KOLTS: King Observation Lab Teaching School 

The KOLTS philosophy

The King Observation Laboratory Teaching School (KOLTS) is an on-site demonstration and training facility for students enrolled in early childhood education (ECE) at the King Campus of Seneca College.

Our objective is to demonstrate, for ECE students, a high quality program that benefits each child, each parent and the community. In addition to the children of Seneca College employees and students, we accept children from the surrounding community. Children ages eight months to twelve years participate year-round in full day, half day, or before and after school programs on a full or part-week basis.

We believe that parents are an integral part of any successful early education program.

Through parental involvement we are better able to meet the developmental and personal needs of children. As early education professionals, we can serve as valuable resources for families concerning most areas of child development. Therefore, we believe that families and child care centres can and should work together to provide an environment that facilitates the growth of each child into a physically and emotionally healthy individual.

We believe that....

• children develop sequentially from one stage to the next
• children must be provided with opportunities that will challenge them and aid in their progression from one developmental stage to the next
• children learn by direct experience

Our program provides children with a large variety of materials, equipment and activities that allow for success and encourage advancement of intellectual, physical, emotional and social development.

A child´s basic needs must be met in an environment that is nurturing, comfortable and specifically structured to meet each individual´s unique physical, emotional and developmental needs. It is important that we work closely with parents to provide a secure environment that benefits each child.

Things we do to help ensure quality

The Lab School follows a set of guidelines that we think go a long way towards helping us ensure a high quality program for everyone involved.

Staff

KOLTS hires only qualified Early Childhood Educators (ECEs). We believe that professional ECEs are essential to provide the kind of high quality program that groups of young children deserve. All staff members have current first aid and C.P.R. certification.

We require all staff members to participate in personal and professional development activities regularl y. An essential part of development activities involves group or team work. To this end the Lab School closes for up to three P rofessional Development Days each calendar year. During these days, the staff meet to pursue a variety of activities as a team, including first aid and CPR certification, group skill workshops, ethno-cultural training etc.

KOLTS implements the program, curriculum and guidance methods that the King Campus ECE students study in the classroom. The Lab School serves as a primary field placement experience for these students. There is an adult classroom located in the Lab School. ECE students use this classroom for most of their practical and observation courses.

Observation Rooms

Each of the children´s rooms in KOLTS has an adjacent observation room with one-way windows. These observation rooms have audio monitoring equipment that allows users to hear detailed interactions in the areas used by the children. In addition, each of the children´s rooms has a fixed video camera. When a video cassette recorder and monitor are hooked to the connections in the corresponding observation room, events can be taped for later viewing. The cameras are directed towards areas of each room less easily viewed from the observation windows, connecting a monitor in an observation room allows for an unobstructed view of the entire room.

The Observation Rooms are used by

• Parents, who enjoy watching their children without disturbing their play. Many drop off their children early so they can watch as they settle in the morning. For others ´ducking into´ the observation rooms at the end of the day allows them to watch while their children are unaware of their presence.
• ECE students, faculty, and visitors, to unobtrusively observe interactions, programs and children.
• KOLTS Staff, who use the video capabilities to tape their programs. Self-evaluation, problem-solving and curriculum and program development are facilitated by these tapes.

Parental involvement

Parental involvement is a key ingredient in maintaining the quality of our program. We do not wish to be mere custodians of the children. We strive for a dynamic, interactive, open environment where staff support family interests in raising happy, healthy, curious children.

At KOLTS we have an open-door policy. Parents are always welcome at KOLTS. Beyond their daily exchange of information with staff, we invite parents to

• join the children and staff for outings have lunch at the centre with the children spend as much time as they can, at the centre, with the staff and children - going on walks, sharing a meal or snack, or at any time during the day if their schedules allow attend parent meetings
• share personal interests including hobbies, talents, careers, cultural backgrounds, favourite recipes
• join staff, faculty, and students for family get-togethers and celebrations hear guest speakers on topics of interest

Parents are an integral part of any successful early education program. KOLTS´ early education professionals work in consort with parents and serve as valuable resources for families.

• Guide to Choosing Child Care
• The KOLTS Program
• Fees
• Newsletters, Forms and Other Information