Family child care providers often find that when children reach the age of 3, parents think it’s time to consider a larger childcare center. Now, with the support of public schools and Child Care Resource, parents who prefer the personal feeling and lower cost of an in-home family child care setting can be assured that their child will receive the same quality preschool education they need to be ready for kindergarten.

Background:

In 2008, Child Care Resource designed a program to assist family child care providers in offering pre-kindergarten education as part of their programs. With start-up funding from the Vermont Community Preschool Collaborative, Child Care Resource developed partnerships with three participating school districts and family child care providers to ensure high quality early learning experiences for 3-5 year olds residing in those respective school districts. Each provider participating in the project must attain and maintain a high level of quality recognition from the State of Vermont through the STep Ahead to Recognition System (STARS).

How the Program Works:

During the school year, each week a licensed early childhood educator employed by Child Care Resource visits each program for 3 hours to consult and mentor the provider. Together, the teacher and providers develop learning opportunities for the children that are consistent with the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS).

Children’s developmental progress is monitored on-going using the Creative Curriculum Development Continuum, an approved Department of Education tool. This information is shared with parents twice per year.

The providers and teacher meet monthly to share ideas and discuss the project. Additionally, each provider receives a stipend to invest in professional development and/or purchase materials to enhance program curriculum.

Participating preschoolers receive quality early education in a nurturing home environment while providers increase the quality of their program.

The Benefits to Your Child:

By participating in this program, your provider receives the training and support needed to provide high quality pre-kindergarten education.

Children benefit the most from stable, caring, continuous relationships with skilled and knowledgeable teachers or caregivers. By remaining with your current provider until Kindergarten, your child will continue to receive appropriate early education experiences in a familiar, nurturing environment.

Cost:

As a parent considering this program, you simply pay the tuition based on your provider’s rates. There is no additional cost to you. Funding from the school district pays for these enhanced services.

Quote from a participating provider:

"Most importantly the Child Care Resource teacher has validated within me that I am doing a fantastic job teaching our children all they need to know and more prior to entering Kindergarten and that quality preschool learning can and does happen within a home childcare setting."