Ages three to five and a half
Our early childhood program is inspired by the teacher researchers of Reggio Emilia and the outdoor Forest School philosophy.
At the Eastern Ridge School children and teachers collaboratively develop plans and ideas. We offer small group sizes (six to eight children), and students are encouraged to pursue hands-on projects stemming from their interests. Math, literacy and science are naturally integrated into project work. Physical materials, such as paint, clay, sand, water, wood, leaves, tiles, wire, and many other items are available for exploration and expression of ideas.
Perhaps most importantly, the foundational skills of social-emotional literacy and self-help skills are woven into the fabric of every day. The school is located on a three acre campus and much of the children’s days are spent outdoors.
Each of our early childhood classes also has two regularly scheduled forest days per month where the class spends the entire day exploring the woods and trails at nearby Wolf Trap National Park.