We spent three wonderful years at Guiding Light, enrolling my son starting at age 3, and it shaped…read morehis early childhood in the best possible way. The teachers are warm, attentive, and truly invested in each child as an individual, and the Montessori approach is carried out thoughtfully in a way that makes kids feel safe and excited to learn. We appreciated how present and communicative the staff were, with regular parent-teacher conferences that made us feel genuinely involved in his growth every step of the way. Our son adored his time there and his confidence blossomed in ways we are still grateful for. Any family looking for a nurturing, quality early education program in the area would be lucky to find Guiding Light.

I hope my words convey the deep respect I hold for Guiding Light Montessori and its exceptional…read morestaff, particularly Justine, the owner and Head Teacher, and her dedicated handyman, Hubby. Their unwavering commitment to creating a nurturing environment for children to flourish, grow, and gain confidence is truly commendable. Which brings you to my story. Earlier this year, I lost my adult son; he left behind my beautiful grandaughter, who now lives with my husband and me. Her world changed from one day to the next, and life as she knew it was different and absent. Being an only child who desperately needed structure and friends, we enrolled her at Guiding Light Montessori. It was a rough 1st week, and when I say rough, that is being softly put! Justine was a Godsend; she gently guided and helped my granddaughter feel safe, welcome, and loved! It didn't take long for that transition to happen because of Justine's genuine heart for the grace of children. These early experiences play a crucial role in shaping our children's self-confidence. My granddaughter has learned to trust that her feelings are respected, welcomed, and loved at Guiding Light Montessori. The education and daily experiences at Guiding Light are beyond measure. I do have to circle back to the tender care the children receive daily. Because of that, the children are open to receiving the teachings. My granddaughter comes home singing and sharing; she wants to do everything all by herself--a true reflection of a Montessori student. I am beyond grateful and feel completely blessed. Thank you, Justine, and every wonderful teacher who helps guide these little people. Your work is truly appreciated! With Sincere Gratatude, Jim and Michelle Service

We've been at CiL for about a year now, and we love it there. My son felt at home within days of…read morestarting, which is no surprise given how comfortable the teachers are to be around. This school is exactly what I want in a preschool: it's clean and organized, comfortable, and welcoming in every way. The teachers are all well experienced, and unlike some schools where teachers come and go frequently, the teachers here have been at CiL for years. Throughout the current Shelter in Place, CiL has made every effort to connect with students, holding virtual classes throughout the week, sending regular updates, and staying in touch with parents. I am confident that thanks to their hard work, my son's return to preschool (post SIP) will be a smooth one. I cannot thank CiL enough for being so good to my son and all the other kids there. I love knowing that when I'm at work, my child is in a place where he is cared for and respected, while also held accountable for showing the same care and respect to his peers.

My child attended CiL for a little over a year before going to kindergarten and during a trying…read moretime for the site as there was not only Covid in full force, with a population not eligible for vaccines, but the nonprofit which runs the school was about to embark on a large renovation/building project at the site. We had a great experience with the teachers and really appreciated the safety focus they had for the kids. Though we didnt get to benefit from it, I really like the association with the Choice in Aging senior services next door and could see that being a real plus for everyone in the future when things calm down. They have moved the preschool to a different area of the site temporarily to prepare for a multiphase construction and it looks really nice. The site will benefit from wholesale renovation as it is aged. I went 4 stars because of things independent of the care of the kids, basically the administrative aspects (pricing, planning, communication, etc) were frustrating. I would not hesitate to send my child there again but be prepared to have some frustrating moments.

Our family has been part of Springfield since 2022, and we've had a wonderful experience. From the…read morestart, the administration has been communicative, welcoming, and intentional in creating a safe, caring environment. The teachers are exceptional. Our biggest priority is knowing our children are loved, supported, and their needs are met--and Springfield has consistently delivered that and more. Both of our boys were well prepared for public school transitions and developed a genuine love of learning. It's clear the staff are passionate about what they do, and we've truly felt like part of the Springfield family. I have a degree in Early Childhood Development and toured many local preschools before choosing Springfield. In my opinion, it is one of the top preschools in the area. Yes, the enrollment process is thorough and tuition is higher than some options, but the quality of care, education, and teacher support makes that clear.

