Absolute most wonderful teachers and staff, and such a special place. Both my boys went there…read more(newer Olivenhain location) and I can't recommend it enough.

Love this school. They take such good care of kids and meet kids where they are. They value play…read moreand understand that drive problem solving and long term success.

When I first saw this place, I was like oh it's just old school, California earthy. I liked earthy…read morewhen I was young this will be great. Mistake number one on my part. I am sure this was a great place and idea in the 70s. I don't know the exact history, but it was probably more of a small neighborhood school for the neighborhood when it began. But truth be told, it isn't what it used to be. I don't know maybe it was always like this and nobody expected anything better or thought that they would need to evolve. We have evolved as parents, teachers and guardians of how to raise a healthy secure child and how to really help them thrive and feel safe in a pre-school/school environment. There are too many incidents to mention and too many red flags to mention of what my child witnessed and I myself witnessed and other parents witness but I didn't know any better. Your young child will not be in a physically safe environment in the outside area, there are hiding spots for children of all ages to wreak havoc and harm each other. Despite what you're told, the bigger kids are definitely mixed together with the younger kids without proper supervision and it's basically a free for all. "It's a kids will be kids and boys will be boys environment". That said, they also have them watch tv if they aren't allowed to nap. Yes they can tell your child they can't nap, there is not room for everyone. The teachers feed them candy without asking your permission and your child will be totally filthy when you get them, unless it's raining, then they have to block the whole dirt/Sand back off because it will be totally muddy with pools of water. The bathrooms are also a free for all. If your child is potty training, this is not the place you want them. Although the 2 tiny little potties and sinks are cute, they have zero privacy. Children are allowed to open the doors and crawl under the doors while other children are going potty. I saw this more than once and nobody did a thing. Things such as big boys were slamming the doors back and forth bothering a little girl who was going to the bathroom. My kid who was learning said that he didn't want to go at school because the big kids bothered him, so he was terrified. Maybe they get to eat a proper lunch without being harassed. The children with emotional or behavioral issues are not helped properly and are left to do as they please to the other children if they are not constantly supervised. Even during lunch or snack time. My child literally begged me not to take him to school on several occasions and I just thought he was being a toddler but now I know better. I have also witnessed children climbing the fence begging parents not to leave them. Again, I thought this was normal. It is not. He and his friends were being bullied and tormented by other older children and he was emotionally stressed, time has passed and he STILL talks about it. When I had to address an issue and asked to discuss it, I was heavily dismissed and ignored. Security-They leave signs for delivery people on the front latch gate to leave packages in the outdoor hallway. Which means if your child is hanging around alone someone could easily snatch them. Granted it has probably never happened but it's not actually secure. Anyone can walk in through the two old iron school gates and harm the kids if they wanted to. This place in theory could be great if it were updated, cleaned up, painted, managed and staffed properly and not a total fire hazard. If you let your child go and he or she thrived, great for you, but if your child showed or shows signs of being abnormally stressed, hopefully they will be able to express that to you and hopefully you listen to them. My son was sad and stressed after only a short few months and my heart broke. I felt like the worst parent ever for not noticing it wasn't his age but the environment I placed him in. PROS-great art projects and Ms. Lara One teacher Ms. Lara was always kind and gentle and basically had to protect some of the children and she knew it, but even she was afraid to have a voice. I felt like she was pretty intelligent and should probably be in a better place herself; but Ms. Frankie, Ms. Cathy and the other teacher(s) were not that smart and I am not even sure if they have degrees in child development, If they do, I am shocked and I didn't ask and that is my fault. Cons-Everything else Please do your research, there are much much much better/safer options for your child and you only have to pay as much as this place costs or a few hundred more for a quality education in the area.

This is one of the best places to send your pre-school child. This family-run business has been in…read morebusiness for over 30 years with two other locations--Encinitas and Vista. Kathy is the head cheese and has guided many children in this space many well-ahead of the game when entering kindergarten. I can honestly say is that the children are really loved and looked after here. She has had the same employees for many years as they also truly love the experience. The emphasis is on supporting the children as they explore art, learning and playing. There is none or only limited time on computers and the kids can even play in their bare feet. My child attended this awesome school for 2.5 years and she still maintains friendships that she established there. Just a note, the location has never been renovated so be prepared.

