Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Play-Based Early Childhood Education in San Francisco
Founded in 1947, we pioneered a cooperative model where parents and educators grow alongside children. Our play-based approach nurtures whole-child development through self-guided exploration, fostering social-emotional skills, creativity, and independence. With a 5:1 child-to-adult ratio, we provide personalized attention while building a supportive community. Our educators bring decades of combined experience in early childhood development, emphasizing hands-on learning with open-ended materials. We maintain a commitment to accessibility, diversity, and family involvement through classroom participation and community events.Our campus features both indoor and outdoor spaces designed for year-round discovery and physical development. We prepare children for kindergarten through project-based learning while prioritizing emotional regulation and conflict resolution skills. Our inclusive environment celebrates cultural diversity and supports bilingual education. As a parent cooperative, we integrate family perspectives into our educational philosophy while maintaining rigorous safety standards. Nearly 80 years later, we continue evolving our practices through research-backed initiatives like Michigan State University's 60/50 Project.
Services
Preschool Programs
Pre-K Preparation
Summer Camp
Parent Involvement
Outdoor Learning
Details
- Year established: 1947
Highlights and features
- Experienced educators with specialized training in play-based learning
- Maintain a 5:1 child-to-adult ratio for personalized attention
- Integrate parents as active participants in classroom activities
- Offer dedicated Pre-K programming with individualized guidance
- Combine indoor and outdoor learning spaces for holistic development
What people say
Loves spending days exploring
Warm caring environment
Family gained so much
Services
Preschool Programs
Our child-centered preschool programs for ages 2.9-5 emphasize self-directed play and exploration. With flexible half-day, full-day, and extended care options, children develop social-emotional skills through hands-on activities with a 5:1 child-to-adult ratio. Daily outdoor learning opportunities and mixed-age classroom interactions foster natural development of empathy and cooperation.
Pre-K Preparation
Our dedicated Pre-K program prepares children for kindergarten through balanced learning experiences. Morning sessions (9:00AM-12:30PM) and full-day options combine play-based exploration with structured skill development. With a 1:5 adult-to-child ratio, children engage in longer-term projects that build independence, physical coordination, and foundational academic concepts in a supportive environment.
Summer Camp
Our 6-8 week summer camp serves current and incoming families with age-appropriate play-based learning. Smaller group sizes allow personalized attention while maintaining continuity with our educational approach. Children explore outdoor spaces, engage in creative activities, and build social connections through structured yet flexible programming designed to ease transitions for new students.
Parent Involvement
As a cooperative nursery school, we require weekly parent participation in classroom activities. This unique model provides direct observation of child development, skill-building through educator collaboration, and community-building opportunities. Parents also engage through educational workshops, governance committees, and family events that strengthen home-school connections and enhance parenting practices.
Outdoor Learning
Our outdoor spaces support year-round learning through physical play and nature discovery. Children develop gross motor skills through climbing, balancing, and riding activities while supervised in safe, stimulating environments. Outdoor exploration integrates with classroom learning through gardening, weather observation, and sensory experiences that reinforce cognitive development through direct interaction with natural elements.
People
Sabrina
Director
Director since 2015 with Montessori background and psychology degree from UC Irvine. Specializes in play-based learning and child development.
Jessica
Office Manager/Admissions Coordinator
Former parent turned admissions coordinator with BA in Liberal Studies and Early Childhood Development certification from City College.
Sally
Teacher
20+ years teaching experience with BA in American Studies and ECE credits. Focuses on creative learning and community building.
Justin
Assistant Director
Child development specialist with background from Stanford's Bing Nursery School and child/adolescent development degree.
Marissa
Teacher
Child Development graduate with music integration expertise. Combines educational background with creative teaching methods.
Questions
What age children do you serve?
We accept children aged 2 years 9 months to 5 years for our preschool and Pre-K programs.
How do parents participate in the program?
Parents join classroom activities weekly, participate in community events, and contribute to school governance through committee roles.
Do you offer summer programming?
Our 6-8 week summer camp provides continuity for current students and gentle introduction for incoming families.
What educational philosophy guides your curriculum?
Our play-based approach emphasizes self-directed exploration with open-ended materials to develop social-emotional and cognitive skills.
How do you prepare children for kindergarten?
Pre-K program combines play with structured skill-building in a dedicated classroom with 1:5 adult-to-child ratio.
