5 stars hands down! We are so lucky to have found this pre-school. The teachers & director are…read moreamazing & our son has advanced in just 4 months. His speech has improved as well as his ability to communicate with others without getting frustrated has been life changing. They even taught him to potty train within a week! What a bonus! The team are so welcoming & warm. I really feel we are blessed to have found them!

What an incredible Daycare! We have put two kids through saybrook and are soooo thankful we found…read morethem! Amazing loving approach, hands on, and have been very developmental for our kids learning. We started right when they opened back up during the Covid, and we felt so safe bringing our boys to the center. Soledad Peoples the director has been instrumental in our kids development, and we hope these friendships last a lifetime! 100% trust and support Saybrook learning center for your children's needs! 7:15am to 5:30pm, meals provided, with learning and fun guaranteed!

We cannot say enough wonderful things about Pied Piper Preschool! We have sent both of our children…read morehere, and it has been the most transformative experience for our entire family. If you are looking for a true play-based environment where 'kids can be kids' while developing a deep love for learning, this is it. Teachers Pia, Mike, and Carrie are absolutely the greatest. They bring so much joy, patience, and intentionality to everything they do. You can tell they truly understand child development and see each child as a unique individual. What really sets Pied Piper apart is the community. Especially being new to the area, we found a village here. We've made wonderful, lifelong friendships with other families, and our kids have thrived socially and emotionally. One of the biggest surprises was the flexibility of the co-op model. As a full-time working parent navigating the transition of being back in an office, I was worried about the commitment, but the school has been incredibly supportive and flexible. My co-oping days became the highlight of my week! It gave me a front-row seat to my children's growth and helped me become a much more informed and confident parent. Pied Piper is so much more than just a preschool; it's a family.

We spent a lot of time looking for a school for our child, and we were lucky enough to find Pied…read morePiper! Being "transplants" without family nearby, we can attest to the care, compassion, and support that the teachers and families bring to the table. It is quite unique! My highly energetic son absolutely loves coming to school. It might be the huge yard that is accessible to the students for most of the day, the bikes, trucks, enormous sand pit, play structures and mud kitchens... or the rainbow room full of imaginative play costumes and accessories. As parents, we love how much he has been exposed to in just two years. The curriculum is play based and after reading up on this type of education and the science and statistics behind it... we decided we would give it a shot. I am so happy we did. Every day, there are tables dedicated to science, art, fine and gross motor skills and in the B session the kids learn how to read and write. In lieu of TK we decided to do another year of Pied Piper and we are confident he will be more than ready for kindergarten! Another thing that stood out to us about Pied Piper is the flexibility that their particular co-op model offers. Many co-ops are inflexible especially when it comes to maternity leave, or opting out of an expected committee. They have designed their co-op model for both working parents and stay at home parents. There is always an option and flexibility around your responsibilities, and all expectations are laid out ahead of time in their handbook. The teachers at Pied Piper are second to none. I am an educator myself and have worked with young children for over twenty years. Teacher Pia, Teacher Carrie and Teacher Mike absolutely love their job. They shine with the kids. They bring out the best in them and coach them (and the parents) through hard times. They are both compassionate and hold boundaries. They are consistent. My son has grown so much emotionally with them by his side. I've also learned so much as a parent co-oping in the classroom. Lastly we love how Pied Piper celebrates family traditions, and really knows how to make holidays and learning units special. Families are encouraged to share their unique backgrounds and traditions at circle time (Chinese New Year, Christmas, Chanukah,) and bring food and books to share with the class. Holidays are always over the top with decorations and celebration, and the teachers transform the school during learning units (space unit, teddy bear tea, post office). As transplants that came into the school only knowing their neighbors, we will leave the school with a wonderful group of friends and families that we have connected with. We love Pied Piper Preschool!

There's not enough I can say about this amazing preschool. Both of my kids went to Northgate…read morepreschool when they were younger and it was an incredible experience. I always knew that my kids are well fed, well cared for, and receiving a well rounded education. This preschool is always clean and safe. So creative with activities for kids that stimulate their growth. Kids feel special every day they are there. The teachers are the best and really care for each child that goes there and joins the Northgate Preschool family. We made lifelong friends and our kids still talk about how much they miss their preschool and teachers. Thank you Northgate, you dont even know how much you are appreciated!

So thrilled to see Northgate preschool finally on Yelp! A couple years back, both of my children…read moreattended and graduated from there, and our experience was nothing but amazing. The teachers are truly wonderful and caring, thoughtful and always ready to accommodate. The daily routine they had in place ensured my kids were more than ready for kindergarten. Would recommend it to any parent in a heartbeat.

Amazing full-time care and Montessori education for kids 3 months through Kinder right off the…read morefreeway in Lafayette. My oldest started at 13 months (we were on a waitlist, so reach out early!) and youngest started at 5 months (siblings get priority). My kids come home every day and surprise me with what they've learned at school. Things you'd never picture such young kids understanding. My oldest son (2.5) has made his first best friend there, which is the cutest thing to watch take place. We also do soccer on Sundays with about 5 kids from his class. I love the teachers, opportunity for as much or as little parent involvement as you'd like and the parent community as a whole (they do parent nights out every month as well as other fun events). My brother went there in the 80's and it's a staple in the community.

