"If we allowed children to show us what they can do rather than merely accepting what they usually do, I feel certain we would be in for some grand surprises."

- Mem Fox 

Historical Context
Community Nursery School is housed in a one-story school building that lies one mile west of the center of Boston’s suburban town of Lexington, the historic town known to many as the Birthplace of American Liberty. CNS opened its doors in 1945 as a non-profit, cooperative nursery school when a group of dedicated community members came together to create an early childhood program for young children in which parents could be a part of their child’s first school experience. The participation of parents and their partnership with teachers has always been at the heart of the school.

Structural Context 
CNS serves children from Lexington and surrounding towns, ages 2 years 9 months to 5 years, in three classrooms where placement is based on age. The names of the classrooms are Front Room, Middle Room and Far Room, identified by their proximity to the main entrance of the school and progressing from the youngest to oldest children.  In addition to the classrooms there is a small entrance hall, an office and an art Studio. CNS is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education & Care to serve no more than forty-five children on a given day.

The CNS community takes great pride in the large outdoor space surrounding the school. There is an open expanse of grassy hills with several areas for climbing, swinging and sand play. There is a fenced-in garden, a pavilion, a tree “stump garden”, a woodland trail, a paved area for tricycle riding and several benches for relaxing. The outdoor space is used for gross motor activity and nature exploration and is thought of as an extension of the indoor learning environment. It is not uncommon in mild weather for materials to be brought outside and for children to spend large periods of the day outdoors. Because each classroom has its own separate entrance, children, parents and teachers can transition easily between indoors and outdoors, inviting learning to extend and flow naturally beyond the walls.

The CNS Studio:

The Front Room:

The Middle Room:

The Far Room: