Great teachers and wonderful leadership. My children have been very happy at The Caring Center.read more

The caring center is the only day care we've had our son in, and it's the only one we've needed. We…read morestarted there when he turned 2, and he is about to turn 8 and still attends after school programs. It is a Christian daycare but does not proselytize, it simply incorporates good values. It stays up to date with teaching styles, especially since it became one of several daycares in the area to partner with the school district in hosting 4k. One year, our son was having some struggles, and we looked around at alternatives but decided to instead switch him to the montessori program, which was perfect. That program is something special, run by the extremely patient and competent Ms. Erin, and it is even available with the 4k program. Every problem we've had had been taken seriously and handled delicately. I would recommend this to anyone.

First, let me say we have a lot of experience with daycares, and I must admit that we are picky…read more So, it is saying a lot that we were blown away by this awesome school. My son has lots of energy, and other places have shown zero patience, but Mr. Mark and Miss Lauren were excellent with him from the beginning. Miss Lauren is now in the office with Miss Sheena, who is also awesome, but you could still be lucky enough to get Mr. Mark as your kid's teacher. I will detail below what we loved most about the school. 1. The curriculum was good, and my 4 year old son knows a ton of sight words. There is a detailed report that comes out every day about what the kids are learning, and they even started teaching them chess. I also love that there is structured learning without the classes being so ridged that a large portion of the kids can't sit through lessons. We've experienced places with no patience that have caused me to lose my patience based on the way my son has been treated. Not here.. great education while still understanding the needs of small children. They also have a large gym for the kids to blow off steam in bad weather. 2. The staff and owners go above and beyond to make this place special for kids, and make parents comfortable. My husband even observed one of the owners helping another parent change a flat tire. They had a Santa for the kids at Christmas, hosted Trunk or Treat for Halloween, and provided a free session with a nutritionist to help parents with picky eaters. Never have I felt so confident that we had partners in the process of raising up our son, and I have never known a daycare where I felt more confident that they actually cared about my child. 3. The children are happy. You can see it in all the pictures. You can see it in their attitudes. My son made good friends here, and still asks to see them. There is also a ton of parent involvement. We ended up moving for a job, and I actually cried over pulling my son from this school. When you've had bad experiences, you truly appreciate the really good ones. I am grateful for our time at Goddard Verona and would encourage any parents reading this review to enroll.

The Verona school has only been open 2-3 weeks at this point... However my 2 1/2 year old has never…read morebeen happier at a childcare facility than he is now. It's not a struggle to get him out the door and to school. He knows where he's going and looks forward to it. The teachers are great and the lesson plans are creative, educational and FUN. There's a great variety of things for the kids to do. The facility is brand new and with exceptional amenities and security. The Director and Owners are on-site and very involved. They've even got my son eating his vegetables (since snacks AND lunch are provided). Lots of pros. I have not encountered any cons yet. As of now, we could not be more satisfied with ALL the school has to offer!! I would refer, and have referred other parents to the school.

The staff are all warm and welcoming! We love bringing our children here. The new director (Robin)…read moreknows all the parents and children by name, and makes sure that we are always welcomed with a smile every morning and every evening. The infant staff make sure we get plenty of videos and pictures to make us feel like we are not missing out on anything.

Robin the new director is going to take this center to become the best of Verona! She is very…read moretalented and passionate about this job, her families and her staff.

Beautiful school! Kids are so happy to go to school, they love learning. There is so much outside…read moretime, and they fit in Spanish and German from 1st grade on. The kids play music and sing all the time, they have huge smiles and seem so healthy. We love Waldorf.

