Program Overview

According to BC Early Learning Framework(2023), Early care and learning for children aged birth to eight is based on an image of the child as capable and full of potential. All children are celebrated as strong, competent in their uniqueness, and having a secure sense of belonging. Children can experiment, investigate, and inquire in ways that are relevant and meaningful to them. They are provided with opportunities to enrich and deepen their relationships with place, land, and community. Within the contexts of their individual and cultural identities, children are listened to and valued for their ideas and knowledge.

Their principles are:

Children are strong, capable in their uniqueness, and full of potential
Educators are researchers and collaborators
Early years spaces are inclusive
People build connection and reconnection to land, culture, community and place
Environments are integral to well-being and learning
Play is integral to well-being and learning
Relationships are the context for well-being and learning
Learning is holistic (Ministry of Education, 2019)

At Cloverdale Village Early Learning Centre, we provide a blended, child-centered curriculum guided by the BC Early Learning Framework (2023) and inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach. Our program combines play-based learning, inquiry and exploration, intentional teaching, and age-appropriate academic learning experiences to support each child’s overall development.

We believe that every child is unique, capable, curious, and full of potential. Our educators take the role of researchers, observers, facilitators, and collaborators, carefully observing children’s interests and developmental needs to create meaningful learning opportunities. Through a balance of child-led exploration and educator-guided experiences, children are encouraged to ask questions, develop ideas, solve problems, communicate, create, and build confidence as learners.

Our curriculum is designed to support the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, language, and creative development of children. While play remains an important part of early learning, our program also incorporates structured and intentional learning opportunities that help children build foundational skills in areas such as early literacy, numeracy, science, communication, and critical thinking.

At Cloverdale Village Early Learning Centre, we aim to provide a safe, nurturing, inclusive, and stimulating environment where children can become independent thinkers, creative problem-solvers, confident communicators, emotionally secure individuals, and respectful members of their community.

Our programs for children ages 0 to 5 include a broad range of developmentally appropriate experiences aligned with the BC Early Learning Framework. Core learning areas include Math, Early Literacy, Active Play, Music, and Science, along with Creative Arts, Pretend and Dramatic Play, Social-Emotional Learning, Sensory Exploration, and Nature-Based Learning.

Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, we also recognize the learning environment as an important part of the educational experience. Classroom materials, invitations to explore, documentation, and children’s emerging interests help guide curriculum planning. Each program is adapted to the children’s developmental stage, interests, abilities, and individual learning needs, providing a balanced approach to both play-based exploration and intentional academic preparation.

Program

Our program is carefully designed to provide children with a well-rounded and enriching learning experience. Through a combination of social-emotional, Math, Science, Reading, Music, and Physical programs based on BC Early Education goal, we aim to foster a love of learning and help children build important skills that will serve them well throughout their academic journey.

Well-being and Blonging

A sense of well-being and belonging is vital to children as they learn about and explore the world around them. In the first years of life, children develop increasing mastery over their bodies and daily routines, supporting health and well-being over their lifespan and providing them with a sense of place - a feeling of being grounded in their immediate environment, their communities, their culture, and the wider world. This confidence is essential to children as they begin to explore their creative capacities as family members, friends, thinkers, citizens, and stewards of the natural environment.

Communications

The communication competency encompasses the set of abilities that students use to impart and exchange information, experiences and ideas, to explore the world around them, and to understand and effectively engage in the use of digital media.

Literacy: Develops the ability to convey and exchange information, stories, and ideas.
Music: Enhances emotional expression and the ability to communicate with others.
Pretend or Dramatic Play: Fosters communication skills and language use through interactive role-playing.

Thinking and Creativity

The thinking competency encompasses the knowledge, skills and processes we associate with intellectual development. It is through their competency as thinkers that students take subject-specific concepts and content and transform them into a new understanding. Thinking competence includes specific thinking skills as well as habits of mind, and metacognitive awareness.

Math: Encourages problem-solving skills and logical thinking through mathematical concepts.
Science: Promotes critical thinking and creative problem-solving through experimentation and inquiry.
Creative Arts: Develops creative thinking and expression, allowing 3 Cloverdale Village Early Learning Centre students to explore and innovate.

Empowerment

Personal and social competency is the set of abilities that relate to students' identity in the world, both as individuals and as members of their community and society. Personal and social competence encompasses the abilities students need to thrive as individuals, to understand and care about themselves and others, and to find and achieve their purposes in the world.

Active Play: Increases self-awareness and social interaction through physical activities.
Social Skills: Cultivates cooperation, respect, and communication skills in relationships with peers.
Nature Exploration: Enhances understanding of the environment and helps shape personal identity through exploration of nature.