Fountainhead Montessori Blog

How Does Fountainhead Montessori School Handle Preschool Openings In Danville For New Families?

Written by Shandy Cole | Jan 29, 2026 8:00:00 AM

Key Takeaways

  • You should anticipate a defined and transparent preschool opening in Danville that takes you from inquiry to registration with confidence every step of the way.
  • When you step into a school tour and observation session, you experience Montessori in action and get a glimpse of the classroom energy and our caring community at Fountainhead Montessori School.
  • With a focus on child-led discovery, respect for individuality, and lifelong learning, Fountainhead Montessori School cultivates a community that embraces diversity and inspires a passion for knowledge in each child.
  • Participate in parent orientation, ongoing communication, and community events so you and your child feel connected and ease your transition.
  • With a transparent tuition structure, a transparent fee breakdown, and financial assistance options, you can make an informed decision about your investment in your child’s early education.
  • Our focus on individualized learning, exceptional teacher training, and a supportive community guarantees your child a foundation that nurtures both academic and personal growth.

Fountainhead Montessori School preschool openings in Danville for new families – We have a clear, open process to let you know what to expect. When you contact them, the school provides current information about available class openings, waitlists, and start dates. You receive assistance with the application and a personal point of contact for inquiries. New families frequently come on a quick tour to visit classrooms and meet staff before selecting a program. Because the school cares about matching your child with the right class based on age and needs, you get guidance through every step. To provide you with the full picture, the following breaks down the timeline and what families can do to prepare for a seamless start.

The Preschool Enrollment Journey

Selecting the right preschool can be an involved process, especially when considering options like Fountainhead Montessori School in Danville, which follows a structured enrollment process for new families. Understanding what occurs at each stage helps you anticipate needs and make thoughtful choices regarding your child’s early childhood education and the best fit for your family.

1. Initial Inquiry

Begin with the admissions department. Request details concerning the Montessori curriculum and how it distinguishes itself from conventional instruction. Montessori emphasizes child-led learning, practical work, and a relaxed pace, which might not work as well for some children as it does for others.

Learn about application timelines and important dates, as many preschools, particularly those in urban areas, fill quickly. Tuition is huge, of course, running between $10,000 and $20,000 a year. Inquire about financial aid or scholarships; this helps ease the burden. See if the school provides part-time or mid-year start dates that could fit your work schedule.

Find out what the student-to-teacher ratio is. A smaller ratio means more personal attention, which is crucial in early education. Certain schools provide additional activities, such as language or music classes, that could appeal to your kid.

2. School Tour

A tour provides you with the real flavor of the school. Spend time in the classroom to see how the Montessori setup works. Children choose their own tasks and move freely, with teachers acting as guides.

Observe the teachers and students as they engage with each other. Seek out indications of respect, communication, and support. Inspect outside as well. A safe and diverse play environment is important.

When you visit, talk about any special needs your child has. Faculty should be prepared to respond to concerns about how they accommodate children who are more reserved or those with unique needs.

3. Application Submission

Complete the application, verifying all information is accurate. Incomplete details will delay the process. Include all requested paperwork. This could be age verification, immunization records, or previous academic records.

Deadlines, deadlines, and ditto… get the paperwork in early or it’s gone. Once sent, check with the admissions office so you know your application has been received and is complete.

4. Child Observation

Your child experienced a day running around, visiting a classroom, meeting teachers, and peers. This aids you and the school in determining if Montessori suits your child’s personality and needs. Some kids do great in experiential, self-directed environments. Others require more guidance.

Observe your child’s ease. Do they participate or appear reluctant? Observe how staff direct kids. Your response following this visit is key to your and the school’s choice.

5. Enrollment Offer

If it’s a good fit, you’re offered. The offer details tuition, payment terms, start dates, and more. Go through each piece and question if anything is ambiguous.

Act quickly to secure your child’s slot. If you have questions, the admissions team can clarify details about fees, schedules, or school rules.

