YMCA Back River Head Start Center
Preschool in Essex, MD 21221
The Y of Central Maryland is one of the largest providers of Head Start services in Maryland. We are the Grantee for Head Start in Baltimore County and are a Delegate of the Baltimore City Head Start program. Our main objective is to prepare young, economically disadvantaged children for success in school and life. We provide comprehensive early intervention to low-income children and their families and help support parents as the first and primary educator of their children. Collectively, we serve more than 950 infants, toddlers and preschool children through our Head Start programs.
The Y’s Baltimore County Head Start program has been designated a National Center of Excellence by the Department of Health Services. Our program is only one of ten Head Start programs in the country, and the only Y in the U.S. to receive this designation.
Throughout Baltimore County, we provide a traditional Head Start program for preschool children ages 3 5 and an Early Head Start program for infants and toddlers, age 6 months 3 years. Our goal is to ensure that every child is school-ready. In fact, Baltimore County Head Start children tested 41 69% higher in school readiness than other low income children across the state. We work hand-in-hand with low income families and local communities to strengthen the family unit through comprehensive services that include:
- early intervention
- education
- parent involvement & family focus
- community partnerships
- health & nutrition
- disabilities (Ten percent of our funded enrollment includes children with disabilities.)
- transportation
- Child Ages:
- 3 years - 5 years
- Licenses & Accreditations:
- Maryland State Department of Education Division of Early Childhood Development
- Vouchers:
- This provider accepts vouchers
- Special Needs:
- Disabilities services
Early identification of delays and disabilities are critical to
help support a childs readiness for school. Early identification
will result in earlier intervention. Ages and Stages and
Ages and Stages: SocialEmotional are utilized in all levels
of our program for Developmental Screeningfrom Infants
through 5 years old. - Preschool:
- Yes
- Hours of Operation:
- Monday to Thursday 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
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Traditional Head Start Curriculum
Using the Core Knowledge Preschool Sequence Curriculum, we teach skills related to school readiness as recommended and measured by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
The Core Knowledge curriculum is skills-based and involves the family as active partners in healthy growth and development. Working with parents, we prepare children to be successful by teaching them age-appropriate fundamentals.
Reading – letter sounds, word families, reading/being read to, book awareness, etc.
Writing – letter shapes, spacing, upper and lower case, punctuation, etc.
Math – addition, subtraction, math facts, grouping, counting, etc.
We believe in developing the whole child: spirit, mind and body. For that, we not only focus on school-readiness, but social development as well.
Circle/Small Group Time – name recognition, calendar, dramatic play, educational songs, science, library, etc.
Health & Wellness – I Am Moving, I Am Learning; a preschool curriculum that teaches and reinforces academic skills through music and movement, daily outdoor play, swimming (where available), physical education and more
Arts & Humanities – replicating the work of the masters, finger painting, crafts, etc.
Early Head Start Curriculum
In Early Head Start, we use the Creative Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers. The philosophy behind this curriculum is that in the early years, children explore the world around them by using all their senses. Through use of this curriculum, we aim to:
Help children become enthusiastic learners
Allow children to learn at their own pace and in ways that are best for them
In still a positive sense of self, that will make a difference throughout their lives
As in traditional Head Start, we also focus on the full development of the whole child: spirit, mind & body.
Social Development helping children feel comfortable, to trust their environment
Emotional Development build self-confidence
Physical Development help children increase their large and small motor skills and feel confident about what their bodies can do
Cognitive Development help children become confident learners by letting them tryout their own ideas and experience success
