Avon Nursery School

Our History
  
A Nursery School at Avon Congregational Church

Avon Nursery School / ANS is located at Avon Congregational Church / ACC, in Avon, CT. Avon Congregational Church has a long history of opening its doors to young children. Beginning  in 1953, ACC agreed to host Avon Community Kindergarten School. In 1963 the State of Connecticut mandated public kindergartens. Avon Community Kindergarten School morphed into Avon Community Nursery School. Avon Community Nursery School exclusively welcomed 4-year-olds until 1972 when it added a program for 3-year-olds. Avon Community Nursery School ran a successful program for 38 years before closing in 2001 due to extensive renovations at Avon Congregational Church.
  
After the completion of a new 10,000 square foot addition specifically designed to accommodate a nursery school, a generous donation by a long-time Avon Congregational Church member made the start-up of Avon Nursery School possible in September 2006. Besides funding the very best nursery school staff, the donation also enabled ANS to buy state-of-the-art equipment. 

In 2010, Avon Nursery School received a very generous grant from the Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Foundation, Inc. to upgrade and expand its playground. We used the gift to build a trike path; enclose it with matching fencing; buy trikes and helmets; and replace a plain 8’ x 8’ sand box with a 10’ three-tiered, octagonal sand box with car ramps. Avon Nursery School is very grateful to the Hoffman Foundation for helping us make our outdoor play area so much more dynamic and interactive.

In the summer of 2011, only 5 years after opening, Avon Nursery School earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – the nation’s leading organization  of early childhood  professionals. This prestigious honor was granted after an extensive, 3 year self-study process, where ANS measured itself against the ten NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and  more than 400 related Accreditation Criteria. Avon Nursery School is now the only nationally-accredited, dedicated nursery school program in Avon, CT and one of three in the Farmington Valley.

We are sure you will find Avon Congregational Church and Avon Nursery School a wholesome and wonderful place to entrust your children. We look forward to continuing the 50 year tradition of providing a well rounded education for young children in the Farmington Valley.