Established in 1977, First Step is one of the longest existing preschools in Santa Monica. First Step serves families from Santa Monica, Venice, Marina Del Rey, West Los Angeles, and Pacific Palisades.
Parent-Toddler, Bridge, Preschool, and Pre-K Groups.
Enrollment
Tuition & Fees
About Us
Our Philosophy
“The imagination is more important than knowledge.”
– Albert Einstein
“Not long ago I had a parent call and ask about First Step and what is the philosophy of the school? I simply said, ‘Einstein’. Einstein said, ‘The imagination is more important than knowledge.’ If you think about children of preschool age, before the real world comes in on them, each of them uses puzzles differently, uses paints differently and we need to encourage that. We do not need to teach them how to think. They need to learn to think for themselves.
First Step teachers expose our children to science experiments, music, reading readiness, physical activities, and most importantly, how to express their feelings to one another and to the adults in their life. They learn how to question what they don’t understand. When our children graduate and walk out of our gate, they are ready for a great kindergarten experience and beyond.
Ina Sinsheimer
Director, First Step Nursery School
What Parents Have to Say
“First Step was a defining moment in both my children’s lives. I still recall the first day I met Ina (upon recommendation of a friend who was a First Step family). She was so easy to talk to. There was no formal tour or interview. We had a lovely chat and she could see that like many Moms looking at preschools for the first time, I was incessantly asking all manner of questions. The only thing she said was, let Griffin play and see how he does.
Melinda P.
“They celebrate the originality of each child while guiding them to become life long thinkers and become independent.
Meg W.
“I could never have imagined leaving a two year old at school, but then again I could never have imagined a safer, more nurturing place for Juliet than First Step.
Jackie S. W.
“First Step is special. It's not just a place I drop off my kids. There is an open door policy so you'll often see parents observing their kids or chatting with one another, and families whose kids have outgrown preschool often come back to visit. We have made such lovely friends in a short time, and met families from all over the world. It has really been a warm, welcoming place for us."
Rachel D.
Contact Us
2650 Second Street Santa Monica,
CA 90405 - See Map
310 399.8118
