Best preschool! Kind and caring staff. You find a community here no matter how long or short your time is with the school.

We love Growing Garden! My daughter is in her second year in the school and she looks forward to it each day. The teachers are all amazing, ensuring each child gets 1:1 attention while ensuring they are creating community. And the teachers push my daughter in the best way. At 3 1/2, she's writing her name, knows all her letters and counts to 40! As a Jewish family, we love that she is learning about holidays, traditions and values. But there are many non-Jewish kids as well, so everyone can feel comfortable. Sara Mintz, the school's Director, is involved, present and just a great woman. Her kids are in the school so it's especially personal to her and we love that. She looks at these kids like they are her own and that's obvious. We feel lucky to have found this school. read more

My son currently goes to camp here but he also goes to school at Growing Garden as well and we LOVE IT! The teachers are great and we loved the Gala/fundraiser that they had. We are extremely happy with this preschool. We are so fortunate that it is right down the street from our house. read more

Both our children have been at Growing Garden since they were babies. I remember touring when I was pregnant with our first and just being blown away at the set up, Director Sara Mintz's childcare philosophy and genuine care and knowledge of every child there. I felt incredibly lucky that our children would have such a safe, happy and enriching place to go while I was at work. Our experience has surpassed even those high expectations. I have felt such comfort as a mom, that GG is handling things just like I would with the girls and are able to provide them with so much fun, activities and love during the day. Our girls run into school and pre-COVID would beg to stay and play after they had been at GG 8 hours already. Now, during COVID, I am confident the school is taking every precaution to keep each child safe while providing them the in-person interaction young kids need to thrive. I've shown the school's COVID planning document to friends with children in other daycares and they have been blown away at the level of detail that went into reopening. GG is truly a community and in addition to our girls' experience we have met such wonderful parents through the school. We have a home at GG that is difficult to put into words. Now that our girls are older talk about how sad we will be when they outgrow GG! read more

We love this school. My daughter just started back at the school for her 3rd year and has not been this happy since March 15th. She has told me everyday so far when I pick her up that it's been the best day of her life - which is huge because for a kid usually those words are only reserved for a place like Disneyland! Everything has been perfect! Thank you for caring about my daughter as much as you do. I just want to say thank you to the Teachers, to the Staff , and to the Rabbi's for absolutely everything! read more

Just called ask if they had any availability, woman was pretty rude not too friendly, she rudely replied we only have a waiting list and if you need anything immediately we're not the place for you. Update: owner replied but did not address how inappropriate the customer service was when I called. How are you a premier school with rude customer service Also, they have over $700 a year in extra "fees" on top of the monthly tuition which seems pretty ridiculous. read more

