We feel so lucky to have our daughter at Learn and Play Pleasant Hill. The teachers have made such a positive impact on her, and we are especially grateful for Miss Maria and Miss Gita. They take incredible care of her and make her feel safe, loved, and understood. Drop off can be the toughest part of preschool, and Miss Maria has been amazing in those moments. She gives our daughter the love, patience, and affection she needs to settle in, which means so much as a parent. When our daughter was younger, Miss Marisol and Miss Daniella were also wonderful with her. Across every classroom we have been part of, the teachers have been kind, attentive, and truly caring. The school itself may not be the newest or fanciest, but the heart of a preschool is the teachers. At Learn and Play, the teachers lead with love and take great care of their classes. We are very thankful for this school and the people who make it special. read more

We have had a wonderful time at learn and play! Our son is thriving and learning something new every day. I am so grateful to the teachers and staff for creating such a creative and fun environment for our kiddo. read more

My son has attended Learn and Play for the past two years. In that time, I have been very impressed with how much the staff (office and classroom) cares for the children. The teachers have a positive attitude and clearly love what they do! There is also a real community within the school. Teachers introduce parents whose children play together often, and the school offers a number of fun parent events throughout the year. It's so fun when my son comes home singing a new song, talking about letters, and even using positive self talk that he's learned in school. Unfortunately we moved and this location no longer works for our family. We will miss Learn and Play! read more

This school has been home for our two girls for the past 8 years. The teachers and staff here are amazing and have become like family to us. Our youngest will be graduating from their TK program next year and headed to Kindergarten. The school, plus her current teachers, Ms Danielle and Ms Olivia, have done a fantastic job at getting her ready. We highly recommend! read more

I've long been impressed with the wonderful staff and teachers and the outstanding care my children have received at Learn and Play in Pleasant Hill. The environment is incredibly warm and welcoming. My kids are always greeted by name and with a smile, and I know they feel safe, secure and well cared for there. Their days are filled with fun and engaging activities - circle time, art, outdoor play and creative/exploratory opportunities (sensory bins, pretend play, play doh, music time, etc.). My daughter started in the toddler house, spent time in two different preschool classrooms and is now in the after school program, all of which have been outstanding. She's in TK at public school now, and the transition to the classroom was seamless thanks to her great preparation in Maria's preschool class at Learn and Play. My son started at Learn and Play a few weeks ago in the program for two year olds, and despite being new, is already finding his groove and gives us a big smile when we ask about his teachers, Ana and Brittany. I can't say enough good about the staff and teachers - we've also had fantastic experiences with Marisol, Yasmin and Gabby, and Chris, Maria and Gaby in the office are always helpful, kind and compassionate. I'm very grateful for this school, and highly recommend it. read more

Learn and Play has been an amazing experience for our family. From the playgrounds to school parades to families, we highly recommend Learn and Play. Our son had a difficult transition to learn and play when he joined and the staff was very caring and also made a plan to help him adjust. Now he talks about his friends and teachers all the time and loves going to school. Learn and play feels like a true neighborhood school as well and the proximity to PHE is great! Thank you learn and play team! read more

Learn and Play Pleasant Hill has been like a second home to us and our daughter for the last 2+ years. This wholehearted five-star review and recommendation is long overdue. Learn and Play PH has always had rock-solid, steady leadership, led by their two directors, Ms. Chris and Ms. Maria. Under their roof, every day, I know our daughter is safe, cared for, and learning. We feel fortunate to be a member of the Learn and Play family. read more

We have our second child at Learn & Play currently and just love the staff. We know our kids are loved deeply at L & P and they prepared our son extremely well for TK (and now Kinder). There are many who are our favorite but deeply appreciate Ms. Helen. She will be my son's favorite teacher for many, many years. Chris, the director, is approachable, honest and communicative if/when things arise. For the quality, the hours and the care, the price is fair. Check it out! read more

