Ecole Claire Fontaine is a private early-childhood and elementary education program in Venice, Los Angeles, known for combining art, language, and nature throughout its educational approach. The school says it has served Venice families for more than 30 years and provides programs for children from the toddler years through First Grade. Its three campuses—Camper, Abbot Kinney, and Fontaine—are designed to support different stages of a child’s development. Families researching Ecole Claire Fontaine Venice CA will find a school environment centered on creative exploration, multilingual communication, gardens, outdoor classrooms, hands-on projects, and an emergent curriculum that changes with children’s interests.
The school’s educational model goes beyond a conventional preschool curriculum. Ecole Claire Fontaine describes its approach through three central ideas: language, nature, and holistic development. Children encounter French, English, Spanish, and Russian in the school’s multilingual environment, while mathematics is described as another language through which children communicate and reason. The school uses the OPOL—One Person, One Language—method, with teachers speaking to children using their native language. Art, science, music, mathematics, gardening, astronomy, oceanography, cooking, movement, and other hands-on experiences are integrated into children’s daily learning.
For parents comparing Ecole Claire Fontaine in Venice CA with other local preschools and private elementary programs, this profile covers the school’s campuses, curriculum, admissions process, schedules, food program, facilities, leadership information, licensing details, and frequently searched questions about tuition and enrollment. The school offers flexible full-day, morning, and afternoon schedules, as well as full-week and multi-day options. Its admissions process begins with an in-person parent-only tour, followed by a second visit with the child if the family decides to register. Enrollment is offered year-round when capacity permits.
Basic Information
Ecole Claire Fontaine is a private school serving young children across multiple stages, with its three Venice campuses forming a progression from an introduction to school at age two through Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and First Grade. The official school website identifies the Fontaine Campus as the largest campus and the final stage of the ECF journey, while the Camper and Abbot Kinney campuses provide earlier stages of the program. Current California licensing records separately identify ECF’s child-care facilities, including the Abbot Kinney and Fontaine campuses.
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| School Name | Ecole Claire Fontaine |
| School Type | Private school / early-childhood and elementary program |
| Educational Approach | Art, Language & Nature |
| Location | Venice, Los Angeles, California |
| Primary Area | Venice |
| Programs | Early childhood, Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and First Grade |
| Earliest School Entry | 24 months at the Camper Campus |
| Pep’In Program | Twice-weekly program for children ages 18–24 months and their caregivers |
| Preschool | Programs begin at age 2 |
| Transitional Kindergarten | Offered at Fontaine Campus |
| Kindergarten | Offered at Fontaine Campus |
| First Grade | Offered through ECF’s ACME courses at Fontaine Campus |
| Campuses | Camper, Abbot Kinney, Fontaine |
| CDE CDS Code | No matching current CDE School Directory record for the exact school name was verified during research; no code is published here rather than guessing. |
| CDE Sector | Not stated because a matching CDE record could not be verified. |
| CDE Status | Not stated because a matching CDE record could not be verified. |
| CDE District | Not applicable as a publicly operated district school; ECF presents itself as a private school. |
| School History | The official website states that ECF has offered its distinctive early-education experience to Venice families for more than 30 years. |
| Official Website | https://laclairefontaine.org/ |
Contact & Location
Ecole Claire Fontaine operates three campuses in Venice, with each location serving a different stage of the school’s educational journey. The Camper Campus is at 226 Westminster Avenue, the Abbot Kinney Campus is at 1047 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, and the Fontaine Campus is at 815 Venice Boulevard. The school’s official contact number shown in current California licensing records for the Fontaine and Abbot Kinney facilities is (310) 314-9976. Families can use the school’s admissions page to request an in-person tour, which is the first step in the admissions process.