My son attended this school for almost 3 years. Just graduated this June from this preschool. I have learned so much about this school over these past 3 years I can't share enough about it. We moved to this specific area for this particular school, as I thought this was top rated Jewish preschool with good morals. What I come to discover is some of these reviews your reading online are by particular people to help with the ratings. Over 3 years, I've watched very good teachers leave this school(you must question why). Most are not paid enough or at all, a lot of teachers are there to get school credits and parents are expected to give good amount of donation per class to help out. It starts out with we "recommend" you give $100 donation per class to being harassed daily in the parking lot and by email or every time you see particular people to a point it gets awkward for you and your child. I know several parents that were placing their $100 or more donation for the sake of their child not being mistreated or becoming shunned. 2nd year of my son's school year my son was getting bullied by another child. I've spoke to the teachers who pretty much didn't do anything, other than at 3 pm I watched them receive money in front of other kids on the playground to keep their mouth quiet. Then comes all the sick kids that were not isolated properly, if the parents were favored per school donation their kid was ok to come to class with a fever, cough and sneezing. By the time they got my kid sick we had a couple of fake fiascos where my son was kicked out like a dog out of the school because he magically had a fever. Yet when we got home 10 minutes later(we lived close) he didn't have any fever all day. director is sweet and nice in the beginning tells you they are your family and then suddenly you ask if you can apply for scholarship for your 2nd son and she avoids you like the plague and suddenly after they have you fill out application for the school there is no room for your 2nd son. But someone else who has better financial connection gets in. Now let me get to the best part of it all, then quarantine happens and suddenly while late in the pregnancy I am taking care of my toddler and preschooler I now have to pay monthly full tuition fee(including after school care) for those teachers sitting at home and providing a youtube video for less than 5 minutes. Then magical graduation, where I am forced to buy a graduation gown for my son. I take my newborn, toddler and my excited preschooler to graduate for the 1st time in his life. We arrive early, we patiently wait in the heat of the summer and his name doesn't get called out. He watches all his friends graduate, get a diploma and a gift and his friends look around at him in shock. After my husband walks up to the Rabbi and after they've already said their goodbyes and told everyone they may exit with their vehicle in a particular direction they then announce my sons name who is 5 seconds away from crying his eyes out and guess what no diploma, no apology, no call from the director(even after we contacted the school). we had to practically beg for a diploma from the teacher who told us their was an error on the printing. Horrible, awful, humiliating and a child we had to comfort because he thought his teacher and school forgot about him. After few weeks before we moved away out of state, we finally got the diploma. They didn't even have the guts to knock on the door and sincerely apologize. I will never recommend this school to anyone. I have numerous stories I can share with you from others who've attended and how they were treated and that includes teachers. In addition, it's quite embarrassing after 3 years attending this "high level of education" the only thing my son got to learn was his ABC he already knew before going into this preschool. We've spent months of playing catch up to get him all caught up to where he needs to be in order to be ready for Kindergarten. Quite pathetic if you ask me. If you are considering this preschool, I would advice you to look at all other options or save your money for your child's college tuition because you'd be wasting your money and time. In fact, feel free to contact me and I will give you my personal recommendation for other reliable preschools in this area. read more

My daughter attended Growing Garden Preschool for 2 years. It's a Reggio Emilia inspired preschool with lots of extra enrichment activities such as baking, sports, Spanish lessons, and LEGO's constructions. Every year the school goes all out to bring snow, farm animals, bouncy house and festival with carnival games, rides, petting zoo, just to name a few. There are activities for kids and parents to participate throughout the year, which in itself is a great way to come together as a community. They really have the theme of "it takes a village to raise a child" down. What really makes this place special for me is the experiences I had. I felt welcomed when I toured the place for the first time (and extra point for allowing me to bring my daughter because most preschools I checked out required no kids during the scheduled tour). I was touched by the school director Sara as she tried to console me at first day of preschool because I was having separation anxiety and was crying. Lastly, we are truly thankful for the memories and friendships we made there. read more

Thankful for this school, which is like a second home for my son (2), and for the nurturing teachers who are so loving and patient. He started in the infant center and is now in the 2yr class. We are not Jewish, but it doesn't matter. They treat all the kids with kindness. I never feel excluded or different. The school is amazing because of the teachers and the people behind the scene. Sara, the Director, is very involved and puts her heart and soul into running a great school. She knows every single student and always greets them. Even with Covid, we feel safe sending our son back to school. They have the space, capacity, and support of the community to do that. They are strict about keeping everyone safe and healthy, and I wouldn't have it any other way. read more

This is our 3rd year for both my boys at growing garden. We couldn't be happier. We moved from Oakland and wanted to find a great community for our family and growing garden has given us just that. We have loved every teacher we have had and the director Sara Mintz has been so amazing, supportive and responsive to all of our needs. During the pandemic, when the school had to shut down in March, I thought the school and teachers did such a great job in making sure that the students were still entertained at home. The kids would get daily YouTube videos with multiple activities, story time and circle time. More than most other preschools were getting. Not that school has opened again, It's such a great feeling to know that the school is taking every precaution necessary to make sure that the students and teachers are safe during this pandemic. I would highly recommend growing garden for any type of kiddo. read more

