The heart of your Ducklings location — and key to its success — is the quality and dedication of your team. From greeting families at the door to providing activities throughout the day, these professionals create a sense of community and deliver the focus on education that sets Ducklings apart from typical daycare centers. Learn how to identify the very best candidates for your location and how Ducklings helps you keep them engaged through childcare staff training and development opportunities.
Why Quality Childcare Staff Training Matters
Quality childcare staff training is critical to providing the optimal childcare experience for your families. This requires franchisees to go beyond basic requirements of safety and compliance when building their team.
The early learning years impact so much of a child’s lifelong success and achievement of positive outcomes. This foundation starts with a safe, secure environment in which to explore, take risks, and, most importantly, be themselves. From there, cognitive development and social and emotional growth can evolve through activities and opportunities that are structured yet adaptable to individual needs.
Educators need the knowledge and skills to bring this experience to life, along with the ongoing resources and training to support their continued job satisfaction and retention.
Meeting Childcare Training & Certification Requirements
Every member of our Ducklings team meets and, in most cases, exceeds state and federal licensing requirements and is carefully screened beyond standard background checks to ensure they meet our own stringent values and evaluation criteria.
Though additional specific requirements vary by state, all staff members are certified in pediatric first aid and CPR, integrate the most rigorous safety and emergency management practices, and are up-to-speed on the latest industry research on childhood development. We provide ongoing training opportunities to benefit the wellness and safety of our classrooms, enhance the educational experience for each of our children, and support professional development for our staff.
It is also a Ducklings standard that each school receives accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children within its fifth year of operation. This voluntary recognition denotes that an early childhood program has met rigorous, research-based standards for high-quality care and education.
Training for Outstanding Parent Communication
At Ducklings, we pride ourselves on fostering a community centered on mutual respect and trusted relationships among our children, families, and educators. Clear, consistent communication through a variety of channels drives this commitment.
Our childcare management portal provides a structured, secure system for sharing daily reports and ongoing progress as well any concerns or questions. We love letting families know when their child had an extra-special day, and are sure to convey any frustration they might have faced.
Similarly, it is helpful for our team to be aware of any changes in a child’s routine, worries they might have, or even milestones we can celebrate. As requested, we are also happy to meet by phone or in person to discuss a child’s specific situation.
Teaching the “Why”: Early Learning Goals
Ducklings was founded to address the need for early childhood programs that go beyond simple caretaking. This mission evolved into the development of the Here We Go™ curriculum, designed to foster social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. All Ducklings staff implement this curriculum and are motivated by the important goals they are helping the children achieve.
While classroom activities build language, reading, math, and other academic skills, they also encourage curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. We work on fine and gross motor skills, and nurture school-readiness by demonstrating appropriate classroom behavior and independence.
To foster social and emotional growth, children are encouraged to safely express their feelings and acknowledge those of others, in order to hone social skills and build strong relationships. We celebrate our differences and unique talents to promote confidence, security, and self-esteem.
Motivating & Retaining Your Team
In order to provide our Ducks with a positive, nurturing experience that positions them for lifelong success, we ensure our staff feels valued and supported from day one and as they continue their career path with Ducklings. Our educators bring a diverse mix of learning experiences, degrees, and specialities and are given the resources and opportunities to grow their skills and interests. This commitment to ongoing learning not only strengthens the quality of our offering — it also reduces turnover of our talented team members.
With Ducklings, educators can take advantage of both formal and informal learning opportunities, from in-service days focused on specific areas of professional development to the insights gained from casual conversations with colleagues who often become mentors.
Ducklings Makes Childcare Staff Training Simple
Proper screening, training, and professional development, critical to attracting and retaining the staff needed to operate a successful childcare franchise, can seem overwhelming. At Ducklings, we make it simple.
Franchisees benefit from the shared systems that streamline everything from hiring, onboarding, and compliance, to training and communication. The Here We Grow™ curriculum, childcare management portal, and other standards of operation have been carefully designed and tested to deliver outcomes without overburdening your time. You also benefit from the collaborative franchisee network that enables you to ask questions, share ideas, and learn from others’ experiences when it comes to hiring and retaining the very best talent.
Discover the Ducklings Advantage
We are expanding quickly — and we believe the quality and commitment of our educators are what make Ducklings a truly extraordinary place for a child to begin their learning journey. Our franchise system provides everything you need to secure and keep the very best team — from practical tools and resources, to ongoing training and support. Learn more today.