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Preschools/CA/Santa Monica/First School, The
Preschool / Day Care Center

First School, The

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Ages
Ages 2–5
Teacher ratio
1:12 (CA min)

1810 Broadway Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Visit website ↗(310) 828-8584Directions ↗Licensed for 57
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Licensing & safety record

✓ Clean licensing record

No citations or complaint visits on file with state licensing as of 2025-09-29. Last licensing visit: 1/25/2023 (1 total).

Source: California Dept. of Social Services, Community Care Licensing (updated 2025-09-29). View official inspection reports →

About this preschool

The First School is a relationship-based, developmental preschool founded in 1975 serving children 12 months to 6 years across three Santa Monica campuses. The school emphasizes play-based learning, social-emotional development, and whole-child development within warm, supportive environments.

Philosophy
Relationship-based, developmental approach where children learn best through play. The school meets each child where they are, fostering curiosity and a love of learning while developing social connections and emotional resilience. Every detail of programs is designed to be age and developmentally appropriate.
Ages served
12 months to 6 years (toddler groups, preschool, and pre-K/transitional kindergarten)
Hours
Toddler Group: weekly 90-minute sessions; Ocean Park (2-year-olds): Half Day Monday-Friday 8:30 am-12 pm (early bird 8 am available), Full Day Monday-Friday 8:30 am-2:30 pm (early bird 8 am available), Extended day option until 4 pm Monday-Thursday
Outdoor
Outdoor play included daily; thoughtfully designed play yard with structures for exploration, climbing, running, biking, and play

Programs

  • •Toddler Group (12+ months with parents)
  • •Ocean Park: Preschool Year 1 (2-year-olds)
  • •Broadway: Preschool Year 2 (3-4.5-year-olds)
  • •Pine Street: Pre-K/Transitional Kindergarten
  • •Weekly art workshops
  • •Weekly physical education classes
  • •Optional gymnastics class
  • •Child-directed clubs (pre-K program)

Highlights

  • ✓50 years of early childhood education experience
  • ✓Three separate campuses designed for specific age groups with opportunities to transition with familiar classmates and teacher
  • ✓Art and PE enrichment including clay, weaving, print-making, collage, art history, and gross motor skill development
  • ✓Strong focus on social-emotional skills and long-lasting friendships among alumni

Not stated on their website: Tuition/Costs, Teacher-to-student ratio for Broadway and Pine Street programs, Meals/Snacks policy, Specific hours for Broadway and Pine Street programs, Calendar/School year details, Enrollment/Application process. Ask the preschool directly.

Summarized by AI from the preschool's own website (Jun 23, 2026). Not written or verified by PreschoolWise — confirm details directly with the program.

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Helpful guides for parents

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Listing facts from public CA child-care licensing records. Reviews are the opinions of individual contributors, moderated before publishing; they are not endorsements by PreschoolWise. Always visit and verify a program directly before enrolling.