We have been thankful for the time our children have had at St Andrews. Each child is different and responds differently to daycare services, so these reviews are really for you as parents to understand the offerings the schools provides and if check it out if it's a fit for your child. The teachers we encountered are great and I am forever grateful for them. My son started off in the babies room and we chose it cause it was (at the time) the only school that allowed me to come in and continue to breastfeed my baby during my lunch break. Apparently, before COVID that was rare. My kids returned a year after COVID and going to a different preschool for a brief moment. They loved their teachers. To this day- these teachers are among their favorite Ms. Shakina, Ms. Lorraine, Ms. Cece and Ms. Evelyn. They have all taken the time to work with our children, prepared them for Kindergarten and gave them the space to thrive and grow in a loving environment. Class sizes are small and they get the attention they need. They also serve nutritious and delicious breakfast, lunch and snack for the children and accommodated to allergies. They ate a variety of food beside peers which made them adventurous to try new foods. Mr. Michael's music program is amazing and my kids took piano lessons during school hours. They also had soccer shots program during school hours (which set the foundation for my son to get into club soccer). My niece who also attended did dance and gymnastics at the school during school hours. Twice a year they hold a musical performance and throughout the year, families would be invited back for multiple festivals including ones that show off the child's work. Almost once a month there was some type of event. The older kids also have field trips to sing at the local retirement homes. Here I know exactly where our money is going and appreciate how it's being used. Childcare nowadays is so expensive and knowing how they are spending the money makes you appreciate their leadership. We are grateful to have children who are alumni in this school. read more

Unfortunately, after 4 years of our son attending SACC, I have to update my review. I'm not going to go into the full details here because it's a personal matter. But it's important to note that we had fantastic experiences with the TEACHERS. This 1 star review is for the admin staff. This school is not equipped to handle children who might need a bit of extra support with neurodiversity or behavior struggles. The admin staff put in the bare minimum effort. While here, we had the following happen: - Admin staff recorded a video of our child having a meltdown as if he was on display instead of intervening, and they sent it to us via their app. - The office space where the admin staff works looks like a hoarder lives there, and they bring children back there if they need to regulate or need time away from their classroom. This area is not child proof at all, and when my son threw a marble it shattered their monitor and we ended up paying almost $1000 out of pocket to replace it. When we asked for the old monitor so we could try to fix it, they didn't reply. - We had our contract terminated with zero warning, while we were out of town. We were given a 2 week notice to scramble to find new care. We were told that our son was moved to a new classroom as "a final option" but that was never told to us. We had no idea that we were at risk of his care being terminated. Our child was devastated. The teachers also told us that they were NOT informed that this was going to happen. If our child needs extra support (beyond what we already did such as obtain an IEP and send him to ECLC for extra help 3 hours a day) we understand, but the communication was disgusting and disrespectful of the 4 years of time our son has been there. I wrote up a long response to them and it also was ignored. In talking with their contracted behavioral consultant, she agreed that this school does not offer adequate support for children who need extra help with age-appropriate behavior struggles such as the need to regulate their bodies, inability to sit and focus for long periods of time, issues with transitioning between activities, or kids who don't want to nap. If you've got a perfect angel kid and the admin never needs to get involved, SACC is fine. But they're in desperate need of new admin staff. There's a reason they haven't been full for a very long time. I fully expect they'll reply here and misconstrue the truth, and I'm not going to be baited into replying. Just consider I spent $100,000 of my money here and still return with a 1 star. My son is now thriving at a new school, and surprise - he's never missed his bus. They love him and he's had zero behavior issues at his new school in the 6 weeks he's been there. read more

