Our Educational Philosophy
Quality, Creativity & Commitment
Valley Early Learning Center is committed to providing the highest quality care and early childhood development program to benefit children and families. VELC participates in the Washington State Early Achievers quality improvement program. We are proud to have met all requirements to attain the highest Level 5 Quality Rating from the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF). We believe every child deserves a strong foundation to enable lifelong success.
PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY
Our team is passionate about helping each young learner expand their knowledge of the world around them through play and connection. We reinforce a child’s natural drive to explore, experience, and discover their abilities. Our teachers focus on a child’s strengths, using everyday observations to guide development and learning as we encourage individual progress.
We embrace continual improvement and are eager to try innovations and best practices. Large and small group, sharing and cooperation activities develop social skills and emotional intelligence. We nuture kindness and respect towards others.
Creativity leads the way! We’re all about paint and glue, music and stories, questions and big ideas. We notice birthdays, share in life’s ups and downs, and most importantly, firmly believe that children thrive when families are involved in and support their child’s growth and learning success. We encourage families to volunteer and collaborate with us to build an environment where children feel loved and secure. Working together is the best way to teach our children!
CURRICULUM / LEARNING STANDARDS
Our meticulously currated, center-based curriculum artfully combines the benefits of both play-based and structured learning activities, culminating in a holistic and enriching experience that sparks curiosity and builds on what a child already knows.
Our program uses the Creative Curriculum and aligns with Washington State Early Learning Guidelines and recommended best practices. Our curriculum corresponds well with the Valley K-8 School’s Open Court curriculum, offering a smooth transition for VELC graduates into their next levels of growth.
DEVELOPMENT / ASSESSMENTS
We use authentic, observation based assessments to track a child’s growth and learning progress. We screen each child for development milestones within 90 days of enrollment. Throughout the year, we use the Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment platform to collect and analyze data across key areas: social emotional, physical, literacy, language, math, and cognitive objectives to improve outcomes.
We communicate regularly with parents/guardians about their child’s experiences at VELC, and offer conferences three times per year to discuss screenings, assessments, and to set family and individual child goals. We offer home visits and families have access to a family advocate.
To support social-emotional development and positive behavior, we integrate Conscious Discipline practices and the Pyramid Model frameworks. These approaches help children develop self-regulation, problem-solving skills, and empathy in a caring, supportive environment.
Benefits of Center-Based Learning
This approach supports various developmental domains, including cognitive, social-emotional, physical, and language skills. Center-based learning encourages active participation, allowing children to explore materials and make choices about their learning. This engagement helps children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Focusing a center on a specific subject, such as art or science, allows teachers to manage different learning styles and intelligences, ensuring that all children can engage meaningfully with the material.
By interacting with peers in a collaborative environment, children learn important social skills such as taking turns, negotiating, and communicating effectively.
Center-based learning fosters independence. Children can make decisions and take responsibility for their learning, which promotes independence and self-regulation.