We have been with the Play and Learn (now called Learn and Play Montessori) for over a year now and have nothing but positive things to say! When we recently went to Mrs. Chris's office to ask about adding a handrail at the front for safety of grandparents that help with pick up, she not only empathized that she had family members that made her sensitive to that as well, she sprung into action! Within days she had got communication rolling and was able to get the project going! Within weeks of a pretty big request, she made it happen! This school was loved by so many of our friends, when we were lucky enough to get a spot with our youngest, we knew how fortunate we were! These teachers care for your children as if they are their own, but also push them to achieve what they are capable of! Our little one runs to school everyday, hugs her teachers hello and goodbye, she is thriving developmentally, we love this school so so much! Thanks again Mrs. Chris and all of the wonderful staff at LAPMS! read more

Learn and Play® Montessori School & Child Care - Newly added hand rails!!! Grandparents, kids and everyone in between feeling safer!!! - Preschools Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

We have been taking our daughter Emily here for over 3 years and I could not speak more highly of the school and most importantly the people who work there! We started her in the middle of Covid and it was very difficult for my daughter to start somewhere new, with all new people, wearing masks, and having many restrictions but even with all that going on they still made her feel loved and comfortable. The team at play and learn have become part of our family and we will always cherish the memories and the bond that Emily has formed with each one of her teachers throughout her time there! read more

My daughter started in the toddler house at Play and Learn in February 2020, and is currently in the pre-K class. I have to praise Play and Learn for navigating the pandemic, while keeping the kiddos safe. My daughter has grown leaps and bounds academically and socially in the past three years, thanks to the wonderful teachers and staff. Huge shout out to Ms. Marisol, Ms. Danielle, Ms. Mercedes, Ms. Maria, Ms. Lisa, Ms. Helen, Ms. Beatrice, Ms. Carla, and Ms. Chris!!! My daughter is starting kindergarten soon and we are so sad to leave Play and Learn. Some of my daughter's favorite memories include the art projects, science projects, class parties, birthday hats, Mother's Day tea, Halloween parade, Fletcher's reading program, and Ms. Lisa's sandwiches. read more

Learn and Play has been the most wonderful experience for our little guy. It's not easy leaving your kiddo in the hands of someone else all day. But my fears were squashed immediately. Not only does he come home in a happy mood every day, having always learned something new, but he looks forward to going, as well. Learn and Play staff go above and beyond to make sure your kiddos are loved and cared for every single day. Their communication skills are phenomenal, and they exude kindness and understanding. I have always felt so heard and respected by every wonderful staff member. I will look back at our days at Learn and Play with the fondest of memories. Such a special time for our little guy. Thank you ALL ! -Kimberly Keith read more

From the moment we started looking into this school for our son, the staff have been incredible. They were warm, professional and very communicative throughout the process of interest and enrollment. One of the Program Administrators, Gabi, is one of a kind and we couldn't be happier to have our son start the program. read more

My son has been going to Learn and Play in Pleasant Hill for years. They've been great at caring for the kids and keeping a safe environment. They provide snacks and lunches for full day kids. My son loves his teachers and I do too! The prices are high but, but their quality is why. read more

My son started Learn and Play a year ago and he absolutely loves it! Within that year he's learned so much from his teachers and peers. He started when he was 2 yo and is currently 3 yo. We chose this school because of how serious they take everything. They sanitize the school every evening after the children leave, all teachers are CPR certified and they are all so kind. I appreciate them all perfect and safe place for your child read more

