When we saw the combination of the space and the teachers, we were over the moon. Old First has a huge classroom, a huge indoor play space (replete with indoor jungle gym), and a big backyard! There are swings and a playscape in the backyard, as well as a garden! The teachers are so creative and engaging, my daughter never wants to leave school. One day she comes home talking about the painting projects, the next day she breaks into the songs she has learned, another day she talks me through the process of tilling the ground and planting seeds -- turns out they had spent a couple days tilling the ground and planting grass in the backyard. This school encourages a sense of independence and inquisitiveness in its students, and has engaged and delighted my daughter since day 1. It is a truly refreshing and unique find in the otherwise daunting world of Brooklyn preschools. read more

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We sent both our kids to this school and they both had amazing experiences, as did we (this being a parent-run cooperative.) As others have mentioned, the teachers are great -- and that has been true even with staff changes over the years. The space is extraordinary - there is no other pre-school in Brooklyn that has has a nicer space - worth it for that alone! The school continues its 50-year tradition of progressive education. Your kids won't be saddled with pre-this&that, but will actively develop executive function skills and learn how to function in a school setting. Best of all, they will learn to love school and will look forward to every day at OFNS. OFNS kids generally do very well when they move on to kindergarten. As a parent-run cooperative, parents are much more involved with the school and each other than is probably typical. While the annual Christmas tree sale shifts may be tiring, they are also a great bonding experience, and a lot of fun. Old First Nursery School is one of those things that makes Brooklyn special! read more

My three-year-old son loved OFNS from the get-go. When I drop him off in the morning, he can't wait to get me on my way, so he can start his day. "Bye, bye!" The teachers are great. The location is very convenient (they rent space in the church on the corner of Carroll St. & 7th Ave.; heart of Park Slope, two short blocks from PS 321, where my daughter goes). However, it is the space that really makes this place what it is: The great outdoor playground and the huge, open playspace inside make OFNS unique. I haven't seen anything like it anywhere, and it's a particularly amazing contrast to the claustrophobic affairs that are most New York preschools. All in all, a great place to send your kids. read more

Old First has been the most amazing school environment we could have hoped for for our daughter's 3 and 4 year old years. This play-based, arts-rich school is a loving, warm, and personal place that focuses on building community and social/emotional skills and preparing children for a structured school environment. My daughter has gone full days for two years, and in that time she has blossomed with empathy, leadership, confidence, and knowledge. Even though the school is focused on play and community, she also learns a lot about science (planets, bugs, life cycles, simple machines) and numbers/letters. There is an incredible inside and outside play space (I don't think there is any equivalent in Park Slope) for running, climbing, playing, and make-believe. I couldn't be happier with her development. The school is taught by two experienced teachers with MAs in Early Childhood Education. OFNS is a co-op, so parents work together to complete administrative details like admissions, fundraising, and DOH licensing. This coop model makes the school affordable for working families, but also leads to a strong community and bond among the families. I am so glad that my child had this amazing experience for these formative years, and that we developed such deep friendships with other local families. If you are looking for a warm, supportive, high-quality, play-based environment for your young child, this is it! read more

We love Old First! Our daughter is in her 2nd year there now and we will be sending her little brother there too. Wonderful, loving, patient and kind teachers make a huge difference. Kids love going to school there each day. The space is amazing with a private fenced in shaded playground, plus a very large open and sunny playspace inside in case of rain or snow. I also really appreciate the FLEXIBILITY since you can send your child whatever days and hours make sense for you that week... once you have a spot, it's your spot, unlike other schools that require certain hours or certain days of the week. It's such a close knit and tight community of caring parents who work to make the school so great. I know both we, and our children, have made friends for a lifetime there! read more

This school is a complete gem among the preschools in Brooklyn. The teachers are AMAZING. The class size is small, the education is top-notch and the classroom/ huge indoor/outdoor play space is incredible. It is a co-operative pre-school, which makes the school even more appealing given the tight-knit community and ability to participate in decisions that are typically made by a bureaucracy in other schools. The tuition is so affordable compared to other private preschools. You would be lucky to be a part this school. I know we are, and have never heard of a bad experience. read more

I am so pleased my husband and I chose OFNS for my daughter's first school experience. She is now in her second year and thriving. The lead teacher, Therese, has a deep understanding of social and emotional development as well as child led learning. Through play, books, community trips, art and movement, our daughter has explored diverse themes ranging from learning about herself and her community to bigger topics such as space, music, the ocean and animals. Social development is integrated into every activity. We've watched our daughter learn how to speak up for herself, propose ideas and negotiate minor conflicts. The physical space of OFNS really stands out. In addition to the classroom, OFNS has a big yard where the children spend a lot of time as well as a giant indoor play area for rainy days. The community of parents is tight knit and everyone quickly gets to know not just immediate family members, but caretakers, grandparents and friends. OFNS is really a special place and we look forward to sending our younger daughter there in a few years. read more

