Welcome to the Urban League of Essex County’s (ULEC) Early Childhood Education Program.
We focus on and are committed to cultivating the cognitive and social development of children through play-based learning.
The ULEC provides learning opportunities that incorporates hands-on experiences in small classroom sizes and in outdoor learning spaces, while promoting a lifelong love of learning.
Where learning comes alive! We utilize the Creative Curriculum model for Preschool and Toddler’s Goals and Objectives to begin building a strong academic foundation for our students. Its curriculum framework is based on developmentally appropriate practices that stresses instruction and teaching in ways that match the way children develop and learn.
The framework focuses on the following:
How Children Develop and Learn
The Learning Environment
What Children Learn
The Teacher’s Role
The Family’s Role
The curriculum framework is applied to eleven areas that can be found in each classroom:
Art * Blocks * Computers * Cooking * Discovery Center * Dramatic Play * Library * Music & Movement * Outdoor / Active Play * Sand & Water Play * Toys & Games
Our program is structured in a math and literacy-rich environment and integrates social emotional skill development. Our teachers follow a very interactive curriculum that encourages independence and self-discovery. Thus, our students not only gain a strong academic foundation, but develop character and habits they need to be successful in school and in life, including independence, strategic planning, problem solving and critical thinking skills.
By the time our students move on from our program, they have reached or exceeded their developmental milestones based on their individual needs.
A full day of Preschool. Our Early Childhood Center is open from 7:30am to 5:30pm, Monday through Friday and we follow the Newark Public School District's (Newark Board of Education) academic calendar from September through June.
We welcome children 18 months to 5 years old.
We accept Programs for Parents and Private Pay.
Our high-quality program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and is licensed by the State of New Jersey to provide quality services to children from 18 months of age to 5 years.
Our Center participates in Grow NJ Kids , which is New Jersey's Quality Rating Improvement System program to raise the quality of child care and early learning across the state.
We are committed to developing the essential academic, cognitive, and social skills that your children need to excel in Kindergarten and beyond.
Wrap Around Care is available during the summer months providing an enriched summer filled with fun learning activities.
We are committed to developing the essential academic, cognitive, and social skills that your children need to excel in Kindergarten and beyond.
CONGRATULATIONS to our Early Childhood Center! Thursday, September 23, 2021 was Dads Take Your Child to School Day for the 21-22 School Year. For the very first time, our very own preschool program, led by our fabulous Director, Ms. Heather Wilson was in the top 5 of all the Newark Board of Education Pre-K programs. Check out photos on our Facebook page.
For more information:
Heather Wilson
Director
Early Childhood Education
973-624-9535 x223