| Campus / Contact | Details |
| Camper Campus | 226 Westminster Avenue, Venice, CA |
| Camper Program | Introduction to school beginning at 24 months |
| Camper Drop-Off | 8:30–9:00 a.m. |
| Camper Half-Day Pick-Up | 1:00 p.m. |
| Camper Full-Day Pick-Up | 5:00–6:00 p.m. Monday–Thursday; by 5:00 p.m. Friday |
| Camper License Number | 197495341 |
| Abbot Kinney Campus | 1047 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291 |
| Abbot Kinney Program | Next stage of the ECF journey, emphasizing growing independence and community |
| Abbot Kinney License Number | 197495342 |
| Fontaine Campus | 815 Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291 |
| Fontaine Program | Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and First Grade |
| Fontaine Drop-Off | 8:30–9:00 a.m. |
| Fontaine Half-Day Pick-Up | 1:30 p.m. |
| Fontaine Full-Day Pick-Up | 5:00–6:00 p.m. Monday–Thursday; by 5:00 p.m. Friday |
| Fontaine License Number | 197495519 |
| Phone | (310) 314-9976 |
| Tours | In-person, parent-only tours; families interested in registering after the tour are scheduled for a second visit with their child |
| Tour Time Listed | 10:00–11:30 a.m. on the school’s scheduled tour dates |
| Official Website | https://laclairefontaine.org/ |
Academics & Curriculum
The curriculum at Ecole Claire Fontaine is distinctive because the school intentionally connects language, nature, art, science, and tactile experiences rather than treating them as isolated subjects. Its multilingual model uses the OPOL method, while the nature component makes gardens and outdoor exploration part of everyday life. The school describes an emergent curriculum that changes annually according to children’s interests. At Fontaine, the TK, Kindergarten, and First Grade ACME courses add greater structure in language, mathematics, science, music, and art while preserving opportunities for outdoor play and exploration.
| Curriculum Area | Details |
| Educational Philosophy | Art, Language & Nature |
| Curriculum Model | Emergent curriculum that changes with children’s interests |
| Languages | French, English, Spanish, Russian; mathematics is described by ECF as a language |
| Language Method | OPOL — One Person, One Language |
| Nature Education | Gardens, outdoor exploration, environmental awareness, gardening, and nature-based discovery |
| Art | Ceramics, clay sculpture, painting, paper construction, kirigami, sewing, graphic design |
| Architecture | Architecture Atelier and construction/building activities |
| Mathematics | Mathematics integrated into the school’s broader language and discovery approach |
| Science | Botany, nature and science lab, astronomy, oceanography, environmental science |
| Music | Choir, piano, singing, music activities |
| Movement | Dance, movement, yoga, mindfulness |
| Writing | Writing, printing and cursive, journalism |
| Language Literacy | Reading in French and Spanish |
| Cooking / Food Exploration | Baking, waffle making, tortilla pressing, flavor exploration |
| Games / Strategy | Chess |
| Field Experiences | Parks, canals, carousel, farmers market, and local galleries |
| Fontaine ACME Courses | TK, Kindergarten, and First Grade curriculum with additional structure in language, mathematics, sciences, music, and art |
| Outdoor Learning | Outdoor play and natural-world exploration are incorporated throughout the school experience |
Admissions & Fees
Ecole Claire Fontaine’s admissions process begins with a tour rather than a conventional application-first process. Tours are conducted in person and are for parents only. If a family wants to register after the tour, the school schedules a second visit with the child. Enrollment is offered throughout the year when capacity permits. Priority for available spaces is given first to current enrollees, siblings, and Pep’In students, after which openings are offered to new students. The official admissions page states that families secure registration by completing required documents and honoring tuition payments.
| Admissions / Fees | Details |
| First Admissions Step | In-person school tour |
| Who Attends First Tour? | Parents/grown-ups only |
| Second Visit | Scheduled with the child if the family wants to register after the tour |
| Priority for Openings | Current enrollees, siblings, and Pep’In students receive first consideration |
| New Students | Openings are offered to new students after priority groups |
| Waiting List | A first-come, first-served waiting list may be used when demand is high |
| Enrollment | Year-round enrollment based on available capacity |
| Registration | Required documents and tuition payments are needed to secure registration |
| Tuition | Current regular-year tuition is not publicly displayed on the official admissions page reviewed; families should request the current tuition schedule directly from ECF |
| Schedules | Full day, morning, afternoon, full week, and multi-day options are listed by the school |
| General Full-Day Schedule | 8:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. |
| General Morning Schedule | 8:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. |
| General Afternoon Schedule | 1:30–6:00 p.m. |
| Friday Schedule | Campus-specific schedules may end at 5:00 p.m. |
| Admissions Form Information | The tour form requests child DOB, country of birth, home language, parent information, allergies/health concerns, emergency contact, and how the family heard about ECF |
| Non-Discrimination Policy | The school states that it does not discriminate in admissions or educational policies on the listed protected bases. |
Facilities
The three Ecole Claire Fontaine campuses are deliberately described as garden-oriented learning environments rather than conventional classroom-only settings. The Camper Campus is presented as a “secret garden” with garden and atelier spaces, while Abbot Kinney combines bright ateliers with shaded garden areas. Fontaine is the largest campus and provides the school’s later-stage curriculum. Current California licensing inspection records also document classroom, restroom, food-service, and outdoor activity areas at the licensed campuses.
