This is our daughter's second year at Beverly Glen Playgroup, and we couldn't be happier. The…read moreteachers are warm, patient, and genuinely invested in the kids -- you can feel it every day. One of the biggest surprises for us has been the community. Not only has our daughter made wonderful friends, but we have too -- something we didn't expect at all. The families here are kind, down-to-earth, and truly supportive. Our daughter has grown so much -- she's more confident, social, and excited to go to school every morning. The play-based approach keeps her curious and happy, and she comes home full of stories about her day. We're really grateful to be part of this school. If you want a warm, welcoming place where both kids and parents find their people, Beverly Glen Playgroup is amazing.

We (and our two kids!) really enjoyed our time at Playgroup…read more The teachers were all different but so dedicated to creating a safe nurturing space for young learners. The co-op nature of the school allows for deeper relationships with parents by volunteering together and with your kids and their friends working "on the floor" during the school day. It would be easy to fall into the trap of thinking you might not have time for that type of dedication, but trust me, it was one of the most joyful aspects of seeing my kids grow up. If you want a "drop off and forget it" type of school this isn't it. But if you want to be involved in your child's development and create lasting relationships with the teachers and other parents definitely apply. We've seen first hand that kids who leave playgroup and go into kindergarten are some of the kindest and thoughtful kids who see their classmates as a community. When we moved into the neighborhood we heard from neighbors that we MUST apply and it's the best place to honor a play based preschool approach in the area. And they were right. So happy with our decision.

We could not be more grateful for our experience at Synapse Atelier. From the very first day, it…read morehas been clear that this is not just a childcare center, but a truly thoughtful, nurturing, and intentional learning environment rooted in the Reggio Emilia approach. What sets Synapse Atelier apart is the deep respect they have for each child as a capable, curious, and unique individual. The educators carefully observe, listen, and respond to the children's interests, allowing learning to unfold naturally through exploration, creativity, and hands-on experiences. Our son is constantly engaged in meaningful projects that encourage curiosity, problem-solving, and imagination rather than rote instruction. We have been especially impressed with how Synapse Atelier supports the development of executive function skills. Through play, collaboration, and guided reflection, our son has grown in his ability to focus, take turns, manage emotions, and persist through challenges. The teachers model patience and self-regulation beautifully, and these qualities are clearly reflected in the children. Equally remarkable has been his growth in social and verbal skills. The environment at Synapse Atelier fosters respectful communication, empathy, and teamwork, and we have seen him become more confident in expressing himself, sharing ideas, and interacting with peers. The educators create countless opportunities for conversation, storytelling, and cooperative play, which have significantly strengthened his language and social awareness. Above all, the warmth, care, and genuine dedication of the Synapse Atelier staff shine through every day. They truly know and love each child, and it shows in the joyful, secure, and vibrant atmosphere of the classroom. We feel incredibly fortunate to have found such a special place for our son and would wholeheartedly recommend Synapse Atelier to any family seeking a Reggio-inspired program that nurtures the whole child--intellectually, emotionally, socially, and creatively.

Both my daughters have been going to Synapse and are thriving. Due to the small size of the school,…read moreeach child is given an incredible amount of time and attention. They each get the chance to express themselves and their thoughts on different, interesting subjects on a daily basis. What has been very impressive to me is the respect and dignity with which the children are treated. They are all treated like individuals with valuable opinion in each subject. We also receive tons of pictures and videos daily which help us be more involved and aware of what the kids work on each day. We are fortunate to be able to have our kids thrive in such a loving and strong community.

