ABOUT
At the heart of Neighborhood Nursery School’s philosophy is the belief that children learn through PLAY. Our mission is to provide an opportunity for children to express themselves creatively and develop individuality and independence through a play-based, yet purposeful curriculum. Every child is given the opportunity to develop in a creative and social environment within a safe and attentive atmosphere. Our experienced teaching staff embraces the view that each child is a unique person with an individual pattern and timing of social, physical, and intellectual development.
Play is the highest form of research.
–Albert Einstein
Our History
The Neighborhood Nursery School at Needham Children’s Center was started in 1967 and today, over 60 years later, NNS is a well-established center of educational learning and discovery. In 2022, Neighborhood Nursery joined Needham Children’s Center and became their part-time preschool program.
We offer two distinct classes, one for children who are at least 2.9 years old and one for four-year-olds, that are geared towards creative self expression. Each child is given the opportunity to develop cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally at their own pace. Additionally, the two classes have the opportunity to be together for outdoor play, gross motor and dramatic development and for field trips both locally and away from Needham.
Every day at the Neighborhood Nursery School, we look for and implement new ways for prekindergarten children to grow, thrive and love school.
Our Philosophy
- We believe each child is unique;
- We believe children learn through play, hands-on activities, and exploration;
- We believe children learn from field trips;
- We believe physical activity is the foundation for continued growth in both large and small motor development;
At the Neighborhood Nursery School we incorporate these beliefs into a developmentally appropriate curriculum that encompasses all aspects of development; intellectual, social, emotional and physical, and provides children with a solid foundation for present and future learning.
Our Mission
The Neighborhood Nursery School’s preschool education programs are based upon the principles of developmentally appropriate practice. Our goal is to give each child a warm environment that encourages the development of socialization skills, independence, and a positive self-image while providing a strong early childhood education. Our experienced teaching staff embraces the view that each child is a unique person with an individual pattern and timing of social, physical, and intellectual development. Teachers manifest their respect for children by encouraging them to think for themselves, to make decisions, to work towards their own solutions, and express their own ideas and feelings.