We just joined, love everything about this lovely little school! Run by warm, caring, knowledgeable people, we're very grateful to have found it. read more

A wonderful little preschool with a great play area and fun community. We were very happy with our time at COV.

We love COV! Both of my boys attended COV preschool, it is an amazing program. We have the absolute best memories of our time there. My oldest is now in his last year of elementary school and he still keeps in touch with several of his preschool friends. It's a very special place. We loved their focus on play-based learning. Our boys were able to be themselves and explore the world around them. The COV team is wonderful. They spend a lot of time creating a safe and nurturing community. Our boys always talk about their time at COV fondly. As a parent, I knew I was leaving my kids in the best care. COV has a beautiful and spacious play yard for the children to explore and enjoy! This little gem of a school holds a special place in our heart! Tour the school, meet the wonderful team led by Nancy, you won't regret it! read more

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You must send your child to COV:) Best decision we have made so far in our childs education. They are the most nurturing and imaginative school. Always coming up with new interactive activities for these little minds to grow & explore. Our child had trouble transitioning to school and they helped guide our whole family. They never gave up on us, or made us feel any negativity. Their patience and knowledge of children and their education is absolute. read more

This school is such a special place. Our son went here from 3-5 and blossomed during that time from a "pandemic baby" to a vibrant, self confident, social butterfly. The staff and director are all so aligned and in sync, you never feel like anyone is off page. Perfect size groups with a ton of attention and love for each kiddo. And the indoor and outdoor spaces are so charming and idyllic (it's like a scene out of Sesame Street). Our daughter is currently in toddler and me class on Fridays and I can see the same progress with her. We can't wait for her to start preschool in the fall. We love you COV! read more

Amazing teachers and Director! The space is organized, clean, and set up for children to learn life skills. It was easy to communicate with the team and felt that my kids were safe and in loving hands while there. My kids couldn't get enough of it. Highly recommend! read more

All three of our kids attended COV and our third left last year -- I couldn't have asked for a better preschool experience for them. It's an extremely nurturing environment. Play-based but structured, with a wide variety of activities offered for the kids. Beautiful secluded campus with a very large outdoor area, vegetable garden, play structure, stage, large sandbox, fruit trees and plenty of grass and shade. For a small school, they're very well resourced and offer a lot of enrichment -- spanish classes, cooking classes etc. The class sizes are small and teachers get to know the kids on a deep level. Most of the teachers have been there for years, and they're amazing. The school feels like a little family. Nancy the director is incredible -- so competent, and loves the kids so much. I truly can't recommend it enough. My only complaint is that they only offer preschool -- I wish my kids could've continued on! read more

After touring several preschools, our family was so happy to have landed at COV. The campus is clean, there is a great big shady play yard with many different zones for the little ones to play, where toys and activities are rotated frequently, as well as a vegetable garden which the children are involved in planting and tending to. The preschool director and teachers are deeply committed to keeping COV a nurturing and safe place for their students, and are in constant communication with parents with school news and updates. Although the curriculum is play based, there are structured lesson plans and learning themes for the week that are thoughtfully developed by the teachers. Art instruction is process focused, rather than focusing on the finished product. In addition, there are optional enrichment classes provided after school, such as Spanish, Yoga, Karate, etc.. The community is diverse and welcoming, not at all stuffy or pretentious and we are still in contact with several families from our time there. There are also many opportunities for parent involvement. Your preschool shortlist would not be complete without considering COV. Our family is deeply grateful for what they had provided our daughter. She started last school year as a confident, kind, and inquisitive Kindergartener. read more

There are not enough stars to give this magical little school! My kids both started there at 18 months old in their parent and me class and went straight through their program (minus some Covid shut down time). They are now thriving in kindergarten and second grade! We toured a lot of preschools and I did not see anything that compared to their play yard... huge and shaded with tons of room to explore! It was just what we were looking for in a preschool, a place for kids to be kids! We are still great friends with many of the families we met there and we all regularly reminisce on our kids' time at COV. It will forever hold the most special place in our hearts. Please do your child a favor and check out this school! You will not regret it!! read more

We LOVED this school! My little one went here for 2 years and we adored it. All the teachers were loving and nurturing. We love the Director Nancy for her leadership skills and openness. They have great additional after school programs should you want that too. The playground is very sweet with lots of mature trees that give the kids shade to play under when they're outside. The classrooms are great too. I recommend it to anyone looking for a solid preschool or Pre-K program. My child was completely ready to start Kindergarten and is thriving after his time at COV! read more

