My daughter attended Briarwoood preschool for close to 9 months and loved it. The teachers are…read moreextremely caring, and the administration has been very welcoming to us. My daughter was able to participate in a yoga class and music class on a regular basis. Students are also able to participate in My Gym program for a smaller fee. My daughter's teacher, Miss Ingrid, was amazing as well! Kids usually engage in different crafts and projects, which they are able to take home with them at the end of the week. They get to see and learn about different animals (another program that the preschool participates in). I very highly recommend this preschool. Not related, but I really think that it would make the look and feel of the school the little better, is that they need to update their furniture and paint some of the areas inside the school. It's looks a bit it worn out and needs some care. However, don't let the look of the school to dissuade you from sending your child there. Amazing program and caring teachers!

Briarwood is a fantastic preschool and a really well kept secret here in the valley. Our oldest…read moredaughter just transitioned to TK at Carpenter and she was extremely well prepared because of Briarwood. We just started our twins there a couple weeks ago and they've been loving it as well. They had a typical amount of separation anxiety, but everyone there has made them feel welcome, safe, and loved. The teachers are caring and thoughtful and they create a very comfortable environment for little ones. The programming is enriching with a nice balance of structured and unstructured time. It also draws a great community and we've made some wonderful friends through the school as well. The school has a long track record of success, we even know kids who are in college that went to Briarwood and their parents still rave about it. We are so grateful for Briarwood and we're excited to have our kids there for a couple more years!

So happy we found Oakdale! I love how skilled the teachers are in nurturing self-confidence and…read moresocial skills. I love the focus learning through play, and learning to play! The director of the school is a resource like no other. Forever grateful!

Over 7 years ago, when I was a first time mom and didn't know where to send my 3-year-old to…read morepreschool, I started to do my research and ask around to find the best preschool in town. I took this mission so seriously because it is imperative for me to find an excellent preschool for my child as a preschool plays such a vital role in early childhood development. I toured so many top preschools from my list and made my comparison-spread sheet, but I couldn't find one that made me feel comfortable enough to leave my child there until I visited Oakdale. I immediately fell in love with this charming school. Nancy and Jeannine were so welcoming and down to earth. They let my 3-year-old boy freely playing with other kids in the yard, which is also part of their classroom, where kids learn through playing. I was encouraged to observe how the teachers interact with the kids. I was very impressed by how the teachers talked to the kids. The teachers acknowledged kids' feelings, helped them to set good boundaries, and facilitated kids to solve problems on their own. I saw how the teachers helped the kids build confidence in themselves. Oakdale emphasizes social emotional skills and helps kids to identify and express their own emotions and learn how to effectively communicate with their friends with words. Oakdale is a play based school, but also provides structured learning with monthly curriculum. My 3-year-old had such a great time playing at Oakdale; he didn't want to go home. I knew this was the right place! It was very nerve-racking not only for the child to have separate from their parents being away from home, but also for first time parents to have to separate from their child and leave him at preschool. However, Nancy and Jeannine totally understood the separation anxiety both parent and child could have. They were so incredibly supportive to help us for the transition. We, parents, were always welcome to stop by school or even stay to observe our kids at school at any time. Another important value about Oakdale, they provided great parenting support. They invited various childhood development specialists or psychologists as their guest speaker from time to time; all Oakdale parents were welcome to join the meeting at NO charge. Jeannine is a superstar! Being the director of Oakdale School, herself is a well-knowledge childhood development guru. She is my go-to person for any parenting questions. Jeannine is always a great listener, patient, empathic, and always so generous with her time to give me very helpful parenting advice, even after my son graduated from Oakdale and to attend elementary school. She has helped me to navigate the parenthood and made me to be a better and more confident parent. Moving forward, when I had my 2nd child almost 5 years ago, my husband and I had no doubt in our minds where to send our 2nd child for his most significant, meaningful, and influential years of his childhood, Oakdale. My little boy is currently at Oakdale and his experience with Oakdale is as great as his big brother. Oakdale has been consistently providing a supportive, loving, positive, and nurturing environment and safe haven for our children to grow, learn, and thrive. They helped to foster our children's confidence. We have watched our 2 boys blossom at Oakdale. Under Jeannine's leadership, Oakdale has a strong team of teachers who are all hard workers and also genuinely loving, giving, and caring towards the kids. And, kudos to Nancy who does an outstanding job keeping Oakdale running smoothly. Even with the hurdles of Covid-19, Nancy, Jeannine, and the entire Oakdale staff do their absolute best to keep our kids safe. Oakdale School is not just a preschool, it's a place to develop strong bonds and socialization skills for both our kids and parents. It's a support system for when you have no idea if your kid is the only one that does this or that. It's a safe place that puts all of your kids' well being as number one priority. Oakdale has never been a money-driven or business oriented school. They don't do fund raising like a lot of schools do. Oakdale treats everyone equally regardless of his/her ethnicities, cultural backgrounds and/or financial status. And, Oakdale respects everyone's privacy. They don't gossip and belittle. Oakdale has become our family's extended family. The loving care, support, and understanding that Nancy and Jeannine have shown us all these years, is beyond amazing. We truly feel so lucky, grateful, and proud to be part of the Oakdale family. When you walk into Oakdale, you will see kids running around carefree in their charming yards, painting on the easel, doing art projects with recycled bottles and papers, experimenting in science projects, playing in the sandboxes; you will hear much laughter and see every cute smiley faces. You know this is the happiest place on earth for the kids. What a gem! It makes me want to stay at Oakdale, too!

