Early Childhood Programs accredited by the National Association for Early Childhood Program Accreditation NAEYC have voluntarily undergone a comprehensive process of internal self-study, invited external professional review to verify compliance with the Criteria for High-Quality Early Childhood Programs, and been found to be in substantial compliance with the Criteria. The program standards and accreditation criteria are based on a conceptual framework with four areas of focus:
A high-quality early childhood program provides a safe and nurturing environment while promoting the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of young children.
In accredited programs, you should see:
* frequent, positive, warm interactions among teachers and children
* planned learning activities appropriate to children’s age and development, such as reading stories, block building, painting, dress-up, and active outdoor play
* specially trained teachers and administrators
* ongoing professional development
* enough adults to respond to individual children
* many varied age-appropriate materials
* respect for cultural diversity
* a healthy and safe environment for adults and children
* inclusive environments
* nutritious meals and/or snacks
* regular, two-way communication with families who are welcome visitors at all times
* effective administration
* ongoing, systematic evaluation
Grandma’s House offers Parent-Teacher Conferences four times each year; two formal and two informal. Teachers review children’s portfolios and discuss individual goals with each child’s parent.
Grandma's House Assessment Forms (by age of the child):
10 NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and Accreditation Criteria