About UPNS
A cooperative preschool where families come together to nurture the whole child — body, mind, heart, and spirit.
Who We Are
A Cooperative Community Built on Participation
University Parents Nursery School (UPNS) is a cooperative preschool located in Los Angeles, California. As a cooperative, parents are not merely customers — they are active members of the school community. Each enrolled family participates in classroom life, committee work, and school operations.
UPNS has a longstanding affiliation with UCLA, originally founded to serve the university community. Today, we warmly welcome families from the broader Los Angeles community — UCLA students, staff, and faculty, as well as families with no UCLA connection at all.
We are proud members of the Los Angeles Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools (LACPPNS), a network of cooperative preschools dedicated to excellence in early childhood education.
Our Location
Visit Us
3233 S Sepulveda Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034
Phone: 310-397-2735
Email: upns@ucla.edu
Located in the University Village area, our school offers a welcoming campus with both indoor and outdoor learning spaces.
Get DirectionsOur Mission
Helping Children Develop the Whole Child
UPNS is guided by a holistic mission that recognizes five interconnected dimensions of a child's development. Everything we do — from classroom design to curriculum planning to daily routines — is shaped by this five-selves philosophy.
Social Self
Children learn to form friendships, navigate group dynamics, share, take turns, and become caring members of a community.
Emotional Self
We help children recognize and express their feelings, develop empathy, build resilience, and regulate emotions in healthy ways.
Physical Self
Gross and fine motor development, outdoor play, body awareness, and healthy habits are woven into every day at UPNS.
Creative Self
Art, music, dramatic play, and open-ended materials give children space to imagine, invent, and express their unique voices.
Cognitive Self
Curiosity-driven exploration, early literacy, mathematics, science discovery, and problem-solving build the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.
Hearts at Play
When children are free to play, explore, and connect — their hearts and minds bloom together. That's the spirit of UPNS.
Our Credentials
Accreditation & Memberships
UPNS holds the highest standards in early childhood education and is part of respected organizations that uphold quality care.
National Association for the Education of the Young Child
NAEYC accreditation is the gold standard in early childhood education. It means UPNS meets rigorous standards in curriculum, teaching, health, safety, community relationships, and program management. Fewer than 10% of U.S. preschools earn this distinction.
Los Angeles Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools
LACPPNS is a network of cooperative preschools throughout Los Angeles County. Membership connects UPNS to a broader community of educators, families, and advocates who share our commitment to parent-participation education and child development excellence.
Our Story
Our History
University Parents Nursery School was founded as a cooperative preschool to serve families connected to the University of California, Los Angeles. From the beginning, UPNS has been rooted in the belief that when parents actively participate in their children's education, the entire community benefits.
The cooperative model — where parents contribute their time, skills, and energy to the school — creates an unusually close-knit community. Over the decades, UPNS has welcomed hundreds of families, graduated generations of children who are now confident learners, and built a legacy of joyful early education.
Today, UPNS serves children from ages 18 months to 4 years in three thoughtfully designed classrooms: the Kitten Room, the Kangaroo Room, and the Dolphin Room. While our original connection to UCLA remains, we proudly welcome all families from the greater Los Angeles community.
The tagline “Hearts at Play” captures what UPNS has always been about: a place where children's hearts are engaged, their imaginations run free, and the whole community grows together.
Come See Our Classrooms
The best way to experience UPNS is to visit in person. We invite you to explore our three classrooms and meet our teachers.