Last month was the last day for my daughter at this wonderful preschool and I had a hard time holding tears! During the last 3 years we were at La Canada Preschool my daughter opened up from a shy COVID baby to a friendly and loving person. First few months she was practically glued to teaches who were so loving and supportive to her. This school is following the open ended play idea and we loved that kids could play outdoors most of the day that was super important for us right after COVID eased. Their playground has a big area that you can dig, build water channels, play in a mud kitchen, ride tricycles. They do crafts everyday and other regular school activities like circle time. My daughter often came back covered in dirt and paint but I knew she had a ton of fun playing with friends, learning social skills and enjoying her childhood to the fullest. We signed up to ther Pre-K program during our last year and learned letters, counting, learned about space, earth, bugs and many other interesting topics. I definitely remember this school to parents who want their kids to be outgoing, like to explore and just be kids a bit longer without always being stuck in a classroom. read more

La Canada Pre School - Their playground - Preschools Near Me - La Canada Flintridge, California

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La Cañada Preschool is an exceptional preschool filled with so much love for their children and their children's families. They offer a strong community and are very supportive of their families needs. They truly make everyone feel like family read more

If you are looking for an amazing preschool, look no more!! Both my children have attended La Canada Preschool. My oldest was there for about 4 years and attended their fantastic TK! Now my youngest has started and they love it there. The school really focuses on play! Gorgeous shaded backyard, gardening, sand, play ground, tricycles, and lots and lots of arts and crafts! Teachers are exceptional. They also take kids who aren't potty trained yet! It's a small family feel and we are so blessed to be apart of it. read more

Such a lovely school to start your little ones at. My daughter has loved her time at LCPS and sadly we leave next year for kindergarten. But, I am so thankful to all the teachers and staff because I know she's prepared not only mentally, but emotionally, for elementary school. The amount of art they do is fantastic. She comes home with tons of projects and big smiles. I appreciate the individualized attention I know she will lack in a public elementary school. And their PreK program is WONDERFUL!!! I'm so happy we chose to stay for PreK, it is worth every penny - writing, counting, managing social situations with same age kids AND with younger kids, and having the confidence and mastery before entering kindergarten is all a mama can ask for. Thank you LCPS for these memorable and fun years! read more

My son has attended La Cañada Preschool for the last few years and I truly have nothing but good things to say about this school! It provides such a warm and loving environment for children's first experience at school. My son has thrived at La Cañada Preschool in so many ways: socially, emotionally and academically. He loves going to school each day and comes home happy with his school bag full of art and crafts. He's learned so much and gained so many valuable skills that will benefit him in kindergarten and beyond. My experience with the director Debbie and all of the teachers have been wonderful as well. I would happily recommend this school to any parent looking for a preschool that provides a safe and loving environment where learning is fun. I'm happy to be part of this community and will be sending my younger child there when he is ready as well! read more

