Robin’s Nest preschoolers give an enthusiastic hands up in response to a question from teacher Millie Chase. The question? Who’s ready to go outside? Once outside, Chase plays a walking, hopping and arm-flapping game of “Mother May I?” with the children. The child care center, located at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph, recently earned re-accreditation. Photo courtesy of Robin Palmer Center at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph has earned National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation for the second time.

Originally accredited in 2005 for five years, the center learned last week that it had once again earned the coveted five-year accreditation.

Started in 1985, NAEYC’s voluntary accreditation system aims to set high professional standards for early childhood education programs, serve as a mark of quality, help families identify these high-quality programs for their young children, and improve school readiness.

Located in a red schoolhouse built in 2002 on the campus of Gifford Medical Center, The Robin’s Nest serves about 50 area children from birth through their preschool years.

Seeking accreditation was an opportunity to evaluate and improve the center’s practices, said Robin’s Nest Director Susan Mascola. Earning that accreditation is now a validation of the center’s hard work and quality of care.

“It demonstrates that we are a quality program,” said Ms. Mascola. “We feel we do a great job, and it’s nice to know this national accrediting body agrees.”

Ms. Mascola has worked with her staff since about 2006 on the re-accreditation.

The process is a strenuous one. Staff have spent the last several years preparing fiveinch thick, center-wide and classroom-specific portfolios, which document policies and procedures, leadership and management, teaching and curriculum, family and community feedback, health and safety measures, the physical environment and more.

On July 7, a representative of NAEYC visited The Robin’s Nest to evaluate the center, specifically looking at three of the center’s classrooms.

On Aug. 18, the center got the news that it had been reaccredited for another five years.

A couple of specific commendations The Robin’s Nest received as part of its review included praise for the center’s formal and informal assessments of children’s progress and for the center’s health, nutrition and safety programs.

“We were very excited,” Ms. Mascola said. “The staff worked really hard to make this happen.”

Nationally, 7,000 early childhood education programs are NAEYC accredited, including 79 in Vermont.

The Robin’s Nest is also the recipient four STARS from the state’s STep Ahead Recognition System – another voluntary program recognizing quality child care providers.