Our Preschool is a place where curiosity is nurtured, confidence begins to grow, and a lifelong love of learning takes root. In our thoughtfully guided classrooms for children ages 2.5 to 4 years old, every experience is intentionally designed to inspire wonder, build independence, and help each child discover the joy of learning.
A Foundation For Life
Where Young Minds Bloom
In our classrooms, every experience is thoughtfully designed around the way young children naturally learn. Every child develops at their own pace, and meaningful learning happens when children are developmentally ready. Our Preschools are excited to experience, explore, imagine, and discover. As their vocabulary, imagination, language, independence, and curiosity grow, our program builds the strong foundation that makes future learning both meaningful and joyful.
Through purposeful play, rich literature, storytelling, conversation, music, movement, hands-on exploration, and teacher-directed learning experiences, children develop the habits of mind that will serve them for years to come. They learn to wonder, communicate, solve problems, and think independently, preparing them not only for TK or Kindergarten, but for a lifetime of joyful learning.
What We Focus On
Language & Listening
Songs, stories, and conversations help children fall in love with words and learn to express themselves clearly.
Social-Emotional Growth
Every day is filled with lessons in kindness, sharing, and learning how to be a good friend.
Creative Expression
Painting, music, storytelling, and pretend play help imaginations soar and feelings shine.
Movement & Motor Skills
Climbing, dancing, building, and hands-on play support growing bodies and fine motor development.
Wonder & Curiosity
Children are encouraged to ask questions, explore new materials, and delight in the world around them.
Confidence & Independence
Gentle routines and loving support help each child grow in self-help skills, resilience, and confidence.
FAQ's: Helping You Feel Confident About Preschool
What age can my child start preschool at Carden Conejo School?While children may begin our Preschool program at 2.5 years old, we are currently building a waitlist for children starting at 18 months old. We also offer programs for 3-year-old and 4-year-old students as well, allowing children to grow within one nurturing school community.
Can my child start in the middle of the school year?Yes! When space is available, we welcome qualified students throughout the school year.
How do I enroll my child?Visit our admissions page to find more details on enrollment and booking a tour. You are also welcome to call our front office at 805-497-7005 to schedule a tour.
Does my child need to be potty trained?No. Children entering our new 2½-year-old class do not need to be potty trained. Our teachers partner with families to support each child's growing independence and developmental readiness. Children in our 3-year-old and 4-year-old classes must be potty trained.
Do you offer half-day, full-day, and extended options?Yes. We offer flexible scheduling options to meet the needs of today's families. Choose from half-day (12:30 p.m.), full-day (2:00 p.m.), or extended-day (5:30 p.m.) programs. Monthly tuition varies by dismissal time: $1,250 per month for 12:30 p.m. pickup, $1,550 per month for 2:00 p.m. pickup, and $1,750 per month for 5:30 p.m. pickup.
Yes! One of the greatest advantages of The Preschool at Carden is that children can continue their educational journey into our Elementary and Middle School. Students benefit from close-knit friendships and a seamless academic progression, and families are able to build lasting relationships within a school community that grows alongside their child. Families that enroll in our Preschool gain automatic admission to our Elementary program.
What does a typical preschool day look like?A typical day in our Preschool begins with engaging learning where children explore early reading, writing, language, and hands-on activities designed to build foundational academic skills. Throughout the day, children enjoy circle time, stories, music, art, creative play, sensory exploration, outdoor playground adventures, movement activities, and meaningful opportunities to learn alongside their classmates. Snack and social time help strengthen friendships and communication skills, while thoughtfully planned routines encourage independence, confidence, and curiosity. Children enrolled in our full-day program also enjoy a quiet time for rest and reflection before continuing their afternoon of exploration and discovery.
We believe the early years should be filled with wonder, discovery, and joyful learning. Our Preschool program blends the warmth of a nurturing environment with the intention of an exceptional academic foundation. Rather than choosing between play or learning, we thoughtfully combine both in a teacher-guided program where children explore, create, ask questions, and build confidence every day. Through stories and classical literature, hands-on math, art, music, nature exploration, and meaningful social interactions, our students develop the curiosity, independence, and love of learning that prepares them not just for TK or Kindergarten, but for a lifetime of success.
