Having small children and working full time is a challenge. Not because of the long hours or the…read moreexhaustion, but because finding someone you trust to love and care for your children while you are working all day is tough! I went back to work when my oldest (now 5) was just 8 weeks old. I searched everywhere. Seriously, if there is a place or person that watches kids in South Brunswick, I have interviewed them and might have even sent my girls there. We were lucky and had some good situations for daycare for our daughters over the years but we were never 100% thrilled with where they were. Of course, no one is going to love and care for your child the way that you do, so you become critical of things. Well, that all changed when we found The Montessori Learning House. Debbie Starinski is amazing, she runs her school with pride and love....you can feel it! All the of staff members are so sweet with the kids. Currently, 2 of my girls go to the school. Jo is in the preschool and Franki is in the toddler program. They are learning so much! Every day they come home with new work and art projects. Franki is speaking so much too. Everyday she has more words and sentences added to her speech! The school also uses an app that the teachers use to let parents know how the day went and what the kids did all day. I love the app!! Communication is a huge component to making me happy about childcare and Debbie and the teachers are great at it. There has never been a moment that I felt "in the dark" about what was going on at the school. The teachers and before/after care staff is so sweet and caring. There are times that I come to pick up the girls and Franki will be sitting on the after care teachers lap giggling...just so happy! They are always smiling when they are dropped off and when they get picked up. Mrs Allen told me that it was taking Franki some time getting used to sleeping on a cot. So she sits with her and rubs her back until she falls asleep...I seriously almost cried! Instead of just scolding her for not sleeping, they took the time to help her adjust to her new situation! Another person mentioned that the school is closed a few days a year for in service days...this is very common with not only private schools but people that do daycare out of their homes as well. What the person failed to mention is that this is one of the VERY FEW schools that is open on school holidays. In the past I have had to find placement for my girls on school holidays...I didn't have off but they did! This school is open the week of Spring Break and Christmas Break. They are also open on Holidays like Martin Luther King day....a lot of schools are closed! As a working parent, I don't mind the schedule they have...I actually love it! Thank you Debbie, thank you staff....thank you for keeping the most important people in my life safe and happy all day! Thank you for giving this working mama peace of mind that my babies are safe all day!!!!

I am a working mother of 4 and all 4 of my children have gone/are going to this Montessori at this…read morelocation or the Jamesburg location. I keep coming back because of the curriculum and because the well being of the children and staff is a top priority here. They have become an extension of my family. My 18 mo old just started this week in Ms. Allen's class and is having a tough transition. Ms. Allen holds him until he is acclimated and everyday when I come to pick him up he is sitting in her lap. It warms my heart how loving and caring she is with him as he struggles to separate from me. I have even sat in the office to watch him on the screen and she encourages him to be independent but is still loving in how she speaks to him. Each day I get the update on his and my daughter's progress (she is in the PreK program) in an email and on the app, but Ms. Allen also takes the time to update me, very honestly, on what went well and what didn't go well for him each day. Teachers don't always take the time to do that, but she knew that my son and I were adjusting during this first week and she did what she could to help us transition. My 4 year old daughter is now in her third year at this school. I loved my experience here and any time one of the parents voiced a concern about something, the school addressed it, including adding the daily reports, shifting staff, and even adding flexible hours for parents who need it. Mrs. Crandall is wonderful with the preschoolers. My daughter is learning social skills in addition to academics. She has the kids shake hands and make eye contact as they leave. She does this with each child, excusing them one at a time, to make sure they get the individual attention needed. I also have every confidence that she will be reading before she starts KG this fall. My older 2 were also reading at 4 years old, before they started KG in public school. Again, this is a school that has just recently offered daycare hours, due to parent request. This is not a standard daycare. With that in mind, there is a focus on education and enrichment and they have to follow school schedules and rules. I feel badly about the one other reviewer's experience. It's not easy when our child is struggling and needs some type of disciplinary attention. But, like any other school, they have to watch out for the other children and for the teachers. If a child is hitting, there are a few options they try but if the behavior doesn't stop, the child has to be taken out of class. They have to do it because otherwise you are putting the other children at risk.