The Garden Preschool is a truly special place. The teachers are caring, attentive, and genuinely…read moreinvested in each child's growth. We especially love that our son is learning about his Jewish culture and celebrating holidays in a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment. Our son LOVES going to school and comes home with sweet stories about his day. He loves learning and playing with his friends in the indoor/outdoor space. Communication with families is excellent, and it's clear how much intention goes into building a warm, welcoming community. We're so grateful to be part of this inclusive community!

We love this sweet little school. Our son started going right after turning two and being a shy boy…read morewe are grateful for the level of care and attention that is shown to him on a daily basis. We love the amount of time spent playing and doing activities outside and the focus on Jewish traditions and holidays. The staff is wonderful and the school director is inclusive and inviting. She even started a meal train for our family when my second son was born. Thank you Garden School for giving our little guy a place to shine.

We absolutely love Pilgrim! I was going to send my 3 year old son somewhere else, but decided to…read morecheck out Pilgrim last minute before committing and I'm so glad we did! The entire staff are so calm and sweet, the playground is amazing, they have so many awesome toys, and offer art and activities for the kids everyday. They also make holidays so fun and special for the kids. I wish I would have sent my older son here too. There are so many preschools to choose from in Carlsbad, but this one is really centered around the kids and I am just so pleased with the entire experience. I will miss this sweet school when my son goes to TK next year.

We sent both of our children from the ages of 2 to 4 to Pilgrim and we cannot speak highly enough…read moreof the school. It is such a warm/homey environment, and the teachers are so incredibly loving and caring--Miss Katia, Miss Sarah, and Miss Karina have such special places in our hearts. The school is play-based so the kids have many opportunities to explore various activities at their own pace, to use their imaginations, to play outside for a significant amount of time each day. Though the school is at a church, there is no religious curriculum, which our family preferred. Our children loved the school and were always so happy at the end of the day. We can't recommend Pilgrim enough!

The sweetest preschool! My son immediately felt comfortable and cared for since his first day…read morethere. He runs to the car every morning to go to his school, and doesn't want to leave when it's time to go (this was not the case at the last school he attended, in fact, the extreme opposite!). The school itself is small, but perfect for little ones to feel safe and thrive. What makes this school so special though is the owner, Ms. Diane, and the teacher, Ms. Chika. They have many many years of experience with early childhood development and a true love for what they do. After just one week of my son attending SBCP, it felt like they had known him all of his life. They understand all individuals needs and strengths, and implement activities and methods to suit each child. We are so happy to be a part of SBCP and would recommend it to anyone!

SBCP has been an absolute blessing for our family. Diane and the amazing teachers at SBCP are…read moreincredibly caring, patient and truly experienced in every aspect of early childhood education. We've been especially impressed by how compassionately they support children who need a little extra help, always meeting them where they are and encouraging their strengths. It's clear that every child is truly seen and valued here. Our kids love Ms. Diane and their wonderful teachers and look forward to going to school everyday. This wasn't happening at the last school we were at. Even on the occasional days that they are sick and have to stay home they always ask when they can go back to school. We couldn't be happier with our experience and are so grateful for the incredible team who makes this school such a special place. We are so fortunate and at total peace knowing our little ones are in such a nurturing environment. SBCP is truly one of a kind! Look no further!

We have thought a lot before writing this review which mostly reflects how we felt about…read moreAspirations at the end of our almost 5 years with the school. We ended up leaving because despite having had such a long time with the school, it became obvious to us at the end that we weren't valued as a family and that our little one wasn't truly seen as a whole person. We had one child start in the Bambini (baby) room just before COVID, went back after COVID and continued all the way through until starting Kindergarten. We had another child that spent a couple years here before just leaving this year. On a whole, Aspirations feels like a Instagram dreamspace - the Emilio Reggio style learning emphasizes the environment and it truly shows. As a parent, you know your child is surrounded by beauty. The art show feels special (although you eventually come to realize how much "teacher guidance" the final auction pieces actual reflect). The gala is also exciting and fun (when it happens). The playground is spacious and beautiful. Our years through Aspirations meant our kids have been in almost every room and in reflection there were great teachers and there were so-so ones and almost every year there was at least some unexpected teacher turn-over in the middle of the year. We ended up leaving because the first time we had any issues, we were surprised at the inflexibility of the administration and unwillingness to work with us. We requested that our little stay with friends in transitioning to a new class, shared the difficult family/life events that were affecting her and had the admin team tell us that they were not going allow her to change classes that despite the fact that the requested class was not yet being filled (they wanted to keep spots open for newer families/kids). Additionally, they weren't even willing to come up with a alternative plan (ie she could move to that class if someone transitioned out). The finality of "administrator knows best" was a slap in the face and made us finally look around and realize that this was one of the most expensive schools around, does not provide lunch, and its premium for the "extended care" (4-5pm where all extended care kids get placed with another teacher for that last hour, sometimes a different one daily) was not the standard everywhere.

