When my wife and I moved to Richmond from Raleigh in 2010 in some ways it was like starting over…read more We had both lived in North Carolina for 17 & 14 years respectively and the change while welcomed presented many challenges, especially with 2 young children. One of the first things we did when we arrived was to seek out recommendations for a good pediatrician. From that point we had the amazing fortune of being given the contact information for Joan at Open Arms Christian Preschool by our children's new doctor. The pediatrician we ended up seeing knew that with a diagnosis of autism and being on the spectrum our son would be in great hands and care at Open Arms Christian Preschool. The nervousness we felt while driving to meet with Joan for an initial tour of the preschool was immediately forgotten as we were greeted with the kindest most genuine energy and welcome. Within 5 minutes of touring Open Arms we knew we had found the right place. In our time spent at Open Arms we had both of our kids enrolled. Even when we moved to Glen Allen after the first year I fixed my work schedule to be able to drive 40 minutes back and forth for drop off and pick up. Our oldest child is on the spectrum and has been diagnosed with autism. He is high functioning but to this day has sensory issues as well as social issues. Joan went above and beyond to work with us day in and day out, gave us guidance, put us in touch with different professionals and organizations and always made herself available. She was always a phone call away and as with any situation involving children the communication factor was key. There was even a point where an additional staff member was brought in to help. For all of these reasons my wife and I will forever be grateful. I could really go on and on raving about this preschool as we had a 4 year run there. There is not one negative thing I can say about our experience at Open Arms. If there was I would be honest and post it. There were times when we had reports come home about our oldest and quite frankly a few times where we thought, 'that's it they are going to ask us to leave'... but that never happened. And I believe the communication between the school and us was a vital part of our unique situation. Communication is always key. The tuition is very reasonable for what each family receives. Activities, special trips and guest 'speakers' just to name a few of the things which go on. Art comes home regularly and the kids are also in a true learning environment which is such a plus as they get ready to make the transition to elementary school. If I could give this preschool 10 stars I would. If I could give Joan and her amazing staff 10 stars I would. I have given Joan permission to give out my phone number to anyone who has parent to parent questions. We will be forever grateful for the foundation which Open Arms Christian Preschool has given both of our kids. And we will especially be forever grateful for the added support we received to help us set our first born and only son on the path to being able to deal with his autism related issues. While Open Arms was just one piece of the support chain we received it was a vital part which helped us truly make the difficult and important decisions about our situation without added stress. Without the positive reinforcement and guidance this would have been a much more difficult road for us. Reach out to Joan with any questions about this program. She is always eager and happy to meet and welcome new faces and families. Cheers! And thank you for reading my first novel! (sorry I got carried away...) -Michael Soekawa (yes my full name)

The post previously made is inaccurate and incorrect. We toured several schools and chose Open…read moreArms last September because of the attentiveness, love and professionalism of the teachers and Director. In January of last year, our son began having seizures - the first in his young 2 year old life. We were terrified and concerned about the present and future health, well-being and development of our child. Not only did the team at Open Arms show their love and support for us, but the families surround us with friendship and prayer! Our son Eli had a rough 4 months; spending over 80% of the time in the hospital. During that time, we received weekly emails and texts from the Director, Eli's teachers and parents checking in and asking how they could help. When Eli was stable enough to return, the entire team at Open Arms worked with us to give Eli a chance to come back to school - even part-time. I met with the Director, Joan Brennan, and his teachers regularly to discuss his development, areas of challenge and prognosis. They worked diligently to ensure that Eli had a supportive environment where he, and the other children, could thrive. They took care of our son and our entire family during one of the most traumatic times in our life. Eli has now been seizure free for several months and returned back to school full-time this year. Before starting the year, Joan and the teachers worked with my husband and I to determine where Eli might best thrive (in the older 2 or younger 3 classroom). They have walked with us over the last several months as we have evaluated his growth and development. During parent teacher conferences this week, his teachers shared with us areas of challenge for Eli and some options to help him thrive. While it is always tough to hear that your child may not be thriving and may need additional evaluation, the way that they lovingly and supportively discussed the challenges with me made me quickly aware that they were on our team. They wanted what was best for Eli's development and wanted to provide the right opportunities for he and the other children in the school. As a parent who is diligently involved in the well being of her child, I feel like I have a team of support at Open Arms. It is a community! I learned about Open Arms from a friend that entrusted the development of her two children to the school. Having now experienced the great support and student-to-teacher ratios she encountered, I have openly recommended the school to other families. Including families that have been dealing with issues such as epilepsy. While the school is not a school for children needing one-on-one shadowing or those with aggression and anger issues, it is a school for families that need a little extra support or those that simply want the best environment and greatest opportunity for the growth of their children. I love Open Arms and am saddened by the libelous comment below.

Our daughter has been here for three years and she loves it! The teachers are great and my daughter…read morehas learned so much. They also take security seriously.

