The Early School is a friendly place where children feel safe to explore, conquer new challenges, and acquire social and communication skills that they'll use for the rest of their lives.

About The Early School

The Early School is a private, nonprofit independent school accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in March 1990 and has provided early childhood education and care services to the families of young children in Honolulu since 1973.

We are proud of our tradition as a vital community that has its roots in a love for children and a deep caring for family.  The Early School nurtures the growth of genuinely inquisitive and socially aware children, from 18 months through 5 years of age.

Faculty and Staff

Faculty and staff fulfill the academic and experience requirements of the Department of Human Services (DHS) which licenses TES programs.  In addition, teachers and administrators participate annually in the national (NAEYC) and local (HAEYC) conferences thereby continuing their early childhood education.  Staff must demonstrate the personal qualities of warmth, openness and a genuine respect for children.

Faculty and staff are among the leaders in Hawaii’s early childhood community--training teachers, serving as consultants and providing leadership in professional organizations.

The Young Children's Program (YCP)

The Young Children’s Program (YCP) accommodates twenty 18 through 36-month-olds in a small setting which provided a comfortable stepping stone between the intimacy of a home and the formality of a school.  Small group sizes and low ratios (1:5) allow children to explore their environment and learn through creative and discovery play.

$1,200 monthly (as of September 1, 2011)

The Preschool Program (Sky & Lokahi Rooms)

In the Preschool Program, low teacher-child ratios (1:7 or 1:8) enable the staff to work with 3 through 5-year old both individually and in small groups as the children continue to develop confidence in themselves as learners.  Beginning skills in math, reading, writing, science, social studies, nutrition and the arts are integrated parts of the daily curriculum.  Physical, social and communication skills are encouraged as children work and play cooperatively within their small groups.

$1,000 monthly (as of September 1, 2011)

Family Participation

The Early School offers families a wide range of opportunities for participation.  Each parent is a member of The Early School’s corporation and participates in the election of the Board of Directors.  Half of the directors are parents representing the different programs.

Parents are invited into classrooms to share skills and interests.  They may also serve as classroom assistants or do other necessary jobs in exchange for a tuition reduction. Social and educational events are held at least once a month. Examples of these events include workshops on parenting topics, informational meetings on choosing primary schools, picnics, campouts and theme parties.

What Parents Have Said About The Early School

“The Early School is a learning environment concerned with the whole person. I don’t know of too many other schools that make parents feel so welcome and important.”

“Through The Early School we learned that we really wanted to be involved in our children’s education. When we were growing up, my parents were not aware of what we were being taught. So it was through contact with The Early School that I learned I could be involved.”

“The Early School is a place where children teachers and parents work together for the good of the child in a spirit of tolerance, understanding and love.”

Mission

The Early School is an educational community comprising children, families and teachers. It is devoted to nurturing the innate desire of all children to grow and to learn and offers a developmentally appropriate, child-centered, emergent curriculum. To stimulate and to challenge others in the field, The Early School strives to be a model of early childhood education and care of the highest quality.

Philosophy

Learning is a lifelong process that begins in infancy. To become responsible members of the community and citizens of the world, it is necessary for children and adults to develop awareness, knowledge and skills. The Early School believes that children and adults need to be nurtured and that educational opportunities must be available and accessible to them throughout life. The Early School supports the physical, intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual development of all its members and shares its vision and expertise with the larger community.

Educational Values

The best education affirms the innate desire of all human beings to grow and to learn and recognize that both growth and learning are developmental in nature. Consequently, meaningful educational activities start with the natural curiosity of the learners. We believe that each person possesses a unique richness to contribute to the world and that we all must learn to share ourselves and our resources.

Our Credentials

TES is a private, non-profit, independent school that has provided early childhood education and services since 1973.

We are one of only a few Hawaii preschools to earn accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.