Early Learning Program

In our child care centres at Good Beginnings, we follow the HighScope educational approach, working within the Ontario Early Learning Framework. This play-based, emergent curriculum provides children with opportunities to interact with adults who are responsive to their individual needs and interests. Children and adults learn best through hands-on experiences with people, materials, events, and ideas. This principle-validated by decades of research- is the basis of HighScope’s approach to teaching and learning. The HighScope curriculum emphasizes adult-child interactions, a carefully-designed learning environment and a plan-do-review process that strengthens initiative and self-reliance in children. Early Childhood Educators and children together are active participants in shaping their educational experiences. In the HighScope setting, children explore, ask and answer questions, solve problems, and interact with other children and adults as they pursue their choices and plans. During this process, they engage in Educator-initiated and self-initiated learning experiences in developmental content areas. Within each content area, are key developmental indicators that foster important skills and abilities. Early Childhood Educators observe and document children’s activities and interactions in order to assess their progress and plan curriculum and to demonstrate learning. Children participate in a variety of activities indoors, outdoors, small and large group activities, work time, water, sand and sensory play, books, toys, music and movement and house area are all included in the daily routine.

Our goals for young children are:
  • To learn through active involvement, with people, materials, events and ideas
  • To become independent, responsible, and confident- ready for school and ready for life
  • To learn to plan many of their own activities, carry them out, and talk to others about what they have done and what they have learned
  • To gain knowledge and skills in important academic, social and physical areas
  • To learn the skills needed to resolve conflict with others

STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES – Six overarching principles that orient Ontario’s Early Learning Framework (OELF):

  1. Early child development sets the foundation for lifetime learning, behaviour and health.
  2. Partnerships with families and communities strengthen the ability of early childhood settings to meet the needs of young children.
  3. Respect for diversity, equity and inclusion are prerequisites for honouring children’s rights, optimal development and learning.
  4. A planned curriculum supports early learning.
  5. Play is a means to early learning that capitalizes on children’s natural curiousity and exuberance.
  6. Knowledgeable, responsive early childhood professionals are essential.

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” – Fred Rogers

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.” – Kay Redfield Jamison