We feel so fortunate to have found the little blue school! We moved from out of state and were…read moreseeking a warm, inclusive community for our family. Our oldest has thrived at RNS and loves engaging in daily outdoor play and environmental explorations. The teachers are deeply invested in the social and emotional development of each child. Learning is hands-on, inquiry-based, and so joy filled. Our oldest counts the number of sleeps left to return to school on weekends and vacations, and our youngest can't wait to join next year. We are very grateful to be a part of such a nurturing and grounded community.

We have absolutely loved the last three years at Ravinia Nursery School. My son has made so many…read morefriends and I know he will be amply prepared for starting kindergarten next fall. My younger son just started and is already doing great! The teachers are incredible - warm, engaging, and so committed to providing a quality preschool education. I can't say enough about how positive our experience has been.

My daughter has been there for 3 years and we love it. She's starting kindergarten next year so…read morewe'll be saying goodbye but highly recommend them.

I think Ms. Paula is nepotistic. I got replaced by her daughter at my job. During Lisa's time…read moreeverything was for children, but with the new management is all about making it comfortable for themselves. The best teachers are Mr. Leverick and Mrs. O'Day. They are the best teachers in this school towards both students and other teachers. The parents and kids are lucky to have teachers like them.

Dont send your child here unless perfect. Our 2 year old had temper tantrums Can you believe a…read more2 year old having temper tantrums! we pulled her out and the new day care loves her and doesn't understand it. I hear all the time about people not being happy and some others have pulled out. Its really too bad. This has happened since the directors changed. It use to be great!

Called them regarding their daycare program and spoke with C.J. received answers to all of my…read morequestions and felt that they actually cared about my particular situation.

My son is in his second year here and also attended camp this past summer. We love the school and…read morethe teachers. My son is happy and excitheted to go to school every day. They are very flexible with days/times each child attends so we could set a schedule that works well for our family.

Love HP Montessori! Both of my daughters have been to HP Montessori for the past few years. We…read moremoved from the city mid-year; they were able to accommodate my older one easily. My younger one started the following summer in their 2-3 classroom and has progressed to their 3-6 (she's in her 3rd year now). We love how kind the teachers are and helpful the entire staff is. It is a well-oiled machine, but takes the time to work with each family's unique needs. They have been very helpful when my work schedule fluctuated - allowing me to switch days or add hours as needed. My younger daughter is reading now - not because anyone is pushing her, but because she enjoys it because of the Montessori process. Their educational model is American-style Montessori, so even though there are rules to be followed, their is much nurturing and compassion that accompanies learning activities. She has learned about all different cultures and some French, Spanish, & Italian! Lunches are amazing - Chef Don makes gourmet food that your kid will actually eat. I am so impressed by how dynamic my girls' palettes are now & I'm almost certain its because of those lunches. We have also really enjoyed the Fun in the Sun Summer Camp. Affordable, fun, and - a big for working parents - reliable with quality instruction and care. Would highly recommend to anyone in the area looking for a preschool that prepares kids well for elementary education.

This pre-school is is a hidden gem! First of all, being a Nature preschool, the students are…read moreoutside all year (safe weather permitting) exploring the beautiful landscapes of the Chicago Botanic Gardens. They are getting what so many of us and our children are craving-more time in nature, learning and growing and re-connecting. In this preschool children really get to be children, and with that they learn and develop in ways that are appropriate to their age. In a world saturated with screens, this preschool is welcomed reprieve. The teachers are special trained not only in early childhood development, but also specifically in inspiring play through nature education. They definitely provide a nurturing learning environment helping children learn important age appropriate skills. The teachers also encourage a wonderful community within the classroom and amongst the families with various extra activities and opportunities. The facilities are second to none- beautiful and inspiring. I kind of wish I could be a preschooler again! My child attended the preschool for two years and I hope to send my other children here as well. Despite their being numerous quality preschools much nearer my home, I felt the Nature Preschool provided opportunities we could not find anywhere else.

My kids have really benefited from this preschool. Their attention span and love of nature has…read moreincreased so much. For example, when we went to the park last weekend they got a large ice block and decorated it with twigs and soon had the other kids and themselves engaged in a snow birthday party. Their creativity and natural wonder of the world around them has grown so much. It's a wonderful gift for a child to go here!