we are VERY happy with our experience at Milestones Montessori and I would highly recommend…read morechecking it out if you're looking for a high-quality educational experience for your child. We were in need of a school option for our 3.5 year old when his old school suddenly closed, and decided to give Milestones a try. Within the first two weeks we were already impressed by the growth our son was demonstrating when he came home from school: through the Montessori method, he was becoming more independent in everyday responsibilities like changing clothes and putting away toys, and in general seemed to be getting better at focusing on single tasks for long periods of time. The curriculum for learning to read and write is also very sophisticated, and we've watched his reading and writing skills grow very quickly. The school director Ms Saritha has been very easy to communicate with and her observations about our son's strengths and growth areas have been spot-on. She really knows what she's doing when it comes to running a Montessori program, including its focus on individual students' choice, growth, and responsibility, and its well-designed way of introducing young children to reading, math, geography, and so on. Because "Montessori" is not a trademarked term, any school can claim to use it but in reality there's a lot of variation in what they're really doing. Milestones's program is well-run and true to the Montessori approach, and we've seen the benefits for our son. In addition, Milestones is more affordable than a lot of other local options. We live just outside the Princeton area where school programs are quite pricey. With Milestones I feel we've gotten the best kind of educational program we could ask for, and also at a lower price, simply because it's not a large center and because it's located in Dayton rather a different zip code. Overall - I'd highly recommend going to check out Milestones if you're in search of a high-quality school program, with a warm environment, and with very reasonable tuition costs.

From the owner: The Montessori method of teaching is an educational approach that emphasizes child-centered…read morelearning through hands-on activities, self-directed exploration, and a carefully prepared environment, allowing children to learn at their own pace and choose activities based on their interests, all while fostering independence and a love of learning; developed by Italian physician Maria Montessori.

Had the pleasure of stopping by Kiddie Academy during their grand opening. As a parent, the most…read moreimportant thing to me and my family is the caliber of staff, safety and cleanliness. Kiddie Academy is spotless, and although they already have quite a few children enrolled, you'd never be able to tell due to how clean the place is. The staff are super friendly, I had the opportunity to speak with management, and safety and caliber of their staff is paramount. Their curriculum goes above and beyond in comparison to competitors. Strongly recommend Kiddie Academy. They also have their own full kitchen, they prepare all their own meals, and have an area that is used for children's dinning which I thought was great.

Loving and caring staff. Fresh food. Curriculum is amazing and the kids have so much fun learning…read morethrough it.

My daughter had a wonderful experience at this daycare. From the very beginning, the staff made us…read morefeel comfortable and welcomed. The teachers are caring, patient, and truly attentive to each child's needs. The environment is always clean, safe, and full of positive energy. I would especially like to thank Mr. Tariq, the owner, for his outstanding leadership. He is kind, professional, and clearly dedicated to creating a nurturing space for children and peace of mind for parents. I am very grateful for the love and support my daughter received every day. I highly recommend this daycare to any parent looking for a trustworthy and caring place.

I feel compelled to share a more candid perspective based on my wife Dana's recent experience as a…read moredirector at this school. Dana is a highly experienced, deeply principled professional who poured her heart into this role. She was consistently praised by families for her leadership and the genuine care she brought to the school community. Unfortunately, her time here was marked by persistent professional undermining from ownership. Over time, support from leadership--particularly from Rick--deteriorated to the point of complete silence, making it extremely difficult for her to carry out her responsibilities. This was not just discouraging; it was incredibly undermining and unsustainable. While many of the positive reviews may reflect genuine experiences, it's also important to consider that current staff and families can feel pressure to remain silent or offer only praise. My intent is not to disparage, but to offer a fuller picture of the internal culture--one that, in our experience, lacks transparency, professionalism, and respect for the very individuals who work tirelessly to support the children. I sincerely hope Rick and Rena reflects on the treatment of their leadership and take steps to foster a more respectful, accountable environment. Families deserve to know that the people entrusted with their children are also supported and valued. Good luck to you guys in your future at the schools you have- it is to my understanding that you will absolutely need it.

