about St. Paul's Preschool

We are a play-based preschool rooted in nature, offering a beautiful outdoor classroom where children can learn through imagination, exploration, and hands-on discovery. We are inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach. Our mission is to prepare children who are confident problem solvers who love to learn. 

Our curriculum emerges from the child's interests. Topics for study and project work come from children's experiences, conversations, questions, and ideas. Collaboration and small group work is supported by the staff who encourage exploration in an enriched learning environment. 

St. Paul’s Preschool was established in 1971 by the church as a community outreach program. Its founding director was Ida Middleworth. St. Paul’s became one of the first preschools in Orange County to be accredited by N.A.E.Y.C. (National Association for the Education of Young Children).

In 1996, our Children's Garden was established for the enjoyment of our students and their families. Our school grounds and program were so deemed special and unique that St. Paul's Preschool became a Demonstration Site for the Outdoor Classroom Project. 

The preschool is licensed by the State of California’s Community Care Licensing Department as well as the Fire Department. Many changes and improvements continue to take place maintaining the standards of N.A.E.Y.C., E.C.E.R.S. (Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale). We also maintain accreditation by National Association of Episcopal Schools. 

At St. Paul's, we serve students aged 2 to 6 years old. We offer our preschool classes two days, three days, and five days per week. We also offer Parent and Me classes and a fully outdoor nature class!

Our program is unique in that it focuses on helping children mature in five developmental domains/areas. These include cognitive, social/emotional and spiritual growth, as well as fine and gross motor skills. 

St. Paul's Preschool is fortunate to have an amazing group of knowledgeable and caring teachers and staff members. We all have a passion for play-based and nature-based learning, and look forward to helping your child learn and grow!

At St. Paul's, we believe that anything that can be taught indoors can be taught outdoors! Time spent in nature is critical to the health, development, and well-being of children. We incorporate the outdoors and nature into our curriculum every day in dynamic and meaningful ways. St. Paul's "Outdoor Classroom" is so well known that it serves as a demonstration site for other preschools in the region. 

We welcome students of all backgrounds and abilities to apply to St. Paul's Preschool School. Our admissions process is designed to identify students who will thrive in our unique Reggio-inspired and social environment. We encourage prospective families to visit our campus, meet our staff, and learn more about our programs.

Please read through our list of Frequently Asked Questions and give us a call if there is anything else we can help you with!

If you have any more questions or would like to learn more about St. Paul's Preschool School, please contact us. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are happy to assist you in any way we can.