We just love COV Preschool and would recommend it to anyone looking for a diverse, welcoming space and a team that truly cares about your kids. It has a beautiful playground and is a gem in Van Nuys. It is a small community where friends are made and there is a lot of opportunity for family involvement. We're looking forward to joining COV again in a year when our youngest is ready for preschool. read more

COV is truly a hidden gem. my youngest of three is graduating this year, and it will be hard to say goodbye to the teachers and community that have become family. COV creates a magical environment where little ones are free to grow and explore. I couldn't recommend the school more highly! read more

This preschool is so special to me and my family. My daughter is almost 9 and I still think about how wonderful the teachers all were. I also made some great friends who I still keep in touch with all these years later. I toured many schools and COV instantly felt like home. read more

What a wonderful preschool! The teachers care deeply about early childhood development and are so nurturing. Nancy is a great director, her door is always open to not only discuss concerns but for advice as well. However, the play yard is what really sold me. You open the gate and it's like a beautiful secret garden where kids can run around, ride tricycles, play on a stage or in a sandpit, swing from the jungle gym, learn in the garden, and search for roly polys. read more

Two thumbs way up in the sky for this school! I sent all three of my children here and it was a wonderful, warm, and cheerful place for kids to be kids. They have tons of activities, rotating toys, guests, community events... I loved everything about it and the director is patient and truly caring about each and every child. It's sweet with a different rhythm, where the learning is almost entirely play-based and focused on social/emotional learning. I highly recommend it to anyone looking and it is a great price for what it offers as well. Give it a tour and meet the current director, Nancy. She's a gem. read more

I have toured and considered a *LOT* of preschools in the area. They all did not feel 100 percent comfortable until we saw COV. It's such a wonderful little community, where everybody knows your kids name and smiles and waves. The kids here are the sweetest and the teachers are focused on emotional development. Our son has blossomed into a confident, smart, and secure child. The environment is incredibly loving and warm. read more

This preschool is hidden gem in the valley! Very affordable! Great school, great leadership, great teachers, great classrooms, and the very best play yard for the kids! Our two children attended this preschool for a total of 6 magical years - we even opted to keep our son in preschool for an extra year so he could benefit from another year of their play based and developmentally appropriate programming. In our opinion, the state's new TK for all programming puts children in a overly academic setting before they should be developmentally - COV's red door is a great alternative that allows children to develop appropriately while still preparing them to enter Kindergarten the next year. Our children have many, many fond memories of the school and their teachers, and we always felt supported by the school community. Other families we have recommended the school to have found a home there as well. If you are on the preschool search, do yourself a huge favor and tour the school to check it out for yourself. read more

We love COV! We sent our son here for three years and had a wonderful experience. The teachers were kind, caring, and communicative. The community is warm and inclusive. My son thrived there. We were hesitant about sending our toddler this spring, but once we saw how safe the protocols are and how careful everyone is being, we decided to do it. It was a good decision for us, my daughter is also thriving at COV. read more

Church of the Valley Preschool is awesome! Our oldest boy just graduated from here and we have our 2nd boy moving up to Blue door. I know finding a perfect Pre-school is super challenging. We looked at bunch of different pre-schools in whole lot of different range from super academic to super developmental. Each schools have pluses and minuses but it's really hard to find a place that feels "just right" for your child. For us Church of The Valley felt Perfect and it still does three years later. Barbara, the Director of the school, is very warm, kind, smart and runs the school with very clear vision. The whole place is very well thought out and you can just feel that your child will be well taken care of. We love our teachers at every grade level. They are all amazingly patient, caring and really pays attention to each and every child. They also have a very spacious yard that are shaded! This is very important & somewhat hard to find in Pre-school in the Valley. Kids can play outside even in hot sunny days! And our boys NEED to play outside everyday.... In our mind, the school strikes a very good balance between development and super academic. The kids are getting ready for Kindergarten without being in a super strict academic environment. They also offer a lot of after school enrichment classes like Spanish, Cooking, Soccer etc which our kids love. My boys love to Bake! If you are in search of the perfect pre-school for your child, it is definitely worth coming to take a look at Church of The Valley pre-school! read more

