Absolutely love this school. My daughter started this year and it was her first exposure to any…read moreschool setting. The teachers are absolutely amazing and are so attentive to every child's needs. The school itself is sooo adorable and more importantly clean. You just know love goes into everything about the school. It is a co-op so parents are expected to participate. The expectations are totally manageable and clear. Can't hype this place up enough.

My daughter has been going to LBCP for two years and has grown tremendously during that time. The…read moreteachers, curriculum, play-based learning and parent community have given my daughter the emotional, social and academic readiness she has needed to smoothly transition into Kindergarten. The teachers at LBCP are like no others and offer a loving, empathetic and patient environment where all children feel welcome and truly enjoy coming to school. Extracurricular activities include gymnastics and Spanish classes every week. Even with our daughter being eligible for T-K, after much deliberation we decided to keep her at LBCP for another year given how much growth she was experiencing and how happy she has been. Our son will begin in the Fall and we can say with confidence that Linda Beach has been a wonderful experience for our children and highly recommend it for others seeking preschool.

Literally couldn't dream up a more idyllic preschool. Such a lovely community and the staff is top…read morenotch.

Highlands is truly a magical place that both our child and my family love. Teachers Angela, Dani,…read moreand Tracy are phenomenal--they genuinely care about each child's growth and happiness, and have many years of early childhood education experience under their belt. Their passion for teaching shines through in the fun and engaging activities they create, making learning a fun adventure. The sense of community fostered by being part of a co-op is wonderful: parents, teachers, and students all come together to create a supportive and collaborative environment. I look forward to the days I volunteer because I get to interact with my child, his friends, and teachers. I've learned so much from those days at school! The school itself is a wonderland for young minds--imaginative play areas, art stations, and an outdoor space that invites exploration and discovery. It's a place where creativity is not just encouraged but celebrated, and where every child is given the freedom to express themselves. We feel so fortunate to have found this gem of a preschool. It's a place where our son is not only learning but also thriving, and we couldn't ask for a better start to his educational journey. Highly recommended!

My son started at 13 months and blossomed! He's curious, verbal -- almost speaking in full…read moresentences, and LOVES school & his teachers. I'm so sad we relocated. As a new parent, his teachers were the exact village I needed.

Fantastic school for your little ones! Our son has been attending since he was 1 year old and it…read morehas nothing short of a wonderful experience. When he started, he wasn't yet walking or talking and now he's almost 3 and has been through 2 classrooms (infant/toddler and now preschool). He's doing exceptionally well - is very verbal and independent - and has made great friendships with both his classmates and the teachers in each of the classrooms he's been in. For what it's worth - my sister and I both went to Montessori schools and that experience was so positive for my mother that she trained as a Montessori teacher and now runs a school (unfortunately in a different country). Since the Atlantic Ocean makes it hard for us to send our son there, we had to look for a suitable alternative near by that is true to Montessori and is well run. We've evaluated 10-15 different schools in the Berkeley/Oakland/Lamorinda area as we looked for the right spot for our son. Here are my favourite things about Rockridge Montessori- + Loving staff, extremely low turnover. The head teachers in each classroom that we've been part of have been there for over 10+ years - which speaks to how the school's administration look after and invest in their teachers. This is very different to other schools where turnover is very high. + AMS (American Montessori Society) trained teachers, plenty of Montessori time and activities from learning letters to practical life (cooking!). + Very clear and protective care policies for your child. For example, they disallow teachers babysitting students on the weekend to avoid favouritism. + Involved parent community - lots of social events and birthday parties. We spend a lot of time with our son's friends and their parents. + Well maintained facilities. Parking is easy, the playground is fantastic (and kids get to spend a lot of time outside, which I love). + Tonnes of communication. It's been very easy to get updates on our son (which was very helpful during those anxious first few weeks). The teachers update us on his progress throughout the week and have been a big help when it came to potty training him. + Diverse student body + Parent friendly hours (7:30 to 6pm) and - starting next year - prepared hot lunches for students. + Location is very close to BART, if you commute into San Francisco - about a 10 minute walk (or you can park at BART parking for $3 - post COVID there is usually space until past 9am). In conclusion - we're very happy we made the decision to send our son to RMS and would heartily recommend it to anyone who was considering it.