Our oldest son has gone to growing garden from the infant program through the four year old class. This place is just amazing! The teachers and staff are extremely friendly and the facility is super clean. My son learned all his letters and was considered advanced going into kindergarden. In over 5 years he was hardly ever sick. The open environment, state of the art facility and fantastic teachers makes this a true gem in redondo beach. We love it so much our youngest son started last year and we couldn't be happier! read more

Great school, great teachers. Very safe, clean. They truly are a community. Since the beginning I felt welcomed. This is our second year at Growing Garden and my son is now 3 years old. Thanks Growing Garden for taking such a good care of our little one. read more

This school is a true gem! The teachers and staff are amazing and truly love the kids they work with. My daughter comes home smiling every day and can't wait to get to school in the mornings. She comes home displaying new skills every week that I would have never thought a 3 year old could do. They do fun activities throughout the year and are so accommodating to each child's unique needs. Like most child care programs in the South Bay there is usually a waitlist but it is beyond worth it. I can not recommend Growing Garden highly enough and would not consider sending my daughter anywhere else. read more

This is our son's third year at Growing Garden Preschool. We moved from Miami and were so thrilled to find not only a Jewish school, but one that is nut-free. All of the other preschools in the area had protocols for dealing with food allergies, but allowed nuts on campus. I was so relieved when we found this wonderful preschool. Our son has extremely severe food allergies and this school has taken it very seriously year after year. The teachers and director have been very accommodating and have made sure that my son was able to be included in class activities involving food such as snack, cooking and Shabbat parties. We worked as a team to ensure the food being used was safe from cross-contamination or that an alternative could be provided. Additionally, they have really fun enrichments for the kids during the day (drama, dance, yoga, Spanish, etc) that my son loves. He also always bonds well with his classroom teachers, who are all very engaged and warm. I could not be happier to send my son to this school with its nurturing environment. Lastly, all of my son's teachers (past and present) as well as the director have been open and receptive whenever I've come to them with any concerns - whether it's involving class friends, COVID protocols or food allergies. I've always felt listened to and heard. Great school all around! read more

I cannot say enough great things about this school but I will try. Both my daughters (age 5 and 2) have attended for years. My younger daughter was at the infant center at 3 months old. They put safety first and have a more detailed plan than the other preschool my older daughter attended. They make you put together a safety kit which I think is so smart. They also practice and have drills and the kids truly know what to do. The teachers genuinely love kids. That may seem like something all schools should have but for example instead of looking on their phones during after care they are reading books with them, playing with them, having them on their lap etc. They're not just there to watch them. Additionally if you have any issue big or small they will address it, not be defensive. I was super attached to my younger daughter and nervous for her to attend a daycare center and they allowed me to stay with her as much as I needed and once I had to start work they wrote messages about her day on the communication forms I got each day. In addition to being an amazing daycare, they have fostered a community and regularly hold super fun social events for the children and their families. Ok, but the true test is how they handled this pandemic and let me just say I can't believe how well they have handled it. They were one of the first daycares time reopen in person because they have their sh** together! (Pardon my French) and they did not have ANY NONE No cases or spreader events. (Knock on wood) Anyway this place is amazing and if you are thinking of sending your children here you should be confident they will be very well cared for and they will learn and play in a safe and fun, nurturing environment! read more

We love this school. It is so well organized. The teachers are caring and take their jobs seriously. I feel so good about my daughter spending her days here. She's so happy! read more

Today was Luca's last day at The Growing Garden, an extraordinary school. He started in the infant center at 3 months old and now -with almost 5- he is departing for a new adventure. I can only say good things about this school. Superlative facilities, wonderful teachers and staff. Growing Garden makes you feel like home. Thank you so much for providing my child with such a loving, fun, and inviting environment! We will never forget you. read more

My son has been going to this preschool for over two years and we love it! As an ex-education-researcher myself, I always think what makes a school stand out is the teachers. At GG, the teachers are amazingly caring and professional. It is the kind of environment that you know you can always trust and that your child will have fun and learn at the same time. I love the philosophy of the school and the positive reinforcement the teachers practice here. There is no punishment when a child does something inappropriate, but only explanation of consequences. It is a very positive growing environment. All the other things are great too! the classroom is nice; the space is open and well-structured; the curriculum is academic-focused. an excellent school! read more

