About UMC Preschool
UMC Preschool – Burlingame is a non-profit, non-sectarian, parent-directed cooperative nursery school, offering unique programs for children ranging from 18 months to 5 years of age.
Though we are not affiliated, our classrooms and play yard share space with Burlingame United Methodist Church (1443 Howard Ave., Burlingame, CA 94010).
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide and facilitate a warm, supportive atmosphere in which children can develop positive feelings about their first school experience. We offer stimulating and varied activities designed to help each child grow physically, emotionally, intellectually, and socially.
Our Focus
Our focus is on creating a diverse, accessible environment that allows children to develop positive self-esteem and self-confidence, sets the groundwork for a lifelong love of learning, and gives families of any structure the opportunity to grow, develop, and participate along with their child(ren).
Play-Based Approach
We believe children learn most effectively through self-directed play, and seek to provide a rich variety of materials, equipment, and activities to choose from as well as both time and opportunities to engage in creative and cooperative play.
Parents Role
Parents play an active role in their child's education when they co-op in the classroom. It's a great place to interact with teachers and other parents, learning and sharing new ways to raise happy, well-adjusted humans.
Parents also take on a school job and are expected to attend 2 maintenance days and 2 parents education meetings each year. Our Board of Directors, tasked with helping the director operate the school, is comprised of current and alumni parents.
View our FAQs for more information.
The Co-Op Philosophy
Cooperative (or “Co-op”) preschools combine the expertise of professional teachers with the special knowledge of parents to offer a loving and safe learning community for the entire family.
UMC offers a developmentally appropriate curriculum that is planned and carried out by seasoned teachers to provide children with a quality preschool experience.
Children learn social, emotional, and intellectual skills through cooperative and creative play in a hands-on environment.
Teachers provide gentle suggestions and help parents build their parenting skills in class, at community events and parent meetings.
“All three of my kids went through UMC Preschool. We loved the co-op approach, community, and amazing teachers.
It was so nice to be able to spend time easing our kids into the school process. Our kids loved the experience and it has prepared them well for elementary school.
I highly recommend UMC!”
“The teachers are enthusiastic and truly care about each student. The small class sizes allow for the teachers and parents to get to know each child. I co-op in the class once a week.
We help the classroom run smoothly by helping to tidy the classroom, set up projects, supervise and play with the kids.
It’s been a pleasure to watch my son grow and see the things that he’s learning. I am then able to reemphasize and elaborate on what he is actively learning at school.”
Interested in joining our community?
Come Visit!
