Step One Nursery School & Transitional Kindergarten

Best preschool ever. Devoted, inspired teachers; idyllic grounds; warm community… I don’t think it gets better than this.

Step One is an absolutely phenomenal school. We switched from another preschool that was going through some administrative issues with some trepidation. It was hard to make a change, but we were blown away by the site, the philosophy and the teachers. When my son joined the classroom, the teachers helped us all feel comfortable and made him feel welcome and safe right away. The director Sue Britson is so completely dedicated to making the school an amazing, diverse, school full of rich learning and adventure for the kids. We were so grateful that we made that decision!
A year later our daughter joined in the 2’s class which was truly magical. The teachers are so skilled and loving with the kids. Every classroom is special in it’s own way, and we were lucky to have experienced 4 of them in our years there. Our son was very ready for K when he graduated and now our daughter is on her last couple months there. She is beyond ready socially, academically, and emotionally. It’s bittersweet because we will miss being part of this community and the wonderful teachers and staff. We truly could not have asked for a better school experience for our children, and our family.

Step One has been amazing for our two girls!
Our eldest (almost 5 at this time) has enjoyed the nursery school program for two years and just started at the bridge-​K. It’s been so great to see her imagination, social skills, & heart & mind blossom over these 2+ years. Our middle girl just started the 2’s program and is really loving it: it’s such nurturing environment!
In our experience the teachers are wonderful: engaged, emotionally supportive, great with conflict resolution, communicative and helpful in parental outreach. We love that there is diversity among the staff itself — good number of male teachers and lots of perspectives/​cultures represented too.
The facility is in a great spot — awesome outdoor area with a little garden and chicken coop, a small waterfall/​rock structure, large sand pit, etc. Love the diversity and the parents/​families we’ve met as we well.
Step One has absolutely given our girls an amazing foundation to build upon for elementary school and beyond.

If you are looking for a school that is diverse, pays their teachers honest and good wages, loves your child for the individual creature that they are and does whatever they can to nurture you and your family this is the school for you.
We have now been at Step one for getting on 10 years (yes three kids all at different times).
My children have some of the fondest memories from this school. One of my children still attends so I have seen the school through the years and the one word that stands out to describe my experience is positive consistency.
They have a garden (nicer than mine) where kids can harvest their own food. (Can’t get much more Berkeley than that!).
They have male teachers! Some of which have been there the 30 years they have been in existence! That speaks volumes!
It’s rare to find men in early childhood– let alone ones who make it a full on career.
The teachers are loving, caring, generous, respectful and most of all they nurture each child to that’s child’s needs.
When I leave my child their I don’t worry for feel anxious, I feel like its an extension of our home.
Yes, it’s a little pricey– but that’s because it prides itself on paying its teachers fairly — which helps retain wonderful teachers!
Step One also prides themselves on diversity and offers scholarships to families who couldn’t afford it to ensure they are not only diverse in color but in socio economic backgrounds as well.
Over all its a school that empowers young children to be who they are.
I am so thankful to the school and staff I wouldn’t/couldn’t imagine ever going anywhere else!
P. s. they have teachers who speak fluent Spanish too!

We have been at Step One School for years now (three kids) and we
LOVE it. For us, the best part of the school is the teachers — they are
all so different and loving and caring. They are an example of one of the
main principles the school espouses: diversity. I am so happy that my
children are exposed to a variety of people and personalities in a
supportive and nurturing environment. The teachers are completely
nonjudgmental and accept different parenting styles but can also provide
information and advice to parents who ask. I have learned so much from
them and continue to learn. Also, the turnover is extremely low which
says a lot. It makes the environment very stable and the teachers work
together seamlessly like well-​oiled machinery. They take so much time to get to know your child — even with 5 classrooms (different ages), I am always amazed how other teachers know my child. All 3 of mine have different personalities and it was great for all of them. We will be sad when my last child graduates!

You might have heard only good words about this pre-​school at places such as Berkeley parents network. Apparently, this school has a lot of strengths, such as a high % of male teachers. The faculty are generally very nice.
But it might not fit your child. The philosophy of this school is «play based», which means pretty much they will let your child do what ever he/​she wants. If he does not want to eat lunch, that’s fine, don’t drink water, also fine wearing too much or too little, also OK. Their underlying philosophy is that the child knows best what he needs, even if they are only 2 to 5. I am not really convinced of that. Not much time was spent on academics either.
I have noticed a couple of my son’s classmates stays alienated most of the time, and the teachers does not try very hard to help them get engaged. I have also noticed there was more than half of the boys in one room in particular seems to be all very socially inept while kids in other rooms seems to be fine.
You also need to know the cost of the school is really high, and they hike the tution by 5% every year even after the recession.
Another fact to notice, there are not a lot of young parents.