School Highlights

Our curriculum is play-based and developmentally appropriate. Our decisions about curriculum are guided by the CT Early Learning and Development Standards. Children are provided with opportunities to play and learn in their classrooms, large indoor play areas, and in our outdoor classroom and surrounding fields. Classroom environments and daily schedules are designed for children of various ages and adapted as needed to support their growth, development, and learning. Teachers provide supervision, support and facilitation to children as they explore, investigate, discover and learn.

Individualized Attention

We give emphasis to each child's overall development, individual learning style and well-being. We believe that when the curriculum utilizes a child's area of interest he/she will become actively involved and learning will have relevance. We encourage cooperation, not conformity.
Active Learning

Ongoing enrichment activities include music, art, gym, Tae Kwon Do, Spanish and playgroups with an Occupational Therapist, a Speech Therapist, and a Psychologist. Field trips for the Preschool 4’s Class include the Westport Library, Westport Fire Headquarters, and Burying Hill Beach with the Maritime Center, and Wakeman Town Farm.
Sustainability

CCDC along with our co-located early childhood centers are committed to bright futures. That's why we have plans for solar panels to power our site, supported by a federal grant received by CCDC from the offices of US Senators Blumenthal and Murphy. We're excited to use solar power to lower costs, shrink our environmental impact, and pioneer STEM and sustainability education for pre-school children.

Nature

CCDC’s STEM education also includes an on-site organic vegetable garden with the help of GardenFolk who help children tend the garden and reap the rewards! We also partner with Westport’s Earthplace to bring animals into the classroom for kids to learn about on a monthly basis.
Our Rich History

CCDC was founded by a group of Westport Public Schools teachers. The program opened in 1979 with five children and two teachers in a classroom at the Greens Farms Elementary School. In 1980, our founders came together with other organizations serving children and their families to form the Parent Child Center at the Hillspoint School. In 1988, CCDC was granted accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, among the first early childhood programs in the nation to achieve this status.

Our Accolades and Updates

We are committed to an atmosphere of continuous improvements as evidenced by the following recent accomplishments:

CCDC is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the most recognized and respected indicator of high quality. We achieved scores of 100%!
In 2014, we were recognized as a Certified Nature Explore Classroom, a symbol of our commitment to enrich children's lives with meaningful outdoor experiences.
In January 2015, CCDC established a formal relationship with the University of Connecticut, Stamford campus. We became their exclusive Cooperative Learning Lab School for their Early Childhood students. Each semester there are about a dozen students eager to learn from our staff, families and children.
In November 2015, we became an endorsed Eco-Healthy Child Care by the Children's Environmental Health Network.
We are proud to offer Financial assistance available to qualified applicants through the State of Connecticut Care 4 Kids program, supplemented by our CCDC Suzanne Rubenstein Scholarship Fund.

The CCDC Way

The CCDC Way is a summary of significant CCDC practices and the supporting principles that guide these practices every day. It is organized by category, with brief explanations for each sub-category and links to further resources that support our positions.

This is a living document and will evolve as new research and understandings emerge. Links may be updated and explanations revised or expanded. This is not to say that our practices will fundamentally change, just that our commitment to best practices and to The CCDC Way is steadfast and reflected in all we do.

Learn more about our Enrichment Programs

School Highlights

Individualized Attention

Active Learning

Sustainability

Nature

Our Rich History

Our Accolades and Updates

The CCDC Way