We attended a Sunday morning group workshop at the end of May 2023. We were complete novices. Our…read moreinstructor Kate taught us what we needed to know to throw pots on the potter's wheel. At no time did we feel confused, lost, overwhelmed, rushed. I and my friend KHK both threw two good pieces suitable to fire. 9/10 would recommend. Only negative was they are still masking at this late date.

I've been taking classes here since about 2015, and it's been a bright spot in the pandemic…read more Everyone is so nice, the teachers are great, and there's lots of tools to play with, both on & off the wheel.

We've had multiple kids at Fidelity House for the afterschool program over the years and most…read morerecently we had our youngest in the pre-k program. There are lots of activities in both programs for the kids. The kids certainly don't suffer from boredom here. The staff is one of this reason this place really shines. The best way to describe the staff is professional, courteous, and caring. Just an amazing bunch of people. If you're looking for an after school program or childcare you can't go wrong with Fidelity House.

My kid got bullied there and numerous other parents I know state their kids were hit as well by…read moreparticular kids that would terrorize others in the after school program. We tried to discuss and work it out with staff , but the staff was only interested in denying it was and issue and stating "well that's the way kids can be sometimes" My kids been out of there for a couple years now and I heard they did a house cleaning of some staff but I believe some of the leadership that failed to help us are still there.

My two sons attended APTG over the course of 5 years. During our first month there, we were told…read moreby the current director (who has since been let go) that a child was accidentally left at the park across the street during outdoor play. Apparently, no one at the center realized this mistake until a random town resident returned the child to the school. The mind boggles... Obviously, this was a long time ago (and we ended up keeping our children there), but I think parents reading reviews would want to know this. The school is housed in a plain gray building which is sort of depressing the first time you see it. Inside, however, is a very warm and caring environment, thanks mainly to the teachers, who are for the most part very good and attentive. Some of the teachers were not-so-great and were clearly just passing through on the way to greener pastures. The teacher turnover rate has always been relatively high, including a near-total turnover in the space of a few months at one point. Luckily, most of the teachers we interacted with were awesome and devoted to the children. Dropoff in the morning is a completely chaotic affair. Parents are rushing in and out, kids are screaming/arguing/crying, teachers are catching up with each other about their weekends, etc. Totally hectic and very rough on kids who require a smoother transition. Now that my youngest is in a different daycare environment, I can see what total madness this was. The daycare has a weird layout, mainly due to its small size. In fact, to get to one particular classroom, you have to walk through another classroom. The center's "office" is situated in a cramped room that's sandwiched directly between two classrooms. This means that if you have anything to discuss with the director (even confidential matters), you'll be subjected to other teachers, parents, kids, etc. wandering through to get to the other room. The center director runs the center well, from an organizational standpoint. However, she lacks the warmth that you would expect from someone who works with young children all day. I often got the impression that she'd be much happier with the job if it weren't for all of those pesky children. The founder of APTG is not around very often, but sometimes stops in for big events. There's no kind way to say this: she has an extremely condescending manner. She's clearly very smart and has a lot of experience with children, but I always felt like she was lecturing the parents rather than offering helpful/useful advice. The school makes a big todo about its "curriculum", but...there really isn't one. They cover a couple of cute themes and practice some words and letters, but this is not Montessori. I think it's perfectly adequate for what it does, but let's not get carried away overselling it. APTG organizes several really fun events throughout the year. This includes a picnic in the summer, apple picking in the fall, a stone soup meal, and lots of other special events. These are always a lot of fun and a good way to see your kids in action. The nutritionist APTG hired is fantastic. She overhauled their snack menu to make it much healtheier, which was appreciated. She sometimes offers workshops at the school. If you can attend one of these, I highly recommend it as she offers a lot of useful advice. Play time (and most of the day, really) is very geared toward girls. Lots of beadwork, coloring, dramatic play, etc. Of course, this is all fun stuff for boys too! But there is virtually no rough-and-tumble, sports, kicking balls, etc. If you have a spirited/active boy (or girl), he/she will soon grow bored with the lack of variety. I don't think APTG actually _wants_ spirited/active children, since they are more work and will buck against the rigid structure. The tuition is very expensive, but seems to be par for the course for Belmont and the surrounding area. From what I've gathered, the teachers are not paid very well, which probably explains the high turnover rate. APTG isn't amazing, it isn't terrible either. It's perfectly adequate and sometimes that's exactly good enough. But there are better alternatives out there, especially for older children.

Luckily, this place didn't have availability for our child. The director was not pleasant during…read morethe first inquiry call. She acted like a snob. Listening to her sounded like accommodating parents schedule is something no one ever heard of. Apparently this place is too "good" to work with parents. First impression is the one that stays. And this is what I will be remembering about this "carrying" place. I am glad the decision not to leave our child in this place didn't have to be agonizing one. Thank goodness, certain things just don't mean to happen.

Recently became a parent at GNS via the Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP)…read more I had many reasons to be nervous about my kiddo starting preschool - pretty big aversion to playing with other children, having essentially no daycare/nanny experience, loud "no school!" when the idea was brought up periodically in attempts to make it less foreign, being a picky eater, etc. True story - when we did a classroom visit, where families can come and see the school, be in the classrooms, and meet the teachers, my kiddo said "why do I like school?" 5 minutes into it and the rest is history (currently in the making). The thought "oh, I can leave my kiddo here" came to me pretty unexpectedly and clearly during that visit, and I legit got pretty emotional. The other reviews ring true. If GNS interests you even a little bit, I highly recommend that you check it out for yourself.