My spouse and I love OFNS. The teachers, the parents, the space--it's all wonderful, warm, inviting, and playful. I appreciate the experience that Therese, the head teacher, brings to the classroom. She knows how to make each day positive and fun. While the kids learn every day through play, we've been impressed by all of the social and emotional learning too. Our son is becoming a better friend, and I couldn't ask for more. A couple other things we really like: - the weekly updates Therese gives parents, so we know exactly what they're learning at school. - the fact that it's a co-op. My husband and I really feel like part of a parent community, and the tuition savings is great. - the space is BEAUTIFUL. There's a gorgeous outside backyard, and the kids are there multiple times a day. When the weather is too yucky to have them outside, there's an enormous room inside, separate from the classroom with play structures, bikes, kitchen sets, the works. read more

Old First Nursery School is an amazing place for 3 and 4 year olds. My daughter attends and from her very first day she hasn't wanted the school day to end. Especially since they have a basketball court-size indoor play space next to the classroom and an outdoor playground right at the school :-) The teachers are absolutely amazing, empathetic and experienced, and since the school is a co-op, the sense of community is extraordinary. A co-op school? You might be asking yourself, "How does that work?" In a nutshell, the parents run the school which ensures that the way the school operates is a reflection of the parents' values. Fortunately, since Old First Nursery School has been educating preschoolers since 1959, we as parents don't have to reinvent the wheel, but simply build on the traditions of excellence for which the school is known. We're delighted our daughter is going to OFNS and highly recommend the school to anyone with a 3 or 4 year old child. read more

Old First Nursery School is everything you would hope for in a 3/4s experience. My eldest daughter attended as a four year old in 2012/13. We are returning for more this year with our youngest three year old daughter. My eldest graduated (reluctantly) from ofns loving school and learning, feeling confident and safe with teachers and adults, and having enjoyed and successfully navigated friendships. Her incredible kindergarten teachers at 321 continually stated that she felt like a 6 year old all year and was a wonderful participant in her classroom -- I truly believe ofns set her up for success and most importantly learning JOY. I honestly can't imagine putting my youngest in a different program. My eldest son went to another preschool and so did my first daughter for one year. All I can say is that the physical space, the quality of school leadership, the preschool parent community, the quality of programming and the character/personality/competence of the teachers do matter. My son and daughter were not excited every day to return to school beforehand. My relationship with the other school and the teachers, although professional and safe, can not compare to ofns in any way. One of the top selling points of the physical space is that it is gigantic! There is an enormous indoor playspace for those cold/rainy/snowy days. PLUS, there is a garden playground on site. You really can't beat it. With the teachers, we have always felt like we won the lottery on that one with ofns. They are our benchmark for all other experiences. We've only had one other elementary school classroom teacher team who rose to the level of care, fun, competency and achievement of our ofns teachers. I can't say enough about them. I would sacrifice and suffer pain to keep them in our lives. :) Regarding the school leadership, we are it! Actually, the families who participate in a coop, understand the collaborative process and commit to fulfilling their defined commitments are a joy. In our last round at ofns I was inspired regularly by the interesting lives, the quality of character, and the lovely relationships we built. And, you just end up loving the other children. I am writing this review while on vacation with one of those families right now :). Our family is ridiculously busy in profession, volunteer work, three kids, etc. With all of that going on, I signed up AGAIN for the coop experience at ofns. It is a rare experience to collaborate daily/weekly with other families for the good of my children. It doesn't happen to this extent in this way as they get older, in my experience. I'm not going to lie, sometimes I don't want to go to the monthly coop meeting or read related emails--I do end up valuing the experience once I arrive. Strangely, my husband loved selling trees and we made it a family affair even with a little baby bundled up in the cold. I think New York life can understandably make us conserve our energy and not "coop" -- there are real tangible and intangible benefits to working in community as whole families. I have a three year old this year and know that next year we will be looking at free pre-k. Unless our income is radically reduced next year (and any payment right now is a sacrifice), we will be sending our four year old to ofns. I know what I am getting in every way and we love it. I'm not super precious about coddling my children - they do go to a public elementary where you get what you get as far as teachers. We have had hit and miss YEARS as far as personality, warmth, communication that have caused me to detach and let go and pray for the best for my child. And, maybe that is why we want our girl to start out wonderfully at ofns. I highly recommend this school. Please join us! read more

My son has been attending for the last year and a half and we are extremely happy! I love the play-based curriculum the warmth of the teachers, and the attention and updates they give you about your child. There is wonderful indoor and outdoor spaces. All of the families are involved and work together to make each day better for the kids and each other. Also it's possible to have two working parents and in to still be involved. read more

