Introduction
Located in Abu Dhabi campus in Zayed University, the ECLC plays significant roles concerning the learning and development of children aged between six months to four years old. In other words, the Early Childhood Learning Centre is invaluable in motivating brilliance in the care as well as edification of infants.
In reality, Zayed University ECLC offers an all-inclusive learning environment where children are provided with prospects to play and learn along with developing in a polyglot setting (Early Childhood Learning Centre, 2014). In fact, the ECLC segment of Zayed University, which boasts of international accreditation, offers an opulent academic in addition to cultural learning surrounding in which children learn and develop. Undeniably, such an environment is critical in inspiring as well as providing backup to learning experiences.
The operational schedule of the centre begins from around seven in the morning and ends at five in the afternoon. Additionally, the ECLC operates five days a week involving pick-up durations scheduled between noon and five in the afternoon for children aged between one to four years old (Early Childhood Learning Centre, 2014). Nonetheless, the centre offers flexible pick-up times for infants aged between six to twelve months old.
Zayed University ECLC values an establishment of developmentally apposite and child-centered experience in the context of safe, positive and healthy environment as significant in enhancing the development and learning capabilities of children. In addition, the viewpoint of the Creative Curriculum (CC) is core to the ECLC’s state-of-the-art research and teaching programmes (Early Childhood Learning Centre, 2014).
In essence, the centre employs an internationally consistent curriculum and partnerships with parents and the community, which enhance innovation, expressiveness and skill building. ECLC also believes that a play-based curriculum drawn from best teaching practices is critical in motivating discovery, curiosity and interactive learning as well as skill building (Early Childhood Learning Centre, 2014).
The promotion of cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and dual language development forms the basis of children’s learning and development. Furthermore, ECLC has expansive fields and facilities significant in enabling the teachers to offer inspiring programmes that meet the distinct needs of children.
Given the Centre’s low children to teacher ratios and highly trained teachers, the ECLC offers superior and quality education to children. Besides, the ECLC is capable of offering designated zones for different age groups and the culturally diverse individuals. Specifically, Zayed University ECLC offers designated areas for different age groups including infants aged between six to twelve months, early toddlers aged between one to two years, toddlers aged between two to three months and preschoolers falling within the age bracket of three to four years old.
Generally, ECLC offers an excellent learning environment for children by providing the superlative start in life imaginable. In fact, the centre’s curriculum strengthens the expansion of communicative semantics and communication along with vocabulary abilities among learners.
Besides, the centre offers children with prospects that enhance the learning, technical thinking and numeracy competences of learners through dynamic exploration and sensory in addition to demonstrative encouragements. Further, the outgoing attributes of the team of qualified staff in the ECLC enables children to comprehend social etiquette and positive behavior through personal and social development.
Vision and Mission
ECLC was established with a vision anchored on stimulating brilliance concerning the care as well as education among young children. Besides, the ECLC aims to offer children with early learning experiences that are of superior quality.
Additionally, the centre aims to provide prospects for inventive research in addition to exemplary learning experiences for Zayed University students in an environment, which is conducive, secure and serene. Moreover, the ECLC aims to offer the early childhood sector in the United Arab Emirates with community outreach and networking along with resource sharing prospects.
Attributes of ECLC
In order to offer learners with opportunities that are vital in learning and scholastic undertakings, ECLC boasts of unique attributes including a safe and secure environment, which is significant for the enhancement of learning experiences and growth among children. Besides, the centre has close associations with experts from Zayed University including educators, artists, language experts and scientists who are passionate about training and tutelage of children. Such specialists play significant roles with reference to the enhancement of early childhood education.
Additionally, a multicultural environment, regular and recurrent participation of parents along with consistent responses concerning the education and growth of individual learners characterise Zayed’s Early Childhood Learning Centre (ECLC). Further, ECLC has professional and highly experienced director along with certified teachers, a curriculum anchored on intercontinental principles and preeminent norms. Moreover, the ECLC lays emphasis on an educational environ, which focuses on holistic necessities of a child. The centre also undertakes recurrent progress of teachers and staff professionally.
Beliefs of ECLC
The centre recognises that all children are capable of learning. In this regard, the children must be offered with an environment characterised by excellence, safety and inspiration. Essentially, such a surrounding is significant for children’s development. The centre also identifies the existence of uniqueness among all children. In principle, the ECLC recognises that children often portray personal divergences on the subject of learning and development.
As such, the centre offers programs and evaluations, which are elastic and attentive of the learning needs of individual students. Besides, the centre also acknowledges play as a significant aspect concerning the learning activities of children. Undeniably, young children are always interested as well as enthused in exploration, experimentation and discovery. In this regard, the Zayed University ECLC offers creative, guided and lesson based plays to children to develop the investigation and unearthing abilities of such offspring.
