Early Childhood / Preschool

Safe, Steady,
and School-Ready

In our schools we partner with families to support the "whole child."  Through engaging learning experiences, children grow across all areas of development in a safe and welcoming environment that prepares them for lifelong success.

Starting as young as six weeks, our Early Head Start, Head Start, and preschool classrooms promote school readiness by supporting health, nutrition, mental health, social-emotional, and cognitive development.

What to Expect

Each child’s development is supported through purposeful play that fosters the love for learning through curiosity and exploration. Ensuring that children receive a strong foundation for their future, the curriculum we use is aligned with California state education standards.

Some of the services offered include:

  • Early Learning and Development: Fostering cognitive and social-emotional growth through educational experiences that meet individualized approaches.
  • Disability Services: Intervention specialists and teachers coordinate to ensure every child receives the appropriate level of support to reach their full potential.
  • Health and Nutrition: Nutritious meals and snacks are served daily in addition to regular health and vision screenings, dental care, and mental health support for the whole child to thrive.
  • Family Well-Being and Engagement: Family partnerships and community partnerships to support parent/caregivers’ goals and strengthen the family unit bonds and connections with each other and their communities.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles offers a full-day California State Preschool Program, through the California Department of Early Education and Support Division. A family’s eligibility to receive services is based on family size, income, employment, training status, parent incapacity, homelessness, and Child Protective Services (CPS).

For enrollment information and eligibility, contact the center directly or email preschool@ymcala.org.

Ready to Join?

Who Can Join

Our preschool program is open to children ages 0-5.

Pricing

Costs vary by center. Check your local participating Y to see what programs are available.

Where You’ll Be

  • Burbank YMCA Horace Mann  
    • Combination of Fee and Subsidy Program: Offers both subsidized care and fee-based programs; financial assistance is available and 3rd party funding is accepted.
    • 3401 Scott Road, Burbank, CA 91504 
    • Lic #  197494850 Infants /Toddlers 
    • Lic # 197494851 Preschool 
    • Hours: 7:00 am-6:00 pm 
    • Site Director:  Diane Connell 
    • Contact:  DianeConnell@ymcala.org or 818 688 4506 
  • Gardena-Carson Family YMCA  
    • Head Start and Combination of Fee and Subsidy Program: Offers both subsidized care and fee-based programs; financial assistance is available and 3rd party funding is accepted. 
    • 1000 W Artesia Boulevard, Gardena, CA 90248 
    • Facility #197401067 
    • Program Offering: On-Campus 
    • Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-6:00pm 
    • Preschool Site Director: Ashley Ambrose 
    • Contact: AshleyAmbrose@ymcala.org or 310 879 6673 
  • Ketchum-Downtown YMCA  
    • Head Start and Subsidized Preschool Programs Families must qualify for this program based on income, family size, etc.
    • 2916 W 8th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90005  
    • Facility #198018794 
    • Program Offering: On-Campus 
    • Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-5:30pm 
    • Preschool Site Director: Angela Villalta 
    • Contact: AngelaVillalta@ymcala.org or 213 487 6592 
  • Mid Valley Family YMCA 
    • Early Head Start, Head Start and Subsidized Preschool Programs: Families must qualify for this program based on income, family size, etc.  
    • 6901 Lennox Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91405 
    • Facility #191203231 
    • Program Offering: On-Campus 
    • Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm 
    • Preschool Site Director: Claudia Valdes 
    • Contact: ClaudiaValdes@ymcala.org or 818 989 3800 
  •  Montebello-Commerce YMCA  
    • Early Head Start, Head Start and Subsidized Preschool Programs: Offers both subsidized care and fee-based programs; financial assistance is available and 3rd party funding is accepted.  
    • 2353 S Commerce Way, Commerce, CA 90040 
    • Facility #198007557 
    • Program Offering: On-Campus 
    • Preschool Site Director: Adriana Huerta 
    • Contact:  AdrianaHuerta@ymcala.org or 323-728-7380 
  • Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA  
    • Subsidized Preschool Program: Families must qualify for this program based on income, family size, etc. 
    • 806 Euclid Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90023 
    • Facility # 198400043 
    • Program Offering: In-person, part-day program 
    • Preschool Site Director, Cruz Meneses 
    • Contact: CruzMeneses@ymcala.org or 323 395 7982 
  • Antellope Valley (Coming Soon)