Part time (affordable?) preK
We were at Griffin preschool pre-pandemic but it sadly didn’t make it and closed down last year. We’re now on the hunt for a preK program that has part time (we’re thinking 2-3 half days) that would be under $1000 per month. So far it seems like places are trying to discourage part time students because the costs is almost the same as full time students. The one place we have found is Sheffield Preschool. I would love any feedback on Sheffield or recommendations for schools in North Oakland or South Berkeley that are allowing affordable part time options. Thank you!
Jun 14, 2021
Parent Replies
Are you open to a co-op preschool? Sequoia Nursery School is a great, part-time, affordable option. I know several other co-ops offer part-time childcare and are typically very reasonably priced.
You might want to look into public preschools.
Berkeley USD runs 3 (Hopkins, Franklin, and one more) of them (called "child development center"), Albany USD has 1. I do not know about Oakland.
Application is free. I sent my both sons to Hopkins (in Berkeley) and I believe they are second to none. The teachers are very well paid (they are employees of a school district) compared to regular preschool teachers. The tuition includes school lunch (we still packed ours). They have enrichment classes like gardening, PE, language development (theater-like performance). They go on field trips on a school bus (part of the school district): on inside Berkeley and one outside Berkeley.
I have toured Sheffield and also our good family friends send their two kids there. Her kids are very happy there and my friend is impressed with the creative projects her children bring home. June the teacher is very warm and easy-going. Her backyard is a children's dream (maybe mine too). It has a large wooden structure and theres a ton of fun outdoor toys. I am looking for a part-time preschool as well and we will most likely send our son here as well. (Our only reason for the delay is that we are considering moving to another part of Berkeley.) Otherwise I would have registered with Sheffield by now. It's a great place!
Hi, Both of my kids have participated in many programs at Kids N Dance over the past decade and they have all been fabulous. The teachers are dedicated and the programs are fun, flexible, and affordable. Their new PAKS program for in Oakland, for pre-K and K, has flexibility for part-time attendance and cost. If you search PAKS Kids n Dance, it will come up and you can read all about it and/or contact them for more info.
The Lake School is play-based and very emotionally sensitive, we've had a wonderful experience there so far with our shy and strong-willed 4yr old. They run a 4/5 day program from 8:30-11:30, with options for after care until 2:30. They handled Covid tremendously and we were able to attend all of last year with no health incidents whatsoever. It is almost entirely play focused, and our son brings home amazing arts and crafts projects, stories about pretend play, and has all sorts of other adventures there. Tutition is <$1k per month.