Growing Place Santa Monica Early Childhood Lab

Overview

The Santa Monica Early Childhood Lab School is a lab campus operated by Growing Place in partnership with Santa Monica College and the City of Santa Monica. The campus is housed in a LEED-certified building designed specifically for early childhood learning and serves children from infancy through TK.

Approach

The program emphasizes inquiry-driven, project-based learning informed by Reggio-inspired and social-constructivist principles. Teaching practices focus on collaborative inquiry among children, teachers, and families, connections to nature, and time for exploration, play, and reflection.

Facilities

Custom-designed, LEED-certified building with features such as skylights, window seats, diaper chutes, and doors that open to outdoor areas.
Eight classrooms, an atelier (art studio), a community corridor, and shared play yards grouped by developmental levels.
Outdoor play features that include a grassy berm, a puddle/water play feature, raised garden beds, a sandbox, paths for movement, a swing-set, tire swing, slide, and an amphitheater.

Admissions

Applications are accepted year-round. Priority enrollment consideration is given to full-time employees of the City of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College, and RAND Corporation; 30% of enrollment is reserved for Santa Monica residents and 15% for low-income Santa Monica residents, subject to funding availability.

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Growing Place Santa Monica Early Childhood Lab

About

Overview

Approach

Facilities

Admissions

Programs

Infant Program

Preschool–TK

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