Inclusive Preschool | School of Imagination · Tri-Valley · Dublin, CA
Inclusive preschool · Enrolling now
Integrated therapy on-site · Est. 2001
Dublin, CA · 9801 Dublin Blvd
Tours available by appointment
Inclusive early childhood education · Dublin, CA

Where every child
belongs.

An inclusive, ESDM-based preschool where children with and without disabilities learn and grow together — with on-site access to clinical therapy and a team that coordinates every step of the way.

2001
Serving families since
13–17
Children per classroom
3
Educators per room
6
Clinical disciplines on-site
ESDM
Research-based model
Who it's for

Our preschool is designed for every learner.

Three types of families choose School of Imagination — and all three belong here.

🌈
Children with developmental needs

Children with autism, language delays, sensory processing differences, or other developmental concerns thrive in our inclusive classrooms — with on-site access to speech, OT, and behavioral therapy and a team that coordinates with their clinicians.

Neurotypical children

Neurotypical children gain something rare here: the chance to grow up alongside peers who learn differently, develop empathy and compassion early, and build the kinds of friendships that shape character. Research consistently shows inclusion benefits all learners.

👨‍👩‍👧
Families who want something different

Families who want small class sizes, low ratios, a team that actually communicates, and a school that prepares children for kindergarten and for life — not just for standardized assessments.

Classroom programs

Programs organized by age and developmental stage.

Children are grouped into age-appropriate classroom communities. Each classroom has 3 educators and stays together as a family for the full year.

Youngest class
18 months – 2½ years

Intensive early learning for our youngest children, focused on foundational developmental skills, language, and socialization.

  • Language and early communication
  • Sensory exploration and motor play
  • Social-emotional foundations
  • Direct connection to infant development & speech services
Middle class
2½ – 3½ years

Building independence, peer connection, and readiness for more structured learning in a warm, play-based environment.

  • Expanding vocabulary and sentence structure
  • Fine motor and pre-writing skills
  • Turn-taking, sharing, and friendship
  • Introduction to classroom routines
Kindergarten readiness
3½ – 5 years

Academic foundations and social readiness — preparing children for the full kindergarten experience with confidence and skills.

  • Literacy and phonological awareness
  • Math concepts and problem-solving
  • Self-regulation and emotional literacy
  • Collaborative learning and independence
👩‍🏫
3 educators per room

Lead teacher plus two support educators for every class. High attention, low stress.

🏠
One classroom all year

Children stay in their classroom family from September through June — no room changes, no disruption.

🌞
Full & half day options

Flexible scheduling to fit your family's needs. Contact us to discuss current availability.

🔗
On-site clinical access

Speech, OT, and behavioral therapy available on campus. Therapists and teachers coordinate directly.

Our inclusion model

Inclusion is the design — not the accommodation.

Two-thirds of children in each class are neurotypical; one-third are neurodiverse. This ratio is intentional and research-backed — it creates a learning environment that benefits every child.

Classroom composition
Neurotypical peers (⅔)Neurodiverse learners (⅓)
13–17
children per class
3
educators per room
25+
years inclusive model
ESDM
research-based approach
"Autism is treatable, but only if it is diagnosed and treated very early. Happy Talkers is the leader in early screening and diagnosis — truly one-of-a-kind in the nation."
— Sumit Sen, M.D., FAAP · Autism & Child Development Specialist
Why inclusion benefits all learners
🤝
Authentic peer relationships

Children with disabilities practice social skills alongside neurotypical peers — not just with adults or therapists. Real friendships form. That's the point.

🌱
Role modeling that works both ways

Neurotypical children model language and social behavior. Children with different learning styles model persistence, creativity, and seeing the world differently.

💙
Empathy built from day one

Children who grow up in inclusive classrooms develop genuine empathy for people who are different from them. This shapes character for life.

📈
Better academic outcomes for all

Research consistently shows that children in well-designed inclusive classrooms — neurotypical and neurodiverse alike — achieve more than their peers in non-inclusive settings.

Curriculum & approach

Research-based. Kindergarten-ready. Child-led.

Our curriculum draws from the most effective early childhood frameworks — chosen because they work for all learners, not just typical ones.

Developmental assessment
DRDP Standards

California's Desired Results Developmental Profile guides our assessment of each child's growth across all developmental domains throughout the year.

Literacy & phonics
Zoo-phonics

A multisensory approach to reading readiness that uses animals, sounds, and movement to teach letter-sound relationships in a way children love and remember.

Fine motor & writing
Handwriting Without Tears

A developmentally appropriate, multi-sensory program that builds the fine motor skills and pencil control children need for kindergarten writing readiness.

Social-emotional learning
Zones of Regulation

A framework that teaches children to identify their emotional state and use strategies to self-regulate — a foundational skill for learning, relationships, and life.

