Observation nursery

Overview

The Observation Nursery is a bilingual preschool program that also serves as a training center and a model school for graduate and undergraduate programs focusing on early childhood development in the Department of Education.

The Nursery is meant to illustrate best practices in early childhood care where educators-in-training can observe and interact with the children in an emergent curriculum that is project-based and centred around the children’s interests.

Facilities

The Observation Nursery includes a nursery room, a gross motor room, an observation room, and a brand new playground. 

Nursery Room 

The nursery room is a welcoming space that encourages many different types of play and learning. Children have access to toys, arts and crafts materials, sand and water play, books in French and English, dress up materials, and much more!

Gross Motor Room

Children typically spend 30 minutes per day in the gross motor room (and refer to it lovingly as the “jumping room”). In this room, there are mats of different shapes and sizes to encourage children to jump and move! This space also serves as a music room, where children can experiment with various instruments.

Observation Room 

The observation room is a small room between the nursery room and the gross motor room. The room has one-way glass looking into each of the rooms allowing for the unique opportunity of observing without being seen. Parents are able to sit in this room and observe their children, and Concordia students often use this room to practice their observation techniques.

The playground

Our brand new playground was built in 2024 and is already being enjoyed by children daily! The playground is adjacent to the Grey Nuns Annex building,and features a greenspace, a play structure, a mud kitchen, a chalkboard, and a sandbox. The playground allows for outdoor learning to take place and is an extension of the pedagogical activities inside.

Location

Grey Nuns Annex Building
1st floor, Room GA-1.125
1215 Saint Mathieu Street
Metro station: Guy-Concordia

At the Observation Nursery, we facilitate a learning atmosphere where parents, teachers and children are engaged and in communication with each other. 

Here is what to expect at the Observation Nursery: 

Parent-teacher collaboration

The Department of Education has a commitment to shared parent-teacher participation in their child's education.

Parent discussion group

On Thursday mornings, students in the Early Childhood and Elementary Education program take a course on Parent Communication, which helps them to develop their sensitivity and understanding of the role of parents in their child’s education. This is a one-hour seminar led by a university instructor, where parents and students discuss their observations of the children. One or both parents must be willing to participate in the Thursday morning sessions.  

Documentation panels

In the Observation Nursery, the teachers use observational techniques, photographs, video-and-audio-recordings and authentic work samples to document children's learning processes. We organize documentation panels to show parents and student teachers about children's project work to demonstrate learning in action. 

Enrol your child

The program is designed for children between the ages of 3 to 5 years old. We typically accept children who are 3 years old by September 30th.  

Tuition

Tuition is $1,000.00 for the year, typically made in four instalments of $250.00. There are bursaries available which can cover part or all of tuition.

Preschool operation hours

Mid-September to end of May
Tuesday through Friday 
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Get in touch to arrange a visit

If you are interested in taking part in this program with your child, please get in touch for more information or to visit our facilities.   

Meet our team