Our Program
Nature and Nurture Preschool strives to provide the very best early childhood educational experience possible, here in Hadley, Massachusetts. With a focus on developmentally appropriate and play-based learning, our curriculum engages students and families and encourages growth while having fun.
Our program is inclusive, meaning we welcome all children (well, as many as we have space for!) into our preschool. We will actively try to create a diverse community, including students with delays/disabilities. This is why you won’t see some policies common at many preschools, such as the need to be toilet-trained before enrolling.
Students attend Nature and Nurture four days per week. Caregivers are encouraged to participate in their child’s education through field trips, volunteer opportunities, and family-teacher conferences throughout the year. We also communicate with parents through the Brightwheel App, monthly newsletters, etc.
Our Philosophy
At Nature and Nurture, the foundation of our educational philosophy is respect for each child, as well as childhood as a life stage. Our hope for our program, first and foremost, is that we are helping our students to be caring, compassionate, empathetic people. We also want to create space for kids to be kids!
Nature and Nurture is a play-based program, meaning students learn though play rather than lecture style teaching or worksheets. Our program takes ideas from both Montessori and Reggio Emilia philosophies. For example, both philosophies highlight the use of observation and documentation to demonstrate student learning, rather than tests or other assessments. Students thrive with a small class size and unparalleled personal attention from an experienced educator.
Reggio Emilia also emphasizes the importance of the classroom environment as a “third teacher” (after the teacher and other students). Nature and Nurture’s classroom environment has been crafted with students’ needs in mind. Our classroom is designed to spark children’s curiosity in areas like art, math, science, and reading through a carefully curated collection of books, blocks, art materials, and other resources. It is also set up in a way that fosters children’s independence, such as having low, labeled shelves, a sink at child height and family-style snacks where they serve themselves. In addition to our time in the classroom, we play outside in all seasons, and learn from the world around us.