This is the most magical school and the teachers are absolutely wonderful. We have had the best…read moreexperience!

I cannot say enough good things about the magical Neighborhood School. The first time I visited the…read moreschool, I was so taken with the care and thoughtfulness that goes into everything. Our son has thrived at the school and we have built relationships with the teachers and other parents that will last a lifetime.

Literally the best Montessori school in Los Angeles . My daughter has gone here since she was 3 and…read moreshe has grown so much intellectually from valley village Montessori school. She comes home and teaches us things almost daily. My daughter looks forward to going to school everyday and wishes they had school on the weekends! Haha. The thing I value most about this Montessori school is that it's more than just a school it's a community helping each other to grow and be the best versions of themselves they could be. I got diagnosed with cancer shortly after my daughter was born and I was going through chemo the last couple years and they helped me so much. They went above and beyond and treated me and my daughter like family. If you're looking for more than a great Montessori school valley village is the place. It will be heartbreaking next year when my daughter goes to kinder. Thanks for everything!

Our son attended for more than 2 years and we couldn't be happier with our experience here. From…read moreday one, all teachers/caregivers made him feel safe, loved, and excited to learn. They are patient, attentive, and you can see how much they care about every single child attending. It's not just a job for them -- it shows in everything they do. The house is clean, secure, and thoughtfully set up with activities that keep the kids curious and engaged. My child has grown so much since starting here -- not just socially and emotionally but in his love of learning too. He is very well prepared for school. Every day he comes home having explored something new. He likes to participate in art projects. Music, theatrical shows, dance class, characters for holidays! My child loves going. No hesitation, no tears at drop-off. As a parent, that tells you everything you need to know. A special thank you to Sophia, Mara, Vika, and Monika for your warmth, care, patience, and love. You truly made this place feel like a second home for our child, and we are so grateful for everything you do every single day. We highly recommend this childcare. We are grateful to have found them!

After weighing many options, we started our daughter at Friendly…read moreFamily of Valley Village 3 years ago when she was 9 months old. She loves all the teachers there. Mara, Monica and of course Sofia ('our Sofa') are so professional, attentive, caring, and kind. The new place was recently built and is extremely well-cared for. It is exceptionally clean. Their home cooked meals are always fresh. From the very beginning they were organized and responsive. My girl went through a stage of extremely picky eating but with the staff there she never had a problem eating their nutritious and delicious meals and now she is a great eater. They have many interesting activities for children. We love all amazing art projects she brings home. The preschool (academic) part is above and beyond our expectations. Under their guidance she flourished not only academically but socially and emotionally too. She has become a self- confident little girl. She doesn't have problems singing, dancing, reciting poems in front of all parents during their holiday shows and concerts for parents We highly recommend Friendly Family. There are plenty of day cares in the area but believe us there is no one like them. We couldn't be happier - literally like family. Thank you for taking care of our girl!

