Grow with nature

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About

Welcome to Cherry Tree Early Years Centre, a place to learn and grow with nature!

Inspired by forest kindergarten education, Cherry Tree combines outdoor learning and play to give each child a well-rounded, meaningful start to their educational journey. Children aged 1-6 years old are welcomed into our international, English speaking environment.

At Cherry Tree, we believe in the importance of children spending time in nature and the benefits that our outdoor curriculum provides. Through exploration, and observation children become more empathetic while self-motivating and directing their own learning.

The name of our center comes from the beautiful Cherry Tree which stands tall in our garden.

Our vision

At Cherry Tree, we believe that nature provides endless opportunities for a child’s healthy physical and mental development. Experience has shown us that an outdoor environment improves children’s motivation, contributes to increased physical activity, helps develop their early social life skills, and promotes overall well-being.

We encourage children to take part in taking care of our beautiful garden so each child can contribute to its well-being and benefit from its produce. Through play, children obtain practical knowledge about ecology and sustainability while witnessing the miracles of nature in front of their own eyes. At Cherry Tree children enjoy a unique opportunity to organically understand the cycle of life while being an active and creative part of it.

Our story

We are Prague based educators with different life paths. Together, we bring you a unique nature-based early education concept inspired by forest education. We believe that the best days end in dirty clothes and we spend time outdoors, rain or shine! At Cherry Tree, we follow the Framework Education Program for Preschools issued by the Czech Ministry of Education and provide our children with a fully-fledged preschool curriculum.

Our Team

Nikola

Nikola is the head of the school, she oversees and develops our educational vision and she is responsible for the curriculum planning as well as the school administration. Nikola has spent the past 9 years in the UK and the US, working with children of all ages. She has an excellent understanding of child development and her creativity inside and outside the classroom knows no bounds. The children love her too!

She studied Early Child Psychology at Stanford University in San Francisco.

In her free time, Nikola enjoys backpacking, theatre, painting and philosophy.

Sofia

Sofia is from Canada and has taught in kindergartens in both Victoria and Prague. She comes from a competitive swimming background and grew up performing classical guitar before spending several years coaching young swimmers and teaching music.

After studying psychology at the University of Victoria Sofia began teaching kindergarten, combining elements from her education and experience in sport, music, and child development.

In her free time Sofia loves to swim, especially in the ocean, and spend time in nature. She practices yoga and loves to read, both activities which are often incorporated into her lessons.

Zuzka

Zuzka is the head teacher at the nursery class. She holds a Master’s degree in pedagogy from the Masaryk University in Brno and recently completed her certified training in caring for children from the age of six months. She has years of experience working with children in language schools, summer camps, kindergartens and as an au-pair. She has a very calming personality and this is reflected by the children’s behaviour around her.

She loves spending her spare time in the gym, reading and camping in the summertime.

Anna

Anna is from Prague. Founding a forest kindergarten was a dream of hers since her own children were born. To Cherry Tree, she brings her experience and vision. Anna is originally a lawyer, but currently she is pursuing her Master’s degree in education and taking care of her growing family.

Programs

At Cherry Tree, we enjoy our time outside whatever the weather! Our program allows for lessons, free play, and exploration to take place outside. With this flexible program, the children at Cherry Tree learn and play in the fresh air, safely and securely.