The Marion and George Ames Early Childhood Learning Center (The Ames Center) is a licensed preschool special education program and childcare center serving preschool students with varying abilities between the ages of 18 months to 5 years. Our program, located in Yonkers on the Hudson River, offers standard, special education, and integrated preschool classes in a warm, nurturing, and safe environment.
The staff at The Ames Center is dedicated to the belief that all children have the ability to learn and to progress intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically, regardless of individual strengths and differing abilities. We encourage individual freedom and self-directed learning through play, while providing a structured and positive learning environment where all children will be helped to reach their potential.
In our 10- and 12-month preschool programs, the Ames Center utilizes a developmentally appropriate curriculum which supports children’s learning and development. This approach incorporates each child’s learning style, interests, preferences, personality, skills, and talents and prepares children for their school years by promoting creativity, pre-academic skills, socialization, and independence. Each of our classes adheres to the New York State Learning Standards. Several of our classrooms are bilingual (English/Spanish).
The Ames Center provides a spacious, well equipped, modern facility. We provide children with two outdoor play areas and extracurricular activities including therapeutic art, animal science, and music instruction. The children go on several field trips throughout the year.
Supportive services include speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and counseling. Our teachers and staff work with each family to keep them aware of their child’s progress and to help parents understand how to ensure their growth and development outside of school. We additionally provide family support to those who need it.
The Marion and George Ames Early Childhood Learning Center is an approved New York State Education Department preschool special education program and is under contract with the Westchester County Department of Health and the New York City Department of Education to provide educational services to preschool age students with disabilities, as well as with the Yonkers School District to provide Universal Pre-Kindergarten services. The Ames Center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Our classroom teachers and teacher’s assistants are certified by New York State.