| Facility / Environment | Details |
| Camper Campus | Garden-oriented environment with atelier spaces and outdoor learning |
| Abbot Kinney Campus | Bright ateliers and shaded garden spaces |
| Fontaine Campus | Largest of ECF’s three campuses |
| Outdoor Classrooms | Outdoor environments are an important part of the school’s educational approach |
| Gardens | Children paint, explore, play, garden, and experience nature |
| Fontaine Outdoor Area | California licensing inspection documented enclosed outdoor activity space with shade and age-appropriate equipment |
| Abbot Kinney Outdoor Area | California licensing inspection documented enclosed outdoor activity space with shade and age-appropriate equipment |
| Food Preparation | School-made organic breakfast, lunch, and snacks are prepared daily |
| Food Sources | Produce is sourced fresh from local farmers’ markets |
| Classroom Materials | Art, science, sensory, construction, language, mathematics, and nature materials |
| Ateliers | Specialized creative and exploratory spaces are part of the campus environments |
| License / Fontaine Capacity | 2025 California licensing record lists a requested capacity of 75 children for the Fontaine facility |
| License / Abbot Kinney Capacity | 2024 California licensing inspection recommended capacity of 37 preschool children |
| Fontaine Licensing Record | California Department of Social Services Facility No. 197495519 |
| Abbot Kinney Licensing Record | California Department of Social Services Facility No. 197495342 |
Staff & Leadership
Ecole Claire Fontaine emphasizes faculty as guides who remain creative, curious, flexible, and responsive to children’s development. The school’s philosophy says teachers help children explore rather than treating learning as a fixed sequence, and its curriculum describes faculty supporting children’s discovery in nature and classroom activities. Current California licensing records identify Gwendoline Pere-LaHaille as the administrator/director associated with the Fontaine facility and as the applicant associated with the Abbot Kinney licensing process. The school does not publish a complete current teacher-by-teacher directory on the pages reviewed, so individual staff qualifications are not added here without official confirmation.
| Staff / Leadership Information | Details |
| Administrator / Director Listed in Licensing Record | Gwendoline Pere-LaHaille |
| Fontaine Facility Administrator/Director | Gwendoline Pere-LaHaille, according to 2025 California licensing record |
| Abbot Kinney Licensing Applicant | Gwendoline Pere-LaHaille, according to 2024 licensing inspection |
| Teaching Philosophy | Faculty are described as creative, curious, flexible, and teachable |
| Teacher Approach | Teachers guide and support children’s discovery while respecting children’s capacity to explore |
| Language Teachers | ECF’s curriculum describes teachers using the OPOL language approach |
| Staff Directory | A complete current staff roster was not identified on the official website pages reviewed |
| Individual Qualifications | Not published in sufficient current detail on the official pages reviewed |
| Staff-to-Student Ratio | No current school-wide ratio is stated on the official website pages reviewed |
Community & Events
Community at Ecole Claire Fontaine is closely connected to the school’s philosophy of art, nature, language, and cultural awareness. The school describes an international family and teacher base and says children learn from cultures beyond their own, particularly from the culture of childhood. Daily life includes shared projects, gardening, outdoor exploration, music, art, and food experiences. The school also operates a Summer by the Sea program during July and August for children ages 2–6, with activities ranging from art and baking to chess, gardening, French, Spanish, science, sports, and beach-related adventures.
| Community / Events | Details |
| Community Philosophy | International family and teacher community |
| Cultural Learning | Exposure to cultures beyond children’s own, with particular attention to children’s perspectives |
| Daily Community Activities | Shared discovery, collaboration, gardening, art, music, movement, and outdoor play |
| Local Experiences | Parks, canals, carousel, farmers market, and local galleries |
| Summer Program | Summer by the Sea |
| Summer Program Ages | 2–6 years |
| Summer Location | Venice, California, near the Pacific Ocean |
| Summer Activities | Art, baking, bike repair, chess, choir, climbing, French, gardening, meditation, music, beaches, science, sculpture, Spanish, splash pools, sports |
| Summer Languages | French, English, Spanish |
| Summer Meals | Organic breakfast, lunch, and snacks prepared by the school |
| Summer Schedule | Flexible full-day, morning, and afternoon options |
| Summer Registration Fee | $110 per child, non-refundable, according to the school’s published Summer by the Sea information |
| Summer Payment Fee | 3% credit-card fee; no additional fee for ACH, check, or Zelle, according to the published summer information |
| Regular Events Calendar | Campus-specific calendar/schedule information is embedded on campus pages |
Accreditation
The school publicly highlights environmental and sustainability credentials rather than identifying a conventional academic accreditation organization on the official pages reviewed. Ecole Claire Fontaine states that its actions support global sustainability and that it is a Certified Wildlife Habitat and a California Green Business. These environmental designations should not be confused with school accreditation. No specific academic accreditation body is claimed in the official website information reviewed, so none is listed as an accreditation credential.
