Our Curriculum and Programs

Our Full-Day and After School programs are NAEYC accredited.

Our child-centered curriculum is rooted in children’s interests, ideas, and abilities. We create meaningful learning experiences by weaving together observations and documentation of children’s play, the rhythms and occurrences in the natural world, and the skills and benchmarks outlined in the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards. The curriculum emerges and evolves as our children‘s interests and curiosities unfold. Through play, children explore and develop cognitive, social, emotional, creative, and physical skills. Language, literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and the arts are integrated into our learning environments and experiences.

Full Day Preschool, 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Please note that children applying for preschool must be at least 3 years old by December 31 of the year they are applying for.Tuition for Full Day Preschool is based on a sliding scale fee determined by family income. Breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack are provided.

South Group – 3 year olds
The South Group is the smallest group at Leila Day, with twelve children, three teachers, and an afternoon assistant. The children are in South for the school year and then move as a group into the East Class, where they stay for the following year as four year olds.

East Group – 4 year olds
New four year olds join the children coming from the South Class and spend a year together before moving on to Kindergarten. The group numbers sixteen children with three teachers and an afternoon assistant.

North Group – Mixed-Age Group: 3 and 4 year olds
Children can enter the North Group at age three or four. The three year olds in this group stay for two years. If there are openings, children can also join the group as four year olds and stay for a year before moving on to Kindergarten. There are sixteen children in this mixed-age group with three teachers and an afternoon assistant.

Full Day Kindergarten, 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Our Kindergarten program is open to all children turning 5 years old after August 30th of the year they are applying for.

Tuition for Full Day Kindergarten is based on a sliding scale fee determined by family income. Breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack are provided. There are up to eighteen children in the class with three teachers and one part-time assistant.

Overview

Balance is the common thread running through each 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 an 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. Our kindergarten teachers use Wilson Fundations, a research-based program for literacy instruction. Fundations makes reading fun, while helping children develop critical foundational literacy skills.

Exploratory learning is encouraged on a daily basis. Children are always uncovering new interests, which provide opportunities for whole group 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 create a kindergarten experience where children can wonder, explore, and grow as members of a thoughtful and kind community.

Learn About the Enrollment Process