Q.  Is my child learning? What curriculum do you use?
A. We follow an emergent curriculum model and are inspired by the project approach and methods of Reggio Emila schools in Italy. 
Quoted from the National Association for the Education of Young Children's publication The Young Child , author Mary Ann Biermeir explains the emergent curriculum model well: 

Emergent curriculum is not a free-for-all. It requires that teachers actively seek out and chase the interests of the children. This kind of teaching environment demands a high degree of trust in the teacher’s creative abilities, and envisions an image of the child as someone actively seeking knowledge. It is a perspective that turns structured curriculum, with predetermined outcomes, on its head. A standardized curriculum that is designed to replicate outcomes often eliminates all possibility of spontaneous inquiry, stealing potential moments of learning from students and teachers in a cookie-cutter approach to education in the classroom. Given the diversity of the children we teach, accepting a canned recipe for teaching, evaluation, and assessment is problematic at best. Each child we teach is unique, requiring us to use our own judgment, instead of rules, to guide our teaching practice. To teach well, educators must ensure that creativity and innovation are always present. Although good teaching requires organization and routines, it is never inflexible and rarely routine. It dances with surprise. It pursues wonder. It finds joy at every turn.

Link to full article here: https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/nov2015/emergent-curriculum 

 

Research shows that a play based early childhood education model is the way to support healthy mental, physical and social development. Laurel Bongiorno shares this concise article https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/10-things-every-parent-play

Trusting this approach children who graduate from our program to attend public and private Kindergarten programs have worked on; recognizing and writing their name, counting, letter recognition and phonetics, as well as important executive functioning skills such as how to comfort a friend, flexible thinking, independence, following safety rules and self engaging in classroom activities. We use the MELDS as a guide to support development in a mixed age group (click link below) and offer bi-annual assessment based on these standards. 
Maine Early Learning and Developmental Guidelines.

 

Q. What is NAFCC Accreditation? 
NAFCC is the National Association for Family Childcare. The Association oversees and supports professional, early childhood educators operating out of their own homes. Nationally accredited homes meet higher standards in child care and set the benchmark for quality. NAFCC Accreditation is an indicator that a family child care program offers safe, inviting spaces and warm, nurturing care complete with educational activities designed to meet the needs and interests of all children while promoting individual development. 

Parents who enroll in STEP 4 QRIS, Nationally Accredited Childcare program qualify for a double childcare tax credit. 

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Q. What is a Certified Nature Explore Classroom? 
A. A program with a Nature Explore certification is committed to creating a positive impact on children's relationship with nature. Your Little Artist became the third program in the state of Maine to receive Nature Explore certification in December 2020. Click on the Icon below to see a slide show created by Nature Explore to explain the benefits of the program. Click here to read our journey to becoming certified. 


Q: What is your closing schedule? Do we pay for closings? Our 2025/2026 School Year & Summer Schedule is posted on the calendar image below. 

Just like any profession paid time off for teachers to rest, recoup and also do program maintenance & planning is part of a holistic, well rounded early education program; especially one that runs year round with the youngest students. Tuition is due on a set schedule and includes paid time off.



Q: Do families need to bring lunch?
A: No, We provide 2 meals & at least 1 snack everyday in accordance with the Federal Food Program.

Q: My child has food allergies, is a vegetarian or has another special diet. Can you accommodate that?
A. We are a 100% peanut free home/program. Vegetarian diets are easily compatible with the federal food program & many of our meals are already Lacto-ovo vegetarian & pescatarian. 
For Allergies the federal food program allows many substitutions, some require a Dr. note. 

Q: Can I bring lunch for my child?
A. Usually no. Due to other children's food allergies we restrict food being brought in. If your child has significant allergies or is undergoing an elimination or special diet that needs to be closely monitored we can plan for meals to come from home. 

Q. Do you offer 1/2 days, longer hours or part-time care?
A. Our program runs year round M-Th from 8am-4:30pm, closed 2 Fridays a month for a thorough deep clean, all the prep work that goes into running an early education program and teacher trainings. We have not found 1/2 days beneficial for children and actually find quite time in the afternoon for napping or playing together helps to bond our little group. 
Our "full day program" is a 4 day program 8am-4:30pm M-Th. We allow part-time enrollment as a "shared spot" option when 2 families are seeking opposite schedules as space allows. 

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Q. How many children and teachers are present each day? We are licensed under the OCFS Family Childcare licensing division with serves as the minimum for guidelines follows. We enroll a group of 12 children &  have 2 lead teachers daily with 1-2 support staff during the day. We follow NAFCC Accreditation ratio guidelines for ages enrolled and ratios, usually have 3 adults on site & our ratio is generally lower than most centers in the area. 

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Q. Are there any pets or animals on site? Yes! This program is run in my family home. We have 2 very friendly dogs who have been raised around children for many years. One is a beloved and elderly Mastiff, Bear,  who follows us around all day. Our other dog, Numa, is a smaller hound/mutt from down South who is about 5 she was raised with our homeschool pod during Covid & does some really fun tricks for the children. She's often resting upstairs as she likes to bark at passersby. We also have a pet Leopard Gecko who mostly lives in his tank but we sometimes watch him eat bugs which is fun!

Q. What ages do you enroll. 
Your Little Artist best serves older toddlers through early Preschool, ages 18 months-4 years. We are an active group, outside as much as possible and have only 1 scheduled nap time daily.

Q. Do you offer tuition assistance?
A. We are enrolled in the childcare subsidy program (CCSP) as a Step 5 Quality Rated, licensed childcare program. 
We also accept Aspire vouchers. We have a limited amount subsidized slots available please inquire about availability. 
You can learn more about Maine's income guidelines for state assistance and CCSP (click image) 

Q. Are immunizations required? 
A. September 1, 2021 Public Law 798, An Act to Protect Maine Children and Students from Preventable Diseases by Repealing Certain Exemptions from the Laws Governing Immunization Requirements went into effect. This law removes religious and philosophical exemptions allowed for immunizations for children attending childcare programs, Preschools, Nursery schools and public schools. Your child will need to be up to date and remain on their age appropriate vaccine schedule to attend Your Little Artist, Licensed childcare program. Please review the Childcare Immunization Standards. If a medical exemption is needed the specific Medical Exemption from Mandatory Immunization Childcare Form is required. 

Q. What about the potty?
Toileting independence is not generally an indicator of developmental readiness for Preschool.
Children who are still learning bathroom habits or in diapers may attend (diapers are provided here).
Children are considered fully potty trained and can wear "undies" to Preschool when 2 weeks have passed without accidents during the day, they can articulate when they need to go, undress themselves (we help with zippers & snaps) and use our fully plumbed child sized toilet. While we support developmentally appropriate bathroom habits such as handwashing, toileting & dressing we cannot "potty train" a child without the initiation of the process and commitment of parents/caregivers at home. 
Q. What is the Illness policy?
Our illness policy is centered around the wellness of all families enrolled and teachers employed. 
The main tenants of our policies for all illnesses is "stay home when sick". 
Children are expected to be home if other household family members are sick with contagious illnesses including but not limited to Covid-19, Flu, Strep & RSV. 
Our sanitizing protocols meet or exceed NAFCC standards for Accreditation which we were doing long before Covid-19 and will continue to keep our environment clean & healthy. We have found strict illness policies actually contribute to positive attendance outcomes overall & limit closings or schedule disruptions due to teacher illness. 
Parents are asked to answer wellness screening questions about their child/household daily before arrival. Parents, babysitters, alternate pick up people should be free from illness before entering the site to avoid exposure to other families, children and teachers.