6. Final Registration

The final piece is completing all of the paperwork for the enrollment process. Pay registration and deposit fees to reserve your space in the Montessori programs. Sweep through the school calendar for start dates and holidays, ensuring all paperwork is turned in for California state licensing.

Our Guiding Philosophy

Fountainhead Montessori School’s preschool openings in Danville revolve around a guiding philosophy that informs all of your child’s first school experience in a Montessori classroom. Montessori education informs every choice, from class design to parent correspondence. That’s evident in the way we welcome new families, the care provided to each child, and the organization of the school’s comprehensive curriculum.

  • Respect for each child’s individuality and personal learning style
  • A strong emphasis on hands-on, child-driven discovery
  • Focus on building a supportive, inclusive community
  • Lifelong learning as a core value
  • Integration of art and imaginative play at every age
  • Flexible, fair, and transparent administrative practices
  • Commitment to health, well-being, and social-emotional growth

Child-Led Discovery

In our Montessori classrooms, children enjoy daily options, from selecting activities to engaging in group play. Our classrooms are equipped with everything from puzzles and counting beads to art supplies, allowing kids to pursue what excites them and learn at their own pace. Educators encourage children to explore various centers, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to work on what resonates with them, reflecting the principles of Montessori education.

A significant portion of this educational experience is experiential. For example, kids might explore water trays to understand volume or construct towers to experiment with balance, which aids in retention. The method values art and fantasy play as integral components of the day, keeping the class dynamic and learning organic. When kids direct their own day, they build confidence and take pride in their accomplishments, embodying the essence of a Montessori preschool environment.

Respectful Community

Your family will feel the focus on kindness and respect immediately upon joining our Montessori preschool. The school strives to ensure all families feel they belong, regardless of their background. Our teachers demonstrate positive methods to communicate and resolve issues, teaching the kids how to listen, share, and advocate for themselves. Team assignments and day-to-day life provide opportunities to exercise this muscle in a Montessori classroom environment.

Our community embraces diversity, and we have lessons on different cultures and lifestyles. This cultivates empathy and makes each child feel recognized. You’ll see it even in policies, such as tuning teacher-student ratios to each child’s demands and caring for each child’s comfort and growth. Our restroom use and sunscreen policies are established with health and dignity in mind so that every child feels safe and cared for!

Lifelong Learning

From the beginning, your little one is motivated to inquire and seek solutions — not only in texts but in play and investigation. Our founding philosophy is that our school prizes inquisitiveness, and our educators employ open-ended queries to ignite profound thinking. Kids get to experiment, problem-solve, and discover that errors are expansion opportunities.

What you learn shouldn’t end with facts and skills. It’s about establishing a mindset that endures. With art, music, and flexible nap or care schedules thrown into the mix, the school demonstrates that learning can fit your child’s needs and can occur in a variety of ways. Our billing is transparent and reasonable. You can rely on it and concentrate on your child’s development. Teachers remain for years, contributing to the development of strong, enduring relationships that foster social and academic growth.

Experience Our Environment

From the moment you visit Fountainhead Montessori School as a new family, you enter into an environment founded on respect for children, families, and learning. This comprehensive curriculum offers a hands-on experience in a real Montessori classroom, emphasizing observation and connection.

  • Guided tours through well-organized classrooms
  • Opportunities to observe authentic Montessori practices
  • Access to parent orientation sessions
  • Insight into daily routines and curriculum
  • Interaction with teaching staff and leadership
  • Exploration of indoor and outdoor learning spaces
  • Information on class sizes and age-appropriate learning
  • Support for families during transitions
  • Emphasis on open communication and community building

The Classroom Tour

Your tour starts in the heart of the Montessori classroom: the environment itself. Here you see toddlers, typically 2 years 10 months to 6 years, roaming with intention. You observe learning aids on low shelves, at arm's length, so kids can choose what fascinates them. Teachers are watchful yet unobtrusive, orienting selection and witnessing without intervening unless necessary. This autonomy is central to the Montessori approach.