As an active volunteer and parent at MWS, I was deeply invested in the school's success. However,…read moreafter witnessing faculty, staff, and board members dismiss and downplay credible concerns about child safety, ignore warnings from outside experts, and treat concerned families with open hostility, my partner and I felt compelled to disenroll our child for their safety. In our child's first year in MWS's mixed-aged kindergarten class, its pedagogy suited them well, and they thrived. We were deeply thankful for that experience. However with their second year came strict enforcement of a forced nap policy that caused noticeable emotional and behavioral struggles for them as well as multiple children who had outgrown naps. We eventually learned that this policy required all children to lie still and quiet in a dark room for up to 90 minutes a day, without alternatives for quiet play or reading in a lit space for those who could not sleep, while the teacher often left the room for the rest of the day. This had not been fully disclosed to parents previously. Seeking clarity, we consulted outside experts including a licensed child psychologist, who advised MWS that the enforced nap practice was developmentally inappropriate and potentially harmful, especially as most 5- and 6-year-olds will have outgrown naps by that age. We contacted other Waldorf schools which reacted with surprise and concern when told of MWS's nap policy. We also learned that, by contrast, WI state law requires licensed childcare centers (which MWS is not) to allow children who don't fall asleep within 30 minutes to move "off their sleeping surface and given a choice of activities in a reasonably lighted area". Despite bringing this information to the school in a good-faith and collaborative manner, our attempts to discuss this topic further were met with defensiveness and dismissal. Alarmed by the effects of subjecting children who have outgrown naps to this treatment, we voiced our worries to the school administrator and board. We were met with further dismissal and disparagement. After additional parents raised their own concerns, the board did eventually agree to an outside review -- but rejected calls to work with a licensed child psychologist in favor of hiring an "anthroposophical psychologist" instead. The school ultimately contracted a formal Waldorf teacher who lacked any training or licensure as a psychologist. During my meeting with this individual, whose role was to ostensibly serve as a neutral party and childhood development expert, they stated that while practitioners of "mainstream psychology" might be concerned with the appropriateness and safety of the current MWS naptime policy, Waldorf educators "know what's best" for their children, and that that should be sufficient to put any concerns to rest. Increasingly out-of-touch and aggressive communications from the school community followed. One individual, vying for the school's open admissions director role, urged the board and administration to expel us and another family for questioning the practices of a Waldorf teacher. Their memo also pressed for what was then an ongoing investigation into child safety concerns be quashed immediately. That individual was subsequently hired. My partner and I ultimately withdrew our child from MWS to ensure their safety and well-being, and in protest of how this and other issues across the school were handled. Subsequently connecting with other families who left MWS revealed a disturbing pattern of dismissal, denial, bullying and gaslighting -- including but not limited to concerns over naptime policy -- as well. I urge current and prospective families to be vigilant and to critically assess what type of environment they want for their child and family. Finally, it saddens me to anticipate that MWS might respond to this and other critical reviews with misinformation and personal disparagements. I encourage readers to weigh any such responses thoughtfully as they draw their own conclusions about which school is right for their family.

Big Apple has been a great daycare experience for our whole family. Their staff is dedicated to…read moremaking the children feel like daycare is a home away from home and with new weekly lessons and photo updates you know that your child is not only being taken care of, but also learning a lot too!

Meh. Rates are going up in January. I absolutely loved my child's first teacher at Big Apple but…read morethe new one isn't very friendly and is just not as great as the first experience here. There was a surprise 80.00 annual fee that I just found out about when it hit my bank account. Overall its been pretty good, but all of these recent changes have me wanting to look elsewhere.

Both of my children are attending Hickory Hill Academy and I could not be more pleased with the…read moreexperience that we have had. The beautiful campus provides a a safe and engaging environment for learning where children receive personalized care in a small classroom setting with two teachers who are able to focus on individual needs. At Hickory Hill, my children are both thriving academically, and offered opportunities through the curriculum that have far exceeded my expectations. From being on a campus that allows them to learn and grow outdoors (there is an old bus in the wooded area their team and amazing science teacher retrofitted into a classroom) to learning Spanish & Mandarin in the program, to expanding their love of reading through the classroom focus. I particularly like the way that HHA works to get parents involved in the learning process. They have a weekly community circle meeting that parents are able to be apart of that highlights school events, allows children to participate and shares thoughtful and encouraging messages for the week. The school also does a great job creating fun events outside of school like a Pumpkin Run in the fall and Mitten Festival during the winter. In the case of the Mitten festival the children worked hard on creative art projects that were extremely fun, but also encouraged them to present why they created what they did to their class and families. We have seen our children's confidence rise significantly and are extremely happy that our children our attending and would recommend this school to others.

