Helping Fauquier County preschoolers get kindergarten-ready
Our Mission
LSE is committed to preparing every preschool-aged child in Fauquier County to meet challenges in kindergarten and beyond.
Tuition
Assistance
Fundraisers enable LSE to work with Fauquier County Public Schools and local private preschools toward providing tuition assistance to local private preschools for eligible children in Fauquier County.
Collaboration
LSE works closely with Fauquier County Public Schools, local private preschools and Foundation First to support families. LSE has received grants from Northern Piedmont Community Foundation and the PATH Foundation.
Promoting
Early Literacy
LSE’s Reading Buddies program, which began in 2016, provides readers for classrooms at Central, Mary Walter Elementary School, and H. M. Pearson Elementary School.
Exploration, curiosity:
The building blocks of kindergarten readiness
A visit to Grace Montessori School in The Plains is like a real-time lesson in child development. Four bright preschool classrooms with ten staff members welcome 43 children five days a week. Five families are receiving financial assistance from Learning Starts Early, a Fauquier County non-profit focused on helping children prepare for kindergarten.
Jillian Johncox, Head of School at Grace Montessori School, said the school embraces the Montessori philosophy, but with a nod toward the practical realities of the next step in their development. "By teaching practical tasks like washing a window or taking care of an animal, we foster independence, curiosity and confidence.”
The 11th annual Gobble, Gobble, Run or Wobble 5K took place in the heart of Warrenton, Virginia on Nov. 22, 2025.
The 5K race attracted more than 600 runners (and walkers) from all over
Northern Virginia.
The family-friendly race is Learning Starts Early’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Mark your calendars for next year's event
Nov. 21, 2026.
Visit this event page for photos, race results and a Gobble Gobble video.
Want to lend a hand?
LSE’s Head Start Reading Buddies program, which began in 2016, provides readers for Head Start classrooms at Central Complex Building C, Mary Walter Elementary School, and H. M. Pearson Elementary School. The children look forward to having the Reading Buddies come to their classrooms and many request favorite books be reread again and again.
For those interested in becoming a part of this enriching experience, please note that Reading Buddies should be 18 years or older. If you meet this criterion and have a passion for sharing stories with eager young listeners, please complete the volunteer form below.
Check back to this site for additional volunteer opportunities.