- Each
toddler is assigned a primary care provider - The primary care provider's role is to develop a close relationship
with the child and provide most of his/her daily care. The primary care provider will also develop a relationship with the
family and exchange daily information about the child, his/her day, care and his/her development. The primary care provider
will care for this child until he/she is 36 months when he/she will transition into the preschool program.
- Each primary care provider is assigned at most 4 toddlers
- This ratio will be lower than most day cares and less than mandated by the New York State Department of Social Services
Day Care Regulations, which state that a ratio of 1:5 for toddlers is appropriate.
- Children with developmental delays and disabilities are welcome -
Since our background is serving children with special needs, our center will also be receptive to caring for this children
with special needs. Most families with children with special needs find it hard to locate quality care for their children.
The burden of helping the day care providers' care for their child typically falls on the parents and the teacher/therapists
who serve the children through the NYS Early Intervention Program. Parents worry if their child is being well cared for in
this setting and if he/she will be nurtured so he/she will meet his/her developmental milestones. The staff will be trained
in caring for children with special needs and detailed guidance will be offered for specific disabilities. Parents will be
able to gather information about their child's day and give specific instructions to the primary care provider about their
needs and ways the primary care provider and other care providers can support his/her development.
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- The preschool component of the day care will follow the standards of High Quality Early Children Education set by the
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) - They also offer accreditations which indicate
that the program is following these standards. At this time there are only four accredited programs in Ulster County and three
of these programs are associated with educational programs, which cannot cater to full time working parents.
- There will be highly qualified staff with each room
having one head teacher and one to two assistants/aides - The curriculum will promote positive relationships
between staff, children and family members. The use of a developmental appropriate and culturally rich curriculum will be
employed throughout the day along with effective teaching approaches. NAEYC provides members with monthly journals to help
promote appropriate curriculum. Given the acreage, the day care will have a large play area which will promote dynamic outdoor
play for a minimum of 60 minutes per day for children at the center all day.
- The preschool program will also accept children with developmental delays and disabilities
- Training will occur regularly on both typical development and developmental disabilities so that the staff is comfortable
with all the children enrolled in our preschool program. There is a an integrated special education program on site, approved
by New York State Education Department. This program is associated with principles of Partnership For Education and will integrate
the two businesses philosophies. The 2 ½ hour classroom serves eight children with Individual Education Plans. There
are 8 typical children from our preschool program to receive part of their care in this room and will be taught by a Master's
level special education teacher.
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