FULL TIME CARE FOR AGES 18 MONTHS AND OLDER
A supportive environment to learn and take risks
Welcome to Plum Tree Preschool, a licensed home based preschool in the Ravenna/Roosevelt neighborhood of North Seattle.
Explore our daily rhythm, philosophy, and care
Brand new program opening fall 2026, a few spots remaining for care beginning Oct. 1st, part time and full time options available
Max class size of six students
Year round care Mon-Fri from 8:45 am - 5:15 pm
Enrolling ages 18 months to 3 years this year
Located in the Ravenna/Roosevelt neighborhood of North Seattle across from Froula park.
Frequent outings and field trips via cargo bike and public transportation
A Reggio Emilia inspired approach
Hands on learning opportunities with an emergent curriculum based around student interests and academic needs
Compassionate care from an educator who uses developmentally appropriate research based teaching practices and is always open to new ideas!
Program Highlights
Academics, the Reggio Emilia approach
The Reggio Emilia approach asks parents and educators to view children as capable and curious individuals. Through that lens we can support students by providing them with the resources they need to keep extending their learning. This approach relies heavily on preparing the environment and refers to the environment as the third teacher. In this program students will have access to a variety of loose parts and natural materials. In our upstairs building and small world space students can mix materials and use items in unconventional ways, they are encouraged to work with and alongside peers in collaboration on their projects. Throughout their play I will always be nearby scaffolding their learning by curating new provocations, asking questions, encouraging further thinking and problem solving, and staying quiet to observe when needed. Our downstairs space is what we will refer to as our Art Atelier where students are also free to mix materials, get messy, and make new creations. Students can develop ongoing projects and are encouraged to plan ideas, use new vocabulary to explain their thinking, and get support from peers when things go sideways.
One of my favorite things about the Reggio Emilia approach is that it is not a strict curriculum like other popular early childhood pedagogies. Despite pictures of classrooms you may find online this approach doesn't require any specific materials and is meant to be tailored to your community and the unique children you serve in your classroom.
Another unique aspect of Reggio Emilia is that learning is documented in visual and written ways for parents and children to see and reflect on. You will likely not receive multiple photo updates of your child throughout the day, I will take photos that document learning with minimal disruption to your student. You will receive monthly newsletters and weekly breakdowns sharing what we worked on that week, In our low tech environment I am focused on limiting my phone use in front of students which includes taking photos, searching questions online, and updating our parent communication app. Instead we will be learning how to find answers by experimenting, asking peers, and researching in books. There will also be a classroom camera for students to make their own documentation.
Outings, Field Trips, and Outdoor Play
A large part of our day will be spent outside rain or shine, which in Seattle is usually rain. With the right gear your child will stay warm and comfortable and enjoy all that our beautiful parks and outdoor space have to offer.
We are located across the street from Froula park where we'll take our collection of lightweight Woom bikes for students to work on biking skills at least once a week in the large open space there.
In the summer I'll be working with an assistant teacher in order to take children on outings involving water to visit local streams, wading pools, and exploring the beach at low tide.
Other outings and field trips may include the pumpkin patch, berry picking, local performing arts, museums, zoo, aquarium, or a ride on the West Seattle water taxi.
Social Emotional Learning
Young children do best in environments built for them to move through with little friction. At Plum Tree Preschool the environment is curated so that students can access materials themselves and have clear expectations for how to use them , they also have the freedom to use materials almost however they want to. Most items in the art atelier are ok to be painted on or smooshed against some clay if that's how a student is interested in exploring the material. We use natural barriers like separating the art atelier and block room by having them on different floors so that more delicate materials are kept upstairs.
When given responsibilities in the classroom children feel more ownership over the space and can take pride in assisting a friend in cleaning up or serving everyone strawberries on their plate at lunch. Instead of relying on the adult to know everything and take care of everyone I want the children to look to their peers as capable and help each other. If we have one student who has mastered zipping up their coat they will be excited to help their friends who are still working on that skill, and may also find it easier to ask for help when they need it themselves.
Having large amounts of the same materials and allowing materials to mix also allows students to mix their games and play together encouraging cooperation and less arguments over turn taking or sharing. Forced sharing can make children feel less in control of how they play and may make them want to share less.
Meal and Snack Time
Meals and Snacks are included in your tuition and are made up of mostly organic whole food ingredients. This means I make most foods from scratch using minimal additives, your child will also enjoy assisting in the kitchen each day kneading bread dough, chopping veggies for the stir fry, and of course decorating cupcakes on their friends birthday.
I use mainly stainless steel, cast iron, ceramic, glass, and wood in my cooking and food prep in order to minimize chemical leaching and microplastics in the food. I refer to updated lists of the most pesticide contaminated foods to determine what to buy organic, I support local and ethical farms whenever possible.
Each student will be served a small amount of each part of the meal on their plate, they can then choose what and how much to eat. When a child wants another serving they do not have to finish the other components of their plate, they are free to serve themselves more until they are done. This will be a low pressure eating environment where children will be exposed to a variety of tastes and textures from around the world. Even if your child tends to prefer the same limited foods they may be interested in trying new things when they see a friend enjoying it or when they get to be apart of making it.
Daily Rhythm
Our daily rythmn will center around three core ideas...
Time- Children need long periods of uninterrupted play.
