Frequently Asked Questions

We offer 2, 3, and 5 day per week options. Check out the Enrollment Contract in Downloads for more information on tuition rates for each option.

We do not offer half-days beyond a reasonable transition period of 1-2 months (upon request), as your child acclimates to the full school day. During this period, your child may be picked up at noon, which is after lunch and before nap. However, your tuition will not be prorated for early pick-ups.

No. Our hours of operation are 8:30 am to 3 pm.

Like Maria Montessori's original Casa Dei Bambini (or "Children's House") in Rome, Little Paws is operated out of a single family home in a residential neighborhood. For this reason, we cannot have more than 12 children in our class at any given time. As some children come on different days, the class usually totals around 16 children per year. The ratio of teachers to children is 1:3.

Our cozy Children's House - meant to feel like a transition between home and a bigger school - is made up of mixed ages, another hallmark of a true Montessori space. Younger children are exposed to language, gross and fine motor skills, lessons, and a sense of independence and confidence they would not otherwise see in a class of only their age group. Older children have the opportunity to lead, nurture, and teach their younger friends. All of the children are given their own individualized lessons based upon their developmental phases. Maria Montessori observed that, much like in a family, children exposed to other children of diverse ages in the classroom grow socially, physically, emotionally, and intellectually in meaningful ways.

The Little Paws breakdown usually looks something like: 3 two-year-olds, 4 three-year-olds, 4 four-year-olds, and 3-4 five-year-olds. We offer a Kindergarten program for six-year-olds, but it is less common.

No, but during your tour(s) you will have ample time to explore the classroom, playground, and community with your child.

Your child does not have to be potty-trained to attend Little Paws. If you would like, we can offer you a potty-training guide for when you are ready to tackle that process. We are here to help! There is a $50 monthly fee for diapers and potty-training until your child is fully potty-trained.

In order to attend and enjoy Little Paws Montessori, your child needs to be able to express themselves verbally. Sign language, while very useful, is not sufficient. If your child is not yet able to have a back and forth with you in short sentences, consider applying for a later start date.

In accordance with the California Department of Social Services licensing laws, we are required to give every child (ages 5 and under) the opportunity to nap. It is perfectly fine if your child does not fall asleep, but they will be asked to rest quietly on their beds with a picture book. 

Age 2: We do not enroll 2 year olds mid-year. Children who will be 2 by September 2024 may currently apply for the 2024-2025 school year, for which we have a few spots. 

Ages 3+: We do sometimes have space for 3-6 year olds on a rolling basis, so feel free to check in about space and your ideal start date in your registration form, and we will get back to you with more information. We also currently have space for new 3-6 year olds for the 2024-2025 school year.

Children must be 2 years old by their start date. We do occasionally enroll children who have just turned 2, but the majority accepted are 2.5+ due to their increased ability to communicate their needs, understand their friends and teachers, and get the most out of our mixed-age Montessori curriculum.

Yes. You can apply for a future start date beyond September 2024 in order to claim a spot on our waitlist. While we can save your spot in line for consideration, we must have another tour with your child within 6 months of their actual start date to ensure they will be ready and a good fit. (For example, bringing a newborn for a tour will not be sufficient to secure their spot for Fall 2025, but you could add yourself to the waitlist in order to be contacted first in the enrollment process for that year).

Not typically, but we are happy to schedule an adults-only call or Zoom to answer any further questions.

No. Your child needs to meet the requirements delineated in the CA Vaccination Records Request, available below in the Downloads section, in order to attend Little Paws.