Education and Early Childhood Development

All Shelby County Head Start services are customized to the individual child’s development level (including children with disabilities) and consider each child’s temperament, interests, and learning style.  Shelby County Head Start respects the culture, language, and family of each child.

Head Start provides children with a variety of learning experiences and offers many opportunities for children to express themselves through art, music, movement, and storytelling.  Children participate in indoor and outdoor plan; learn about books, words, numbers and the world around them.  Children are encouraged to communicate their ideas and feelings, and to develop self-confidence and the ability to get along with others.  Shelby County Head Start also works with the children and parents to help them make a successful transition to kindergarten or elementary school.

Shelby County Head Start responds to children with disabilities.  Special training is provided to Head Start staff to help them work with disabled children.  Ten percent (10%) of Head Start’s enrollment is made available to children with special needs.  Head Start staff works closely with community agencies and other programs for young children with disabilities to ensure that children with special needs obtain the care they need.  Shelby County Head Start has built a collaborative foundation with the Local Education Agencies (Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools).

Head Start helps to foster secure relationships between children and well-trained staff.  The program extends services to children and parents in the home.  Head Start staff make home visits to help strengthen parenting skills and to hear and respond to parental concerns.