I toured today with my 15 month old grandson and was in awe of the director, teachers & facility…read more Outdoor learning was as enriched as the classrooms with bridges, slides built into hills, riding toys, and of course art!

FIVE STARS! I cannot say enough good things about The Purposeful Preschool!!! I am a very critical…read moreperson who has to do a lot of research before I make any decision, especially the huge decision of who I would trust my 2 children and their early education with. After looking into many other preschools, my husband and I knew that Colleen was the best we could find. She follows the Reggio Emilia and Montessori model. If you don't know either of those, look them up! They're the best! There is so much respect for the child and his/her needs, emotions, interests, ect. The school is filled with lovely natrual materials and non-electronic toys to foster the children's creativity and curiosities. I knew i wanted inquiry-based learning, but PP is inquiry-based learning and more. Colleen really personalizes the lessons and materials for whatever the kids are really interested in or needing that week. For example, I mentioned to Colleen that my son was having tantrums and his emotions just seemed too big for him, and after trying everything I was at a loss to help him. The next preschool day, she had books and a game (which she ordered online) all dealing with a toddler's experience with big feelings. It brought tears to my eyes, because I knew that was exactly what he needed! This is one example out of many! She always goes the extra mile and you can tell she loves all her students and loves what she is doing. The preschool has an atmosphere of genuine respect and care for one another, which I know is because Colleen models that for them. There is never any shaming or punishment when they misbehave, but always an age-appropiate interaction to help uncover why the child is acting out and what are better options for them to choose instead. By witnessing Colleen's example, I have learned to be a better mother and my children have learned how to become more kind and compassionate little humans. That's worth more than anything can buy. Another example, there is a technique she uses for sharing and, since my kids started at the preschool, they have become excellent sharers to the point that other parents notice at the park and playdates and they ask me how I did it! A 2-year-old and 4-year-old who exemplify sharing to other children. She's a miracle-worker. I obviously love this Preschool for my children and it is very hard for me to be concise in this review because there are so so many things which I could rave about and keep writing for days. If you've made it this far in my review, just schedule a tour and meet with Colleen. I can guarantee that your child will be grateful you chose The Purposeful Preschool. My kids count down the days with excitement for every "Preschool Day". Seriously, give it a try.

Coming from a conventional preschool in a big city to a home-based preschool in Encinitas was truly…read moreblossoming for our daughter. We made a big move, worried about how she would transition and what a new area would bring. Stars aligned finding The Purposeful Preschool and we took the chance (confident of all aspects of the school but just apprehensive as parents with all the change). What we thought would be short-term is turning out to be the perfect fit! It's totally magical. Our daughter has grown leaps and bounds in confidence. She's worked personally with Ms. Colleen on communication, potty-training for naps, conquering fears, writing, letters and the list goes on. Ms. Colleen is attentive (we feel spoiled), so incredibly loving, creative, patient and really a joy to know (she's totally a friend to us as well - and a local reference). The group this school attracts is equally loving. Truly feel lucky for our daughter - only wishing we could hang with her there everyday too!

My Daughter is 4 1/2 and started at this school with 23 months. She continues to attend the school…read moreand has turned into such a responsible, considerate, humble, focused, sweet and ultimately a very happy girl. I continue to be surprised at how much endless love, patience, guidance and support the teachers have for these children. The school is small but so vast in opportunities for a child to learn and develop. The teachers communicate with me daily and are VERY responsive since day 1 and always offered me a great deal of support from my separation anxiety! Communication is always taking place and everything they do is so consistent. From the moment I walked in I knew this was a home away from home and just the community I was looking for to raise my daughter. I highly recommend this school.

I love this small scale Montessori children's house. The space is cute and very organized and the…read morequality of teachers here are amazing. They are very experienced, knowledgable, patient and loving. They take only 12-14 kid total with age between 2- 6 years old. The school feels like a family compare to some other large Montessori schools in the area that is large, charges twice as much that felt like a money making corporate company with kids being shuffled around rooms like live stocks. Our son loves coming to school and had became so well behaved and communicative since coming here 5 month ago. We learn great tips from the teachers all the time and we have a peace of mind having our son learning here.