• Owner: Elizabeth Nachman
• Phone: (510) 845-2025
• Email:
• Neighborhood: south of campus
• Zip: 94705
• License #: 013416443
• Capacity: 18
• Website: http://www.griffinnurseryschool.org/
• Bilingual:
• Ages: 3-5 year olds

Hello, I've checked the archives and haven't found any recent reviews of Griffin Nursery School in Berkeley. Does anyone have any feedback, both positive and negative? Thanks! alex

Re: intimate play-based preschool
Look at Griffin nursery school in south Berkeley. It's a very sweet place all of your criteria would be met I think except that they don't do a lot of community building. But my son was very peaceful and happy there. It's very special! Kelley

Re: Relocating to the Bay Area, looking for a walkable neighborhood
If you are still looking for a preschool you should definitely be in touch with Betsy at Griffin Nursery School. I just saw on the website that she's still looking for girls in the morning program. We've been delighted by Griffin in the year that we've been there. The teachers at Griffin are warm and deeply experienced. I feel like I learn from them all the time (and I've spent a good chunk of my adulthood studying how kids learn!) When I share a behavior that I am trying to resolve with my son, their answers often surprise me (in a good way!), and help me think about the issue from his perspective in ways I could not have otherwise. It's such a safe and sweet setting, really very charming. We found it easily, since our close friends had sent their kids there and were very happy with it, but some of the parents of our son's Griffin-friends checked out many other preschools and at least two of them have emphasized to me how lucky we were to find our way to this special place. The big trick is that kids only go for half a day the first year, and in the second year you can add extra hours, but I think it's worth it to figure out other childcare for the rest of the time you need. And yes it's not the co-op I'd always hoped we'd join once we had kids (we're in South Berkeley and I didn't want to spend so much time commuting to preschool, but I can understand your interest!), and I don't know what being in a co-op is like, but I think this is as close as you are going to get outside of a co-op. Maminka

Griffin Nursery School is an excellent preschool. Betsy, the director and head teacher, has a rare and wonderful ability to communicate and facilitate interactions with young children. Both my boys have attended the school. They have been nurtured, honored, challenged, and engaged by the entire staff. The facility is also quite special: it is a house transformed into a school layout with a gorgeous backyard (with play structures, gardens, swings, etc). I feel very lucky to have found this school and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a traditional, play-based preschool. Robyn

Our son is finishing his first year at Griffin Nursery School in south Berkeley. We looked at a number of preschools very carefully before deciding on Griffin and we are extremely happy with our choice. I (mom) am a child psychologist and had heard from colleagues over the years that Griffin was a very special place, and this has proven to be true. Griffin excels at understanding and supporting preschoolers' emotional and social growth and development. From our first visits to Griffin, the director's sensitivity and attunement to our son's emotional state enabled her to respond to him in a very nuanced way, knowing when to move back a few steps, when he needed a transitional object to help him leave, helping him put words to his feelings, etc. In terms of socialization, the focus seems to go way beyond turn taking and conflict resolution to helping the children relate in a way that fosters the building of friendships.

Many schools purport to have an emergent curriculum, and my sense is that Griffin had one before that term was even around. The school is small enough and well staffed enough with talented and creative teachers that they can really elaborate the children's interests. For example, our son had a particular interest in music and instruments; many times when I picked him from school up I learned that one of the teachers had either brought in unusual instruments from home, had worked with the children to "build" a piano using a painted standard board and black tape for the keys, or had worked on a rap song following a child's initiation. And that was on top of the regular music curriculum offered by the school. Another example of the school's sensitivity and individualized attention: At one parent-teacher conference we were given a transcription one teacher had made of conversations between our son and his friend, in order to give us a sense of his language development and a window into what he had been working on at school. In addition, the staff was very sensitive and responsive when our son had a medical issue which required intervention during school hours. The teachers came early to school one day to be trained by a medical professional and then carried out the treatment once per nursery school day for many weeks.

Betsy Nachman, the Director, is a gem. She has tremendous expertise and experience with early childhood development. She has a very warm, calm, patient, and caring presence and is always available to parents. When I had some concerns about my son's development early on she listened carefully, did not dismiss my concerns but was also very containing, gave me her perspective on what might be going on, invited me to come in and observe, etc. All of the teachers are wonderful and have their own strengths. Our son has formed a relationship with each of them. We can't recommend Griffin highly enough. Happy Griffin parents

I am a parent of a five-year-old who is finishing her second year at Griffin Nursery School. My husband and I have been delighted with this play-based school. What stands out the most to us about it is the way it teaches children about relationships with their peers. The staff excels at giving the children both the space and support they need to learn about how to express themselves and also listen to others, how to be flexible in their friendships. We have also felt supported and guided in our development as parents at Griffin. All of the teachers at the school have modeled for us helpful tools, such as fostering dialogue between children if a conflict emerges so they can begin to find their own solutions, setting healthy limits in a loving, firm way, and setting up a system in which children's innate quest for independence is supported (for example, I have seen my daughter find a sign to put by her food when stepping away for a moment to let others know she was not yet done eating). We have always appreciated how our daughter has been seen for who she is as an individual by all the staff members, and supported just where she is and in the unique ways she needs to grow. This attentiveness to each individual child begins even before the first day of school when Betsy Nachman, the director, visits each family's home. Betsy has the rare gift of being an excellent communicator with both children and adults, and she is a thoughtful liaison between the children, the staff, and the parents. We cannot recommend Griffin highly enough. Krista

