Frequently Asked Questions


We begin enrollment for the following school year in February. Priority is given to currently enrolled families. We then open enrollment to our wait listed families. In mid-February we begin open enrollment to the public.  We will continue to enroll students as long as there is availability in a classroom. If there is not space, we will place you on the wait list.

When is enrollment?


What if we are out of town during open registration?

Not a problem. We accept registrations online via Brightwheel. 


How does the waitlist work?

Our wait list is for the current school year only.  It does not carry over from year to year.  After registration opens, we start a wait list once a class is full.  Once we have an opening throughout the year, we start at the top of the wait list and see who is still interested in attending at that time. If we do not have an opening during the school year we will contact you in February via email for the next year's enrollment opportunities. Waitlisted families are given priority enrollment over the general public.


How long will my child be on the wait list?

We have no way of predicting how long you will be on the wait list. Once a family tells us they are leaving and we have an opening, we start at the top of the wait list and see who is still interested in attending at that time. If we do not have an opening during the school year we will contact you in February via email for the next year's enrollment opportunities.


Does my child have to be potty trained?

Children in our 2 year old program do not have to be potty trained. However, Northminster will begin charging a monthly diapering fee beginning with our Summer Fun 2024 program. Please provide diapers or pull ups for your child. We highly recommend that your child is fully potty trained by the time they are 3 years old so they can be grouped in classrooms with other children of the same age. A child is considered potty trained when he recognizes the need to eliminate and is able to access and use the toilet with little to no assistance.


What is your class size and teaching ratio?

All of our classes have a qualified and experienced lead teacher and an assistant teacher.  Our class sizes are small with a maximum of 15 students per classroom for a teacher student ratio of 1 to 7.5 Our 2 year old class has a maximum of 12 students per classroom for a teacher student ratio of 1 to 6. This enables us to give children much more individualized and loving attention than they will find in a public school setting.


We are a Christian based Preschool focused mainly on play and social development. We believe that children learn best through experiences. Our curriculum is geared to meet the needs of your individual child. Through a variety of daily experiences, your child will be offered creative expressions in arts and crafts, games, songs, math concepts, languages, sciences, and large and small muscle development activities.

In partnership with parents and teachers, we strive to meet the social-emotional development of each individual child by building strong relationships and connections to aid in his/her social, spiritual, and emotional growth.

Do you have an ideology?


The garden belongs to the church and the community.  We do however have a few planter boxes in the garden that the teachers use to plant flowers and edible items that tie in with their lessons.  We will also take our classes on field trips to visit the garden.

Do you use the garden on campus?


We offer on-campus tours Monday - Thursday afternoons after our core Preschool hours. We can also email you a Virtual Tour. Please use the Contact Us Form to let us know if you would like to schedule on onsite tour and/or be emailed a copy of our Virtual Tour.

How do I schedule a tour?


Northminster Preschool has been caring for children in the Clairemont and University City communities for over 50 years. We receive lot of referrals. In fact several parents who attended Preschool here themselves are now sending their own children to school here.

How long has the school been in existence?


The majority of our teachers have been here between 5 and 10 years.  We have a few new hires every year but we also have teachers that have been here 20+ years.  

How long have your teacher's been working there?


Yes, the Preschool is affiliated with the church. We teach a value of the month in the classroom, like "being a good friend" or "telling the truth".  The children have chapel once a month with Pastor Jay in the church sanctuary. He shares a bible story and they sing Christian songs. We pray before snack time. The children give a singing performance for their families at Christmas time. The church also sponsors Parents Night Out drop off events for Preschool families.

Is the Preschool affiliated with the Church?


Are you a nut-free facility?

The snacks that the Preschool provides do not include nuts. However, we are not a nut free facility and do not restrict parents from packing nut products in their child’s lunch. Every year we enroll children who have nut allergies without any problems. All allergies should be communicated to the
Preschool Office and teachers.


  • The school is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected at the end of each school day.

  • The facility is ventilated (open windows and doors) before children come to school and when the weather allows during the day.

  • There are HEPA Air Purifiers in every classroom to filter the air when inside.

  • All toys and materials that have been used that day will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

  • All surfaces and table tops, high touch objects (doors knobs, light switches, etc.) and bathrooms, are disinfected multiple times throughout the day.

  • Continued focus in educating about health, safety, and hygiene in an age appropriate manner. We will continue to practice good hand washing habits.

  • Please refer to our COVID Policies page for more information.

What cleaning procedures are you follow due to COVID-19


We follow the CDPH guidelines for masking in a childcare setting which could change based on community COVID numbers in San Diego. The masking rules at the Preschool are up to the sole discretion of the Director. As of this writing, Parents / Guardians / Teachers / Adults / Children are not required to wear a face covering while you are indoors at the Preschool.

Does my child have to wear a mask?