The philosophy of the Ocean View Early Education School Program is based upon the belief that each child deserves the opportunity to develop to his/her fullest potential. Children come to the Ocean View Early Education School from varied backgrounds and at different levels of maturity, each with their own unique ability to give and receive. Those responsible for the program are challenged to create an environment which will foster the physical, mental, emotional and social development of all the children in the school.
Each child needs a wide range of experiences in order to develop as they grow from one developmental level to the next. A warm, accepting atmosphere helps a child make the transition from home and family to socializing in a group of his/her peers.
Learning is an on-going process which begins for each child in the home. There is a relationship among all areas of children’s learning. Experience in the Ocean View Early Education School should complement what the child is learning in the home. There should be continuity in the children’s educational experiences as they progress from home through preschool and then on to the elementary classroom.
Teachers with broad academic backgrounds, including Child Development and Early Childhood Education, are required in order to provide the optimal school experience. Because children’s experiences in their early years are of the utmost importance in determining their later adjustment to and success in school, their first teachers should be knowledgeable about child development, and skilled at implementing developmentally appropriate practice.
The teachers at Ocean View Early Education School recognize that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture, and community. The uniqueness, dignity, and worth of each child are valued by each teacher and staff member. Parents are acknowledged as the child’s first teachers, and collaboration between home and school is actively encouraged. With the help of the parents and by means of a curriculum sensitive to individual progress, teachers assist each child in his/her first steps on the road to maturity.