EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Inside the classroom at Every Little Blessing Preschool, children with and without Down syndrome learn side by side as teachers work to build academic skills, social development and independence that will carry them into kindergarten and beyond.

The preschool serves children from 12 months to about 6-years-old, using a mix of traditional curriculum and play-based learning. Dr. Jessica Quinn, the director of academics, said the goal is inclusion.

“Our mission is to provide educational services to children with Down syndrome in an inclusive setting, which simply means we have kids with and without Down syndrome learning and growing together,” Quinn said.

Teachers said they see the impact over time as children gain confidence and learn to do more on their own. Lead teacher Tina Tarango said many students start as young as 12 to 18 months and remain through ages 5-6.

“We get them from 12 to 18 months, and to see them develop through 5-6 years old and the things they become capable of doing on their own, they become very independent,” Tarango said. “That’s through the hard work of everybody that works here, including them and their families.”

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School Spotlight: Every Little Blessing

The school incorporates science, reading, math and literacy into daily schedules, while also emphasizing play as part of early childhood education.

Executive Director Michael Phillips said the focus is on preparing every child for the next step.

“We are a preschool, so academics is our focus,” Phillips said. “We want to prepare them for kindergarten, whether they have a disability or not a disability.”

For staff members, the work is also about relationships built in the classroom. Teacher assistant Chris, known to students as “Uncle Chris,” said those connections are what make the job meaningful.

“All my kids, they call me Uncle Chris, and I love it so much,” he said.

You can find more information about Every Little Blessing Preschool by clicking the link here.

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