Palo Alto · Licensed center

Children's Pre-School Center, the

What these mean, and where they come from

Large means the biggest quarter of Bay Area’s 439 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 76 to 312 children. Small is 8 to 30; medium is 31 to 75.

Source for who runs it

ccld.dss.ca.gov

How they teach

Reggio Emilia–inspired and play-based

“a child-centered, play-based educational program inspired by the RIE approach and Reggio Emilia philosophy”In their words, July 2026.cpsccares.org

“The Children's Pre-School Center (CPSC) offers a child-centered, play-based educational program”In their words, July 2026.cpsccares.org

One of 21 Bay Area providers that describe a Reggio Emilia approach, out of 164 that describe any approach at all.

Shortlist doesn’t have these yet: cost, ratios and staff, sick and biting policies.

What the state has found

Routine visits: 5 of 11 cited something

Bay Area centers: the state cites something at about 1 in 4 routine visits.

From California CDSS Community Care Licensing’s published reports, last checked September 25, 2026.

Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — California CDSS Community Care Licensing

Last visit
July 22, 2026
On file
11 visits since January 2022 — 6 cited nothing · 7 complaint investigations
Most serious
Type A — Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision 101229(a)(1) No child(ren) shall be left without the supervision of a teacher at any time... Supervision shall include visual observation. This requirement was not met as evidenced by: Based on LPA observations and interview, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above as a child was left unsupervised in the yard, which posed an immediate threat to the health and safety of the child in care. · December 20, 2024

California CDSS publishes the full investigation narrative for a complaint, including its disposition, and classifies a citation Type A — an immediate risk to a child — or Type B.

Jun 2026 Complaint Unsubstantiated

Complaint · June 9, 2026

Unsubstantiated

ALLEGATION(S): One (1) allegation: Staff mistreats daycare child. INVESTIGATION FINDINGS: On 07/22/2026 at 1:00pm, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Jialing “Julianne” Zhu conducted an UNANNOUNCED COMPLAINT SITE INSPECTION. LPA met with Assistant Director G.G.P. LPA advised director the purpose of today’s inspection is to deliver the findings of the investigation regarding the above allegation. Present during the inspection were 12 fingerprint-cleared staff and 60 children. Throughout the course of the investigation, LPA obtained copies of the facility roster and personnel report. LPA reviewed staff files. LPA also conducted interviews with Director, parents, and a witness to the incident reported by the Reporting Party (RP). Although the above allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is unsubstantiated. A Notice of Site Visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days. Exit interview was conducted, report was reviewed, and Appeal Rights were provided to Assistant Director G.P. Unsubstantiated Estimated Days of Completion: 0

Individual employees are shown by initials. The state’s report, linked above, names them in full.

State report

May 2026 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · May 6, 2026

CCR 101223(a)(3) · Type B

101223(a)(3) To be free from corporal or unusual punishment, infliction of pain, humiliation, intimidation, ridicule, coercion, threat, mental abuse or other actions of a punitive nature including but not limited to: interference with functions of daily living including eating, sleeping or toileting… This requirement was not met as evidenced by: Based on interview, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above as two (2) reported incidents involved actions punitive in nature, which poses a potential health, safety, and/or personal rights risk to persons in care.

State report

Feb 2026 Complaint Unsubstantiated

Complaint · February 12, 2026

Unsubstantiated

ALLEGATION(S): Two (2) Personal Rights allegations: 1. Staff handle day care children in rough manner 2. Staff force day care children to sit on toilet INVESTIGATION FINDINGS: On 03/11/2026 at 11:30am, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Jialing “Julianne” Zhu conducted an UNANNOUNCED COMPLAINT SITE INSPECTION. LPA met with Director M.H. LPA advised director the nature of the inspection is to follow up on a complaint that was filed against the facility and to deliver the findings. Present during the inspection were 14 fingerprint-cleared staff and 59 children. Throughout the course of the inspection, LPA requested and obtained a copy of the Facility Roster and the current Personnel Report. LPA toured the facility inside and outside. LPA interviewed the administrative team: Director, Assistant Director, and Operations Manager. LPA also interviewed staff and a random sampling of parents. LPA also reviewed a sampling of teacher files. Although the above allegations may have happened or are valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violations did or did not occur, therefore the allegations are UNSUBSTANTIATED. A Notice of Site Visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days. Exit interview was conducted, report was reviewed, and Appeal Rights were provided to Director M.H. Unsubstantiated Estimated Days of Completion:

Individual employees are shown by initials. The state’s report, linked above, names them in full.

State report

Jul 2025 Licensing visit nothing cited
Jul 2025 Complaint

Complaint · July 23, 2025

CCR 101238(a)(1) · Type B

CCR 101238(a)(1) Buildings and Grounds: The licensee shall take measures to keep the center free of flies, other insects, and rodents. This requirement is not met as evidenced by: Based on observation and interview, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above as there were presence of pests in the facility but measures have been increased in the past month, which poses a potential health, safety, and/or personal rights risk to persons in care.