I really wanted to love this preschool, but unfortunately our experience with the admissions…read moreprocess was so poorly handled that I would not feel comfortable enrolling my child here. It started before we even toured. I spent some time trying to get in touch with someone and received no response. I was ultimately only able to connect with the school after a coworker, whose child currently attends, reached out on my behalf. Once we finally had a tour scheduled, the school canceled on us the day of the tour and rescheduled us for the following week -- despite the fact that we had taken time off work specifically to attend. When we finally toured, we actually liked the school and were excited enough that we planned to enroll our child. We discussed the schedule we needed and understood that the 7am-6pm option was available. We told the staff that we would immediately pay the deposit. She was fine with us leaving to go home to get our check and coming right back. We live 5 minutes down the road. We left to go home and get our check and returned immediately afterward to secure his spot. In that very short window, we were suddenly told the 7am-6pm schedule was full and that they could only hold 9am-3pm. If we needed care outside of those hours, we were told it would be an additional $30 per hour. I understand that preschool spots are limited and availability can change. What I cannot understand is how a family can be sitting in the school discussing enrollment and availability, leave specifically to retrieve payment, and return shortly afterward to find that the schedule they had just discussed is no longer available -- without any communication or acknowledgment of the "confusion". The entire experience left me with serious concerns about the admissions process and the emphasis on additional fees. When you're choosing a place to care for your young child, communication, transparency and trust matter enormously. If communication is this difficult and inconsistent before your child even starts, it is hard to feel confident about what communication will look like once your child is actually in their care. Afterward, I went back and read through Yelp reviews and was surprised to see other parents describing similar frustrations with the admissions process, including concerns about communication, transparency and cost. Obviously I can only speak to my own experience, but reading those accounts after what happened to us reinforced the concerns I already had. I understand the school has recently had a change in admissions leadership, so perhaps some of this is related to that transition. Regardless, families are making significant financial commitments and, more importantly, trusting a school with their children. They deserve clear information, empathy and consistent communication throughout that process. We genuinely wanted this school to work for our family. Instead, after time of unanswered outreach, a tour canceled the day of after we had taken off work, and then having the schedule we were prepared to pay for become unavailable in the short time it took us to retrieve our check, we walked away feeling that we could no longer trust the admissions process enough to enroll our son.

Honestly this is the best daycare/montessori in the TriVally area. We toured dozens of daycares and…read moreFountainhead was the cleanest and most organized. When we did the tour at Fountainhead, the kids were so calm and the environment was peaceful. My wife and I are so happy that our son loves this school. We are pretty protective parents...He was the youngest of his class (2.5yrs) and the older kids help him a lot. He started early this year and his language skills has improved so much. We enrolled him for 2027 and hope to enroll his little brother at 1.5 years. Highly recommend!

I scheduled a school tour from 10:00 to 10:30 AM, and my confirmation email clearly stated that the…read moretour would last 30 minutes. Unfortunately, I arrived about 15 minutes late. I fully understand that being late was my responsibility and that the school may have had another appointment afterward. What disappointed me was how the situation was handled. The Site Director did not come out to greet me or speak with me in person. Instead, she only stuck her head out from inside and told me that I was late, the next family was arriving, and that I needed to come back another day. What confused me even more was that she said the tour was only 15 minutes, even though my confirmation email clearly stated that the scheduled tour would last 30 minutes (10:00-10:30 AM). I explained that I only have one day off from work and asked if I could at least spend a few minutes seeing the school since there was still time remaining in my scheduled appointment. Unfortunately, there was no apology, no empathy, and no willingness to accommodate even a brief visit. I respect the school's schedule, and I understand that arriving late has consequences. However, first impressions matter. As a parent looking for a preschool, I expected to be treated with courtesy and respect, even if I made a mistake. A little kindness and professionalism would have made a big difference. Because of this experience, I decided not to consider this school for my child.

This message is you Sharon the owner. I've reached out to you several times to find a resolution…read moreover our daughter's situation regarding Ms. Julie whom no longer is with you. She was fired! Not for just our experience but for several other families with children with IEP and special needs. Now I don't know how the school treats students currently with specific needs, but I do know that me being public about our situation opened the doors of many families to come forward with their negative experience. I went as far the legal route and you and your team didn't even acknowledge the letter received that was required to be signed via delivery. Your generic message to everyone's negative review goes so far and shows sooooooo clearly of whom you are as an individual and what you care about regarding the appearance of your school. I haven't dropped my anger with what our daughter went through and hearing what other families endured makes me so upset. I'm a huge IEP advocate and what that specific teacher did and how the school treated the situation was completely unprofessional and heartless.

Thank you Empire for taking care of my little one! Shoutout to Ms. Lin, Ms. Rosalie, and Ms. Seema…read more Teachers here are kind and vigilant, facilities are clean, and there is a good mix of playing and learning in the curriculum. My child has grown to be independent, eager to learn, and considerate of others. By the end of our stay at Empire, he was well prepared for school. If my testament isn't enough, here is a message from his kindergarten teacher after the first week of school: "[Child's name] has been doing great in class the last three days- outstanding behavior on the carpet (listening, engaged, respectful), doing great work independently, and being kind to others. Keep it up!"

