WHAT SETS US APART?

LICENSED | PLAY-BASED | VARIETY OF PROGRAMS | STRONG CURRICULUM | CARE & COMPASSION

 

LICENSED

Licensed by the Department of Children and Family  Services – We are a state licensed facility. We follow and exceed  the guidelines mandated by the state of Illinois in regard to safety, environment, health standards and staffing requirements.

VARIETY OF PROGRAMMING

The UCECP Offers a Wide Variety of Programming – We offer programs for children 6 weeks to 6 years of age, making the UCECP a place where your child can grow and develop while building meaningful relationships.

 
 
 

ALIGNED WITH COMMON CORE

Curriculum Aligned With the Common Core Standards – Curriculum for all of our programs is aligned with the Nationwide Common Core Standards.

WORK SAMPLING

By using the  Work Sampling assessment system, we ensure that your child is adequately prepared for their next year of schooling.

 

PLAY-BASED LEARNING WITH
ACADEMIC ACCOUNTABILITY

Our ultimate goal is to provide the means by which our
students will become enthusiastic learners.

Play is a powerful gift to children and essential to their development. Brain research has proven that play promotes neuron growth which lays the framework for lifelong learning. Child-initiated play facilitates school and life success through its development of:

 
 

Physical Skills

Creativity & Imagination

Language Skills

 
 
 

Socialization

Academics

Problem Solving

 
 
 

Healthy Self-Esteem

 

Our school offers a perfect balance between progressive and traditional teaching methods. We believe in a play-based and engaging curriculum with academic accountability. We are influenced by the Reggio Emilia approach to Early Childhood Education. Our school has formed a strong partnership with the Rush NueroBehavioral Center curriculum to build executive functioning.

Using both group and individual approaches, we encourage children to experiment, explore, interact, observe and manipulate materials in their environment. We are committed to providing meaningful opportunities to all children, to enhance the development of the “whole child.”

 

PARENT GOVERNING BOARD

UCECP Parent Committee and Governing Board
Any parent with a child enrolled at UCECP may become a member of the Parent Committee. This committee helps plan activities throughout the year, serves as a liaison between teachers and parents, and helps with fundraising efforts for the scholarship fund and classroom enhancements. The UCECP is comprised of a governing board that is made of past and present parents.

SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

Our learning environment is designed to inspire creativity, encourage independence, and support communication.  We view every area of our school, including our outdoor spaces, as an extension of the classroom.  Throughout our school, you will see learning made visible through documentation of the children’s work and progress.

 
 
 

FAMILY PARTNERSHIPS

The UCECP views family involvement as an essential part of our school.  The collaborative effort between families and teachers takes many forms, including, classroom visits, parent committees and volunteering in and out of the classroom.  Our school is a community for families both past and present where common values are shared.

CARING & COMPASSION

The UCECP emphasizes character development, promotes care and concern for others, and works to instill a sense of respect and gratitude for the people and blessings in our children’s lives.  We celebrate and welcome families of all faiths, and we support all families in sharing their religious traditions.  There are no direct religious teachings in our curriculum at the UCECP, but there may be religious references made during the holidays.

 

ELECTRONIC PORTFOLIOS

Formal portfolios are combined with weekly communications to track each individual child’s growth and progress and effectively communicate this to parents.

Each program at the UCECP has established developmentally appropriate goals aligned with the Common Core.  Throughout the year, teachers track children’s growth and development for each of these goals.  This documentation is collected in an electronic portfolio.  These portfolios are reviewed during a face-to-face parent teacher conference.  Families are provided with a copy of this portfolio at the end of the school year.  In addition to this formal portfolio component, families receive weekly emails that highlight specifically what their child has done throughout the past week.  These weekly emails truly articulate and illustrate how children are learning in our classrooms.