NURTURING
CURIOSITY
The Early School
In the Early School years, students experience a joyful, engaging educational foundation where young learners thrive through hands-on exploration and creative play. Designed to nurture curiosity and confidence, our program helps children build essential early skills while fostering independence, social growth, and a lifelong love of learning.
The Early School is a co-educational program for children ages 2 through 5. Ready for next steps?
Early School | Areas of Learning
Ashley Hall's Early School program, inspired by the Reggio-Emilia educational philosophy, honors each child as a curious, capable, and creative learner. Rooted in the belief that children learn best through exploration and meaningful experiences, our classrooms are vibrant, hands-on spaces where play and inquiry go hand in hand. Teachers act as guides and collaborators, encouraging students to ask questions, follow their interests, and build essential cognitive, social, emotional, and motor skills along the way.
This joyful, child-centered foundation nurtures independence and a lasting love of learning.
| EARLY LITERACY |
|---|
Early literacy at Ashley Hall begins with meaningful exposure to language in all its forms.From the start, students build reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills through daily engagement with stories, poems, and nonfiction—both indoors and out. Classrooms are filled with accessible books, and weekly library visits spark curiosity and a love of reading. Letters, phonics, and early writing are introduced in small-group and one-on-one settings, helping children make natural connections between sounds and words while building a strong foundation for lifelong literacy. |
| SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & MATH (STEM) |
Throughout the Early School, science and math come to life through curiosity and hands-on exploration.Embracing the Reggio-Emilia approach to learning, students investigate the world around them, mixing, observing, questioning, and discovering both in the classroom and outdoors. Whether spotting tadpoles in the campus Reflection Pond or exploring our Johns Island Nature Retreat, children learn to think like scientists as they build a lasting love for inquiry and discovery. |
| ATELIER STUDIO (ART) |
The Atelier is a vibrant studio space in the Early School where creativity takes center stage.Guided by the Atelierista, a trained artist and educator, children explore a wide range of materials—like clay, paint, fabric, and recycled objects—as they bring their ideas to life. Focused on the creative process rather than the final product, the Atelier encourages experimentation, self-expression, and critical thinking through hands-on, imaginative experiences. |
| MUSIC AND MOVEMENT |
Each week, Early School students enjoy music and movement classes filled with singing, playing instruments, and creative movement.From dance parties to imaginative storytelling, these joyful sessions support strength, coordination, and self-expression. Through rhythm and melody, children build body awareness, emotional regulation, and a strong sense of community as they listen, respond, and move together. |
Enhancing the Experience
Ready for Next Steps?
| Submit inquiry | BEGIN APPLICATION |
 |
|
Early School News
Early School and the Power of Community
Technology as a Language for Thinking in the Early School
Birds, Feathers, and Self-Regulation
Inside Ashley Hall: Highlights From an Extraordinary Semester
Fall Family Explorations in the Early School
Independence in the Early School
Ready to Explore?
