Photos and Testimonials

Learning Environment Enhancements and Transformations

The spaces where children play and grow should be welcoming and engaging and encourage activities that foster learning and joy. Quality materials, furnishings and equipment play a key role in not only keeping children safe and healthy, but also promoting positive development. Check out some of the many ways in which programs have leveraged QUALITYstarsNY funding to transform their learning environments.

Hear from our Programs

Interested in what providers have to say about their collaboration with QUALITYstarsNY? Current participants share their experiences and insights by providing specific examples about how working with QUALITYstarsNY has improved the quality of their programs and the early learning experiences they offer to children and families.

"Thanks to the support from QUALITYstarsNY, the children have more materials to play with than they otherwise would have - not just quantity, but better quality too. I bought a plastic kitchen a while back and it lasted about a week. QSNY allowed me to purchase pretend kitchen furniture from Community Playthings. The children play there all the time and they play with it in all kinds of different ways. Last week they took all the food out of it and turned it into a nursery for babies. Before that, one of the boys used it as a garage for his trucks ... The kids had a great time."

Family Child Care Provider
Shelly's Daycare - Rochester, NY

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Participant Videos & Interviews

Want more? Watch the following interviews with Maria Nogueira, Director at Treasure Island in Brooklyn, NY, about the benefits and opportunities her center has experienced through QUALITYstarsNY.

Questions:

  • Why did you want to participate in QUALITYstarsNY?
  • Why have you continued participating in QUALITYstarsNY?

Questions:

  • What was your experience with the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS) Evaluation?
  • What was the outcome?
  • What have you changed about your practice as a result?

Film Credits: New York Work's for Children's videographer, Nikki Heyman