We deeply regret not consulting the other 1-star Yelp reviews before we enrolled our 2.5 year-old son at LCPS last fall. We trusted our friends and neighbors, who had nothing but good things to say about the school, but our experience couldn't have been further from theirs. He started attending half-days in mid-August, and within a week, we started getting emails from Ms. Debbie that he was hitting kids at school in a non-malicious way. She asked us to call in to discuss the matter with her, which we did. We all agreed it was something they/we'd keep an eye on and continue to redirect but not punish as it's something they've seen before at this age, especially in a transitional period of starting a new school. One week later, we were called into the office to discuss continued issues in person with Debbie. She said they were there to support our son, but she said his physical behavior hadn't really improved, even though they didn't see it as malicious. We agreed to receive weekly updates regarding this behavior. At the same time, we consulted 2 child psychologists who said this behavior is quite normal, especially in boys this age who may have less developed verbal skills compared to their physical skills, and even more so when undergoing a transition. One month in, after a couple more emails relaying much of the same information (and many name mix ups from Debbie regarding our son and my husband - not the most reassuring sign in a childcare professional), Debbie suggested that we give this process another month before exploring more options for intervention, like speech therapy or occupational therapy. At this point, we contacted his UCLA pediatrician to get a jump on resolving the issue. Of course, the healthcare system doesn't work instantaneously, so we had to wait a couple weeks before we talked with his pediatrician. When we did, she said transitions at this age can take up to 6 months, and we had just hit the 2-month mark. She said based on her evaluation, he doesn't need an occupational therapist, but we still asked for a speech therapist referral. Once again, we would have to wait a couple weeks for the speech evaluation, but we still thought we were ahead of schedule in trying to address this behavior. We were wrong. Despite multiple claims to "be there to support our son," Debbie changed her timeline drastically at the end of October. 2.5 months after our son started at LCPS, 4 weeks into full-time daycare (once the writer's strike ended my husband was working full time again, so we needed full-time childcare) and 1 week ahead of schedule from when she recommended taking further action to address this behavior, Debbie called and said LCPS wasn't a good fit for our son, but they would work with us to give us time to find a replacement daycare. One day later, we were called and told it was THE last day and we needed to come pick up our son. When we did pick up our son, we tried to take the high road and walk out without any confrontation, but Mr. Hugo felt the need to follow us to our car and start a verbal confrontation. Ms. Debbie was nowhere to be found. We still kept our speech therapy assessment at UCLA, and our son was given a good report for his speech and interactive play for his age. Once again, another doctor mentioned that children that age regularly have issues with being too physical, especially during a transitional period. This whole ordeal has put our entire family under an immense amount of emotional, physical and financial stress. We've questioned our efforts and abilities as parents. We've lost sleep, and instead of enjoying our time with our son, we've been examining him under a microscope for months. My husband had to turn down work in November because he was on full-time parent duty until we could find a new daycare this January. Now we're very happy with our son's new daycare/preschool, but the entertainment industry has been very slow to ramp back up after the strikes, and we missed out on 3+ months of income because of this whole experience. We wanted to share this experience to warn anyone out there who might have an energetic toddler, or one that doesn't fit perfectly into the LCPS box of what a kid should be. You won't get any helpful feedback from the teachers (an apparent directive from Debbie), but you will get mixed signals from Debbie who tells you they will support your child in one conversation, only to turn around and email you a report that your child is failing to "comply" (her word, not mine). Doctors we consult in the 10 weeks we were at LCPS: Dr. Monika Simms, MD Pediatrics UCLA Dr. Sophie Pierce, Psy.D Child Psychologist Dr. Annie McNeill, PsyD Child Psychologist Dr. Christie B Hall, Speech Pathologist UCLA read more

We had a great experience at La Canada Pre School! Nice teachers and kids, affordable, similar to Montessori / play based model (my son loved the sand and benefitted from getting to know kids of different ages), very flexible schedule offerings for both part and full days. We look forward to bringing our younger kids back! read more

You can officially stop your search-- this is the BEST preschool in La Cañada!! We relocated here in February 2020 and then the world shut down a month later due to Covid. We didn't know anyone here and were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of daycares and preschools that were available once the world opened back up. We toured many schools, but the moment we walked into La Cañada Preschool (LCPS) we knew we were in the right place. The owners, Ms. Debbie and Mr. Hugo, are the sweetest people in town. They are warm, kind, patient, fun and immediately made our whole family feel welcome and at ease. I had initially only planned to put my oldest in LCPS because the school only had one opening, but when I told Ms. Debbie that I was nervous about separating the boys, she found a way to make space for both of them. It is through this school that we have met all of our new local friends and built such a strong tie to this community. My oldest has since moved on to Kindergarten but, whenever he has a day off from school, he begs me to let him come spend the day at LCPS (and Ms. Debbie let's him!). The owners and staff are like family now and I feel completely comfortable and secure knowing my boys are in such an excellent environment while my husband and I are at work. I cannot recommend this school enough. It is a truly magical place and we are so incredibly thankful to have found it. read more

