New Childcare Education Center Coming to Dedham this Spring

The Gardner School, a childcare education center for children aged 6-weeks through 5-years old, has announced that it will be opening its doors on Dedham’s Washington Street in April 2025, which will be the school’s third location in Massachusetts. It opened its first location in the state in Braintree in December, a second location in Cambridge in January, and will open a fourth location in Weymouth this summer.

Chaya Swenson, Director of Academics and Learning for the organization, noted that the Dedham location was chosen due to the community's value of early childhood academics, general need for preschools in the area, and a market of families who want their children to have high quality of preparation for kindergarten.

The Dedham location includes planning for three infant classrooms, three toddler classrooms, three 2-year old classrooms, and six classrooms for preschoolers. Adult to child ratios are expected to be 2:7 for infants, 2:9 for both toddlers and 2-year olds, and 1:10 for preschoolers.

Ms. Swenson says the school has a special focus on social emotional learning, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, and has a whole-child approach. With the belief that children learn best through play, the school will have both indoor and outdoor playscapes, recognizing that Boston area winters can be very cold. There will be S.T.E.A.M. programming and family style meals with a teacher. Children will be allowed to facilitate their own learning with teacher guidance, and peer learning in groups, says Ms. Swenson.

The school is currently interviewing prospective staff and conducting tours, which families can schedule online. An open house is also being held on Sunday, March 2nd.