My daughter attended this daycare for two years, and we had such a wonderful experience! I'm truly…read moregrateful for all the care, attention, and warmth she received during her time there. The teachers are kind, warm-hearted, and very attentive to the children. My daughter was always happy to go to daycare, which as a parent says so much. I loved that their days were filled with a great variety of activities -- learning through games, cooking activities, creative projects in the classroom, and plenty of active play outdoors. She was always busy, engaged, and excited to tell me about her day. I was also very happy with the food they provided. My daughter loves to eat, so this was definitely important to us! She always came home full and happy, and I really appreciated the variety of meals and snacks offered throughout the day. After two years, we are leaving with so many warm memories. It's a wonderful feeling to know that your child is spending her day in a place where she feels happy, comfortable, cared for, and loved. A big thank you to all the teachers and staff for everything you've done for our daughter!

This review is long long overdue. My son started attending Busy Little Bee at 28 months old, the…read moresummer after Covid began and we lost our nanny. This was his first daycare experience, and Shusha took him in and treated him as her own. His language and social skills blossomed right away. He had always been a very picky eater, but he loved Ms Mariam's cooking, and was always trying new and unexpected foods for the first time. Shusha was so loving and even went out of her way to personally help feed him on the days he struggled. We have since moved, and our son is now five years old. We have since attended three other wonderful schools with our two boys, but none of them compare to Shusha's school. For a nervous mom sending her son to school for the first time, it felt as if we were sending him to a warm, loving relative's home to play for the day. We still see the amazing activities she plans on social media, and think fondly of our son's time there. We are so grateful to Shusha and her team to have had the perfect first school experience.

We are incredibly grateful for the nurturing environment BPCP provided for our son over the last 4…read moreyears. He started in the "parent and me" toddler class at 2 and graduates TK this June. His confidence and love of school grew exponentially each year. Ms. Shiva has run the school for years and genuinely cares for each student and their family. Even as a busy preschool director, she always made time to address our questions, big or small. Ms. Shiva, Ms. Andrea & Ms. Maria are an organized and communicative administrative team who set the tone for all faculty. Everyone on staff is exactly the kind and patient role model a parent would want their child spending M-F with! They are dedicated and show up everyday with a smile and warm greeting. The program structure is age-appropriate and places a well-balanced emphasis on social-emotional, physical and cognitive development. Academics are seamlessly woven into every activity so it's never forced too soon, yet my son is going into kindergarten with a solid academic foundation. He recognizes all upper and lowercase letters + numbers up to 100, reads sight words and writes independently. All learned through repetition and fun. The facility is safe, meticulously maintained and has multiple huge outdoor play yards. The carpool line is efficient and well-run despite its location on major cross streets. We are sadly moving out of the area, otherwise we would enroll our younger son and happily sign up for another 3 years there. I highly recommend BPCP to any family looking for a loving and supportive preschool for their child.

Such an amazing community preschool! We've sent both of our daughters here and have absolutely…read moreloved our experience. The teachers and staff are all so welcoming and friendly. The parent community is also very present both on and off campus. We especially love the small class sizes and emphasis on social and emotional learning for our young ones. We also appreciate that the school celebrates all cultures, religions, beliefs and celebrates our differences in a way our children can understand and get excited about. We love this school and highly recommend!

My daughter is 4 and a student at Greenleaf and I'm consistently blown away by the love,…read morethoughtfulness, quality of teaching, individual attention, beautiful art that comes home, and the way my daughter now communicates and carries herself. My daughter is proud of the "jobs" she does, excited about learning, and she has made quality friendships with other kind children. The curriculum is interesting, dynamic, and also so fun! She is learning about cultures, languages, yoga, dance, and art, plus math and reading! I'm blown away. I truly can not recommend Greenleaf Mindful Montessori enough. The casual environment only adds to the comforting mindset that allows my daughter's brain and heart to be wide open. This is not a daycare. This is a pre-- School where children learn and thrive and learn to learn and thrive even more when they sadly will have to move on to the next level of life and education. I'm grateful that I have one more year there because my daughter seems to be easily and enjoyably learning even more than my son is in kindergarten.