You observe the classroom organization—child-sized tables, rugs, and storage make the space warm and accessible to discover. The peaceful, uncluttered environment aids concentration. You can find students either individually or in intimate groups of 2 to 3, depending on the lesson and interest. One group of kids is doing puzzles, another is pouring water, and some are coming together for a seasonal story, such as snowflakes in winter or skeletons in the fall. These real-world tests demonstrate to you how learning here is grounded in inquisitiveness and situation.

Educators respond to your inquiries about their method, explaining that group sizes and ratios change with age, sometimes as low as 1 to 3 for younger children and no higher than 1 to 12 in older groups. Meet the staff, who discuss the role of movement breaks, helping kids keep their energy levels in check and improve mood and attention. You leave feeling that the classroom is a vibrant, dynamic environment for discovery, embodying the principles of Montessori education.

Parent Orientation

You attend a parent orientation shortly after your visit. This is where you encounter other families and learn about Fountainhead’s values, policies, and daily routines. Faculty describe the Montessori program, emphasizing how kids progress in phases and at their own pace.

You find the week consists of a mixture of guided lessons and open-ended activities. The teachers discuss how you can support your child at home and remain involved. You’re welcome to share worries. Ongoing dialogue between teachers and parents is not just accepted but anticipated. This collaboration simply makes transitions less stressful, particularly for kids who can get nervous or cranky in unfamiliar surroundings.

What To Observe

See the kids choose their own work, sometimes congregating in groups or working independently, always with instruction close at hand. Observe the teacher — she reacts to needs but does not orchestrate every action. Her role is to prepare the environment, provide lessons, and then step back. You’ll encounter a combination of hushed and communal as little ones transition from one activity to the next, taking mini breaks to collect their thoughts.

The day bounces between organized group time and open wandering. You’ll witness cooperation and collaboration and creative eruptions, like kids constructing pyramids or comparing insect facts on the playground. These times demonstrate the extent of the learning that occurs here.

Your Financial Investment

Fountainhead Montessori School in Danville encourages families to thoughtfully balance their financial investment in early childhood education. It’s not just tuition; it’s understanding the care fees, registration fees, and additional nurturing choices available through their comprehensive Montessori programs.

  • Review the monthly fee and all associated costs.
  • Consider what programs and services are included in the base fee.
  • Ask how before- and after-school care is billed.
  • Compare the overall cost to similar schools in your area.
  • Seek out any available sibling discounts or scholarships.
  • Understand withdrawal policies and late fee rules.
  • Verify summer or camp program fees if year-round care is required.

Tuition Structure

Program

Monthly Tuition (USD)

Enrollment Fee (USD)

Sibling Discount

Late Fee Policy

Half-Day (8–12)

1,200

150

10% for siblings

2% after the 18th of each month

FULL-DAY (8–15)

1,700

150

10% siblings

2% after the 18th of each month

Extended-Day (8–18)

2,050

150

10 percent siblings

2 percent after the 18th of each month

 

Tuition is divided into 12 equal installments, each encompassing 18 school days. Billing goes through mid-August, right when the school year ends. You receive your invoice monthly if you pay month-to-month, and any payment coming in after the 18th incurs a 2 percent late fee. The sign-up fee is a one-time, upfront payment.

Fountainhead’s tuition is on par with DANVILLE's. A few local preschools may be less expensive for half days, but fewer of them include as many services in their base fee. We offer sibling discounts of 10%, and we do offer some scholarship options, but you need to apply early for scholarships because they are limited and based on need.

Included Programs

Program Area

Included in Tuition

Description

Montessori Core

Yes

Practical life, sensorial, math, language, culture

Art & Music

Yes

Weekly group classes, materials included

Outdoor Activities

Yes

Structured play and nature exploration

Field Trips

Yes

Two per year, all transportation included

The coursework is designed to foster holistic development: social, emotional, cognitive, and physical. Montessori-led classrooms cultivate your child’s independence and confidence. Art and music classes infuse creativity, and outdoor play allows children to explore their learning physically.

