Our Pre-K Classroom is set up to further develop the skills children learned in the toddler classroom while preparing them to enter the Kinder-Ready classroom. Brighton's Pre-K Class is divided into various centers that allow children to actively learn through play with “hands-on” exploration into the world of science, math, computers, language development, dramatic and creative arts. In this Pre-K program children have a bit more freedom to experience self-directed play, but also have ample group activity time.
What to expect in the Brighton Pre-K Classroom
In the Pre-K 2 Classroom, children will:
Focus on one letter each week to introduce phonetic concepts and recognize what words start with that letter.
Learn numbers and basic counting skills.
Further develop their fine motor skills by practicing with scissors during art activities.
Be introduced to writing basics like how to hold a pencil and how to trace letters, eventually leading to free writing.
Work on identifying their name and the letters in their name.
Children thrive off of a routine with just the right amount of structure and flexibility because it helps their minds know what to expect and be mentally prepared to take on the day. Our Pre-K program’s daily schedule gives students plenty of opportunities for teacher directed instruction, child led exploration, and socialization within large and small group learning experiences. We also take our learning outdoors twice a day and give our brains a rest after lunch time. Students are provided with breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack.
We ask that you arrive prior to 8:15 if you’d like your child to have breakfast and that all students are here no later than 9:30am on a daily basis. Our earliest drop off time is 7:30am and the latest pick up time is 5:30pm. The bulk of our Pre-K curriculum will take place between 8:30 and 4:30 and we want to ensure that all of our students are getting the most out of what each day has to offer.
Starting Fall 2021, there are now 1 teacher for every 6 children in EVERY classroom. That is a 70% LOWER teacher to child ratio than most childcare centers.
Low ratios are essential to providing young children with high quality, meaningful learning experiences. We pride ourselves on following NAEYC standard ratios and ensuring we are attentive and engaged with each of our students and providing the best possible care and education.
Our Pre-K program teachers are amazing, devoted, and highly talented. They genuinely care for the students in their class and have the experience and education to create learning experiences and relationships that will last a lifetime. In each Pre-K classroom at least one of the teachers has a college degree either in education or a closely related field. In most of our classrooms, both the lead and assistant teachers have a degree and/or certification. All of our teachers pursue ongoing training and education on an annual basis and receive at least 30 hours of training each year. 90% of our teachers have been with Brighton for more than a year and the majority have been with us for several years. We also, have substitutes on staff so that when our teachers need to be out, our students will still have a familiar face. Finally, our teachers are supported by an experienced administrative team, ensuring all of our students receive a great learning experience.
When you eat well, you grow, learn, and feel well.
We make a conscious effort to help our students enjoy a variety of tasty and nutritious meals each day. All of our meals align with the guidelines set forth by the USDA, but we also take care to use fresh, high quality ingredients and prepare each meal with love and tons of tasty flavors. One of the best ways to get children interested in trying new foods is by involving them in the process. Our students help plant herbs and veggies in our garden, maintain the garden, participate in a variety of cooking activities in their Pre-K classroom, give feedback on foods they would like to have on next month’s menu, and practice family style dining.
The National Association of Education for Young Children (NAEYC) program standards are the highest standards an early childhood education/pre-k program can acquire. Brighton’s Lullwood Preschool location holds this accreditation and operates according to their standards that are based on the latest research in education. These standards that Brighton Center operates within include:
Promoting positive relationships between children and teachers.
Implementing a curriculum that supports learning.
Teaching that supports curriculum goals.
Establishing a system of assessment for children’s learning.
Promoting the health of children.
Employing teachers who have a professional commitment.
Maintaining relationships with families.
Identifying community resources to support goals.
Maintaining a safe physical environment.
Having program management follow policies to maintain high-quality experiences for children, families, and staff.
When you choose a NAEYC accredited center, like Brighton Center, you can feel assured that your child is well cared for, is enjoying activities and making friends — and is building the knowledge, skills, and confidence to do well in kindergarten and beyond.
At Brighton’s Preschool Centers we understand that Parents play a vital role in the development of their children. That is why we involve our parents in ongoing Pre-K curriculum and center activities. In addition, we meet annually with parents and discuss their child’s current developmental progress and goals to ensure we are working together towards kindergarten readiness.
Communication between teachers and parents is a high priority at Brighton Center. We recognize the trust you place in us with your children and take that responsibility seriously. That’s why we have partnered with Procare to provide parents information, progress reports, photos, videos, and more of their children while they are in our care.
To always keep parents in the loop, we use a communication system called Procare.
It’s available for your smart device and will help you to share important information with Pre-K teachers and create a comprehensive record of all the great things your child is learning at Brighton Center. All families with children in our Pre-K program automatically receive emails from Procare which contain photos and details about their child’s day.
With Procare, Parents can:
Easily message center staff via the app
Receive any alerts or announcements in real time
View upcoming schedules
See a calendar of upcoming activities
View attendance for your child (week or month)
View activities: naps, meals, playtime and learning
Understand how your child is doing against developmental milestones
See photos and videos of your child in action
Use GPS-enabled curbside check-in or QR code technology for a contactless experience
“My daughter was at Brighton for almost three years. It was a great place for her that provided a positive learning environment and child-centered staff. My daughter learned empathy and acceptance from her peers and teachers. The center is NAEYC accredited and teachers are knowledgeable of developmentally appropriate practices. They truly care about the children and families with whom they work and provide valuable, timely information regarding your child’s growth/performance. Brighton staff always made us feel like a part of their family. I always felt comfortable asking questions and they were both inclusive of ideas I brought to them as a parent and responsive to my child’s needs. We left because my daughter entered Pre K at her public school. She is doing great because of the social, emotional, and academic preparation she received at Brighton Center. We miss everyone very much, and are grateful for everything they did for our family. We ❤️ Brighton and highly recommend it to anyone looking for an inclusive, child-centered day care and preschool.”