Our family has been part of Hickory Hill Academy (HHA) since its founding in 2020, and we've…read morewatched the school grow and evolve. Starting a new school during COVID was no small feat, and while there have been occasional missteps--what school doesn't have them?--HHA's commitment to improvement stands out. Challenges are met with reflection and growth, ensuring lasting progress. The administration, faculty, and staff are deeply dedicated to HHA's mission. This isn't just a school for academics; it's a place that fosters character and community. My kids love attending, and the sense of belonging is incredible. From hugs shared during Community Circle to my daughter having besties in every grade in the school, it's clear HHA is building a kind, inclusive community. If you're looking for a school where your child can thrive academically and personally, HHA is an amazing choice.

This is a beautiful childcare facility and preschool that has open gym on the weekends. In my…read moreopinion, this is the best indoor activity for toddlers and young children in the Madison area. This facility is beautifully designed. They have a large open room with a beautiful indoor playground perfect for toddlers. There are several other play areas within this large open space including an art table, puzzle area, mega blocks/duplo areas, a little grocery stand with play food and play kitchen, etc. There is a big sandbox for kids to play in. There are also lots of riding toys. There is another room with tons of toys. Another large room has fake grass and tons of fun active toys like tunnels, balance stones, balls, hula hoops, a giant size ConnectFour game, etc. The staff was diligently cleaning up as kids made messes and keeping toys organized. Highly recommend their open gym for parents of toddlers.

Regardless of whether you chose The Well for child care or not, it's a fantastic location for play…read moreon the weekends during open gym (8am-3pm). My daughter loves it there so much that I decided to book her 2 y/o Birthday party there.

Academy For Little Learners is an amazing school for young children. I have sent both of our kids…read morethere and have loved every aspect of their learning environment. They have excellent, highly qualified teachers and a wonderful curriculum. The food program is amazing!! Homemade breakfast and lunch that is included in your tuition!! My kids always came home with smiles on their faces. They also offer half day options for kids as young as 2-which is hard to find in other centers. I would highly recommend this preschool to any parent:-)

The staff at Academy for Little Learner are highly qualified, professional and caring. I am a…read moreteacher and I could not ask for a better academic program for my daughter. She has been at Little Learners for over 3 years and is prepared for Kindergarten next year. The owners of Academy for Little Learners are always accessible, answer questions, are prompt returning phone calls and are extremely nice. The facility is OUTSTANING! It is clean, modern and has everything your child needs. The playground has different abilities levels based on age, the classrooms have the newest equipment and academic materials and they also provide kids with Spanish classes. Academy for Little Leaner's is a "family environment" and I am very happy with my experience and your child will be too.

Three kids, three different preschools--including UW-Madison's Waisman Center's vaunted WECP--and…read morewhile each program has its strengths and weaknesses, in our humble opinion PSA takes the prize in the Madison area. From Director Penny, to the teachers in the various rooms, and the administrative staff, every single soul at PSA is a gem! Our son lives it, of course, and gets tremendous, thoughtful, experienced instruction in art, music, reading, math, and so on. So much so that we decided to keep him in the kindergarten program here, even though we could have saved some money by sending him to free public school. In short, I'd give PSA 10/10 stars, WECP 9/10, and another a much lower score. Worth every penny!

I've sent all three of my children to Preschool of the Arts, over the past decade, and my youngest…read moreis currently enrolled. PSA has been an absolutely wonderful experience for our family. The teachers are highly qualified, incredibly dedicated, and many of them have been with the school for years. That sense of stability and experience really shows in the way they care for and teach the children. Class sizes are small, which means each child gets a lot of individualized attention. The curriculum is creative, play-based, and truly lives up to the "arts" in the name -- my kids have thrived not just academically, but socially and emotionally as well. They come home excited to share what they've learned and created each day. What I appreciate most is the nurturing community the school fosters. Families, teachers, and staff all feel connected, and it's clear that children's growth and well-being are at the heart of everything they do. My oldest still connects with her preschool friends. If you are looking for a preschool where your child will be challenged, supported, and celebrated, I can't recommend PSA highly enough.