Lesson 3

Types of Schools and

Programs

Education research has pointed

the importance of early learning

experience as basis for late

learning. Greater knowledge of

how the child perceives, thinks

and learn has led to an

awareness of the need for good

educational programs at the

preschool level.

The students of child development, the director and

the person who are already directing a school for

young children- all need to be familiarized with the

types of programs available. They should all know

how each kind of program is funded; the

characteristic of each and any other factors are of

importance to the director.

The students of early childhood education should

have an overall understanding of the types of

programs in order to choose the one for which he

or she is best suited.

The experienced teacher accepting a first job as a

director most understands the similarities and

differences among programs.

Two basic program types:

• Those that are in session for a half-day

• Those that are open for longer hours

The difference in the number of hours that

children attend school influences the

purpose, the curriculum, and the

characteristics of the staff needed.

Half-Day School

Schools that offer daily sessions of three or

less are usually established for the primary

purpose of providing educational

experiences to young children.

Some schools have added educational

programs for parents and yayas

(caregivers) along with the infants and

toddlers.

Some offer job training for mothers and yayas (

caregivers).

A typical session lasts three hours, although

some programs may be scheduled for two

and a half hour. During the session, there

are opportunities for the child to participate in

a variety of activities such as test, block

building or dramatic play, group activities

which may include story time, music and

snack time.

Early childhood experiences in language

arts and outdoor play with wheel toys,

climbing equipment, and sandbox will

probably part of the day’s schedule.

Advantages of half-day kindergarten:

• More parent involvement.

• Better match for shorter attention spans of

typical five year olds.

• Children are introduced to proper ways of

socially interacting with their peers as well as

gain exposure in appropriate behaviors for a

classroom.

• Children gain invaluable educational and social

experience, while slowly introduced to the idea

of attending school for a full day.

• make the transition from preschool to

kindergarten much easier.

Many neurological researchers believe that

the attention span and learning capacity of

a 3-year old child is better suited for

attending half–day preschool.

Disadvantages of half-day kindergarten:

• Disruption that a child will experience as they leave their classroom half way through the day. From a socio-educational stand point the child may miss out on many activities and opportunities to interact with their teachers and other students, if taken out of the classroom earlier than other students.

• Child’s complete classroom experience might contain a gap between their daily experience and one of your child’s peers who remained in the program for the entire day

Full- Day School

Schools that offer more than three hours are

established to provide group care while

the parents work or for some other

reasons are not available to care for the

child.

Usually institutions or establishments offer

this session to provide employees a place

to bring their children in the absence of

housemaids.

A good program should provide for the total

developmental needs of the child because

children in day care are in school most of

their waking hours.