Our Curriculum

Our Curriculum is based on the Nova Scotia Early Learning Curriculum Framework: Capable, Confident and Curious, which can be viewed here.

Educators observe children’s play interests to provide developmentally appropriate learning invitations and provocations that promote the emergence of children’s skills, interests, and abilities as they pertain to the following learning goals:

Well-being
Discovery and Invention
Language and Communication
Personal and Social Responsibility

The Learning Goals of the curriculum provide structure for best practice in early learning and support educator reflections and critical thinking. Each learning goal houses objectives that form the basis for the assessment of children’s learning, and guide educators in creating developmentally appropriate learning experiences for children in their care.

We strive to ensure child-led play is encouraged and offered as often as possible, recognizing that children can discover, create, improvise, and imagine when the context for learning is freely chosen by the child, and allows for the expression of personality and individuality through either loud and exuberant or quiet and reflective play.

We recognize that families are children’s first and most influential teachers. We invite families to work in partnership with our team of educators to ensure family culture, values and beliefs are reflected within our program to support inclusive and diverse learning environment that encompasses the holistic development of the child.

Curriculum Responsibilities

Plan, implement and deliver developmentally appropriate curriculum which adheres to the standards established by the Nova Scotia Early Learning Curriculum Framework: Capable, Confident and Curious.
Follow the lead of the children in the program to create invitations and provocations based on emerging interests.
Maintain ongoing observations of the indoor and outdoor learning environments to shape programming, activities, and pedagogical practice.
Implement positive behavioural guidance strategies which adhere to departmental policies as well as DDC Behavioural Guidance Policy.
Engage in ongoing authentic assessment, observation, and documentation. Use a variety of strategies to collect, document, organize, synthesize, and interpret the information gathered to assess children’s engagement and learning.
Collect meaningful information, documentation and observations that depict children’s ongoing learning and engagement within the context of the program, identifying the strengths, skills and understanding in a thoughtful, informative way.
Ensure all equipment and play areas are safe and free from harmful objects. Adapt outdoor learning environment to accommodate children with diverse needs, and to reflect the current emerging interests of the children.
Complete thorough and thoughtful progress reports twice annually based on ongoing observations and documentation.
Maintain familiarity with the learning objectives of each developmental domain including well-being; discovery and invention; language and communication and personal and social responsibility.
Implement learning strategies for each learning objective as established by the NS Early Learning Curriculum Framework: Capable, Confident & Curious to ensure children meet learning objectives based on their diverse learning needs.
Recognize that families are children’s first and most influential teachers. Establish respectful relationships with parents and work in partnership with families to ensure family culture, values and beliefs are reflected within our program.

You can view the Nova Scotia Early Learning Curriculum Framework: Capable, Confident & Curious by clicking here.

We would love to welcome your child at Dartmouth Day Care

To get started either call us on 902-434-2865 for more information or complete our application form.

Apply Now