Cambridge Preschool prides itself on helping children prepare for kindergarten -- all children, no matter what their abilities.
Along with maintaining the 5-Star Step to Quality Rating, this year, Cambridge Preschool was awarded the Inclusive Child Care Program (ICCP) designation, the only preschool in Guernsey County to earn the distinction.
The ICCP designation is part of Ohio PROMISE, a new statewide initiative that will Promote Resources, Opportunities, and Meaningful Inclusion through Support and Education.
“Inclusive education means we are trained and staffed to meet the needs of all students at any developmental level,” Preschool Director Jill Clay said. “Our facility is spacious and equipped with a variety of developmentally appropriate spaces that promote cognitive, fine and gross, social, and sensory development.”
In order to earn the ICCP designation, a preschool must have an administrator and at least one lead teacher or counselor who has completed the professional development for the Professional Early Childhood Inclusion Credential. Clay and teacher Gianna Flasco have earned this credential.
However, every professional who works at Cambridge Preschool is extremely qualified. The school boasts three lead teachers, two of which are also certified as Early Childhood Intervention Specialists; two additional Early Childhood Intervention Specialists; six Educational Aides; and a Registered Behavior Technician.
“Not many preschools have a behavior technician on staff,” Clay said. “We have a highly qualified staff that is trained to meet the varied needs of young children with a staff to student ratio that exceeds the state minimum.”
The Preschool program focuses on the whole child and works to create a fun environment for children to grow. Staff members strive to create positive relationships with the families of the children they serve.
“We spend a lot of time working on social skills and daily routines,” Clay added. “It is important that children are familiar with classroom procedures and behavior expectations so they can be successful when they start kindergarten.”
Cambridge Preschool also benefits from strong partnerships with area organizations including the Guernsey County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the Cambridge Primary School PTAG, the Kiwanis Club of Cambridge and most recently the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Club at Cambridge High School which co-hosted a family education event at the Preschool.