Re: Oakland/Berkeley Preschools with Caring Teachers
I have had three children attend Griffin Nursery School in Berkeley. The staff there is outstanding and they have had very little teacher turnover in the eight(!) years that we have been attending. Parents drive there from as far as Lafayette and Kensington because the director, Betsy Nachmann is so warm and caring. Teacher Rose is fantastic. All three of my kids have very different personalities and each had a super experience. I have looked at other nursery schools over the past few years (seeking something closer to home) but realized I wouldn't change if you covered our tuition somewhere else. Happy mama

Re: Afternoon Preschool Programs
Griffin Nursery School in Berkeley has an afternoon program for the 4 year olds. Three year olds attend mornings. 4 year olds have the option of attending all day. A handful attend full days 1-2 days/week. Very few attend full time every day. A great place. Happy Griffin parent

Re: Any openings at your kid's great preschool?
Try giving Griffin Nursery School a call. I believe there might be a last minute spot available. South of Cal campus. Great place. In our second year

Re: need a preschool for my twins
Hi My daughter spent two years at Griffin nursery school. She is now starting second grade. I think Griffin is a wonderful place. The teachers are well trained, smart, thoughtful and kind. There is minimal scheduling and regimentation. The children have access to both inside play areas and outside play areas at all times. There is always at least one teacher inside and another outside to welcome the children and engage them. The kids have a lot of autonomy to pick what interests them. They have free access to their lunch boxes throughout the day and a teacher available to invite their friends to join them at the table. My daughter loved Griffin and still remembers it fondly. When I was choosing a preschool I remember thinking that it was the only preschool that I personally would have wanted to stay and spend the day in. The children seem focused, engaged, (mostly) calm and happy. I'm sure your kids will love Griffin if you can make their schedule work for you. It is a classic nursery school with a morning schedule for the younger ones and an afternoon schedule for four year olds. If you are wondering specifically about how the school would handle separation, I suggest you call the director, Betsy, and ask her directly. I think you will find the school to be as she describes it. Good luck. nostalgic Griffin parent

Re: Preschools that value guidance and humor

Hello, I would definitely visit Griffin Preschool in Berkeley, South of Campus on Prince Street, just off Telegraph Avenue. Wonderful teachers. Play based, but the curriculum is socialization which is so important. It is play based but the children are directed in their play and negotiation skills day to day. The environment is calming for parents as well as children. They are empowered knowing they have choices in their day at school, a very special place away from home. They are listened to and known as little people, not merely shuttled from project to project in a day. Call to schedule a visit, you will surely be impressed. A very happy Griffin parent

I was looking for some feedback on Griffin preschool. Specifically what the transition from such a play-based program to a more academic Kindergarten program, like Bentley, was like. Thank you.

I can't comment firsthand on how a child from Griffin might transfer to a school such as Bentley since my child is still attending Griffin, but I think the transition would be smooth. I would just make sure that you are comfortable with a program which allows children to direct their own play and learning (as Griffin does). If that is what you are looking for, then Griffin is an amazing place for preschool! A Happy Griffin Parent

Anyone interested in an outstanding traditional nursery school program should look no further than Griffin Nursery School. My daughter just finished two years there and I just learned that they have two openings in their morning program. Located in Berkeley (Prince St.), Griffin has been providing child care services for over 30 years. The program is child-centered, rich with materials for exploration, and marvelous, caring staff. I highly recommend it! Contact Betsy Nachman, Director at 845-2025.

I am looking for current thoughts on Griffin preschool in Berkeley. I checked the archives, but the postings were older. Has anyone been involved with the school since the interim director (Carlyn) has been there? Thank you for your input.

The current staff is incredibly well-calibrated. The teachers are experienced, loving and deeply knowledgeable about children and committed to the ethos of the school without being preachy or overbearing. Betsy Nachman, the director, is a very special person and teacher, and she is away on a leave, but Karlyn Scott, the acting director, is strong, kind, responsive and wonderful in her own ways. And Rose Gilles, the director of the afternoon program, has been at Griffin for years and is one of the most wise and emotionally intelligent teachers I know. We are devoted to Betsy, but have been very, very happy the past two years despite her absence.

Be aware that the school is a play-based preschool, which means that there is no introduction of worksheets or other paper/pencil tasks. There's lots of learning and stimulation, but it emerges out of the kids' interests. Good luck in your search. lm

Hi, I am looking at Griffin and am a little hesitant because of their apparent lack of structure could anyone please share some current thoughts on this. Also we will want our daughter to go to private like Head Royce and curious if anyone from there has found that a hard transition from no structure to Kindergarten at a private school. megan

In terms of curriculum (if you can use that word with preschools!), the only thing the school consistently puts forward is a focus on interpersonal relations: how to make and keep friends, how to get your needs met in a group, how to resolve conflicts, etc. They are very focused and adept at teaching these skills.

Beyond that, the kids bring their own interests into the classroom, and the teachers support those through their choice of available books, toys, and activities. They're able to do this because it's a small place. Having watched this in action for a while, I think the approach is effective because it recognizes that you can't really teach a four-year-old about something that doesn't interest them. I find it refreshing that Griffin doesn't adhere to a pre-planned program of seasonal content that may not be relevant to their students.

I don't yet have experience with the transition to kindergarten, but I am hoping that kindergartens are by their nature designed to help kids make the transition from self-driven activities to the more formal expectations that school will place on them. Feel free to email me if you have want more information. Dana

Regarding Griffin Pre-School. My daughter attended the Griffin School ten years ago so my comments may not be accurate for today. However, it was great. The school concentrated on socialization. There were no real academics. Mrs. Griffin knew each child, their particulars, academic prowess, etc. Many of the children who attended the school are now very successful individuals/highschoolers. Carol