About our School

Who We Are

School for Little Children offers exceptional part-time preschool programs for children 18 months to five years-old.  Since its founding in 1934, SLC has developed a strong reputation for quality inclusive early education, serving more than 10,000 students in the greater Evanston community.

The mission of School for Little Children is to educate the whole child to reach his or her potential and support families in that endeavor.  We respect parents as their children’s first teachers.  We are committed to an inclusive approach, offering bias-free, quality care and education in an environment characterized by love and acceptance.

School for Little Children’s community is made up of devoted, enthusiastic and caring teachers, staff and parents.  SLC’s experienced and dedicated teachers are our greatest asset.  Teachers are selected based on academic background and commitment to early childhood education.  Our teachers and staff are strongly committed to working closely with students and their families.  In turn, SLC parents are extremely active and involved.  Our parent committee hosts events, leads fundraising efforts and facilitates communication among the school community and the governing board.  Parents are always welcome at SLC.

A Play-Based Approach

School for Little Children educators are committed to the philosophy that all children are natural learners who learn best through hands-on play in a flexible and nurturing classroom.  Our teachers encourage the self-confidence and socialization skills of each student by carefully tracking individual needs and development. 

A look inside our classrooms reveals children interacting with fellow students at ever-changing play stations throughout the classroom.  They can take part in art projects, use their imaginations through pretend play games, build language and literacy skills, or play with a wide variety of puzzles, blocks and games.  Each school day also includes a visit to a park or one of two large playrooms. 

We Welcome All Children

Our families come from a wide background of race, culture, religion and ability.  School for Little Children supports and welcomes all families and strives to create classroom environments where all children are valued for their unique abilities.  Our goal is to foster respect for diversity while providing equal educational opportunities for all children.  Our educators believe that bringing children of different abilities and learning levels together in our classes teaches acceptance and respect.  SLC works closely with parents to ensure each child has the necessary means to flourish. 

School for Little Children believes diversity enriches the experiences of the entire school community.  The school celebrates diversity and incorporates anti-bias concepts into our curriculum and activities.  SLC continually strives to increase the diversity of the preschool and, as a result, it continues to grow.  We strive to make our preschool accessible to all families and through donations and fundraising, we are able to offer partial scholarships based on financial need.