We have sent our older kiddo to Gan West for a year now. Being new to the community, we did not know what to expect when it came to school/childcare. But we feel that thanks to Gan West our elder child has made great strides in learning academically, practicing potty training, and learning to empathize and socialize with other kids. Also being a non-Jewish family we were able to continue on learning its beautiful traditions and always felt included in this community. Though a little bit closed off to parents than usual due to new COVID procedures in place this past academic year, from what I have seen the teachers have been great. Whenever we address a concern, they do not take it lightly even if it is coming from the mouth of a toddler. We feel this is due to the leadership of principal/owner/morah Sarah. It is a small community so we feel that in a big city we have made some good friends. We will unfortunately be relocating to another city, but if we weren't we would be back here again :) Thank you Gan West! read more

We had such a wonderful experience at Gan West for both our boys. Our kids loved going to school every day and we knew they were in great hands!! Huge thanks to Sara, Elizabeth, and all the wonderful teachers at this special school. read more

Our two sons have enjoyed every moment they have been enrolled at Gan West over the last six years, and we are sad our family's tenure at the school will come to an end this summer when my youngest graduates and moves on to Kindergarten. I can't overstate what a gift Gan West has been in our lives and in helping both boys develop into children who are eager to learn and explore, are aware of good decision-making and helping others, and are able to acknowledge and work through a range of emotions - critical, fundamental skills needed in today's complex world. We couldn't have asked for more as we aim to develop our kids into kind and emotionally intelligent children. Both kids gained all they need and more to succeed academically in a K classroom. We are a mixed religious household and while my husband is Jewish, I do not practice. That being said, I have been so happy my kids were exposed to a Jewish education during these formative years, and I have also benefitted from a strong and positive community that is cultivated by the school's director. We will forever be grateful to this beautiful little community that Sara Greisman has created, and the teachers and admin who have so lovingly cared for our kids throughout their early childhood education. Cannot recommend highly enough! read more

As a non-Jewish family who was simply looking for one-year of preschool in the neighborhood we truly stumbled on this GEM of a school for our son. The school is small, sweet and immediately feels like home. All of the teachers were so loving and patient with the kids and I loved being able to observe them leading and teaching my son when I was able to visit and volunteer. Director/owner Sara is absolutely AMAZING. Calm, cool and collected, her peaceful energy is felt throughout the school and it really shows in how the kids listen to direction and follow the lead of the older, more experienced TK kids. We fully enjoyed learning about and participating in all the beautiful Jewish traditions which as a Christian family were all foreign to us. The sense of inclusivity was always felt and I am so grateful for our time at Gan West! read more

We feel so fortunate to have stumbled upon Gan West for our 3 children's first school experience. It is nothing short of an absolute gem. We have three very happy children and we attribute a lot of that to the calm and nurturing schooling that they have received. The school is small and sweet and a wonderfully inclusive community. Sara, the head is an expert in her field and we feel that the kids were safe and well taken care of, every step of the way. I HIGHLY recommend this school to anyone. You will be happy you made the decision! read more

I love a lot of things about it, but best of all, every week, we get an email with a link to photos of our kids playing that week. The (150 or so) candid pictures are great, and I get to see my DD looking gleeful, concentrating deeply, playing with friends, dressing up, etc. And for example, yesterday when it was really really hot? They went outside earlier in the day, and played alphabet bingo (which they loved). There are two classes a little kids and a big kids. The play yard has a beautiful little garden that the kids do all the work themselves (well, sometimes the parents help). They till the soil, grow the seedlings, plant the baby plants, water them, and eat the tomatoes and broccoli, draw the plants, pick them, and talk to them. The rest of the yard has big pots and tires filled with plants that the kids get to take care of an enjoy too. Teachers are top notch. And when I talk to my kid's teacher, she has real thoughtful insight into how she thinks and interacts with the other kids. For example, one time she said, "She plays mostly with that girl, but when she plays with that boy they seem to have a deeper conversation." Toys are mostly wood, and imagination inspiring. read more

I received one of the neighborhood mailers inviting people to celebrate the holidays with them. As a non-observant Jew, I have longed for a sense of community but never seem to have the time or strong enough inclination to find it. I reached out to a few nearby temples last year when my mom was dying to see if I could just come and spend time in the sanctuary without being a member. I desperately needed this time for my spiritual well-being while I was being faced with one of the biggest losses any of us ever face. Sadly, though, no one ever got back to me. So when I got the mailing, I decided to respond. My daughter and I stopped by today to see the Sukkah. Rabbi Yossi approached us and introduced himself right away, even though we clearly did not fit in. He could not have been more gracious, friendly and non-judgemental. He took time to explain the meaning behind the Sukkah, and he asked us about ourselves. At no time did he ask for a donation (which, sadly, many rabbis do) or make us feel like we weren't wanted there. He also introduced us to his lovely wife and ten (ten!) kids, all of whom were equally gracious and accepting. We really appreciated our brief time with at Gan West today. It just felt really nice to be there, and we felt really good when we left. As my daughter said, it gave us a "warm, fuzzy" feeling to be there. It's obvious they really care about their school, and we were very happy that we decided to come by for a visit. Thank you to the Greisman family! read more

