It takes a village.
Welcome to ours.

At the Madison Co-op, we’re more than a preschool—we’re a community where children grow through play, first friendships blossom, and families feel at home.

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A Little Bit About Us

The Madison Cooperative Nursery School is a play-based preschool that’s been a part of the Madison community since 1959, making us the longest running preschool in town. Even after all of these years, our mission remains the same: inspire a lifelong love of learning through purposeful play & to make parents a collaborative part of their child’s first school experience. The Co-op offers preschool programs for children ages 2.5 through 5, as well as our Co-op Tots class for ages 1 - 2.5. We’re dedicated to creating a nurturing, joy-filled learning environment where parents have a front row seat to the journey.

Co-op Tots

1 day/week

For our littlest learners, this caregiver + me class offers a great first introduction to the rhythms of school for children ages 1 - 2.5.

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The 2s

2+ days/week

Beginning at age 2.5, students join our 2s class where we focus on laying the foundation for important language, motor, and social skills in a warm, nurturing environment.

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The 3s

3+ days/week

Our 3s are our explorers – this class focuses on blossoming independence, confidence, creativity, and friendships through open ended play + collaborative learning.

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The 4s

4+ days/week

This class focuses on kindergarten readiness, such as building number sense, phonemic awareness, and writing skills, while still celebrating the importantance of purposeful play.

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Our Programs

If you're looking for more than just a school, but a community to call home the co-op may be just the place for you!

Join for the fun. Stay for the community.

Apply Now

outside time is an important part of our days & we're spoiled to have not one but 3️⃣ outdoor spaces to enjoy at the co-op!

☀️ our classic, beloved, and fully fenced in playground.

☀️ a cozy, secluded courtyard for lots of pretend play + easy exploration.

☀️ the fun-filled blacktop for fast paced play and plasma car races.

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #njpreschool #cooperativepreschool

less than a month until we're all back together at the co-op again! ❤️ we can't wait for all the learning, laughs, and little moments of joy to come this school year!

PS - we still have just a *few* spots remaining for this year, email us for more info:
info@madisoncoop.org

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #njpreschool #cooperativepreschool #madisoncoop

the co-op is more than just a school ❤️ we're a true community, we're real friends, we're bonus family. we're showing up with a meal train when new babies are born. we're planning play dates + parents' nights out. we're there when life is heavy and when there is joy to share. our community is small, but mighty and showing up for each other is what we do best. 🫶

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #madisonnjpreschool #cooperativepreschool

the hydrangeas on our front walk insisted on saying hello! 👋

we hope all our co-op fams are soaking up these sweet summer days ☀️

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #cooppreschool #cooperativepreschool

It’s hard to believe we’re preparing for our 68th year (!!) year here at the co-op 🙀 A simple playgroup started by a group of moms has blossomed into the preschool we know and love today. What’s beautiful is that while so much has changed, the mission + heart of our school remains the same: to nurture little minds through play-based learning and social-emotional growth. ❤️

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #njpreschool #cooppreschool

first friends 🥹🫶👯‍♀️ watching these little humans build sweet bonds with their classmates is so special! They may grow up and move on from our classrooms, but these first friendships are a special foundation for life beyond our co-op walls!

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #cooppreschool #njpreschool

Looking for a simple summer craft to keep your kiddos busy? This is an easy one that's sure to bring smiles 😃

Simply color a coffee filter with markers, then spritz with water in a spray bottle and *voila* a beautiful, tie-dyed, colorful creation. Thanks to our wonderful co-op tots teacher Miss Laura for the fun idea! 🌈

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #cooppreschool #njpreschool

one of our favorite traditions at the co-op are summer playdates! It's the best way for each class to get to know each other, stay in touch over the summer, and connect further with your co-op crew outside of school. whether at the playground, the pool, or someone's backyard, the kiddos are always overjoyed to be reunited! ☀️ #coopsummer #madisoncoop #madisonnj

the co-op has spots available in our 4's class for the 26-27 school year! 🎈

Our 4s are the leaders of the school, learning through discovery, play, and repetition. Our program emphasizes kindergarten readiness as children build number sense, strengthen phonemic awareness, and engage in enriching experiences throughout the school year. If you're still looking for a school to call home for next year, we'd love to share more with you about our 4's class!

email us to set up a tour ⤵️
info@madisoncoop.org

#madisonnj #madisoncoop #njpreschool #morriscounty #cooppreschool

& that's a wrap! 🎈🥰🎉

from fall fun as the leaves changed colors to our annual pie sale. from festive holiday pajama days to silly snow day play. from rainy spring days cozy inside to nature walks as the world bloomed back to life. from sunny playground games to nonstop camp funky monkey chaos. what a year it's been!