My son is currently enrolled, and I truly can't say enough good things about A Step Ahead and its…read morestaff. We came from a larger preschool with many more children in each classroom. We were drawn to A Step Ahead because of its small class sizes and excellent teacher-to-student ratio, which has made such a positive difference for our son. I'm not sure why it matters that the new owner also has an autism practice. If anything, I see that as a huge advantage. She and her staff are knowledgeable, compassionate, and experienced in working with all types of children. My son, who is not autistic, has absolutely flourished there and is genuinely excited to go to school every day. The staff has been incredibly communicative, accommodating, and kind. We have felt at home there right away. The classrooms are clean, welcoming, and filled with engaging toys, and my son can't stop talking about his favorite part of the day - the staff! He's always asking when he can see Miss Holly, Miss Jodie, and the rest of his teachers! Every child and family has a different experience, but ours has been nothing but positive. We are so grateful to have found A Step Ahead and would absolutely recommend it to any family looking for a caring, nurturing preschool where children are truly supported and encouraged to thrive

A Step Ahead Preschool has a special place in our heart. My son attended there 5 years ago and we…read moreare back again with my daughter now. My son was fully prepared for Kindergarten and is in the top reading class. My daughter who is only 3 learned how to write her name and comes home with lots of worksheets she completed in school which shows how much she is learning there! Everyday she comes home smiling and can't wait to go back the next day! All of the staff is so amazing and friendly! It's a small school, but that's the beauty of it.. It allows the children one and one learning which is amazing at this age! As for communication, Ms. Holly is very responsive and easy to communicate with, you couldn't ask for anything more! P.S Even though the ownership has changed, the care from the teachers has remained the same. We are so glad we chose A Step Ahead and you will be too!

Since originally enrolling over 7 years ago the ownership changed hands at the end of 2018. The new…read morechanges to the center have only added to the value and experience for my children. My oldest has been enrolled in KA of UF for over 7 years. Starting fulltime at 12 weeks old and since moving to their before/after care. Newell Elementary School provides bussing to and from the center which makes it convenient to have one place to drop off and pick up both kids. My youngest has been in for over 3 years and was fulltime through the pandemic since I was an essential worker and required to be in the office. The policies they implemented, intense cleaning regiment, and open communication they provided throughout made me feel comforted that he would be safe and healthy during the pandemic. KA has always treated my family like family. From the moment you walk in you are greeted with smiles and pleasant hellos which are only echoed by the teachers when dropping your kids off in their classrooms. You can tell the teachers truly care for your children and their well-being. The hallways are covered with artwork and pictures of fun activities that change throughout the year. The classrooms have even more artwork revolving around a theme for the season. The education program is great, with the school year having weekly themes that have a logical flow for the children to follow. Besides the administrative staff, Naylon (the owner) is there (almost) everyday and her door is always open to listen to your compliments, concerns, or issues. The entire staff is always very open and honest about issues, potential closures, or illnesses. There is always important information provided through the Tadpole app to keep you informed. Including fun events that they put on periodically throughout the year like trunk or treat, muffins with mom, donuts with dad, magic shows, and more. Always hoping yoga with goats will come back. As an added bonus, KA of UF also has cameras which is always a nice comfort. I enjoy peeking in on my youngest periodically to see what kind of chaos he is causing.

This school sets the standard for how early Education should…read morebe done. The staff is amazing and the teachers are unbelievable. I have 2 children that both look forward to going to school every day and sometimes don't want to leave when I came to pick them up! I watch my children get excited about the things they are learning and they can't wait to explain it all to me. Their summer camp is amazing also. They take field trips once a week and have fun and exciting things for the kids to participate in every day. If you're looking for a daycare or preschool look no further. There is no where else I would rather send my kids.