Our Curriculum & Programs
Our full day programs are NAEYC accredited.
Our child-centered curriculum is rooted in children’s needs, interests, ideas, and abilities. We create meaningful learning experiences by weaving together observations and documentation of children’s play; the rhythms, cycles and events in the natural world; cultural knowledge and practices from the Americas and around the world in the form of stories, songs, activities, and experiences; and the skills and benchmarks outlined in the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards.
The curriculum emerges and evolves as the children‘s needs, interests, curiosity and development unfold. We don’t cover a prefabricated curriculum, we uncover it as we support each child’s efforts to make sense of and meaning out of their encounters with the world and each other. Through play, children explore and develop physical, social, emotional, and creative skills and habits. Language, literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and the arts are integrated into our learning environments and experiences.
Teachers skillfully integrate various invitations and engagements for the children as they grow in all the different ways that human beings flourish and make sense of the world. We nurture each child’s connection with the natural world. We help each child appreciate human diversity and understand their own cultural dignity and worth. We support each child’s developing self and social awareness and emotional intelligence.
Children learn how to express themselves, communicate with others, and explore the world with multiple sign systems, including print literacy. Children cultivate a healthy, happy, bodily sense of self. And children play to their heart’s content so they can find out what truly makes them happy, become free to be themselves, and discover what sort of person they want to be.
Full Day Preschool | 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Students must turn three years old by December 31st of the school year in which they are enrolling.
Breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack are provided.
Single & Mixed-Aged Classrooms
Our preschool classrooms, led by experienced and dynamic teaching teams, feature teacher-to-student ratios of 1 to 6. Children learn in play-based, supportive environments. We help them build confidence, grow alongside their peers, and foster a sense of belonging, collaboration, independence and community.
We know that the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of your child is of the utmost importance. We make sure your child is safe, feels loved, is listened to, and is given every opportunity to flourish, grow and learn. We integrate the best practices in supporting each child’s emotional intelligence and self and social awareness with a culturally relevant pedagogy that affirms every child’s socio-cultural background and encourages curiosity and multi-cultural literacies. We want each child to have a happy, healthy, sense of themselves and feel comfortable in their own skin as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of each day.
Our nature and outdoor curriculum is without peer due to our tremendous outdoor play spaces, easy access to East Rock Park, and demonstrated commitment to helping children develop deep, authentic connections with the natural world. Each child’s natural creativity, critical thinking, and curiosity is encouraged and cultivated through storytelling, process art, drawing, painting, music, dance, sculpting, building, scientific experimentation, numeracy, and dramatic play. Instead of forcing children to fit into a regimented schedule, the schedule is designed to fit the needs of the children. We are a collaborative learning community committed to the flourishing, growth, learning, success, and wellbeing of your child. Above all, we want your child to embrace a lifelong journey of joyful learning through free play, open-ended work, and the support of kind and wise teachers.
Full Day Kindergarten | 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Students must turn 5 years old after August 30th of the year in which they are enrolling.
Breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack are provided.
Overview
Our Kindergarten features a low maximum teacher to student ratio of 1-7 and there are up to twenty children in the class with three teachers and one part-time assistant. Balance is the common thread running through each and every aspect of Kindergarten at Leila Day. Leila Day’s tradition of exploratory learning is naturally integrated into the academic rigor which helps prepare the children for their future educational experiences. Kindergarten at Leila Day promotes growth and development by motivating children to take control of their own learning. Children are encouraged to take risks and step outside of their comfort zone which helps foster independence and confidence inside and outside of the classroom.
Our indoor and outdoor learning environments are hives of activity where curiosity and discovery are consistently present. Hands on learning and one on one time with children are achieved because of the low teacher to child ratio. We offer a broad range of joyful experiences to enhance personal growth, self-expression, social awareness and cognitive exploration. These include art, building, dramatic play, music and movement, science explorations, mathematical thinking, cooking, reading, creative writing, and a thematic study of communities that includes many local walking field trips. Children build their understanding of print literacy on a solid foundation of using multiple sign systems to express themselves, communicate with others and represent the world around them.
