Miss Nicky's Preschool is pure magic. My daughter attended from age 2 to 5, blossoming from the…read moreCaterpillar Room (toddlers) to the Butterfly Room (Pre K) with ease, care, and support. Along the way she met every developmental milestone, thanks to Miss Nicky and her incredible teaching staff. The amount of sweat, love, and dedication Miss Nicky pours into her school is truly unmatched. The classrooms strike the perfect balance of play based exploration and academics, with literacy and math seamlessly woven into hands on games, centers, and creative projects. Summer camp is just as special, fun filled, imaginative, and full of joy. What made it most magical, though, was how much my daughter loved being there. She thrived because her teachers loved being with her. One memory she always cherishes is the day she got a splinter. Miss Nicky welcomed her into her office, gently removed it, and turned a "boo boo" moment into a memory of being cared for and safe. That's the kind of nurturing heart behind this school. As parents, my husband and I especially appreciated the sense of community Miss Nicky built. From family events to celebrations, she created opportunities not only for children to connect but for parents to form friendships that will last well beyond preschool years. What makes it even more special is that the building that houses this amazing school is the very same one where I attended preschool over 30 years ago. It has been beautifully updated and maintained with modern safety features, nestled in one of the most safe and beautiful neighborhoods in Marin. (I know! I am also a proud Terra Linda High School graduate.) Miss Nicky's Preschool is truly a gem, and when our journey came to an end I cried. My five year old held my hand and said, "Mom, it's ok, Miss Nicky said we can always come back and visit!" A true testament to how Miss Nicky and her teaching team foster social emotional growth, creating confident and compassionate kids. If you're wondering whether Miss Nicky's is the right place for your child the answer is yes. In a world that moves too fast, this school preserves the wonder and innocence of early childhood. It is safe, happy, creative, and filled with love. Miss Nicky's Preschool isn't just a school, it's a place where childhood magic is kept alive.

Excellent preschool! Loving teachers, great curriculum and facilities, fun spirit days. Great…read morecommunication and very organized and well run. Highly recommend!

We are so grateful we found Oakview. After moving to Marin during COVID, it was difficult to find a…read moresense of community, but Oakview gave our family that and so much more. Our daughter started at Oakview at age two, and from the moment we toured the school, we knew it was special. The warm and welcoming environment stood out to us. Every classroom felt joyful, engaging, colorful, and thoughtfully designed. After touring a handful of places we knew Oakview was the one. Over the years, it has been a joy to watch our daughters grow and thrive. Our oldest recently graduated and is heading to kindergarten with confidence, independence, and a genuine love of learning. I have especially loved seeing how much she admires and adores her teachers. The teachers really go above and beyond with unique and creative, hands-on projects and building relationships with each child and their families. Lastly, as newcomers to Marin, we met so many wonderful families through the school who have become some of our closest friends. Oakview has been an incredibly special part of our lives, and we are deeply grateful for the love, care, education, creativity, and community it has provided. We couldn't recommend it more highly.

We've had such a wonderful experience at Oakview Preschool. Each classroom tailors its program to…read morethe children's age and developmental stage, which makes a noticeable difference. The teachers lead with so much kindness and care and you can genuinely feel how much they value each child. It feels great knowing my two boys are safe, well cared for, having fun, and learning every day, not just academically, but also how to be kind little humans. They enjoy being there and are happy when I pick them up, and that says everything to me. The amazing parent community is an added bonus. I feel lucky to have found Oakview and would absolutely recommend Oakview as the best place for children to get their start with school.

