Nursery School Serving Wellesley, MA
For Wellesley families looking for a nursery school that feels like an extension of home, Auburndale Community Nursery School offers small classes, experienced teachers, and a joyful, play-based day — just a short drive up Route 16.
Why Wellesley Families Choose ACNS
A child’s first school experience shapes how they feel about learning. At ACNS, our nursery school classrooms are calm, cheerful spaces where Massachusetts EEC-certified teachers welcome every child, help them separate from parents with confidence, and guide them through a morning of play, stories, songs, and outdoor time.
Wellesley parents tell us they chose ACNS because it felt personal. Our directors have led the school for decades, and many of our teachers have been with us for years — consistency young children thrive on.
- A play-based curriculum with real learning outcomes
- Five classrooms, each with Massachusetts EEC-certified teachers
- 2, 3, or 5 morning options for younger preschoolers; 5 mornings for Pre-K
- Flexible daycare billed by the hour — ideal for Wellesley commuters
- More than 45 years of experience caring for young children in Newton
A Play-Based Nursery School Close to Wellesley
Young children learn by doing. At Auburndale Community Nursery School, play is not a break from learning — it is how learning happens. When children build with blocks, paint at the easel, act out stories in the dramatic-play corner, or dig in the sandbox, they are practicing communication, cooperation, problem-solving, and persistence.
Our teachers carefully plan each classroom so that every area invites exploration, and they join children’s play to extend their thinking with questions and new materials. The result is a nursery school experience that feels joyful to children and gives Wellesley parents confidence that real growth is happening every day. Read more about our philosophy on the Our Philosophy page and our approach to early childhood education.
Daily routines help children feel secure, open-ended play invites creativity, group activities build cooperation, and outdoor time connects children with nature. This balance of structure and freedom lets each child develop academically, socially, and emotionally at their own pace.
Classrooms for Every Stage
Pony Class
2.9 to young 3s
2, 3, or 5 mornings (9am–12pm)
Teddy Bear Class
Older 3s
2, 3, or 5 mornings (9am–12pm)
Bunny Class
Young 4s
Preschool mornings (9am–12pm)
Dinosaur Class
Pre-K
5 mornings (9am–12pm)
Penguin Class
Pre-K
5 mornings (9am–12pm)
What Children Learn at ACNS
Parents in Wellesley often ask what a typical morning looks like and what their child will gain. Across our classrooms, children develop:
- Social skills — making friends, sharing, taking turns, and resolving conflicts with words
- Emotional skills — naming feelings, building resilience, and growing independence
- Language and early literacy — stories, songs, rhymes, and letter-sound awareness
- Math thinking — counting, sorting, patterns, and measuring through play
- Creativity — art, music, movement, and imaginative play
- Physical development — outdoor play for big muscles and art and puzzles for small ones
Social-Emotional Growth for Wellesley Preschoolers
Before children can focus on letters and numbers, they need to feel safe, connected, and capable. That’s why social-emotional learning is woven through every part of the ACNS day. Teachers help children name their feelings, calm their bodies, ask for help, and see a friend’s point of view. At snack, children practice conversation and patience; in the block corner, they negotiate and share; on the playground, they include others in their games. Wellesley parents often tell us these are the changes they notice first at home — a child who uses words instead of tears, offers to help a sibling, or proudly puts on their own jacket.
Kindergarten Readiness for Wellesley Children
Our Pre-K classrooms meet five mornings a week and focus on the skills kindergarten teachers value most: following multi-step directions, recognizing letters and sounds, early number sense, fine motor control for writing, and the self-regulation to participate in group learning. Children leave our Pre-K ready for kindergarten in Wellesley Public Schools and independent schools alike.
Because our approach remains play-based, children build these skills with excitement rather than pressure. Graduates head to kindergarten confident, curious, and ready. Learn more on our Preschool Program page.
A Typical Morning at ACNS
Our mornings have a warm, familiar rhythm, with plenty of room to play, explore, create, and connect. While every day is a little different, here's a peek at what a morning at ACNS might include.
Flexible Daycare for Wellesley Families
Many Wellesley parents juggle commutes, hybrid work, and busy family calendars. That’s why ACNS offers flexible daycare before preschool from 8:00–9:00am and after preschool from 12:00–5:30pm. You are billed only for the hours you use at $20 per hour, so you can plan around your real week instead of paying for time you don’t need. Afternoons include lunch, rest, projects, outdoor play, and themed activities like Yoga Monday and Friday Dance Party. See current rates on our Tuition Schedule.
Getting to ACNS from Wellesley
Most Wellesley families reach us in 10–15 minutes by car via Route 16 (Washington Street), passing through Newton Lower Falls into Auburndale. Easy access to Route 128 makes drop-off convenient for working parents.
See also our preschool serving Wellesley, MA page and details on our Preschool Program.
A True Community Nursery School
ACNS is a community nursery school, and families are an essential part of it. Parents are welcome to volunteer, share family traditions, and join us for events throughout the year — from the Halloween Parade and Thanksgiving Feast to Literacy Month, when parents and grandparents visit to read aloud, and our Spring Art Show and performance. Families from Wellesley quickly find a warm, welcoming network of other parents.
Enrollment & Next Steps
Enrollment typically begins in early winter for the following school year, and spaces fill quickly. To get started:
- Request a tour to see classrooms in action
- Review our Tuition Schedule and ACNS School Calendar
- Meet our educators
- Explore our Summer Preschool Program
Other Communities We Serve
Browse all the areas we serve around Newton.
Visit Our Nursery School Near Wellesley
We’d love to show you around. Request a tour to meet our teachers and see why families from Wellesley and across the area choose ACNS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ACNS a good fit for a child’s first school experience?
Yes. Our Pony Class for children 2.9 to young 3s is designed specifically to make that first step gentle and happy.
How long is the drive from Wellesley?
Typically 10–15 minutes via Route 16.
What ages do you accept?
We welcome children from approximately 2 years 9 months through Pre-K.
What curriculum do you use?
We use a play-based curriculum with intentional learning goals in literacy, math, social-emotional growth, and physical development. See Our Program.
Do you offer flexible schedules?
Yes. Younger classes offer 2, 3, or 5 mornings, and hourly flexible daycare is available 8:00am–9:00am and 12:00pm–5:30pm.
How do I request a tour?
Call (617) 527-0723, email info@acnsnewton.org, or use our contact page.
Contact Us
We would love to meet your family. Call, email, or send us a note to request a tour of our Auburndale classrooms, ask about openings, or learn more about preschool, Pre-K, and flexible daycare in Newton, MA.
- 230 Central Street, Newton, MA 02466
- (617) 527-0723
- info@acnsnewton.org
- Preschool 9:00am–12:00pm, Mon–Fri · Flex childcare 8:00am–9:00am and 12:00pm–5:30pm