I cannot give PNS enough praise. I simply love this place, what it stands for, and the people that…read moreare a part of it. I'll start by saying that I didn't consider myself a co-op person before I started PNS. I was skeptical about the jobs and participation, but very quickly I realized that, like most things in life, the time and effort I put in I got back tenfold. I sent both of my daughters here, so I have experience with both teachers in both classes, and can honestly say that PNS gave them the permission to be curious, it taught them to be creative, and that it's okay to get messy. PNS helped my girls become emotionally equipped to handle the next phases of life, and most importantly, it taught them to be kind and to treat people (and their ideas!) with respect. Logistics: Every day there are 2 story times. At each storytime the teachers sing songs, ask questions, and read 1-2 books. Once a week instead of a story time there is a music class that the kids all thoroughly enjoy. Snack is made by one of the parent volunteers, is (usually) organic, healthy, and always has a fruit or vegetable component. There is 1 work day a week, although there is a new program being piloted that is geared more toward working parents who still want the co-op/PNS style of nursery school - look on their website! **The hybrid program has less parent involvement to help reach a wider community of kids and parents - so if you love the idea of this place but didn't feel like it was in the cards for you because of your work situation - think again! ** Philosophy: PNS is completely play based and gives kids a magical place where they can simply be children. They can play in the dirt and mud and sand. They can get messy. My kid once (ha - everyday) ran around in her underwear during a rainstorm with just boots on (the working parents happily changed her into her dry clothes when it was time), and she LOVED it. I once got a photo of her where she had painted her arms bright pink with the biggest smile on her face. I got another photo playing dress up with a play ice cream cone stacked 8 high (with another giant smile). Videos of them singing their hearts out on the tire swing with their friends, creating entire worlds and games, etc. The only real rules are "keep it safe and keep it friendly" and it allowed my babies to try so many fun things and to be so creative. At home this translates to playing together and being super imaginative and creative as well, which is fun to see. They are never bored for long, and their little brains are always creating and imagining the next thing. In Teacher Theresa's mixed age class my little one learned how to use scissors, practiced writing her name/using a pencil every day, and there were always stations that worked on drawing/cutting/stacking and counting/etc. In teacher Amy's class, we learned fun songs (favorites include Mr. Alligator, Twinkle Twinkle Little Spaghetti, and 3 Little Hotdogs Frying in a Pan), did fun art projects daily/weekly. The mixed age class is taught by both Theresa and Amy, so they got to experience both teachers as well as our amazing assistant teachers, all of whom my children are obsessed with. I could talk about this place for eight pages. It's so incredible. But mostly, I feel like my children were loved here. Not only did I gain an incredible community of moms in the same stage of life as me, but my kids got an awesome nursery school time and got to experience what it is like to be loved on by every single adult in the space. My kids have special bonds with not only their teachers, but with other parents who know and love them. It is the most incredible, joyful experience to see others love your children, and I cannot recommend PNS enough. You will never regret sending your kids here, and you will gain friendships that will last a lifetime - I know mine will!

We just finished my son's first year at Parents Nursery School, and we truly couldn't be happier…read morewith our experience. From the very beginning, we felt welcomed, supported, and genuinely cared for. The teachers are experienced, thoughtful, and deeply invested in the children. My son loves all of them, especially Teacher Chris! I especially appreciated their healthy and respectful approach to conflict resolution. The play-based philosophy was absolutely the right fit for our son and gave him space to grow, explore, and feel confident. As a family new to the area without relatives nearby, this community meant so much to us. One of the most special parts of PNS is how deeply people know and care about your child. It never felt like a school where people barely know each other's names. It truly is a connected, supportive village. And the play yard is incredible. It's such a magical space for kids to explore, imagine, and just be children. We are so grateful for our first year at PNS and highly recommend it to any family looking for a warm, connected, play-based preschool community.

A beautiful school with a spacious outdoor play area and a clean, well-maintained interior. Offers…read morea wide variety of engaging activities for children--perfect for learning and fun!

My son really like this shool. All the teachers are kind and treat the children well. The daily…read morelearning is very fulfilling, but my son especially loves the spacious playground.

