Sanford Health

Preschool Services

What happens in children's early years of life has an affect on all future learning and development.  Brain research has shown that the experiences that children have during the first five years of life are important for the connections made in the brain that foster future learning and growth.

Some of this learning takes place when children are in the preschool years.  Preschool is commonly referred to as the years when children are between the ages of 3-5; before children enter into kindergarten.

 

Trainings:

  • Training opportunities for licensed or registered childcare providers.
     
  • Class instructors strive to help caregivers obtain information and confidence in one's ability to provide quality care for children.

 Click here for the 'Best Practice for Preschool-Aged Children Program' flyer

Technical Assistance:

  • CHILD staff are available to preschool sites to do an on-site observation. This observation will provide a means to develop an action plan in order to assist preschool classrooms with program improvement efforts.

 

Articles:

  • Early Childhood Education
     
  • Getting Ready: Preparing to House Your Pre-K Program
     
  • High-Quality Preschool: Why We Need It and What It Looks Like
     
  • The Importance of Pre-School Education
     
  • Preschool Curriculum Decision-Making: Dimensions to Consider
     
  • Promoting Children's Social and Emotional Development Through Preschool Education
     
  • Transition to Kindergarten
     
  • Why Preschool Matters

 

 To access services contact us at (605) 333-0698 or email us at childsrv@sanfordhealth.org

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Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS)

The ECERS Program is designed to improve the quality of preschool environments in order to provide a higher quality of care.

The observation tool (ECERS) rates seven subscales in the environment:

  1. Space and Furnishings,
  2. Personal Care Routines
  3. Language and Reasoning
  4. Activities
  5. Interaction
  6. Program Structure
  7. Parents and Staff

The ECERS Program involves pre and post observations by an ECE staff person, goal-setting to improve in needed areas, targeted technical assistance and training, and follow-up to maintain improvements.

For more information, call (605) 333-0698 or email childsrv@sanfordhealth.org.

3/9/2010

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