If you're looking for a wonderful preschool I highly recommend San Anselmo Montessori School (SAMS)…read more- especially their PreK program! The moment I walked into the light-filled main classroom I knew this would be the right fit for our family. A tucked away but easy to get to campus with a picturesque view of the San Anselmo hills, this hidden gem is located in a very warm, safe, tranquil open space. My daughter has been enrolled at SAMS since June 2024, first attending their summer camp program and now as a PreK student. I cannot say enough good things about this school. The facilities, the students, parents, the curriculum and mostly, the patient, nurturing, incredible teachers. Once a week each student has their dedicated Garden Day group and they spend the first half of school outdoors learning about nature, tending to the various plants and trees in the back lush garden. They sample things they have lovingly helped grow, partake in creative projects, as well as other earth science learnings throughout the day. My daughter is in the oldest age group at SAMS and breaks out into the PreK group every afternoon. This small subset of students are taught in a converted greenhouse that is clean and organized yet has a homey, poetic feel to it. The students spend their days doing engaging activities, a mix of self directed work, lessons and artistic projects. This week they have been reviewing sight words, an introductory lesson in fractions, learning different parts of a fish and decorating gingerbread houses. A few noteworthy takeaways my daughter has shared with us is the idea that at school everyone is included (or no one is included - alone time) and exhibiting pride in personal responsibility and independence. My daughter has made strong connections and close friendships, she gets excited every morning to go to school - and has even asked to go in on a Saturday! This inclusive program I can confidently say will support your child to regulate emotions, help develop kind, considerate, thoughtful kids that will be beyond kindergarten ready when the time comes. This school has truly been such a gift to our family. We will be sending our youngest as soon as she is age eligible! https://samontessori.com

We have been at SAMS for four years now-our older child attended for three years and our younger…read morechild is now in his first year. We have been blown away by the program at SAMS. It's both a well-run organization (clear communication, policies, etc) and a loving community where children are seen for who they are and are given the love and support to thrive. The great parent community is just an added bonus! A few of the things that make SAMS special, in no particular order: - The physical space is inviting, clean, bright and organized. Children are invited to be the leaders in their space since everything is right-sized for them. Our kids feel so comfortable and empowered the second they walk in the door. - The outdoor space is incredible. Similar to the indoor environment, the outdoor space is perfect for kids, with child sized versions of real garden tools, a fantastic playground and a beautiful garden geared toward children's love of nature. - The communication from the school is excellent. We love the weekly newsletter, which often includes links to resources for us as parents. We grownups learn a lot from the team at SAMS, too! - The Montessori philosophy has been perfect for our kids. When we first started looking at preschools, we knew that we didn't want our kids to be in a space that felt too rigid/formal. SAMS honors the Montessori philosophy fully and always feels free and playful at the same time. - The pre-kindergarten program has been amazing for our older child and we are planning for our younger child to stay for this year, too. We have found this final year at SAMS to be a huge benefit for our kiddo in terms of confidence, grace and courtesy, social emotional growth, and academic growth. The third year of SAMS was extra magical for our child and set her up for major success as she entered elementary school. - THE TEAM is, of course, the very best part. The SAMS teachers are incredible-compassionate, patient, skillful, brilliant, and creative. They are inspirations and our children love them so much! Thank you, SAMS!

We are in the middle of our 3rd year at SAPS and we've had a wonderful experience. Our son is…read moreincredibly happy and has grown so much in his confidence and preparedness for Kindergarten. He'a had a breadth of learning experiences and projects over his time at SAPS. His curiosity has been constantly sparked by his teachers. They've been supportive and kind as he's grown up there. SAPS is a large preschool with many teachers. I've genuinely appreciated how many staff members know and care for my son. It's given my son a chance to get to know many children at different ages as well. We chose SAPS because of the relaxed atmosphere and great hours for working parents. They went above and beyond what I expected and I am continually grateful we chose to send our son there.

