Our Approach
As a NAEYC accredited center, NCCCC follows best practices in early childhood education. Our curriculum follows a play-based approach to learning with an emphasis on outdoor education. It is influenced by the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards, which address the importance of fostering children’s development in the following domains:
Cognition
Social and Emotional
Physical Development and Health
Language and Literacy
Creative Arts
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Each day, children participate in a combination of child-led and teacher-prompted learning experiences. We provide specials such as yoga, music and movement, and cooking, all of which are included in weekly tuition so that every child is able to participate.
We have daily access to the church dining hall for indoor recess when there is inclement weather. Children can play with bikes, balls, hula hoops, and tunnels in this space. They often set up obstacle courses or organize races with their peers and teachers. Each class has at least one hour of recess every morning and another hour every afternoon, whether they are outside or inside.
We are fortunate to have sidewalks and be located within close proximity of downtown Niantic, so children are able to attend walking field trips to the town hall, gazebo, and children’s museum. Extra teachers and chaperones accompany the classes on field trips to ensure the safety of our students.
In all that we do, we aim to provide a well-rounded curriculum that meets the individual needs of each child. We use the Connecticut Documentation and Observation for Teaching System (DOTS) as a basis for assessing children through naturally-occurring observations. We offer parent-teacher conferences twice per year, and at your request. Teachers receive ongoing professional development to ensure that they are up-to-date on current research in the field. They also receive First Aid, CPR, and Medication Administration training.
To see our program in action, please contact us to set up a tour!