ULNS offers a morning coop nursery school program for all children, and several different non-coop options for the afternoon.

The Cooperative Morning Nursery School is for children ages 2 1/2 through 4. Morning nursery school begins at 8:45 AM for the 2 1/2 and at 8:30 for all other classes. All classes end at 11:30 AM.

The Lunch Program is a non-coop program for 3 and 4 year-olds. It runs from 11:30 to 1:00 with a choice of three or five days.

The Afternoon Program with 3:15 pm Dismissal is for 3 and 4 year-olds. Children in this program attend the cooperative morning nursery school and a non-cooperative program in the afternoon until 3:15 PM.

The above three programs follow the Princeton Public Schools calendar, usually closing for vacation weeks in late December, February, and April.

The Afternoon Program with 6:00 pm Dismissal is for 3 and 4 year-olds. Children in this program attend the cooperative morning nursery school and a non-cooperative program in the afternoon until 6:00 PM. This program has a modified day-care calendar with the same vacation in December as the part day.

Programs

We offer the following programs for 2 1/2, 3 and 4 year-olds:

2 1/2 year-old Morning Cooperative Nursery School

2 days (Tue, Thu) 8:45 – 11:30 am
(No optional lunch or afternoon program)

3 and 4 year-old Morning Cooperative Nursery School

3 days a week (Mon, Wed, Fri) 8:30 – 11:30 am (3 year olds only)
or 5 days a week (Mon – Fri), 8:30 – 11:30 am (3 and 4 year olds)

Optional Non-Cooperative Lunch

3 days a week (Monday, Wed, Fri) 11:30 – 1:00 PM
or 5 days a week (Mon – Fri) 11:30 – 1:00 PM

Afternoon Program 3:15 pm Dismissal

5 days a week (Mon – Fri):
Cooperative morning nursery school, 8:30 – 11:30 AM,
and non-cooperative afternoon program, 11:30 – 3:15 PM

Afternoon Program 6:00 pm Dismissal 

5 days a week (Mon – Fri):
Cooperative morning nursery school, 8:30 – 11:30 AM, and non-cooperative afternoon program, 11:30 – 6:00 PM

Summer Camp

To learn about part- and all-day programs during the summer,
please see the summer camp page.

Curriculum

Our curriculum is based on the idea that children learn through play. It is designed to help children develop independence, play well with other children, and enjoy sustained relationships with adults outside the family. We encourage children’s creativity and curiosity, help them learn to follow certain routines while remaining spontaneous, and develop their ability to think for themselves. In the cooperative morning classes the daily program is often the following:

8:30-9:00 Arrival and greeting time

9:00-10:00 Free play

10:00-10:30 Clean up, snack, quiet time, conversation

10:30-11:00 Group activities

11:00-11:30 Outdoor play

Free play is a relaxed time when the children learn through play, which is directed by their own interests. We provide a wealth of toys and materials, blocks, sand and water tables, dolls and doll houses, dress-up clothes, manipulative and cognitive toys, trucks and trains.

On a given day, there is usually a choice of an art or craft activity relating to the season, a holiday or a special theme. All classrooms include an area for quiet play. After cleaning up and having a snack, children rest, read, and listen to music. Then they listen to stories and learn finger-plays, games, and songs. Other activities during the morning include cooking, growing plants, caring for animals, and participating in a group art or craft project. For a half hour at the end of the morning session, children play on our well-equipped playgrounds.

During the non-cooperative afternoon programs, we continue with a planned program of activities. The atmosphere is less structured and more flexible than the morning program. Children are given the opportunity to rest, and then they enjoy activities such as art and cooking. They also spend time outdoors participating in directed projects and games, and in free play on the playground.

Special Programs

We also have several special programs for the children’s enrichment and growth. Twice a week students participate in songs, musical games and art exploration led by professional music and art teachers. We schedule a variety of field trips throughout the year with parents as drivers. Periodically, police officers, fire fighters, and others visit the school to teach the children about health, safety and the surrounding community. In addition, parents benefit from regularly scheduled lectures by noted psychologists and other child specialists.