University Plaza Nursery School is a unique private non-profit school that operates as a parent cooperative in Manhattan. It offers a 3-year nursery school program for children ages 2 through 5. Currently, almost 80 percent of students are children of NYU faculty, staff or students.
The school was founded in 1966 and has been in operation since.
Faculty at University Plaza Nursery School encourage each child to explore his or her interests according to their natural curiosities. Children learn social skills and intellectual skills and develop emotionally and physically through this encouragment.
As a coop, parents are asked to contribute 4 to 5 hours of volunteer time each week.
The guiding philosohpy of University Plaza Nursery School is built on relationships. The curriculum is tailored to the needs of each child, but children are encouraged to have a strong relationship with teachers and teachers with parents.
University Plaza is organized into three classrooms. The Blue Room is designed for 10 children ages 2 and 3 and employs 2 teachers. The Yellow Room is for 12 children between the ages 3 and 4 with 2 teachers. The Green Room was built to house 17 children between the ages 4 and 5; 2 teachers serve this room.
In addition to the normal curriculum, University Plaza Nursery School features a strong enrichment program as well as an after school program. There are two gated outdoor play areas. Children listen to music weekly and the Blue Room children take dance while the Yellow Room children receive yoga training. The Green Room children participate in gym class.
The University Plaza Nursery School program is a unique program for New York City children.