We are on our 4th year at TLCP and will stay another 3! Our kids have had very loving teachers and…read morewhat they have learned is very apparent- from independent sleep skills and social manners, to writing practice and K prep. I love that it is smaller than other centers and has a more close-knit feel. The new playground for toddlers & 2's is lovely with a shaded cover and no mulch. There's a large multipurpose room that they use like an indoor gym when the weather is poor. There was a lot of staff turnover the past 1-2 years, but they are now in a good groove and all seem to work well as a team.

Promises Preschool is a wonderful choice! We were so grateful to find this program. Our family…read morewas new to Richmond, VA and found Promises through an online search. We checked-out other preschools and then settled on Promises. Mrs. Lois, the former director gave us a great tour and we signed our son up with haste. Mrs. Kim & Mr. Jeff gave our son such a heartfelt and awesome start to his education. All of the staff at the school was attentive, genuine, and passionate. We will be forever thankful for the time we spent and the friends we made at Promises!

All 3 of my daughters attended Promises preschool spanning from 2006 to 2018. It is such a loving,…read morecaring, fun, learning environment. Many of the teachers have been there for years which tells you it's like joining a family. My daughters have made life long friends that started at Promises. It truly is a hidden gem.

All Five of our Grand kids got a great education at Jack and Jill School...they are doing well in…read moreGlen Allen Elementary and at Liberty University Home Schooling program...We have our three year old Grayson getting great things done...and has two more years to go...The summer camp program is also great---they LEARN TO SWIM---so important....The teachers just LOVE THE CHILDREN...they learn so many things --to include Love of God and Respect for one another...Merry Christmas everyone at Jack and Jill..and many thanks..

From the owner: At Jack and Jill, we realize choosing the right preschool for your child is a significant and…read moreexciting decision. We want you to feel certain you are choosing a preschool that focuses on learning yet appreciates the significance of fun. Our preschool encourages your child's development, without him or her growing up too fast. You want an atmosphere where your child can make friends and share the fun of learning with other children. We know that you want your child to be cared for by teachers who keep him or her safe, loved, and nurtured based on individual personality and unique abilities. Private Kindergarten A great school experience starts here. Children are in a safe environment they know and love, which makes learning more effective and fun. Our kindergarten program is a comprehensive skill-based program, designed to prepare children for the first grade and success in school. We want your child to enjoy and appreciate the educational process...

My son went here 14 years ago and although I never thought I would be looking for child care again…read moreat this point in my life I found myself looking for child care for my newborn son. We are back at Chesterbook! We are part time and have crazy schedule needs and I have yet to be disappointed. We love the teachers in the Infant 1 room. Our child is always greeted by name when we come in no matter who is up front. Lisa is great and always responds in a timely manner to any questions or scheduling needs. Our son always comes home clean, happy and seeming as though he has had a good day!

Very well run. Caring staff. My son loves going and I have been very pleased with both the…read moresocialization and preschool education offered.

My two children are current students and we've loved our experience here. The teachers are…read morequalified and communication is excellent. Any questions we have are always answered and the teachers and families are amazing.

We wouldn't recommend this preschool. It was a church day care and a bit dated. There were some…read morenice kids, but the director and workers in the rooms are either parents of the kids or their friends. It was rare to see a full time staff member because most were just substitutes.

I always had a positive experience working here and teaching classes! The owner is very kind and…read moreconsiderate to all her employees and students! Definitely recommend to all families with children and those looking for work!

My daughter enjoyed her time there. We were members for almost a year After about 4-5 months, my…read moredaughter started to feel a little bored and wouldn't be as excited about going. I think it's because they do the same general thing week-to-week and there isn't a sense of goals or progress over time. I am also not a fan of their membership model. It's basically $100 a month and it just goes on infinitely until you choose to stop. I would prefer it to be structured more around "seasons" with a culminating show so the kids could feel a sense of growth, progress and pride. All in all - We enjoyed our time but will be looking for other gymnastics options in the future with a different class model oriented more towards growth.

Our family feels incredibly fortunate to have found Robots and Mud Pies and to have been part of…read morethe RAMPP family for four amazing years from 2021-2025. Both of our kids gained invaluable knowledge, experiences, and skills that went above and beyond a "typical preschool". Everything from the compassionate and creative teachers to the incredible daily communication and numerous family events the school hosted were all top notch. Our family truly couldn't have asked for a better early education for our children. While we'll miss going to RAMPP everyday now that our youngest is moving on to elementary school, the solid foundation our kids received is a permanent part of their lives forever. Thank you RAMPP! Cheers to many more years of satisfied families and children who are more than ready to start their formal schooling.

We LOVE robots and mudpies. I rave about this preschool to anyone that will listen. Our son…read morethrives here and we can't wait for our daughter to be old enough to attend in the fall. I truly think it's the best place in Richmond for kiddos 2-5. I wish my kids could go here forever. We are so thankful for the amazing staff and incredible care at this school. The kids get to learn by playing, being around other children both older and younger than them, different rooms set up for them, and the year is sort of made by the kids interest, they play outside, parents can volunteer and see how the days go, and we know all the kids and their families. It's a very safe, welcoming, and comfortable space to be. Couldn't recommend it more!