We have been thrilled with LCPS. We wanted a place where our son would be able to be outside most of the day, to be able to be a kid who gets dirty and figures things out on his own, and LCPS is exactly this place. He comes home covered in dirt, happy, and with an art project every day. The art fairs that they do every year literally take my breath away when I see all of the art covering seemingly every surface and wall; you can't look anywhere without seeing a new art project that the kids did. This is a wonderful place, staffed by professionals who care. read more

LCPC is a gem of a school. It is small and intimate and forms a true community. My 5 yo daughter attended for 2 years during the pandemic, and LCPC has been a lifeline for our entire family. She has learned how to be friends and play with other children. Her academic understanding and classroom behavior understanding is spot on for entering Kindergarten, and she has been so happy. I love the shady tree that offers refuge in the hot August and September days, I LOVE the sand and swings that remind me of my own preschool experience, and I love the family owned and operated style that LCPC offers. read more

I took my daughter her when she had just turned 2. By the third day of school, I got phone calls from Ms Debbie stating that she was concerned about Rachel because she wasn't able to sit still during learning sessions. She recommended that I got a special needs assessment on her. I was very disheartened being a first time mom and really had no clue my child had any learning issues. My daughter knew how to sing her full alphabets, count to 20 and knew more than 20 dinosaur species so I thought she was developing just fine for a 2 year old. Mrs Debbie kept insisting I get her tested adding on she couldn't make contact, couldn't stop crying, fidgeting, couldn't form sentences...a long list which I thought was somewhat normal for a child. Even my husband is a special education teacher thought her convictions were outrageous. He said 2 is too young to get an accurate assessment. So I got her tested at 3 years old with LAUSD as soon as she was allowed to. She was normal to excellent in all the testing. Looking back I'm upset that she was so adamant about my child's abilities and made an incorrect assumption about my child in a few days of observing her. I felt she was not truly known at this school. Thankful I took her to another school where she is thriving now and loves her teacher!! Also random pet peeve every time I went to pick up my daughter, she was wet and muddy from playing in the yard. I understand many have had a great experience here and that's why I took her here from the reviews but just wanted to share my experience as well. read more

Two of my daughters have attended LCPS, and my family could not be happier with the experience. My girls love the school because of the wonderful staff, joyful environment, and great friendships they made. read more

My son went to LCPS from last year to this May before we moved. He could speak little English initially but just loved to go to school without any hesitation every day! He didn't feel any pressure to get along with friends and teachers at school. I can tell this Preschool is the right one for my son by the smile on his face and how he expected school every day. Teachers here are full of passion and love for kids. I appreciate the lovely atmosphere Ms. Debbie and her team built for the kids. My son misses those days here! read more

This is hands-down the BEST preschool ever. Debbie, the head of the preschool, is the most wonderful, hands-on, educated, empathetic, DOER with a heart of gold I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. The school is a deeply loving, highly educational but at the same time so wholly nurturing of your child and supportive of the entire family. I honestly don't know how they do it. But it WORKS. My middle child *loves* this school Soo much that he asked every single day when he could go back. Every. Single. Day. The teachers personally walk each & every child individually into the preschool or play yard every single morning, and walk each child out personally one at a time at pickup. The pre-K program is exceptional. Your kid learns yoga, caring for others, everything g he needs academically to start kindergarten. Kids *know* when they are loved, and your child will know and *feel* this every single day at LCPS. Even when you're "that mom" who is 10 min late for pickup, LCPS teachers think ahead and have your child w/others outside in the play yard, so he's not sitting there, thinking he was left behind. When I'm the parent who messed up (facepalm). Who are these Angels at LCPS... just incredible... Suffice it to say, our family of 5 is on one income & LCPS may be a bit pricier than a co-op preschool but it is WORTH EVERY PENNY, and then some. You'll see what I mean when you get there :-) Debbie is an absolute GODSEND. I can't wait to put my 3rd little dude with them, they are utterly the Best school on the planet. I wish they went all the way thru high school, lol... read more

