Apple Tree Landing works from a “play based and child-centered” perspective. Our goal is to enrich the early experiences of our community’s children. This begins by facilitating a deep sense of worth, of belonging to a peer group, along with a sense of a growing personal history within the community. We believe in natural connections through play, self-discovery, problem solving and collaboration with their peers. This approach best fits with Apple Tree Landing’s belief that children reach their fullest potential in a playful, safe, nurturing, productive and exciting environment. Children are adventurers and explorers, and as educators, we are guides assisting them in the understanding and expanding of their discoveries.
Play Based Emergent Curriculum
An emergent curriculum, as used within children’s programs at Apple Tree Landing Family Education Centre, is an approach that finds its roots in a small town called Reggio Emilia located in Italy. An emergent-based approach:
- Begins with listening to and observing children
- Encourages collaboration between all staff members where developmentally appropriate curriculum is planned around children’s interests, desires and understanding of the world.
- Requires documentation of children’s interests and actions by staff (written descriptions, photographs and creative output)
- Helps children develop a love of learning and inquiry, as well as new perspectives and an interest in collaboration and cooperation with others.
- Requires daily review and adjustments – when an emergent focus is adapted: “Curriculum happens all day in every routine, action, interaction and arrangement of the room. Curriculum is the children.”
Equal Opportunity
At Apple Tree Landing, we want each child to participate in programs to their fullest extent possible. That is why programs designed ensure comfortable integration of children with a variety of disabilities. We also strive to access funds and resources needed to help cover enrolment fees and other costs for families who could not otherwise access services.
Apple Tree Landing promotes equality between boys and girls/men and women. We work to counteract negative messages in the mass media and among peers that perpetuate inaccurate beliefs about differing talents and potentials between females and males. Our staff members are fully committed to offering children an environment that is free of prejudice and discrimination of any type.
Inclusion/Diversity
The staff of Apple Tree Landing Family Education Centre believes that all children have the right to grow, develop and learn with their peers. We ensure that there are opportunities for all children to experience diversity and multicultural experiences, to participate in social play, free play and routines throughout the day. We strive to make the transition to and from our Centre as smooth as possible by scheduling meetings with the parents, the staff and other professionals working with the child and their family. Our program reflects the varying needs of our participants and will be adapted and enhanced to meet all abilities and differences. It is our belief that all children and community members are special and unique and bring value to our program. We work from a “no expulsion” philosophy – we feel it is our job to create an environment where all children can experience success.
We employ an Inclusion Coordinator who is responsible for the development of Routine Based Program Plans (RBPP’s), Behaviour Guidance Plans and ensuring that all Children’s Programs are inclusive and meet a wide range of diverse needs.
Outdoor Play
Outdoor play promotes good health and provides an opportunity for play activities beyond those planned for indoors. At Apple Tree Landing Family Education Centre children play outside twice each day unless:
- The outside temperature is below –21 degrees C
- The wind chill is below –21 degrees C
- There is a heavy rainfall, thunder and lightning or a blizzard
- Children MUST come with a hat appropriate for the weather EVERY DAY- (If children do not have hats when the UV index is 6 or higher they will be given a hat from Apple Tree Landing and you will be billed $5.00 for the hat.
PLEASE NOTE: If your child does not come with a hat when the UV index is high and they have already been provided a daycare hat (which has been taken home) you will be asked to come bring your child a hat or pick them up as they cannot go outside without a hat and we do not have staff designated to stay inside with them.
French
We are pleased to be able to feature French activities within our curriculum. During group and circle times, children build French vocabulary by learning basic numbers, colours, body parts, finger plays, songs, etc.
Music and Movement
Music and movement is incorporated into daily routines. The children sing along, perform finger plays, move to different rhythms and learn to use music and movement for relaxation and general enjoyment. Parents and friends with musical talents are always welcome to join us. We invite you to contact us if there are ways in which you can enrich our music and movement curriculum.
Quiet Time
In accordance with Daycare Regulations, all children enrolled in a full day program are required to have a rest period each afternoon. Our quiet time is from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm. The minimum length for quiet time is set at 45 minutes; the maximum time is 2 hours. As per the guidelines rest periods are to be appropriate to the developmental needs of individual children. Not all children require sleep during the day, but all children benefit from a rest period. The staff will not stop a child from sleeping if they wish to. However, upon request, staff will wake a child after a 45-minute sleep time. If a child falls back to sleep, they will be allowed to sleep until the maximum 2-hour period is reached. Quiet activities are provided for children who do not fall asleep within the first 45 minutes of rest time.
We do not allow children to be dropped off between 11:00am and 2:00pm as this is a disruption to quiet/rest time.
Please send your child with a soft toy or special blanket to help comfort them during rest period. Sheets are provided by the Centre for each cot.