What is a Co-Op Preschool?
A cooperative (or co-op) preschool is a member-led preschool that provides an interactive educational program for both adult caregivers and children. With the guidance of highly-qualified educators, parents/caregivers gain knowledge in child development and guidance techniques as well as hands-on experience in developing their parenting skills.
Our cooperative preschool provides a unique opportunity for educators, parents/caregivers, and children to engage together in an enriching, developmentally-appropriate, and playful environment.
A cooperative (or co-op) preschool is a member-led preschool that provides an interactive educational program for both adult caregivers and children. With the guidance of highly-qualified educators, parents/caregivers gain knowledge in child development and guidance techniques as well as hands-on experience in developing their parenting skills.
Our cooperative preschool provides a unique opportunity for educators, parents/caregivers, and children to engage together in an enriching, developmentally-appropriate, and playful environment.
How it works:
CHILDREN
Attend preschool 1-3 days per week. Explore individual creativity and open-ended projects in a nurturing, respectful environment. Learn problem-solving skills and gain confidence in academic and social abilities. Develop at own pace emotionally, physically, socially, and cognitively.
PARENTS/CAREGIVERS
Parents and other caregivers are an integral part of their child’s education at Woodinville Family Preschool. As members of our preschool they participate in one class per week and in parenting education discussions lead by a parent educator during class time. Additionally, they attend occasional evening parent meetings and lectures, pay a monthly tuition, and hold a school job or pay an annual fee to opt out of this requirement.*
*This responsibility is not required of anyone enrolled in an infant class.
CO-OP BOARD
The board is comprised of preschool members elected by the membership at the annual meeting each spring. Management of the preschool is accomplished by the director working together with the board. The Board is the primary communication link between staff and the membership.
EDUCATORS
As college faculty, our parent educators value the support and shared experiences that parents/caregivers bring, while also recognizing that their job is to provide education.
Specifically, the goals of our staff are to:
- Share relevant, evidence-based parent education.
- Provide strategies for handling a variety of child behaviors.
- Offer support to families.
They follow college requirements as they plan and implement the schedule and curriculum for their classes.
SHORELINE COMMUNITY COLLLEGE
Woodinville Family Preschool is affiliated with Shoreline Community College. It is the responsibility of the college to provide supervision, salary, benefits, and evaluation to its faculty members in a manner it deems to be appropriate.
Advanatges of a Co-Op:
Being part of a co-op preschool your child gets to clearly see that their education is important to you. Research has shown that children whose parents actively participate in their education are more likely to be successful during their school years.