My son attended PAMS from age 2 to 3.5, and we had a truly wonderful experience there…read more He came home every week excited to show us all kinds of handmade projects like paper cows and snakes, drawings, shapes, and even letters he practiced writing. It was very special to watch his creativity and confidence grow over time. PAMS also organizes many fun events throughout the year, especially during the summer. Some of my son's favorites were the cooking classes, gymnastics, dance activities, and visits from fire trucks and police cars. The campus itself is warm, cheerful, and filled with things young kid naturally like, e.g sand boxes What stood out most to us was the kindness and care from the staff and teachers. They are incredibly warm and attentive with the children. Whenever we traveled for more than a couple of weeks, by the second week my son would start saying he missed his school, friends, and teachers. While PAMS is not the type of school that sends daily photo updates, they do keep thoughtful photo albums from school events and activities. Some of those photos are very meaningful to us, especially from when my son first joined the school. I still remember seeing a picture of his teacher holding his hand during a police car visit while he was adjusting to a much larger class than his previous daycare. Moments like that gave us a lot of reassurance as parents. We ultimately left only because we applied to the early learning center of an elementary school we were interested in, and to our surprise, our son was accepted. During that transition, Dinesh was also incredibly supportive and kindly helped by writing evaluation letters for us, which we truly appreciated. Otherwise, we likely would have stayed at PAMS through the kindergarten years. We are very grateful for the care, warmth, and joyful early childhood memories they gave our son.

Parents - heads up that there is a LONG wait list for this center. I was told that parents are…read moreencouraged to apply at least 1 1/2 to 2 years in advance. Of course a lot of parents like myself will be blown away by the 4.9 star reviews and in Palo Alto, the stress around getting a spot at these type of centers is palpable. I reached out in May 2024 and sent in a $100 fee. I never received a call back nor a courtesy e-mail letting me know that no space is available over a two year time frame. There are children that need to get educated, waiting on the other end of that line, please at least be direct over the phone that it's basically impossible to get placed. Perhaps our application was simply forgotten - must be nice to have demand/supply dynamics work in your favor! Neutral stars because I don't like to knock on the educators themselves, but letting people know that the wait list is long to the point it feels impossible

Our family has been with Covenant Children's Center for five years. Both of our children have…read moreattended the center, with our younger child participating in every class starting from the infant program. We cannot say enough amazing things about the center, as we have experienced firsthand how incredibly loving, caring, and dedicated the teachers and staff truly are. The staff balances letting kids be kids with fostering an early love for learning. The daily activities are creative and engaging, allowing children to explore at their own pace. It has been incredible to watch our children thrive socially, emotionally, and creatively throughout the years. Thank you CCC.

We are so grateful for the amazing staff at CCC. Our toddler has thrived and grown so well under…read moretheir care. All the staff are so professional and show so much genuine love and care for the children. Highly recommend CCC.

I chose Kiddie Academy because of its convenient location close to our home. It allows my daughter…read moreto ride her bike to school with my guidance, which has become a wonderful way for her to get daily exercise while also building confidence and independence. Although Kiddie Academy is a smaller school, it has a very warm and welcoming atmosphere. The teachers are caring, supportive, and truly dedicated to the children. Miss Rochelle, the director, is such a sweet and energetic person who creates a positive environment for both children and families. I especially want to mention Miss Kuldeep, my daughter's teacher. She is very thoughtful, gentle, and patient. She understands children's emotions so well and always makes my daughter feel comfortable and happy. Thanks to her care and support, my daughter looks forward to going to school every day. We also really appreciate the quality of the food provided at the school. The meals are delicious and nutritious, and my daughter absolutely enjoys the school food. The special treats and activities prepared by the school are also wonderful and make the children feel excited and cared for. So far, we have had a very positive experience at Kiddie Academy. I truly appreciate the loving and supportive environment here and would strongly recommend Kiddie Academy to parents who are looking for a warm, caring, and wonderful place for their children.