Field trips and special events complete the year. These are factored into the tuition and contribute to making learning hands-on and enjoyable. Most local schools charge additional fees for field trips or enrichment. At Fountainhead, you pay one price, and your child has the run of the school.

Additional Care

You can add care before 8:00 or after 15:00 up to 18:00. School invoices your child’s hours, and you are billed at the month's end for care consumed out of schedule. Additional days are invoiced separately at the daily rate. This adaptable billing implies you just cover what you need.

Schedule is open. Work changes, adjust care. Summer sessions and camp days are available for sign-up and are invoiced separately from the regular school year. For those who want to drop, giving 30 days' notice in writing before July 1st holds you harmless.

Beyond The Application

Landing a preschool spot at Fountainhead Montessori School in Danville is just the beginning. What comes next is crucial to how you and your kid experience the transition into Montessori education. If you’re new to the school, you’re going to want to know how to help your kid feel safe, connect with the school community, and keep up with important rhythms, rules, and relationships in a Montessori classroom.

The Child's Transition

Getting your kid ready for preschool goes beyond a backpack. Start by discussing with your child what occurs in a Montessori classroom—paint a picture of the rooms, the timeline, and the individuals. If you can, take your child to school before that first ‘official’ day. Wandering the classroom, meeting the staff, and seeing other kids gives your child an idea of what’s to come in a Montessori preschool setting.

Certain babies require a period of acclimatization to new nap and meal schedules. You can simulate portions of the daily routine at home, which helps ease the transition into early childhood education. This makes your kid less lost when he encounters transitions. Kids this age might profit from a year’s repetition in their classroom. This provides them with an opportunity to assume new responsibilities and continue learning from experience.

Inform teachers of any concerns or special needs. Open, honest conversations allow teachers to provide better support. Keep in mind that peeking in on your kid through windows can hinder their adjustment. Adhere to school policies about drop-ins.

Family Integration

Your engagement in the school community is equally important as your child’s adaptation to a Montessori classroom. Join us for orientation, which will be open to new and returning families. These events assist you in getting acquainted with the teachers, staff, and other parents, making it easier to swap experiences and ask questions about Montessori education.

There are many ways you can be involved in the classroom or assist with school functions as a volunteer. Being active in the community makes you more visible in the school and demonstrates to your kid that education is important. Trading tales with other parents builds trust, prepares you, and helps you learn about the school culture, enhancing your understanding of the Montessori approach.

Urge your child to befriend. Some kids thrive when they get to choose their own activities. Others require more structure. Either way, a robust peer group makes kids feel at home.

Ongoing Communication

Staying informed about your child’s progress involves maintaining communication with teachers at Fountainhead Montessori. A few schools request that parents schedule appointments for extended discussions, so familiarize yourself with the policies regarding Montessori education. Consult newsletters and school updates; they usually include important dates, reminders, and news about the Montessori programs available.

Parent-teacher meetings offer a chance to review your child’s development and set new goals collaboratively. Additionally, don’t forget to check your kid’s property drawer for notes or forms, as this is a common way schools communicate. Providing feedback can help enhance the educational experience for your child and others.

The Fountainhead Difference

There’s nothing quite like the Fountainhead difference when it comes to embracing new families and opening its doors for preschoolers in Danville. We are not your typical early childhood education provider. Founded on a deep reverence for the Montessori tradition, we believe that all children can thrive with love, expertise, and attentiveness to what makes them special. Our commitment to quality is evident in our Montessori programs, which focus on providing a nurturing environment for every child.

The Fountainhead difference begins with our commitment to quality. All of our teachers are extensively trained in the Montessori method, so your child benefits from the least intrusive assistance possible. The teachers provide your child with the appropriate balance of autonomy and guidance, allowing them to choose their daily work while always remaining nearby to intervene or propose new assignments. It is reflected in daily practice. For instance, kids get to pick their work, walking from hands-on math to art or science. We make Wednesdays all about art, and Thursdays are for physics and biology. These concentrated days provide your kid a chance to sink into a topic, while the flexibility throughout the remainder of the week allows them to pursue their curiosity.