Our children attended SACC for 4 happy years. It was a second home to us. We love the family feel here. The highly-experienced teachers truly loved our children and made both us and our children feel comfortable and safe. The programming is excellent and included weekly music time with the talented and incredible Mr. Michael, weekly yoga classes with Ms. Ally, and tons of hands-on learning throughout the year. One of our favorite things was the numerous family events throughout the year, including Spring and Christmas musical productions, Mothers and Father's Day events, Fall festival fun which included a petting zoo and pony rides, Art festival featuring art made by the children, International day with food from around the world, just to name a few. Also, healthy and nutritious breakfast, lunch, and snacks are included, making it so easy for parents. All the teachers are so amazing and loving. We especially love Ms. Cece, who taught both our boys in the Hummingbirds class. She makes every day fun and exciting with her seemingly boundless energy, and she has a wonderful curriculum year-round for the kids. Ms. Lorraine in the Butterflies class was also so wonderful, and we love her as well. My older one has been to other daycares/ preschools, including Montessori, but we saw him really blossom and grow at SACC. We wish we sent him sooner here. We can't recommend SACC enough to families. read more

As I'm sitting here thinking about all the amazing things my son has learned at Saint Andrew's, I am so sad that we are leaving for elementary school. We are so lucky to have found SACC. The teachers have been fantastic and really have given us so much. Every teacher here truly loves their kids. Even the teachers who my son never had, they all know his name and say hi to him when we see them. I am so glad we were able to enroll here and spend past few years here. Our favorite teachers were Ms Elizabeth, Ms Shakinah and Ms Sadia. Don't hesitate, stop by for a tour! Edit/update: my child has learned so much here. Just had a talk with my son's TK teacher in public school and she asked me if my son was in preschool before TK. I said yes, he was at Saint Andrew's. She said she is so impressed with how well-adjusted and well-behaved and smart he is! We owe it all to Saint Andrew's!! read more

My wife and I were extremely nervous about handing over our three month old to anyone. However, I could not be happier with the way our daughter has blossomed under their care at St Andrews. As a toddler now, she looks forward to the two days a week she sees all of her friends there. In fact, we have continued to send her while we are out of work because we would hate to deprive her of the great experiences I highly recommend St Andrews to all who are in need of great child care read more

My son has been going to St Andrew's since he was 3 months old! He will be graduating from SACC in June and we are already so sad that he'll be leaving but so so grateful we found such a wonderful daycare. Every single teacher that we've met here has been absolutely amazing. From Miss Alice and Miss Markena in the infant to Mr Efren and Miss Sadia in the preschool room. Mr Itzay, Miss Shakena, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Angie all work so hard to make this experience special for the kids and parents. The admin staff is wonderful as well, Miss Pam and Miss Yuri have helped us so much! We love the scheduling, the STEM activities and the events they hold throughout the year. Besides learning and playing, they do music class and yoga and cooking classes. It's amazing how much thought and effort is put into their program! Any questions or concerned are addressed promptly. Our 12 month old daughter will be joining SACC very soon and we are so excited for her! HIGHLY recommend! :) read more

I have to sadly update my review. On 12/13/24, Pam whos one of the coordinators was very rude with me. She had a bad attitude and tone with me. It didn't bother me as much, until I found out she went behind my back to contact my ex. Now, I see that as a problem. Its hard enough that I have to co-parent. She was just making things a problem. I had no intentions of saying anything about my interaction with Pam but when she called my ex, then it was a red flag. I talked to my ex, he said to reach out to Carolyn and see if she can understand how that affected me. Well, Carolyn without a doubt didn't take my concerns seriously and did not become at all mindful of my side. She actually didn't want to talk to me to hear my side. Instead, she repeatedly told me what happen between me and Pam, as if she was there. If you aren't there, then listen to both sides. When I told her thats not what happen and how Pam was rude to me, she implied I was making her staff uncomfortable. It's impossible when I have only ever met Pam one time! It was clear they had something personally against me. I tried to resolve the issue and I wanted to talk over the phone or in person because reading things can always be taken the wrong way. Carolyn definitely took what I replied to her in a wrong way and didn't understand the truth. Plain and simple, I was disrespected by Pam. Then, I was disrespected by Carolyn. At this time, I am going to find another school for my child to attend where they respect me and don't have something against me. I do not feel comfortable by hostile staff. Perhaps, learn to hear your clients/customers and understand if a customer says they were treated rude then help find a solution. Instead you blame the parent, just because you listened to a staff that lied to you. Think about it, why would I reach out if I didn't find what happen a issue? I have been very supportive of SACC and gifted teachers. Its so strange I would get this much disrespect by Pam and Carolyn. It would be nice to know why you are so rude to me, but I guess you choose not and take it out on me which seems immature 12/19 in response to Carolyn comment: Its not funny how you are using the state law for a matter that was not the issue in the first place. Your staff disrespected me on a different matter. I came to speak with you in person about a refund. Instead Pam spoke to me and was rude. You and Pam decided to bring up other matters out of nowhere. Maybe stick to the main reason and truth. Stop lying. Its disgusting how immature and unprofessional you are. You and Pam are like high school bullies to divorced parents. Its fine if you won't disobey the law, its the way you did it behind my back, which is the concern and disrespect to not tell me in person. If there are no secrets then why would you call my ex about it and not message us both? I had to hear it from him? Yes, you're rude and dishonest. read more

