1 / 4STEP ONE SCHOOL
LICENSED499 SPRUCE STREET, BERKELEY, CA 94708
DAY CARE CENTER in Alameda County, California
- Hours
- 8:30 AM–5 PM
- Licensed for
- 108 children
The public record
- License number
- 010209297
- License status
- LICENSED
- License type
- DAY CARE CENTER
- Licensed capacity
- 108 children
- Address
- 499 SPRUCE STREET, BERKELEY, CA 94708
- County
- Alameda County
- Phone
- +15105279021
- Website
- Not listed
- License issued
- June 12, 1985
Hours
Listed on Google
- Mon
- 8:30 AM–5 PM
- Tue
- 8:30 AM–5 PM
- Wed
- 8:30 AM–5 PM
- Thu
- 8:30 AM–5 PM
- Fri
- 8:30 AM–5 PM
- Sat
- Closed
- Sun
- Closed
Hours change without the licence record changing. Call before you plan a drop-off around these times.
Licensing visits on record
California records 3 routine inspection visits and no visits prompted by a complaint to STEP ONE SCHOOL.
- Most recent inspection visit
- Inspection visit
- Inspection visit
What California does not publish here
The state publishes when licensing staff visited, not what they found. We do not hold California’s inspection findings, so nothing on this page tells you whether a visit resulted in a citation. A visit count is a measure of licensing activity, and a facility visited more often is not for that reason a worse one. Read the findings in California’s own facility search.
Amenities and accessibility
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
Amenities
- Gender-neutral restroom
Parking
- Free street parking
Reported on the provider's Google business listing, not verified by the state.
How the reviews split
The 5.0 average comes from 8 Google reviews. An average hides whether opinion is consistent or divided, so the spread is shown too.
- 5 star8
- 4 star0
- 3 star0
- 2 star0
- 1 star0
From Google
Recent parent reviews
I cannot accurately express how grateful our family is for Step One School. I want to specifically call out the experience we had with our daughter while she attended. We moved across the country to be closer to family, and our experience at a previous preschool was the antithesis of what we experienced at Step One. Our daughter loves to sing, and would often at her previous preschool (as a 4 year old!) be written up for singing. She'd get in trouble for being disruptive because she would sing herself to sleep at school. Eventually she became so scared, she stopped singing entirely. Enter Step One and their loving and caring environment. Within a week of attending, she was singing again - and while this is a very specific story, I will say that our experience at Step One with our son was largely the same. Step One really takes the entire experience to heart and teaches beyond the walls of academia - skills like empathy, compassion, and kindness are really focused on, so that they're prepped for kindergarten past just the ABCs. We adore the play-based curriculum and the way they approach things like conflict resolution in the classrooms. Beyond all of that? The outdoor play space is nothing short of magical. I will forever be grateful for Step One and its kind and caring teachers. I truly cannot recommend this place enough.
Kate GibsonFeb 20, 2025our son went to this lovely school and I wish we'd moved here sooner so our daughter could have attended. amazing place, incredible faculty
Bernard C. Frugé IIIFeb 7, 2025Step One lives up to its hype. The teachers are attuned and dedicated, the admin is responsive and professional, and most importantly the kids are thriving. The longevity in the teaching staff speaks for itself. I am a lucky parent to connect with this wonderful school through my child every day.
Sophie JohnsonFeb 7, 2025Step One School is truly a school of happiness! Choosing it for our son was one of the best decisions we’ve made. Now in his second year, he started at age three as a shy and cautious child who spoke very little. His teachers surrounded him with love and care, helping him feel safe and confident. It’s no surprise that many of the staff spend their entire careers at this school—it’s a special place. This year, our son is thriving! He’s speaking more clearly, counting, and making friends. Watching him grow in such a welcoming and nurturing environment is amazing. From drawing to music and even playing guitar, he loves every moment of school and looks forward to going every day. We couldn’t be happier with Step One!
Giedre KoseFeb 6, 2025Our three daughters went to Step One from 2011-2018. We had an amazing experience and are so grateful to the teachers and school for helping shape who they are as students -- and more importantly --as caring, empathetic individuals with a strong sense of self and a compassionate outlook on the world. We didn't know a lot about early childhood approaches before joining the Step One community, but after having experienced the play based curriculum for 7 years we have come to appreciate how important and impactful it is, fostering creativity, helping them navigate conflict and learn to collaborate and leaving the impression that school is a safe, fun environment where they can express themselves. We also loved the campus itself...the outdoor space is amazing, including a garden, waterfall, sand area, slide, etc.
jim van huysseMar 5, 2019This school is magical and my son is thriving in this environment. That makes mama very happy.
Maya Hiersoux, Real Realtor of NM & CANov 1, 2016
Reviews shown verbatim as published on Google Maps.
Questions parents ask about STEP ONE SCHOOL
Is STEP ONE SCHOOL a licensed child care provider in California?
- Yes. STEP ONE SCHOOL holds California licence 010209297, currently listed as "LICENSED" by the Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, first issued on June 12, 1985. Confirm current standing with the agency before enrolling.
What kind of child care licence does STEP ONE SCHOOL hold?
- California licenses STEP ONE SCHOOL as a day care center, a category that covers preschool-age children in a centre-based programme. The category comes from the state's own licence record, not from the provider.
How many children can STEP ONE SCHOOL care for?
- STEP ONE SCHOOL is licensed for up to 108 children at one time. Licensed capacity is a ceiling set by the state, not a count of current enrolment or of available places.
How often has California inspected STEP ONE SCHOOL?
- California records 3 inspection visits to STEP ONE SCHOOL, the most recent on June 3, 2026 and the earliest on record April 19, 2023. The state publishes the dates of these visits but not what they found, so this count reflects licensing activity, not results. Read the findings themselves in California's own facility search.
Has California visited STEP ONE SCHOOL in response to a complaint?
- California records no complaint-driven visits to STEP ONE SCHOOL. That means no concern prompted a visit on the public record, which is not the same as a clean inspection history: the state does not publish what its visits found.
Who holds the licence for STEP ONE SCHOOL?
- The licence is held by STEP ONE SCHOOL. California lists the licensee separately from the facility name, so the two often differ. The facility is in Alameda County.
About this record
This page republishes the public license record maintained by the Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. Fields marked "Not listed" are absent from the state's published data, not hidden. Verify current license status with the agency before enrolling.
Where this comes from
- Primary. California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division facility search, facility 010209297.
- Context. Our explainer on how California daycare licensing and inspections work, and on California child care assistance.
Licensing facts on this page were last checked against the state record on . We republish the public licensing record and label absent fields plainly rather than leaving them blank. Where our data comes from · Report an error