I recommend Sequoia Nursery School, a co-op nursery in the Oakland hills. Our son started at Sequoia in the fall of 2019 when he was 3 years old. He was a little anxious at first and not happy when I left him alone, but the teachers, Lori and Susan, always treated him with affection. One day, he started to love Sequoia and now every morning he asks me, “Is Sequoia open?” and if I say yes, he is so excited and can’t wait to go. Kids can do different activities like playing with play dough, or paint at the Art Station. There’s a huge playground, with a sandbox, monkey bars, and a slide where they can burn off all their energy. In March 2020, the school closed due to COVID-19, but we continued online classes where the kids read stories, sang songs, and drew pictures. In February 2021, in-person classes started again, with the kids in 2 different groups of 12 max. The teachers were very good at always keeping them masked and spaced 6 feet apart. Not easy! Our son is happy every morning that he can go to Sequoia to see the teachers and his Sequoia friends. We are a little sad because he has not been able to enjoy more days at Sequoia due to COVID-19, because we love Sequoia very much and so does our son.

Sequoia Nursery School has been our beautiful, loving, home away from home for the last 5 years. Our three kids have attended, the baby is getting ready to graduate in May.We have loved the community that is created each year by committed, connected, super-cool families that invest in their childs first school experience. It is work, but it feels like a labor of love to give back to both my children and their peers.The play-based curriculum is wonderful, flexible and open to what the families and children bring to the space. Teachers Lori and Susan are incredibly giving, warm and knowledgeable. We are so grateful for our time at Sequoia and highly recommend it to anyone who can make it work for their family.

This school has been such a positive experience for our family. The teachers set a wonderful example. They are so dedicated, patient, kind, and prepared, and our kids love them. We have learned so much from the teachers and other parents, have made new friends, and really feel part of a community here.The play-based aspect of the school was important to us, and each of our kids has found something to be excited about every day from art projects, engineering toys, gross-motor activities, tactile activities, dress-up and pretend play, and so much more.The location is beautiful with a nice outdoor playground. The entire facility is surrounded by trees and backs up to Joaquin Miller Park.Sequoia really is a magical place.

Being a part of this school has been awesome for our entire family. My 4 year old looks forward to going, my almost 2 year old has to be dragged out during drop-off because she thinks its so awesome and wants to stay forever, and weve been able to participate in the school as parent volunteers, and experienced the amazing Sequoia community. We love everything about Sequoia (especially the teachers and incredible setting)!

We are in our second year at Sequoia Nursery School and could not be happier with our families experience. We have a new head teacher and director this year, Lori, after our longtime head teacher and director retired at the end of last year. The transition has been seamless, and Lori (along with our other teacher, Susan) has done and amazing job of leading the school. The parent community has been amazingly welcoming and we feel very lucky to have had such a positive preschool experience.

I highly recommend Sequoia for your three or four year old. We are currently a 4th year Sequoia family (2 kids attended back to back) and we all LOVE it. The play-based curriculum I think is perfect for kids in this age group and the set-up here is deluxe! The outdoor space is amazing and the indoor space utilizes the Sequoia Lodge, a beautiful rustic building the belongs to the City of Oakland. We also love the co-op part of Sequoia, due to the wonderful community that is naturally borne from it! Check out their annual Info Night in January!

My family truly loves Sequoia Nursery School. We love the community, we love the teachers, we love the environment.The community is made up of two teachers and about thirty families every year. Around twenty-three kids attend each school day (3-5 days per week for each child). The families are warm and welcoming, and parents are so ready to support each other. Some examples include passing down clothes and books from one family to another, helping each other with childcare in a pinch, setting up play dates, advising one another on issues ranging from potty training to kindergarten selection and everything in between, dropping off meals for families with new babies, and generally just being there for each other to listen in this phase of family life.Our teachers Susan and Lori both come to Sequoia every day with hearts full of love and patience to guide our children. They are both former parents of the school, and they appreciate and respect the special place that is Sequoia Nursery School. They are experts on child development, and committed to play as the work of the child.The children get to play inside and outside at the beautiful Sequoia Lodge. It is set in a park, with inviting redwood trees all around the play structures, sandbox, and tricycle lot. The lodge itself is open and spacious, with a big skylight, large windows, and beautiful wood floors. Inside, there are engaging choices including two art stations (new and creative activities all the time), a rice table, a play dough table, and a collage table, plus a cozy library with big comfy pillows for cuddling up together with some books, a creative play area with a toy kitchen, dolls, and costumes, and a big closet full of puzzles, cars, trains, building toys, and more that children can select for play. Because we pack away the materials at the end of every week (so the Lodge can be used for events), the space stays uncluttered and intentional, not over-stimulating.Prospective parents need to know that this is a parent cooperative nursery school, which means that parents work one morning per week (per child) at the school during the academic year, and participate in school maintenance and operation. It is an investment of time. For me, this has been one of the most appealing aspects of the school, because I get to actively engage in this really precious part of my children’s education and development.

Sequoia Nursery School is a sweet co-operative preschool nestled in the Oakland hills. We are in year three, kid two, and could not be happier with our experience. The play-based curriculum and indoor/outdoor setting is a ideal space for kids to grow and learn. The teachers and families give Sequoia a heart that has beat for more than 50 years. We love Sequoia!

I had problems at this school ater speaking up about blatant racism. Left the day after i received a letter to queit me down,. It didnt work and my awesome family left. The sprawling greenery fooled me as did some of the parents who rave about this co-op. We ended up for our other child at a Piedmont co op that was much more educational and structured for kindergarten readiness.

Fun for kids, great community, beautiful setting!