In the early years, learning often looks like "just play." But at Harwell Schools in Beaverton and Oregon City, every activity is an intentional step toward building the cognitive, social, and emotional foundations for a lifetime of success. We believe that a high-quality, curriculum-rich environment transforms the concept of "daycare" into a vital educational experience that prepares children for the complexities of the future.

Grounded in Research: The Harwell Philosophy

A curriculum shouldn't be a rigid set of lesson plans; it should be a framework that invites discovery. Our approach is deeply influenced by the pioneering work of Friedrich Froebel (the founder of Kindergarten) and Jean Piaget.

By combining these historical roots with modern research, we ensure that:

• Play is Purposeful Every block built and every song sung is designed to meet specific developmentally appropriate milestones.

• The Whole Child is Supported Our curriculum integrates STEM, Arts, Music, and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) into daily exploration.

• Learning is Active Following Piaget’s theories, we view children as active learners who construct knowledge through hands-on experience in our classrooms.

specialty Spaces: Where Future-Proofing Happens

At Harwell, the curriculum isn't limited to a single desk. We provide science, art, and music time that allow children to dive deep into core subjects. These specialized environments help children build skills to help them be successful in kindergarten.

Professional Excellence and Assessment

A curriculum is only as effective as the experts who deliver it. Harwell teachers are not "babysitters"; they are DHS-certified professionals trained specifically in child development. To ensure our curriculum stays at the leading edge, our staff participates in:

• In-classroom coaching and off-site training.
• Continuous learning via our proprietary self-directed learning platform.

We don't just hope our curriculum works—we prove it. We track every child’s progress toward Kindergarten readiness through regular milestone check-ins and three annual formal assessments with parent conferences.

Partnering with Families

We believe transparency is key to your child's success. Through the ProCare parent app, you receive real-time digital updates and photos, so you can see exactly how the curriculum is coming to life for your child. Additionally, our Parenting Concierge service is available to help you manage family logistics, ensuring that your child’s educational journey is supported both at school and at home.

Conclusion

Choosing Harwell means choosing an educational investment. When you move beyond simple supervision to a research-based, Froebel and Piaget-influenced curriculum, you give your child the tools to become a confident, curious, and resilient learner for life.