Bright Horizons at Teele Square

This preschool/​kindergarten is the former Tufts Educational Day Care Center, which Tufts abruptly turned over to Bright Horizons in September 2014. I adored TEDCC and was heartbroken when the change was announced, but I am very happy I stuck with BHTS. Most of the really great things about the school have been preserved: the play-​centered curriculum; the whole-​child focus and attention to socio-​emotional development; the Special Friends program (which matches each child up with a Tufts undergrad); whole-​school projects in small groups; sign language lessons; a summer garden; great summer walking field trips; a friendly community. The teachers are fabulous and dedicated. There has been a good bit of teacher turnover — but the new hires my child has worked with have been wonderful, and one beloved former teacher now works closely with the center from the Tufts side. A new director just started this summer, and so far she seems energetic, smart, and dedicated to the play-​based curriculum. I wish the school were still a non-​profit, and I get the impression that the teachers have to deal with some corporate bureaucratic garbage, but that doesn’t carry over into the classroom — as far as I can tell, Bright Horizons has been hands-​off with the curriculum and the school culture. I hope it stays that way, because it’s such a great community — the kids have so much fun!