| Accreditation / Recognition | Details |
| Academic Accreditation | No specific academic accreditation organization identified on the official website pages reviewed |
| Certified Wildlife Habitat | The school states that it is a Certified Wildlife Habitat |
| California Green Business | The school states that it is a California Green Business |
| Sustainability | The school’s philosophy emphasizes zero waste and reducing environmental impact |
| Food Philosophy | Organic and locally sourced food is emphasized where possible |
| Licensing | California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing records identify ECF child-care facilities |
| Fontaine License | 197495519 |
| Abbot Kinney License | 197495342 |
| Camper License | 197495341, as listed on the school’s official campus page |
| CDE Accreditation Record | No matching CDE school-directory record was verified for the exact school name during this research |
Conclusion
Ecole Claire Fontaine is a distinctive Venice private school built around Art, Language & Nature, with three campuses guiding children from the early preschool years through Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and First Grade. Its multilingual environment, outdoor classrooms, gardens, creative ateliers, organic meals, and emergent curriculum give the school a clearly defined educational identity. For families searching for Ecole Claire Fontaine Venice CA, the most important next step is to schedule the school’s parent-only tour and confirm current availability, tuition, and program placement directly with ECF.
FAQ
Where is Ecole Claire Fontaine located?
Ecole Claire Fontaine operates three campuses in Venice: Camper at 226 Westminster Avenue, Abbot Kinney at 1047 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, and Fontaine at 815 Venice Boulevard.
What ages does Ecole Claire Fontaine accept?
The Camper Campus introduces children to school beginning at 24 months, while Pep’In serves children ages 18–24 months with their caregivers. The Fontaine Campus continues through Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and First Grade.
Is Ecole Claire Fontaine a private school?
Yes. Current school-directory sources identify Ecole Claire Fontaine as a private school in Venice, California.
What languages does Ecole Claire Fontaine teach?
The school describes a multilingual environment involving French, English, Spanish, and Russian, with mathematics described as another language. Its teachers use the OPOL—One Person, One Language—method.
Does Ecole Claire Fontaine offer Transitional Kindergarten?
Yes. Transitional Kindergarten is offered at the Fontaine Campus through ECF’s ACME courses. The Fontaine program also includes Kindergarten and First Grade.
How much is Ecole Claire Fontaine tuition?
The school’s current regular-year tuition is not published on the official admissions page reviewed. The school states that registration requires honoring tuition payments, so parents should request the current tuition schedule directly from ECF.
How do I apply to Ecole Claire Fontaine?
The first step is an in-person parent-only tour. If the family wishes to register after the tour, ECF schedules a second visit with the child. Enrollment is available year-round when capacity permits.
Does Ecole Claire Fontaine have a waiting list?
The school states that when demand is high, it may use a first-come, first-served waiting list. Current enrollees, siblings, and Pep’In students receive priority for initial openings.
Does Ecole Claire Fontaine provide meals?
Yes. The school states that organic breakfast, snacks, lunch, and afternoon goûter are served to students. Its campus pages say school-made meals are prepared using produce fresh from local farmers’ markets.
Does Ecole Claire Fontaine have outdoor classrooms?
Yes. Outdoor exploration is a central part of ECF’s approach, and the school describes garden and outdoor classroom environments across its campuses.
What does Ecole Claire Fontaine teach?
The curriculum includes language, nature, art, mathematics, science, music, movement, gardening, astronomy, oceanography, architecture, ceramics, cooking, sewing, graphic design, reading in French and Spanish, journalism, chess, yoga, mindfulness, and other hands-on experiences.
Does Ecole Claire Fontaine offer a summer program?
Yes. Summer by the Sea runs during July and August for children ages 2–6 and offers flexible schedules with activities including art, French, Spanish, gardening, chess, music, science, sculpture, sports, baking, and beach activities.
What are Ecole Claire Fontaine’s hours?
The school’s general program information lists flexible schedules including 8:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. full-day care, 8:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. morning care, and 1:30–6:00 p.m. afternoon care. Campus-specific schedules can differ, particularly on Fridays.
Is Ecole Claire Fontaine accredited?
The official website does not identify a specific academic accreditation organization in the information reviewed. It does state that ECF is a Certified Wildlife Habitat and a California Green Business, which are environmental recognitions rather than academic accreditation.
Find the best school for your child today! View full details here: schoolincalifornia.com