This is the best kept secret in the Valley. Here's what we love: the teachers are the perfect blend of a soft touch and yet teaching your kids to follow rules and gain new skills. The director is beyond competent with years and years of experience in child development and leadership. She is so involved in each of the classes and will bend over backwards for the families of COV. This school has an amazing play yard (safe swing set, sand box, garden, loop for riding bikes/cars, etc.) with much more space than other facilities we've seen. This year they even added an outdoor stage for the kids! There are many fun family events throughout the year, so you really end up feeling like this is a community among the families. We've gained the best friends. The school is tucked away behind a church and is double gated with a special code that only the parents have to get in. Accredited, qualified teachers/aides are ALWAYS with the kids, and we've always felt peace of mind leaving our child at the school. Oh, and did I mention how affordable this school is?! They even offer extended care and early care for families who need it for far cheaper than it would be to hire a babysitter. The also offer a variety of enrichment classes after school if you want your child to get more involved in a special skill (Spanish, cooking, soccer, science, sign language, etc.). We couldn't be happier with our experience. read more

We live COV. Pastor Michael is a very engaging, passionate preacher. He had a real talent for making the sermons relatable, fun, interesting, motivating, inspirational and educational. I can't say enough wonderful things about this sweet little church and wonderful welcoming, diverse congregation. We have the traditional older community, a very strong and talented choir, a hip and entertaining praise band and once again their children's and youth program is strong. They have recently hired our beloved Claudia as the Children's Program director. She grew up in this church and has returned back to Calif with her darling daughter to revive our Children's program. With Pastor Michael and Claudia leading, this is the church you want to attend!! read more

I'm so grateful to this preschool. My two kids have gone to COV over the last few years and the experience has been wonderful - for both them and myself. The teachers are great. I can't say enough about them. They have loved and cared for my kids when I wasn't there to love them myself. They're patient and thoughtful. I've come to consider them good friends. The school director, Barbara Campbell, is also very involved and concerned about each child. My daughter has needed add'l therapies (speech, physical, etc.) and Barbara has given me updates on her progress over the years. Lastly, both my children and I have found good friends at COV. The community is open and helpful. It's honestly a great place. read more

COV is BEST PRESCHOOL IN THE VALLEY. I have had my 2 children go to this school over the past 6 years. Our experience has been nothing short of spectacular. Every teacher knows every child and there is a special school community that exists around current and former students. The school is extremely well run with an exceptional attention to detail you won't find at other preschools in Los Angeles. The Preschool Director, Barbara Campbell is heavily involved in the schools' daily activities and truly cares about the well being of each child. Strong friendships have been created with some of the teachers as well. COV has prepared my children well for Kindergarten. And btw - every student is properly vaccinated. read more

There are not enough great things I can say about this school. My son is off to Kindergarten in the fall, and we are so sad to have to leave COV Preschool. The last three years there have been wonderful. We started looking at preschools when my son turned 2 and a half - we just couldn't seem to find one in the Sherman Oaks area that we felt was a good fit. Then a neighbor recommended COV and after our initial meeting with the school's amazing director, Barbara, we fell in love. The school itself is warm & inviting - the staff has done a fantastic job keeping everything safe, clean, & organized. The back school yard is completely magical-a lush, park like setting different than any other preschool yard I have seen in the valley. Next to each classroom there is a board explaining what the children have been working on that week, so as a parent you can work along with your child and stay involved with what they are doing at school. My son leaves COV an eager learner-he is constantly asking questions about the many things he has been working on at school, as well as telling us the importance of 'using our words' and 'taking turns'...and all of the important skills that the amazing teachers have equipped him with. All of that aside, what I love the most about COV is the kind & caring environment; the 'family' atmosphere that exists so strongly between all of the parents, teachers, & staff at this gem of a preschool. We have made so many friends in our few years there, and these friendships are fostered through all of the fun activities & events that take place throughout the school year. This truly is a special place and I feel so lucky that my family has had the opportunity to spend the last few years at COV. read more

Update: this is my fourth attempted Yelp review for COV preschool. Why Yelp will not post it makes no sense. I have sent kids to this school for 5 years straight, I am more than qualified to write an honest review. Yelp, please reconsider. You have posted all my other reviews at other businesses but not this one. Review: What a wonderful preschool, truly the best. Both of my children have gone/are going here and it is a lovely, sweet and wonderful place to send your children. I truly felt my children were in the most competent and loving hands each and every day. I looked at and considered most preschools in the Encino/Sherman Oaks area and this was by far the best choice. The best yard, the best teachers, best director, best policies and best program for little kids. Love it! read more

This is the most amazing preschool! It's a true "hidden gem." All three of my boys have gone all the way through COV. I was a preschool teacher and knew what I was looking for when I was searching for a preschool. One step in COV and meeting the director, Barbara, was all it took for me to be enamored. All the teachers are incredible. I couldn't find a better preschool for my boys if I had created one myself. I will miss it SO much when my youngest finishes there this June. I feel like family there. read more

