The Little School

285 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941

map285 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941

About

The Little School is a private non-profit educational organization that offers programs called Ladybugs, Honey Bees, and Dragonflies. The school day schedule is structured to include a balance of group interactions, individual exploration, and both vigorous and quiet activities. Children use spacious outdoor play spaces, gardens, and carefully prepared indoor environments to engage with materials, the outdoors, and each other.

• Ages: 2–6 years old
• Schedule: Year-round program

Founded in 1981 as a small in-home daycare, The Little School has grown into a well-known school. The organization states that it is dedicated to the growth and well-being of young children and to providing an early education model of excellence for children, their families, and the greater community. The mission includes a belief that children learn best in a trusting environment where individual discovery and expression are developed through hands-on play.

The Little School offers a Ladybugs and Honey Bees program for 2- and 3-year-olds and a Dragonflies program for 3- to 4-year-olds. The school admits students of any race, color, sex, religious, or ethnic origin and describes its community as all-inclusive, with families welcome and invited to be active members of the classroom.

Teachers at The Little School have training in Early Childhood Education and CPR/First Aid certification. The school describes its teachers as highly skilled and trained, providing a balanced routine structured around each child’s innate curiosity. Teachers create a child-centered curriculum that uses developmentally appropriate practices to offer experiences in social, emotional, cognitive, creative, and gross and fine motor areas. The Little School states that it fosters creativity through open-ended play and curated exploration time and that it equips children with social, emotional, and cognitive support to be successful, productive members of their community. The school offers professional development opportunities for teachers throughout the year and is seeking enthusiastic substitute teachers and like-minded individuals for this work.

Last updated March 6, 2026.

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