This document discusses different types of early childhood education programs. It outlines half-day and full-day programs. Half-day programs typically last 2.5-3 hours and focus on educational experiences, while full-day programs last longer and provide group care while parents work. The purpose, curriculum, and needed staff characteristics differ based on the number of hours children attend. Students of early childhood education and new directors should understand these program types to choose the best fit.

1. Lesson 3
Types of Schools and
Programs

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Early childhood experiences in language
arts and outdoor play with wheel toys,
climbing equipment, and sandbox will
probably part of the day’s schedule.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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.