Both of my kids (soon to be in 3rd grade, soon to be in 7th grade) are thriving at Wellan. It's a…read moreterrific learning community for pre-K through 8th grade; ~300 children, from pre-K to 8th grade, with small classes and skillfully staffed. It feels like a traditional schoolhouse model right in the heart of Newton center. The Montessori method leverages a child's interests, inspiring curiosity, creativity, and a desire to learn.

I recommend NMS to anyone that I can. When going on tours of various preschools for my son a…read morecouple of years ago, I had no real knowledge of what Montessori teaching was. Honestly, I thought it was very "hippy dippy", kids just doing whatever they wanted all day. When I took the tour (Deanna is awesome!), I was amazed... like jaw-on-the-floor amazed. The things she was showing me in the classroom just MADE. SENSE. It was like a light bulb went on, and I knew my son had to go there. We are now in our second year at NMS and couldn't be happier. The building is filled with people who care, immensely. The amount of planning that goes into a classroom is insane. NMS has a great community around it, the events held for student and families outside of school, educational events for parents (like Montessori in the Home), and fun events for parents too. The administration at NMS is amazing, every teacher is amazing, the specialists (library, music, language, etc) are amazing, the Parent Association is amazing, the early/late care staff are amazing, the office staff are amazing. I know that I am doing the best that I possibly can for my son by sending him to Newton Montessori. I've already seen the difference it has made, and I know that it's really the best environment for him to become the best, happiest, smartest, kindest, little boy he can be. And those are all things that will serve him throughout his life. Everything in his classroom is there for a reason, whether it works on fine motor skills, or how to hold a pencil, it all builds on lessons throughout the Montessori classroom years.

We have been fortunate enough to have our son at Needham Montessori since he was 15 months old (he…read moreis now 2.4). He can't wait to get there each day and engage with his excellent teachers and friends. We have noticed a big difference since he started there with his independence and helpfulness around the house. He helps set/clean the table, feed the dog and empty the dishwasher, all without prompting! He also makes sure each plaything gets put away before he takes the next thing out. We feel he is so cared for and loved and he is thriving!

Needham Montessori has become a part of our family. We are so fortunate to have found a place with…read moreteachers that are so caring, loving and nurturing. Our son has absolute thrived here. He has blossomed over the past year into a bright, happy, social and confident kiddo. We are absolutely thrilled with his progress. The teachers foster his interests and encourage his independence. My husband and I also have a totally open line of communication with the directors and teachers. This is so important to us! The directors Christine and Allen are 2 of the nicest people you will ever meet. We love Needham Montessori!

The Teddy Bear Club is an amazing place where we have had the pleasure of watching our children…read morebloom and grow. Their staff is incredibly warm, engaging, loving, and professional. They all truly have the child's best interest at heart and know just what each child needs to be successful. Their communication is invaluable and they really encourage a sense of community that is both warm and nurturing. Their facilities are impeccably clean, well-manicured, and welcoming. We adore the Teddy Bear Club and have been so blessed to have been able to send our children to this amazing facility.

If you are looking for a fantastic school that loves, nurtures and teaches your child - all while…read moredoing it in two languages - look no further. The teachers are fantastic, the facilities are amazing and the curriculum is so well thought out. This is such a special school that teaches kids in a fun and impactful way. It marries the best of the French education system with the American system. We have been unbelievably happy parents for 4 years now, and all of our children have gone to this school. My daughter actually asks to go to school even when she's sick as she doesn't want to miss a day...if that's not the biggest endorsement, I don't know what is! I only wish it didn't end after Kindergarten!