***** 5 Stars ***** What a great experience! 3 years at Growing Garden Preschool and Kindergarten. Luke graduates tomorrow. He reads and knows math at 2nd grade level. Not bad for a kindergartener. I'm proud yet sad that this chapter is over. Thank you GG for the great academics and the valuable lessons in good character and spirituality. If I could make the choice to attend GG again, I would. ***** 5 Stars!!!!!***** read more

our family loves growing garden! both my kids love going to school everyday and i have so far loved every single one of the teachers we've had! the school director is very kind and helpful...she gave me her cell phone number in case i ever need her! can't say enough about the community that growing garden has built! read more

Both of my kids go to Growing Garden and we couldn't be happier. We are greeted each morning by a smiling face from both the teachers and directors. It's a wonderfully nurturing environment with beautifully kept classrooms. The school has embraced a "Reggio Emilia" based curriculum. This empowers the kids to be inquisitive and expressive through exploration. My kids always say how "fun" school is. Highly Recommended. read more

Both of my kids have gone through Growing Garden. We have been consistently impressed with the teachers, the facilities, the other families, the activities, and generally the whole thing. A great option here in the South Bay. read more

One of the best decisions I ever made was to send my son to Growing Garden. I knew I'd found a great place when he didn't want to come home at the end of the day - and that was day one! We'd been to another preschool in the area, and while I never felt badly about leaving him, I never felt great about it, either. (Working mom's guilt!) But at Growing Garden all that changed. I actually felt good because I knew he was in good hands and I could see how happy he was. I'm not Jewish. (My husband is). I bring this up because even though I knew Growing Garden was an exceptional school with a great reputation, at first I worried how my not being Jewish might affect how we would be treated by the faculty and other parents. I can honestly say we were welcomed with open arms and were never made to feel uncomfortable or like we didn't belong. My son is now five and will be attending public school next year. While we're excited about this new phase in his life, we're also sad about leaving Growing Garden after two wonderful years filled with great memories. But because of our time at Growing Garden, my son will be starting the new school year well prepared and ahead of the game. read more

It's been a truly great experience sending our kids to Growing Garden. It's very well run and the teachers are amazing. We highly recommend it. read more

I have had the pleasure of sending my kids to Growing Garden for the past 6 years. This school is nothing short of amazing. The staff and administration are incredibly thoughtful, kind, knowledgeable and have cared so much for the most precious things I own, my children. They have been an extension of my family and my children have benefitted from it. They way they foster curiosity and provide individual attention has made each of my kids advance academically, physically and social-emotionally. Even during COVID they took the best precautions to keep our kids safe. I would recommend anyone looking for a safe, loving and skilled school for their child to check our Growing Garden. read more

I honestly can say that I love this school! My son graduated Pre-K in May after attending Growing Garden for 3 years. He just started at a Redondo Beach public school for Kindergarten and he is so far ahead of the school's curriculum, which I know is due to the wonderful teachers at GG. My daughter also just started her 2nd year and I feel so grateful the school has worked so hard to reopen during this unprecedented time. The teachers have been beyond wonderful and loving to both my children. I am so glad my family found not just a great school but a wonderful community. read more

Our daughter is in her 3rd year at Growing Garden and we couldn't be happier! She started in the infant center at 7 months old. After a bad experience at another daycare, Growing Garden was a godsend! The teachers and staff make the kids feel loved and safe everyday. The students are always happy and learning. Our daughter has grown and learned so much and loves her teachers and friends. Growing garden is truly more than a preschool, it's a family-community we are fortunate to be part of. read more

I've tried contacting them no less than 7 times via their web form and voicemail since February just to get more info to apply. Apparently they're so exclusive they can't be bothered to answer inquiries. I shudder to think how non-responsive they are in an emergency. read more

Growing garden not only educated us....But loved and nurtured us for several difficult years. My sons and I are forever touched and grateful. Thank You! read more

