Business Details
Trusted Preschool & Childcare in Portland, OR
At Small Wonders School, we are dedicated to providing high-quality preschool programs that blend the convenience of childcare hours with a Reggio-inspired educational philosophy. Our approach emphasizes child-directed learning, where teachers observe and guide based on children's interests, creating thematic units that explore topics from woodland animals to master chefs. We believe in nurturing individual development through a balance of freeplay and structured projects, allowing children to learn at their own pace without competition. Our warm, creative teachers maintain low student ratios, ensuring personalized attention in environments designed to spark curiosity and creativity. With two locations in NE Portland, we serve 100-110 children annually, offering full-day care from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.Our Hollywood campus features an inspiring atelier and annex classrooms, while our Grant Park location utilizes multi-level spaces within a church facility. We extend our educational offerings to include kindergarten programs and summer camps, prioritizing alumni families while welcoming new ones. Our administrative team ensures smooth operations, maintaining high standards of care and education. Through daily routines that include outdoor time, song circles, and project-based learning, we cultivate environments where children thrive. Our commitment to play-based education reflects our belief that experience is the foundation of lifelong learning.
Services
Preschool Programs
Kindergarten Classes
Summer Camp
Reggio-Inspired Curriculum
Childcare Hours
Highlights and features
- We implement Reggio-inspired, child-directed learning environments
- Our low teacher-student ratios ensure personalized attention
- We offer full-day childcare hours with flexible scheduling options
- Our curriculum integrates freeplay with structured project-based learning
- We maintain two well-equipped Portland locations with dedicated staff
Services
Preschool Programs
Our preschool programs serve children ages 2 through kindergarten with Reggio-inspired, child-directed learning. Teachers create thematic units based on children's interests, integrating freeplay with structured projects. Low student ratios ensure personalized attention in creative environments that foster individual development through hands-on exploration and collaborative discovery.
Kindergarten Classes
Our kindergarten programs maintain a 18:1 student-teacher ratio with lead instructors and assistants. Offering both standard (8:00-2:30) and extended care (8:00-5:30) options, our curriculum combines literacy development with project-based learning. Classrooms feature dedicated spaces for art, sensory experiences, and outdoor exploration to support comprehensive skill development.
Summer Camp
Summer camps serve children aged 5-6 with flexible 2-5 day weekly schedules. Our month-by-month enrollment includes weekly themes, art experiences, and exploratory projects. Priority enrollment goes to alumni families, with activities designed to bridge pre-kindergarten and elementary school transitions through creative outdoor and indoor learning experiences.
Reggio-Inspired Curriculum
Our Reggio-inspired approach emphasizes child-led exploration through freeplay and teacher-facilitated projects. Daily routines include outdoor time, song circles, and thematic investigations. Teachers document learning processes through photographs and portfolios, creating visible records of children's conceptual development and problem-solving approaches in a supportive, creativity-focused environment.
Childcare Hours
Full-day childcare operates Monday-Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Our flexible schedule accommodates working families while maintaining consistent routines. Services include morning and afternoon freeplay, structured learning periods, and rest times with audiobooks. Nut-free environment ensures safety for all children during meal and snack periods.
People
Natalie
Co-Owner and Hollywood Director
Natalie oversees programming continuity and care quality at Hollywood location. She builds teacher teams, manages enrollment, and handles daily operations while maintaining SWS vision through classroom engagement and staff development.
Molly
Program Administrator
Molly coordinates operations between both schools, handling purchasing, maintenance, and logistics. She connects programming efforts while supporting teachers with supplies, troubleshooting, and thematic development across locations.
Tahlia
Grant Park Director
Tahlia leads teacher support and classroom management at Grant Park. With experience since Hollywood's opening, she maintains SWS standards through classroom organization, routine development, and kindergarten instruction.
Allison
Founder
Allison founded SWS in her home, growing it into Portland's established preschool. Her vision emphasizes play-based learning, reflected in the school's continued focus on experiential education and creative exploration.
Questions
What age groups do you serve?
We serve children ages 2 through kindergarten age, with summer camp options for 5-6 year olds.
What educational approach do you use?
Our Reggio-inspired curriculum emphasizes child-directed themes, freeplay, and project-based learning tailored to children's interests.
What are your operating hours?
We operate Monday-Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM with flexible scheduling options available.
Do you offer summer programs?
Yes, we provide full-day summer camps with weekly themes and flexible enrollment options for 5-6 year olds.
What safety measures are in place?
We maintain a nut-free environment with secure facilities and trained staff to ensure child safety at all times.
Reviews (4)
Keely W.
Aug 05, 2021
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I do not know of a more organized, caring, engaging preschool in the Portland area! This is our second preschool and far surpasses our first. Through all of the challenges Covid-19 has presented, the staff has been communicative, enacting every safety procedure and putting education and community first. My child is so happy to go to school every day! As a teacher, I appreciate the time and effort that goes into every aspect of this wonderful school!
Beth B.
Sep 01, 2020
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If you are happy to shut up and abide by the information they give you, then this is the place for you. Due to COVID, SMW did not allow any tours of the school for new families. I toured the Sandy location back in 2019 and the classrooms sizes were lovely and large (albeit the location on Sandy wasn't ideal from a drop-off/pickup standpoint along a busy 4-lane road). We were accepted into the Grant location - which I had not been able to tour. Throughout the summer new families were promised video tours and introductions to help acclimate new kids to the new setting. With less than 1 week
Sj L.
Jun 25, 2019
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Our family had an outstanding experience at Small Wonders. Both of our children attended Small Wonders Hollywood location from age 2 until they moved on to Kindergarten. Small Wonders' teachers worked well with our kids throughout the different needs and levels of the toddler room and pre-school setting. Our kids enjoyed the monthly themes and projects, the outdoor play area, special events including the visit with animals, the play they put on to celebrate completion of preschool, the toys, books and resources available at school. We found the teachers to be creative, dynamic and communicative
Liz B.
Jun 01, 2019
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Small Wonders did not work for us. My 3-year-old attended the Studio program (pre-K/arts) at the Hollywood location from October to May. The Studio is a beautiful space and the teachers create fun art projects. The one star is due to the treatment of my daughter and family when she started developing new school-specific aggressive behaviors and, eventually, had a meltdown. While at the school, my daughter was coping with our recent move from out of state (where she had thrived at daycare) and her grandpa's death on Christmas day. It wasn't brought to our attention that teachers had