Do not hesitate to schedule a walk through at Great Beginnings, you won't regret it. Let's get into…read morethe details. Campus: Neat and tidy at the start of each day. They have a cleaning crew arrive at closing daily to assure nothing is out of place (that's how you can gauge your lateness lol). It is the same crew each time, which I love for child safety. New toys and equipment are brought in often and old ones are retired to keep the place looking and smelling fresh. Play: There are two main playgrounds that seem to cater to different ages, but every class rotates between both. Each one provides enough shade and sitting area for the kids to free play and interact with their teachers. One of my favorite features is the collection of tricycles. When your child first starts, they have no idea how to pedal and within six months they are chasing the big kids on the track. The garden: Our favorite gathering place. Over the past year the school director has expanded it tremendously and now there is fresh fruit and veggies that the children are brought out to tend to and occasionally they are able to snack on them. There are a few times a year that parents are encouraged to supplement the garden with new seeds and fresh dirt. It really feels like a community garden because everyone contributes. Staff: The school director truly does an excellent job screening her staff. Each one is genuinely happy to greet your child as they arrive and while personalities differ, they each worked with integrity and respect towards the children. Ms Nina, Ms Maria, Ms Alma, and Ms Jeanne. I never once felt at odds with the staff or teachers due to such excellent communication. If my child so much as received a scratch, there was a note in her lunchbox specifying the event. Designated helpers for special-needs children were able to focus on their child specifically, while integrating the entire setting to the best of their ability. I did not notice any purposeful separation of the children unless it was necessary. Tools: Providing the teachers with the necessary tools for success was a shared value for all who participated. Thanks to the director Ms Tina, each classroom is fit with their own age-appropriate toys, dress up areas and reading nooks. Monthly calendars determined the weekly theme and any extra materials are happily donated by the parents. Not required but fun. They focus on education according to the schedule which is great because as communication skills are gained, you can ask your child specifically about the artworks they did that day because you already know what it was. It also allows you to dress your child accordingly, say if they were having a paint day. Potty training: If you start in the class for two-year-olds, chances are yours is not fully potty trained yet. I never once encountered a diaper rash or had any reason to be concerned about the system in place. You provide the materials and they are generally not shared unless it's an emergency. The benefit of having a dedicated soldier taking your child to the toilet every two hours really sped up the process and it helps for you to continue the schedule when you get home. Mine was trained within the first three months . Later, there are rules and boundaries around bathroom use, encouraging the kids to be independent and respect each other's privacy. Always monitored. Food: You have the option to provide lunch from home or receive the hot lunch (made fresh in house) for a small fee. Meal schedules are on rotation and pizza fridays are common. Don't forget to pack a separate morning and an afternoon snack if you provide on your own. At one point, I was putting everything in the same box and my little one was eating almost all her food in the beginning of the day. A simple piece of fruit or a couple crackers will do. The school encourages children to drink water only, which they refill with the Britta throughout the day to keep them hydrated. Cutting my baby off of milk was one of the most difficult parts, but I'm so glad now that I can control the amount of sugar by limiting it to our home. Cons: Parking! There are certain times of the day when three spots just won't do. After I learned which times were heavily trafficked, we arrange drop off to avoid the frustration. Parking in the red is always easier if you have a passenger to stay behind otherwise you risk getting a ticket especially on Wednesdays and Thursdays when the trash gets picked up. Final thoughts: A+++ school for preschool aged children. I have had three over the course of 20 years and this was by far the most loving environment. We have experienced. Goodbye GB family! If for some crazy reason, I have another baby, I will be back!

