Parents Nursery School, Palo Alto

Established in 1949, Parents Nursery School (PNS) is a non-profit, cooperative nursery school.

Located in the heart of the Silicon Valley, Parents Nursery School serves a diverse collection of families in Palo Alto and surrounding communities. 

Parents Nursery School is child-centered, with an extremely low child-to-adult ratio. We provide children and their families a nurturing, developmentally appropriate, play-based curriculum. Our students develop in all areas including creativity, cooperation, peaceful conflict resolution, positive communication, fine and gross motor skills and kindergarten readiness.

Walking through the gate into our spacious and woodsy yard, you’ll know you have entered a special place. You are walking into a place where children are busy with the work and play of childhood, where parents learn just as much at school each day as their children do, where families connect. 

Parent Involvement 

The success of a co-op preschool depends on parental involvement. Without their efforts, the school could not continue to exist. Each parent is required to contribute in six areas:

• Teaching workday one morning a week (9am-12:45pm)
• Parent education classes approximately two evenings a month
• Parents Nursery School Board Job (you choose from open spots)
• Two school maintenance days per year
• Fundraising
• Tuition

Why Parent Education? 

Parents are an integral part of the school. They work together with the teachers/directors of the school to handle the administrative tasks that keep our school running smoothly. Each family shares in the business operation of the school, thus making it a truly cooperative venture. At our evening classes we discuss school business and education topics designed to help us both as parents and as parent-teachers in the classroom. We usually meet twice a month at 7pm on a weekday evening.