Our daughter is in her second year at Garden Nursery School and it has been such a wonderful and…read moresupportive first school experience for her. We love that it is play-based and emphasizes socio-emotional learning, and the community that is created through the cooperative structure. It is such a welcoming environment with teachers and a director that truly appreciate the uniqueness of each child. Being new to the area, we have appreciated the chance to get to know the other families beyond a hello at dropoff. Our daughter has so much fun with all the art projects, and being able to run around with her friends in the garden, and as parents, it has been the perfect opportunity to have a part in sharing the experience with her. We love GNS!

We sent our younger kiddo to Bigelow after moving to the neighborhood and have had a wonderful…read moreexperience. She's in the preschool classroom, and her teachers are incredibly creative and engaged. Bigelow is Reggio Emilia inspired, and focuses on child-led learning, so when the teachers noticed our kid and several others were interested in writing letters, they incorporated opportunities into everyday activities. Boom, our 4 year old is writing! The facilities are also lovely, and include a large shared space for gross motor play even when the weather is yucky. Most of all, we have really appreciated the community of other families, many of whom have become friends.

My 7yo son went to Bigelow from when he was 3yo to 5yo and now my daughter is in her 2nd year…read morethere. It is a cooperative so parents head the various committees and get to set the various policies but there is a director and teachers so nit parent run. The teachers are wonderful, creative, loving, I cant say enough good things really. They create many opportunities for children to explore and discover. Also, parents can volunteer to spend time in the classroom which is super fun. The classrooms are spacious and inviting with lots of windows and there is a giant playroom in the center of school for those days that outside play isn't an option. The school has a very large fenced yard that has trees, giant sand pit with water pump, track for biking/scooting/push alongs, and garden. It is truly a gem.

I had a bad feeling about this place the second I walked in. I had to use the restroom and the…read moreadult restroom was dirty. Ever since I noticed that, during our tour, I also noticed the rooms that the kids were in were pretty dirty and messy. Grated, kids are messy, but this was a different dirty and messy, like they haven't washed the floor in a while dirty. The newborns were crawling around where there had been food dropped from lunch about 1/2 hour-1 hour prior, It made me really grossed out, plus what if the baby was allergic to whatever was on the ground?! The person we spoke to was nice, and sort of seemed to know her stuff, but gave us some misinformation (pricing info, staff info, etc.). The turnover is really high: 3 teachers leaving all together. That makes me nervous. I couldn't get out of there quick enough. The vibe was terrible. I didn't want to give it one star, but I the location is good for commuting parents.

I truly recommend this place. My two daughters ( 3 and 5 years old) attended for a week and they…read morehave a great time. The fascilities are big and super clean and the personnel very professional. Vanessa Freeman, the director knows exactly how to do her job. Very organized, problem solver, she would make your life easier. In comparison with other centers, for instance bright horizons in Allston and Kiddie academy ( very bad) this one was by far the best and there is a big gap. Thank you!

They are the sweetest daycare facility ever. We switched from their Belmont location (We do not…read morerecommend the Belmont location). The Belmont location was small, teachers allowed another kid to bite our 9 month old x2 in one week and we switched locations right away. I was told the teachers have been "switched" around which is great but I still do not recommend. But this Arlington location... is AMAZING! They are incredibly attentive, organized, sweet and do a fantastic job! Thank you for all that you do!

My son has been with Sheila Vanessa and the rest of the Arlington Little Sprouts teachers since…read moreJuly 2021. I am so thankful for all of their love and support! They have a genuine love for each one of their children and their families! They have been awesome about communication and are very intuitive to the children in their care! They send me awesome pictures of my son doing fun activities and they really brighten my day! I am thankful for the whole Arlington Little Sprouts Team!

Both our children attended Belmont Nursery School (BNS!) for preschool, including Pre-K, and over…read morethe course of 8 years. During those 8 years, the school maintained its main focus - teaching children to develop strong relationships with their peers and teachers. Both my children are now in elementary school and are still close with their BNS friends. The BNS teachers teach children how to be a part of a group, how to express themselves, share, compromise, play, and learn joyfully together. Sure, you'll find schools with fancier facilities, bigger playgrounds, and more "rigorous" academics, but BNS' focus on friendship and play is refreshing, age-appropriate, and long-lasting. These social-emotional skills is what has allowed both my children to flourish academically in elementary school. The staff is professional and approachable, caring and good-humored. Not only do my kids miss their BNS days, but I miss them too!

My recently four-year-old daughter started at Belmont nursery school summer camp at the end of…read moreJune. We are now in the middle of August and it has been a fantastic experience. The teachers there are amazing the class sizes are small and especially during the pandemic their cleanliness standards are through the roof. Love the diversity, love the other families, love that we can walk there. And while I feel for the parents who are experiencing back to school anxiety amongst a pandemic, I'm quite relieved that my daughter will transition seamlessly from the summer camp to the preschool.