About

Our Story

A family of professionals and parents working together for the benefit of the growth of each child.

Serving Irvine families since 1984

Saint Andrew’s Children’s Center has proudly provided quality child development and family services to residents of Irvine and surrounding communities since 1984. The Center began in modular classrooms in the church’s parking lot. It quickly grew in popularity, and as the need for quality child care in the area became clear, Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church decided to build a large child development center. In 1997, Saint Andrew’s Children’s Center opened today’s beautiful 15-classroom campus.

The Children’s Center is an integral mission of Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church. The Center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and its Board of Directors meets monthly to approve policy, review the financial statements, and oversee program operations.

Parents and children smiling together outdoors

Our philosophy

Saint Andrew’s Children’s Center is committed to meeting the individual needs of each child in a nurturing environment which welcomes children and families of all faiths and cultures.

We believe that parents are the first and most important teachers of their own children. Staff work with parents as partners while focusing on the emotional, social, physical and intellectual growth of each child.

Our teaching teams strive to create a loving and nurturing environment that helps instill a lifelong enthusiasm for learning. Children are born with a natural curiosity about their world; babies have an innate joy of learning that is evident even at birth. As children grow, they continue to explore and to learn.

Children learn best when they have many opportunities to explore and interact with their environment, and play is an essential part of that process. Learning should be fun, and children learn best by doing and making choices. Our staff honor the belief that “children’s play is their work.”

All children progress through the same stages of development, but each child’s rate of development is unique. Our teachers value children as individuals and plan classroom activities that offer challenges for each child.

Open-door policy

Our Center maintains an open-door policy for all parents, guardians and designated persons, and families are always enthusiastically welcomed throughout the day. Research shows that children with actively involved parents tend to have higher self-esteem and a stronger sense of self-control. At our Center, staff and parents partner in a circle of care around children. At Saint Andrew’s, families matter!

Certified and licensed

Saint Andrew’s Children’s Center is certified by the Episcopal Commission on Schools of the Diocese of Los Angeles and licensed by the California Department of Social Services. Licensing & policies.