Our Vision

We aspire to become a global leader in early childhood education and research, and we support UC Berkeley in its quest to become the nation’s most family-responsive campus.

 

Our Philosophy

We believe that children’s growth and learning are fostered in a trusting, nurturing environment that supports the needs and development of the whole child.

Our approach to learning embraces a play-based and developmentally appropriate curriculum where children’s learning emerges through individualized experiences. 

We value equity within an inclusive environment that emphasizes and nurtures respectful relationships between the family, school, and the community.

In collaboration with UC Berkeley researchers, our teachers use innovative evidence-based practices in our classrooms while simultaneously supporting and informing ongoing investigations.

 

8 Principles of Practice

1. We believe that children are active learners and that play is essential for all children. Play serves as the approach in which all classroom experiences are presented and intentionally planned and supported. 
2. We believe that every child is unique and that their abilities, lived experiences, cultural contexts, home languages, and individual learning differences must be respected and considered. 
3. We believe that families are our valued partners and play an integral role in children’s learning and development. They are their child’s first teacher.
4. We believe that early childhood educators play a critical role in guiding and supporting children’s development & learning. Educators work collaboratively with each other and others (like-minded), to provide research-informed care and learning opportunities that are informed by developmental trajectories, keen observation and assessment.
5. We believe development and learning are dynamic processes in which ALL domains of development are equally important and integrated. 
6. We believe that children learn best when planned and intentional experiences are developmentally appropriate and when activities encourage and are driven by children’s creativity and inquiry.
7. We believe that children learn best in learning environments that foster their sense of well-being, belonging, purpose, and agency. The learning environment is intentionally designed and organized to provide optimal learning opportunities.
8. We believe that when used responsibly and intentionally, technology and interactive media can serve as valuable tools for supporting children’s learning. These do not replace valuable teacher-child interactions.