Our North Dallas school will be closed on February 2 due to inclement weather. 

FIND A SCHOOL

Clayton – Mechanical

Preschool and Daycare in Clayton, North Carolina

Welcome to The Nest Schools of Clayton, North Carolina!

We are proud to offer Clayton families childcare and early childhood education for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old. Our curriculum and program design incorporate the most current research in early development to best prepare children for their future in and out of the classroom.

At The Nest, we work every day to create a culture of kindness, build the foundations for wellness for life, make learning fun, and continually take our best and make it better. We invite you to contact us today to learn more about our child care options and schedule a tour!

Located off of I-70 next Lionsgate Athletic Club.

Take a Look Inside Our School

The Nest Difference

At The Nest, we take every precaution to ensure your child’s health and safety when they spend their day with us. Our schools provide layers of security measures to protect the children in our care.
Learn more.

Our curriculum and program design incorporate the most current research in early development to best prepare children for their future in and out of the classroom. Each element of our Nest Play curriculum shares one goal: to help children love to learn.
Learn more.

Communication with our families is a top priority at The Nest Schools. Everything from the face-to-face interactions during pick up and drop off times, individual conference times, school e-newsletter, daily reporting app, and interactive displays outside every classroom allow for parents to be fully involved and in the know on their child’s learning and progress.
Learn more.

At The Nest Schools, we hire teachers who have a genuine love for young children and share our vision of raising a world of kind, healthy, and inspired kids. All of our teachers are highly-trained youth developers who are dedicated to bringing out what is special and unique about each child.
Learn more.

At The Nest, we set out to create outdoor environments that entice children to engage with nature. Our playgrounds are rich with plants and natural elements, exciting play themes, and physical challenges. Children can learn to assess risks and test their boundaries within an environment that was created with their safety, health, and skill-building in mind.
Learn more.

Our Clayton Leadership Team

Susan Stewart

Susan Stewart

Director

Contact via email

Susan has been in early childhood education since 1989 and has a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family studies. She has served as both a lead teacher and director throughout her career. Susan loves that the early childhood field allows teachers the opportunity to exercise their own creativity in nurturing children’s skills and abilities so that they can navigate our world confidently. Her greatest blessing is as children grow and flourish under her care, she gets to see their development and learning firsthand.

Susan is married to her high school sweetheart, Daniel; and has two beautiful children, Aaron and Ashley; and a granddaughter, Avery. Susan enjoys playing pool, bowling, and baking in her spare time. However, the closest activity to her heart is spending quality time with her family. Susan’s favorite childhood book is Charlotte’s Web because it teaches the importance of friendship, kindness, and love. We are so lucky to have Susan on our team!
Mechanical

Tamara Kenworthy

Assistant Director

Contact via email

Tamara Kenworthy has worked in childcare for over 30 years, having North Carolina credentials I, II and Admin I, II.

Tamara loves working in the early childcare field because she absolutely loves children and feels as though she can make a difference in their lives! Children need to feel important and loved and safe, and Tamara knows that she can provide them with all of those things. In addition to helping children, she greatly enjoys connecting with and making an impact on the lives of their families, as well.

Tamara has been married for 27 years to her “awesome” husband, Jeremy. Together, they have two daughters, Nicole and Melissa. Nicole just recently got married, and Melissa is graduating from NC State University in December! They are a very close family and love spending as much time together as possible. A fun fact about Tamara is that she really enjoys crafting things and loves to bake!

Tamara’s favorite childhood book is Love You Forever by Robert Munsch as it is a book about the love of family. Family is the most important thing to Tamara! This book is about the love and care a mother gives through raising her child. Then, as the mother grows older, the child then must take care of her. Tamara loves this book because it is a great example of kindness and love! We so love having Tamara on our team!
BIO Pictures

Corinne Brylski

Regional Director

Contact via email

Corinne has been in the early childhood education field since August of 1998 and holds her bachelors in Early Childhood Education. She has experience leading as a Lead Teacher, Pre-K Lead Assistant Director, Director, and now Regional Director. She also is a NC state Registered SIDS Trainer!

In her spare time, Corinne enjoys time with her daughter, Skyla, family, and dog, Mr. Biscuit. You can often find them watching movies together!

Our Clayton Educational Programs

Hummingbirds

We understand that infants need nurturing, and parents need to feel secure knowing their child is in good hands. Our infant teachers are hand-picked natural caregivers who focus on meeting the individual needs of every child. While your child is in our care, you can rest assured that they will receive the attention and interaction they need and deserve.

Learn more.

