About Us
Cottage Co-op Nursery School serves children ages 2- 5. Because of our co-op parent volunteers we are able to keep a very love 1:3 adult to child ratio in the younger classes and a 1:4 ratio in the older classes.
Our Philosophy
Play is Everything! We believe that kids need an open environment in which to grow and learn, a place to get their hands dirty with the freedom to do so, while receiving the guidance they need to master social interactions.
The best way children learn is through play. Our teachers and working parents consider their most important role to be the facilitation of exploration and child-directed play. The children determine what they want to do and how they want to do it.
At Cottage Co-op we teach children that their ideas and interests are worth pursuing. We foster creativity, expression, ingenuity, and love of learning through a curriculum that evolves from a child’s interests and expands upon his or her exploration.
Community
Cottage is a Co-Operative, which means each family is an active participant in our school. Besides working within our children's classrooms, each Cottage family plays a role in supporting our school. These jobs include everything from positions on the Board to doing the laundry to planning social events to maintaining the facility. We like to utilize each family's talents and interests in the selection of their roles.
We also see ourselves as a true community of families. Our very nature as a "co-op" means that we believe that our families should play an integral role both in their children's education and in the school as a whole.
Respect
We believe that teaching our children to navigate social interactions is paramount. To that end, understanding and respecting each other is vital. We believe in growing our children's self-confidence, empathy and respect for others. We strive to celebrate and accept each child’s unique abilities and interests. We all can learn from each other and we strive to foster an environment of anti-bias.
Grow Together
We believe that our parents play the role of student as much as our children do. Cottage offers parents a safe, non-judgmental environment in which they can grow and learn as parents.
Teachers guide the children and offer support to parents. Our teachers help adults to build confidence in themselves as parents. Our teachers are wonderful resources, especially for new parents.
Plus, the Parent Educations program hosts guest speakers and group discussion to support and guide parents through these early years.
A Unique Opportunity
By working in our children's classrooms, we get to see our children’s growth first hand. We recognize that few parents get to see their children learn and practice new skills outside of the home. Cottage offers an environment that fosters emotional, physical and educational learning.
Our History
Cottage Co-op Nursery School was founded in 1972 as a non-profit, cooperative preschool by former Pacific Oaks parents who were inspired to create a co-operative school that honored Pacific Oaks' approach to learning while extending its benefits to the whole family.