Our youngest child went here for the PACT program and it was a wonderful experience. The teachers…read morewere sweet and very attentive and had great interventions and teaching moments (for the kids and me!) throughout the day. Having had an older kid go through a different program I'm familiar with the stress that can sometimes accompany a co-op preschool but they made the experience pleasant, judgment free, and safe for everyone! I highly recommend the school!

Our daughter has been attending BCSO, in the PACT classroom for a year now and words cannot…read moredescribe how much we love this school. First and foremost, the teachers are very caring and attentive, not only to children but to parents as well. Since it is a play-based school, different toys are provided each time we attend class. Hence, children have plenty of learning opportunities through play such as working on their fine motor skills, social skills, and exploring different ways of playing. Having a nurturing environment for our daughter to begin her education journey is very important to us. We are very grateful that we've found BCSO as they continue to exceed our expectations. Our daughter wakes up in the morning wanting to go to school and leaves school with a big smile on her face. She had made tremendous progress with her learning development as well. Lastly, we recently relocated to another city, but decided to have our daughter continue attending BCSO. This school is truly a gem!

#ThankyouThursday…read more I can't imagine sending more gratitude to any local business more than Cornerstone. My son has been going here for a little over a year now, albeit the 6 months or so while they were closed down due to COVID and us not sending him back until we felt ready. This is a gem of a child center that ranges from infant to pre-school. They aren't super expensive as the Bay Area goes and it's filled with wonderful, caring and able people. First, they are doing a tremendous job during COVID and adhering to the constantly changing parameters. This is such a tough time and they are doing the best the can, and it can't be easy. The teachers are all so lovely and caring, and I can't ask for better role models to have my son learn from each and every day. It's a diverse group of teachers, which is just additional appreciation for the quality of care and knowledge my son is getting. It's quite a big school, and your child graduates to each class by age, with different instructors (although this may be on hold a little bit as they deal with COVID parameters). The facility is part of a church (with some prayer involved), and they run a tight ship. They have rules and guidelines for both children and parents, and it makes the school run on time. They facility itself is wonderful: large classrooms, they have a gym for the kids when it rains, an outdoor play structure with bikes & scooters, a sand box, water feature, etc.. They have a free parking lot for parents for pick-up and drop off, so no need to think about parking. All the children are wonderful, and I even built a little community with the parents. I get to drink a cup of coffee, take my time writing this review and enjoy quiet time during a global pandemic, while my son is being taken care of, growing, and learning at Cornerstone, and for that, I'm forever thankful.

Like any new parent, I was completely up in arms about sending my sweet baby to a daycare center…read more He had been at home for 10 glorious months, but the time had come where it was necessary for him to attend a local nursery. My husband and I used Yelp to narrow down our choices. This is why I'm writing a review now, for future parents, as well as a way to say thank you to Cornerstone's teachers and staff, for all that they have done for my son and our family. Cornerstone has been a home away from home for our little one. He began in the Waddlers group, and he received so much individualized attention - and genuine affection from all of his teachers. When I say "all of his teachers", I mean that he had three teachers who were with him and his classmates daily throughout the day, and there were additional caretakers who would come in at different times to watch and interact with the children while the main teachers were on break, or ill, etc. This is a perfect setting, because the children become familiar with all of the teachers at all of the levels, which eases the transitional process. Because of our jobs, we would drop off our little one for early care at 7:30 AM. He was able to enjoy his breakfast there, and even when he "graduated" to the next group (Cubs), he was still able to see his favorite teacher from the Waddlers every morning. This was amazing in the sense that it was a profound comfort for him. Tara and Grace were instrumental in facilitating communication between parents and teachers. There was never a moment when I was concerned that I would not be told about my son's day; any accidents or incidents that took place were shared with me in real time, either via a phone call, text message, or email. I was especially happy to receive occasional "just because" photos of my son enjoying his day. There is a genuine sense of gentleness throughout the daycare. The children are calm, yet boisterous, happy, friendly, and full of laughter. They are simply at peace and seem to enjoy the freedom to be themselves as they discover and explore their school environment. It may sound a bit strange, but once you visit the facility, perhaps you'll understand what I mean. Each child is honestly celebrated as an individual, and it's beautiful to see that the teachers are seemingly content, focused, and emotionally vested in the children's needs. They care about our babies and children. The teacher-child ratio is very low, which is ideal. Our family recently relocated from the Bay Area, and during this stressful time, Tara (the Director) actually took the time from her busy schedule to interview other daycares in our new area to give us peace of mind that our son would be transitioning to a place that was as similar to Cornerstone's views and values as possible. I will forever be astounded by this TREMENDOUS act of generosity and grace, and it proved to me that there was genuine love for my son at this beautiful daycare. Our experience with Cornerstone has been life-changing in the most positive ways! We are incredibly grateful for all that we've experienced there and highly recommend Cornerstone Children's Center to all.