We really love it. As many of the previous comments mentioned, LCP is a family-owned and operated school. I feel confident sending my child into such a nurturing environment. When I took a tour, the owner Debbie answered my (dozens) of questions with confidence and integrity. Here's what stands out: 1. All of the staff are trained in Early Childhood Development. The teachers are over-qualified. There are 2 male teachers on staff, which is really rare. The staff is easily available if you have issues or questions, and very supportive. 2. The curriculum is play-based, but it's not a free-for-all that I've seen in other schools. There are 2 circle times built into the morning schedule. Lots of music, art projects, messy sensory play, and a good play structure nestled under a tree. There's something for every interest! 3. Parents can come into the school grounds to drop-off/pick-up OR a teacher can walk them to and from the car. Curbside pick-up is very convenient, so you don't have to deal with parking or loading other kiddos out of the car. 4. There are flexible schedule options, and it's an affordable school for the area. You can pay hourly if you need extra coverage from time to time. 5. The Pre-K program offers a great introduction to academics while still remaining play-based. We will be returning to LCP in the fall and can't recommend it highly enough! read more

My son attended this school and we just loved it. Debbie and the whole teaching staff were wonderful. The school feels warm, loving, and accepting of differences. We were super impressed by how clean they keep the facility. The floors in the classrooms look new. The outdoor play yard has tons of interesting toys. I would highly recommend this school to anyone looking for a quality pre school for their kids. read more

LCPS is the best preschool! In 2013 we sent our son here. He loved it. We made life long friendships with the some of families. And in 2021 when our first adopted daughter turned 5 we couldn't think of a better place to put her in preschool. It's very diverse. Both of my kids and I have loved the teachers and staff. its the perfect setting for a preschool. Now we are starting our very shy 3 year old there. Because of her shyness and attachment to us, I was shocked that she wanted to go back right after the first day. This school and staff have helped build their confidence and independence. We are forever grateful for Debbie and her perfect little school. read more

La Canada Pre School is truly truly wonderful place. Ms. Debbie and her staff are kind and supportive and patient and encouraging. My daughter (4) has been there for the last year. Everyday she comes home covered in sand, happy and exhausted from playing with her friends all day. She has met the most wonderful group of friends - and I have met the most wonderful group of parents. There is nothing cuter than hearing a new song she learned at school or looking through the MANY pieces of artwork she brings home. I can't say enough good things about it. If I was having more kids I'd send them all there, and start even younger (we only just moved to the area last year)! read more

I have sent both my kids to LCPS and they have both thrived. One graduated last year, the other is still there. I love that when kids arrive in the morning, the other kids all cheer for each other, when they leave, there is a round of hugs. It is a family environment that gives the kids a sense of home away from home, and instills in them the value of kindness. It is play-based, and through that play my older kid learned all he needed for a smooth entry into kindergarten - most importantly he was confident, happy and ready to learn. The teachers all care deeply about the kids, and it shows. I recommend LCPS to everyone I know with Pre-school aged kids! read more

Life has a funny way of making complete circles. When my husband first arrived in this country, there was a high school girl who gave him a tour of their high school. Many years later when we have our son, we have a tour of his school and to our surprise, that same girl that gave my husband his school tour is a teacher at La Cañada! He attended 3 short months before Covid happened, and has now returned to school for about 2 months. We are feeling so comfortable with all the adjustments they've done to accommodate accordingly. Our son goes in excited and comes out with an even greater smile! All the staff is very sweet, Debbie and Hugo have truly down an amazing job acquiring the perfect team! We are expecting our second baby soon, and cannot wait to have him experience this same joy of going to school! La Cañada is a perfect mix of playground and an educational feel to it. read more

