Nurturing each child towards independence, a love of learning, and respect with responsibility to others and the Earth, we enjoy community together.  With these as our guiding principals, we use Montessori methods and individual development through art and imagination.

Our school is truly a home away from home, like having mom there. Children take their shoes off when they want to, lay down on the carpet while reading, serve themselves snack when they are hungry or thirsty, and get to know the parents here like they are family. We are the best kept secret in the Ojai Valley enrolling mostly through word of mouth.

Located near the hills with lots of land, we basque in a large and natural playground. We have fruit trees, a child planted garden, enormous sand box (often with kid made small rivers running through it), fabric curtains blowing in the breeze of the play house, a large covered area for outdoor art and padded flooring for active play. This place is a child's sacred space to dream, play, create and become who they truly are.

Since 1955, OVCNS has been the only parent-owned and operated cooperative nursery school in the Ojai Valley. Our guiding principle is that strong families and parent-child relationships grow where there is an opportunity for parents to participate in the preschool experience. While our teachers and aides are trained and credentialed professionals, the administrators, maintenance crew, assistant teachers, publicists, and everything else are all parent volunteers. Not only does this type of system keep our tuition low, but this is a wonderful way for families to grow close by spending time working and playing together, and being a central part of their child's early educational experience.

A central component to our program is its focus on supporting children as they learn about their relationships with others. Parents and teachers work together as children build social skills, experience empathy, and learn to resolve conflicts peacefully. To help parents participate in this way of interacting effectively and respectfully with children, we provide a number of free, monthly parent education sessions, both during your child's class time and in the evenings, with parent education specialists. Here, parents are given the opportunity to learn and explore ways of parenting and communicating that promote respect for children's ideas and abilities.

Read our Fall 2011 Newsletter

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