As a parent, it is important to be transparent that the primary reason my children continue…read moreattending this facility is due to work convenience and cost. However, outside of these factors, the quality of service, organization, and supervision do not meet the minimum expectations I consider necessary for childcare. It is unacceptable that this set of practices is being normalized. These are not isolated incidents, but rather a pattern of situations that require immediate attention, deep review, and a clear explanation from management. 1. Understaffing and Overcrowded Classrooms A consistent lack of staff has been observed, leading to situations where a single adult is left in charge of large groups of children. In the 2 year olds' classroom, for example, a situation occurred where children were climbing on tables, hitting each other, or left without proper supervision while the teacher attended to other tasks such as diaper changing. Additionally, there is a classroom that remains empty while two other groups are combined into one, which demonstrates serious issues with organization and staffing coverage. 2. Use of Cell Phones While Caring for Infants Infant room teachers use cell phones while holding infants in their arms, changing their diapers, bottle-feeding them, or being directly in charge of their care. Attention at this age level must be fully focused on the children, making this type of distraction a clear risk for inadequate supervision. 3. Improper Handling of Infants by Management The director removes infants from their classroom under the excuse that they are crying and even attend to parents while holding them in her arms. This interrupts proper supervision inside the classroom and raises serious doubts about the organization and safety of care. 4. Sending Children Home and Reliability of Health Procedures There is concern regarding children being sent home on the grounds of illness, in a context where a lack of staff is also perceived. Added to this is a serious problem with the thermometer being used, which apparently does not provide consistent readings, generating variable results that can indicate a fever in children who do not have one. If health decisions are being made based on these instruments, it is essential to guarantee that they are reliable and properly calibrated. BE SURE TO BRING YOUR OWN THERMOMETER OR ELSE THEY WILL SEND YOUR CHILD HOME. 5. Injuries, Diaper Rash, and Lack of Timely Attention Teachers do not perform diaper changes in a timely manner, which has resulted in one of my children having diaper rash most of the time. Furthermore, the children show up with scrapes or other injuries without parents receiving a clear explanation of what occurred. Every injury or incident must be communicated transparently and promptly. 6. Lack of Staff Stability and Constant Reassignments Teachers are constantly moved between classrooms and duties that do not belong to them, including prolonged assignments in areas like the kitchen. I observed this for over 3 weeks. This constant rotation affects classroom stability, continuity of care, and the bond between children and caregivers essential elements in early childhood. 7. Absence of Front Desk Staff and Impact on Supervision There is no staff member assigned to the front desk, so teachers must leave their classrooms to open the door. This temporarily leaves children without direct supervision, representing an obvious safety issue. 8. Constant Movement of Children Between Classrooms Children are frequently moved between classrooms, which disrupts their routines, impacts their emotional stability, and can interfere with their development. This type of practice should not be a recurring solution to internal staffing issues. A child should not be sent to a lower-age classroom just because the school is understaffed. That is not the fault of the children or the parents; it is management's responsibility to have enough staff so this does not happen. 9. Lack of Hygiene and Inadequate Handling of Peer Incidents Children are allowed to remain with runny noses without proper attention. There have also been cases of biting among children, which require immediate intervention, proper supervision, and formal communication to parents. 10. Use of Tablets and Computers with Older Children There is concern regarding screen time (tablets and computers) with older children. It is necessary to clarify the frequency, purpose, and policy regulating these types of activities within the center.

I fell in love with this place the first time I saw it at their open house. Before the applications…read morewere due I visited 4 more parent participation schools but this was easily my favorite. First, this place simply looks great. There's an outside play area with a big variety of activities and ride-on toys. Inside there's a theme for each day ("fish!" "camping!" "trains!") and the toys and activities reflect that. Some toys are always accessible (kitchen, blocks, dolls, ride-on toys), but unlike another school my kids attended, they really take care to have different toys each time, to always have a sensory table, to always have an art project (or 3!), play doh, and when it's warm, a water table. Also, everything is in excellent condition. Beyond that, it's really well organized and run well. For instance, we had a parent meeting before the kids started school. At a certain other preschool it was just a feel good session ("your kids will be so different by summer"), at Mtn View Parent Ob there was an agenda and it even included a well-articulated emergency plan. This is something the other preschool didn't even address even though it was on the same campus as an adult education center and a high school - places that have the potential to go on lock down in an emergency. Most importantly, the level of care from the teacher is through the roof. At Mtn View Parent Ob there is a mommy meeting where the kids stay at the school while the parents walk to a nearby room and talk about parenting issues. Typically meetings begin after a month, but Teacher Mindy gauged our kids' separation readiness through questionnaires and as a result delayed beginning the meetings an extra week. Each class there was maybe one child who was upset while their parent was gone (and they were of course comforted by an aide or another parent). At our other preschool (Bright Beginnings - there I said it, and now that I said it, DON'T go there), the meetings started on the second day of class and it showed, because we always had at least 4 criers each class (not just fussing or looking sad, I mean full on screaming). (There is a long digression ahead but there's a reason.) At Bright Beginnings, which we attended at the same time as Mtn View Parent Ob, my twins were doing really well at separation, and then one day my daughter got upset when I was gone. They are supposed to get you if they're crying for 5 minutes. They didn't get me at all and I was gone for 20 minutes. Several moms took turns holding her, which was nice but um, THE AIDE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN ME. There were several kids crying that day (per usual) and because my daughter's a sobber not a screamer and was inside instead of by the gate where the parents leave, I think the aide didn't notice her once the screaming ended (and the other parents were retrieved). I mention all this in order to highlight how differently Mtn View Parent Ob and Bright Beginnings handled what happened next. I had a totally different child afterwards. My daughter didn't want me to leave her side FOR ONE SECOND for months when in public, not even at snack time at school when the kids sit together. At Bright Beginnings the teacher and aide seemed sad that the incident happened but that was about it. Meanwhile when I explained the situation to Teacher Mindy, she immediately said, "Here's what we're going to do," offered a plan to get my daughter more and more accustomed to separation again, and worked with us for several months to achieve results. The mommy meeting at Bright Beginnings had a remedial parenting tone to it with topics like "playing is good for kids." No, really? Meanwhile the meetings at Mtn View Parent Ob were very informative and great gab sessions with the other moms. I keep in touch with many of them still and have had many playdates with their kids. There was a sense of genuine sadness when the year ended. The only downside to this school that I can think of is that it only meets once a week. That's telling that the only bad thing is that my kids can't go more often! Here's my list of parent participation preschools ranked based on my first visit (Bright Beginnings would now be at the bottom of the list. And yes, there was a place that looked worse!) 1) MOUNTAIN VIEW PARENT OBSERVATION, MOUNTAIN VIEW 2) Preschool Family, Palo Alto 3) Los Altos Parent Preschool, Los Altos 4) Bright Beginnings, Sunnyvale 5) Sunnyvale Parent Preschool, Sunnyvale (Also , I later visited Mtn View Parent Nursery School which seems like an excellent parent participation school for older kids ready to be away from their parents for the morning. I have also visited 7 drop-off schools and Mtn View Parent Ob would be at the top of a combined list along with the drop-off school I chose, Milestones in Palo Alto. Hence, Mtn View Parent Ob is the best of the 13 schools I've visited.)