Greenleaf is a gem of a school and I feel so lucky to have found it! I am constantly blown away by…read morethe attention to detail and the thought and care that goes into everything they do. Ms Vanessa and the entire team of teachers are so lovely and caring and are always coming up with the most creative activities. I will never forget attending the Thanksgiving Potluck and was amazed at how the children made the table cloths, did the flower arranging, and decorated centerpieces for the tables. It truly was a work of art! For their end of year show, the teachers had written and composed all the music and songs that the children learnt! No other school would do that, and I think it instills such creative values in the children. Since attending, my child's creativity has just blossomed and it's been so amazing to see. The teachers also focus on numbers, the alphabet, and learning about other countries and cultures. Plus, they learn french, yoga, and music. It really is a well-rounded Montessori curriculum. I also love that the school has a clean eating policy and serves healthy snacks. If you are a parent looking for a nurturing school that is going to inspire your child, Greenleaf is it! I couldn't be happier with my decision to send my child here.

This is a special place. Irreplaceable. Our child started in the toddler program where we attended…read morewith her. We enjoyed the experience and bonded with her peer parents and the teachers. We were hooked. The operator, Patricia, created a beautiful environment that feels both intimate and aspirational. The staff is immersed in the Reggio Emilia pedagogy, which makes the school feels less "schooled" and not like a daycare where they're just "watching" children. Every space presents an opportunity for learning, engagement and growth. Every teacher engages with your child. There are no "worksheets." The children learn through projects and individual study. We loved the annual camping trips and nature hikes. Over time, the school and families became a safe haven for our family, changing our perspectives of what a school should be. It should be an extension of community. I can't say enough about how amazing this place is. I literally can't find anything that compares.

Our child has continued on the Branches journey, first at summer camp, and now in the preschool…read moreprogram. This school, the administration and teachers are truly the best and we feel so grateful to be here. Additionally, the parent community is absolutely fantastic. Highly recommend.

Both of my kiddos attend Berkeley Hall School and we are absolutely IN LOVE with the school! From…read morethe teachers to the administrators to the entire community created...is HOME. Go Bobcats forever!

We so loved this school. Kind and welcoming, no bullying, a beautiful campus, excellent Principal…read moreand teachers. A place where children can blossom in an atmosphere of good values.

We currently have two children attending WISE School and feel very lucky to be providing them with…read morean incredible educational experience.  Our boys are thriving and look forward to going to school every day.  From the nurturing and caring teachers to the endless array of high-caliber sports (including swimming) and extracurricular opportunities (#1 debate team amongst competing schools), not to mention the beautiful park-like grounds, Wise has it all.  Wise also provides our family with a wonderful sense of community. The families that attend Wise have similar values and goals for their children and bring diversity and warmth to the community with their cultural backgrounds. The administration has been extremely supportive during the pandemic, with a flexible and balanced approach to ensure as normal as possible of an elementary school experience for the kids. The head of school communicates with parents on a weekly basis to ensure transparency as well as to accept feedback from the community. Wise is a leader amongst other schools, tuned-in with the needs of like-minded families and operating from a place of reason. I know our children will leave Wise with a strong sense of self and confidence as kind young adults armed both academically and socially to handle whatever lies ahead.

Wise school is a sanctuary not far from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is perched on the…read moremost beautiful well maintained campus off the 405 and Mullholland. It is where kids come to thrive and learn while having Judaism in their lives. You do not have to be Jewish to join the school all are welcomed! Pam Kleinman and Tami Wiser are the roots that ground this school and care so much for the children. They work so incredibly hard to make sure that all children are getting the best possible education! All the while teaching our children how to be good people in the world. I love this school and community and feel beyond blessed to be apart of it as do my children. We actually left for a short bit because I live next to a public school. We ran back as quickly as we could there is just no comparison to private school verses public on so many levels but the one I appreciate the most is my kids are thriving at Wise because the entire staff loves what they do from the front security to the lovely girls in the front office. This is a very special community and school where everyone is happy and living their best lives.

