Under the administration of director Noelle Carr, St. Stephen's Nursery School, founded in 1969, offers programs for…More children who are three, four and in pre-K.</p> <p>The school's stated mission is "to provide a caring and educationally rich environment that promotes learning, self-esteem, creativity, and personal development."</p> <p>St. Stephen's teaching philosophy is based on the belief that young children need a secure and loving environment for emotional and social growth. Rules and expectations are clear, and teachers provide models of respect and care. The play-based curriculum addresses all aspects of a child's development including intellectual, physical, social, emotional and creative growth.</p> <p>St. Stephen's offers field trips to New Pond Farm, the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum and visits from Woodcock Nature Center and other artists and community helpers enhance classroom activities. Enrichment opportunities include art, music, cooking, Spanish, movement, and science & nature.</p> <p>The school is located in t North Hall on the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church campus at 351 Main St. For more information, contact the school at 203-438-6806.</p>

Founded in 1991 by Nancy Biracree, All for Twos offers preschool education to children ages 1 1/2 to 3 years.…More Biracree, who has a background in both education and entertainment, is the author of  22 books, including <i>The Parents' Book of Facts: Child Development From Birth to Age Five </i>and <i>Buying The Best For Your Baby</i>.<br /> <br />Priding itself on individualized attention toward its students, All for Twos limits its class size to a maximum of ten students with two teachers assigned to each class. Each student is also accompanied by a parent or caregiver to ensure the child's emotional security.</p> <p>A typical day at All for Twos begins with twenty minutes of "free play" time, in which children have access to various toys, learning materials, and books, while parents are encouraged to both play with their children and socialize with each other. </p> <p>This is followed by "Circle Time," in which Biracree—a Broadway veteran—introduces the day's educational theme through songs and games. The theme usually covers early-education basics like colors or letters of the alphabet. These themes are reinforced throughout the day with relevant art projects and games.<br /> <br />Children can be enrolled in one of two class periods: early morning (9:30am to 10:45am) or late morning (11am to 12:15pm). Both time slots meet all five weekdays. </p> <p>All for Twos also offers a "Preschool Express" enrichment program to encourage enthusiastic learning, which children can take one afternoon a week.</p>