We probably should have gone elsewhere, but we were desperate…read more For reference, we came in to SAPS at the Pre-K (Mighty Oaks) program, so this review is based off of being a new student in their self-contained pre-K program. First off, we had decided to do a week of summer camp prior to starting the school year so my son could get used to the new environment. Our first day, we were not greeted at all or told where we should go. We were lost and the campus is quite large for being a preschool. They house several different ages and so we didn't know where to go. When I picked him up from camp, nobody said bye. We could have been strangers taking a kid and no one would have known. This should have been a red flag to immediately apply elsewhere. But really, there was no where else accepting at the time, so there we went. I never really felt that magical connection we had with his prior preschool (the Pre-K there had run out of spots). Really, I feel a lot of guilt for not doing more research. Some parents I've read had done a year of Kindergarten (which my son age wise qualified for (barely being 5), but emotionally, he was not ready) at a private school and then re-did kindergarten at the public school at age 6. This is a path I only found out about today. Such is life! My son is chugging along, however, I know it's not the magical place of his old preschool. We'll get through it for the next 8 months, and take it with a grain of salt. It'll build resilience. The other students are nice enough and his two teachers are nice enough, but I don't honestly feel like anyone there LOVES their job. At least they don't convey that. It's not as "bubbly" and warm as our other school. My other son will for sure stay where we are at the other preschool for pre-K. But if I had to do it again, we'd go elsewhere. I hope I can help other parents out there. This just wasn't a great fit. I think you need to spend a day and meet the teachers before you enroll. Meet ALL the teachers as they do cover for other classes sometimes. We have our favorites (science for sure). For the price, it's ok, but the nearby (and I mean it's on the same street) private Kindergarten was actually CHEAPER! So that's on me for not even looking or thinking to do a year there instead. All in all it's a learning lesson. It has taught me to do more diligent research on any program my children do. And sometimes you might be better off just waiting.

Cannot say enough good things about The Learning Tree…read more Our little guy has been there since September, and the only reason we're moving on is so he can overlap at another school with his older sister. If that weren't the case, we wouldn't be leaving. Sharon has built something truly special in Marin. It is exceptional value for the Bay Area. But the price is almost beside the point once you see what the program actually delivers. Our son is spirited, and finding an environment that could channel that energy productively was something we were looking for. Sharon handles it with ease. Watch her for five minutes with the kids and you immediately understand why: her personality is perfectly suited to it. She sets firm, loving guardrails and creates space for kids like ours to thrive. She's also put together a phenomenal supporting cast. Nehal is the backbone of the operation and was an absolute lifesaver through our son's potty training phase. Caridad rounds out the team beautifully, always present and keeping things running smoothly.

We had such a wonderful experience at The Learning Tree. My daughter attended for about a year and…read morea half and absolutely loved her time there. The staff was incredibly supportive, loving, and caring, and they created such a positive environment for her to grow and thrive. We loved it so much that my older daughter even chose to volunteer there over the summer! The Learning Tree truly feels like a welcoming and beautiful community, and we are so grateful to have been a part of it. I highly recommend it to any family looking for a nurturing and enriching place for their child.

Very unique school, amazing director and teacher, fantastic community, a chance to participate in…read moreour kid's growth and development, and to learn a lot as a parent.

I sent both of my kids here and loved it. True, it is a lot of work but totally worth it. The 1…read moreadult to 3 kid ratio means they get more attention and practice conversing with adults and kids in a proactive way, which lays the basic foundation for emotional health for the rest of their lives. You can almost spot the co-op kids wherever you go because they are so confident in many settings. I treasure all the friendships we have made along the way.

I can't even put into words what a magical and wonderful experience Tender Tracks has been for my…read morefamily. My daughter did the three program last year and is in the four year old program this year. They spend the entire day outdoors, exploring nature, connecting to the natural world, building social relationships and learning to take risks and trust in themselves. Wendolyn retrofitted an old bus to have safety harnesses, which allows them to explore many of the wonderful outside offerings Marin has. The mix of nurturing and rhythm from the amazing teachers and the experience adventuring outside makes this a one of a kind program that can't be beat. I can't recommend it enough, and my younger son can't wait until he can join the Tender Tracks family.

