Our History

Founded by Margaret Matthews-Flinsch in 1929, PNS has been laying the groundwork for brighter futures for children and families by offering affordable child care and an excellent preschool experience for nearly a century.

Originally conceived to help working mothers who had to make a choice between the income they so desperately needed and the care of their children during working hours, PNS was unique at its inception. Following the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori, PNS provided the children of working mothers with an appropriate educational experience—encouraging development of the whole child. Founder Margaret Matthews Flinsch’s belief of “life of the imagination” still is a fundamental belief of the school today.

Today, an Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the school and serves children and families in Mercer, Middlesex and surrounding counties. Multicultural from its inception, our diverse student population reflects the community of which we are proud to be a part. Certified teachers support the development of the whole child through an engaging research-based and play-based curriculum. The governance and control of the property and affairs, as well as the direction of the school is vested in a Board of Trustees. It remains affordable for families, with a sliding-scale tuition based on income and family size with a variety of accessible support services provided to families.