University Plaza Nursery School – NY, NY

I must respond to the previous reveiw. I have had just the opposite experience at University Plaza Nursery School. I have found it to be a very warm, loving and child centered space. I think it is an excellent Nursery school.

•  OVERALL School Rating: 5
•  Health and Safety: 5
•  Environments: 4
•  Teaching Staff: 5
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 4
•  Curriculum: 5

I Agree. My kids have both gone through UPNS and had great experiences. Also they were well prepared to go to public school. I have no complaints whatsoever. I found all of the staff, director and teachers, very warm and loving. And would encourage any parent to send their kid to UPNS, if they get it, because it’s a very popular school!
ps – who ever heard of a philosophy on tuition? There is tuition and you have to pay it, if you want your kid to attend nursery school!

•  OVERALL School Rating: 5
•  Health and Safety: 5
•  Environments: 5
•  Teaching Staff: 5
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 5
•  Curriculum: 5

They have way too many days off. I send kids to way care so that I can be involved in something else, like my work. I will have plenty of time to love them on evenings and weekends. But I wish they can do their job 100% during my working hours, 8-5 M-F.

•  OVERALL School Rating: 1
•  Health and Safety: 1
•  Environments: 1
•  Teaching Staff: 1
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 1
•  Curriculum: 1

I went to UPNS in the mid 80s and it was WONDERFUL. It created an appreciation for creativity, exploration, and caring in me and I had vivid and warm memories of my time there. My brother also went there in the late 80s and early 90s and equally loved it. I don’t know what it is like today, but my experience there was incredible. Both my brother and I turned out to be well adapted and intelligent people, so how bad could it have been? Come on – it’s just nursery school!

•  OVERALL School Rating: 5
•  Health and Safety: 5
•  Environments: 5
•  Teaching Staff: 5
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 5
•  Curriculum: 5

Hi, I am Loyan Beausoleil the director of University Plaza Nursery School and wish to respond to the previous comments.

First of all it is great to hear from one of our alums! We have been serving the downtown community for over 40 years now and frequently our alums come back and visit. Many of our alums loved their experience at UPNS so much that they choose to send their own children to us! That makes us feel very honored and proud.

As to the hours and number of days we are open, we are not for everyone. We believe that an 8 – 5 day, in a school setting, is very long for young children and think that having a parent or babysitter bring a child home in the afternoon is good for the child. The maximum number of hours, that the children can spend at UPNS is 7.5 per day. As a child-centered school we have decided upon this amount based upon what we believe is best for children.

The days that we take off are almost identical to the NY public school calendar. There a a few days that they get off that we don’t and vise versa. Unlike the public schools, we don’t take any half days during the school year, although we do begin the year with shortened days to aid the children in the separation process.

About tuition: Even though we are such a high quality early childhood setting (one of our classrooms was chosen as a Teachers for a New Era site. These classrooms and schools are considered the best in the nation), we strive to keep our tuition lower than most in the downtown area.

I would encourage anyone who is curious about UPNS to contact the school and set up a visit. This way you can decide what you think of us from a first hand experience!

Loyan Beausoleil

•  OVERALL School Rating: 5
•  Health and Safety: 5
•  Environments: 5
•  Teaching Staff: 5
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 5
•  Curriculum: 5

My daughter went to UPNS in 2001. What an amazing year she (we) had!
Recommend it!

•  OVERALL School Rating: 5
•  Health and Safety: 5
•  Environments: 4
•  Teaching Staff: 5
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 5
•  Curriculum: 5

UPNS is Horrible

•  OVERALL School Rating: 1
•  Health and Safety: 1
•  Environments: 1
•  Teaching Staff: 1
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 1
•  Curriculum: 1

I agree UPNS is horrible send your child elsewhere.

•  OVERALL School Rating: 1
•  Health and Safety: 1
•  Environments: 1
•  Teaching Staff: 1
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 1
•  Curriculum: 1

Type your review of this child care center here…As a parent of two children attending UPNS I am shocked to see the poor ratings here. I am just guessing they came from families with children who weren’t able to attend because I don’t know what else there is to complain about. The school is not trying to be exclusive, and in fact tuition is low compared to other schools in the area, but it is a small school and there are many applicants for few spaces.

What is not to like? The teachers are warm and genuinely enjoy children, the children are happy and the curriculum is creative and varied so every child is learning as they’re playing and at a pace that is appropriate for them. The philosophy here is play-based and that isn’t for everyone. You need to decide which approach suits your family. Some kids from UPNS go on to local public schools, some to G&T programs, some to private schools. The kids here are learning, they’re just having a lot of fun while they’re doing it.

The directors are also teachers and as such are busy but they make themselves available to discuss any issues or concerns you may have. The classrooms are bright and filled with artwork created by the students and the teachers are prepared every morning when we walk in with comfortable familiar things and new and interesting things.

I think the director is gifted at helping the children resolve issues. Though clearly she is an authority figure, she treats the students with such kindness and respect, like the little individuals they are, they all respond to her in a positive way. I think her approach helps them learn how to resolve problems on their own because she never talks down to them, she really engages them and tries to help them find solutions.

This is my eldest son’s 3rd year (he started when he was 2) and he is so excited to go into his classroom every day. My youngest started in the 2s class this year and he already loves his head teacher and I expect him to learn so much this year and make some great friends. It is just a shame there aren’t more such schools so more kids could benefit from this kind of environment.

•  OVERALL School Rating: 5
•  Health and Safety: 5
•  Environments: 5
•  Teaching Staff: 5
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 5
•  Curriculum: 5