I had really high hopes for this preschool and there are some aspects that I loved. My son attended LCP for 10 months. I loved that it's play-based and that there's a big focus on the arts. But sadly, my experience with LCP was alarmingly similar to the other negative reviews (one of which has been removed). I did not like that there was a big turnover of teachers. 4 teachers left in the 10 months that my child attended and this seemed to effect my son a lot. It's not a very big school space-wise which is okay but I discovered that on some days there are up to 35 kids at the school at the same time, all of them playing in the outdoor space at the same time. In my opinion, this is too many kids for that amount of space and the number of teachers. My child is outgoing and social but at school he was playing by himself and the teachers seem to not care. When I asked one of the teachers why he wasn't being encouraged to play with others or why the teachers weren't engaging him, I was told "he prefers to play alone". I picked this school because the director said that their main focus is the social and emotional development of the child. That was definitely not the case for my child. read more

I wanted to write this review to anyone who is thinking about putting their child in their care because there are some things you should know about our experience. My son started later in the year and had a hard time adjusting because he loved his former school. His former school was structured, while it was play based, there were circle times and group building activities that help build camaraderie among the pupils. La Canada does not have much circle time. Most of their activities are stations set up on the yard. So, in order for the child to focus on said activity the teacher will have to stop them from playing. It seems a haphazard way to instruct a child and muddles that precious one on one interaction of teacher and student. The kids are on the yard for an hour and a half. This allowed cliques and bullies to form because there was no real supervision. My son went into the school a happy and outgoing child who made friends easily. He loves the institution of school but would come home with sad feelings of being excluded from activities and friend groups that had already formed. I thought this to be normal until he kept coming back with negative feelings about his self image. I was concerned and asked the teachers how he was doing and they had very little to say. So, I tried to support my son and hoped for the best. It wasn't until I got a call from the Director, who is rarely on the playground and frequently on vacation, that something needed to be done about my son because, "kids are getting hurt". She informed me that my son has been hitting other kids for months and that he had no impulse control, he was 3.5 at the time. She then said that she felt he needed to be accessed and taken to occupational therapy and then even diagnosed him to what she thought was the problem. I was alarmed. Why wasn't I told about this sooner? Why has this been going on for months? It was a very serious conversation with absolutely no warning from anyone. She then asked me what tactics should they implement with my son to make him stop hitting. This is when I became suspicious. Isn't this your job? Aren't you the professionals? She advised me that she has two Master Degrees neither are in Special Education but she felt that my son had a problem that they could not control. I had never witnessed this kind of behavior with my son. When my husband spoke to the director she complimented him on how calm he was and said I was "amped" up. This is totally unprofessional. So, we took him to the occupational therapist. We set up an assessment with LAUSD. I kept checking on his behavior with his teachers and had long talks with him about hitting and being kind to his other students. They all reported he was doing well with some slip ups but again he's 3. At the advise of the OT l I observed the school, and sat out of view while they had their free time. I witnessed a teacher take a toy out of my son's hand after scolding him for what I observed was very minor behavior. When the teacher took the toy my son began to cry and crawled under a table. Out of nowhere the director appeared and cradled my son and gently gave him a lecture about being destructive. Two months later after multiple OT sessions. When we reported that the director's diagnosis of my son was not corroborated by the OT she repeated , "kids are getting hurt." This came as a surprise to us because again nothing was communicated. After all of our efforts there was no sign that the school had done anything on their part to help teach my son. Instead, I believe that the director and some of her team had somehow targeted my son and instead of aiding him through a difficult time made him feel less than. What kind of behavior can one expect if they are made to feel that they are bad child? We were assessed by LAUSD and he had high marks and no form of any social/emotional or developmental issues. He has been out of the school for more than a month and his jubilant caring personality has returned. I cannot even fathom what they were saying to him at LCPS. Our experience at La Canada Preschool was very stressful on our child and family unit. It caused us to over worry about our son based on a person who has no business diagnosing children. And my poor kid was just trying to fit in and learn. We did find out that our child needs a more structured environment, circle time, opportunities to learn, and more adult interaction. LCPS is not a preschool. It is a daycare. read more

