Case for Support
Cooperative learning in early education sets the critical foundation for building teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills that are proven to enhance academic achievement and social development. Studies indicate that children who participate in preschool programs emphasizing empathy and respect - both for themselves and others - tend to achieve greater success in school and later in life.
Teaching Empathy Through Play
Children who participate in early education cooperative schools benefit from enhanced social skills, active engagement, stronger community connections, personalized learning, and increased confidence. These advantages prepare children for both academic success and lifelong interpersonal skills.
Adults involved also benefit greatly from the co-op model as direct participation in their child’s education fosters stronger bonds and a deeper understanding of their child’s learning journey. Our school offers gentile and flexible community support, skill development, and empowerment during your child’s first out of home educational experience.
This engagement further enriches both the family dynamic and the overall learning environment.
The NVNS Difference
Napa Valley Nursery School cultivates an environment that inspires empathy, respect, and a love of learning, helping each child grow into their fullest creative, intellectual, social, and independent potential. Through research backed play-based learning and social-emotional development we provide the nurturing foundation preschoolers need to thrive.
As a cooperative learning center, we invite parents to actively participate in the school alongside children and staff, fostering a true sense of community. Our approach encourages families to connect, support one another, and build lasting friendships that extend well beyond the classroom, creating a network of care and collaboration.
Securing Our School for Future Generations
Our school has been an icon of early education in Napa for more than 75 years. After 50 years on Randolph Street in downtown Napa we’re thrilled to be ushering in a new era as we dream up and plan our new campus, continuing this great tradition in loving support of Napa families in their early education journey.
Our new space will be formally announced in the coming months, with no plans for disruption or break in our regular school calendar. You can expect our incoming space to include all the meaningful features of our current school, with renewed vision and enhancements to celebrate a further range of thoughtful curiosities – big and small. We look forward to unveiling these plans and sharing them with our greater community soon! Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to hear about these announcements and stay up to date with our community news and events (open to all ages!).
Our school is a school for all. We welcome families of all races, ethnicity, religions, and economic backgrounds as representative of Napa’s culturally rich and diverse community. Our school community’s income diversity is one of its many strengths. Programs where children across varied income levels can come together in classrooms have shown to have positive long-term outcomes for children and families of all backgrounds.
We believe, for this reason and more, that preserving our school for generations to come is one of our biggest priorities and callings within our local community. If you’re interested in supporting us in our mission or relocation we’d love to hear from you! Learn more here or contact us at fundraising@nvns.org. Thank you for being a part of our treasured community – together we’re better!
Our Community Standing
We are proudly a trusted non-profit organization serving the greater community throughout Napa County. Below are just a few examples of awards and recognition we’ve received:
- 2024 recipient of pledge funding from our neighbors at Community Projects Inc.
- Voted “Best Daycare or Preschool” in the 2025 Best of the North Bay roundup, published by North Bay Bohemian
Your Support Makes a Huge Impact
We’re working around the clock to find, fund, and secure a new space to call home. And the mission is both simple and complex: we’re looking to transform, build, and create another magical environment that will serve the youngest of our community members for decades—and generations—to come.
NVNS is at the start of an exciting new chapter for our school. But in order to continue to serve families in Napa for the next 75 years, as we’ve done for these last 75 years, we need your support. Consider joining our community and donating your time, talent, or treasure today! Learn more about our non-profit status in our FAQs.