Additionally, the centre lauds the effects of socialisation in enhancing learning experiences of young children. As such, the ECLC commends uniformity in management of behavior and good role modeling as critical in social and emotional development. Moreover, the ECLC acknowledges the importance of inspiration that children receive from parents, educators and the community in learning and development of young offspring. In reality, the centre acknowledges that the improvement of self-awareness, self-confidence along with sense of security is related to the care and attention, which young children receive.
Early Childhood Curriculum
The major approach to learning used in Zayed ECLC encompasses Creative Curriculum. Additionally, the Centre infuses Creative Curriculum with Montessori and Reggio Emilio approaches to learning. Besides, English and Arabic are the languages in which learning resources are provided. The curriculum incorporates physical fine and gross motor skills. Further, cognitive numeracy, literacy and problem solving are also integrated in curriculum. Moreover, socio-emotional confidence, self-awareness and behavior management are part of the programme.
The package of study also includes vocabulary and productive communication as well as language receptive. Through the utilisation a dual language emersion paradigm, teachers are able to intermingle with children in English and Arabic languages in class. The guiding principles of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) concerning student-teacher ratios according to age group are strictly followed by Zayed ECLC to ensure that the child-teacher ratio is low.
Research Priorities of ECLC
The main concerns involving research in Zayed University ECLC are numerous. For instance, the acquisition of dual language encompassing Arabic and English as well as the promotion of literacy in early childhood is aspects of focal concern. Besides, the ECLC acknowledges the utilisation of technology and media in enhancing early learning and promoting early learning and community involvement respectively. Additionally, taking care of health and safety concerns in early childhood care in addition to programme evaluation of ECLC activities are critical for the success of the ECLC.
Reflections Concerning Teachers Service within the Institution
Being part of the team that ensures the development and progress of students is one of the most rewarding services in terms of personal growth and career development in the university. Besides, being in the position of teachers’ assistant, career development and growth came with new opportunities. In fact, the role was critical in encouraging and aiding students having problems in their learning. With increased patience and dedication to the well-being of the students, there is still need for further training in order to be updated on new teaching techniques and improved qualifications.
Like in most of the learning environment, the education environment in Zayed was chaotic due to pressures from the parents and the colleagues. However, being part of the students and watching them learn and grow is one of the greatest learning experiences. Despite the challenges, it was satisfying to see the students go through huddles on their way. Flexibility is one the most critical personal attribute that one must have in order to be successful.
One of the ways through which one could transform and improve the services-learning experiences is by inculcating personal attributes that enable one understand varied challenges and differences among the children. Variety in services delivery is critical in a learning environment. In other words, every day come with individual challenges that bring about change in the manner in which knowledge is imparted. Therefore, these challenges combined with flexibilities inherent in personal attributes will be applied to bring about changes in the new learning experiences.
In fact, the ability to utilise personal skills in the institution was reflected in the teamwork within and outside classes. The ability to form and effectively utilise teamwork remained invaluable in the teaching processes. Throughout the stay in the learning institution, most of the students’ discussions were based on their abilities to form a cohesive and working team. However, the students had to be guided on how to form and make teams work.
The learning experiences in the institution are one of the best given the wide array of services being offered. As such, the institutions would be recommended for other students. In fact, the institution supports the development and growth of the students through appropriate pedagogy and related activities. In addition, the institution is one of the better places where students can learn and grow their careers through a helping hand of highly trained and skilled workforce.
At the institution, varieties of duties are offered on a daily basis. In fact, the perception that the teacher’s assistant role is basically to assist students with learning difficulties and disabilities changed. The institution values the responsibility of the teaching assistants and offers variety of activities not necessarily concerned with class work. The manner in which the institution handles the teaching assistants changes the perception and offers more opportunities for career growth and development.
The best experience of being teaching assistants is to be part of the students. In fact, the experience of being part of the students’ life on daily basis is one of the greatest privileges and experience. Regardless of the students age, the satisfaction of seeing and being part of the students achievements is great. What makes the experience great is that the work done in class has long lasting positive influence on students’ life. The experience of being teaching assistance in the institution is one of the most rewarding career decisions. All the experiences were positive and offer greater opportunity for future career growth and development.
Conclusion
In summary, the ECLC plays a significant role concerning the provision of all-inclusive learning environment where children are offered with prospects to play and learn along with developing in a polyglot setting. Besides, Creative Curriculum is core to the ECLC’s state-of-the-art research and teaching programmes. Additionally, the ECLC offers an excellent learning environment for children by providing the superlative start in life presumable. In fact, the centre’s curriculum strengthens the expansion of communicative semantics and communication along with vocabulary abilities among learners.
Besides, the centre offers children with prospects that enhance the learning, technical thinking and numeracy competences of learners through dynamic exploration and sensory in addition to demonstrative encouragements. Further, all children are capable of learning as well as portray diverging distinctiveness. In this regard, commendation of uniformity in management of behavior and good role modeling as critical in social and emotional development is significant. In reality, the improvement of self-awareness, self-confidence along with sense of security is related to the care and attention, which young children receive is essential.
Reference
Early Childhood Learning Centre (2014). Inspiring excellence in the care and education of young children. Web.