About UMC Preschool

UMC Preschool – Burlingame is a non-profit, non-sectarian, full-day, year-round preschool, offering programs for children 18 months to 5 years of age.

Though we are not affiliated, our classrooms and outdoor space are located on the Burlingame United Methodist Church campus (1443 Howard Ave., Burlingame, CA 94010).

Our Mission and Focus

Our mission is to provide and facilitate a warm, supportive atmosphere in which children can develop positive feelings about their first school experience. We offer stimulating and varied activities designed to help each child grow physically, emotionally, intellectually, and socially.

Our focus is on creating a diverse, accessible environment that allows children to develop positive self-esteem and self-confidence, sets the groundwork for a lifelong love of learning, and gives families of any structure the opportunity to grow, develop, and participate along with their child(ren) in the classroom and/or at special events.

Emergent Curriculum/Play-Based Approach

We believe children learn most effectively through self-directed play, and seek to provide a rich variety of materials, equipment, and activities to choose from as well as both time and opportunities to engage in creative and cooperative play.

Parents Role

Parents play an active role in their child's education whether at home, participating in the classroom, or from afar. Spending time in the classroom is a great place to interact with teachers and other parents, learning and sharing new ways to raise happy, well-adjusted humans. We understand that many families work full time and cannot physically be in a classroom with their child, we have family events throughout the year for all to participate.

View our FAQs for more information.

Interested in joining our community?

Come Visit!

  • All three of my kids went through UMC Preschool. We loved the co-op approach, community, and amazing teachers. It was so nice to be able to spend time easing our kids into the school process. Our kids loved the experience and it has prepared them well for elementary school. I highly recommend UMC!

    — Gregory D.

  • The teachers are enthusiastic and truly care about each student. The small class sizes allow for the teachers and parents to get to know each child. I co-op in the class once a week. We help the classroom run smoothly by helping to tidy the classroom, set up projects, supervise and play with the kids. It's been a pleasure to watch my son grow and see the things that he's learning. I am then able to reemphasize and elaborate on what he is actively learning at school.

    — Karen D.

UMC Preschool Burlingame (UMC) admits students of any race, color, ethnic and national origin to all programs and activities made available to families at our school. UMC does not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, age, ethnic or national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or military status in administration of our policies and programs.

UMC is affiliated with the California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools (CCPPNS) and the San Mateo Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools (SMCPPNS)