The Creative Pre-School Model Program

The Creative Pre-School, located in Tallahassee, Florida, has been continuously accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) since 1989.  For over thirty years, the Creative staff have served children ages two months through five years.  Children of all races, religions, and socioeconomic levels, as well as those with disabilities, at risk of disabling conditions and with developmental delays are fully included in the Creative inclusive model.  The Creative Pre-School celebrates diversity.

All play experiences are individually planned to meet each child’s unique development. The program provides a variety of play opportunities through which each child is guided towards his/her optimal potential. The focus of all programming is the development of the whole child within a family. Creative provides its families with individual conferences, parenting courses, and many other supportive and interactive opportunities.

The Creative Pre-School philosophy, based on the developmental theories of Erik Erikson, Anna Freud, Jean Piaget, and Lev Vygotsky, assumes all children learn best through meaningful play interactions with the objects and people in their environments.  The play is always child-initiated, child-directed and teacher scaffolded.  Through carefully organized, prearranged environments and planned play experiences by teachers with knowledge of child development, children have opportunities to manipulate, explore, experiment, problem-solve, make choices, and develop new skills.  

All children's work is maintained in portfolios including digital pictures of their art products, marker/crayon drawings, easel paintings, block structures, emergent writing samples, bead stringing and cutting experiences.  Anecdotal records, screenings, informal/formal assessments, and teacher observations are also part of this developmentally appropriate and  individualized program.

When children are observed and determined to need further evaluation, the appropriate agencies are contacted. If the child then becomes eligible under federal guidelines for special education services, Individual Educational Plans (IEP) and Family Support Plans (FSP) are written and maintained.

The Creative Pre-School cooperates with and supports the community and the State through its open door policy of visitation. Students from Florida State and Florida A&M Universities, Tallahassee Community College, and the Lively Area Vocational-Technical School, representing a wide range of disciplines, are incorporated in the Creative program as interns and observers. Creative also provides technical assistance to other childcare centers across the state and works with early childhood professional organizations to support continued training for adults working with young children. Creative currently participates in cooperative agreements with both the Leon County Public School System and Leon County School Readiness Provider Network throughh Kid's Inc. Through these agreements, program opportunities are provided for “at-risk” children and children with disabilities.

The indicators of quality childcare are:

• Effective interaction between the program and the family
• An individual care plan for each child
• Continuity of care over time
• A highly-trained staff with knowledge of child development
• Group size that meets NAEYC recommendations
• Small adult-to-child ratios
• Appropriate play experiences that support a total view of the developing child regardless of his/her abilities or special needs

The Creative Pre-School strives to attain high quality and excellence  in every interaction the staff  has with its children, families, other professionals, local community and state.  There is a specific discipline policy and a daily schedule tailored to provide the children with a sense of predictability and care.

The Big School Daily Schedule with hours from 7:15 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as The Creative Pre-School Discipline Policy are available upon request.