I've used St. Andrews for both of my children and I don't have any negatives about this childcare. All the teachers are great and involved and it truly does feel like a family after enrolling my kids for almost 5+ years and going strong. The staff on the ground to the director has been there forever and is so kind. There are a couple of teachers throughout the different ages that have been at St. Andrews for a while and there are some scattered ones that have come and go. However no matter what, it seems like every other age class has one or 2 teachers that has been a constant mainstay and positive presence in my childs development. They are open and transparent on any issues that arises with my child including enrichment center activities, accidental injury, pickups, and etc. I really appreciate the staff for all their care and would highly recommend their services for your childcare needs. My reasoning on picking St. Andrews Children Center: 1. Early morning drop off's 06:30-6:00 pm! Not many children centers can boast that early drop off and we really appreciate St. Andrews for having that option due to our early work schedules. 2. Breakfast, morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack are included in the price! They use organic whenever possible. Side note they used to have a really good lunch lady but now the chef is just okay. 3. Friendly and communicative staff notifies you of every happy moment with their app feature that includes pictures and video throughout the day. 4. Teachers help with your child's milestones: sitting up, eating solids, using a spoon, potting training 5. Provide enrichment activities whenever possible: Sensory play, arts and crafts, they'll have a zoo day, aquatic animal day 6. BYO Diapers and Wipes 7. Sad but necessary, you can enroll your baby as early as 6 weeks to as old as 1st grade read more

We've had our 4.5 year old enrolled for over a year, and he loves all his teachers, friends, activities, snacks, lunch, special programs, etc! Great teachers and we love the updates throughout the day via their mobile app and emails. We can't wait for our youngest to enroll to have the same experiences as his older brother. read more

Our son was in the tiggers (infant) and toddler rooms at SACC - we absolutely loved it here. We only left due to location, it just became too much for a commute for us. We started when my son was 6 months old - Ms. Loraine, Olena, and Ambreen treated our son like their own. We got so many adorable pictures of him and he truly thrived there. We even missed them when my son moved up to the toddler room, but he had so much fun there as well and was learning so much. They had great family events on holidays and we appreciated their great lunch for the kids. If it were closer to our home, we would definitely still be there! read more

We had 2 kids go here in the last 10 years and we love the atmosphere. Good teachers, great location, coded entry which is great from a safety perspective. There vibe is warm. I love that they have a flexible program in terms of days/week. Also timings are unbeatable at 630am - 6 pm. Their program is play and arts oriented, they have a functional garden where they grow vegetables and fruits, their playground has a good mix for imaginative play and has wood chips! (Not a fan of concrete). Their tuition includes mostly organic food, they have a kitchen onsite and their menu is impressive, both my kids were introduced to a variety of table food. Loved the old cook, new cook is decent. My oldest raves how he loved the food here!! What is included in the tuition is also music and yoga! Mr Mike plays various instruments and leads them in songs once every week. A yoga teacher comes in a leads the littles once a week. Extras - Soccer shots & webby dance. I have also seen a speech therapist onsite. They have multiple events through the year fall festival, Xmas & summer concerts, Mother's Day tea, Father's Day bbq, Valentine's Day celeb, literacy fest. The aquarium of the pacific comes with their truck once a year and the kids get to touch and feel !! They also arrange for petting zoo to come. Age range is 2 months - 5 years. We had experience with many teachers but from the most current we love Ms Alice, Markena, Robin, Cece, Sadiya,& Lorraine. Pam & Yuri manage the front office and administration side of things and are responsive to concerns. Last thing I'd like to add is that they had a guest speaker who presented on school readiness. I would forever be grateful for her knowledge and insight based on research. It has made a huge impact on academic progress for our child. I'm thankful the school arranged it as a means of guiding parents . it's a well rounded program and I'm glad the kids were here. read more

