Welcome to Our Nest
In the heart of West Linn, Oregon, Little Nestlings Early Learning Center was created by educator Colleen Cleary as a warm, Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool for children ages 3–5.
Recognizing the dire need for quality early childhood education amidst Oregon’s childcare deserts, Little Nestlings Early Learning Center was founded to provide hope and innovation in the educational landscape.
Our center is not merely a preschool; it’s a thriving community where children’s natural curiosity leads to discovery and growth.
Our Beginnings
standardof care, creativity, and connection for the next generation of leaders and innovators through the transformative Reggio Emilia philosophy. Grounded in her deep understanding of early education development, that vision became the foundation for what is now Little Nestlings Early Learning Center, a preschool that has become a valued part of the West Linn Community. It’s guided by a mission to nurture, inspire, and educate
Our story begins with a simple but powerful realization: Oregon, and West Linn in particular, needs more accessible, high-quality early childhood education. Colleen Cleary, a seasoned educator with years of experience nurturing young minds, saw this gap firsthand. She recognized the need for an exceptional preschool environment and envisioned a different kind of early learning center: one that would expand access to thoughtful, child-centered early education while setting a high
standardof care, creativity, and connection for the next generation of leaders and innovators through the transformative Reggio Emilia philosophy. Grounded in her deep understanding of early education development, that vision became the foundation for what is now Little Nestlings Early Learning Center, a preschool that has become a valued part of the West Linn Community. It’s guided by a mission to nurture, inspire, and educate.
OUR MISSION
OUR VISION
Little Nestlings aspires to revolutionize the early education field and set an unparalleled standard of excellence. We focus on the well-being of our dedicated educators through competitive compensation and a supportive work environment. This ensures that our staff can bring their best selves to our classrooms daily. In turn, this creates an enriching learning environment for children to thrive.
Little Nestlings at a Glance
learning, outdoor exploration, expressive arts, STEAM, storytelling, ASL exposure, social-emotional skill building, and meaningful relationships. Families from West Linn, Lake Oswego, Oregon City, and nearby communities are welcome to schedule a tour.
Our Founder
Colleen Cleary, Founder and Teacher at Little Nestlings, has devoted her career to creating thoughtful learning environments where children are encouraged to explore, express themselves, build social-emotional skills, and grow with confidence.
Colleen’s Vision for Early Childhood Education
Colleen created Little Nestlings with a clear and deeply thoughtful vision: to offer young children a warm, creative preschool environment where they are seen as capable, curious, expressive, and full of possibility. Her work is rooted in relationship, responsiveness, creativity, and respect for each child as an individual. Colleen believes preschool is not only preparation for what comes next. It is a meaningful season of life where children practice friendship, express ideas, move their bodies, explore materials, build confidence, and feel a deep sense of belonging.
Colleen created Little Nestlings with a clear and deeply thoughtful vision: to offer young children a warm, creative preschool environment where they are seen as capable, curious, expressive, and full of possibility. Her work is rooted in relationship, responsiveness, creativity, and respect for each child as an individual.
Colleen believes preschool is not only preparation for what comes next. It is a meaningful season of life where children practice friendship, express ideas, move their bodies, explore materials, build confidence, and feel a deep sense of belonging.
The Reggio Emilia Approach
At the heart of our curriculum is the Reggio Emilia approach, a philosophy that respects children as strong, capable, resilient, and rich with wonder and knowledge. As a leading preschool in West Linn, we embrace this approach to nurture each child’s deep curiosity and potential.
Every child brings with them deep curiosity and potential, and this innate curiosity drives their interest to understand their world and their place within it.
Our educators, embracing the role of co-learners and collaborators, facilitate an environment where the classroom acts as the third teacher.
This approach fosters an atmosphere of exploration, creativity, and respect for each child’s voice. We carefully design our spaces to inspire curiosity, instill creativity, and encourage students to engage meaningfully with their environment and each other.
Little Nestlings at a glance
Little Nestlings Early Learning Center is a Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool located at 19200 Willamette Drive in West Linn, Oregon. The school serves children ages 3–5 during the school year and offers summer camps for children ages 3–6. Little Nestlings emphasizes hands-on learning, outdoor exploration, expressive arts, STEAM, storytelling, ASL exposure, social-emotional skill building, and meaningful relationships. Families from West Linn, Lake Oswego, Oregon City, and nearby communities are welcome to schedule a tour.
Explore the Little Nestlings Experience
See what sets Little Nestlings apart as a premier preschool in West Linn where young, curious minds flourish. Our center is a vibrant community where the joy of learning meets the adventure of discovery. Join our family and watch your child grow in a place where education goes beyond traditional learning.