I wanted to share our wonderful experience with Kindernest Montessori!…read moreThis daycare, run by Firouzeh, is the only place where I truly felt at peace leaving my son while I go to work. Firouzeh is incredibly kind and professional, always welcoming the children with a warm smile every morning. The rest of the staff are also very caring and attentive, spending real quality time with the kids. They offer so many fun and educational activities, from yoga and music classes to water play in the yard. Unlike many other daycares, they allow parents to stay with their child during the first week, which makes the transition so much easier. My son got used to it by the second week and now goes happily every day! One of the best things about this daycare is their amazing chef -- they provide healthy breakfast, snacks, and lunch daily, so we never have to worry about packing food. Honestly, I can't recommend this place enough -- you just have to experience it yourself

We love Kindernest! The teachers are caring and detail-oriented, and my kiddo is learning so much…read more The food is so fresh and smells amazing, I wish parents got to eat it too.

We started at Bright Horizons on the Charles when our daughter was 16 weeks old. Our experience…read morethere completely exceeded our expectations (and they were high). As first time parents, we needed a lot of reassurance and they went above and beyond to provide it. They offered so much time and advice as we were navigating the various stages of early parenthood, and our teachers were accessible through weekly zoom calls for questions and information on our daughter's development. Their encouragement meant everything to us. Their facility is one of a kind- you will not find outdoor play space like they have, or a center with so many movement and play options inside their facility. Every teacher has been wonderful, and the administration at this facility is phenomenal. Not just great at running their entire operation but at being kind humans to parents during a pandemic. Our family has made wonderful memories and lasting friendships from Bright Horizons and we are so grateful for everything they have done for us.

FYI - The jackass below has no clue and has falsely lowered the star score. Idiot.read more

Children's Montessori school in Newton Highlands is the best school I know. My daughter was very…read moreshy and wouldn't let go of me to play with other kids,but now she plays with other children and the best is that she is happy to go to this school, which is a little miracle to me; I thought that she would make a fuss every day. I wish I would have known this school for my other children. I have six Children and I have experienced many schools, I even homeschooled one of my children. The school is in a beautiful Victorian house with a great yard for the children to play.The owner Miss. Elisabeth brings many years of experience and provides a true Montessori education but most of all she has a genuine love and admiration for children. She gives the kids a sense of pride for themselves and for their work. My five year old daughter is learning academics effortlessly and acquires amazing social skills. Last time when I was upset about something ,she put her hand gentle on my arm and said:" Just count slowly and exhale with each number.I was speechless to hear that from my spirited daughter who used to throw a tantrum every day. When I asked who had taught her that she said Ms. Elisabeth. Based on my experiences with other schools my children have attended; I am deeply grateful to Ms. Elisabeth and her teachers.

Both of my children have attended Upper Falls Nursery School. Their experiences have been…read morePHENOMENAL! UFNS has helped my kids learn to interact with their peers in constructive ways as well as develop self confidence. Randi and Linda are both fantastic with the kids. They are experienced in child development and it shows. My favorite thing about UFNS is how inclusive it is. In the 2 years we've been going there, my children have had classmates with so many different backgrounds, heritages, and families. It's an amazing experience for my young children to get to meet other kids who aren't exactly like they are.

UFNS is so much more than a nursery school. Randi and Linda have become a part of our family. Under…read moretheir masterful guidance, our daughter was able to thrive in her first school setting. We are so grateful to have found such a great community school and I can't recommend it enough!!!

Suzuki is a wonderful school. The school schedule is flexible, tuition is reasonable, and the…read moredirector is helpful. The teachers cares and loves the kids. The artwork they bring home are creative and beautiful!! The school emphasizes on fun activities, loving environment, and cognitive development. Their program includes music, Chinese, art, PE, violin, and piano. It's the best school for our kids. It is so fun that I wish I could go there, too! Highly recommended!

My daughter is thriving since enrolling at the Suzuki school. I can't believe that at 3 years old…read moreshe is already writing her name, learning music/violin, and having so much fun she wishes she went to school on the weekends too! The teachers are amazing and really thoughtful about each child's needs. They've done a great job during COVID as far as putting protocols in place to keep everyone safe. Deb the director is super responsive and has been flexible to work with our family's changing schedule. I do wish it was a year round program but they pretty much follow the Newton Public School calendar, and then offer summer camp for the majority of summer.