Diablo Valley Montessori School is an iconic and well known authentic Montessori School. It has a…read morelegacy of high fidelity Montessori education. It follows the scope and sequence of the Montessori curriculum. In a world of screens and instant gratification DVMS provides the hands on concrete experience vital for a child's cognitive development. Their staff is professional and knowledgeable regarding the Montessori curriculum and philosophy. I highly encourage families to experience the true meaning of a Montessori preschool education.

We truly cannot fully express the amount of joy, comfort, and confidence we feel leaving our…read morechildren in the loving hands of Meher Schools. When searching for the perfect preschool, we had very clear priorities - and White Pony/Meher Schools was the only preschool that checked every box after extensive research, visits, and interviews. After falling in love with White Pony preschool, we decided to stay for The Meher Schools elementary school - also, one drop off for kids if you have one in preschool and another in elementary?! Yes, please! The Meher Schools met our top priorities in choosing aas did the White Pony Preschool: 1. Teachers who genuinely practice kindness, patience, and love, creating a safe, nurturing environment that mirrors the care we provide at home. 2. A strong focus on kindness, emotional and spiritual development alongside academics, using the Nurtured Heart Approach to teach leadership, right from wrong, and strong values - something that truly matters in today's world. 3. A calm, organized, clean, and open learning environment inspired by Montessori/Waldorf principles, filled with music, dance, art, nature exploration, and joyful activities that spark curiosity and a love of learning. 4. Low teacher-to-student ratios with consistent, dedicated staff and minimal turnover. 5. The ease and convenience of reliable daycare availability and consistent school hours, which is invaluable for working parents and provides tremendous peace of mind. Our children have grown into calm, patient, loving, socially and emotionally intelligent individuals. They come home happy - singing songs, performing dances, and confidently demonstrating leadership skills such as speaking up, standing up for others, self-regulating ("resetting"), appreciating nature, and truly loving life. We are incredibly grateful for the dependable, efficient, and communicative staff and teachers. Watching our children's growth, confidence, curiosity, and joy throughout their time at Meher Schools has been nothing short of amazing. We wholeheartedly and highly recommend Meher Schools to any parent looking for the very best for their child.

I want to start by saying this is a long time coming, and this is just my experience…read more We first looked at Meher after learning our son's previous preschool prioritized moving kids up to open seats, over real development. He was three, and his old school, though called Montessori, felt like just unstructured play with no guidance. We wanted better for him, so we applied to Meher. When I spoke with the administrator, she was initially hesitant to transfer him but ultimately accepted our application but in hindsight it felt influenced by where we live and work more than our child's needs. On our tour, we learned about the school's "legacy" tradition: multiple generations attend, and one teacher is even an alumna. It struck me as both odd and charming--I wondered if our son's future children might go there too. They want you to stay on his first day (and as long as needed) to help him adjust. Since we both WFH, one of us could be there until he settled in. We appreciated the school's structure: clear work time and play time, unlike his old school's laissez-faire approach. Fast-forward to his transition: he struggled with the new routines, having mini-meltdowns when he couldn't do things his way. On day one, another child cried for an hour over a forgotten jacket. Day two, the same child sobbed over his beanie. Then our son had his first major meltdown screaming and crying. Concerns arose when a parent complained her son was negatively affected by our child's outburst, even though her child had cried extensively before our son had any issues. We were also told one of the girls in the class reported the meltdowns to her principal father. During one episode, the teacher scooped our son up facing her; he flailed and knocked her glasses off. I don't think what he did was right, but at age three, kids sometimes lash out in fear or frustration. After just four days in class, the school questioned whether Meher was right for him. They cited the legacy parent's complaint, the report to her father, and the incident with the glasses. This happened just before Founders Day; a big celebration we didn't know about and weren't part of. When I picked up his things, I saw the pomp and realized the decision had more to do with "show" and pleasing established families than supporting all students. In the end, I learned two things: 1. In the school, legacy families hold sway, and compassion is in short supply. 2. The administration cares more about appearances for legacy parents than the well-being of every child. They promised to "follow up" and welcome him back, but we never heard from them again. If you're new to the area (we moved to Saranap in 2021) and lack connections, think twice before choosing Meher. Your child won't get the same grace as those with legacy ties, and the school won't invest in you as much as you'll invest in it.

Started our son at one year old, and have been at both the Moraga and Rheem Campuses for 15 months…read more We really enjoy the team and the care our son receives. The teachers are all amazing, super friendly, and our son enjoys talking all about them when he gets home - Ms. Nancy, Ms. Dani, Ms. Liz (x2), Ms. Gabby, Ms. Becky, Ms. Lulay, they are all amazing, sorry to those i missed! Antonio is always helpful and responsive. The school uses the brightwheel app which is great for communicating with both staff and admin and getting regular updates and photos during the school day. We can really see the daily learning when our son comes home, and it's such a pleasure to know he's getting socialized and receiving great care durning the day. They let kids be kids! During most holidays you can signup for holiday care to avoid taking more days off. The cost has always seemed very reasonable especially for Lamorinda. The only comment I would mention, is the school runs like a well oiled machine, thus when you are new it's overwhelming to learn how the system works for drop off, pickup, and bringing food and clothes, etc. This was stressful when leaving your first little one for the first time, but this subsides after the first week or two after you learn the system. Advice, don't hesitate to ask the staff either in person or via brightwheel, they will always help. Packing lunches the first few months was stressful! Would recommend Lamorinda Montessori to any family.

