These high quality programs are carefully designed to benefit the community as well as the University. They provide University of Maine at Farmington Education students opportunities to gain valuable practical experience working with children and families and to make first-hand observations in convenient on-campus settings. The programs also serve as course assignments and University-led research projects, involving students and faculty from different academic areas.
Sweatt-Winter Early Care and Education Center
Housed in the heart of campus in UMF’s Ricker Addition building, the Sweatt-Winter Early Care and Education Program has provided full-time care and education to children in Franklin County and the surrounding areas for more than 30 years.
Accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Sweatt-Winter offers a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment for children ages 3-8. A preschool program for ages 3-5 and a before-and-after school program for ages 5-8 are available.
Sweatt-Winter has the dual purpose of providing a model child care program for area preschool and school-age children and of serving as a training site for University of Maine at Farmington Early Childhood Education students.
The Sweatt-Winter Early Care and Education Center operates 7:00 am to 5:15 pm, Monday through Friday, 50 weeks yearly.
For information, contact:
Julie Farmer
Director of UMF Children’s Programs
tel 207-778-7480
julie.farmer@maine.edu
UMF / RSU9 Public Pre-K Collaboration
The UMF / RSU9 Public Pre-K Collaboration operates a short walk from the campus in Farmington’s W.G Mallett School and serves 64 eligible 4-year-olds from the Mallett School Catchment area. The collaboration involves the University of Maine at Farmington, RSU9, and Child Development Services.
This innovative program allows UMF Early Childhood Education students and Early Childhood Special Education students the opportunity to work as practicum students and interns in a nearby public school-based pre-kindergarten program.
There is no charge to parents / guardians to send a child to the RSU9 Pre-K program.
The UMF / RSU9 Public Pre-K Collaboration follows the public school calendar and children attend 2 full days (9:00 am to 3:00 pm) per week.
The sessions run The sessions are Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday.
For information about enrolling children and UMF student involvement, contact:
Patty Williams
UMF Professor of Early Childhood Education
tel 207-778-3529
patricia.h.williams@maine.edu
UMF Preschool
Note: Due to a staffing shortage, the UMF Preschool is currently not operating.
Also located on campus in UMF’s Ricker Addition building, the UMF Preschool is a half-day, play-based, early educational experience based on developmentally appropriate practice. Curriculum is linked to the Early Learning Guidelines.
The program serves as a lab setting for University of Maine at Farmington Education students, where best teaching practices are taught and demonstrated by onsite UMF faculty instructors.
The UMF Preschool operates Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 9:00 am to 11:30 am during the school year.
For information, contact:
Julie Farmer
Director of UMF Children’s Programs
tel 207-778-7480
julie.farmer@maine.edu