Our daughter attended stepping stones from ages 2-5 and loved every minute of it! Each of their…read moreclassrooms is well thought out with age appropriate toys, multiple activities throughout the day, peaceful naps and loving teachers. We received support for lots of milestones including potty training, peer interaction and engagement, fine motor skills. Their T-K program also laid a strong foundation for letter, number, shape and color recognition through activities that felt like play, cute songs and arts and crafts. We could not be happier that we chose the Stepping Stones family.

Stepping stones Learning Center is The Best Preschool in Pleasant hill also have the most amazing…read moreteachers

My family and I LOVE Center of Gravity!!! It was a wonderful time of learning and growth for my…read moreson, as parents, and as a community. The teachers are so supportive and nurturing teaching the kids life long skills and beliefs in unique, innovative, and fun ways that have stayed put throughout the years. So much of who my kid is now is shaped by his early experiences with the COG teachers and staff (& families) and those abilities and skills are still very much a part of who he is! His commitment to caring for others, not because he should, but because that's his civic duty. His awareness for justice and injustice are due to the child-appropriate conversations that take place in class and followed up at home (with tons of resources from the school.) His ability to communicate, create, design, be an empath etc. are all things he learned at COG. We picked COG because of its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and its STEAM-focused and child-centered instruction. We stayed for it amazing community of parents and teachers. COG isn't like everywhere else, and its not for everyone. Families who choose COG and stay at COG are intentional about a space that matches their own beliefs and values. Ask about how they approach holidays, birthdays, current events, etc - it's truly unlike most places, and if it resonates with how you value those things, then COG is a place to consider. I feel like we've met lifelong friends because of the shared belief systems and values, which is an added benefit to being a COG alum. Do yourself a favor and attend a tour when researching preschools, and you will immediately "feel" the difference. Look at the walls and see the uniqueness of the activities, projects, and themes selected by the students through meticulous planning and coordination . Listen (truly) to what's being said by the kids as they engage with one another and in community. Spend a moment and put yourself in the mindset of a kid experiencing choice, exploration, and curiosity in TRUE fashion. Ask about the "dailies" which are an epic insight into what your kid does all day, similar to a "Day in the Life of a kid."

Both of our kids have gone through Center of Gravity, and we couldn't be happier with the…read moreexperience. From the very beginning, we felt totally at home. The teachers are warm, caring, and incredibly thoughtful. They truly know and value each child. The school is mission-driven in everything they do. Our kids came home every day excited to share what they were learning and doing, and as parents we receive a daily slide-deck of photos and notes on what the kids did that day. It's quite impressive! We've also really appreciated the parent education support, especially around the Kindergarten transition. It helped us feel informed and supported during a big change. Communication is another big strength. The monthly emails are clear and detailed, with updates on classroom activities, school-wide events, and helpful resources. Extras like art, music, Spanish, Capoeira, and nutritious meals (included) make the experience feel well-rounded and intentional. Center of Gravity is more than a preschool. It's a caring, connected community that has given our kids a wonderful start. We're so grateful to be part of it!

Our son is now 3 and a student in ASW's pilot preschool program, and we just couldn't be happier…read morewith the management and staff at this school The class sizes are intimate, and the teachers truly love on our babies. As for the education -- our son is learning more at age three than I did in pre-K. The school excels at keeping parents informed through social media and other communication channels, responding promptly to inquiries, and accommodating the diverse needs of both parents and students. They also go out of their way to make both parents and little ones feel special.

Our son started at Small World at just five months old, and was there until his second birthday (we…read morewould have kept him there longer, as they offer childcare up to age 5, but ultimately it made logistical sense to move him to a daycare closer to our home). During our son's time at Small World, we found the staff - led by Haseena - to be warm, welcoming, kind and very accommodating. We needed part-time care and Haseena made that happen for us. All of the caretakers he had throughout his time there were loving and so sweet with him, and I always felt like he was in excellent hands. Leaving your little baby anywhere is difficult - but at Small World we always knew he'd be very well cared for. I absolutely recommend them for infant and toddler care, and beyond!

Our daughter attended here for a year and a half, starting on the baby side and graduating to the…read moretoddler school. We are so grateful to Miss Marzi and her staff for their amazing care of our little girl. We watched her blossom and learn so much. We highly recommend them.

I recommend this school because I saw how hard the teachers were working to help children i worked…read morethere for 9 months if I ever have a child, I want Ms.Tamiko to be his/her teacher, i want my child learn kindness from Ms.Zhaleh, Ms.Mahsa,Ms.Nikita, Ms.Rachel. Also the owners are really helpful and respectful they actually like a family.