There's a reason why parents drive across the county to get their kids here. This is a truly…read moremagical program with a gifted teacher. Wendolyn knows how to connect on a very deep level with each kid, meeting them where they truly are. This is a Waldorf-inspired nature education program and it's 100% outdoor rain or shine for 3-5 year olds. I can't think of a better place to build life skills, self esteem and grow. I feel so fortunate to have found this.

Amazing place, amazing staff. All of them are educated and caring and lovely. they really care…read moreabout kids in general. If I could give this school 10 stars I would!! This is the FIRST school I have seen my kids happy at in Marin county. it is an amazing place when they don't ever want to leave at pick up. I love that they feel as though it is their home away from home

I couldn't imagine a better daycare! My son (2016-2018) and…read moredaughter (2020-2022) both went to Caterpillar. They both had the most loving teachers that have still kept in contact after we left. They genuinely care about the children and families that attend. It is a loving and caring environment that children are happy to attend. My daughter learned her ABC's, shapes, colors and how to count to 20 which is above and beyond for a daycare (not a preschool). I highly recommend Caterpillar to all families in Marin.

Our family is so grateful to have found such a wonderful and caring school community for our…read moredaughter. Our daughter started out in the Luna room at 22 months. It was a huge transition for our family and Teacher Carmen was amazing in helping our daughter acclimate and feel safe, loved, and cared for. I appreciate the emphasis on teacher retention in their caregiving model, as well as how happy all of the kids are-- always playing, exploring, and enjoying being together. OFS 5th Ave is a special place!

Our son is in his second year at OFS and he is so happy. Starting school was a huge transition for…read moreour pandemic baby who was always home with either myself or someone he'd known since birth. The staff at OFS worked with us on a transition model to get him comfortable and while the first week was insanely hard (for me as much as for him!) he warmed up quickly and has never looked back. He's excited to be there each and every day and we couldn't be more grateful for that! We love the emphasis on teacher retention, the shady play yard, and all the pretend play that's built into the day. Our son was a late talker with less than 20 words when he started and he's now constantly chatting in full sentences. We're so grateful for our time at OFS.

Little Mountain has been one of the most positive, nurturing, loving, and fun places we've ever…read morebeen a part of. It has become part of our family, and we have become part of theirs. The amount of love and effort the team of teachers at Little mountain bring on a daily basis is hard to put into words.  Our first child is currently in his second year at LMP, and his time there has had such a unique impact on him as a growing child. He has learned, changed, interacted and played every single day he attends. He comes home with new questions, awesome stories, and new lessons learned. One of the main things we have loved about little mountain is the play based curriculum. The team of teachers there have perfected this curriculum over years of teaching together. A few of the teachers have worked together in Marin for over 30 years at other area preschools before starting their own. They are experts at getting to know the nuances of each child, and helping them individually navigate their development both at school and at home. The teachers attend national child development/teaching conferences each year to stay current on research based teaching, which to me shows how dedicated they are to making sure the kids grow in a healthy way.   Another huge part of Little Mountain is the parent/family community. Together the teachers and parents foster this throughout the year with parent appreciation days, community work days in the school's amazing backyard, an annual fundraiser, and after school activities such as wheelie wednesdays. Pick up and drop off are always fun with lots of interaction between families and kiddos. Parent participation is encouraged and appreciated. Parents can stay as long as they want to and/or come read books, volunteer, or something like help cook a special meal. I can't recommend Little Mountain enough. Our second child will be attending the next two years. If you are looking for a great preschool with a small community feel, this is it.

From the owner: Little Mountain Preschool provides a play based learning program for 3-5 year olds. Our activities…read moreare open ended, filled with exploration and hands on learning. We have created a social emotional safe learning environment for all our children. Our team of professionals provides a nurturing atmosphere for all children. Please call for a tour and visit our website.