Vashon Maury

Vashon Maury Cooperative Preschool (VMCP) is a nurturing and inclusive community that provides early learning experiences for toddlers and preschoolers. We are committed to fostering an environment that encourages community building, learning, and support for both children and their families.

Our Co-op Philosophy

At VMCP, we believe that learning is a lifelong process that starts from a young age. Our cooperative model allows parents and caregivers to join their child in the classroom once a week, providing help to the teachers and children, and getting some playtime. This is a great opportunity to learn from our kids, get to know their friends, and connect with other families.

Being part of VMCP means that parents and caregivers are involved in the classroom and help the school run smoothly. We offer a wide variety of opportunities for families to contribute, from cleaning the classroom, being a teacher's assistant, to becoming a board member. There are jobs that can fit anyone's skills and commitment levels.

Co-op Families Get the Support They Need

Every co-op family is supported by our parent educators through individual sessions, in-the-moment coaching at school, and monthly group meetings. We understand that parenting can be challenging, and we are here to help you every step of the way.

Community is at the Heart of Co-op

Building a community is fundamental to the VMCP experience. Your child has the unique opportunity to know and be known by a whole community of loving adults. Our community is built on the foundation of support, encouragement, and celebrating each other's successes.

The Value of Play-Based Learning

Young children work hard at play. Play has been shown to lay down the foundational architecture of the brain that is essential to learning language, literacy, math, as well as developing the love of learning, a quality considered most critical for longer-term, sustained interest in learning. Our Co-op teachers carefully craft an environment and curriculum that is centered around play.

Join VMCP Today!

We would love to have you and your child come for a visit. Contact us to schedule a time. Joining VMCP is one of the best decisions you can make for your child and your family. It is an opportunity to lead, volunteer, and help continue the legacy of co-op in our community.

Our Co-op History

The idea of Cooperative Preschool is a time-tested concept that has been around since 1941 when the Seattle Public Schools began a small program in Family Life education for parents, led by Katherine Whiteside Taylor. This program involved 'playgroups' and some adult education. With the end of WW II, and the beginning of the 50s, when 'family togetherness' was becoming the norm, Co-op 'playgroups' flourished, and were well on the way to becoming the Cooperative Preschools you see now. As these playgroups continued to grow, they incorporated the changing mood of our nation. With the birth of the space age in the 60s came an ever-increasing thirst for knowledge, and the Preschool sector within the cooperative movement was no exception.**