Great place for kids and families! We came in a Saturday in July and it was not packed!! There was…read morea sign at the parking lot saying the water park was closed but it wasn't, maybe the sun kept the crowds away....? There are bathrooms here, as well! Clean ones!!!! Plenty of shades areas and play areas for each age group (toddlers and 5-12).

I had a very bad experience with Soule and I had to withdraw my toddler daughter after 3 days. In…read moreshort, the problem is management and, perhaps, its culture. Before I explain what happened, I should note that Soule was the only school that did in-person tours in the peak of the pandemic in February whereas every single school/daycare was doing it remotely. I think that says something... After I enrolled my child, I was told that a week before the official start day, she will come in everyday for an hour with me accompanying her in the classroom. Third day of that transition week, I was told to wait outside as she seemed to be doing fine alone. I left briefly to go to Starbucks to pick up a cup of coffee. When I returned, I found her crying, and I was told that I should stick around because it is the transition period. At week 2, which is the official start week, on Monday I did stick around whole day, because that is what I assumed I was supposed to be doing. Nobody gave me any instructions or explained me any plan. At 10am, they took her out since she was crying asking me to take her home. That did not sound right to me, because she will never get used to the place if I take her home after each cry. So, I gave her some food and I let her go inside again. They had a tendency to say goodbye throughout the day, eager to send us home. I stayed and assisted her to nap there. I thought this was weird as I cannot spend my days like that sticking around whole day, so I asked them to come up with a plan. They said I should leave her in the morning and go home because when she knows that I am outside, she will try to go out and cry. I agreed. The plan was that I was going to leave her half a day for two days and on the third day we would try full day. This plan was reasonable to me, because she was not doing terribly bad at all: she loved the toys and the school, but she needed to learn to stay there without me. Btw, I should note that I did not even do sleep training with her since I am not ok letting her cry for long periods of time. But, our original plan was good, because she seemed to be doing fine. An hour later, the director calls me and says, they decided to switch her enrollment to half day for that month because it is too stressful for her. When I said let me think about it, she says, no, that is what we decided! So, they are making a decision by themselves without thinking about my personal circumstances. I am a single mom who needs to return to her full time job. This was very disturbing for me. I talked to some friends with kids. They all found this whole thing very strange. They all thought that it is their job to entertain/distract her so that she does not cry; they thought that it should not be up to them to make a decision unilaterally. I needed them to do their part so that she gets used to the place as soon as possible. "She cried, take her home" is not a solution. Plus, this created extreme anxiety for me as I could not rely on them to organize my life. I decided to try one-two more days. I found myself calling/texting them to see how she is doing. The second day, nobody even replied to my texts. Somebody should have explained me how the communication was going to work (e.g., they would check with me in mid day, or just reach out to me only if there is an issue). None of that. No explanation of the processes. I talked to the director and explained her all my thoughts. (Oh, btw, the director also said the center is getting rid of all the Covid rules which prompted her to resign.) She kept saying that I am right. But, I don't think that she cares, as she is leaving anyways. Where does the process break? I think the lead teacher has as much responsibility as the director in making sure that there is proper communication with the parent, educating the parent, and setting the expectations of the parent. After we made a plan together, what did she say to the director which made her call me and tell me that they are changing her enrollment without my consent? Plans, of course, can change. I was not going to torment my child if she was not adjusting well, but it should not be up to the school to make a decision without my consent. I am the customer. I eventually decided to cancel her enrollment (which the director offered me), because I could not trust what kind of uncertainty and unreliability was waiting for me in the future. I need reliable care. I do not recommend this place. The core of the problem perhaps is that they have a state institution mentality, which they are. They are employees of the city of Brookline. Private daycares care so much about customer satisfaction and their ratings; the directors seem to be hovering around to make sure that the place is functioning properly. I got the impression that the director of Soule was jaded. Not sure if the new one can change the culture because incentives most likely are there to stay.