Bright Horizons Child Care in San Francisco

Early Education & Preschool That's More Than Daycare

Bright Horizons in San Francisco offers quality, year-round programming, flexible 2, 3, 4, and 5-day schedules, and a number of convenient preschool locations throughout Downtown San Francisco including Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach, Chinatown, Embarcadero, Financial District, Union Square, Central Market, SOMA/Yerba Buena and Castro/Noe Valley, East Bay cities of San Ramon, Dublin and Alameda, San Mateo in the Peninsula, and Silicon Valley cities of San Jose, Sunnyvale and Cupertino and Marin County.


See tuition and openings at centers near you!

Bright Horizons San Francisco is more than daycare

Health, Safety, and Wellness at Our San Francisco Centers

Parents nationwide trust Bright Horizons to care for their children. Expert-informed policies; health, safety, and wellness built right into our curriculum; and safe spaces designed for learning and exploration — you’ll find it all in our centers.

Staff dedicated to ensuring that we set the highest standards in all areas

Strict handwashing and sanitary policies to prevent the spread of illnesses

Secured entrances to all centers and supervision policies to keep children safe

Frequent cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces, toys, and laundered items

Explore Child Care in the Bay Area

Working parents shouldn’t have to choose between child care and early education. Our programs ensure you don’t have to, offering convenience for your workday, and enriching learning experiences for your child.


With 25 convenient San Francisco area locations, we're never far from your home or workplace.

Little Trailblazers

50 Fremont Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
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Bright Horizons at Hills Plaza

2 Harrison Street Suite 150
San Francisco, CA 94105
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UCSF at Mission Bay Child Development Center

727 Nelson Rising Lane
San Francisco, CA 94143
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UCSF at Laurel Heights Child Development Center

2675 Geary Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94118
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Bright Horizons at One Letterman

One Letterman Drive Bldg. B
San Francisco, CA 94129
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UCSF at Marilyn Reed Lucia Child Development Center

610 Parnassus Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94143
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UCSF at Kirkham Child Development Center

10 Kirkham Street
San Francisco, CA 94143
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Bright Horizons at Garner

2275 North Loop Road
Alameda, CA 94502
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2nd Generation at Allerton

444 Allerton Ave
South San Francisco, CA 94080
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Bright Horizons EDS Tam Valley

350 Bell Lane
Mill Valley, CA 94941
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Miniverse

279 E Grand Ave.
South San Francisco, CA 94080
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2nd Generation at Cabot

342 Allerton Avenue
South San Francisco, CA 94080
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Bright Horizons at Hillside

80 Lomita Drive
Mill Valley, CA 94941
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Bright Horizons EDS Edna Maguire

80 Lomita Drive
Mill Valley, CA 94941
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Bright Horizons EDS Park School

360 E. Blithedale
Mill Valley, CA 94941
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Bright Horizons at Mill Valley

10 Old Mill Street
Mill Valley, CA 94941
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Bright Horizons EDS Old Mill

352 Throckmorton
Mill Valley, CA 94941
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Papillon Preschool managed by Bright Horizons

1311 S El Camino Real
San Mateo, CA 94402
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Bright Horizons at San Mateo

1700 Alameda de las Pulgas
San Mateo, CA 94403
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Bright Horizons at Marin Commons

1600 Los Gamos Drive, Suite 230, Lobby C
San Rafael, CA 94903
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Bright Horizons at San Carlos

2851 San Carlos Ave.
San Carlos, CA 94070
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Bright Horizons at Redwood City

403 Winslow Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
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Bright Horizons at Bishop Ranch

2603 Camino Ramon
San Ramon, CA 94583
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Bright Horizons at Dublin

7035 Dublin Boulevard
Dublin, CA 94568
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Bright Horizons at Palo Alto Shoreline

991 Commercial St.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
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What Questions Should I Ask a Child Care Provider?
 

What ages does Bright Horizons in San Francisco serve in its child care program?

OPEN

Most of our San Francisco child care centers serve children ages six weeks to six years. Bright Horizons is more than daycare. We have programs with developmentally appropriate curriculum for infantstoddlerpreschool and pre-K.

I've looked at other child care solutions in San Francisco with long waitlists. What if I want to enroll at a San Francisco Bright Horizons center but space is not available?

OPEN

You can select and register with up to three Bright Horizons child care locations, including the center in which you are most interested. By registering, you are confirming interest in all three centers. Once registered, we will add you to our waitlist and offer you a space as soon as one becomes available. Our goal is to accommodate families as soon as space allows, and so during the entire process, we will keep in touch with you regarding your status. While waiting for a space to become available at the first-choice location, many families enroll at their second or third choices temporarily until space becomes available at their first-choice centers. Enrolling at another location will not only solve your immediate child care needs, but will provide you priority access to your first preference.

What is the background check process for all staff at Bright Horizons San Francisco child care centers?

OPEN

Bright Horizons conducts comprehensive background checks on all prospective employees and frequent visitors. In San Francisco, the state of CA Department of Youth and Families requires background checks for employees of a daycare or licensed child care facility.