What is your teacher-to-student ratio?Our classrooms maintain small class sizes, allowing teachers to know every child personally, provide individualized attention, and build meaningful relationships with each family. Most classes average 10–15 students and are staffed by both a full-time Lead Teacher and a full-time Teacher Aide, resulting in a typical student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 6:1. This low ratio ensures every child receives the individualized support, encouragement, and care they need to thrive.
Our Preschool is academic, but in a way that is developmentally appropriate for young children. We intentionally build foundational skills through engaging, hands-on experiences that grow with children year after year. Throughout the program, children develop early literacy and numeracy skills, strengthen language and communication, build fine motor skills and number sense, improve listening and problem-solving abilities, and gain independence, social confidence, and emotional regulation. By the time students enter Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten, they are academically, socially, and emotionally prepared for the next step in their educational journey.
Student safety is one of our highest priorities. Our secure campus includes controlled access, visitor check-in procedures, trained staff, and thoughtfully supervised classrooms and playgrounds so families can feel confident their children are learning in a safe environment. All of our staff members receive ongoing training, including CPR, First Aid, Epi-Pen, and AED certification, to ensure they are prepared to respond to emergencies.
How do you communicate with parents?We believe strong partnerships with families are essential. Parents receive regular communication and frequent pictures about classroom activities, important events, and their child's growth throughout the year through a private class-only app. Teachers also send weekly emails and are always free to meet parents when needed.
How can parents volunteer in the classroom?We love partnering with our families, and there are many meaningful ways for preschool parents to get involved in our school community. Parents are welcome to volunteer during our weekly library visits, become a Mystery Reader and share a favorite story with the class, serve as a Room Parent, or join our Cavalier Crew, our official parent volunteer organization that supports school events and community-building throughout the year.
Families can also help plan and volunteer at special events like our annual Discovery Day, an exciting, hands-on celebration of science and exploration. Additional opportunities arise throughout the year, including classroom activities, holiday celebrations, field trips, and school-wide events.
Whether you have a few hours each month or want to be involved regularly, there are opportunities for every schedule. We believe parent involvement strengthens our school community and creates an even richer experience for our students.
What enrichment classes do Preschool students participate in?Preschool students that stay for an extended day can enjoy enriching experiences such as Art, Karate, Spanish, Science, and Soccer.
Do you provide meals?Families provide a morning snacks and lunch for their children. We do offer a hot-lunch program for families through Bailee's Plate. For students that stay for an extended day, they are offered an afternoon snack.
How do you help children with separation anxiety?Our experienced teachers create warm, predictable routines that help children feel secure. We work closely with families during the transition to school and provide encouragement, consistency, and reassurance until children feel comfortable and confident.
Do you offer summer programs?Yes! Our fun and engaging summer camp provides children with opportunities to continue learning, exploring, and making new friends during the summer months. Please visit www.hellocampcarden.com/preschool for more information.
While children may begin our Preschool program at 2.5 years old, we are currently building a waitlist for children starting at 18 months old. We also offer programs for 3-year-old and 4-year-old students as well, allowing children to grow within one nurturing school community.
Yes! When space is available, we welcome qualified students throughout the school year.
Visit our admissions page to find more details on enrollment and booking a tour. You are also welcome to call our front office at 805-497-7005 to schedule a tour.
No. Children entering our new 2½-year-old class do not need to be potty trained. Our teachers partner with families to support each child's growing independence and developmental readiness. Children in our 3-year-old and 4-year-old classes must be potty trained.
Yes. We offer flexible scheduling options to meet the needs of today's families. Choose from half-day (12:30 p.m.), full-day (2:00 p.m.), or extended-day (5:30 p.m.) programs. Monthly tuition varies by dismissal time: $1,250 per month for 12:30 p.m. pickup, $1,550 per month for 2:00 p.m. pickup, and $1,750 per month for 5:30 p.m. pickup.