I love the teachers, the aids and Debbie Baccino, the director of this school! We looked at so many schools that looked like Pottery Barn catalogue pages, that had no heart. We learned our lesson that the most important part of a school is the teachers and their philosophy and approach to children. The school is small and intimate. We found that the entire staff knew each child, as opposed to our former school where our son was limited to one class/ one teacher. This school is supportive of parents and families. The director, in addition to her many years of being a teacher, has a background in family therapy. You can not put a price on this! She is there for every question, concern or parenting doubt you may have. We have found that they are wonderfully caring and patient with their students. They have an amazing staff of experienced, committed and engaged teachers. Even at our sons' most challenging developmental stages, they have always been kind, understanding and low key. Because it is Developmental based, this is a great school for boys! They can be boys without apology- getting down and tactile in the sand- Unlike other schools we went to or visited, the teachers understand and embrace the pre-school boy psyche. They are always loving and we have found, masters at redirecting rowdy behavior into positive play. I also appreciate the teacher student ratio here. Each teacher works with an equally talented aid. The classes or groups of children are small with a high teacher to student ratio. And these the are true teachers, with advanced training and degrees in Child Development and Early Childhood Education. It makes a HUGE difference. They have an excellent pre-K program as well that readies students for kindergarten. read more

So there you are- a parent looking for your child's first pre-school. How many tours have there been...? How many orientations? How many applications? How many waiting lists? How many fundraisers? How much of your own self-worth have you tied up in this process? When we dropped in to have a look at this preschool that our friends with 3 kids had recommended to us, the owner/director Debbie gave us a tour, answered all our questions and let our child play and explore while we looked around. When we asked about waiting lists and lotteries and applications Debbie replied "I don't feel that it is fair to put parents through that sort of stress. We have openings for this Spring if your daughter and you are ready." My wife and I looked at each other - we knew that a school with a director who was this empathetic to parents would probably be just awesome with her students needs. And we were right. La Canada Preschool has been great for our two children. The staff rocks! Warm and in touch. Lots of hugs, & lots of laughing. We liked that the school is open to parents's needs. Our daughter had a really hard time at first and they let my wife stay until she felt comfortable. In our experience they really embrace the family & give you & your kids what they need to feel right. They have a morning program for younger ones and a solid afternoon Pre-K program that was helpful for our eldest who ended up going to our local public school that is an academic program. (She was strongly reading by the Summer before kindergarten.) We liked the other families. Sure, there will always be a family that it is not an ideal fit for- but shouldn't you know your own kid well enough to know if they are happy when you pick them up? read more

We are so happy that we chose La Canda Preschool. My son has been attending LCPS for about a year and a half now. I'm so impressed with how much he's learning and growing. This school is so conducive to learning while at play and my son is so happy every day he gets to go to school. Since the first week, he has absolutely loved school and will ask on weekends or holidays whether it's a school day. When we started him at LCPS we had recently moved from the Bay Area, which was a tough transition for our little guy. While he always loved being at LCPS, he was pretty introverted for the first six months or so and said very little to the teachers. He followed their instructions but would rarely respond to questions. The school's Director, Debbie, highlighted this issue for me after about three months of his attending LCPS and noted that he also seemed to be sensory seeking (i.e. putting his hands or shirt into his mouth). She offered a couple of next steps, perhaps we could have him speak to a therapist or we could wait and see if this was just a phase. Since my son was very verbal at home and with family, we decided to wait and see if he became more comfortable as time went on. And that's exactly what happened. About two months later at our parent/teacher conference, Debbie told me that he was really coming out of his shell and being more social and verbal with both teachers and other children. I really appreciated how this played out: it was very helpful knowing the extent of the issue and I appreciated that Debbie offered a more formal intervention but was supportive of waiting and watching to see how he did. Fast forward a year or so later and I'm happy to say that my son is really thriving and still loving the environment at LCPS. The teachers are extremely supportive of his development and he's made such sweet friendships. We are so happy that he'll be there through preK and that our second little boy will be starting there in the fall. read more

