San Mateo Parents' Nursery School

San Mateo Parents' Nursery School offers activities such as Toddler Play Dates, Toddler Play Groups, Music and Movement opportunities including parades, hands-on special activities, Musical Chairs, and Show & Tell. Children have access to an outdoor playground with a sandbox, swings, a bike path, a climbing structure, trees, and a covered art and snack space, as well as an open-concept indoor space with a library, dramatic play space, craft and art area, blocks/trains/cars area, and a writing center. The program also hosts Open Houses and tours for families.

• Ages: 1–5 years old
• Schedule: Open 8:30am–5:00pm with two-to-five day options, including a.m. only, p.m. only, and full-day sessions; daily tours from 9:30–10:30am; Toddler Play Groups for children 15–24 months on select Saturdays

Since 1948, parents and children have been sharing the joy of learning together at San Mateo Parents' Nursery School, and the program states it has been nurturing children and parents since 1947. The program is led by highly-qualified, certified teachers who create engaging learning opportunities and bring their own passions to class. San Mateo Parents’ Nursery School is a non-profit, co-operative school owned and operated by its members, is a 501c3 nonprofit, and is described as a diverse community dedicated to fostering the learning and growth of children and adults, with a goal of creating a loving, supportive, empowering environment for children and their families. It is a flexible, play-based co-op with a child-centered, play-oriented preschool program for children from two through five years old, offers part-time and full-time schedules based on family needs, and provides two-to-five day sessions including a.m. only, p.m. only, and full-day options. The school is a parent cooperative nursery school that actively involves a parent or other family member one morning a week, allows any member of a family including nannies and grandparents to co-op, offers several non-cooperative spots, and offers families a discount on co-op session rates. The morning session has a 1:3 adult-to-child ratio, the mixed-age setting allows older children to support younger children, and children are free to move in and out of activities as they like while being guided through conflict resolution and problem solving. Class pets are part of the environment, and the school states that it does not discriminate on the basis of sex, creed, cultural background, religion, ethnic origin, or physical ability. Visitors are instructed to park on Monte Diablo and enter through the garden gate beside the Bay Trail entrance, and daily tours are available from 9:30–10:30am with no need to schedule ahead.

Last updated March 23, 2026.