Mother’s Days Out/Cottage

(18 months to 3 years)

Mission

To establish a first-time school experience away from home that is very engaging, warm, trusting, and nurturing.

Why we’re special

• Safe, secure environment
• Fun, exciting, and challenging activities
• Loving, happy teachers and children
• 1:6 teacher/student ratio for 18 mos.
• 1:8 teacher/student ratio for two and three year-olds
• 3 parent/teacher conferences per year
• Circle of friends
• Music & Movement
• Art adventures
• Library’s special stories
• British Curriculum equivalent

And all the messy things we can’t do at home, like paint, play dough, slime, waterplay, sand play, shaving cream art, gluing, and many more fun activities that help develop fine motor skills!

Curriculum

The MDO program is often a child’s first school experience. Our main focus is providing a safe and loving environment conducive to learning. A student/teacher ratio of 1:6 for 18 months, and 1:8 for two and three year-olds is mandated to allow for individual instruction and attention. Yorkshire Academy feels very strongly that the development of positive self-esteem is the foundation of a successful school experience. Therefore, in these early years we emphasize students’ development of social and self-help skills and positive self-esteem. We also focus on gross and fine motor development .

Students explore math, language arts, social studies, and science concepts through the use of manipulatives, experimentation, storytelling, creative dramatics, and play. Music and art are integrated in the curriculum throughout each day. Teachers use the Brigance Diagnostic Inventory of Early Development to track students’ progress and to communicate this progress with parents and/or guardians. For additional enrichment, the children are also included when guest speakers like Mother Goose, a policeman, a dentist, a fireman, or a Metro driver come to the school.

Parents stay informed through a monthly “What’s Happening Calendar.”