Ducklings

We recognize that your young toddler has the capacity to learn so much in the first few years of their life by simply having opportunities to explore and play amongst peers. Our teachers encourage learning through daily routines and experiences involving health and physical development, social-emotional development, language and literacy development, and so much more.

Learn more.

Cardinals

Our Cardinal program supports older toddlers and their increased independence, exploration of emotions and feelings, and fast-developing use of language. We also understand and support their continued desire to explore everything about their world. We believe our play-based philosophy and learning center structure gives them the best opportunity to do this.

Learn more.

Penguins

The early preschool years are nothing short of amazing! Children at this age have an overwhelming eagerness to learn and you will notice that their ability to experiment, explore, and focus on set activities begins to change rapidly. Our Penguin program supports young preschoolers and their need to be challenged, engaged, and encouraged in their learning and personal interests.

Learn more.

Robins

The older preschool years consist of so much learning and development! Their peer relationships are strengthening, they have a more complex understanding and use of language, and their overall motor skills have developed rapidly. Our Robins program continues to provide for preschoolers and their need to be challenged, engaged, and supported in their learning and personal interests.

Learn more.

Full-time, Private

GREAT things come from great BEGINNINGS! Our private kindergarten programs will help your child excel in a small classroom environment giving them a successful start to their elementary years. Our comprehensive curriculum will use a mix of requirements from the Department of Education alongside our Nest Play curriculum to prepare children for first grade and beyond.

Pelicans / Before & After School

Our School Age program provides children with opportunities for exploration, creativity, and fun challenges to support them in becoming their best selves. Our program consists of a mix of guided activities planned by the children and teacher-guided activities.

Summer Fun for Your Child

Summer is one of the things children look forward to the most. School’s out, and children are ready to get back to their much-awaited playtime. But instead of letting your child become glued to TV screens, computers, or mobile devices watching cartoons or playing video games, this may be the perfect time to encourage them to engage in activities that offer the right balance between learning and fun. This is where summer camps come in!

Learn more.

What Our Families Are Saying

“We are so grateful for The Nest Schools! We have had amazing teachers so far, and our son loves every minute of school! What I love is that even the teachers that our son hasn’t had yet all know him by name, and treat him like he is one of their own students. We would (and do) recommend The Nest to anyone that asks.”

Amanda Lacks

“The things we like best about our child care experience at The Nest Schools are that we’re always greeted each morning with the staff’s friendly smiles and positive attitudes. Both of our children feel welcomed and have developed wonderful relationships. We are also impressed by the level of safety and the daily curriculum.”

Stephanie & Ryan Briggs

“To us, The Nest Schools has meant more than just childcare; they have been our partner in the development and success of our kids! ”

Stephen Starr

Schedule Your Tour

Scheduling a tour does not guarantee availability.
The School Director will be able to confirm space in your child’s program during the tour.

Self-scheduled tours are currently available for the following programs.
If your program is not listed, please contact the school for more information on availability and waitlist options.

Call Us: 919-298-8785

Nest Rebrand Timeline

Classroom Furniture & Materials

Every classroom will be transformed with top of the line, solid maple craftsmanship pieces including tables, chairs, shelves, toys, and every day classroom supplies.

Done

Big Brave Blocks

Our jumbo blocks will ignite children’s imaginations encouraging learning, social development, movement, and of course fun! Click here to learn more about children’s development through big block fun. 

Done

Paint

All walls within the school will receive a fresh new coat of paint!

Done

Flooring

Easy to clean vinyl-plank flooring will be installed throughout the school.

Done

Outdoor Play Spaces

Our outdoor play spaces will be rich with plants and natural elements, exciting play themes, and physical challenges. Children can learn to assess risks and test their boundaries within an environment created with their safety, health, and skill-building in mind.

Done

Interior Signage/Artwork

Beautiful artwork, classroom signs, and signs emphasizing our core values will adorn the interior of our school.

Done

Exterior Signage

New exterior signage will ensure we can’t be missed!

Done

Digital Signage

Never miss a beat! Our digital displays outside classrooms and in our lobby will keep you up-to-date on weekly curriculum activities, school announcements, events, menus and more!

Done

Security

We will be installing state-of-the-art security systems at the entrance and throughout our school to keep our children safe and provide parents peace of mind that their children are safe in our care.

Done

Air Purifiers

Air purifiers using ActivePure Technology® will continuously clean and protect air and surfaces 24 hours a day, reducing 99.96% of airborne SARS-COV-2 viral partials as well as other viral contaminants.

Click here to watch a short video with more information on how this technology protects your child while in our care.

Done

Interior Renovations

Natural elements true to our brand will be carried throughout the design of our school. Our welcome area will become a warm and inviting space, and even our hallway spaces will receive fun Nest elements!

Done