This school is a joke! I would not recommend it at all. It has a high teacher turnover rate, and…read morewhat is on the website for the staff is a lie. All the teachers have left except one, but they only removed one teacher-- what a joke. Cindy "the director" is awful to engage with; she needs to retire and let someone else take over because she is very condescending and narcissistic. I am not sure why the preschool teacher is still there; she needs to leave ASAP. One of the former parents mentioned that she is being forced to stay, but I am a lawyer, and I will help her if that is the case. No one should be forced to stay in a work environment that is unethical and unpleasant. I would not recommend Hamilton based on my experience. While the school may have positive intentions, there were consistent issues with communication, organization, and overall support for both staff and families. Expectations were often unclear, and there was a noticeable lack of consistency in leadership and decision-making. A strong educational environment relies on transparency, collaboration, and trust, and unfortunately, those elements did not feel fully present. This made it challenging to maintain a stable and positive experience. To top it off, the "director" cannot be left alone with the children because she has no units-- that is something that is unheard of. The school needs to have a director that is ready to step in when needed. For families or educators seeking a well-structured, supportive, and communicative environment, I would encourage exploring other options.

There are many pros of Hamilton Montessori: great location and beautiful campus, it was really…read morefocused on developing life-skills and had a rich curriculum. Our 3 year old could tell us everything we ever wanted to know about the continents and dinosaurs by the time he left. But we found that the school wasn't very accepting of energetic, big-feelings types of kids. My son was sent home multiple times for incredibly normal and age-appropriate behavior (melt-downs, hitting, over-tiredness from not napping, etc.). I felt that the teachers lacked patience and understanding, and weren't very willing to help our child through these natural moments of toddlerhood. We were also not the only family to experience this, based on multiple conversations with other parents. It was suggested that we take our child for a behavioral evaluation for these "issues," which caused us so much stress as parents. This stress, on top of frequent calls to pick him up for what felt like an unwillingness to deal with a tantrum or an overtired kid, ultimately led us to realize that perhaps our child's behavior wasn't the problem. He's now thriving in a more play-based environment, and I wish we had realized the school wasn't a fit for our family sooner. FWIW, I think there were many happy families at HMS, and it seems to be a great environment for kids who are able to focus and do Montessori "work" for a large part of the day, it just didn't work for our sports-loving, energetic guy.

We couldn't be happier with our experience at Ice Cream & Shoe Preschool. It's such a warm,…read morethoughtful, and nurturing environment, and you can truly feel how much the teachers care about the kids as individuals. The TK classroom atmosphere is calm and welcoming, and the play-based approach strikes a great balance between social-emotional development and early learning. Our child feels safe, supported, and excited to go to school each day, which says everything. The teachers are attentive, patient, and incredibly skilled at guiding children through friendships, problem-solving, and independence. We also really appreciate the strong sense of community among families and staff. Communication is clear, and it's obvious this school has been thoughtfully run for many years!

Our son attended preschool at Ice Cream and Shoe and we truly loved the experience - the teachers…read moreare so nurturing, the methodology was loved by parents and kids, and the experience prepared him for kindergarten in a noticeable way! I highly recommend this preschool program!

Both my kids, now ages 2 & 4, go to CreArt since January/17. It has been a great experience! The…read moreowner Patricia is very professional and amazing with the kiddos!! All te staff is wonderful, patient and caring, and the preschool teacher Miss Susana is wonderful!!!my daughter asks to go to school on Saturdays and Sundays!!

Thank you CreArt! you guys are extremely amazing. Thank you for everything you have done for Adrian…read moreand continue to do. You have the best team ever! I'm so grateful for each and everyone of you. You all have made Adrian's growing and learning journey better than I could have hoped for. Teachers are angels in disguise and inspire the dreams of tomorrow.

We couldn't be happier with our experience at the Montessori School of Novato. Our older child, now…read morein 3rd grade, has absolutely thrived since he graduated from there. His reading skills are well beyond what we expected for his age, and it's clear the individualized approach and the thoughtful guidance from the teachers made all the difference. The teachers really take the time to get to know each child, not just academically, but as whole individuals, which helped our son build confidence and stay engaged. Our younger child, who is 3, has also had a wonderful start at Montessori. It only took her a few days to settle in, and after just a week of teary drop-offs, she now runs into the school with a smile. She constantly surprises us with new skills she's learned, especially how independently she can work through an entire project from start to finish. She often tells us how much she loves her teachers, and we can see how much she's growing and learning. The teachers also take pictures of the kids every day and post them so we can see what they are working on. Montessori School of Novato has created a warm, supportive, and stimulating environment for both of our kids. We are grateful to be part of this community and highly recommend it to any family looking for a thoughtful and enriching early education.