Art and play are not merely add-ons; they are essential components of each day for all ages. Our Montessori classrooms are designed to allow children to paint, construct, or role-play, aiding in the development of fine motor skills, social development, and creative thinking. Movement breaks are a regular part of life at Fountainhead, where kids stop to stretch, dance, or play games. This keeps their energy in check and helps refine focus, allowing them to return to their work with a clear mind. To ensure safety, the school has a sunscreen policy where sunscreen is reapplied twice after lunch and later in the day.

You discover a supportive community at Fountainhead. Family involvement is not only welcomed but anticipated. Arrange meetings with your child’s teacher on your terms, staying up to date on your child’s progress and inquiries. Parent-teacher conferences provide an opportunity to review your child’s development and aspirations in depth twice a year. The school provides opportunities for more casual conversations, so you’re never in the dark.

Pragmatics are treated with equal importance. Tuition is charged in 12 equal payments, which can assist you in budgeting effectively. Each payment corresponds to a specific number of school days, making it simple to track your costs and plan for the future. This transparent approach to expenses is designed to support families in managing their financial commitments while providing quality early childhood education.

Conclusion

You have an open preschool slot in Fountainhead Montessori School in Danville for new families. The school offers you a defined path to enroll, with support at every turn. You get to meet staff, walk the halls, and see kids at work! You receive information on fees and aid. You learn how the team aligns with your child’s needs, not just your paperwork. They have heard from other parents about the peaceful atmosphere and nurturing environment their children receive here. Your child enters a genuine, tactile environment with small groups and real tools. You remain connected to the process with updates and real people walking you through it. Start by contacting them and requesting a tour. Come with questions. Experience how your child belongs and determine if this school belongs with your family.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Does Fountainhead Montessori School Handle Preschool Openings For New Families In Danville?

We have an organized admissions process for our Montessori programs. Apply online, tour our Fountainhead Montessori campus, and meet our staff. Openings are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, with siblings and returning families having priority.

2. What Is The First Step To Enroll My Child At Fountainhead Montessori In Danville?

Begin by setting up a visit on our Fountainhead Montessori campus website. This lets you explore our Montessori classrooms, meet teachers, and ask questions before you apply.

3. What Documents Do I Need To Submit For Preschool Enrollment?

Just bring your child’s birth certificate and immunization records along with a filled-out application for our Montessori preschool enrollment process. We’ll walk you through every step.

4. How Soon Will I Know If My Child Has A Spot?

We inform families a few weeks after the enrollment process, and if there is a waitlist, we will keep you updated on your child's status in our Montessori programs.

5. Is There A Waitlist For Preschool Openings At Fountainhead Montessori In Danville?

Indeed, desirable Montessori preschool classes might have a waitlist. We recommend applying early to maximize your chances of obtaining your desired enrollment.

6. What Is The Tuition For New Preschool Families?

Tuition rates are dependent on your child’s schedule, and we provide details about our Montessori preschool fee schedule and payment options during your tour and in our admissions packet.

7. Does Fountainhead Montessori Offer Support After Enrollment?

We support your family with orientation, ongoing communication, and resources, ensuring a smooth transition into our Montessori programs for your child.

Take The First Step Toward A Brighter Beginning

Ready to take the next step in your Montessori journey? Whether you're just starting to explore or already leaning toward enrolling, we invite you to experience Fountainhead Montessori in person. Our campuses in Danville and Livermore offer toddler through preschool programs designed to nurture each child’s unique strengths, with optional before- and after-care for busy families.

Click below to schedule a personal tour, download our free parent guide, or view our transparent tuition rates. Still have questions? Our admissions team is happy to help you find the best fit for your family.

Schedule a Tour | Download Our Parent Guide | View Tuition