I'm a mother of two little ones who attend LCPS. This is my 3rd year as a parent and I could not disagree more with the previous writer. As a preschool teacher my self I was searching for a preschool for my little ones for a while. When I met Debbie, the schools director, I was immediately impressed by her down to earth attitude and warmth. always willing to listen and assist parents with any issue that might come up. The staff of teachers at LCPS is loving and caring. Treating each child with respect, love and tend to all their needs, as different as they may be. the small and intimate environment is perfect for kids and gives the a scenes of comfort rather than a big and cold place. I'm sure that when u see the school you'll fall in love with it just as we did!!! read more

This school is a rare gem, managed with such emotional intelligence, love and respect for every child that our typically over-protective natures immediately gave way to complete faith and trust. We tried an expensive Silverlake Montessori last year, which our boy now refers to as "the not-fun school". For us, the classroom regimen there was pointlessly obsessed with structure and order, while the playground allowed bullies free reign with only periodic and demeaning interruptions by an often overwhelmed staff. We should've switched the first month, when our son accurately confided that "the teachers yell at the kids just for crying", (I later heard this happening myself), but we didn't know better. Our son now refers to La Canada as his "fun school in-a-house", and has repeatedly asked if we could all live there. I can't thank Debbie and all the staff enough for their constant accessibility, professionalism, and devotion to the kids. Regarding the one negative review posted here, communication has been immediate, eloquent and thorough whenever we initiate it, and the drop-off system was emphasized to us as absolutely voluntary, but in their opinion the safest option and the best for student's emotional well-being and self-esteem. Debbie worked with me seamlessly by allowing me, without hesitation, to discover on my own that lingering was very clearly unnecessary and even counter-productive for my child. We and many other parents do come inside for pickups, and are always warmly welcomed. Thank you, La Canada family. read more

My kids love LCP. They don't want leave when I come to pick them up early. The staff has a vested interest in each and every child at their school!! read more

La Canada Pre School - Loving staff of la Canada Preschool - Preschools Near Me - La Canada Flintridge, California

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My wife and I enrolled our son when he was 2.5 years old and he will be finishing pre-k this year. It was the first place we looked at and the last. Debbie and Hugo have an extensive background in child care and well-being. It is a place filled with encouragement and positive energy. Every teacher on staff loves what they do and it shows. It is a wonderful pre-school. Highly recommend!!!! read more

Our 4.5 year is into her second year at LCPS and we are all very happy with the school and staff. We were introduced to the school because a teacher friend that I respect was sending her son there. After checking out several preschools I felt comfortable that LCPS was the right fit for my daughter's first experience away from me. I love the big tree shading the yard, the feeling that the yard equipment is real (not made of plastic and so safe that it's boring), that kids play with sand and water as they please, there are always art supplies available, and that it generally feels laid back. Debbie has been very accommodating when I've needed to change my daughter's schedule and I like that they provide several opportunities for parents to check out the school through out the year. While I know some parents don't like dropping their kids off curbside (because they don't get to see inside the school daily and their kids may cry at the point of separation), in my experience it has worked very well. From day one she was fine going in with the teachers even though she'd always been a very attached to momma girl. The one morning I was late dropping her off last year and had to walk her into school myself caused all kinds of separation anxiety - for two weeks afterwards she cried hysterically every time she was dropped off. The times I've come to get her early or have otherwise been there unannounced, everything looks good. The kids are playing, the teachers are helping some kids with art or on the swings, etc. My daughter is now in Pre-K and she is learning to write her letters and is still enjoying school. Bottom line, this school is what I was looking for in a preschool. read more

We have found an extension of home at La Canada Preschool. If you want to be enrolled at a school where your family is considered on an individual basis rather than at a school with a "corporate" system of rules and procedures then La Canada Preschool is the place for you. The people here are, kind, loving and respectful and go out of their way to accommodate your family and it's needs. My only child who adores her time with Mommy and has never had a babysitter bounces gleefully and fearlessly into this school each day with barely a glance back over her shoulder. I have 100 percent confidence in the people at La Canada Preschool, my child has been safe and well looked after everyday of the near 2 years that she has attended. read more