Before sending our 2 1/2 year old to Growing Garden we had concerns like all parents sending their children to pre-school. However we found there were simply no negative reports about the school and took the plunge. 2 1/2 years later we can safely say it has turned out to be the best decison we have made in our lives so far. What could be more important than feeling the place you leave you child at everday is where she/he should be without question. Garden Garden and their gifted teachers truly set the bar for what all parents are looking for in a school. You can call me anytime at 310-968-1730 directly to talk about our wonderful experience with this wonderful school. read more

I have had two kids at the school over the last 4 years and the kids and us could not be happier. We had a bad experience at our first school, so the second time around we took a lot of time to find the right school. We selected this school despite the 25 min commute each way. The teachers are very caring, knowledgeable and take time with kids. There is a happy feeling about the school!. GG is very educational, but not forceful. Kids learn a lot, but it is all done in a fun and nurturing environment. My eldest child entered public kindergarten in Palos Verdes this year and we feel that she was very well prepared. The recent renovations and addition of the baby class have been excellent and is another example of continuous investment in the school. The school director is very involved, open to suggestions and constantly striving to improve the school. She has built a very open, positive and inclusive environment for kids and parents. She also has done an excellent job of selecting first rate teachers. Children have a multitude of enrichment activities available to them. There is also an effort to bring inside outside by developing educational facilities outside. read more

Our daughter has been at Growing Gardens Preschool for over two years. We are extremely pleased with everything about the school. It is an amazing community of adults and children. The teachers are talented and genuine, and the director, administrators and staff are engaged, helpful and passionate about the school. The school director is very friendly, involved and accessible, usually seen in or around the classes and yard greeting parents and children. She is constantly striving to improve the school. She has built a very open, positive and inclusive environment and has done an excellent job of selecting quality teachers. The curriculum is designed and executed so the children receive the best opportunities for high quality developmental and academic excellence. Their philosophy is that children learn best by doing, playing, and being inspired by developmental and academic opportunities. The children are given opportunities to explore, use their senses and have fun. The teachers encourage active thinking and experimenting, and they employ a good balance of discipline, nurturing, kindness and love. There are many different, varied and fun activities at the school. They have many special play days that are fun for the children and the entire family. We have been to movie nights, snow days, special days for parents and grandparents, and many others. The grounds are always neat and clean, as are the classrooms. The classroom space is open and well-structured. Safety is their first priority. They are alert to ensure that every child and the entire facility are safe and secure at all times. The entire facility is gated and monitored by a camera security system. They periodically hire consultants to assess and make recommendations for security changes and enhancements. Subsequently, they take timely and appropriate corrective or improvement actions. As with any school, there were times when we had things on our mind. When we raised the issues with the teachers or staff, they would resolve them without frustrating bureaucracy. These are caring and dedicated people, working together to resolve issues that are bound to arise. The school and administrators have a positive attitude about discussing and embracing the children's needs and the parents' concerns. The school and curriculum creates an environment where the children are surrounded by positive Jewish morals, values and experiences, discovering and celebrating holidays and Shabbat together to build a strong Jewish foundation and identity. The children experience the joys of Judaism through music, story-telling, art, cooking, drama, dance, and family get-togethers. My wife and I are very impressed with the quality of the school, program and community. We feel extremely fortunate to have established friendships at Growing Gardens that are certain to last a lifetime. We will always be grateful for and cherish our relationship to the Growing Gardens community and for the foundation it continues to provide for our daughter. read more

I could literally spend hours talking about how wonderful this school it. Some of the highlights are: 1. The teachers are wonderful. Very smart, engaged, involved, creative, and most importantly kind to the children. 2. We visited about 10 schools in the SouthBay and many of them appeared to be like the wild west and pack in as many kids as possible in a classroom. The classroom size is relatively small. I know the name of almost every kid on the class. 3. The facilities are spectacular. Always clean, welcoming, filled with so many things that peaked the children's interests. 4. The school hosts many events for the kids and they are over-the-top. Snow Day, Farm Day, Fair Day, Dance parties, ect. They have so much fun! 5. The curriculum. My kids are learning a ton. The enrichment includes Spanish, karate, dance, cooking, and I am likely leaving some things out. 6. The family involvement. The school has drawn us in. We just love it. 7. Pictures of the kids are emailed to us a couple times a week so we can see what wonderful things they are up to. This place is one of a kind! read more

