The Children's School

Since 1970 The Children¿s School has been operating as a Parent Cooperative Preschool offering the Greater Burlington community a high quality developmental program designed to recognize and meet the individual needs of children ages 3-5. The Children¿s School strives to create a preschool based on play, nurturing care, and respect for all people. In this atmosphere, children are supported to pose questions, seek solutions, develop friendships, and explore their creative and intellectual abilities. The classroom provides a myriad of opportunities for children to expand on their current knowledge through painting, drawing, playing, writing, moving to music, working with sand, building with blocks, reading and listening to stories, recreating life experiences through dramatic play and experiencing math and science. Materials that promote open-ended exploration and continue to challenge children over time are chosen. Our classroom is designed to encourage participation through self-directed small group activities at learning centers, complemented by teacher-directed large group activities such as meeting time, music, and circle games. The emergent curriculum at TCS grows out of the belief that children are capable of making appropriate choices and decisions based on their interests. Teachers respond to students¿ interests and plan activities that facilitate learning through self-directed exploration. The freedom to make competent choices daily empowers children to believe in their abilities to learn and thrive in the classroom. We believe that nurturing a child¿s curiosity is of primary importance in the early years and provides the foundation for a life-long enthusiasm for learning. In 2004 we were able, through Act 62, to enter into partnerships with four school districts in Chittenden County (Burlington, So. Burlington, Winooski and what was then known as Chittenden South (now Champlain Valley)). Since the enactment of Act 166 in 2015, we now have the opportunity to enter into partnerships with school districts throughout the state of Vermont. These partnerships enable families to receive tuition funding through the Vermont Agency of Education so their children can attend a qualified prekindergarten education program. Throughout these changes, The Children¿s School has remained a parent-cooperative in every sense of the word: it is an educational program that is defined, managed and supported by the parents. It offers parents a unique opportunity to play an active role in determining the nature and quality of the schooling their children receive.

Additional Information: Sibling Discount Available; Program Meals: Allergy Awareness, Special Diets, Special Schedule: School Year Only; Initial License Date: 10/01/2005; 5 Star Early Childhood Program - Licensed Provider; Area Description: Fenced Yard, Smoke Free;