The Little Laurelhurst Preschool at NECC

A play-based educational preschool for children ages 3-5 years old

Northeast Community Center is excited to partner with Nancy Jameson, owner of The Little Laurelhurst Preschool, to bring a play-based educational preschool program to NECC!

The mission of The Little Laurelhurst Preschool, is to provide a loving, diverse, safe, and enlightening preschool experience for each child.

Cooperative play, exploration of the arts, and kindergarten readiness are incorporated through fun filled activities that inspire imagination and promote self confidence. Our teachers strive to instill a love for learning while nurturing each students unique qualities.

Our Teachers

Meet Nancy

Nancy Jameson has over 20 years experience teaching preschool age children. Prior to opening The Little Laurelhurst Preschool in 2016, Nancy was lead teacher for the City of Portland at East Portland Community Center. Nancy has a light-hearted and compassionate approach to relating with children and has a natural gift for working with children’s individual learning style. Nancy grew up coming to the center back when it was a YMCA and still lives in the neighborhood.

“I truly enjoy teaching and strive to make every day a new, fun, and magical experience for each child. Preparing little ones for their eventual entrance into kindergarten is something I take great pride in. As an artist I encourage creativity and self expression in our daily activities. Seeing children grow into self assured individuals that love to learn is the best part about teaching preschool!“ ~ Nancy Jameson, Preschool Manager & Teacher

Meet Trista

Trista has over 25 years experience of working with young children in multiple professional environments. As a professional photographer she has a clear understanding of children’s emotional response to classroom activities. She enjoys connecting with the students through structured creative play, and provides a joyful and relaxed approach to teaching.

“I love working with preschool age children! Watching them develop into self assured individuals is the most rewarding aspect of working at The Little Laurelhurst Preschool”

Program Details

Days: Tuesday through Friday – Program only operates on days PPS holds classes.
Times: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm – Families are free to come and go anytime during program hours
2026-27 Pricing: $975/month – NECC membership is not required to attend the Little Laurelhurst Preschool.
Ages: 3-5 years old and must be potty trained.
Snack: NECC provides one snack daily – Protein bars, applesauce, fruit leather, seaweed, and more.
Program Size: After School Time has a high staff-to-child ratio and a maximum of 10 children per day.
Additional Benefits: Participants are gifted a complimentary Family Membership which comes with a host of benefits, including early registration for swim lessons and youth camps. More information about member benefits can be found here.

Parent Reviews

“We have been so happy at little laurelhurst preschool! Nancy has an authentic and natural way about relating to young children. Fun field trips, beautiful artwork, and a calming/playful environment… it has been a year of great friends and enriching activities! We are so grateful to have found The perfect preschool for our daughter. ” -Trista P.

“My two children have been in Nancy’s preschool classes for a total of three years and I feel so fortunate to have had such a wonderful experience with her. Nancy makes every day of class such fun for the kids, and the love she has for her students and her work is so very evident. I know that my kids have an outstanding foundation for learning due to their preschool experiences. They both love going to school each day and that is, without a doubt, thanks to Nancy!” -Carrie C.

“My kids have been going to Teacher Nancy for a few years now and we couldn’t be happier. She is an amazing teacher. My son who is now in her Pre-K class has grown so much since his first day of preschool. Our other son started kindergarten this year and was more more than ready and prepared due to teacher Nancy’s guidence. You can truly see she loves her job and enjoys being such a great influence in our kids lives. My family has been amazed to have found such an intimate preschool that truly focuses on the children’s needs and well being. We couldn’t have asked for a better teacher than Nancy.” -The Rivers Family

“My three children are successful in Elementary School because of Mrs. Jameson. Their conduct has been complemented as well as their readiness for school. Mrs. Jamison’s love for her profession is evident in everything she does. She cares deeply about each and every child’s education an emotional stability.” -Gretchen G.