I love this school. Both of my sons went to preschool here. We lived in Studio City at the time and I was more than happy to make the drive because I knew that my children were in loving care. The focus is on growth through play more than academics, which I find more important, especially at this age. They do work on getting the children ready for kindergarten in the pre-k class but in a low pressure manner. The director and the teachers are absolutely wonderful and have a lot of experience (turnover is low at this school). The play yard offers lots of different opportunities for a variety of activities: climbing structure, tricycles, sand box, garden, shady grassy area. The price is very competitive and the flexibility of the extended day program is great. We miss everyone we got to know at COV. This place will always have a special place in our hearts! read more

I'm a psychologist and I was super fussy when choosing a preschool. I am so happy with my choice of Church of the Valley. My older son finished 3 years here and is moving on to Kindergarten and my younger son just finished his first year and I can truly report that this place is excellent. The entire staff cares, they are well educated and on the ball. They are sensitive to transitions and individual needs. The facility has a large beautiful well shaded play yard with many options for exercise. I've found a community at this preschool which has been helpful and supportive for me as a mom. And finally, the win-win is that this preschool is affordable and has many more desirable qualities than other more expensive preschools I toured. My older son is so sad to leave for kindergarten and my younger son is so excited to go there everyday! read more

If I could give COV preschool six stars, I would. Our family was so fortunate to find this wonderful, affordable, kind and happy place, where the teachers provide real expertise and care, and the administrator, Barbara, is a gem of a leader. I write this after having experience at other preschools and childcare, and the difference between those and COV is profound. My son has had the best care, patience and guidance we could ask for, for three years. We LOVED the flexibility of the extended day until 3 pm, and took advantage of the enrichment classes (cooking, science) too. And while most schools express a supposed philosophy that "every child is different" the teachers at COV actually treat the children that way. Such a nurturing, fun place. And yes, the play yard is as nice as they say! read more

COV preschool is the best school in the valley, not just the best preschool! My children and I will never have a better experience! My older son, now in 4th grade still loves coming back to COV for events and talking with his teachers. My daughter is just moving on to Kindergarten. When she started at COV she was transitioning from Regional Center services to LAUSD services. LAUSD said she didn't qualify for OT. When I asked for a review of that, they came to the school to reassess. When the assessor went over the report, he said that he was incredibly impressed with the school, that he saw my daughter do things that she hadn't been able to do in one on one with him. He said that the classrooms were well designed for development, that the play yard was heaven, and that the teachers knew exactly how to encourage and help young ones develop. He said that I basically was receiving OT from her school experience. I agree wholeheartedly and he was right. My little girl blossomed wonderfully at COV. COV really stresses the whole child and not only do the children develop learning skills, but social skills as well, which are so important in today's world. The school is so accepting and knowledgeable about children and all of their differences in development. There is very little turnover in teachers and the preschool director is a magical combination of great child development knowledge, a kind and talented manager, and a fantastic guide for parents, accepting and helpful as needed. All of that together creates an amazing environment for community. The parents at COV are now life long friends. Thank you COV. Thank you from the depths of my heart for nurturing my children (and me). read more

I honestly can't recall how we learned of this absolute gem of a preschool, but we were fortunate to be a part of its community for 6 years. I had an intuitive and overwhelming feeling from our first visit that this would be a place where my children would thrive. Thank goodness we landed a coveted spot for my oldest child in the Green Door (2.5 and 3 year olds). Barbara Campbell, the school's amazing director, sets the tone for the school - emphasizing that your child will be taught with kindness, understanding, and joy yet also learn limits, cooperation, self-control, respect and resiliency. The classrooms are bursting with happy, enthusiastic children! From the incredibly warm and nurturing Green Door, to the lively, burgeoning independence of the Blue Door, and culminating in the amazingly self-sufficient, curious and busy Red Door kids, the incredible staff offers the children everything they need in responsible, loving caretakers. Mind you, this is a DEVELOPMENTAL school, so if you want worksheets and flash cards, this is not the place for you. But if you want your child to learn through play and exploration, which includes language, math, science, art, and music skills, then you owe it to yourself to check this school out. Both of my boys were more than ready for their private school Kindergarten upon leaving COV. And don't get me started on the play yard. It's absolute MAGIC! My older son always loved to pick up his younger brother just so he could get a chance to play on the yard again. The school offers extended care until 3 p.m. - and the kids beg for a chance to go; it's that good. The school embraces families of all backgrounds and teaches respect for all cultures. The kids learn about Chanukah along with Christmas, Chinese New Year, and on and on. We are sad to be leaving this lovely community of teachers and awesome families but so much richer for the experience. read more