Predictability- Having a consistent routine helps children feel safe, they don't have to think about what might happen next. I don't keep a rigid schedule, instead I'm focused on having consistent routines so our day goes smoothly and we spend less time transitioning from one thing to another.
Learning opportunities- There are countless opportunities for learning when we slow down and allow children the opportunity to try things themselves.
Sample Schedule
8:45-9:30 am Drop off in our outdoor space.
9:30 am Morning snack is available, if we are headed out on a field trip or outing we would leave at this time and return by lunch or rest time.
10:45 am Head inside for morning meeting, song circle, and story time. Then free play in our block and small world area.
12:10 pm Students prepare fruit/veggie sides and serve lunch while others are tidying up then eat together.
12:40 pm After brushing teeth head to our downstairs space to read stories together and wind down.
1:00 pm Rest/nap.
2:00 pm Art and exploration in the atelier, opportunities for sensory engagements with different materials, fine motor work with clay and kinetic sand, printmaking and writing skills work. Those who nap longer may continue resting.
3:20 pm Snack and story.
3:45 pm More time in our outdoor space.
4;30-5:15 pm Pickup in our outdoor space.
ABOUT
Meet your Teacher
Hi prospective families!
My name is Sophie, I'm the owner and Teacher at Plum Tree Preschool. I've been working in childcare for over eight years and have my Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education.
I love working with young children and getting to be apart of their learning, I'm looking forward to introducing some of my favorite stories to my students and singing songs together during our morning meetings! Hopefully I'll have mastered playing Baby Beluga on my ukulele by the end of the year!
I'm most excited to partner with families and create real community, I want families to feel like their input and concerns matter. There will be lots of opportunities for parents to attend field trips and volunteer as guest readers in the classroom or share about their role in the community to our students.
CREDENTIALS
B.A.S. Early Childhood Education • State License • Infant, child, and adult CPR certified •
ABOUT
Meet Opal
Opal is a two year old papillon who loves running on the beach, going on long walks around Greenlake, and making new friends.
She's excited to be apart of the program and will be a great opportunity for our preschoolers to learn about safely and responsibly handling animals as well as respecting someone's boundaries even if they communicate differently than us. She enjoys being around people and is looking forward to having her ball thrown for her and digging muddy holes in our outdoor space.
Opal has the freedom to come and go from the classroom spaces as she pleases, she has her own private area whenever she needs a break from the fun.
CREDENTIALS
Up to date on vaccinations • Gentle with all ages
ENROLL
Simple steps to join the program
A clear enrollment process with transparent tuition
STEP 1
Submit inquiry
Fill out our brief online contact form with your child's age, desired start date, and care schedule needed.
STEP 2
Schedule a tour
Visit the space during a private family tour.
STEP 3
Registration
Receive your enrollment packet, complete child health forms, review program handbook, and pay tuition deposit.
STEP 4
Transition visits
transitioning to full time care can be stressful, to make things easier you are encouraged to visit with your child to familiarize them with our space and routine before their official start date. There will be multiple opportunities for these visits on weekday evenings and weekends.
STEP 5
Welcome to preschool!
Your child begins their journey at Plum Tree Preschool with patience and support for the whole family from day 1
PROGRAMS
Early care tailored for your child
Tuition- $2500 per month for over 30 months and $2750 for under 30 months old, tuition includes all meals and snacks and most field trip expenses.
part time tuition $1250 for two days a week, $1750 for three days a week
enrollment fee- $250, one time fee that goes towards specialized helmet, outdoor gear, and appropriately sized Woom bike to fit your child's needs.
1:6
Low adult-to-child ratio
99%
Organic daily meal plan
8
Years of childcare experience
ANSWERS
Frequently asked questions
What are your operating hours?
Monday through Friday from 8:45 AM to 5:15 PM, with flexible pickup/drop off windows for busy families.
Do you provide meals and snacks?
Yes! Lunch and two hearty snacks are provided each day. Meals and snacks are homemade with mostly whole food and organic ingredients from a variety of cuisines. You can view a sample menu upon request.
What age groups do you care for?
This program is intended for preschool aged children starting from 18 months.
Does my child need to be potty trained?
Yes, your child should be independently using the bathroom. students will have privacy while using the restroom, I will help if a child asks for my assistance or accepts it when offered. Accidents are developmentally appropriate at this age and you should not be concerned about enrolling even if your child has recently begun potty training and is still having accidents. Extra support and a potty training plan will be made for children under 30 months prior to enrollment.
Why will you use a cargo bike to transport children, and is it safe?
We are fortunate enough to have nearby access to the Ravenna park trails, Greenlake, and other nearby parks and natural areas. To make getting there easier I have a cargo bike that seats 4 children with three point safety harnesses and a roll cage in case of an accident. If enrollment reaches 5-6 students I will purchase an additional bike that seats six. When traveling via cargo bike we will stick to protected bike lanes as much as possible and avoid busy roads. This pedal assist bike travels at very low speeds like a regular non electric bike, Students will also wear properly fitted helmets that are rated and safety tested for use on ebikes as well as neon vests for greater visibility. Weather in Seattle varies greatly, on days with poor visibility, and water logged or icy roads we will reschedule outings and always prioritize safety.
GET IN TOUCH
Schedule a visit or request more info
We would love to welcome you and your child for a private tour. Send us a message with your child's age and desired start date, and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.