I have had one of my children at St. Andrew's since 2018. We have loved the program! Many of the teachers are still at the center since 2018 and every time I come in to pick up some of the other teachers know my child, I really feel they are taken care of and I trust them. There is lots of educational learning, music time with Mr. Mike is a favorite, and fun arts and crafts that they bring home (my fridge is full of art). They do lots of events with the families so you can meet other parents and feel like part of a community. The pick up and drop off hours of 6:30 to 6pm are very accommodating for working parents. I love the app and get picture and video updates everyday. read more

I started my daughter at St Andrew's when she was 3 months old. It was a very emotional and difficult decision to decide on childcare for her at that young age, especially as a first time mom. Immediately when we went to visit, we were greeted by Ms. Alice in the Pooh Bears classroom who swooped my daughter into her arms and made her smile. I felt so at ease. My daughter is now 8 months old and every day I drop off or pick her up I'm so happy I found SACC. They do a large amount of art and sensory play so I've gotten so many finger painting masterpieces over time, which I absolutely love. I have been going to breastfeed during my lunch hour almost every day, which was an important goal for me. The teachers have supported this goal and have provided a comfortable space for me to do this and I am able to pop in anytime to see my baby. They also helped and supported as we transitioned into starting solid food and she is now a blossoming eater. They provide a balanced and thoughtful menu, which is included in the cost. And I am able to review it and okay or decline any part of it based on my preferences. I also really appreciate the flexibility in the hours. We have our usual schedule based on our needs but when schedules change or something comes up, we are always able to drop off a bit earlier or pick up later without any additional cost. Overall, I truly think SACC has been one of the best decisions I have made for my daughter. She has gained so many social skills and has had opportunities to play and create art in a way I wouldn't be able to provide for her myself. I feel like she is truly loved and cared for by her teachers. Oh! And they have fun events for just the kids and for the whole family. The Aquarium of the Pacific did a pop up exhibit and I received the cutest pictures of my daughter learning about and touching a starfish. They upload pictures and updates in an app throughout the day so I feel like I always know what's going on. The family events are also so fun to meet the other parents and it really is a great community. I can clearly go on and on because I am continually amazed at the quality of care and the opportunities and activities that are provided. I will include an amazing piece of art that they helped us make together during the open house event that I will cherish forever. Thank you so much St Andrews! read more

Saint Andrew's Children's Center - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - Irvine, California

Saint Andrew's is amazing! My daughter started going here in January of this year at 2.5years old. She struggled for months to cope with the changes but the staff were so kind and caring to her and to myself and my wife. They helped her grow in so many ways and now she is thriving! When I come to pick her up she never wants to leave. The staff are all so nice. The admins are very well organized and the value of their service is well worth the very respectable price. They do yoga and music time each week and we get updates with pictures throughout the day. I love seeing how happy my daughter is and how many new interesting things she is doing. Please check this place out, you will be happy you did. read more

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This school has been amazing. They have been accommodating to our schedule, the hours are great, and the teachers care so much. I feel like my son is being taken care of by teachers who are invested in seeing him grow and learn. They have a variety of activities like music and art, and their family programming is really special. I was so happy we chose to come here. read more

The teachers are very patient and they always have fun things planned for the kids (I seriously don't know how they do it). The quality and value I would say is unrivaled considering food is included! As a first time parent I rest easy knowing I have a team of teachers and administrators that truly care about my child's well being. Extras: The festivals are fun and we always look forward to them. There are school special guests such as law enforcement demos, a visiting petting zoo, music every Tuesday & Thursday, mobile aquarium, yoga... just to name a few. I can tell you the school staff works tirelessly (coming in early and staying late) just to see these kids smiling faces. The past years I have been wowed more times to count, don't be surprised to feel like a kid yourself at times either during pickup, school activities, or the bigger festivities. In summary, we found this school to be the perfect balance of learning and being able to be a kid and have that "wonder" in the learning process. My son is not only happy but excited to learn new things in what I call a very magical place called St Andrews Children Center! read more

