Los Gatos - Saratoga Observation Nursery School

General information

Welcome to Los Gatos-Saratoga Observation Nursery School, more affectionately known as Mountain School. Our school in the woods and in the mountains is a preschool where parents are the students and children come to play. We offer a unique school experience that integrates an outdoor program in a natural setting with a more traditional indoor program in a charming old schoolhouse.

The school has been a place of learning for teachers, parents and children since 1956. Many 'alumni' return to share the school with their children and to develop and refine their own parenting skills.

There are seven different classes in the school catering to children ages 2-5 years. Each class has a credentialed Head Teacher who is responsible for the daytime program, observation notes, communication with parents and evening meetings. An Assistant Teacher helps with the daytime program. A Special Materials Teacher is included in the program for the three, four and five year old classes who works with individuals or small groups of children and uses a variety of manipulative materials to introduce and reinforce basic concepts and skills. All Head Teachers are CPR/First Aid certified. The child/teacher ratio is six to one.

Most of the teachers have been parents in the school with their own children. They believe that parent education is important and they have a long-standing commitment to the school and its philosophy.