as always, it's all these little humans that make each year special. their curiosity, their kindness, their creativity, their silliness, their friendships, their joy!

cheers to the 25-26 year here at the co-op! 🎈

we're not quite ready for these classrooms and hallways and playgrounds to be empty just yet! We're soaking up these last few days of fun & sun with our campers before our school year officially comes to a close 😎

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #njpreschool #cooppreschool

welcome to camp funky monkey! 🐒 our co-op crew has been busy creating colorful creations, splashing around on water days, and soaking up the start of summer days with their school buds. three cheers for camp this year! ⛺️

we as friends will graduate, but our friendships are here to stay! 🎈🎉❤️

congrats to our co-op grads — what a group of smart, silly, observant, wonderful little learners they are!

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #njpreschool #cooppreschool #cooperativepreschool

running into the last week of school with sunshine & good vibes! ✌️☀️🎉💛

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #cooppreschool #cooperativepreschool

spring school days! 🌻☀️🌷🐞

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #cooppreschool #cooperativepreschool

lots of cute new creations unfolding each day at the co-op! 🐞 we love watching the way each artist brings their masterpieces to life in their own unique way!

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #cooppreschool

they read many books & plan many crafts. they offer hugs & high fives daily. they sing silly songs & try every yoga pose. they bundle up to play outside on the cold days & bring out the bubbles on the warm days. they get bandaids & ice packs for playground bumps. they help find solutions & teach how to be a good friend. they fill the walls with creations and colors. they bring joy and love and fun into our classrooms each day.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to our co-op team, who are simply the best ❤️

it's hard to sum up everything that makes the co-up so special, but if we had to we'd say that here at the co-op we:

🛝 focus on learning through play, allowing young minds room to roam and have fun.

💌 bring real world concepts into our classrooms for tangible life skills and creative pretend play.

🥰 build community connections that reach beyond our classrooms, giving families the village we all need.

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #njpreschool #cooppreschool

little hands 👋 the world is yours 🌎

there is so much to touch, create, craft, explore, and play with each day at the co-op!

#madisonnj #njpreschool #cooppreschool #madisoncoop

it seems we skipped spring and went right on to summer weather this week — but our co-op kiddos sure don't seem to mind a little extra warmth & sunshine! 💦

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #njpreschool #cooppreschool

hopping our way into happy spring days! bring on the sunshine, outdoor time, nature adventures, and blossoming creative energy for our co-op kiddos ☀️

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #njpreschool #cooperativepreschool #cooppreschool

Here's to hoping for minimal April showers but looots of May flowers! ☀️🌷 We can't wait for all the spring fun to unfold here at the co-op.

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #njpreschool #cooperativepreschool

summing up our march → ☀️☘️🌈🌷🛝🎨 😊

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #cooperativepreschool #njpreschool

little hands creating special treasures ✨

we loved watching the creativity of our 4s blossom with this recent multimedia art project. their little minds are so special, so imaginative, so uniquely theirs!

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #njpreschool #cooperativepreschool

spring is hatching at the co-op! 🐣☀️🌻💛

It was a sweet tease of spring this week between 75 degree days + our sweet little chicks hatching! The chicks are a special annual tradition – we learn all about their lifecycle, how to take care of them, and then send them back to the farm once they’re too big to be our tenants any longer.

The co-op is still welcoming new faces for the 26-27 school year! 🎈

If you'd like more info or to set up a tour, simply fill out our inquiry form here ⤵

bit.ly/coopinquiry

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #cooperativepreschool #njpreschool

There's magic in this bare brown tree.
Tap it once, then you'll see! 🍁

Our little wanderers set off on an adventure at the @greatswampmcpc where they learned all about maple syrup!

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #cooperativepreschool #cooppreschool #preschoolfieldtrip

the cold never bothered us anyway! ❄️ after snow days + snow delays, our co-op kiddos were overjoyed to be back at school playing together in yet another winter wonderland.

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #njpreschool #njmom #cooperativepreschool

looking around the room at our annual family breakfast and we can't help but be reminded how special being a part of this community is! Kiddos meet some of their first friends and parents find their village. ❤️

#madisoncoop #madisonnj #njpreschool #cooperativepreschool #cooppreschool

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Follow Us On Instagram

@madisonco_op

It takes a village. Welcome to ours.

A Little Bit About Us

Co-op Tots

1 day/week

The 2s

2+ days/week

The 3s

3+ days/week

The 4s

4+ days/week

Our Programs

Join for the fun. Stay for the community.

​

Follow Us On Instagram

It takes a village.
Welcome to ours.