Old First Nursery School, Brooklyn | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & 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 few other things we really like:
– the weekly updates Therese gives parents, so we know exactly what they’re learning at school.
– the assistant teacher Nelson. My son adores how playful Nelson is. We’re always hearing about how Nelson joined in a game of make-believe and made it hysterically fun.
– 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.

UPDATE: two years out and a move away, and I am still thinking about how wonderful OFNS is. It’s easily the benchmark for my other kids’ preschool experiences, and nothing comes close. I wish my younger two kids could have gone to OFNS! The more I see of other preschools, the more grateful I am that OFNS valued outside time and encouraged creativity and free expression. I also appreciate how they handled injuries, class disruptions and hurt feelings. We walked nearly a mile to get to school every morning, often with two younger babies, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. 100% worth checking out.

I adore this school and am shocked at how under the radar it is! The teachers, Therese and Kira, are incredible. Their warmth and enthusiasm are comforting and inspiring to kids and parents alike. They have a rich, child-centered, play-based curriculum which is not repeated if your 3-year-old continues into the 4’s program. This is only enhanced by the space the school rents in Old First. The classroom is intimate and sunny and the ‘big room’ is a beautiful vaulted ceiling space used for big art projects, movement and music classes and houses an indoor play structure, tricycles, and all kinds of imaginative toys around for the days they can’t go outside. The outdoor space is really unsurpassed – a perfect balance of sun and shade, full of nature and yet another opportunity for the children to discover and learn. Theresa and Kira are so patient with the little ones, always fostering their curiosity, encouraging them to explore and teaching them about their findings. It is a co-op and it is small so quite a bit is required of the participating families but given the incredible education and community, it’s an investment worth every minute of my time. A really magical little school!

My daughter is in her second year at Old First and we have been so happy with her experience there. My husband and I are continually impressed with how much she is learning, the commitment to the arts and to a play-based curriculum. They make good use of the outdoor space as well as the large indoor space for the kids to explore and play. The teachers are also sensitive to creating a nurturing environment where each child’s emotional health is attended to. The school only consists of 1 class of 16 children so everyone, including the parents, know each other intimately and a strong community is built through supporting and working together.