Exploratory learning is encouraged on a daily basis. Children are always uncovering new interests, which provide opportunities for whole class observations and investigations. We believe in supporting the whole child, and teach balance through rest time, that includes individual reflection and guided meditation. Children learn to identify feelings and become aware of their responses to their thoughts and emotions. We value rich relationships between all members of our community and encourage children to view their teachers as partners. Children are encouraged to independently problem solve and resolve conflicts; yet they know to ask for help from a teacher if they need support. Our goal is to create a kindergarten experience where children can wonder, explore, and grow as members of a thoughtful and kind community.
After School Adventure Program | 3:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Overview
Leila Day’s After School Adventure Program serves children in kindergarten through 3rd grade (ages 5–9). Most students attend nearby public schools within walking distance of our campus, with others joining us from public and private schools across the area. New Haven Public Schools will bus your child to Leila Day. We take advantage of the informality of an afterschool program, the resources of Leila Day’s outdoor program, Tinker Lab and Art Studio, and the energy, experience and knowledge of teachers especially trained for working with children of this age. Afternoons are intentionally unhurried and joy-filled, with time for outdoor play, art, science, culture, and project-based learning. The emphasis is on fun and supporting children as they navigate increasingly complicated interpersonal relationships and social terrain. Children are encouraged to follow their curiosity, explore their interests, and discover what makes their hearts sing.
February & April Vacation Care | 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Overview
When the regular school schedule pauses, the fun and learning continue. When Leila Day is closed for February and April break weeks, we offer optional on-site daycare for enrolled families who need coverage. Families can sign up for this program for an additional fee, it’s led by our current teachers, and families provide their child’s food during these weeks.
Children from different classrooms come together to mix, play, and learn from one another, building friendships and teamwork through shared activities. Our nature-based program embraces the season with outdoor adventures—exploring, observing, building, and discovering in the natural world—while also incorporating hands-on experiments, creative building, and problem-solving, all within a flexible rhythm that lets children follow their curiosity. It’s a joyful blend of play, discovery, and community—an enriching way for children to spend their school break.
Summer Program
At Leila Day, summer is one of the most fun and joyful times of the year. Our summer program keeps what we love most about our school—child-driven learning, play, and building strong relationships—while adding summer themed activities and lots more water play. Children who already attend Leila Day are placed in classes made up of a mix of familiar friends and new faces. This helps children make new friends, feel connected to a bigger community, and enjoy a summer filled with fun, adventure and learning.
Children come in their bathing suits ready for water play and jump into things like the mud kitchen, sprinklers, and sandbox, where the water is often running and imagination is always flowing. We keep our food program running during the summer, offering breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack so children have plenty of energy for all their play. And of course, we continue our tradition of playing in East Rock Park, where children love exploring nature, moving their bodies, and spending time playing near the river during the summer season.
Who Can Attend
Our summer program is open to children currently enrolled at Leila Day. If space allows, we also welcome incoming families whose child will be joining Leila Day in the fall, provided the child has turned three years old by June.
Summer Tuition & Enrollment
Summer tuition follows the upcoming school year sliding scale used by Leila Day. Tuition is prorated for each two-week session, and financial aid is applied according to the sliding scale.
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Contracts are distributed and signed in March.
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Tuition payments are collected April 1 and May 1.
Food Program
Overview
Healthy, delicious meals are an important part of every day at Leila Day. Our on-site chef prepares fresh, homemade breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks using wholesome ingredients. From homemade soups and fresh fruits and vegetables to baked treats and child-friendly favorites, our menu introduces children to a variety of nutritious foods.
We proudly participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which helps us provide balanced meals that meet high nutritional standards.
Our full-day Preschool and Kindergarten students enjoy family-style dining, where mealtimes encourage independence, conversation, community, and healthy eating habits. Children in our After School Adventure Program are welcomed each afternoon with a healthy snack to refuel after a busy day of learning and play.