Yes! One of the greatest advantages of The Preschool at Carden is that children can continue their educational journey into our Elementary and Middle School. Students benefit from close-knit friendships and a seamless academic progression, and families are able to build lasting relationships within a school community that grows alongside their child. Families that enroll in our Preschool gain automatic admission to our Elementary program.
A typical day in our Preschool begins with engaging learning where children explore early reading, writing, language, and hands-on activities designed to build foundational academic skills. Throughout the day, children enjoy circle time, stories, music, art, creative play, sensory exploration, outdoor playground adventures, movement activities, and meaningful opportunities to learn alongside their classmates. Snack and social time help strengthen friendships and communication skills, while thoughtfully planned routines encourage independence, confidence, and curiosity. Children enrolled in our full-day program also enjoy a quiet time for rest and reflection before continuing their afternoon of exploration and discovery.
We believe the early years should be filled with wonder, discovery, and joyful learning. Our Preschool program blends the warmth of a nurturing environment with the intention of an exceptional academic foundation. Rather than choosing between play or learning, we thoughtfully combine both in a teacher-guided program where children explore, create, ask questions, and build confidence every day. Through stories and classical literature, hands-on math, art, music, nature exploration, and meaningful social interactions, our students develop the curiosity, independence, and love of learning that prepares them not just for TK or Kindergarten, but for a lifetime of success.
Our classrooms maintain small class sizes, allowing teachers to know every child personally, provide individualized attention, and build meaningful relationships with each family. Most classes average 10–15 students and are staffed by both a full-time Lead Teacher and a full-time Teacher Aide, resulting in a typical student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 6:1. This low ratio ensures every child receives the individualized support, encouragement, and care they need to thrive.
Our Preschool is academic, but in a way that is developmentally appropriate for young children. We intentionally build foundational skills through engaging, hands-on experiences that grow with children year after year. Throughout the program, children develop early literacy and numeracy skills, strengthen language and communication, build fine motor skills and number sense, improve listening and problem-solving abilities, and gain independence, social confidence, and emotional regulation. By the time students enter Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten, they are academically, socially, and emotionally prepared for the next step in their educational journey.
Student safety is one of our highest priorities. Our secure campus includes controlled access, visitor check-in procedures, trained staff, and thoughtfully supervised classrooms and playgrounds so families can feel confident their children are learning in a safe environment. All of our staff members receive ongoing training, including CPR, First Aid, Epi-Pen, and AED certification, to ensure they are prepared to respond to emergencies.
We believe strong partnerships with families are essential. Parents receive regular communication and frequent pictures about classroom activities, important events, and their child's growth throughout the year through a private class-only app. Teachers also send weekly emails and are always free to meet parents when needed.
We love partnering with our families, and there are many meaningful ways for preschool parents to get involved in our school community. Parents are welcome to volunteer during our weekly library visits, become a Mystery Reader and share a favorite story with the class, serve as a Room Parent, or join our Cavalier Crew, our official parent volunteer organization that supports school events and community-building throughout the year.
Families can also help plan and volunteer at special events like our annual Discovery Day, an exciting, hands-on celebration of science and exploration. Additional opportunities arise throughout the year, including classroom activities, holiday celebrations, field trips, and school-wide events.
Whether you have a few hours each month or want to be involved regularly, there are opportunities for every schedule. We believe parent involvement strengthens our school community and creates an even richer experience for our students.
Preschool students that stay for an extended day can enjoy enriching experiences such as Art, Karate, Spanish, Science, and Soccer.
Families provide a morning snacks and lunch for their children. We do offer a hot-lunch program for families through Bailee's Plate. For students that stay for an extended day, they are offered an afternoon snack.
Our experienced teachers create warm, predictable routines that help children feel secure. We work closely with families during the transition to school and provide encouragement, consistency, and reassurance until children feel comfortable and confident.
Yes! Our fun and engaging summer camp provides children with opportunities to continue learning, exploring, and making new friends during the summer months. Please visit www.hellocampcarden.com/preschool for more information.
