with the exception of Physician’s Form. Physician’s Form must be returned within 30 days of enrollment with the child’s immunization records according to the Rules for the Licensing of Child Care Facilities.

Our curriculum is designed to meet the needs of each child. We believe that children learn best in the context of warm, loving, primary care giving relationships. We recognize parents as being a vital source of information when creating a stimulating, purposeful, and meaningful learning environment. The curriculum promotes each child’s physical, emotional, social and cognitive development. Because play is such an integral part of learning, our classrooms are set up with learning centers so children are able to manipulate materials, create, investigate and in general discover the world around them. Teaching staff gain information about formal and informal communication with families, child observation and on-going assessment. Classroom environments, along with individual child and group goals are intentionally designed based upon this information.

Our teaching strategies include:

• Intentional teaching based upon individual assessments

• Creating environments and providing materials and supplies that support child-guided learning experiences

• Developmentally appropriate practice to nurture emerging skills and abilities

We follow the Maine Early Learning Guidelines for children ages three to five years for the preschool classroom. Fostering children’s curiosity is important in our curriculum. We base our curriculum in the preschool room on the book Young Investigators THE PROJECT APPROACH IN THE EARLY YEARS. By Judy Harris Helm and Lilian Katz. The curriculum used for infants and toddlers is The Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers and Two’s, By Diane Trister Dodge, Sherrie Rudick and Kai-lee Berke. This curriculum is supplemented by the Maine Infant and Toddler Guidelines from birth to 36 months.

GSA curriculum goals are based on the:

• Developmental abilities and needs of the children

• Multiple domains of children’s development

• Specific learning objectives inherent to the chosen curricula

• On-going individual child assessment results

• Collaboration with families around individual child goals

• A description of the knowledge and skills that children will acquire based on Maine’s Early Childhood and Infant Toddler Learning and Development Guidelines.

• The use of ongoing individual child assessment based on planned, objective observation

• Learning experiences (activities)

• Environment, equipment and materials

• Schedules, routines, and transitions

Families may access the Early Learning Guidelines and foundational curriculum for further review. If interested, please feel free to ask the Child Care Coordinator for these materials.