A school for children by which all other schools should be measured…read more Their communication is stellar; overwhelming in a good way, in fact. My wife and I are seriously impressed with just how well the Head of School, Joy Hurd, and all of the school staff come together to operate this gem, in a seemingly effortless manner. A special thanks to: Alex Sheridan - Director of Enrollment, Marketing, and Financial Aid for making our family feel so welcome, Sara Walsh - Director of Early Childhood and Assistant Head of Lower School, also for making us feel right at home, and Sue Burmeister - 1st Step Teacher who keeps my little girl's imagination engaged every day she's in attendance, while keeping her first-time experiences varied. The environment is quiet, peaceful even. Think of LFCDS as an ivy-league university campus, not a traditional school. Cleanliness and organization aside, this school epitomizes our lifestyle choice as a family. My first born is currently enrolled in the 1st Step + Bridge program, and we look forward to registering her little sister here as well, as soon as she's of age. Thank you LFCDS for all that you do for our family!

I spent the first year at the school being amazed and a little unnerved at its excellence and how…read morenice and supportive everyone is. I simply couldn't believe a school like this existed. We came from the public school system and will never go back. Several teachers have over 30 years of experience and all the staff are highly skilled. The school has a strong reputation, plenty of resources and good parent engagement. My children get a kick out of wearing their fancy uniforms every so often. I am always amazed when my young children whip out their homework and do it on their own without me reminding them. I am impressed by how well behaved and respectful the students are in general. A great plus for me is that they let kids be kids in the younger classrooms ( pre-k to 4th grade ) and do not contaminate this special time with idealistic, controversial concepts adults have dreamt up. If you want your child to have a childhood, grow to be a resilient, driven and self motivated individual then send your kids here. The money is worth it!

Small classes with great teachers. Every class isn't just wearing time away, instead the children…read morehaving learning Jessica throughout the day. They have seen caterpillars turn into chrysalis and then into butterflies. They read, sing, play games that help them socialize and it's just an all around great school for pre-k and kindergarten. Must beat of all, the cost is very resealable and better then most schools in the area. Give them a call.

The teachers have all been so nice and caring in the full day preschool program at CB. My daughter…read moreloves going to school each day and has learned a lot. They also go to the nearby playground at least once a day when the weather cooperates.

Great teachers and an incredibly kind, welcoming staff. From the moment you walk in, you can feel…read morethat the school truly cares about the students and their success. The teachers are patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in helping every child learn and grow. The staff is always friendly, helpful, and makes both parents and students feel comfortable. What stands out the most is how excited my kids are to go to school every single day. They come home happy, talking about what they learned, and looking forward to the next day. That alone says a lot about the positive environment the school has created. It is clear that the school focuses not only on academics but also on building confidence, character, and a love of learning. We are very grateful to be part of such a supportive and caring school community. I highly recommend this school to any family looking for a place where their children will feel valued, encouraged, and excited to learn.

If you are thinking of sending your child to Goddard Deerfield, please read this review and…read moreconsider other options. About us: Hard working blue collar parents of 2 kids and one more on the way in July 2022. Our daughter attended Goddard Deerfield for over 1 year and we initially enrolled our son to start in August of 2022. Problems: The owners of this location, Jane and Genia, consider your child a walking dollar sign and nothing else. They will put the economics of getting every dollar out of you rather than creating a safe environment for your child or respecting any of your parental concerns. The situation and response: Goddard's AC system had broken during a 90+ degree week. Goddard has no extra classrooms so their response was to have the children in the classroom at that temperature for 30-40 mins at a time. We decided to not send our daughter to school until the AC situation was fixed due to extreme heat and ventilation issues that could lead to spread of COVID (my wife is currently pregnant with a high risk pregnancy). The AC repair took over 9 days and no surprise, there was a COVID case in the classroom during this time. This left our daughter out of school where we had to pay for additional childcare for 2 weeks. We reached out to the owners for a credit of our tuition for the time and that is when Jane's true colors showed. Over a phone call a screaming and angry Jane claimed: -"AC breaking is an Act of God and that they had to pay $5,000 to repair it so they are not liable." -"It builds character for children to be in that heat because life isn't always perfect" -When I told her again that my wife was pregnant and our own doctor said this an unneeded risk. Jane claimed "COVID is overblown and it's just an excuse now. My sister in law had COVID during her pregnancy and was fine, so your wife shouldn't be worried" We were so shocked by this response. After that last bizarre call, my wife had a 1-1 in person conversation where Jane took ownership of the things she said but the damage had been done. We knew our daughter would not be safe in their hands and that ownership would potentially target our children. Even worse ownership behavior: Our daughter stopped attending Goddard in June and our son was enrolled for upcoming August start - we asked what the process is for terminating enrollment and how we would receive our refund of enrollment fees and they took that as an opportunity to immediately cancel his enrollment, keep the enrollment fees, and take money from another family to fill his spot. Not only did they not return the money, they cancelled his enrollment and filled his spot in a breach of their own enrollment document/parent handbook. We now have to consult a legal expert to recoup our fees. I am a small business owner myself and would never ever target or leave a negative review unless it was 100% necessary to warn others. There are other schools in the area that will look after your child, look elsewhere. During the last few months of dealing with Goddard I felt like a failure of a parent to have not seen the other red flags and cannot believe I allowed my child to be in the care of Goddard Deerfield. The worst part of it all is that this is all I know about, what about all the other things that may have happened while my daughter attended school here that owners with this character may have put their own business in front of my child or any child? If you think maybe this is a one off situation and your child could be okay, Google search "Goddard Deerfield Indeed reviews" to see how their own teachers review the school. It is very evident that this is a common theme. Reach out to me if you have concerns as I have documentation of all of this.