Saint Andrew's Children's Center - Art Festival, one of many cool activities where kids can be kids and show off their skills to their friends and family! - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - Irvine, California

Our family is very very grateful for this program and its staff. Our son had never received care from anyone that wasn't us or close family so the transition from him being home to him being in a new environment with new friends and trusting new people to care for him was incredibly anxiety-inducing. With that being said, my husband and I are truly blown away with how much the staff have cared for our son & family. Our son joined the toddler program towards the end of the summer program and even though he had only been there for about 2.5 weeks, at the Open House, he was included in every picture, class photo, craft, etc around the classroom. His teachers, Ms. Elizabeth and Ms. Angie have really gone above and beyond to help him comfortable while adjusting and for updating me throughout the day and after. They send so many updates, pictures, videos, etc on everything my son is doing and I LOVE feeling like I'm not missing out during his day. The teachers are also very communicative when I pick him up regarding areas my son did really well on and areas he could use more support in, while also sharing with me their game plan to help support him more at school. We really appreciate how much the teachers, directors, and financial aid meet us where we're at. From the meals the kids eat, to the activities and special events the school holds, it blows me away at how much thought and intention goes into giving the students and parents the best experience possible. We have not one bad thing to say about this place. If you're looking for a place you can trust fully to not only care for them but to facilitate giving them the best memories, this is the place to be! read more

We've been at St. Andrew's for about 3 years now and we've been really happy with their services and care for our daughter. She enjoys being there daily and I love how all the faculty and staff are involved in her care and not just her assigned teacher for the year. Their hours and in house kitchen services are a life saver in our house. We don't have to worry about breakfast, lunch, or snack time as all the food is provided by the school. Their hours are 6 am to 6 pm which work really nice for families who work early/late/varying hours. Also, as far as tuition goes, considering what is included - it's one of the best deals in Irvine! Some other locations we were looking at were asking for much more but provided less services and shorter hours. In addition to normal school related activities, the center also offers weekly yoga and music time as well as a garden that all the children tend to. It's a great learning environment. In full transparency, the school has had some turnover and staffing issues in the past year or so, but I think many daycares/schools are dealing with the same ever since the pandemic. However, my daughter's care and education have always been handled with the utmost professionalism and I can see how much she thrives here. I don't think you can go wrong with choosing St. Andrew's. read more

St Andrew's has been a God send for our first child born during the pandemic. They have set the bar for us in terms of child care, and we are only sad to go because we had to move out of the area. We kept our daughter home with us for the first year while working 2 full-time ambitious jobs due to pandemic-related health concerns. Then, at 1 years old, we decided it was time to look into centers. We toured St Andrews and had a really good feeling about the extensive care and thought they put into their center. Our daughter loved the teachers; every other day, she'd come home with hair all done up by them and smiley/giggly while she talked about her day...which included dancing, art, music. She especially still remembers her infant teacher, Ms. Olena, whom all the infants adored. Ms Pam and Yury are so easy to talk to and super patient and understanding. During COVID peaks, they and Carolyn, the Director, handled the procedures and closures of classrooms very diligently and out of the utmost concern for the health of the kids. While there were complaints and inconveniences, I felt that they did what they needed to do and enforced strict guidelines which we were very appreciative of. On top of all that, the communications was thorough and well thought out. The food they provide is nutritous and healthy... I've heard my daughter having 3-4 portions at times. They recently also instituted an app and I adored seeing pictures of my daughter throughout the day. Hands down would recommend St. Andrews to anyone who's looking for the best place for their child care. read more