Our daughter joined Gan West in the middle of the school year when we moved house and we were pleasantly shocked at how quickly she assimilated. The kids welcomed her with open arms and she was instantly at home. We attribute this to the many intentional ways the staff cultivate an atmosphere of calm, safety, collaboration, kindness and generosity in which the kids can learn, discover and thrive together. Although we ourselves are not Jewish, we want our daughter to be well versed in many cultures. She loved the songs and the values that were celebrated from the Jewish tradition: values like kindness, curiosity and integrity that will serve her for the rest of her her life. We could not recommend Gan West more highly! read more

Our daughter just graduated from Gan West and I must say it was absolutely wonderful! Gan West goes above and beyond teaching kids all sorts of values, lessons, and skills all while maintaining a fun and safe environment for them to develop into the person they are. Sara and her staff are fantastic in every way. They're helpful, understanding, patient and take great care of each and every child. I can give no higher marks, Gan West is amazing and we are so, so glad we chose to have our daughter attend. She is beyond prepared for Kindergarten and supremely confident in herself. Thank you Gan West! read more

Sara Greisman, Gan West Principal, it is not only a well rounded very committed educator with tons of experience, she's a remarkably intelligent and inspirational woman, such quality defines the spirit and dynamic of this one of a kind pre-school. Please do not be fool by the not-huge but humble, and very well equipped facility, we parents use to get all excited about flashy playgrounds and non important physical resources, the principal and the teachers at this school will really make your child pre-school years the sweetest, the richest and above all the happiest. This is a Reggio inspired program, that uses self directive and experimental learning in relationship-driven environments so please do not put on this school the expectations on your kid graduating reading 600-pages books or doing advanced math. We embraced this approach for our son but maybe this is not you and that's ok. What we came to appreciate the most from Gan West is the weekly through documentation of all the activities and their pedagogic objectives Mrs. Greisman sends via e-mail every Friday. You can follow vividly every task and project your young child is experiencing, every one off them has an educational point and a developmental sense which makes the real difference comparing to the other typical play-based programs. There is nothing wrong for todlers to play all they long yet you have to appreciate if they are also cognitive grow. The greatest example of such great dedication and all the hard work this school invested in my son Benny was materialized in this incredible two binders with pages and pages and pages of documentation and photos around all his specific achievements along journey at Gan West; greatest pre-school ever. Period. read more

My son just finished his pre-nursery year at Gan West and what a wonderful year it was. Gan West is a loving, community preschool that offers a tremendously nurturing and warm environment for little kids getting their first taste of school. Gan apparently means garden in Hebrew, so the school's name is either "children's garden, west" or is a cute play on words since the director and her family moved west from New York, i.e. "gone west." Speaking of the director, Sara Greisman is an absolute role model of a woman. She's just so kind and smart and experienced, and she does a tremendous job of making everybody feel secure and loved (and by everybody I mean parents as well as kids!). If you are at all attracted to buzzwords like Reggio Emilia, Montessori or Waldorf, you will find the best of all three approaches at this school. Much of the equipment in the play yard was built by parent volunteers with assistance from kids. Many pieces are made of natural materials, and it all encourages open-ended, deeply creative thinking. You'll see the kids intensely involved in their play at the solar-powered water table or making music on the percussion instruments or just building something very important with the rugged outdoor blocks. They can also paint, climb, garden or just zoom around the tricycle track. Now, the location on busy Jefferson Blvd. is off-putting at first, and parking is somewhat limited, but I promise, once you're inside the school yard, the wonderful garden, the shade sails and the coziness of the family atmosphere are all you will see! Meanwhile, the inside space provides a pervasive feeling of calm and peace. I absolutely love walking into Gan West classrooms. They are natural, simple, minimalist and clean without ever feeling spare, and they are generally decorated with a combination of student artwork, storybooks and nature collections like sprouting seeds and so forth. Maybe it's the garden atmosphere, but my then-two-and-now-three-year-old son absolutely bloomed at Gan West. They were so gentle with transition, and once he settled in, he was just thrilled to go to his school every day. He adored the teachers and made so many wonderful friends. Every time I picked him up he had something wonderful to tell me about a relationship he had developed that day ("my friend Leo said..."), or something he had learned about "my emotions" or why it's important to brush your teeth or how the rabbit that came to visit that day was "so soft, mom!" Heck, I can hear him right now in the room, humming "one, two, buckle my shoe," the counting song he learned the week they explored the numbers one to five. If you're looking for a safe and very special nursery school for your little one, look no further than Gan West! read more