We are so fortunate to have found MVPNS, not only as my daughter's school but as community for our…read morefamily. We have been attending MVPNS for three years (shoutout Teacher Diane and Teacher Claire!) and find it to be so inclusive of cultures and traditions. It's been such a joy to learn from other parents. We absolutely love the outdoor component and appreciate all of the precautions taken during the pandemic!

I have toured 20+ preschools and this is definitely the best one. We decided to send my son there…read moreimmediately after touring. My son has stayed there for almost 3 years. Several highlights: 1. The cleanest school. I heard that it's common in preschools that one kid gets sick (e.g., flu), the whole class gets it. This has never happened in Discovery (amazing, right?). During this very special school year 2020-2021, there was no COVID case found in this school. 2. The teachers use Positive Discipline to educate kids. They even gave a lecture to parents about it! This is the only preschool that I know which truly does this... (Many teachers in other preschools do not even know Positive Discipline.) 3. This is a true Montessori school, but my son is doing great academically in terms of math, phonics etc. He is super happy every day there. Drawbacks of this school: The teachers focus too much on caring the kids that they may not reply to emails or phone calls quickly. If you are interested, please just walk to their door and talk to them. And this becomes dramatically different after your kid is enrolled: whenever you have any questions regarding to your kid's development, just give them a phone call and they usually respond within 1 day, giving you awesome suggestions (often following Positive Discipline). They just care too much about kids' education, rather than advertising... If you have any questions about this school, please do not hesitate to message me and I am more than happy to help.

Discovery is an excellent school. My both kids attended here (one is still there) and my daughter…read morewas reading Harry Potter in Kindergarten thanks to Bonnie and the other teachers at Discovery. It is Montessori style and has a very diverse student and teacher population, which we loved. While my kids are doing very well academically due to the school, it wasn't a very "academic" environment. They teach things in a fun way using Montessori and have plenty of enrichment activities - art, music, Mandarin, etc. We have recommended 5+ families to the school that have all loved it. We even know two families who left and then came back within a year after realizing this is the best preschool in the Bay Area!

My son loves his teachers (Ms. Helen) and the director (Gabby), who provide a really positive…read moreenvironment for the kids. Ms. Helen is very experienced and is a bright and loving presence for the kids. My son immediately gravitated to her and enjoys being around her. I am also grateful to Gabby who has also gone out of her way to help my husband and I understand more about how our son is building relationships with the other kids, and makes herself available if we have any questions about how our son is doing. I highly recommend this preschool, and am very grateful to Ms. Helen and Gabby for providing such a great place for our children.

I can't be thankful enough to the moms groups that I'm part of for recommending this school!…read more My son started in Hearts and Hands Palo Alto in September last year and every single day at pick up, my child asks for "more school" and I have to explain to him that we'll be back again tomorrow. He adores his teachers and friends very much. He has grown and devoloped tremendously since starting at H&H not just physically but in all aspects of him (mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually). There is such a perfect balance in what they offer at school. If there's anything I want him to learn or do, I feel very comfortable in speaking with his teachers and/or site director, who are very accommodating and welcoming to partner with us in supporting our child. I highly recommend this preschool and I cannot wait for our 2nd child to turn 2y/o so she can also join Hearts and Hands Palo Alto preschool. (I am still hoping they would add infant care in their program ) And last but not the least, their hours (6:30am to 6:30pm) with their very reasonable price is pretty hard to find specially in that neighborhood/area in Palo Alto.