Nutfield Cooperative School

I have had two children attend Nutfield Cooperative School, one as recent as the 2024-2025 academic year. NCS has provided my children with a well-rounded experience, laying the priceless foundation for their academic journey. Let me provide some examples (keep in mind these are our own recent experiences. I highly encourage you to reach out directly to the school for the most up-to-date and accurate information): NCS emulates the saying “it takes a village” like no other school I know. At its core, the cooperative component - which allows high-level involvement and participation of the students’ families - provides children with a comfortable and diverse learning environment. Throughout the year NCS regularly invites community members to the school to build young learners’ understanding and appreciation of the world in which they will continue to grow. NCS also organizes field trips and school-wide events for students and their families to enjoy and make lasting memories. NCS teaches healthy habits in the snacks that are provided and in the gym classes they offer. NCS has a visiting gym instructor, the use of a large gymnasium-size room (for the colder months) and the use of a large field (for the warmer months). NCS’s location is first-rate and furthers its value of community. It is in the heart of E Derry and surrounded by areas that allow safe opportunities to explore and have fun outdoors, and visit local public institutions like the post office and library. NCS’s communication is thorough and secure. They have streamlined all communication and tuition transactions to an intuitive and state-of-the-art application. Parents are given detailed information daily of what happened that day at school along with numerous priceless pictures. NCS structures its days where both the 3 year olds’ classroom and 4 year olds’ classroom attend school at the same time in neighboring rooms. From what I’ve seen from many other schools, the different age classes meet on alternating days. It is a great benefit to the students to experience the feel of a multi-classroom school; learning how to cohabitate, function and thrive in this setting. Students can add on a separate day of learning with a mixed-age class. There is endless research that supports the benefits of mixed-age play. NCS also offers a unique and flexible enrichment program that adds additional hours of learning and provides students with the opportunity to experience a longer day that includes getting comfortable and efficient with eating lunch at school. The classrooms are intentionally designed with young learners in mind. There are plenty of rotating sensory play and dramatic play stations, as well as comfortable reading areas, journaling, arts and craft areas, good old toys and cooperative games for kids to have fun and develop social skills and emotional development. I am always taken aback by how kids so easily navigate the rooms and playground on their own, becoming confident leaders in their own learning. Of course, there is also exceptional teacher-centered learning structured into each day to provide a comprehensive and balanced learning experience. Children complete projects and go through an intentional literacy curriculum program at a suitable pace. Lastly, because this is truly the most difficult part to put into words, NCS cares deeply for their young learners. Their dedication to each child and ensuring their social-emotional wellness is something I cannot adequately describe. The trust, confidence and love my children have developed for educators because of NCS is invaluable and has set a bar for a level of excellence and care that they will always advocate for themselves. I guess the best way to describe Nutfield Cooperative School is that to me it has always felt like Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood in real life. Maybe that doesn’t make sense to everyone, but it’s all I could hope for my children. DEFINITELY WOULD RECOMMEND.

Our family couldn't be happier with Nutfield! After looking at several area schools we ultimately chose Nutfield because of their warm and engaging teachers and staff as well as the ability for my husband and I to spend time in the classroom cooping. Nutfield has turned out to be even better than we had hoped! Our children love their teachers and classmates, and can't wait to go to school each day. My husband and I have really enjoyed our time in the classroom getting to know the teachers and fellow students, and it has been amazing getting to watch our children up close as they learn. We have been so impressed by Nutfield's ability to provide a fun and exciting learning environment that is caring and supportive of the entire family. Choosing Nutfield as our family's school is one of the best decisions we have made and we would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a preschool in the greater Derry area!

Terrible preschool. Especially if you want teachers who have a firm understanding of child growth and development. Definitely would not recommend.