Our family has a had a great experience at Lamorinda Montessori (Rheem Campus)! We started there…read morein June 2023 and at the time our daughter was 2.5 and son was 10 months. They have checked the boxes for us in terms of providing a reliable, loving, and kind care solution for our kids. The teachers seem very attentive to the kids and we are always met with smiles at pick up and drop off. The school continues to try and implement new programming to engage both kids and parents, like spirit week and off-site excursions but there is probably even more opportunity to do more of that. The school also offers "parents night out" care giving about once a month which provides for an easy solution to leave the kids for a few afternoon hours on a Saturday. Communication could be better just in terms of updates / photos throughout the day, but our kids are happy every day when they come home so honestly that's all we could ask for. The administrative and teaching team makes a real effort and genuinely cares for the families and children. Thank you to Antonio and the team!

Can't say enough good things about Marnie and Alamo Montessori School…read more My 20 month only son previously enrolled in another local daycare but he was unfortunately removed after 4-5 part time days because he was being "disruptive" and "wanted to be around the caretakers only." This is more than reasonable for a toddler experiencing his first daycare and time away from us in a foreign environment. Before we even enrolled, Marnie and Alamo Montessori School went out of their way to help our son dip his toes in with multiple 15 minute morning sessions to help him feel comfortable with being away and with his new environment. We eventually enrolled our son and while he hesitant initially, Marnie had a great plan in place to keep my son entertained and distracted. After only a couple of weeks, he now loves going and can't wait to get out of the car. Highly recommend Alamo Montessori School! Note: It's a bit hard to initially get ahold of Marnie as she's actively involved in the day care but we got a hold of her through her direct email.

I cannot speak highly enough of Alamo Montessori and all that Marnie and her team have done for our…read morelittle boy. We enrolled our son at 18 months, the youngest age that AM accepts (which is lower relative to many Montessori programs in the area!) While I knew that it would be a big transition for him, I was comforted when Marnie asked us to come see the program in action and let him join in for two short visits prior to our first day. At the time, he was shy, attached, and was behind in his speech. Since then, he has grown into such a confident, personable, and intuitive little boy. I attribute so much of that to AM's approach to learning. They paint, do science experiments, read books, sing songs, and play outside every day. They let the child lead with their interests, but also expose them to experiences that I don't have the patience for (or the willingness to clean up!). He is constantly coming home with new skills, songs and words in his vocabulary. He gets so much focused attention and I can tell that he is incredibly well loved and cared for. We communicate and receive photos through an app, and there are twice yearly "parent teacher conferences" where we get an update on how he is doing. He has thrived under their care. I truly believe that placing him in Alamo Montessori has been one of the best things we have done for him. I am so grateful.

This preschool is truly a magical place! It's a warm, peaceful, and loving environment where…read morechildren are not only cared for, but deeply seen, heard, and nurtured. The educators are incredibly kind-hearted and compassionate. They lead by example, and kindness is genuinely the cornerstone of everything they do. The director, Debra, is a force of nature in the best way. You can tell she has dedicated her life to early childhood education. She's shaping the next generation to be good humans -- empathetic, curious, confident, and capable. Her leadership sets the tone for the entire school. She is leaving the Moraga campus to head up the new Springhill campus and we are in turn getting Kavisha (from the Oakland campus). It's bittersweet saying goodbye, but we're excited to have Kavisha who already seems incredible, and we feel lucky for the new families who get to be part of GLMS. The Montessori-based curriculum here is the real deal, with the added gift of Spanish immersion. My children sing songs in Spanish (and correct my pronunciation at home of course :)). They learn real-world life skills, gain independence, and engage with thoughtful, rotating themes (some months it's the continents, the next it's the parts of an apple or the lifecycle of a butterfly). The curiosity this school inspires is beautiful. The school is also incredibly clean. Cleanliness is a huge priority for us. My kids both have sensitive skin and you can tell how well cared the environment is -- carpets are changed out regularly (when they sometimes still look new), toys are refreshed, sand is rotated out, and everything always feels fresh and well cared for. There are also many enrichment courses offered throughout the year: yoga, music, dance/movement, soccer -- all brought in through thoughtful partnerships with local programs. The energy of the school is calm, joyful, and intentional. It's the kind of place that where you feel instantly at ease when you walk through the doors as there is usually a gentle hum of children playing, laughing, or working. We are so incredibly grateful to be part of this community. There is truly no better school in the area!

10/10 love GLMS Moraga! My son attended for two years and my daughter started in June. Love the…read morecommunity created by GLMS. The director Debra and all the teachers are wonderful.