Empowering preschool children and
their families in the South Bronx: Laying the groundwork for success with our free preschool program

What is the Preschool program at A House on Beekman?

Our preschool program provides three and four-year-old children with the building blocks of a strong base as they begin their official school journeys. Our dedicated teachers and staff get to know each child individually, creating classrooms that take the needs of the entire community into account. Here's what we focus on:

• Pre-literacy skills

• Reasoning and cause/effect skills built to support a strong math/science foundation

• Conflict resolution/problem solving with peers

• A safe, predictable environment

• Nurturing, caring, emotionally responsive staff

• Small class sizes

• Individualized growth plans (no one size fits all approach)

The Preschool program at A House on Beekman lays a strong foundation for students as they embark on their academic journeys. We consistently see our preschoolers graduate from our program well-equipped with the tools they need to flourish in Kindergarten and beyond.

We seek to empower the children and families in our community by helping each child unlock their full potential as they learn and grow. We believe that allowing children to learn through exploration and play in an emotionally responsive setting with trusted adults is key to achieving this result. Our classrooms are intimate and cozy, arranged to feel like homes away from home.

A House on Beekman Preschool has unique characteristics that set us apart from other early childcare centers:

• We view each child as an individual with a distinct profile of strengths and challenges.

• We maintain small adult-to-child ratios in order to fully support students’ needs.

• Through our partnership with Bank Street College’s Center for Emotionally Responsive Practice, we have trained our staff to utilize techniques that support all children and families, including those who have experienced trauma. Some of these techniques include bibliotherapy, art therapy, and teddy bears as transitional objects.

• In addition, all classrooms contain tools that help children feel safe and regulated, including feelings charts, predictable daily and weekly schedules, and cozy corners.

Our relational approach puts families and children at ease, and allows a deep sense of trust to develop. Our teachers conduct home visits at the beginning of each school year, working to create a feeling of partnership with parents and a bridge between home and school for children.

Story-Gathering interviews are conducted during the first month of school, giving teachers a glimpse into the child’s development, and the fears or challenges caregivers may face. We greatly value the culture of respect and empowerment that has been created in our program.

A House on Beekman’s relational approach has created a culture of trust within our community. Our experience and expertise in Emotionally Responsive and Developmentally Appropriate Practices make us unique and are significant factors in the success of our early childhood programs. Our commitment to consistent professional development among all staff ensures that teachers and leaders work as a team to maintain our high-quality program each year.