How a Private School Can Offer a High-Quality Preschool Program 

High-quality preschool programs lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning, a dedication to intellectual curiosity, and the ability to find joy in the possibilities of life. When children go through these kinds of programs, they develop discipline, strong character, and a commitment to being well-informed. 

What Is a High-Quality Preschool Program?

Every preschool program has distinct characteristics, but all high-quality programs share certain aspects.

For one, a high-quality preschool program has teachers who assess the children’s abilities and use that as a starting point to build upon. These kinds of programs use what is called developmentally appropriate practices (DAP). They are designed to provide preschool children with challenging materials and experiences they can learn and then master.

In such preschool programs, teachers consider each child’s age and development when they teach. They then help each child achieve suitable individual goals. A child's family, culture, and language are also considered when teaching.

What Do Children Learn in High-Quality Preschool Programs?

In a private preschool, teachers focus on all areas of learning. Private preschools also often have a low student-to-teacher ratio. This helps each child get individual attention from experienced, qualified educators who ensure the program brings out creativity and sparks energy and joy.

Language Skills

In a high-quality preschool program, language skills can develop rapidly. Teachers can plan lessons and activities to foster listening and the use of expressive language. Children learn to recognize the alphabet and certain words and begin pre-writing through fine-motor activities, such as tracing and story writing.

Early Reading

Preschoolers enjoy being read to and listening to rhyming sounds. As they listen, they begin recognizing letters and words. In many private schools, students have a classroom library, are read to daily, and have independent library time. Storytime and book fairs are designed to make children more interested in reading.

Teachers talk about the stories they read and encourage children to talk about them too. Rhyming games, songs, and reading funny stories all encourage children to pursue reading.

Math

Children begin learning some mathematical concepts in preschool. It begins with simple things like sorting according to shape, size, or color. Children start counting objects and understanding sequencing and patterns. Preschool teachers teach math concepts using objects like blocks, buttons, or pebbles. This engages children in counting, comparison, and pattern creation.

Science

Preschoolers are inherently curious and always ask questions about the world around them. Preschool teachers encourage children to be curious, listen to students’ discoveries, and motivate them to analyze things happening around them.

The science curricula at private preschools vary but often include protecting the environment, exploring and examining things in nature, enjoying observation-building activities, and developing recollection skills. Children can also learn the basics of plants, animals, the human body, and the environment.

Social Skills and Diversity

Children develop social skills, such as teamwork, leadership, communication, acceptable behavior, and rule-following, in preschool. Many private schools have students from diverse cultural backgrounds. This encourages children to respect and to understand diversity.

Creativity

Painting, dancing, singing, acting, and anything that helps children express themselves are encouraged in preschool. Because of the smaller class sizes and fewer curriculum restrictions, teachers in private preschools are in a better position to provide an environment that fosters creativity. They ensure children have access to materials they can use in different and creative ways, including leaves, Play-Doh, pebbles, and chalk.

Increased Independence

The daily routines and expectations of a high-quality preschool program guide the children to develop independent skills.

For example, this is done through:

• Washing hands

• Buttoning/unbuttoning coats

• Opening lunch kits

• Placing take-home folders or books in backpacks

Small classes allow the teachers time to help children develop such skills, and having classmates who are accomplishing these tasks motivates young children to try for mastery.

Field Trips and Special Events

Some private preschools offer enriching field trips or events every month for their preschoolers. This includes plays or puppet shows; farm visits; drama productions; visits from community members; and celebrations, such as a Halloween parade or winter holiday party.

Why Choose the Griffin Academy, the Private Preschool of Westminster School?

Westminster School offers a high-quality private preschool. The Griffin Academy caters to one class of three-year-olds and two classes of four-year-olds. The program has full-time and part-time options, morning and after-school care, and age-based rolling admissions. This versatility helps parents choose what suits their requirements. 

Being part of a larger school (with a K–eighth-grade program) provides extensive resources to Westminster's preschool. Its qualified, professional, and passionate teachers are able to design lessons and to provide fun times that take advantage of the school's extensive facilities, including a library, gymnasium, theater, and buses.

Parents looking for a high-quality preschool program in Northern Virginia can get in touch with Westminster School by email (admissions@westminsterschool.com) or by phone at (703) 256-3620.