I would never recommend this school to anyone I care about. Communication is poor, facilities are…read moresub-standard for the price paid, the majority of the staff seem miserable and behave as if they don't even like humans least of all children. And if your child deviates from "the Montessori way" even slightly, they will not be accepted. There are many other places, for the same price tag, where your child can learn and thrive and the adults smile.

Some of the employees are great, but management and the owners are all about the $ (and nothing…read moreelse), which gets old really fast. I don't mind paying a relatively high price for something exceptional, but I do mind when I'm being taken advantage of and extorted from. There are other Montessori organizations in the area; check out the alternatives before going with Deerfield Montessori Schools.

Our family had five children attend Forest Bluff School over the course of seven years…read more Unfortunately, our experience there was not a positive one and caused our children a lot of unnecessary hardship. The school presents itself as a place where every child can thrive. In reality, Forest Bluff School only caters to children who are typical learners, very compliant, and medium to low energy. Forest Bluff does not hesitate to kick kids out of the school if they don't fit the mold. For our children who learned differently, especially one of our sons with a learning disability, the school not only failed to meet his needs but actively dismissed them. The head of school would often state, "We don't do dyslexia." When we advocated for accommodations to support our son, we were treated poorly. The administration threatened to kick all our children out of the school if we continued to speak about the issues/advocate for our son. Rather than working with families, the school requires parents to trust blindly. Twice a year, students bring work home. Other than that, there is no communication on how your child is doing academically. They do not perform any formal reading assessments or monitoring. As a Montessori school, we expected an environment that valued individual differences, freedom to explore, and curiosity. Instead, their approach was rigid and limiting. The children were rarely given free playtime outside and often never went outside at all. The school claimed they didn't want to "interrupt" their concentration by going outside. Forest Bluff School values strict routines over allowing children to move their bodies. They claim they get exercise inside the classroom because they move around and carry different work. My children (especially my 3 boys) did not have their physical needs met and felt so relieved when we switched to a more progressive Montessori school that allows kids free time outside. Leaving the school was the best choice for our children's well-being, mental health, and academic success. Forest Bluff may work well for certain children, but if your child is high-energy, learns differently, or needs a more flexible and supportive environment, I would strongly caution you to look elsewhere. Forest Bluff School caused my children a lot of anxiety, stress, and academic deficits that needed to be addressed after we left. I whole heartedly regret sending them there at all. My suggestion for all parents considering Forest Bluff School is to take a tour, ask a lot of questions, look closely at the students, access whether you see joy in their learning, and then listen to your gut. I wish I had.

As part of my Montessori training, I have observed in Forest Bluff classrooms extensively at almost…read moreevery age level and have been deeply impressed by the consistent authenticity and care, both of the students and the environment. It is increasingly common to find hybrid Montessori programs that include random popular pedagogical trends or succumb to external pressures, but not Forest Bluff. Forest Bluff is a special place, thanks to the dedicated staff who love what they do and exude respect for both their students and one another. Indeed, much of what seems to make Forest Bluff so special is the diligent pursuit of its noble, explicit mission. Within the Montessori community, both AMS & AMI, Forest Bluff remains an increasingly rare example of quality, authentic Montessori. It is the kind of school I wish I could have attended myself and to which I wish I could have sent my daughters.