I recommend all teachers except Amanda. She is unprofessional and hold grudges against children…read more Tells other parents personal information about other parents both economic status and personal at home life. Parents, staff and children find her cold, hard to read, and cruel. If your child craves connection and safety her class is not the place to be. We loved all other staff and teachers.

Now that both of my children are finally enrolled (had to wait for the youngest to qualify), I can…read morehappily say, we love Gan, and the entire staff. Not only is everyone respectful, and attentive, and patient, but Gittel is amazing, endlessly available, and bestowed an evenness I have never seen before. The space is thoughtful and open-ended, imploring endless creativity. The activities offered touch on all of the senses, and the environment is all around loving, kind, and caring. The daily rhythm supports my highly sensitive child, and allows her time and space to properly eat, drink, process the day and activities. There are multiple options for sensory input (vestibular and otherwise), as well as places for sensory escape. It truly is unrivaled, and if you're lucky enough to encounter an opening, I highly recommend you take it.

Our family feels so blessed to have found the Gan community, and it all starts with the director…read moreGittel. It is abundantly clear how much she cares for each family and staff member. She is a great communicator and we never feel in the dark about what is happening at school. She has a deep understanding of child development and is incredibly supportive of each child that steps through Gan's gate, no matter what their struggles are. Her kindness and wisdom help us to know that our kid is in good hands everyday. She also hires such wonderfully creative, caring and skillful staff. She seems to encourage the talents of these staff members which has resulted in immensely enriching experiences for the kids, like learning about mindfulness, conservation, ecology, and so much more. The fact that it is an outdoor school is an awesome added bonus! The space was very thoughtfully designed to encourage exploration and learning through play. Our hearts are full of gratitude to Gittel, the staff and the whole Gan community.

Our family loves Redeemer. Both our kiddos attended and loved the experience. It's located in the…read moreheart of the neighborhood. It is your quintisssential neighborhood daycare/preschool. The playground is fantastic as it is shaded, clean, and interactive. Both my boys made friendships that they still have today as the elementary school is right around the corner. This is a great place to meet and foster both child and adult friends. We loved our teachers and are still in contact with them today. The center is reliable, clean, and fun. My kids wanted to go everyday.

I got to pay it forward and give Redeemer a more recent review here. Yelp randomly suggested I…read morewrite a review for Redeemer, which is sort of creepy - how do they know my kids go here. I digress. Shout out to Susan and Erin who put themselves out there and shared their experiences. Lesley too. To each's own. Anyway, our daughter LOVES this school. We can walk to it from our house so unless they were employing ex-felons, we were going to do pretty much anything we could to get our kids into this school. Kidding...sort of. Also, there are no ex-felons here; moving on. The teachers are incredible - Teacher Natalie, Danielle, Shannon, Sylvia, Schnabie, and Sydney -- y'all rock, the kids are lucky to have you and the rest of the teachers as well. Our daughter has learned so much and made amazing friends. She literally pushes me out the door when I drop her off...PEACE Dad, I'm at school now so byeeee... We have learned too; we communicate better with her because of this school. She's never been a super picky eater, but now we rarely battle getting her to eat veggies or her "growing food" as she learned at Redeemer. They encourage the kids curiosity all the time. The school is amazing, the outdoor space is fantastic and the community of parents have turned into great friends as well. There's always some turnover at any business and Redeemer isn't immune to a teacher or director leaving, but it's incredibly evident the board cares deeply about the kids and their education. We can't wait for our son to attend next!