Early Childhood
The Riley School’s early childhood program offers an enriching and nurturing environment for children ages 2 1/2-4 that supports their social and emotional development while they acquire the skills and foundations for further learning.
Our Magnolias classroom invites our youngest Riley children to explore and discover in an inviting, hands-on space. Children transition into our Junipers classroom when they are ready to take the next steps in their learning adventure.
Play-Based Learning
At Riley, we believe that play is the "work" of children, and it therefore holds a fundamental place in our curriculum. Children are encouraged to challenge their ideas as they construct their knowledge about the world. Stories, dramatic play, music, yoga, manipulatives, and painting are just a few activities that foster creativity. Multi-sensory experiences with clay, water, sand, and nature walks are woven into the Riley experience as we explore our beautiful, 21-acre campus.
Our students spend a great deal of time outdoors and in our thoughtfully-designed, self-contained play space and garden. Enjoying music classes in our theater and helping with our goats, chicken, and ducks are some of things our students look most forward to. Our library offers an exciting selection of books in a cozy environment complete with a wood-burning stove, and our gardens and meadows on our campus beckon for exploration.
Transition to Lower School
Our 4-year-olds begin to spend their afternoons in our Lower School as part of a transitional program that keeps the needs and development of individual children in mind. During this time, the children are integrated into mixed-age classes, which prepare them to join our Lower School program as they gain comfort around this exciting transition. This experience sets the stage for their future transitions into our Middle School and, eventually, Upper School. The beauty of this program is that when they’re ready, we’re ready!
