History
Meeting House Nursery School has been providing an enriching preschool program since 1949 and is the oldest part-time, play-based learning nursery school in Madison.
Meeting House Nursery School began in 1949 as a nursery care center supported by the First Unitarian Society. It was housed in the original FUS meeting house building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, who is notable for his prairie style homes and organic architecture. This program became the first licensed day care in the city of Madison.
In 1953, MHNS evolved into a nursery school, close to what we know it as today. This new program was unique in that it provided a high quality early child educational program – a need that was virtually unrecognized and unmet in the community at that time. The current nursery school wing was added in 1963 and was designed by the Taliesin Foundation to meet the special needs of the nursery and church school programs. As the nursery school program grew in size and complexity, Meeting House Nursery School became its own independent non-profit organization in 1975. In it’s current form, Meeting House Nursery School still holds a lease for the west wing of the First Unitarian Society building and welcomes a diverse community population of 2-5 year olds who live throughout the greater Madison area.
From the beginning, the curriculum at Meeting House Nursery School has always been based upon and committed to the importance of free play, a respect for children and their ideas, and the freedom for children to explore and develop relationships. The current staff at Meeting House Nursery School boasts a combined tenure of over 65 years at the school and many are alumni families.
Over the past 75+ years Meeting House Nursery School has cultivated a vibrant school community and added events to our school year that children and families look forward to every year. These have become Meeting House traditions; events like family night, Child of the week, Parents’ Night Out and the list goes on.
From its roots to its present day status, Meeting House Nursery School has continued through the years to be a model early childhood program. We welcome you to be part of our community!