About the SIUE Early Childhood Center
The ECC recognizes the potential of each child and the vital contributions parents make to the ECC community. Our philosophy is strongly influenced by the Reggio Emilia Approach. Our work with children and families is grounded in our commitments to nurturing trusting relationships. We are devoted to growing a deeply connected community that allows intellectual and emotional risk-taking. We emphasize a joyful, playful climate with a culture of intellectual inquiry and critical thinking.
Our program is licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), has a 4-star rating from the Illinois Quality Rating System (QRS), a Gold Circle of Quality through IL ExceleRate and is accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). We are also proud that our playground is a certified Nature Explore Classroom through the Arbor Day Foundation.
What Makes Us Special
The ECC’s state-of-the-art, 10,000-square-foot green building has five classrooms, maximizing the use of natural light. Complementing our five classrooms is a 20,000-square-foot natural outdoor play space, which backs up to a beautifully wooded area with a large prairie to the north. Our playground also features raised bed gardens, a rain barrel, bird feeding stations and a nature area tucked under a canopy of trees.
All classrooms have an attached outdoor learning area. Diverse environments and materials school-wide are designed to deepen children’s investigations into the world around them.
We value adults’ learning, as well as children’s learning and have developed high-quality learning opportunities for SIUE students who work for us or are here for practicum experiences.
The ECC has offered a number of full-day conferences, tours and consulting for educators throughout our region. We have created strong collaborations and are recognized for leadership and innovation in early childhood education.
For the past 10 years, the ECC has been inspired by the world-renowned schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, through the study of their philosophy and values. We have also spent time reading and discussing research regarding the importance of young children spending time in nature.
