Edinburgh Steiner School opens its Kindergarten for 2-year-olds on 25th August

ESS opens a sixth kindergarten, Seedlings, in the new academic year for the youngest pupils aged 2 years old.

Edinburgh Steiner School re-establishes its Kindergarten for 2-year-olds form 25th August, named Seedlings, as its early years provision grows. 

The vertical age range has always been an important part of Waldorf pedagogy in the Early Years. When it was decided last year that a dedicated Treetops Kindergarten would best serve the oldest ones in the Blackbird, Greenfinch, Appleseed and Acorn cohorts, Edinburgh Steiner School decided to pilot introducing two-year-olds into each constellation to retain the three years span. 

The needs of the 2-year-old, however, are quite different to that of a child who has marked their third year. This past year has deepened the understanding that this age and the requirements of the 3-5 year old kindergarteners, are best served in a smaller group of up to ten children of a similar age. 

Seedlings will open in the Autumn Term, led by Cristina Fernandez Sanchez. 

Cristina has been working alongside Treetops Leader, Tess McNatt, as her assistant and will welcome up to ten two-year-olds in the Toddler Hut, helped by a second adult.

Many of these children have started their Waldorf journey in one of the Toddler Groups with Yifat Leibner.  Toddler Group will continue in the Autumn Term on campus and at Colinton Dell. 

Treetops successfully brings the oldest kindergarteners together from the four Kindergartens to form the following year's Class 1 in an environment and rhythm familiar to them. It offers Edinburgh parents an important alternative to P1. 

Attended without parents/carers, Seedlings welcomes a group of up to ten toddlers a day and enables them to develop independence, meet new friends, learn social skills and have fun. Children can attend from 3 mornings up to five days until 5.30pm. 

This group can provide a stepping stone before children make the progression into Kindergarten from the age of 3 years old.

Three available spaces remain for the upcoming academic year. APPLY NOW