Growing Garden Preschool is the best, warmest, most loving, and safest school around. There aren't enough words to describe the love I have for this school or the people that work there. I have had 2 kids there and every aspect has exceeded my expectations. Rabbi Yossi and his wife Sara are amazing leaders and surround themselves with the best teachers and mentors for our children. I have never felt more safe and secure when leaving my child. It's a feeling akin to taking your children to their grandparents house. And if that wasn't enough, the community atmosphere and different activities they organize both at the school, and around the community for our children to enjoy, are just so special. You feel like you are part of a new family. The only thing that makes me sad is that after next year, I will no longer have a child at school there. It's so upsetting it makes one consider having more children, just so you can continue to see these teachers and the school on a regular basis. If you're thinking of a school, get your name on this list stat! It will be the best thing you ever did for your child and your family, read more

As every parent knows, sending your child off to school is a very emotional experience. I have done this twice with my children at Growing Garden Preschool, and it has been an amazing experience both times - I was the one who left crying on the first day as I left them !! The nurturing environment at Growing Garden starts on day 1 and does not end. I have now had 2 children at Growing Garden for 3 years, and there is not a day when they wake up and say they do not want to go to school. Each day is a new adventure, a new learning experience and, because the children feel very safe and secure in the GG environment, this never presents a problem for them. The teachers nurture the children without mollycoddling them - all the while they are learning to be independent little people. The school director - Sara Mintz - is an amazing person who has her finger on the pulse of all that is going on. She makes sure parents are always in the know with whatever is happening in the school and always has time to listen to and address any concerns you may have with anything. As a parent these first years of my children's' life are very precious and important. I could not think of another place I would be happy for them to be while they are not with me. read more

Our two year old son has been attending the Growing Garden preschool for 3 months now. Suffice it to say, it was the best decision we could have made! I'm constantly impressed with the teachers and staff. Our son loves to go to school and is so excited as we approach. I have no idea how they manage to keep all the kids in line and the rooms so organized and neat, in addition to doing so many wonderful activities, but everything always seems perfect. The school goes above and beyond to give my son the social, intellectual, and emotional support that he needs. I love his excitement at learning and see so much growth in just a few months. I love the ways the teachers and school go above and beyond, like sending us photos and bringing in snow for "snow day." I know summer will be full of equally wonderful surprises and fun memories that will last a lifetime. We feel very grateful to share the next few years at this school. read more

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Both of my sons attend this preschool, and I can't say enough good things about it. We have moved a few times and have been to different schools and I can say with great conviction that there is simply no better place to leave your children, they will be in very good hands! The teachers, the parents, and the director are all extremely warm and welcoming, even if you're not Jewish (which we aren't) they are happy to have your children there and treat them all with respect and loving care. I love the Growing Garden and I will be sad when my youngest graduates! read more

After deliberating for months about which preschool was best for our daughter, we decided to put her in the Growing Garden. We could not be happier with our decision. As we have gotten more involved, we have become more appreciative of every aspect of the school and culture. The teachers employ a genuine balance of education, nurturing, discipline and fun to help students develop at their own pace. The outside space is well-thought out and allows for plenty of different experiences, including bicycles/tricycles, jungle gym, music and a vegetable garden. Our fellow parents are involved and caring. And the administration is very proactive about continuously improving the overall experience. Needless to say, we are excited to enroll our younger daughter next year. read more

Both of my children have gone to the Growing Garden and both have emerged with a deep love of school, their teachers and learning. Additionally, both are very proud of their Jewish Heritage. I would and do recommend this school to everyone and anyone looking for the best school for their child. read more

Such a wonderful school, warm, safe, attentive, great teachers and the best director you can get!!! We have one son who's going on year 4 here and another one who's finishing up year one and we couldn't be happier!!! read more