Small Biz Profile: Woodsedge Children's Center

SUDBURY, MA—Woodsedge Children’s Center is a nonprofit nursery school and childcare center that Jackie Downing opened when she had her first of three children.

"I was looking for preschool with extended day program," said Downing. "I only found 'daycare' which had little academic value, not nursery school with an extended day option. The concept of a preschool with extended day is actually still hard to find as a 'big box' mentality permeates the preschool industry and the individualization of early childhood services continually become diluted by efficiencies of mass production. I started Woodsedge as I felt there must be others who wanted the same for their families."

Downing has three children and spends her spare time with fitness, cooking and outdoor activities. She has an undergraduate degree in early childhood educations as well as a Masters in Organizational Leadership and Change. She assessed preschools for the National Association for the Education of Young Children for 8 years and has worked in early Childhood Education for more 30 years. She also chairs the Early Childhood advisory committee at Minuteman Technical School.

When did you open/launch? 1988

What made you decide to open this type of business? And why this location? Woodsedge is unique as far as the school campus. I looked and looked for space and finally found a home for sale, with a 5.8 acre lot, on the Marlborough side of Sudbury that fit the bill. The family had raised 10 children in the house and was charmed to know that it would accommodate many children in the future as they wanted the active spirit of the home to continue. Children naturally need to have space to run, pretend, create, climb, explore and be a child! I looked at many “warehouse” spaces, spaces with parking lot playgrounds and even some with no natural light. Growing up spending most of my time outside I wanted that for my children as well as those who would attend my school.

What do you like best about it? We are all about healthy snacks and fitness at Woodsedge. We supplement a kindergarten readiness curriculum with modeling healthy choices as often as possible. Snack is served family style and children are encouraged to eat if hungry. Fresh fruits and vegetables are our snacks and have been for the last few years. It makes no sense to sit children down as a group and make eating a pile of crackers an activity. Many children try new foods in this setting as they see their friends enjoying things like red peppers and snap peas.

Biggest struggle? Like many small businesses, private not for profit children’s programs will become few and far between because they do not enjoy the economies of scale of being a multi -site for profit program. The positive fact is, that as longitudinal research on early childhood education has begun to be published educated families are looking for some of the individualizing and classic developmental base afforded by a smaller not for profit school. The biggest struggle running a children’s center is supplying an affordable yet top quality service.

What do you see for the future? What I hope to see for the future for children in preschool and childcare is a return to local smaller individualized programs as parents acknowledge research showing the benefit of small group size and consistent caregiver relationships for the long term balanced growth of children.

Politics and small business: how does government affect your business? Year by year, many of the new state licensing requirements come with a price tag. I have researched some of these new requirements and often a strong lobbying effort by a seller in the industry has pushed through a requirement that causes a particular item such as cribs or playground equipment to be replaced for an obscure reason.

Name another local business you’d send customers to: I recommend Paani, a family run Indian restaurant on Boston Post Road. Good value, creative yet classic Indian food.

Do you have or know of a small business profile that deserves to be in the spotlight? Tell us about it at charlene.arsenault@patch.com.