Our two kids have been at Learn and Play (formally Play and Learn) for 1.5 years. Our oldest is getting ready to move on to Kindergarten and I felt it was a good time to share our experience for others. There are two important components to this review: 1. Teachers/Staff 2. New Administration As for the first, I truly can't say enough wonderful things about the teachers here. They are warm, loving, and care so much about the kids and their families. We've had an incredible experience with so many of them - starting with Ms. Amani & Ms Brittany in the toddler house, then Anna, Danielle, Marisol, Nora in the 3's classes, and Maria, Mercedes, Helen, Victoria, Yasmin, Beatrice in the 4's classrooms. I would give these teachers 10 stars if I could. Many of them have been here for decades and have directly had a hand in creating a strong reputation in the WC/PH neighborhoods of what a family-first & community oriented school this is known for. Side note: we have neighbors whose kids attend Play and Learn almost 20 years ago who went out of their way to tell us how much they loved the school! And other friends whose kids went here 5+ years ago and felt the same way. The teachers are what have made this school so, so special through the years. We were ecstatic when we got a spot for our two boys in October 2022. Unfortunately, it appears that we got the last of the "good ol days" as the school was purchased by Learn and Play Montessori shortly after we started and we've noticed significant changes that make me hesitant to recommend it to others going forward. This brings me to the second topic: the new administration. First, I want to start by saying I am a business person by nature, I completely understand the need to drive profits while minimizing cost. That said, there have been several "updates" through the last year+ that have caught parents off guard and/or weren't communicated in a timely manner. Just a few to highlight: 1. They increased classes and total attendance significantly and have added more and more kids each month. 2. Tuition increased significantly for existing families once the new school year started and now includes extra fees such as diapering, annual registration, and extra charges DAILY for ad-hoc drop off before 8am (their hours are 7-6pm). 3. We were informed just last week (end of April) that starting in August they would no longer be offering the before/after school program that they always have, in which they coordinate drop off/pick up from PHE. This has been a HUGE selling point for the school previously. Note that this news came only 3 months before the school year starts and all of the existing childcare options are already full so parents are scrambling. We were told that it's due to the challenges of coordinating classroom space for kindergarten+. We believe this to be due to the "updated" approach of adding as many kids (and as many $$) as possible that led to being in this position. And, with all due respect, parents are not naive to the fact that they want to take the spots back from Kinder+ to be able to add more kids who need full-time care and can charge more for it. Fundamentally, I understand. But, had this decision needed to be made under the former administration I would've expected that they would have offered a transition period, helped parents identify new potential options, and/or would have phased it in in the coming school year(s). Not taken a cold turkey approach. When I (and several other parents) went in to speak with the new school administration we were listened to, but ultimately they offered nothing other than to nod their head and say they understood. It's clear that the decisions are now being made to maximize the money coming into the hands of the owners. In time, this will erode the reputation that has taken these teachers and staff decades to build. And in time, they will see their headcount (and dollars) decline. I just wish it wasn't at the expense of the families who attend and the teachers who work so hard day in and day out. Families will cycle in and out as their kids grow and go onto elementary school. I feel the most empathy towards the teachers who work hard to make this place and our kids' experiences special. Because with each passing decision it is slowly dismantling the community staple that it once was known to be. I'm not sharing this to speak ill of anyone. I only share this in hopes of helping inform other families in the future so they can make the choice that's best for their families. read more

We absolutely love Learn and Play and can not say enough nice things! Our 4 1/2 year old has been attending this school for 2 years and now our 2 year old is in the toddler class. We have loved all the teachers and our children love going to school! The teachers welcomed us into their school family and treat our children with so much love and support. My oldest daughter is now with Miss Helen and is learning so much with the fletchers reading program. She also loves the amazing athletes class that is part of her weekly routeen...she gets to play all the sports and learn about nutrition and keeping a healthy lifestyle. My two year old is currently in the toddler house and I feel so safe with her there. Miss Gabby, Miss armani, Miss brittney and miss Marisol love her like family. All the teachers have been super communicative with me and give me their email and phone number in case I have any questions or concerns. They go above and beyond. The school itself is very spacious and feels very organized with the different classrooms and play areas. They also provide the snacks and healthy meals. They have gotten my child to eat and like veggies!! We are so happy with Learn and Play and completely trust them with the care of our children! read more

This was the best school experience (we had experience with 5 different schools) we have had in the 7 years we had pre-school aged children. The staff is unparalleled - genuine, extremely loving, patient, kind, the list goes on and on. I trusted this school implicitly to take care of my son! read more

