PROGRAM STATEMENT
Yes I Can Nursery School is dedicated to using the “How Does Learning Happen” (HDLH) document to guide our licensed programs. The ELECT are principles of the utmost importance and staff are encouraged to follow these principles in their daily interactions with the children. These ELECT principles are followed through partnerships with local community programs, respect for individual differences as well as inclusion and integration of children with differing abilities. Yes I Can is organized around the six guiding principles of the ELECT, this includes well being, belonging, engagement and expression. This statement will be reviewed annually to ensure that it is aligned with the Minister’s Policy Statement {(0.Reg. 137/15, ss 46(1))}.
We at Yes I Can, view children as being competent, capable, curious and rich in potential {(0.Reg. 137/15, ss 46(2))}. We continually encourage each child’s individuality and unique potential. This is done through unique programming, designed towards each individual in Yes I Can’s care. Providing programs for children with exceptionalities and unique differences allows the staff at Yes I Can to plan a program that caters to a variety of needs. The teachers use differentiated instruction to implement a program that is engaging and developmentally appropriate for all children.
The health, safety, nutrition and well-being of the children is of the utmost importance {(0.Reg. 137/15, ss 46(3)(a))}. and for this reason, the staff are trained in multiple areas to ensure this occurs. Some of these trainings include but are not limited to, CPR and first aid, epipen training, handwashing reviews, food and safety training, etc. If a child becomes ill while in Yes I Can’s care parents will be contacted and required to pick up their child immediately, it is the parents responsibility to have emergency plans in place. The snacks served at Yes I Can must follow Canada’s Food Guide suggestions on healthy practices. Families are given guidelines to follow in order to ensure healthy snacks/lunches are packed for their children.
Yes I Can Nursery School consistently supports positive and responsive interactions among the children, parents, child care providers and staff. These interactions are done in a positive manner and consistently supports each child’s ability to self-regulate {(0.Reg. 137/15, ss 46(3)(b)(C))}. Using individual program plans the teachers are able to gage what each student needs in order to self-regulate.
Yes I Can will foster the children’s exploration, play and inquiry with an open-minded approach that respects individuality and diversity. We will provide child-initiated and adult-supported experiences and create positive learning environments and experiences in which each child’s learning and development will be supported {(0.Reg. 137/15, ss 46(3)(d)(e)) (f)))}.
Yes I Can has a unique relationship with both the families and community partners. Through a partnership with Early Abilities Speech & Language, Vision, Hearing (EA), Yes I Can is able to offer a variety of services to our families. This provides the families with an opportunity to consult with a Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP), attend ongoing workshops and receive ongoing feedback about their child. Workshops are also provided to the staff of Yes I Can through these partnerships. The aforementioned services have allowed Yes I Can to foster the engagement of ongoing communication with parents about the program and their children; involve local community partners and allow those partners to support the children, families and staff; and support staff, or others who interact with the children in relation to continuous professional learning {(0.Reg. 137/15, ss 46(3)(h)(i)(j))}.
The approaches set out in this program statement will be implemented in the daily operation of Yes I Can’s Programs. All staff, students and volunteers will review the program statement prior to interacting with the children and at any time when the program statement is modified. Yes I Can will document and review the impact of the above mentioned strategies set out in clauses (a) to (j) {(0.Reg. 137/15, ss 46(3)k))}.
What Parents Say
Yes I Can Nursery! Is near and dear to my heart. I sent both my boys to their Summer Camp and the Communication Classes for approximately 5 years in total. This school is outstanding for one reason: The Staff! They are skilled, they are caring, they are welcoming and equally important; Yes I Can is inclusive. From the difficult transitions to the first words uttered, Yes I Can was by our side. From tears to joy , we simply say THANK YOU.
Our two youngest children attend Yes I Can and love it. Every day they talk about what new book they read, new experiment they did or new song they learned. The staff is incredibly caring and sensitive to all our needs. Not only do they know our youngest two, but they know and care about all our children and our family as a whole.
Like many parents, we were anxious about our little one starting junior kindergarten. We wanted her to be loved and challenged, understood and stretched. Yes I Can has done that and so much more for our daughter. Six months into her JK year Olympia has blossomed into a confident, curious and social learner. The Yes I Can teachers are dedicated, knowledgable and unfailingly capable of meeting the needs of all of the learners. We are so grateful that we have been able to give our daughter such a strong start to school within the Yes I Can community.
We came to Yes I Can after talking with friends and neighbours about their nursery school experience, and our expectations have not only been met, but they have been exceeded. Our child simply loves “school.” He runs to the classroom every morning, ready to learn and play, and we love that we can watch him (unobtrusively) through the window. We have seen his confidence and language skills grow with every week. We know he is getting lots of one-on-one attention, and that as he is having loads of fun with stories, art and dancing, he is acquiring elementary skills with respect to language, counting and socializing that he will build on for the rest of his life. We are so happy we chose Yes I Can! and are excited to see what the preschool years bring!
Our daughter was diagnosed with Autism at age 2-1/2. On the advice a professional, we immediately called Yes I Can and registered her in their Jr. Communicate class. While we were still processing a flood of information, our daughter’s therapy had already begun. Over the next 3-1/12 years, she attended every class and camp that Yes I Can had to offer. Every single day the staff at Yes I Can demonstrated the knowledge, commitment, energy, patience, professionalism and creativity that was required to draw my daughter out into the world and show her how to negotiate it. She is now in Grade 3 and doing well. Yes I Can was THE KEY ELEMENT to her progress and success. I have been working in the Yes I Can Lunch Program for 2 years. It is wonderful to see this enriching experience unfold for both typical and special needs children from the inside. Both groups benefit greatly from the experience of Yes I Can’s thoughtful approach. And from sharing the experience with each other.