Now EnrolLING Children ages 6 weeks and up! Call Today to INquire and set up a tour!
Our Programs
Growing, Learning, and Thriving At HIlltop School
At Hilltop School, we believe the early years are an exciting time of discovery, growth, and connection. Every age and stage brings something new, and our programs are thoughtfully designed to meet children where they are while giving them the support, encouragement, and opportunities they need to take their next steps.
From our youngest learners through Pre-K, each program at Hilltop is designed with the developmental needs of that age group in mind. While our classrooms each have their own unique routines, experiences, and areas of focus, they are all grounded in the same commitment to providing children with a safe, nurturing, engaging, and high-quality early learning experience.
As you explore the programs below, you will learn more about what makes each classroom unique, what your child can expect at each stage, and how their experience at Hilltop evolves as they grow. We want families to have a clear picture of their child's journey—not just the classroom they are entering today, but the exciting opportunities that await them as they continue to grow with us.
Scroll below to explore each of our programs and discover what makes each stage of the Hilltop experience special.
Infant Program
6 weeks to 12 Months
Our Infant Program provides a warm, nurturing, and responsive environment designed specifically for the unique needs of infants as they grow, develop, and begin discovering the world around them. We understand that every baby is unique and develops at their own pace. Our teachers take the time to get to know each child individually—their personality, cues, routines, interests, and emerging abilities—so they can provide care that is responsive, individualized, and supportive.
Relationships are at the heart of our Infant Program. Teachers focus on building secure, trusting relationships with each child through consistent, responsive caregiving and meaningful one-on-one interactions. We respond to infants’ cues, provide comfort and reassurance, and create a predictable environment where babies feel safe, loved, and cared for. From talking and singing during everyday routines to reading books, sharing a smile, or getting down on the floor to explore together, these everyday moments become meaningful opportunities for connection and learning.
Our curriculum is play-based, child-centered, and emergent. Teachers carefully observe each infant’s development, interests, and emerging skills and use those observations to intentionally plan experiences that encourage curiosity, exploration, and growth. Infants are given developmentally appropriate opportunities to move, reach, grasp, explore textures and sounds, interact with their environment, and engage with the people around them.
Throughout the day, teachers support the development of early language and communication, sensory awareness, fine and gross motor skills, social-emotional development, early problem-solving, curiosity, and growing independence. As infants become more mobile and increasingly interested in their surroundings, teachers provide safe and engaging opportunities for them to practice new skills, make discoveries, and learn through hands-on exploration.
We recognize that caring for an infant is a partnership between families and teachers. Families know their children best, and we value open, ongoing communication about each child’s routines, development, interests, and individual needs. By working closely with families, we can provide consistency between home and school and ensure that each baby receives the individualized care and support they need throughout their day.
Our goal is to provide every infant with a safe, loving, and engaging beginning to their early learning experience—a place where they can build trusting relationships, explore at their own pace, develop confidence, and experience the joy of discovering something new each day. We want families to feel confident knowing their baby is not only being cared for, but
is being known, nurtured, and encouraged to grow.
The ratio in our Infant Program is 1 Teacher to 3 children.
Young Toddler Program
13 months-2 Years of Age
Our Young Toddler Program provides a nurturing; responsive environment designed specifically for children as they transition from infancy into the busy and exciting toddler years. During this stage, children experience tremendous growth in language, movement, independence, social-emotional development, and their understanding of the world around them.
Our teachers provide a play-based, hands-on learning environment where children are encouraged to explore, move, investigate, and learn through meaningful everyday experiences. Curriculum is emergent and child-centered, meaning teachers observe children's interests, emerging skills, and developmental needs and use those observations to intentionally plan activities, materials, and experiences that support continued growth.
Throughout the day, children have opportunities to develop early language and communication, fine and gross motor skills, social-emotional skills, sensory exploration, early problem-solving, creativity, and growing independence. Teachers also support children as they begin learning important classroom routines and skills such as making choices, interacting with peers, participating in simple group experiences, and developing age-appropriate self-help skills.
Relationships and responsive caregiving remain an important part of the Young Toddler classroom. Teachers focus on building secure, trusting relationships with each child and use connection, co-regulation, and positive guidance to support children as they experience the big feelings and rapid development that are a natural part of toddlerhood.
Our goal is to provide children with a safe and engaging environment where they can explore at their own pace, build confidence and independence, and develop a strong foundation for their transition into our Toddler Program.
The ratio in our Young Toddler Program is 1 Teacher to 5 children.
Toddler Program
2 Years Old-3 Years Old
Our Toddler Program is designed for the busy, curious, and increasingly independent two-year-old! Through play-based, hands-on experiences, children are encouraged to explore, make choices, build relationships, and develop confidence as they learn about the world around them.
Our emergent, child-centered curriculum is shaped by teachers' observations of children's interests, developing skills, and individual needs. Learning experiences support growth in language and communication, social-emotional development, fine and gross motor skills, early problem-solving, creativity, sensory exploration, and age-appropriate independence.