Look no further than Gan West Preschool for your little one's Early Childhood Education. There's a really long laundry list of all the wonderful attributes this school offers, but let's start with KINDNESS. GW literally teaches children how to be kind, compassionate, loving people. Children learn through play and are encouraged to make responsible choices for themselves, others, and the environment. Our child just graduated from GW, after 3 incredibly enriching years. The teachers are loving, the director (Sara) is always available and really checked into each child's individual needs, and the families are inclusive and welcoming. It's an all around wonderful community school. Regardless of your family's religious affiliation, GW is an incredible preschool where children THRIVE. I highly recommend this school to anyone in the market. FWIW - I have a degree in Early Childhood Education and spent over 15 years in the classroom. I definitely view preschools through a unique lens, based on my background and experience. Gan West has a winning program! read more

Gan West is an amazing preschool for parents raising children in West Los Angeles. Both of my children attended all three years, and looking back it was one of the best parenting decisions we ever made. I would never confuse Gan West with daycare as it truly is a "pre" school to prepare children for elementary school; academically, emotionally and socially. The teachers are all very sweet and present, and form bonds with the kids making it feel like a real family. I always felt like the balance of play and learning was perfect and never questioned their methods. They do a ton of projects and always have impressive things happening in the classroom to stimulate little minds. The school is right across the street from Playa Vista and very secure. The play area is great and accommodates the different age children, and the classrooms and bathrooms are very clean and organized. They take individuals special needs (dietary, allergies, etc.) very seriously and strives to work with each family. The director Sara Greisman, and her family are some of the most genuine and caring people you will ever meet. If my wife and I struggled with a parenting issue, we often turned to her for advice and the results were always positive. I will always look at them as role models. Go see for yourself and take a tour. read more

Our daughter just graduated after three wonderful years at Gan West. We found Gan West after a series of tours at other local preschools, and we were taken in by how thoughtful, explorative and personal Gan West was with their students. Class sizes were small and their education was not a one-size-fits-all single methodology. Our daughter bloomed at this school. She became confident in her abilities. She grew in her ability to imagine, predict, problem-solve. She became caring and empathetic. She learned science, art, history and math -- all in ways that felt fun, like play. Every week Gan West sent us long recap emails with photos. At graduation we received a binder recapping her progress and assessing her growth. Her teachers were wonderful, not one better than the other. This place is special, and we're so glad we were a part of it. I couldn't recommend it more. read more

This preschool is a hidden gem. my son attended age 2-3 (prenursery class) and it was the best decision we made. The teachers are warm and nurturing and helped my son easily transition from being at home with the nanny. He has learned so much the last year and become very self sufficient (and fully potty trained!). Plus excellent communication with the parents and plenty of take home arts and crafts that my child was so proud of. Highly recommend this school for anyone looking for personal, individualized learning with people who will care for your child as much as you do. read more

Gan West is such a special, nurturing place and we will miss it dearly as we transition to Kindergarten. I cannot say enough nice things as we watched our daughter grow and learn and enjoy her new friends and experiences at school. The staff is calm and supportive and great at communicating with parents. This is the best school! I cannot recommend it enough! read more

Gan West is a very special place! We toured every preschool in the area, and while some schools may look fancier on the exterior, they really don't compare to the nurturing environment and unique philosophy of Gan West. My son is a "spirited" type and I was terrified that preschool would be a disaster for him, but Gan West could not have been a better experience. His teachers are so smart, caring and took the time to get to know and appreciate him. We moved out of the area and had to find a new school in our new neighborhood, and it's been a challenge to find one as wonderful as Gan West. I would highly recommend this school- it truly is a hidden gem. read more

We have been part of the GW community for 3 years now and we couldn't be happier. It is nurturing and loving while continuously educating through play and creativity. The teachers are professional and wise and I have always felt so confident leaving my kids there. There is not one negative thing to say about this community. If I had it my way, Gan West would go through college! read more

The teachers are phenomenal and nurturing, the location is secure and convenient to Culver City, Playa Vista, Playa del Rey, Marina del Rey, Westchester, etc. A ton of variety in the lesson plans. It's clear that lots of attention is placed on keeping the lessons relevant and very hands-on. Gan West provides the perfect balance of academics appropriate to the age level with an emphasis on values and ethical behavior. And the small class size means each child gets lots of individualized attention. Couldn't be happier with Gan West! read more

