Our Programs
WE EXPLORE | WE PLAY | WE CREATE | WE GET MESSY
The Carriage House Nursery School is uniquely well-suited to Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Pre-Kindergarten children’s learning and activities. The indoor classrooms are bright, cheerful, and well-equipped with a variety of educational age-appropriate materials which foster a love for learning. The Outdoor Nature classroom has a variety of nature-based learning centers that provide additional educational opportunities with a focus on appreciation and respect for nature. Each of our unique programs offers a developmentally appropriate curriculum that meets all of the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care standards.
Children are enrolled into classrooms for the School Year based on their age as of September 1st.
FAQs
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Children do not have to be toilet trained. However, it is helpful when playing in the Outdoor Classroom since it is further away from the school.
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The teacher-to-child ratio is 1/4 for the younger children and 1/6 for the older children.
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Children come to school to learn to be good friends. We help the children identify how their body is feeling and work on the skills needed to have a positive experience at school. More information can be given for specific behavior concerns.
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Children bring their snack/lunch and water bottle from home. We are a peanut-free school.
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The educational materials are sprayed with disinfectant daily. They are cleaned on Friday when the teachers exchange the materials to enhance their curriculum.
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If a child is not feeling well enough to play, has vomited, or has a fever, they may not return to school until 24 hours after the fever breaks, vomiting stops, or a child has been on an antibiotic. Parents are notified by email or printed information distributed by the Dept. of Health.
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We email, call, send home newsletters, and use parent communication software to share photos.
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A safe environment is very important to Carriage House Nursery School
We are a Peanut-free school and check snacks/lunches daily. If Epi Pens are required, we ask for 2 left at school. We also require an Individual Health Care Plan to be completed by your pediatrician/allergist permitting us to administer an Epi Pen if required.
We are all certified in 1st Aid and CPR.
Extended Day
Extended Day is offered to children in all of our program morning sessions as an extension of their day until 3:00p.
Children must be 3 yrs or older to attend.
Families may sign up for 1-4 days for the entire school year.
There are a few open slots each day for a last-minute drop-in.
Enrichment Programs
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Exploring Art
Artist, Amanda Herzog, also a classroom teacher at CHNS, introduces the children to a professional artist and their technique. Each month the children explore a different artist and technique and create their own version using the same materials The children’s creations are on display at the Art Show in May.
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Exploring Music
Singer, Caitlin Maloney, also a classroom teacher at CHNS, introduces the children to a variety of music venues. Each month the children explore different instruments and songs. The children perform their musical talents during the winter holidays and at the end of the school year.
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Exploring Yoga
Yogini, Kim Spires, introduces the children to many different yoga poses. The children learn yoga techniques to help with self-control and calming their bodies.
The classroom environment is recognized for its potential to inspire children. Carriage House Nursery School is unique in that we offer 2 learning environments: Our Indoor Classrooms & our Outdoor Classrooms!
Indoor Classroom
The classroom environment is recognized for its potential to inspire children. Our Indoor Classrooms are designed with natural light, order, and beauty. Every corner is ever-evolving to encourage children to delve deeper into their interests. Our indoor classroom has nature materials from the outdoors to carry on the learning throughout our days.
Outdoor Classroom
The importance of being outdoors during the early years helps to establish a love of nature and an appreciation and respect for its life cycle. The physical space encourages exploration, communication, and collaboration. The opportunity to climb the alternating tree stumps, build with small and large messy materials, chase butterflies, watch the clouds, create art with nature, reenact a story on the stage, play the drums, or make mud pies!! Every classroom has its own garden box to grow vegetables and flowers. We collaborate with Holly Hill Farms to learn all about gardening.
All of these experiences provide new sensory integration experiences, executive function skills, creativity, exploring, social-emotional skills, motor skills, and communication.