ESDM foundation: Our program is grounded in the Early Start Denver Model — recognized by Time magazine as a Top 10 Medical Breakthrough for treating autism. Founder Charlene Sigman is a certified ESDM therapist with over 25 years of early childhood experience.
What makes us different

Therapy and school
in the same building.

Most preschools refer families elsewhere for therapy. At School of Imagination, therapy happens here — and your child's educators and therapists talk to each other.

On-site speech, OT, and behavioral therapy

Children enrolled in the preschool can receive Happy Talkers clinical services on campus — no separate appointments at a separate location.

Teachers and therapists coordinate directly

Your child's classroom teacher and their speech or OT therapist share goals, discuss progress, and align strategies — regularly. One team, one plan.

No preschool enrollment required for clinical services

Clinical services through Happy Talkers are also available to children not enrolled in the preschool. Visit happytalkers.org →

Insurance accepted for all clinical services

Most major commercial insurance and RCEB accepted. Our revenue cycle team handles verification and authorization before your child's first appointment.

Teacher and child at School of Imagination
Family voices

What families say about being here.

From the 2024 Impact Report — families who trusted us with the most important years of their child's life.

"
The School of Imagination has been life-changing for our son, Landon. With seamless communication between teachers and staff, Landon has thrived socially and academically. We can feel the genuine care Charlene and the entire SOI team have for our child.
— Lorenzo Logwood & Lauryn Randolph · Parents to Landon, age 4 · San Ramon, CA
"
After SOI's program, my daughter was well-prepared to enter junior kindergarten and now my son has advanced to the next classroom level. Both are thriving in school. They helped potty-train my son and taught my daughter to socialize with others after the pandemic.
— Annie Patel · Mom of Jak, SOI preschooler, and Raya, SOI graduate
"
Logan went from a socially anxious toddler to a confident 5-year-old — his transformation is beyond words. It's not about business for SOI; it's about fostering a safe, welcoming space for every child to thrive.
— Sarah Haar · Mom to Logan, age 5 · Started speech therapy at 18 months
How to enroll

Four steps from inquiry to first day.

We make it easy to get started. Most families complete enrollment in two to three weeks.

1
Reach out

Call, email, or use the contact form below. Tell us about your child and what you're looking for.

2
Schedule a tour

Visit the campus, see the classrooms, and meet our team. Tours are by appointment to protect the children in our care.

3
Complete application

Submit your enrollment application and any supporting documentation. Our team guides you through every step.

4
Welcome to SOI

Attend orientation, meet your child's classroom team, and prepare for the first day. We support families through the transition.

Enrollment questions

What families ask before enrolling.

Our preschool serves children from 18 months through 5 years of age, across three classroom levels organized by developmental stage. Contact us to discuss which classroom is the right fit for your child.
No. Our preschool enrolls both neurotypical children and children with developmental concerns or diagnoses. No diagnosis is required. If you have concerns about your child's development, our team can discuss evaluation options and connect you with Happy Talkers clinical services.
Days are structured around play-based learning with a predictable daily rhythm: morning circle, centers, outdoor play, lunch, rest, and afternoon activities. Routines are consistent — predictability helps all children, especially those who thrive with structure. Therapy sessions are scheduled to integrate into the child's day without disrupting the classroom flow.
Yes, we offer both full-day and half-day options. Availability varies by classroom and current enrollment. Contact us to discuss what's currently open and which format fits your family's schedule.
Tuition varies by classroom level and schedule. We don't publish rates publicly because we want to have a real conversation with every family — including about scholarship support, which is available for families who need it. Contact us and we'll walk you through the full picture.
Yes — and this is one of the most meaningful things we offer. Children enrolled in the preschool can receive speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral therapy through Happy Talkers on-site. Their therapist and classroom teacher coordinate directly. Most major insurance is accepted and the intake process runs through Happy Talkers — happytalkers.org.
Tours are by appointment only — we don't allow unannounced walk-ins in order to protect the children in our care. To schedule, call us at (925) 829-9555, email happy@schoolofimagination.org, or use the contact form on our site. We respond within one business day.
Schedule a visit
Come see it for yourself.
Tours are available by appointment. Meet our team, see the classrooms, and ask every question you have.
Schedule a tour →
Enrollment inquiry
Start the conversation.
Tell us about your child and what you're looking for. We'll follow up within one business day.
Contact us →
Clinical services
Need therapy, not preschool?
Clinical services through Happy Talkers are available to all children — no preschool enrollment required.
Visit happytalkers.org →
Questions? Call (925) 829-9555 · Email happy@schoolofimagination.org · 9801 Dublin Blvd, Dublin, CA 94568