State report

Jul 2025 Licensing visit nothing cited
Apr 2025 Licensing visit nothing cited
Apr 2025 Licensing visit nothing cited
Dec 2024 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · December 20, 2024

HSC 101229(a)(1) · Type A

Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision 101229(a)(1) No child(ren) shall be left without the supervision of a teacher at any time... Supervision shall include visual observation. This requirement was not met as evidenced by: Based on LPA observations and interview, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above as a child was left unsupervised in the yard, which posed an immediate threat to the health and safety of the child in care.

State report

May 2024 Complaint 2 findings

Complaint · May 17, 2024

CCR 101212(d)(1)(2) · Type B

Section 101212(d) upon the occurrence, during the operation of the childcare center of any of the events specified in (d)(1) below, a report shall be made to the Department by telephone or fax within the Department's next working day and during its normal business hours. In addition, a written report containing the information specified in (d)(2) below shall be submitted to the Department within seven days following the occurrence of such event. This requirement is not met as evidenced by, LPA's Record Review, a UIR copy was email to the Regional Office email on 5/19/2024 at 3:04 pm with an lack of supervision incident that took placed on 5/9/2024 which pose an potential risk to the health, safety or personal rights to children in care.

CCR 101229(a)(1) · Type A

Section 101229 (a)(1) that no child shall be left without the supervision, including visual supervision, of a teacher at any time. This requirement is not met as evidenced by, LPA Record Review, Unusual Incident Report (UIR) LIC 624 dated 5/17/2024, showed that on 5/9/2024 at 10am, C1 left unattended in a small room outside of C1's classroom corridor in between classroom and outdoor space for 2-3 minutes which pose an immediate risk to the health, safety or personal rights to children in care.

State report

Jan 2024 Licensing visit nothing cited
Jan 2023 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · January 24, 2023

HSC 1596.8662(b)(1) · Type B

(1) On or before March 30, 2018, a person who, on January 1, 2018, is a licensed child day care provider, administrator, or employee of a licensed child day care facility shall complete the mandated reporter training provided pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a), and shall complete renewal mandated reporter training every two years following the date on which he or she completed the initial mandated reporter training. This requirement is not met as evidenced by: Based on observation and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. LPA observed 5 staff members have an expired mandated dated reporter certificate. Director stated that staff members forgot that it needed to be renewed.

State report

Aug 2022 Complaint

Complaint · August 25, 2022

CCR 101223(a)(3) · Type A

101223 (a)(3) Personal Rights The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights:To be free from corporal or unusual punishment, ..., ridicule, coercion, threat, mental abuse or other actions of a punitive nature including but not limited to: interference with functions of daily living..., sleeping or toileting; or withholding of shelter, clothing, medication ... physical functioning. This requirement was not met as evidenced by: Based on interviews with staff and parents children are not being treated with respect which poses an immediate health, safety and personal rights risks to persons in care.

State report

Apr 2022 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · April 14, 2022

CCR 101229(a)(1) · Type A

No child(ren) shall be left without the supervision of a teacher at any time... Supervision shall include visual observation. This requirement was not met as evidenced by: On 4/11/2022, a child was left unattended for a brief period before being noticed by a parent. This presents an immediate risk to the health and safety of children in care.

State report

Feb 2022 Licensing visit nothing cited
Jan 2022 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · January 25, 2022

CCR 101223(a)(3) · Type A

(a) The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights:(3) To be free from corporal or unusual punishment, infliction of pain, humiliation, intimidation, ridicule, coercion, threat, mental abuse or other actions of a punitive nature including but not limited to: interference wiith... sleeping... This requirement was not met as evidenced by: Director stated that facility teacher forced a child to leave a sleeping cot and used inappropriate tones of voice (described as "harsh" and "punitive") towards daycare children. This poses an immediate risk to the health and safety of children in care.

State report

Jan 2022 Complaint

Complaint · January 13, 2022

CCR 101223(a)(1) · Type B

To be accorded dignity in his/her personal relationships with staff and other persons. This requirement is not met as evidenced by a staff member (T1) handled a child in a rough manner which poses a potential health and safety risk to children in care.

State report

How the comparison is built

Routine visits: across Bay Area centers, the state cites something at about 1 in 4 routine visits (2,260 visits).

A day here

Meals
Two nutritious snacks provided daily; lunch is either brought from home or an optional catered delivery service (Taste Nutrition) for an additional fee; meals served family-style in Toddler and Preschool classrooms; center is strictly nut-free
Hours
8:00 AM to 5:45 PM, 5 days a week

Details

(650) 493-5770

Address
4000 Middlefield Road T-1
License
434400296, active
Ages they serve
3 months to 6 years

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Sources and dates

Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.

How they teach

How they teach

State record

Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.

The state’s licensing transparency data reports 13 complaint-related visit(s) to this facility, while 6 complaint investigation report(s) are published on the transparency portal. State complaint counts: substantiated=5, inconclusive=0, unsubstantiated=6, unfounded=CONFIDENTIAL, Type A citations=2, Type B citations=3. The state publishes no further detail for the difference.

A day here

Details