ABOUT US

Philosophy

FPP’s philosophy is that children learn best through play. A child’s learning experiences are more enriching when the child is engaged in the process and when that process is fun. Through play, we can assess the individual, social, physical, and intellectual needs of each student in an environment that is as exciting as it is natural. Moreover, children learn an amazing amount when they are having fun!

To further our philosophy, classroom curriculums include a mixture of structured and unstructured activities. Children have a daily circle time and arts and crafts activities, as well as unstructured play time in classroom centers and outside on the playground.

NAEYC Standards

FPP proudly follows NAEYC-accreditation standards. Since 1985, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has offered a national accreditation system to set professional standards for early childhood education programs. Early childhood experiences have an enormous impact on children’s lifelong learning and positively contribute to their health and development. Quality, early childhood education programs, such as those accredited by NAEYC, benefit children with greater readiness for and success in school.  It is for this reason that many parents and families seek out NAEYC-accredited programs.

To learn more about the accreditation process and standards, visit the NAEYC website.

Parent Participation

The strong sense of community felt at FPP stems from our history as a “co-op” program. Although we no longer require parents to help in the classrooms, we do require families to contribute 5 hours/semester in volunteer work to support the preschool. These volunteer hours can be fulfilled by helping in the classroom, working at fundraising events, serving as a room parent, or performing at-home tasks for teachers. We strongly encourage parents to volunteer in the classroom, which gives the unique opportunity to be a part of the school day, getting to know the child’s teacher, classmates, and other preschool parents.

Facilities

FPP is located in Fairfax City in a dedicated wing of Fairfax Presbyterian Church on a beautiful, wooded lot just off Main Street.

FPP’s classrooms are bright and spacious, with big windows overlooking a large playground. Each room is equipped with a private, child-sized bathroom, water fountain, and hand washing area. All classrooms have direct exits to the playground, which is large, shaded, and home to a variety of fun equipment. In addition to an outdoor play space, FPP has a large indoor recreation room, which is used during inclement weather and for special events.

A private, circular driveway at the Preschool’s entrance affords parents the opportunity to use Curb Service to drop off and pick up children. Parents remain in their vehicles while FPP staff assist children in and out of the cars. This can be especially helpful on rainy days or when a younger sibling is asleep in the car.

Open Communication

At FPP, we know how important it is for our preschool families to be informed about their children’s activities. To facilitate communication between the school and parents, teachers send home weekly, written progress reports for each child, and a weekly email from the Director highlights important events and information. FPP also holds individual Parent/Teacher conferences twice a year, and parents may request a meeting with a teacher or staff at any time.