My son went through this program from 3yrs old until he aged out at 9yrs old. He loved it! The school has so many different activities that involve the families like parades and other special events. I am so grateful to have found a safe space for my children.! Many of the teachers have been there for a long time and you get an amazing sense of community! The staff are hands on and nurturing . My daughter started going to Learn and Play in January of 2022. Handing her over to the teachers, Marisol, Brittany and Amani, for the first time was hard. Grateful they helped me through that transition. She started in the toddler house and is now in the preschool side. I love that my daughter ENJOYS going to school. Special shout out to the Directors, Chris and Maria who have contributed to our journey. I also want to mention that the upgrades around the school have really opened up the spaces and the classrooms look beautiful. Can't wait to send my third baby there in 2025! read more

We were first introduced to Play and Learn about 4 years ago from friends who transitioned their two year olds to a preschool environment. We eventually followed suit based on high recommendations for our 4 year old. Last year was our first year at Play and Learn in Ms. Carla's Penquin class. We couldn't have asked for a better teacher! Ms. Carla has been a teacher at the school for 20+ years. Her classroom is separate from the rest of the preschool in its own building. It's great! She has her program down to a science. She is so gentle and patient with the children. And the kids love her! There is something about her easy and calming nature that draw people toward her. Ms Carla is funny and a pro with their Fletcher's program to prepare the preschoolers for kindergarten. We sincerely loved our preschool experience at Play and Learn and especially with Ms. Carla's penguin class :-) This year we returned again And are considered "graders" now that our daughter has moved onto kindergarten. The school walks the kids back and forth to PHE/Play and Learn before and after school. We still get to see and visit with all the fabulous Play and Learn teachers (Ms. Danielle, Ms Kelly, Ms. Chris, etc.). The aftercare is also fabulous and highly recommended if you are on the fence with Diane Adear or other arrangements. Again, the kids love the program. Mr. Chris and Ms. Nora do a knockout job. We have had a very positive experience (and still are) with Play and Learn and I hope you do too:-) read more

Love this school. My daughter going there for 2 years. So friendly staff members and directors. Everyone just so helpful and nice to parents kids doesn't matter whose class are they. Always thankful for them. read more

My son has gone here since he was 20 months old. We love this place! The staff are wonderful, almost like family. I like how the kids switch to different classes and play grounds throughout their time here, that way nothing gets stagnant. It's good for them and prepares them for elementary school. They have multiple out door play areas as well. Kids are fed a few snack and hot lunch. My son whom I thought was a picky eater eats all the stuff they feed him with no problems- who knew a kid would eat kidney beans for a snack?! The curriculum is on par and makes me feel at ease for when my son leaves to go to kindergarten. We look forward to taking our other children here when they are ready. read more

This school is amazing! I have two kids in it and have experienced all the levels they provide. My kids love the place. For many months, one of them cried every time I came to pick her up because she did not want to leave. The teachers and staff are knowledgeable, and have been very loving and caring towards me and my children. They go above and beyond to help. They provide many different programs with a pay scale to match which is very helpful to a part time working mom. Many times they have taken my kids with very little notice, getting me out of some jams! They do many art projects, including making Halloween costumes and Spring Bonnets which they proudly display in a tear-producing parade. Nutritious and delicious snacks and hot lunches are provided, which are made in house. We are so very lucky to be members of this school. read more

After leaving Back to School Night, my husband and I looked at each other and said we are so happy that we have Play and Learn School. Our youngest just started in the 3yo class and we are so excited that he gets to have the same wonderful teachers that our daughter had. The teachers are knowledgeable, wonderful and caring. Both of our kids look forward to going each day. The social skills and the academics have prepared my daughter to have a successful and enjoyable time during her school career. It is a wonderful feeling knowing how loved and cared for your children are even when you are away from them. read more

