We are thrilled to have started our NECPA accreditation journey this year and are excited about what this means for our families, teachers, and our community at large. Celebree School of Reston exists to give our children the best experience, and the NECPA accreditation will help us achieve this goal. Our mission at Celebree Reston is to empower teachers so they can best nurture and educate our children. We aim to ensure that our children develop positive social skills and values. And we firmly believe that children best learn about their world through age-appropriate play, projects and activities.
What is NECPA?
NECPA, which stands for National Early Childhood Program Accreditation, is an independent accrediting commission committed to improving the quality of early childhood care and educational programs. Programs who are accredited through NECPA meet high standards in the following areas:
- Health and safety
- Staff qualifications and training
- Curriculum and learning environment
- Family engagement
- Program administration and leadership
How Do We Measure the Curriculum and Learning Environment?
Teacher-child interactions that include supervision and ongoing assessments form an essential component of the accreditation process. This includes areas such as relationship development between children and teachers, as well as verbal interaction emphasizing language and literacy, whether in the classroom, on the playground, or during meals and snack times.
What Does Family Engagement Look Like?
Infant and Toddler care occupies a central place in the accreditation process as well. For instance, teachers are required to hold and nurture infants throughout the day to provide warm and loving physical contact that is essential for soothing and stimulating our infants. Breastfeeding support is also a requirement for NECPA. We go above and beyond state regulatory policies on proper handling, storing, and serving breast milk. We also have a family room designated for mothers who would like to breastfeed at the school and other family members who would like to spend time with the children.
What Type of Staff Qualifications Do Teachers Need?
Teachers are the backbone of any school. Celebree School of Reston provides the support teachers require to carry out their duties to the best of their ability. NECPA mandates that lead teachers have early childhood education credentials, along with the necessary experience and leadership training to effectively lead a classroom. Assistant teachers also must have a national competency credential or have additional learning credits in early childhood education in combination with the required job experience as a teacher.
How Does Our Program Administration Keep Children Safe and Healthy?
Everything comes together under program administration, which also encompasses the safety and security of our children. Details such as name-to-face checks, and clocking children in and out of the building or classroom as they transition to the playground are considered. Ensuring that our children and staff are healthy through daily health monitoring, illness prevention, and proper documentation of sicknesses is paramount.
What Does the Journey Look Like?
Our parents are also excited that we are embarking on the process of getting nationally accredited. Teachers and management are dedicated to exceeding NECPA requirements with new ideas and initiatives. As much as the process requires a lot of work, Celebree School of Reston is committed to achieving the accreditation. We’ll also enjoy the journey, since we’re doing it with—and for—our children! If you are curious to learn more about this process or how enrolling at a nationally accredited preschool will benefit your child, call us today!
