Born out of her parenting journey, Alphabet Academy and The Nest Founder Amy Small began her lustrous career in childcare and early education after being inspired by her kids' impactful Montessori experience. Borrowing from those practices juxtaposed with her thoughtful, intentional approach, Amy grew her business into the magical place it is today with the anticipation of her 5th location opening in Greenfield Hill.
Q: What inspired you to choose Fairfield as the location for your newest preschool?
A: The town has become an extension of my home. It's familiar, meaningful and full of memories. One of the things that makes Fairfield so special is the incredible number of young families who live here. It's a vibrant, growing community and with that comes a very real and ongoing need for high-quality childcare.
I saw that while there are some good programs in the area, I wasn't finding anything that reflected the kind of environment we've built at Alphabet and The Nest—one that's grounded in emotional responsiveness, progressive practices, nature-based experiences and a deep respect for each child as an individual—not to mention our farm-to-table food program. That sparked the idea. We've been looking for the right location for a long time and are so excited to finally open our doors in Fairfield this September.
Q: What age groups do your programs serve and how does your educational philosophy support children at each stage of development?
A: Our Fairfield location will serve families with children from 1 to 5 years old. Our work is grounded in the Reggio Emilia philosophy. At its core, that means we follow the child's lead. Our educators spend a lot of time observing and getting to know who each child is, where they are developmentally, and what genuinely interests them. From there, we build a curriculum that responds to each group and individual's unique needs and passions.
We think of the classroom environment as the "third teacher." It's a living part of the learning experience, intentionally designed to reflect and support where the children are and where they're going. This kind of teaching takes time and reflection, so we build dedicated planning time outside of the classroom for our individual educators and teaching teams each week. It's not just teaching—it's a creative process, an art form. And it's what makes this work so meaningful.
Q: What is The Nest's overall mission?
A: Our program is rooted in play, guided by the RIE philosophy, and deeply child-centered. We aim to preserve childhood in a modern world. At The Nest, we intentionally slow things down. We create a rhythm and an environment that gives children the time, space and freedom to be children.
That means time to play. Time to get messy, to wonder, to take risks, to solve problems, and to explore. Children at The Nest get to touch grass, dig in dirt, splash in water, and follow their curiosity with their whole bodies. We also support them in building the foundations of independence, helping them develop the skills and confidence to care for themselves and engage with the world around them.
We offer a safe space for making mistakes, understanding their big emotions, asking questions and figuring things out. Because that's what childhood should be—a time of discovery, joy, and deep connection. Our mission is to protect the magic of early childhood and create a space where children are truly seen, supported and allowed to grow into exactly who they are.
Q: Many people are familiar with Montessori—how does the Reggio Emilia approach differ?
A: Montessori and Reggio Emilia have a lot in common—they view children as capable, curious and full of potential. They both honor each child's developmental path and interests. But the way they go about it is a bit different.
Montessori classrooms tend to use a specific set of materials designed by Maria Montessori that are often self-correcting and meant to be used in particular ways to build specific skills. Reggio Emilia leans into open-ended exploration. Instead of prescribed materials, we offer loose parts, natural objects, open-ended art supplies and even light and shadow. The things that spark curiosity and invite children to investigate, create and express themselves in their own unique ways. It's less about mastering a task and more about wondering, exploring and discovering together.
Q: You mentioned the RIE philosophy— tell us more about what that means in practice.
A: The RIE philosophy (Resources for Infant Educarers) is a big part of what guides us in our Lower School, especially in our infant, toddler, and twos classrooms. At its core, RIE is about respect and connection. We see every caregiving moment—feeding, diapering, preparing for sleep—not just as a task but as an opportunity to connect, build trust and show each child that they are seen and valued.
As children grow, we continue to honor that same deep, respectful way of being—it evolves into what we call Emotionally Responsive Teaching. This means validating children's feelings and helping them name and navigate their emotions as they come up. We focus on creating a sense of safety and belonging while holding clear, consistent boundaries. That combination—emotional warmth alongside structure—helps children feel secure. They know they're cared for and they also know what to expect. That's what builds trust, resilience and real confidence.
Q: Can you tell us about the experience and training your teachers bring to the classroom?
A: We're incredibly excited to have four teachers from our Hamden and Branford locations join us in Fairfield. Meghan Murray will run our Fairfield location. She is a local mom with a Master's in Early Childhood Education. She has spent over two decades teaching in Montessori and Reggio classrooms. We know that credentials are just one part of the picture. Teaching young children is truly a calling and the most meaningful job in the world. We invest in our teachers because they're the heart of everything we do.
Q: What does success look like for children graduating from your kindergarten program?
A: When children graduate from our pre-k or kindergarten program, I want them to leave with more than just academic school readiness. I want them to leave knowing who they are and feel proud.
We focus more on helping them hold onto their "spark" as curious learners and problem solvers. We want them to be motivated to gather the information they are interested in exploring and dive into it both in groups and on their own. Our priority is not just that they are academically prepared for kindergarten; that's the easy part, but also that they are socially and emotionally prepared.
Most importantly, they leave knowing they are enough, exactly as they are. They understand that their uniqueness is their strength and that success doesn't come from fitting into a mold but staying true to themselves as they grow.
The Nest at Greenfield Hill
161 Hillside Road, Fairfield, CT 06824
alphabetacademyct.com
Our mission is to protect the magic of early childhood and create a space where children are truly seen, supported and allowed to grow into exactly who they are.