Play Guitar?
Tell Jokes?
Our wide-eyed
Tots' will be the
most captivated
audience.

Since 1958, Tots' Cooperative Nursery School has provided parents, grandparents and caregivers the opportunity to play an integral role in each child's education, in and out of the classroom. With today's busy schedules, the chance to see your child in their peer environment and help share your skills and passions with the receptive minds of preschoolers is a precious opportunity.

Our Team.

Meet Our Teachers

Tots' accredited teachers bring wisdom, enthusiasm and decades of experience to the school day. Within the framework of a play-based curriculum that prepares students for kindergarten while fostering healthy inquiry and social interactions, Tots' teachers guide students to explore their world, practice compassion and express their ideas.

Ms. Chris

Chris Raposa, our head teacher, received her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood from UMass-Amherst and her Master’s degree in Recreational Therapy from Springfield College. She has been at Tots’ since 1998, with her own children having attended the school. In the past 25 plus years, she has skillfully and lovingly guided the children at Tots’ from that difficult transition from home to classroom. She is the exemplar of patience and nurturing to the children at Tots’. Her humor makes each day bright and full of possibilities. Of note is her encouragement of students’ appreciation of visual aesthetics through daily creative expression. She thoughtfully leads students through art projects that involve paint, clay, and the use of unconventional tools. She fully understands the importance of creating visual art for the development of motor skills, language, decision-making, and academic competence and has consistently incorporated it into the curriculum.

Ms. Gayle

Gayle Sedgwick has been teaching in the Barrington School system for the past 10 years. She joined Tots in 2018 and her children attended Tots’ as well. She is engaged and engaging, quickly ascertaining the unique needs of each child and working in concert with their parents to create an optimal learning environment. Gayle has a strong commitment to play-based learning. She understands the important role of spontaneous, self-directed play on children’s intellectual, social, and emotional development. This is evident in her daily interactions with the children, when she can often be found on the floor of the classroom being led by students in an activity or when she pauses mid-sentence to give voice to a child’s opinions. She not only has a profound respect for each child at Tots’, but she delights in them and approaches each day with humor and playfulness.

The Co-op Benefit

The Cooperative model benefits students because...

School is special when a parent is there to share it.
Children develop a positive attitude towards school.
Children see the value their parents place on education.
School is more easily extended beyond the classroom, leading to a lifelong habit of learning.
Children develop an increased sense of pride and self-esteem when they are the helper and get to show off their parent.
Children enjoy friendly adults who accept each child in a safe and nurturing environment.

The Cooperative model provides parents...

Education in child development and parenting skills in the classroom and at parent meetings.
A support network in the good and the challenging times in parenting, from others in similar situations.
A group of friends with the same priorities and concerns.
A chance to observe your child and their peers in a group setting.
The opportunity to showcase hidden talents and contribute your abilities.
Participation in all aspects of your child's education.
A voice in the school decisions and policy making.
Seamless communication with teachers.
A chance to learn to effectively advocate on behalf of your child.

We enroll students who turn 3 by December 31st of the year they start, until they are ready for Kindergarten--usually at 5 years of age.

Our child-to-teacher ratio is exceptional. There are usually no more than 15 children per class and we have two wonderful teachers.

Tots' Cooperative is approved by the Rhode Island Department of Children Youth & Families, and our caring teachers both hold degrees in education.

It is important to note that Tots' Cooperative is a pre-school and not equipped as a day-care facility. All children attending Tots' are required to be potty trained.

About Us