FAQ's

Where are you located?

We are so lucky to be right in the heart of Harvard Square, a short walk from the Red Line station in Harvard Square.  We share our space with Christ Church of Cambridge, but are unaffiliated with the church and have our own entry that is separate from the church on 19 Farwell Place (a small dead end street off of Brattle Street).

What programs do you offer?

GNS offers many program options for families. Our 2 classrooms offer full day (8:30-3:00) and part day (8:30-12:30) options 2, 3 or 5 days per week! We know that each family is different and needs and wants vary tremendously. We hope that each family is able to find a just right fit for their child and circumstance.

How many children are in a group and what are the ratios?

Our Sunflower Room (ages 3 yrs 3 months - 5 yrs) has 2 teachers and an assistant teacher (shared with our brand new Dandelion Room) with a maximum of 15 children.  Our Dandelion Room will have 2 teachers and the shared assistant with a maximum of 9 children. Both classrooms are further supported by our full-time director and any parent/guardian helpers who might be at GNS on a given day.

What are my parent responsibilities at a parent cooperative?

We provide many opportunities for parents/guardians to build connections and contribute in our cooperative school. Families are invited and encouraged to help/play in the classroom (for a 2-hour or 4-hour shift), create fun community events, organize and participate in fundraising efforts, and serve on our Board of Directors. We encourage and deeply appreciate participation, but there are no requirements. Our goal is to have a place where families and children feel a sense of belonging and are offered the opportunity to watch their children grow and develop.

What is the Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP)?

CPP is a very new program developed by the city of Cambridge to provide guaranteed free preschool to all 4-year-olds who live in Cambridge. They also have limited spots available for 3-year-old children. This school year (2024-2025) is the first year of this program. The application window for 2025-26 was from October 1-31. Garden Nursery School is very proud to partner with CPP so that Cambridge families who are interested in a smaller first school experience can attend for free.

Do you accept children from nearby towns such as Somerville, Medford, or Arlington? And will they be in a separate group from children in the CPP program?

We accept families from all the surrounding areas. Families can choose from a part-day, part-week, or full-day, full-week program. Families who do not qualify for or choose not to apply to the CPP program will have the same experience as all the other children.

Is there financial aid for families not enrolled with the CPP program?

Yes. For years, GNS has fundraised to support our GNS Scholarship Fund for families who qualify. Depending on funds available, eligible families can get up to 50% off their tuition costs. To learn more about financial aid, please reach out to our director here.

Do you have programming for toddlers?

We do! For the 2025-2026 school year we will have a classroom for children ages 20 months through 3 years 2 months. This classroom will have 2 teachers and a shared assistant teacher with a maximum of 9 children. We are very excited to be able to offer the GNS experience to more families and a wider range of children. 

Do you provide food? What about food allergies?

Children bring all snacks and lunches from home. We find that food from home strengthens the home/school connection and provides an opportunity for children to share a piece of their culture and build connections. We do not have the capacity to heat up food for children, so lunches must come ready to eat from home.

It is important that all students feel safe in school and as a result, when children have food allergies, particularly those with sensitivity to contact or exposure, we adjust what families are allowed to send to school. We remain a nut-free environment, for now, regardless of documented allergies. Any child who may have a food allergy must have an action plan from their pediatrician in place. 

Do you have a playground or outdoor space?

We are so grateful to have, just a few steps away, a large, private garden play space where children can run on grass, hide behind trees, dig in the dirt and plant in the garden beds. We bring a variety of items outside each day that encourage gross motor play, cooperation and fun!

What does is an "emergent curriculum"?

At GNS, we do not use a commercially created curriculum, but rather develop units of study that emerge from the interests and needs of the children themselves. This means that our educators are both facilitators of learning, as well as action researchers, listening to and learning from the children themselves. For instance, if teachers observe children talking about traveling on an airplane, teachers will first talk to the children during Meeting and ask questions such as: "What do you know about airplanes?" "What do you see in an airport?" "Who are the people that work at the airport?" Teachers will create meaningfully connected experiences that allow children to deepen their understanding of air travel, but also the world and human interactions - reading books about airplanes, designing an enriching dramatic play space with costumes and props and a student-crafted airplane, playing movement games related to flight, studying maps from a plane's eye view, etc.

What does "play-based" mean?

At Garden Nursery School, we believe that it is through play that children develop critical skills - cognitive, language, motor and social/emotional. Our days are structured to allow children the play time that supports this development and our learning spaces, indoors and out, invite choice, exploration and interaction between and among the students.