the vision of a kensington classroom

The classroom is at the heart of the Kensington School experience. Children enjoy a beautiful, exciting, child-centered classroom that encourages them to develop to their fullest potential.

As our building designs have evolved through the years, the Kensington classroom blueprint has progressed as well. Today, a distinct set of criteria is central to what we consider to be the cornerstones of our classroom design philosophy.

physical elements of classroom design

The spacious classrooms are bright and airy with natural light spilling through our oversized windows.

A self-contained plan offers many advantages and is an integral component of our room design:

• Scaled to the size of a child, the bathrooms and adjacent cloakrooms for coats and totes, help children grow in independence under the guidance of their teachers.
• Teacher workstations with counters and cabinets provide access to necessary materials without the need to leave the room.
• Classroom sinks assure that all items handled by the children can be easily washed and sanitized.
• Doorways to the playground directly from the classroom provide for the safest access to outdoor fun.

multi-tiered play levels

• Lofts and climbers provide a view from another perspective and, with their limited space, provide bookworms with a quiet nook or a little space for conversation.
• Architecturally interesting space for dramatic play creates a lovely destination for creative “cooks”, an appealing writing center, or a busy math lab.

furniture and interest center placement

• The arrangement of each classroom is very specific in its objectives. Full of wonderful, pleasing spaces, it encourages children to be active learners, deriving great pleasure from their freedom and independence.
• The grouping of furniture creates well-defined areas, separating active from quiet play, and individual from small group experiences.
• Carefully developed interest centers encourage child-initiated investigations. Additional pieces of equipment and props are sequentially added to inspire further work.

kensington furnishings

Visitors always comment on the beauty of Kensington’s furnishings. The warmth of wood, quality workmanship, and the rich, colorful assortment of learning materials combine to present a very appealing environment.

teaching staff

Research clearly indicates that a caring, knowledgeable teacher is a critical element in a superior early childhood classroom. Kensington Schools offer a very desirable teaching environment for new staff.

Each new teaching applicant is carefully screened. After meeting with senior leadership, applicants must be interviewed and approved by the owners before they may be hired.

New staff receives continuous support from school directors and supervisory personnel. Skillful teacher trainers instill in each new Kensington staff member a clear understanding of the rich components of our proven curriculum. Seminars explain the time-tested Kensington protocols concerning safety and supervision, sanitation and classroom care.