The Learning Experience In Fairfield Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary

FAIRFIELD, CT — In one year, The Learning Experience, an early education academy at 1375 Kings Highway in Fairfield, has reached 101 students, a remarkable feat for a school that debuted during the coronavirus pandemic.

The number is all the more impressive because the school's capacity is 123, so it has nearly hit its student limit in its inaugural year.

Children between the ages of 6 weeks to 6 years old attend the school, which strives to serve all aspects of child care.

"Curriculum is one aspect of what we teach," owner Dee Patel told Patch during a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the one-year anniversary on Thursday. "We also teach children about philanthropy, for example, in an effort to help them grow to be good citizens."

In addition to philanthropic pursuits, children also participate in yoga, and learn sign language and Spanish, according to Patel, all designed to help create well-rounded students.

Children can attend the school for half or full days between the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and its closeness to the Fairfield Metro Train Station is ideal for commuters, Patel said.

That aspect was not lost on First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, who attended Thursday's celebration.

"I want to congratulate you on reaching your first year," Kupchick said. "There is a real need for child care options in Fairfield, which has exploded in recent years."

Though the pandemic has eased a bit, Patel said the school still observes coronavirus protocols, such as conducting temperature checks of students as they enter the facility. Opening in the fall of 2021 has helped the school, because families were emerging from the pandemic and were looking for child care, particularly for younger kids, Patel said.

He runs the school with his wife, Shital Patel, and the two operate five additional academies in Connecticut besides the Fairfield location. The others are in Cromwell, New Haven, Glastonbury, South Windsor and Enfield. Over the next few years, the Patels plan to open three more Learning Experiences in central Connecticut.

Before owning and operating their childcare centers, Dee worked in the corporate world leading franchise operations; Shital has her master’s in early childhood education and worked for a non-profit for 15 years.

They have seven years experience operating Learning Experiences, and they have been recognized for franchise excellence by founder and chairman Richard Weissman.