 

Bright Horizons background checks consist of a county criminal record check for the past seven years performed in all counties that a person has lived, worked or attended school. In addition to the county criminal search, a sex offender search, OFAC search, and a social security verification trace are also conducted.

Is it safe to send my child to a San Francisco child care or preschool?

OPEN
We continue to monitor state and local public health guidelines, look to our medical expert, and use our considerable experience to guide our health and safety practices. We’re prepared to respond quickly and adjust those health and safety practices as needed.

Do Bright Horizons daycare centers follow state/local requirements for masking and vaccinations?

OPEN

Where there are additional state or local requirements, for example around vaccination/masking, Bright Horizons also complies with applicable legal requirements in each jurisdiction in which we operate.

Are child care staff at Bright Horizons in San Francisco trained in CPR and First Aid?

OPEN

All Bright Horizons San Francisco staff are trained regularly in CPR /First Aid and Universal Precautions. You can feel confident that your child is safe and receiving the best care possible while in our care.  Families of children in our care use the to get photos, real-time updates on care, learning, and milestones, and stay up to date on important notifications.

All Bright Horizons San Francisco staff receive ongoing training, including CPR/First Aid and Universal Precautions. You can feel confident that your child is healthy, safe, and thriving while in our care. Bright Horizons families use the MyBrightDay mobile app daily to get photos, real-time updates on care, learning, and milestones, and to stay up-to-date on important notifications.

What do children learn at Bright Horizons child care in San Francisco?

OPEN

Child care at Bright Horizons is focused on making our daily experiences focused on comprehensive, optimum development of each child: mind, body, social self, and character. Here's how we do it:

Preparing Children for Success in Life by:

  1. Approaching life as an invitation to learn
  2. Becoming a confident and competent lifelong learner
  3. Becoming a confident and competent user of technology
  4. Developing emotional intelligence: personal power and social skills

Preparation for Academic Excellence by:

  1. Developing the social and cognitive skills necessary for school success
  2. Achieving excellence in language and literacy
  3. Developing an engaged, reflective, inquisitive mind and appreciation of science
  4. Achieving excellence in logical/mathematical understanding
Providing a Rich and Rewarding Childhood by focusing on:
  1. Happy days
  2. Wonderful relationships
  3. A World of experience

How much does child care in San Francisco cost?
 

OPEN
Child care tuition in San Francisco is dependent upon your child’s age, developmental level, and the location of the school you have chosen. To get a customized tuition quote for Bright Horizons in San Francisco, please set up a Zoom meeting with us. Our center staff can talk through your family's needs to help calculate what tuition would look like for you.

Does Bright Horizons in San Francisco have infant care?
 

OPEN

Yes. Most of our locations offer infant care programs for children starting at 6-weeks old. We're happy to schedule a safe, personalized Zoom visit for expectant parents who would like to learn about why Bright Horizons in San Francisco is a great place for babies.

Does Bright Horizons in San Francisco have a toddler program?

OPEN

Yes. Most of our locations offer toddler programs for children to start to explore independence, language and social skills. We're happy to schedule a safe, personalized Zoom visit for parents who would like to find out what toddlers learn in our San Francisco child care programs.

How do I find a nanny in San Francisco?
 

OPEN
With the Sittercity app, you can search locally for a full or part-time nanny or post a job detailing your needs and have interested child care professionals reach out directly to you. Sittercity has built-in screening tools to give you the control to hire with ease and confidence. This includes secure messaging, interview booking, professional references, and running background checks.

Does Bright Horizons in San Francisco have a preschool program?
 

OPEN

Yes. Most of our locations offer preschool and kindergarten preparation programs for children to start working on getting ready for school. We're happy to schedule a safe, personalized Zoom visit for parents who would like to learn about what school readiness at Bright Horizons in San Francisco looks like.

Is Bright Horizons hiring child care teachers in San Francisco?

 

OPEN

Yes. Please visit our careers site to view all active Bright Horizons job openings in your area. Our careers site allows you to search for all open positions (part-time, full-time, and temporary) in our centers, including positions at client center that only enroll families who work for specific employers.

Is Bright Horizons a good place to work in San Francisco?

OPEN

Yes, but don’t just take our word for it! We’ve been named 20 times as one of FORTUNE's 100 Best Companies to Work For, and are honored to be the only child care company to ever make the list.

How are working parents supported by child care at Bright Horizons in San Francisco?

OPEN

Bright Horizons in San Francisco supports the whole family because we know that success at work and success at home go hand-in-hand. We designed our centers, child care programs, and schedules to keep the needs of both children and parents in mind. 

Does Bright Horizons have summer care in San Francisco?
 

OPEN
We have a partnership with Steve and Kate's camp locations as well as our Summer Explorations programs for children ages 3-5 and 6-12. 

Does Bright Horizons in San Francisco allow children with special needs to enroll in child care?

OPEN
Yes! Bright Horizons in San Francisco can successfully accommodate a wide range of special needs and individual differences in our group programs.  We believe in inclusive programs to 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.

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