My four year old son is in his second year at Old First. He loves his teachers and really enjoys school each day. The teachers are warm, patient, creative, expert educators, the facilities are beautiful (especially the large garden and large, gorgeous indoor play space) and the curriculum is just so much fun. As a parent, I love being part of a community of families who run the school together. All in all it has been an incredible nursery school experience. read more

My son attends OFNS and we love it! When my family toured the neighborhood preschools, the space stood out most to us--OFNS has the top floor of a beautiful old church (it isn't affiliated with the church, just rents space), with stained glass windows pouring beautiful light into their adorable classroom and giant open play space. The school also has a private garden with a climbing gym, swing set, and sandbox. Most of the other schools we visited were at the basement level and had depressing, if any, outdoor spaces. I love that my son is spending his time in such a spacious, bright place. Now that he has started at the school, we are in love with the teachers and approach to education. It's a play-based curriculum (the idea is that kids learn through play, rather than through drills or formal lessons) heavy on art. With the art, the emphasis is on the process rather than the product, so my kid doesn't bring home perfect craft projects which his teacher actually did, like in a different school he attended...this is a big improvement IMHO! The teachers also emphasize living skills (getting dressed, washing hands, eating, etc.) and my son has gotten much better at those since starting at the school, which is a little humiliating to me as a parent but I'm glad he's learning this stuff somewhere. The head teacher sends out an e-mail at the end of each week describing what the kids have done over the past week, which is so helpful for getting my son to talk about what he's doing at school. The teachers are also incredibly accessible--at drop-off, pick-up, and via phone and e-mail--so I feel very in-touch with how school is going and how my child is spending his days. OFNS is small and intimate and has been a great community for our child and our family. The other families involved with the school have been such a pleasure to get to know and we're so happy we found it. read more

OFNS has been an amazing experience for my 3 year old son. For years, during their annual Christmas tree sale, I would hear incredible feedback from fellow parents, and was thrilled during the open house. The space is in a church (the school is non-denominational) but in an upstairs room sot here is plenty of natural light, and a wonderful large indoor play space. There is also a private enclosed playground outside as well, so the kids have plenty of opportunities to move around. The space being not in a basement was key for me as well. The head teacher, Therese, has been with the school for many years, and she has an excellent demeanor with the children. She is both fun & kind, while being firm & attentive, my son loves her. The assistant teacher is wonderful as well. The co-op element has been a learning curve, but in the end a true advantage. to be so closely involved in the kids education and environment has been great, as has saving a little bit of $$ by not having such high overhead. The flexible schedule is also a great selling point. You pay for your full time slot for the year, but the children can attend half day or whole day, as needed per day. You don't need to commit to a schedule for the whole year which I really appreciated. All in all, a huge thumbs up! read more

Our son has been attending this school since September and we couldn't be happier. The fact that it's a coop means that there is a fair amount of parental involvement, but the sense of community and care is second-to-none. The teachers draw up a themed schedule for the month and send email reports at the weekend, and we are always impressed by its scope -- and how fun it sounds! There is not a day our son does not come home with some new fact, skill, or experiment, but best of all, he comes home happy and *tired*! The outside play space / yard is perfect! As for extra curriculars, they've explored the park with a bird expert, watched bagels being made, visited a firehouse; they've had yoga and movement classes and guitar-accompanied sing-a-longs; there are currently hatchlings in the classroom... and I believe a goat will come to visit in the New Year! read more

My twin daughters attend Old First and will also attend next year. We love the teachers- kind, funny, and very attentive. We also think the play-based curriculum is incredibly important. The indoor and outdoor spaces are varied and beautiful. We are happy to see that many of their activities are open ended and developmentally appropriate. We know that the children are encouraged to work on positive socialization - they have forged some wonderful friendships. Our whole family is very happy! read more

This is a terrific nursery school, everything you could want for your three- or four-year-old. My godson goes here and loves his teachers, loves his classmates, loves his days. The curriculum is play-based, and the amazing teachers are able to use children's natural urges to play, explore, and create in order to help them learn about everything from plants to outer space to baking! The student-teacher ration is terrific--about 15:2--and every child gets individual attention. My godson has learned how to be a good friend and how to make good friends. The teachers work with the children to develop their social skills and keep in close touch to make sure you know what is going on at the school. One of my favorite things about it is that every Friday, we receive an email from the teachers letting us know what went on in school that week. Often that email helps me immensely to understand my godson's thoughts and activities at home, too! They have a little playground outdoors where they also do some gardening and a big room indoors where they nap and also have a jungle gym set up for rainy days. All the parents work together, too, and help each other when we need to. This is a great school, and I'm looking forward to sending my baby son when he gets old enough! read more