Palo Alto · Licensed center

Children's Pre-School Center, the

What these mean, and where they come from

Medium means the middle half of Bay Area’s 439 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 31 to 75 children. Small is 8 to 30; large is 76 to 312.

Source for who runs it

ccld.dss.ca.gov

How they teach

Reggio Emilia–inspired and play-based

“inspired by the RIE approach and Reggio Emilia philosophy”In their words, July 2026.cpsccares.org

“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: 3 of 8 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
June 3, 2026
On file
8 visits since February 2022 — 5 cited nothing · 3 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 observation and interview, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above as a child was left unsupervised in the classroom, which posed an immediate threat to the health and safety of the child in care. · September 26, 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 Licensing visit nothing cited
Feb 2026 Complaint Unsubstantiated

Complaint · February 12, 2026

Unsubstantiated

ALLEGATION(S): One (1) Physical Plant allegation: 1. Staff do not ensure the facility is free of rodents 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 9 fingerprint-cleared staff and 15 infants. 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 Program Coordinator. LPA also interviewed staff and a random sampling of parents. LPA obtained the most recent service reports from the pest control company from January and February 2026. 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

Aug 2025 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · August 28, 2025

CCR 101415.1(a) · Type B

101415.1(a) In addition to the director, an assistant director shall be present and on duty if the center has 25 or more infants in attendance. This requirement was not met as evidenced by: Based on observation and interview, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above as 25 infants were in care with no assistant director on site, which poses a potential health, safety, and/or personal rights risk to persons in care.

State report

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

Apr 2025 Licensing visit nothing cited
Apr 2025 Licensing visit nothing cited
Sep 2024 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · September 26, 2024

CCR 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 observation and interview, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above as a child was left unsupervised in the classroom, which posed an immediate threat to the health and safety of the child 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 4 staff members have an expired mandated dated reporter certificate. Director stated that staff members forgot that it needed to be renewed.

State report

Feb 2022 Licensing visit nothing cited

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 snacks provided daily; lunch is parent-brought from home or optional catered delivery (Taste Nutrition) for an additional fee; 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
434400297, 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 3 complaint-related visit(s) to this facility, while 2 complaint investigation report(s) are published on the transparency portal. State complaint counts: substantiated=2, inconclusive=0, unsubstantiated=1, unfounded=CONFIDENTIAL, Type A citations=0, Type B citations=2. The state publishes no further detail for the difference.

A day here

Details