Learning Environments

Supports Orange County’s future, current, and expanding child care providers in creating nurturing, developmentally appropriate spaces where children can explore, play, and grow. This section is organized into two subsections Family Child Care (FCC) and Child Care Centers—to reflect best practices and quality standards specific to each setting.

The Family Child Care (FCC) subsection focuses on practical strategies for designing safe, engaging environments within home-based programs. Topics include organizing mixed-age spaces, selecting developmentally appropriate materials, incorporating natural and cultural elements, and creating flexible daily schedules that balance routines with opportunities for child-led exploration. This subsection aligns with CLASS® 2nd Edition, CLASS® Environments, and the Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale (FCCERS), which remains the validated tool for assessing environmental quality in family child care settings. CLASS® Environments serves as a complementary framework, helping providers connect environmental features to the quality of adult–child interactions and learning experiences, including opportunities for Embedded Learning that support all children, particularly those with Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs), Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), or identified behavioral support needs.

The Child Care Center subsection offers a comprehensive guide for designing and maintaining environments that promote children’s growth across developmental domains. Topics include age-appropriate classroom design, materials and equipment, transitions between learning areas, outdoor play environments, and environmental adaptations to support children with IFSPs, IEPs, or other individualized plans. Guidance is grounded in developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) and includes strategies for using Embedded Learning—incorporating intentional, skill-building opportunities naturally within daily routines and classroom activities—to ensure every child, including those with disabilities or behavioral needs, participates meaningfully. This subsection connects to CLASS® 2nd Edition, CLASS® Environments, and other frameworks such as the Environment Rating Scales and Inclusive Classroom Guidelines.

Together, these subsections provide actionable guidance to help providers design environments that promote curiosity, independence, inclusion, and a sense of belonging for all children—from infants and toddlers to preschoolers.