My son has been going to school at Play and Learn since he was 2 years old. As a parent, you only want the best for your kids. So I fully researched all the daycares in the area. Play and Learn was one of the only ones in the area that is certified by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC ), the gold standard for preschools. I have to say that they live up to the highest standards! The teachers here are thoughtful, caring, knowledgeable, and go out of their way to make Ethan feel right at home. And education is top notched. All of these qualities gives me piece of mind-which is the best value of all as a parent! So yes, I can honestly highly recommend Play and Learn and all their fantastic teachers!!!!! read more

The school is crowded and noisy. While the teacher to student ratio is ok, classrooms are divided by furnitures, not walls. It gets nosiy and distracting. You can hear teacher yelling at the kids in another room. Some of the teachners are caring but some teachers, especially the Director and her assistant are cold and indifferent. read more

Play and Learn is a great school. Located right next to Pleasant Hill Elementary, it's the perfect before and after school program for kids at PHE. I've had two kids at the school for a few years now. The staff is really sweet and they have a lot of fun and creative projects for the kids. I've been very happy with the school year program and their summer program too. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. read more

We moved both our children to Play & Learn about five months ago. Our children are happy and excited to go "to school." Our youngest had some toddler "issues" that disappeared shortly after coming to Play & Learn and I think it's directly correlated to the care and supervision of the teachers. Although the school has many students, the classes are intimate, the care-givers are kind and patient, and the curriculum for Kindergarten readiness is wonderful. read more

My kids love Play and Learn. I also love knowing they are in such a caring and nurturing environment. The teachers are all fantastic and they have the interest of my girls at heart. It starts with the Director Tanya, who is sweet as can be yet stays on top of operations for the school. While it is a larger facility caring for kids from Toddler ages to gradeschoolers, the teachers manage to create a sense of community for each class group. read more

My 3 year old son, who has never been in a daycare or preschool setting before, loves Play and Learn. After a couple of weeks of adjustment period, he now seems to consider the school as his home away from home. This is thanks to all the excellent teachers and staff who made him feel comfortable and loved from the very beginning. read more

Our daughter had been to two preschools before Play and Learn and another one after and never had any problems anywhere else. At this school we were regularly getting little notes about normal-for-two-year-old behavior. At one point, the director referred to in other reviews cheaply came to the conclusion that we should send her to a remedial school. My wife and I were shocked because our daughter had no issues at home and was generally sweet and intelligent everywhere else we went. As we thought, we put our girl into a different school and two years later she has thrived and we have had nothing but great feedback from her teachers and we have not had a single complaint about her behavior. If we had followed the advice of the school, we probably would have done permanent damage to her. I am not sure if the problem was just the environment or if our daughter was actually being discriminated against on race, in either case this school was a fiasco for us. read more

Love, Love, Love this school!! Both of my kids attend play and learn and have since they were 18 months old. They are now 6 and 8 and look VERY forward to returning to the summer program once school gets out in June. All of the teachers are caring and well qualified, and most of them have been there 10-20+ years. The school is clean and always well organized, decorated with childrens projects throughout. They do a fantastic job of maintaining the school, and 3 outside play areas including the landscape. During the holidays, they hold an their annual winter performace, where the children sing and have hot chocolate and cookies. I have always had great commuication with all the teachers and the director is very attentive to your needs. My kids have met many friends over the last 7 years at Play and Learn, friendships and memories that will last their lifetime. This is truley an amazing school, and I'm very blessed that my kids had the opportunity to be apart of. read more

This is a GREAT preschool! They (meaning the director and her assistant) have been wonderful in working with my daughter and our crazy schedule over the last several months. They helped my daughter (3 years old) transition to being away from her parents for a full day seem easy. My daughter never wants to leave this place. Play and Learn is very understanding in just how crazy the lives of parents, who work and are trying to go to school, can be. The outside play area is outstanding, and there is enough room for the kids to play inside as well. It is not cramped or overcrowded. Every morning when I take my daughter each teacher greets me as well as each parent I pass. It has a nice sense of community. And last but not least- their learning programs are very good and has my daughter interested in all sorts of things such as science and building on her number and alphabet skills. read more