My 3-year-old daughter has been attending RTG since August, and we love it. The school leadership…read moreis really strong, with several long-term teachers and the highest teacher:student ratio I saw across the preschools we visited. I've been impressed by the variety of activities and the level of continual deep engagement I see by the teachers with the kids, especially on social-emotional development. My daughter is a young 3-year-old (August birthday) and has thrived and grown so much in her language development and storytelling, self-regulation, and climbing skills! There is so much happening, and the teachers make the space feel so big, with everything from a "cozy room" to a dance/yoga space, and a great garden with a very engaged garden teacher who also leads cooking projects. My daughter also really enjoys the art, yoga, water/sand play, etc. She gets a lot of choice, lots of opportunities to burn her energy, is learning a ton, and we've been really happy with our experience there.

I can't say enough good things about the Room to Grow preschool. My daughter went there for 2…read morealmost 3 years and became a real person they helped her to become a better citizen more attuned to the needs of other children as well as her own and they did as much if not more than me and my partner did to make her the successful kindergartener she is today. I highly recommend them. The classes are small and the ratio to teachers is very high. The kids learned to manage their own time, work with others and follow their curiosity.

I learned about Pacific Coast Montessori from friends years ago. My daughters, now ages 11 and 8…read morehave had so many enriching experiences throughout their schooling and care at Pacific Coast Montessori. Director Ann Toy and Teacher Pat were instrumental in transitioning my girls to kindergarten. Ann and Pat's nurturing manner of teaching helped to foster independence and confidence in the many kids who were/are lucky to know and learn from them. Pacific Coast Montessori's calm, bright, clean and tidy space is complemented by a cheerful play structure, teaching garden and shaded lunch area in the backyard. My girls fondly recall many memories and friendships at "Ann Toy's School."

We looked and looked and looked, and finally landed here. The decision was right. Director, Ann…read moreToy's warm, loving, with commitment is what this preschool is all about. I had a minor concern about the yard being small. But turned out just fine, as I met many nice Moms and quickly formed after school play dates in nearby parks. In the end, it's not the yard size that makes the school great, it's who teaches and cares for your children.

We are so happy to be part of the MOM community! Our child did her "TK" year at MOM and has been…read morethriving. My only regret is that we did not enroll her at MOM sooner. For those considering an alternative TK option, I highly recommend MOM. The curriculum at MOM has prepared our child in the following ways: 1) Academically: Math, Reading/Writing/Language Arts, Global Studies are taught in fun and approachable ways 2) Creative Focus: Art and Music are integral parts of the experience. The school puts on a few musical performances during the year, we attended our first one and it is such a special memory we will always have! 3) SEL: The students are MOM are taught the importance of being part of a community. The teachers are kind, patient and experienced - they truly bring out the best in the kids. Honestly, I can't even express how much growth we have seen in our little one! 4) Love of School and Learning: To cap it all off, my child's love of school was officially established at My Own Montessori. She loves going to school and is so proud and excited to tell us about her day and her most recent learnings. My child's experience at My Own Montessori has been incredible and I am so thankful she has been able to be part of the magic at MOM!

We feel very lucky that our child has ended up at MOM. It's such a warm and welcoming school, with…read morewonderful caring teachers. The school has been around for a long time, and has developed a bunch of lovely long-running traditions and parents and families are included in these traditions. It's a very calm environment and the kids have a lot of autonomy going inside and outside. My child has built a lot of confidence in social emotional development in addition to all the other learning (coming home telling me all about the moon, or continents, or Yayoi Kusama), it's beautiful watching the older kids support the younger ones as they move up through the school. Note that the hours are shorter than most preschools, and schools is closed in the summer with a summer school for the month of July, but if you can make the hours work it's a very special school and community.