A nurturing, hands-on learning environment where children build independence, confidence, and a love of learning.
Children’s Learning Center Montessori (CLC) has served families in the Conejo Valley since 1979, offering an authentic Montessori program for children as young as 18 months through first grade. Our classrooms are built around real, hands-on learning — not busywork, and not simply a place to pass time before kindergarten.
At CLC, children learn by doing. Each classroom is a prepared environment filled with hands-on materials that a child can choose, work with, and return to the shelf when finished. This child-led structure builds concentration, independence, and genuine curiosity — the foundation Dr. Maria Montessori designed her method around more than a century ago.
Rather than sitting through lessons aimed at the whole group, children work individually or in small groups, at their own pace, with a teacher guiding rather than directing. Older and younger children often share a classroom, which gives younger students a model to learn from and older students a chance to lead and teach.
This is also where CLC differs from a babysitting service or a standard play-based preschool. Our program is a deliberate, sequenced cycle of learning designed to build real academic and life skills during a child’s most formative years. Students who graduate from CLC have consistently performed well on California standardized tests, and many have gone on to gifted and talented programs.
CLC offers a full continuum of Montessori education for children from 18 months through first grade, including:
The school is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, giving working families a full-day option without sacrificing the Montessori approach. Each classroom follows an uninterrupted work cycle, giving children the time they need to fully engage with an activity rather than being rushed from one task to the next.
Families interested in enrolling for the summer are also welcome to ask about our seasonal summer program during a tour.
CLC’s curriculum is organized around specific, sequenced areas of learning. Each one builds toward the next, and each has a clear, practical purpose in a child’s development.
For children roughly two to four years old, practical life exercises are often their first structured classroom activities. Pouring, polishing, washing, and caring for the classroom environment may look simple, but these exercises build motor control, eye-hand coordination, and concentration. Children also learn to complete a task from start to finish, reset the materials for the next child, and consider the needs of their classmates — early lessons in responsibility and consideration for others.
Hands-on sensorial materials help children refine their senses and build the ability to classify, compare, and observe — skills that later support math and language learning.
Vocabulary building, phonetic awareness, and early reading and writing foundations are introduced through concrete, hands-on materials rather than worksheets alone.
Children work with physical materials to understand number concepts, sequencing, and problem-solving before moving to abstract math — a hallmark of the Montessori approach.
Age-appropriate science concepts introduce children to observation, cause and effect, and the natural world.
Creative expression is part of the daily rhythm of the classroom, not an occasional add-on.
Additional enrichment rounds out the core Montessori areas of learning.
Together, these areas develop the whole child — not just academic skills, but the inner discipline, self-direction, and concentration that support a lifetime of learning.
Shirani Dhawan founded CLC in 1979 to bring authentic early childhood education to the Conejo Valley. She was introduced to and trained in the Montessori method by Mario Montessori, Dr. Maria Montessori’s son, and graduated from the AMI Centre in London in 1968. She has taught internationally since then and has helped start multiple Montessori schools across the greater Los Angeles area, in addition to training other Montessori teachers. She holds a degree in child psychology and remains active in child development work. As a privately owned school, CLC operates under a curriculum she personally designed.
Ms. Rashida teaches CLC’s youngest classroom and brings extensive training in math, science, and creative arts, along with a degree in Economics. Before joining CLC, she taught kindergarten in Hong Kong for seven years and fourth and fifth grade math and science in Pakistan for two years, in addition to three years of Montessori training in Los Angeles. Her nurturing approach helps children ease into their first classroom experience.
Ms. Farida is a Montessori-qualified teacher with more than 20 years of teaching experience, both nationally and internationally. At CLC, she guides children through phonics, reading, counting, and basic science concepts. Her experience and genuine interest in each child’s potential shape a classroom where students are consistently challenged and supported.
CLC is located at 2993 Crescent Way in Thousand Oaks, CA 91362, in the heart of the Conejo Valley. Families choose our campus from throughout Thousand Oaks as well as neighboring communities including Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, and Moorpark, and from across Ventura County.
Our location and full-day schedule make CLC a practical option for parents commuting to work in the Conejo Valley or the greater San Fernando Valley area, with drop-off and pickup hours that stretch from early morning through early evening.
We are also committed to keeping our campus safe and our community healthy. We regularly sanitize classroom surfaces, encourage thoughtful social distancing practices, manage classroom occupancy, and monitor staff health. If there is anything we can do to make our space more comfortable for your family, please let us know.
CLC accepts children from 18 months through first grade. Enrollment typically begins with a tour of our campus, where you can see our classrooms in action, meet our teachers, and ask questions about the program that would fit your child.
To start the process:
Availability can be limited, particularly for toddler and preschool age groups, so families are encouraged to schedule a tour as early as possible — including ahead of our summer program.
Tuition varies by age group and schedule. Contact us directly for current tuition, schedule options, and enrollment availability, and we’ll walk you through what’s included for your child’s specific program.
Families who have gone through our program often point to the same things: teachers who genuinely know their child, a classroom where children are excited to go each day, and a noticeable difference in independence and confidence over time. You can find current parent reviews for Children’s Learning Center Montessori on Google — we welcome you to read them as part of your research.
CLC accepts children as young as 18 months and offers continuous enrollment through toddler, preschool, transitional kindergarten (TK), kindergarten, and first grade.
Montessori education is child-led rather than teacher-directed. Children choose from hands-on materials designed for their stage of development, working independently or in small groups at their own pace, rather than following a single group lesson plan for the whole class.
Children move through an uninterrupted work cycle where they choose activities from the classroom’s prepared materials, supported by individual or small-group lessons from their teacher. The day also includes practical life activities, outdoor time, and group activities, with scheduling that runs from 7:30 am to6:00 pmm for families who need full-day care.
Our curriculum covers Practical Life, Sensory Material, Language Arts, Mathematics, Sciences, Music and Art, and additional enrichment activities, sequenced to build on one another as children grow.
The Montessori method builds concentration, independence, and problem-solving skills alongside early academic foundations in language and math. CLC graduates have performed well on California standardized tests, and many have been selected for gifted programs.
CLC is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 amam to 6:00 pm. Contact us to discuss schedule options for your child’s age group.
Enrollment starts with a campus tour, where you can see the classrooms and meet our teachers. From there, we’ll walk you through age group placement, schedule, and next steps to secure your child’s spot.
Yes. We encourage every family to tour our campus before enrolling. Call (805) 250-5835/ 805-495-3903 or email montessoriclc@gmail.com to schedule a time.
Schedule a tour to meet our teachers, explore the classroom, and learn more about enrollment at Children’s Learning Center Montessori.
Children’s Learning Center Montessori
License # 566213859
2993 Crescent Way, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
(805) 250-5835 | 805-495-3903 | montessoriclc@gmail.com
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 6:00 pm
You already know how Montessori Schools are for children. Make an appointment today to learn how Children’s Learning Center Montessori will be for your child.
License # 566213859
2993 Crescent Way
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
