The New School of Berkeley is a play-based preschool program serving children ages 2 through 5. Our emergent curriculum is shaped by children’s interests, developmental needs, and the world around them. Through play, children build confidence, curiosity, and strong social-emotional foundations while developing a lifelong love of learning.

Program Details

• Ages Served: 2–5 years across 3 classrooms

• Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

• Schedule Options:

  • Full-time preschool (8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.)

  • Part-time preschool (8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.)

• Year-Round

A Play-Based, Emergent Curriculum

Children learn best when they are active participants in their own learning. Our educators carefully observe, listen, and design experiences that encourage inquiry, creativity, collaboration, and self-expression. Children spend their days problem-solving, imagining, negotiating ideas, and engaging in hands-on activities that support cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development.

Daily Life at New School

Outdoor Play
Time outdoors is a vital part of each day at New School. Children climb, run, ride bikes, tend the garden, dig in the sandbox, and invent imaginative games together. Outdoor play supports physical development, collaboration, problem-solving, and helps children build confidence as they explore and take age-appropriate risks in a natural setting.

Art, Music, & Movement
Creative expression is woven throughout our days. Children have ongoing access to a wide range of art materials and participate in music and movement experiences such as singing, storytelling, dancing, and yoga. These activities nurture creativity, fine and gross-motor skills, emotional expression, and an awareness of their bodies.

Cooking & Gardening
Cooking and gardening offer meaningful, hands-on learning experiences. Children prepare simple foods together, practice measuring and mixing, and share recipes from home. In the garden, they care for plants and observe growth over time. These experiences support early math and science skills, cooperation, patience, responsibility, and a growing connection to the natural world.

Family Partnership & Community

We deeply value family involvement and welcome parent participation in classroom activities such as field trips, cooking, gardening, and special projects. Ongoing communication through conferences, meetings, and community events helps strengthen the partnership between home and school.