Silver Bell Nursery

Silver Bell Nursery is a completely outdoor forest preschool program with days spent in the parks and green areas in San Francisco. By choosing to have an outdoor forest preschool program the children become awakened to their natural surroundings so that they become more in tune with the rhythms of the earth and thus more in tune with their own natural rhythms. Children learn through their senses, from things that they can hear, touch, smell, see, and taste and also through their vestibular system (balance) and proprioceptive system (joints and muscles). While outdoors they learn through exploration using their bodies and senses. The children also learn about the natural world around them through songs, poems, rhymes, stories and movement and are nurtured through these daily activities at school. Through oral storytelling, the children develop their imaginations by creating their own inner pictures. This also strengthens their listening skills, memory skills and vocabulary.

At a glance

What this means

Tuition shown is as of 2024 and may have changed — confirm with the school.

Good questions to ask on a tour

1. 1Can you walk me through a typical day from drop-off to pickup?
2. 2What are the exact drop-off and pickup times, and is there any flexibility?
3. 3Beyond the listed tuition, what other fees should I expect (application, deposit, materials, field trips)?
4. 4How do you handle the transition for children starting mid-year or moving up from a younger classroom?
5. 5What is your potty-training policy, and how do you support children who are still learning?
6. 6How do you handle discipline, conflict between children, and big feelings?
7. 7What is your application timeline, and when do families typically hear back?
8. 8How large is each class, and what is the teacher-to-child ratio?
9. 9What does parent communication look like — updates, conferences, opportunities to be involved?