Re: Nurturing Preschool for 3 year olds
You should look at Sprouts (N.Berkeley on Hopkins Street)(559- 9459) which is incredibly nurturing. It does have kids from 2.5 to 5 (generally, 3-5) but the teachers are exceptional and it is very warm. My daughter started at three, after a 'failed' Montessori experience. She has really flourished at Sprouts. It is small (12-14 kids to two teachers)and is in a converted house. The teachers (there are three) are wonderful - ! ;I enjoy talking with them and I trust their insights. Sprouts is play-based but has some structure. I like that it has an emphasis on art (the director, Michelle, teaches art education classes for ECE classes). I'm not sure what openings they have for the fall but we have to leave the end of June (because of a summer kindergarten program) and I think that there is one child that is moving. You should call to see if there are any openings. It is a wonderful place and has been great for my child who is extremely shy and uncomfortable in almost all social situation. berkomax

Re: Intimate, warm preschool with fewer than 20 kids
Try Sprouts Preschool in North Berkeley. I just toured it last week. They are giving tours this month. It is in a home and has a very warm friendly atmosphere. There are only 14 kids. The director and the two teachers assistants were very nice. Call them right away. Their number is 559-9459. They are located at 1910 Hopkins Street. Another small preschool is McGees Farm, (12 kids). It is a cooperative preschool located in Berkeley on 2214-1/2 Grant Street. Their number is 849-3593. Good luck! Laurey

My son attends Sprouts preschool in North Berkeley, across from the North Berkeley Branch Library. A space for a 4-year old boy has become available, due to the last minute change of plans of one of the new incoming families. This preschool is usually filled months in advance and has long waiting lists. There just happen to be no 4-year old boys on the waiting list, so a space in this excellent preschool has become available immediately.

The school occupies the bottom floor of a brown shingle house and has a large back play area. School hours are from 8:30 to 1:00, M-F, with optional aftercare from 1:00-3:00. It is also possible to go less than 5 days a week. There are 10-14 students present at any one time, ages 3 and 4 (and some late 2's), with two highly experienced teachers.

The teachers in this preschool are exceptional-Michelle Straka the Director has been teaching preschool for over 25 years. Suzanne and Lucie, the other two teachers, have taught at the school for 7 and 12 years, respectively. This low teacher turnover speaks volumes. All three teachers are extremely professional, loving, respectful and skilled. Their love of children and delight in being around them shows in all that they do. They are devoted.

The emphasis at Sprouts is on creating a caring space wherein the child can stretch and grow socially and emotionally, with the belief that the self confident, socially secure child will be academically unstoppable. Academics are of considerable but secondary importance. Michelle, the director, teaches other early childhood teachers about the use of music in the curriculum and is expert in this area. Last year they hatched chicks with the children. They have a garden, a worm bin, etc. It is a stimulating place.

Michelle is hoping to find a *relatively calm* 4-year old boy to fill the vacant space. (No, it is not a place with a lot of overly energetic children--there is currently a very nice balance of temperaments and Michelle is hoping to maintain that.)

Jacqueline