About BECC: Mission, Values, Philosophy & Curriculum

BECC Mission Statement

The mission of the Bennington Early Childhood Center (BECC) is to provide an intellectually challenging, developmentally appropriate educational program for children aged one to six.  The environment and program are designed to encourage each child to develop as an individual and as part of a group, while exploration, positive social interaction, and emotional security are also fostered.  The Bennington Early Childhood Center is open to the public, serving children of all cultures, backgrounds, and abilities.

BECC Core Values

At the BECC we encourage exploration, have a supportive and intentional learning environment, nurture with patience, cultivate cooperation, and value respect and diversity.

BECC Statement of Solidarity

As parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, and community members we all have a role to play in dismantling racism, and it has become clear that we need to go deeper and do more to fight the biases that have become embedded in our society. It is not enough to say that we do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, age, etc. It is not enough to encourage children to play with all types of toys and engage with all people. It is not enough to read books that emphasize the beauty of all people or the ability of anyone to be whatever they want to be. We need to examine and work toward breaking down our own biases and teach our youngest citizens that we need to do more than be kind to everyone—we need to educate them (and each other) on how to identify and push back against racist tendencies and treat each other with equity and justice.  For our part, the BECC is committed and determined to delve into our own biases and perceptions, and continue engaging in intentional reading, training, and personal reflection to elicit change as we look to the future.  We also encourage you to do the same at home.

Philosophy

The BECC community supports each child’s journey to reach his/her social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and aesthetic potential.  Our work with children is supported through the collaboration of parents, teachers, and the community.  We foster positive social interactions and a commitment to community while respecting and addressing the interests, strengths, and needs of each individual child.  Each classroom is designed with carefully considered materials and activities to support individual and group projects.  We emphasize the construction of knowledge through discovery.  Our emergent curriculum is based on the expressed or observed interests or concerns of the group, as well as our own interests, strengths, and goals.  In addition, we keep in mind our responsibility to educate the children about the world in which they live.  The curriculum at the BECC is inspired by successful early childhood education practices and research that support children’s growth, development, and learning.

Curriculum

The Bennington Early Childhood Center reflects the belief that educational goals are best served when students have an active role in designing their learning experience.  The BECC accomplishes this through the use of emergent curriculum.  This educational culture develops from the relationship between the people, the environment, and the thinking shared in each classroom.  It provides an atmosphere in which children are actively involved in their learning as they participate in real experiences, engage in new ways of thinking, explore their passions, discover new interests, ask questions, and use their imaginations.  The teacher ties together the threads of passion, interest, knowledge, and the Vermont Early Learning Standards into areas of deeper exploration.  The children come away from this experience with an appreciation of the other members of the group.  They see themselves as being able to effect change and become aware of themselves as learners.

General Program Description

The Bennington Early Childhood Center offers multiple age groups guided by experienced professionals who are educated in early childhood studies and/or related fields, with the help of assistant teachers, and part-time college students. The educational programs are designed with an appropriate adult-child ratio and a schedule of activities with specific arrival and departure times. The Center follows a school-year calendar from early September to mid-June, with annual registration required. The summer program has a separate schedule, calendar, and registration.  For those requiring closer to full-time care a limited space wrap-around option is available.   ‍

The Center is licensed by the State of Vermont Child Development Division. A copy of Early Childhood Program Licensing Regulations is posted in the Office and in each classroom and is available to staff and parents. You can also access the Regulations by visiting CC-CenterBased-Regs.pdf (vermont.gov).  

Operating expenses are met through tuition, fund-raising, and grants.  Fund-raising and grants are also used to provide funds for scholarships, program enrichment, new equipment, and renovations. Limited scholarships from the Center are available for children who qualify.  All Vermont families are encouraged to apply for childcare financial assistance through the State of Vermont Child Care Financial Assistance | Department for Children and Families.

We strongly encourage each parent or guardian to participate in the activities of the Center. This involvement makes for a stronger school community, allows for extra activities such as field trips and social gatherings to be made possible, and facilitates communication between families and staff.  Parents are often invited to visit the Center and contribute their time, skills, and ideas to enhance our units of study.   

Outdoor Classroom

At the Bennington Early Childhood Center we create daily opportunities for outdoor exploration and learning.  We offer child-directed, open-ended play experiences, interactions with nature, exploration, discovery, teamwork, healthy risk-taking, and develop a seasonal rhythm to our days.  Children can move freely, challenge their bodies, and engage in self-selected activities for sustained periods of time.  Our outdoor classroom has ample space and freedom for large and boisterous movement and has been thoughtfully created as a “yes space” where children are encouraged to challenge their limits.  It is a place where children are offered the time, space, and support to engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity through which they can develop their gross and fine motor skills, motor coordination, and confidence to try things that are challenging.  Through thoughtful planning and purposeful interaction, we support children’s learning, development, and social-emotional growth.