Teachers provide positive guidance and co-regulation as children learn to navigate big feelings, interact with peers, participate in classroom routines and group experiences, and develop important self-help skills. The classroom environment and learning opportunities continue to evolve as the children grow, develop, and discover new interests.
Children do not need to be toilet trained to join our Toddler Program. Teachers are happy to partner with families and support the toilet-learning process when each child shows signs of readiness.
Our goal is to give toddlers plenty of opportunities to play, explore, move, create, and discover while building the foundational skills that will prepare them for their next step into Jr. Preschool.
The ratio in our toddler rooms are 1 Teacher to 5 Children.
This age group fills up fast so we encourage you to get on our wait list early.
Junior Preschool
2.5-3.5 years old
Our Jr. Preschool Program is designed for children experiencing tremendous growth in independence, communication, social-emotional development, and emerging preschool skills. This classroom provides a supportive bridge between our Toddler and Preschool programs while recognizing that children at this age continue to learn best through play, movement, exploration, and hands-on experiences.
Our play-based, emergent curriculum is guided by children's interests, developmental needs, and teachers' observations. The classroom offers intentionally planned learning centers and experiences that encourage children to make choices, explore materials, solve problems, build language, strengthen fine and gross motor skills, develop friendships, and become increasingly independent in everyday routines.
Teachers provide positive guidance and co-regulation as children learn to manage big feelings, navigate peer interactions, participate in age-appropriate group experiences, follow classroom routines, and develop important self-help skills. Children are supported at their individual developmental level while gradually building the skills and confidence that will help prepare them for Preschool.
Children do not need to be toilet trained to join our Jr. Preschool Program. Teachers partner with families to support the toilet-learning process based on each child's individual readiness and development.
The ratio in our Jr. Preschool Program is 1 Teacher to 7 Children.
Preschool Program
3 years-4 years
Our Preschool Program builds upon the skills children developed during the toddler and Jr. Preschool years while supporting their growing independence, confidence, curiosity, and readiness for the next stage of learning. Children continue to learn through play, exploration, relationships, and meaningful hands-on experiences in a developmentally appropriate environment.
Our play-based, emergent curriculum is shaped by children's interests, questions, developmental needs, and teachers' observations. Classroom learning areas—including dramatic play, blocks and construction, literacy, math, science and discovery, art, sensory experiences, and manipulatives—provide opportunities for children to make choices, investigate ideas, solve problems, create, collaborate, and pursue their own interests.
Children also participate in age-appropriate circle times and group experiences that introduce and strengthen early literacy, math, science, communication, and other school-readiness concepts. Teachers support children as they develop friendships, navigate social situations, manage emotions, follow increasingly complex routines and directions, care for their belongings, and become more independent in everyday tasks.
Our goal is to prepare children for Pre-K by developing the whole child—socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively—while preserving the joy, creativity, curiosity, and play that are essential to early childhood.
Children entering our Preschool Program must be fully toilet trained prior to enrollment.
The ratio in our Preschool classrooms is 1 teacher to 10 Children.
*Special Note: Hilltop School partners with the Maine Audubon in Holden for a Nature Hour once a month where they come to our school and explore a topic related to outdoors and nature and participate in activities outside. We also bring in many other guests throughout the year.
Pre-Kindergarten
4-5 year olds
Our Pre-Kindergarten Program provides a high-quality, developmentally appropriate learning environment for children preparing to transition to kindergarten the following year. During this important year, children continue to learn through play, exploration, relationships, and hands-on experiences while developing the confidence, independence, and foundational skills needed for a successful transition to school.
Our play-based, emergent curriculum is intentionally planned around children's interests, developmental needs, questions, and emerging skills. Classroom learning centers encourage children to make choices, investigate ideas, solve problems, create, collaborate, and take an active role in their own learning. Teachers continually adapt the curriculum, materials, and classroom environment as children's interests and abilities grow and change.
Throughout the Pre-K year, teachers intentionally support social-emotional development, language and literacy, early mathematical and scientific thinking, physical development, problem-solving, creativity, and self-help skills. Children also participate in developmentally appropriate circle times and group learning experiences that help strengthen their ability to listen, communicate ideas, follow multi-step directions, participate in a classroom community, and work both independently and cooperatively with others.
Kindergarten readiness is about more than academics. Our goal is to develop the whole child and help children leave Hilltop as confident, curious, capable learners who are excited and prepared for their next adventure.
Children enrolling in our Pre-K Program must be 4 years old by October 15 and must be fully toilet trained.
The ratio in our Pre-K Classroom is 1 Teacher to 10 Children.
*Special Note: Hilltop School partners with the Maine Audubon in Holden for a Nature Hour once a month where they come to our school and explore a topic related to outdoors and nature and participate in activities outside. We also bring in many other guests throughout the year.