Great Beginnings Preschool was an incredible influence on my son's early childhood education and we…read moreare more than happy to continue telling people how amazing this school is and how we highly recommend it to all families. I am writing this review as someone who has a doctorate in early childhood music education from USC Thornton School and have had a lot of experience in early childhood education as a music educator. They really do things right here and to get the best out of the school's experience, I recommend parents to be proactive with the teachers and director, knowing what they need and how to best support them so they can best support our children. The teachers are always doing their best and they do it from a place of tenderness and care. We were very proactive in this community and it made a huge difference in our son's experience here. This place is special in that it's not a "daycare," it is a place for fostering and nurturing learning not just your basic ABC's and 123's, but most importantly social and emotional care. My son has learned to follow the school and classroom rules, to be kind to others, to learn how to be a good friend, and to share kindly. When my son was in the Two's class, the teacher worked with us with helping him to be fully potty trained (following through with washing hands properly) and we rarely, very rarely had accidents. We all know that potty accidents can happen and in our entire time of 2 years (we started August 2024) at this school, we can count on less than one hand the number of accidents our son had at the school. That's a huge success. When my son was in the Three's class, he learned to write his name and the ABCs and numbers, count to 20, create so many amazing arts and crafts that we have on display around our house, care for a garden, and so many songs and dance moves with the music and dance teachers. Things that we will miss about this school: the student performances as those were truly one of the greatest highlights of our experience there. The organized school monthly calendars that give you the weekly and daily breakdown of what the kids are learning and working on, school activities, the lunch menu, and any and all important information. We will miss the teachers for their tender care, love, and attention that goes beyond the ABC's and 123's. They bring so much creative fun into our children's learning experiences and they show you in the Remind app. We will miss Ms. Martina's amazing cooking and the wonderful talks we had together. Ms. Martina is filled with a lot of wisdom and experience and she can offer a lot of helpful insights if you are open to it. They really pay attention to the children individually and what is best for each child to thrive in the best way possible. We will miss you all so much, really and truly. Great Beginnings Preschool is truly a good and safe place not just for the children but for the parents too, knowing that our children are in the most nurturing and caring hands in early childhood education. As someone who had a not so great experience at a previous daycare school, this school helped put our son on the right path for success academically, emotionally, and socially. Thank you to all the teachers and Ms. Martina and Ms. Lana, for all you do for our children.

I don't have any children that go to this ABC Little School, but have 2 friends that do. In the…read morepast.. like few years back I have done a month of volunteer work and was very satisfied with the teachers, their curriculum, and the director of the school! They know how to treat each child with love, care and support. They have many different activities that goes on in this cute, yet full of knowledge by the staff. They work very carefully, hard and meticulously with your child. They don't discriminate against any child of their national/ethenic origin, race/color. It is a very SAFE environment for the child and their parents/guardians. Recently, I attended to one of my friend's child's Christmas party and was blown away by how well the party was organized/orchestrated by their staff members. Kids love their teachers and don't want to go home:-) By seeing, volunteering, observing everything and hearing word of mouth, don't hesitate to sign your child up at this cute, colorful, pretty ABC School. I don't know the parking situation, but they do have clean bathrooms for boys and girls!:-)

ABC has been our second home for the last 4 years. I've had two children who have gone through…read moretheir program and am heartbroken to leave as my youngest starts TK. The director, Miss Jackie, is so supportive, understanding, etc. My second son has some behavioral issues and the school worked hand in hand with us to help him. He wasn't always easy and he required a lot of extra attention and patience and he always received that at ABC. The teachers and staff are phenomenal. I highly recommend this school to anyone who is curious about pre-school. ABC was more than a pre-school, it was a home and will always be a place that our family will miss and visit often.

Our daughter is in her second year at Beth Hillel's Early Childhood Center and we've had a…read morewonderful experience. The teachers are incredibly warm, caring, and really take the time to get to know each child as an individual. They truly meet kids where they are and have been so supportive with big milestones like potty training and transitioning away from naps. The staff is also very open and communicative with parents--they're always available if you want to talk about how your child is doing. One of our favorite parts is the community. There are lots of fun events throughout the year like holiday celebrations, Shabbats, and restaurant fundraisers that bring families together. We're so grateful to be part of this school and highly recommend it to other families looking for a nurturing preschool community.

A fantastic school that sets a strong foundation for future learning. In addition to learning the…read morebasics, I've been equally impressed by the focus on kindness, confidence building and Jewish culture. The teachers are excellent and meet the kids where they are. Love the community and will be sad when my youngest graduates. Highly recommend the program and would choose TBH ECE again if we had to do it all over.