I found my child in a different classroom at the end of the day. When I went to the classroom he wasn't there and my heart just stopped. Nothing can top that but the whole experience felt unprofessional. We started when my son was 1.5 years old. We were told that when he moves to preschool room he would stay with his friends. His friends stayed together but he was put in a different classroom. Another day, his rash was sooo terrible that me and my child were crying when I put cream on it. I'll never forget this. It took 2 weeks to heal. His skin was red and raw. He had hand foot mouth disease 2 times here after we received a notice of someone having hand foot mouth disease. The classroom would close due to Covid and I didn't know until we showed up at the classroom in the morning when I was supposed to go to work. I have an accent so they assumed I was Persian(?). They called me Fatima on the phone, my name is Gokce. Teacher turnover rate was high. They kept him in a smaller classroom while the newer kids went to the bigger classroom. The teacher of the smaller classroom changed 3 4 times. The teachers were kind and seemed loving. We signed a paper for weekly payments. According to the agreement we were supposed to drop off a check on Friday for the next week before the business closes. Then they decided to charge us monthly while keeping the weekly rate. What they did was they broke up the weeks in the beginning and at the end of the month. For example the month starts on a Friday, so we would have to pay for a 1-day week rate. So, we ended up paying for 6 weeks. read more

Just as all the mothers out there, we look for a happy and safe environment to send our little one(s) for their most precious years, the early childhood. After searching through several schools, reading all the available reviews, and made numerous campus visits, my son, at the time was 3 months away to be 4-years old, he chose St Andrews Children Center to be his pre-school. To be honest, in Irvine, brand new and fancy hardware of a school facility is nothing special, so, when my friends ask me about which school my child goes to, I happily share about St Andrews and how my son and I like it because it makes you feel like going home, just like a backyard of grandma's house. Also, the daily meals are freshly prepared, no fancy styles, but they contains the essential requirements for the growing bodies; I do appreciate the way they keep the flavor as original as possible from avoid adding artificial flavors, my son would tell me what he ate in school each day and share about how he like a specific item. The intangible value is definitely the relationship between the teachers, staffs and the kids, my son loves giving hugs to his teachers every day and his facial expression tells how happy he enjoys at St Andrews. Now my son is in kindergarten and well prepared academically, and I truly thank St Andrews for their teaching style that helps a kid to learn from activities and group interactions. As a mother, as long as the kid is happy and healthy, there is not much I may ask for, thank you very much to all the staffs at St Andrews, we'll come back and visit to continue the great relationship. read more

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Our daughter, who is now three years old, has been going to this center since September of 2019 and she absolutely loves it. The entire staff is very caring and attentive to the children's needs. When they had to close for a couple of months due to Covid, our daughter was missing them so much that we decided to bring her back as soon as they reopened. That was one of our best decisions! The safety and hygiene protocols they have implemented are very rigorous and i have no doubt that she is in good hands. The director is also very caring and communicates with parents regularly. In short, I highly recommend St Andrews for anyone who lives in the area and who is looking for a quality daycare. All children need social interaction and I am so grateful that we have found this team of dedicated professionals who have made child care their life's calling. read more

We love SACC! We have had 3 of our kids go through this daycare since they were infants. Our family has been there for about 6 years. Every teacher that our kids have had has been so loving and caring. Prior to this school, we were at another daycare out-of-state and I felt like they treated each child as a business transaction. SACC is different. I feel like each teacher genuinely cares for our children. Even after my oldest son graduated from there and went to elementary school, the teachers still would ask about how he is doing and remember him. They provide nutritious meals (breakfast, lunch, snacks) for the kids which is SO helpful as a working parent with multiple children. They have also been very flexible with our schedule needs. If we needed to go from 2 to 3 days a week or 3 to 5 days a week, for example, Miss Stefanie at the front desk would always be happy to help us make those changes prior to the next month. Miss Joni in the preschool class has taught both my oldest son and daughter. She has helped them learn phonics in a way that the kids remember it and enjoy learning it! We are so grateful for SACC and our kids' teachers! read more

The one star is for the teachers. No matter what happened, my kid still loves her teachers and she would like to say thank you to them. But the SACC is disorganized. First, they would email you that you would be refund for the school closure due to COVID-19, but when you claim it, they would say SACC took the refund away long time ago without any notification. Second, they would email saying classrooms (not specified which classrooms ) closed due to COVID-19 spreading in the school, if you keep your kid home, then you are wrong, they would say your kid's classroom was fully opened, it is your obligation to find out if your kid classroom opened or not, and you need to pay. Third, if you don't agree with it, they would send you the two weeks notice, you kid is removed from the program, SACC take your two weeks deposit. SACC doesn't care about the kid and what is happening to you during the pandemic, they only care about their revenue. read more