I cannot speak more highly of this school. The director and teachers are very compassionate, have excellent communication and they even helped my daughter with potty training. My daughter comes home each day very happy, talking about her friends, talking about the teachers, showing me her new art, displaying her new skills and more. She is thriving. Even during this very intense year with COVID, wildfires and poor air quality - the school consults with doctors and puts into place every precaution to ensure the safety of the children. For example, the teachers are tested regularly, wear masks at all times and spend most of the time outdoors. When the air quality became unhealthy due to the wildfires, the director reached out to the parents to see if we felt comfortable with the kids being indoors. The school adapted quickly, obtained air purifiers and did everything they could to maintain safety while keeping the school open during this very precarious time. I appreciate their ability to take into account all of these factors while still providing a great service for our families. If you can get into this school, you will love it! read more

We could not love this school more. They make us feel like family! It is a down-to-earth, well-rounded, kind and nurturing environment. My son comes home happy every day. We have been in a VERY strict lockdown in our household since the pandemic hit. Returning to school was not a decision we made lightly. But I know that Debbie and her staff are diligently doing everything they can to offer a safe environment. And they're mostly outside all day, which was a huge deciding factor for us in sending him back. We feel so lucky to have found such a great place for our son's introduction to school! read more

This school is lovely, but it was a poor fit for our little one. Our kid may be considered a little atypical, but did not receive the individualized attention needed, and, frankly, was judged by some of the teachers. More typical children may thrive here, but if your kid is at all "different" or does not fit in the usual box, this might not be the place for them. read more

My son wakes up happy every day to go to school! We are so grateful to have found a school that allows our son the opportunity to grow and play. We have seen big changes from his language growth to artistic inclinations since starting school. The teachers do a wonderful job! Our son talks constantly of his great teachers and many school friends! read more

This school was the perfect Pre-K program for our son. After having him spend his first two years of preschool elsewhere, we decided to change schools for his Pre-K year that would better fit for our needs. That's when we found La Canada Preschool. It was recommended by a friend, and we fell in love with it. The teachers are warm and nurturing; they foster imaginative play and activities and have endless energy. Our son made fast friends, and had tons of fun everyday. It was the balance we needed to ensure his entry into Kindergarten would be a smooth one, which it was! He was ready and eager, and loves being in Kindergarten at a big kid school. We owe much to La Canada Preschool for fostering a love of school and learning, building confidence, and creating lasting memories. read more

I'm so proud to tell you that this is the best Preschool in Southern California. I have two boys who attended La Canada Pre School and I couldn't have been happier with the early childhood education that they received. I know that it's easy to dismiss 5-star reviews as being rigged but this isn't. The Pre-School Director is one of the best people I know. She genuinely cares about each child in her school and she chooses the very best staff. I love her philosophy that children should be excited to come to school. That school should be a good place that kids look forward to coming and not a place that they dread. My kids loved La Canada Preschool and I'm sure that your kids will too. read more

We love la Canada preschool! Our oldest just moved from La Canada Preschool to TK, and our middle daughter is now attending. We look forward to sending our youngest too when the time comes. We looked at 15 preschools in the area and nothing came close to the sweet, small and loving environment of this school. Thank you to the wonderful staff for this special place! read more

La Canada Preschool is more than just a school. It is a safe place filled with teachers that take the time to understand each child's individual needs and unique qualities. The director, Ms. Debbie, and her team know exactly how to nurture the children so as to build their confidence and carefully help them navigate through their complex emotions. My daughter looks forward to Pre-K each day and loves her teachers Ms. Erika and Ms. Flor. We can't wait for our son to attend soon! This is a place where children are respected and loved the way they need and deserve. read more

This is a fabulous preschool with a huge focus on art and creativity. My son thrived and really loved all the teachers. It feels so cosy and happy and there is such great attention to detail that your child really discovers and explores way more than many other schools. Miss Debbie is a fantastic director and always answered and helped with any concerns I had and made sure everything was great. Our son Remy loved music time, all the art projects and the parent days were especially fun. At the end of last year we were presented with a slide show of special moments captured during our son's time at the school. Amazing. Can't say enough good things about LCPS!! read more