Unlike other preschools, a local nursery school in Natick boasts a historic location and structure, a large old barn, for children to learn and explore.
“The facility is unique and homey, very non-institutional, and the play yard is amazing,” Daphne Damplo, director of the Wellesley Cooperative Nursery School (WCNS), said. “We started as a rented space in Wellesley, but the school moved in 1947 to its current space, a big old barn, in Natick. “The space was initially rented, but the school has had exclusive use of the building since the 1970s.”
Damplo says the school operates much like a traditional nursery school, offering programs for children from age 2 through kindergarten, with the opportunity to attend between two and five days each week. Students may enroll in the morning session, or extended day, which runs as late at 2:30 p.m. with flexible pick-up times.
In terms of how the days at the school are structured, Damplo says the staff encourages students to learn through play.
“Every activity we offer teaches necessary skills, as well as cooperation with classmates, and social development certainly goes hand-in-hand with all the activities in the classroom,” Damplo said. “All the classrooms have this structure, but the setup is different based upon the age of the children.”
Students who are inside can play with housekeeping toys, such as pretend kitchens, areas to develop literacy skills, as well as childhood favorites like painting and blocks. It’s the outdoor area, Damplo says, that is the school’s true standout.
“The play yard has a lot of very challenging equipment from a tree house to a gazebo and even a log cabin,” she said. “There are also standard swings and slides, but one of the neatest things is a climbing structure in the shape of a fire engine. It’s incredible beautiful and exciting for children of this age.”
Another area of distinction at the WNCS, Damplo said, is the lack of turnover among teachers.
“The average teacher has about 15 years of experience at the school,” she said. “They have a lot of experience, and a lot of passion for teaching.”
Jean Gooch, who started teaching at the school over 30 years ago, said, “We prepare children for kindergarten by encouraging them to be independent, to focus and have self control, to socialize and be flexible. We aim to develop a positive, fun approach to learning and problem solving.”
Each classroom has between two and three teachers leading students, with the average ratio being about one teacher per five students. Though WNCS no longer functions as a true cooperative, Damplo says parents are encouraged to become involved with the school.
“Parents can come in and engage in all sorts of ways,” she said. “We have a parent board, as well as room mothers and fathers. There is plenty of opportunity to participate.”
The school offers enrollment for students in Natick and neighboring towns. For more information about the school’s history and programs, visit http://thewellesleycoop.com/index.html.