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.

We believe that we continue to learn new ways of living with our children and others as our families grow!