Welcome to UCSF at Mission Bay Child Development Center

While terms may vary, the core mission of transitional kindergarten and pre-k is the same: preparing children for kindergarten.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Preschool serves younger children (typically ages 2–4) and focuses on foundational learning through play.
• Transitional kindergarten and pre-k / kindergarten prep are more structured programs tailored to children who are nearing kindergarten age.
• Public transitional kindergarten programs may follow modified kindergarten standards and are typically state funded.
• Bright Horizons’ kindergarten prep follows a research-based, age-appropriate curriculum that mirrors the developmental goals of transitional kindergarten — with added flexibility and individualized attention.

In a transitional kindergarten setting, your children enjoy a more structured curriculum than pre-k. This includes incorporating a modified kindergarten curriculum that develops early literacy, math, executive function, and social-emotional skills, such as following directions and taking turns.

Please email missionbay@brighthorizons.com and request one.

We encourage any family interested in center information, regular updates and invitations to the many events we are planning, to contact us.

 Yes! Prospective parents can schedule a center visit by completing our Tuitions and Openings form from our center website. 

During your search for the perfect child care partner, this is among the most important questions you can ask.  For over 30 years, we’ve been a company that is guided by our HEART Principles and an unerring belief in putting children first. 

At Bright Horizons, we know that childhood is a treasured time. We believe it is our responsibility to provide environments and experiences that capture the joys of childhood, nurture each child’s individual growth and development, and pave the way for success in school and life. We promise to:

• Nurture and care for the whole child
• Craft and integrated curriculum based on expert research
• Support and develop each teacher
• Implement an emergent, inquiry-based approach to learning
• Cultivate curiosity and creativity through projects, exploration, and play
• Encourage children to be confident experimenters and problem solvers
• Build an inclusive and respectful community
• Create joyful places for childhood

Ask about our educational goals

Yes! Bright Horizons strives to and has successfully accommodated a wide range of special needs and individual differences in our group programs.  We believe in inclusive programs that attempt to meet the needs of a wide range of children and which focus on each child’s strengths. We support a collaborative team approach – the teacher, director, specialists, and parents. The team will work closely together to try to maximize each child’s opportunities for learning, growth, and development, and to attempt to eliminate any barriers or safety issues which a group program may present.

Speak with our center director

• Start by selecting the Find a Center link on this page.
• Under the center you’re interested in, click the Tuition & Openings button.
• Then, select Schedule Your Visit and fill out the form.

This depends on your child’s age, temperament, and level of maturity. General tips for preparing for the first day of child care include:  

Please submit an inquiry to your center(s) of interest with a request for tuition information. We recommend scheduling a visit at the same time (this can be done on the same form).

Safety is our top priority, and it’s part of our everyday routine. All of our centers follow expert-informed health, safety, and security policies and allergy protocols. Additionally, health, safety, and wellness are built right into our curriculum, and our classrooms and spaces are safely designed for learning and exploration.