This school is just terrible because my son went to that school and almost every time after school…read morehe would come home crying because the kids and the school always picked my son because he is on the spectrum and I told the administration and the head of school but they wouldn't do anything about it so we moved schools and the cost was too high for us to send are kid. So if you want to go to a nice private school in California you shouldn't go here

The John Thomas Dye School is where generations of my family have gone. My parents along with their…read moreparents went and I also attended the school as well. All of my 3 kids have gone there and the friends and memories they have made from their journey will forever be a part of their lives and my own. The facility and staff are so hands-on and get so involved in making the student's life as wonderful as possible. As I watched each of my kids throughout their individual seven-year experiences I found myself aw at how much they had learned throughout their journeys. The school has something to offer everyone and is a wonderful environment for kids to learn and evolve into smart, confident, and caring human beings. After my last child left I truly missed everything about the school from the fun traditions to the festive seasonal parties held for parents. So, if you are looking for a place o send your child, JTD is truly the place to look if you want lifelong bonds and memories.

We were so blessed to have stumbled onto MDG, moving out to the Westside and looking for schools…read morefor our little one was definitely challenging. I can't say and thank the staff enough on how well and attentive they are to the kids. I would highly recommend MDG, make sure you get on their waiting list ASAP, they do fill up FAST!

Both of our boys attended MDG and absolutely loved it there. We are huge fans of the school and its…read moreoperators and have been here for 3 years now. Ms. Bonnie runs a fantastic school, creating a highly consistent structure and warm environment for kids to learn and grow. Ms. Isabel is the most patient, caring and present teacher I've ever met and my children absolutely love her. Our oldest attended after he turned 4, during the pandemic, when MDG was one of the first preschools in our area to reopen. We just left another preschool close by that neither kid enjoyed attending (they resisted daily). After just one day at MDG, our kids were already at ease and so comfortable that drop offs instantly became a breeze. The garden, incredibly sweet children, fun pets and animals (bunny, turtle, frog and Ms. Bonnie's dog)...being at MDG was (and still is) truly a magical enclave for our kids. The pandemic was awful but a (life changing) bright spot for us was enrolling our kids at MDG. They did such an amazing job during the most difficult times and really unlocked our oldest son's appetite and joy for learning. He excelled in math particularly there and they laid a foundation for his reading skills. Once he hit Kindergarten (at public school in Culver City), his reading skills picked up rapidly and he became capable of reading on his own by end of Kinder. As for our younger son, he has basically grown up at MDG. He started at age 3 and has now been at MDG for 3 years! He's learned SO much there...reading, writing, math, art, music, numerous cultural traditions, building friendships, manners, yoga, natural science and even complete potty independence! Even though we moved 20 minutes away, we kept him at MDG because it's truly his second home. He feels so safe here and has really thrived from the education, friendships gained and life lessons learned. He is starting Kinder in 2 months and while he is certainly ready for it, I know he will miss the school, friends, Miss Isabelle, etc dearly. Lastly, a note on Montessori method as someone who was new to it and a little weary of a formal structure for young kids. I understand now that kids thrive under structure and consistency (and boundary setting!), and while it was intimidating at first (just for me, not my kids at all), a method of schooling does not dictate how caring/loving teachers are for the children. Our kids were so well cared for because this school is operated by professionals who genuinely love teaching young children. Montessori, to us, is really a methodology of teaching both academic and life lessons, through individualized attention and focus on the learner's interests. Because the child learns within the context of subjects he/she enjoys, learning becomes much more relevant and enjoyable (even though it's technically called "work"). There is much more independent learning, which helped to build determination and confidence with our children. Plus, the teachers (typically Ms. Isabel + a TA) are there to guide and help the child when they encounter struggles. I highly highly recommend visiting MDG and meeting Ms. Bonnie and Ms. Isabel if you are looking for a preschool in the Westwood area. I'm confident you and your child will be delighted by the school and the experience as we were.