Berkeley Hills Nursery School

Berkeley Hills Nursery School is a community of teachers, parents, and children working and learning together through play. Since 1938, we have been nurturing Berkeley children in a safe, warm, and nurturing environment where the uniqueness of each child is honored. Our mission is to provide a space where children can develop relationships based on trust and respect, while exploring new ideas and the world around them. The teachers facilitate hands-on and cooperative learning situations that foster social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth.

Our Philosophy

We believe in a Reggio-inspired, play-based curriculum that emphasizes outdoor time and individual choice activities. A typical day includes two large blocks of playtime, one indoors and one outdoors, with groups coming together for lunch, circle, and story time. Our curriculum is based on ideas that emerge from the children and topics chosen for their intrinsic appeal, timeliness, or value to the children. Parents are encouraged to participate in group work and dialogue about topics of interest.

Admissions

We welcome all children regardless of race, religion, and national or ethnic origin. Admission is on a space-available basis, with attention given to achieving a balance of ages and genders. For the Red Room (3-year-old program), children must be at least 2 years and 9 months old in September. For the Blue Room (4-5-year-old program), children must be at least 4 years old and suitable to class balance and readiness. Applications are currently being accepted for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years.

Tuition and Extended Care

Tuition for the daily 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. program for the September to July 2024-2025 school year is $1,880/mo. Extended care will be available from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at $35/day.