TYNGSBOROUGH, Mass – The Academy of Notre Dame has launched a “Learn & Discover” education program for children as young as 2 years, 9 months, as part of a redesign of its Early Years curriculum.

The program uses a discovery approach to learning, instructional methods that guide and motivate learners to explore information and concepts, embrace new knowledge and apply new behaviors. Students will learn by interacting with their environment in a hands-on, multisensory approach within the academy’s 240-acre campus.

The LDP is the first of four programs (Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten-1, Kindergarten-2) in the revised curriculum designed to flexibly meet each child’s development needs and ensure success as they move on to first grade.

“Unlike traditional school-based programs that use age as the sole criteria for placement, the Academy’s newly restructured program will also recognize skill level and social development as major factors in appropriate Early Years Program placement,” said Elementary School Principal Dr. Robert Murphy.

Between the ages of two years, nine months and five years, children experience rapid intellectual and social growth. Traditionally, students who are three by a certain date (usually September 1) are placed in Pre-school, at four they move to Pre-K, and at five they move to Kindergarten. Although age is strongly correlated with social development at the early Pre-Kindergarten level, it begins to fade as a sole predictor of academic and social growth as children mature.

“In order to succeed in school, children need to develop both academic and social skills, which they do at their own pace,” said Murphy. “Our new Early Years Program has been designed to flexibly meet every individual child’s current development and transition them smoothly to the next level.”

The LDP is designed for children two years and nine months or older who are just beginning in a formal educational setting. The Academy’s experienced faculty will assist students who are in the final stages of potty training with the expectation that all students will be fully trained by December 1.

Students will explore initial letter and sound recognition, introductory math and science concepts, social and cooperative learning skills, and structured play and relationship building. Unlike traditional nursery/daycare programs, LDP includes weekly courses in Art, Music, Computer, Physical Education, and Library.

“In most other early childhood programs, all students younger than four are placed together, meaning a child who is three could be placed with a child who is a day away from turning four,” said Murphy. “At the Academy we realize that this one size fits all approach is outdated.”