Berkeley Hills Nursery School

Berkeley Hills Nursery School is one of the best decisions I’ve made for my kids and my family!
We are currently in our 4^th year at the school with our second child and the experience has been nothing but stellar. Both of my (VERY different) children have thrived there and love going to school every day. It is a warm, caring, kind and engaging environment where children really become the best they can be.
I’m amazed every time I see these small children be so kind and respectful to each other and so enthusiastic about what they do at school. Somehow the school fosters such community amongst the students and parents. I have met some lifelong friends in other families.
The teachers are nothing short of spectacular. Some have been there for 10 and 20+years! You know a school is doing something right when the teachers are there for so long. They are kind, patient and loving, yet still create a wonderfully balanced routine for the children. Their music teacher is phenomenal and the whole program is SO thoughtful and engaging, I wish I could go there myself!
Every day when I leave my children there I know they will have a wonderful time, they will be safe and looked after, engaged and genuinely loved by all. It is such a rare gem to have such an environment in the crazy busy overstimulated world of today. We are so thankful we found BHNS.

This is a stellar school for a variety of reasons:
1. The teachers are top-​notch. Most have been with the school for many years and have sent their own kids to the school in the past. They create a very nurturing environment and the kids learn a great deal though their interactions with each other and the way they play throughout the day.
2. The parent community is amazing. It isn’t always easy raising kids, but the parents who get to know you and your kids become a very strong network. The parents community is very active at the school helping with class activities and keeping this non-​profit school funded.
3. The school itself is a great space. There are tons of indoor and outdoor areas, a plethora of book, toys galore, etc.
If you have the opportunity, you will love that you sent your child here.

My family is just ending 3 years with our daughters at Berkeley Hills Nursery School. I am generally one to complain about everything, but not about this place. The quality of the teachers — all the teachers — is outstanding. One thing I love about them is that they lean more towards intelligent than sweet. Not that they aren’t perfectly kind to the children, but they back it up with years of experience, education, and savvy. Always willing to help with new behaviours that your little ones may throw at you.
Love the nice shady play-​yards. And being adjacent to one of the small city parks means that it’s easy to become part of the parent community. You don’t have to leave at closing time — you can hang out in the park. We avoided hours of TV doing this. A well-​run pre-​K education, even while being play-​based, my daughters learned beginning reading, spelling, writing, and math skills, and of course great socialization skills! I’m gonna miss this place.

While Berkeley Hills Nursery School mostly draws from Berkeley (duh), Albany and Kensington, we make the trek there every day from Alameda. Which was a lot easier when my oldest child was my only child. But after sending my son here 4 years ago, how could I deny my daughter the same opportunity?
It is great to be back. There are some new teachers (as someone who was once a new teacher myself, I say yay), but their winning formula has stayed the same: exploratory play, great projects, extensive outside time, an expansive rotation of activities, and dedicated, creative teachers who clearly view their role as educators, not childcare providers.
I’m also very happy to be back in this strong community… We just had our Moms Night Out and I’ve got the date on my calendar for the camping trip! It is a wonderful first school not only for the kids, but also for the parents!

We moved to the Bay Area this summer, so finding a good match for our soon to be 3 year-​old was a definite concern of mine. I was so pleased to find Berkeley Hills — and even happier that they were glad to accept my two year-​old to the program (pre-​potty training and all!).
Well, six months in and I feel like we have found a surrogate extended family down here. The teachers are insightful, well-​versed in child development, and most importantly LOVE our child. He is greeted with hugs and enthusiasm when we arrive every morning. The day is filled with regularly scheduled activities like circle time, stories, and lunch, as well as creative activities the teachers (and even parents) come up with to support whatever the kids are currently interested in. When I come to pick up my child in the afternoon, at least one of the teachers will tell me about something specific he did that day. They clearly love the kids, and the kids love them right back!
Other things I love about Berkeley Hills: parent involvement is welcomed and encouraged, but not to an extent that demands too much of mom and dad’s precious time. The community of parents is wonderful and quite social. The days/​hours are flexible if you sometimes need a little extra time. Honestly, I just can’t say enough positive things about the school. If you are looking for a supportive, close-​knit community for your child, check it out!

I chose to send my son to BHNS for 3 main reasons:
1) It’s play based. I visited preschools where I was told they would teach my son to read and I just wanted my kid to play for goodness sake! And, in case you’re wondering, the teachers are very good at teaching through play. My son surprised me yesterday by using a calendar.
2) The people working at BHNS seemed (and have proved) to be able to handle, well, whatever. If my child managed a fantastic fall on the playground and broke a bone and I was 40 minutes away, I would have complete confidence that the situation was being handled as well (or better) as it would have been had it happened on my watch.
3) Popsicles in the park. This school has a parent community that does things like meet in the park next to the school to eat popsicles. That’s awesome. I love popsicles and I love talking to other parents.

Great nursery school with small classes, dedicated teachers, and a huge playground to tempt any kid’s imagination. You also get a great view when driving up here– as the name suggests, it’s on a hill in Berkeley with a great view of the bay.