Gan West has been amazing for my kid. They don't use noise making, electronic or branded toys. They focus on natural substances and learning from the environment. The parents are very involved. There are many parents with multiple siblings which speaks a lot for them. I can't wait for my youngest to start there! Sarah who runs the school is very involved and has maintained a very high quality of staffing. It is a great experience all around. read more

I cannot safe enough good things about this magical school, it is truly a hidden gem. The teachers manage to incorporate kindness, compassion, creativity and fun into everything the children learn. Not only has this school prepared my son for kindergarten, it has also helped shape him to be a wonderful little human being. I'm so sad he is graduating! read more

We joined the Gan West family this year for Nursery, and we couldn't be happier. When we came for the school tour, I just knew this was where our daughter would thrive. As an interfaith family, we wanted our daughter to embrace one of our cultures in a fun, community manner, and our family feels welcome at every event. Our daughter loves her teachers and her friends, and we appreciate the weekly newsletter, photo albums and artwork the school sends out. I wish they had a K-6; we'd sign up in a sec! read more

Gan West has been a loving, nurturing, and supportive community for my daughter and for our family. We have watched our child grow academically, socially, and emotionally and feel blessed that she had the pleasure of attending such a special preschool. The teachers and staff worked with us when we had a concern and we saw our child blossom and form strong friendships at such a young age. If we weren't relocating, we would have continued the tradition of sending our little ones to Gan West. We couldn't have had a more positive preschool experience! read more

Gan west is truly a great find! Our daughter graduated from gan west 4 years ago and now our son will be entering his last year. Although the location isnt very close to our house, we knew this would be the kind of environment which would best suit us and our kids. The first time we entered the school we met the director and really loved her kind and peaceful energy, The school really has a sense of calm. All the teachers and the administrator at this small school really care and love the kids, its not just a "job" for them, they really put alot of heart in the school everyday! The teachers really know how to talk to the children whether its to teach them something new, to get them over a fear, or to teach them a better way to behave.Both my kids have really grown socially and academically, the teachers really foster a love for learning and there is great balance! We are very grateful to have been part of the gan west family for so long. We Would recommend this school to anyone who wants peace of mind that their children are being put in great hands! read more

I highly recommend Gan West Preschool. My daughter just graduated from Gan West, after attending for three years. When I first was looking for preschools, I found many had chaotic environments. I settled on Gan West due to it's small class size and the calm feeling I felt when I walked in the gate. Our three years at the school have been very positive. The curriculum is well thought out; from play-based discoveries with different materials: clay, paint, fabric to science based experiments. My daughter now regularly conducts her own science experiments at home! She makes her predictions as to what will occur. Gan West has taught her to be inquisitive. When she first went to the school she was withdrawn socially. The teachers at Gan West were wonderful with letting her warm up to others on her own time. She ended up coming out of her shell and making close friendships. She has really blossomed at the school. Part of the curriculum is about the natural world. She has learned about gardening, how plants grow and started her own garden at home. A favorite activity has been making Challah on Fridays for Shabbat. They also cook other recipes throughout the year including making food for the Thanksgiving and Mother's Day celebration. I feel she is well prepared for Kindergarten academically, as she can write her full name, knows all her letters and numbers. Even more importantly, she has learned to be inquisitive and search for her own answers. My son just finished his first year at the school and we are excited to have two more years there. read more

An incredible little pre-school! I've put two children through this fantastic school, where the teachers have been carefully chosen to create a happy, kind, safe, fun learning and growing space for the children. Its a very special little school, where your child will learn lessons that stand by and prepare them well for elementary school. Its a bubble of kindness and happiness, one where my children felt loved, safe, and part of community that cared and looked after each other. The balance of education and play is perfect, lessons are carefully planned out and topics chosen that engage and challenge the children at just the right level. The class sizes are ideal, the outdoor play area well equipped and maintained, tidy organized classrooms and bathrooms, everything you would want your Childs pre-school to be! This super little school has been good for our whole family, we all get something out of it, teachers are more than happy to discuss and help with parenting topics, we truly couldn't be happier with this wonderful school, a real treasure. Its the kind of school you wish you never had to leave. read more

Gan West is the most wonderful, nurturing environment. Over the past three years at Gan West, I have watched my son grow into a kind, inquisitive, empathetic, independent and patient boy, and we owe so much of that to Gan West. The teachers are incredible--they are warm and loving, and they have developed a very thoughtful and intentional curriculum. Since it's play based, the kids hardly realize they're learning as they're having so much fun in the process. We looked at a lot of schools--some with very impressive facilities and a laundry list of resources--but none compare to Gan West. They are very creative with their outdoor space, and give kids the opportunity to explore and be creative in ways that far extend just playing on traditional equipment. Sara, the director, is approachable and always available, and she along with the teachers truly put the children first. The families at the school are also wonderful and make a fabulous community. Gan West is the best decision I made for my son. It is a very special place. read more