Love love love this facility! I have had two of my children here because of how amazing this place is! The staff provides a loving and safe environment and the education is superb! I've tried other childcare's due to having moved, I even considered montessory but no one can compare. The curriculum the organic food menu, and the teachers are the best! I feel the sense of community and reciprocated appreciation as well. I would commute from Huntington just because I prefer the staff here and the attention paid to my kiddos over the years. Oh, not to forget to mention, every classroom is clean well organized and I can always stay informed about what my kiddos up to throughout the day. read more

You won 't believe this school put a lot of efforts in all kinds of event all year around. And it is very good rate in Irvine area with breakfast , lunch and snacks included. read more

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I LOVE this school! The teachers and staff are AMAZING and SUPER caring! I'm soooo happy that I got my daughter in here. She comes home everyday, talking about how much fun she had and how much she loves her teacher and all her friends. I also love how much they have for the children to do. They have weekly dance class and soccer that you can sign your child up for and pay for and they will pull your child out of class once a week to participate in that. They have many events throughout the year for the kids to do after school. Definitely worth it! Our family loves St. Andrew's Childrens Center! read more

Love this school! PROS Caring staff Breakfast, lunch, and snack fed Small class sizes Great hours Great social skills training Empowers each student to problem solve Preps children for kindy CONS None! CONCLUSION Highly recommend! read more

My wife and I were extremely nervous about handing over our three month old to anyone. However, I could not be happier with the way our daughter has blossomed under their care at St Andrews. As a toddler now, she looks forward to the two days a week she sees all of her friends there. In fact, we have continued to send her while we are out of work because we would hate to deprive her of the great experiences there I highly recommend St Andrews to all who are in need of great child care. read more

Love Saint Andrew's. Daughter attended for 2 years and she loved it. Teachers are great and very loving. She's grown a lot since attending. Drop off times are very flexible if not the most flexible in Irvine. Daughter also loves the food provided, breakfast and lunch. read more

It has been an honor and pleasure to have had the ladies in the infant/toddler class take care of our daughter. They are well staffed, very clean, and provide numerous activities for the kids (even at these younger ages there are music/arts/crafts. We loved the flexibility of the center, where the children can be dropped off and picked up anytime between 7:30AM to 6PM. They provide organic fruits, vegetables, and milk among other highly nutritious foods. They even catered to our daughters needs which included the use of lactose-free milk (which we provide as they only provide regular organic milk for all the infants/toddlers). To know that a place like this exists is a blessing. The ladies that work here are a godsend, and it is clear they only want the best for our child. I would wholeheartedly recommend them to any young family in Irvine looking for excellent care. It was our honor and privilege to have our child at this facility. read more

I toured so many different schools in the area and ultimately chose to enroll my infant son at St Andrews. He is now a toddler and he loves his teachers and loves going to school!! Here are the reasons why we know we made the right choice: 1. He is very developmentally advanced for his age, thanks to the teachers. 2. They give him lots of love and individual attention. You just have to be clear in letting them know if your child needs any special attention for certain things (as mine did). The teachers did a fantastic job helping my baby transition into school schedule, helping him feel safe and have fun, while being communicative with us parents. 3. Healthy lunch and snacks are included in the tuition and I've seen the the kitchen staff bring in crates of fresh produce for the day. 4. They organize lots of events to encourage parents to participate. The fun and colorful events fosters a family-like environment between the staff and the parents, as well as create a ton of opportunities to share wonderful memories with your child. My son is growing up to be a happy, healthy, inquisitive, smart little boy, thanks to his school. I am so grateful for the wonderful staff at St Andrews. read more

We have brought our son here since he was 7 months old. It's been 4-1/2 years and time to move on to Kindergarten. We're definitely sad to say goodbye to our SACC family! Over the years we have established loving friendships with the staff and have appreciated the bonds that have developed with his teachers. Aside from that, the school has always impressed us with the creative programs they put together for the kids, from Easter festivals to holiday musicals - it's been awesome! We are also confident that he is prepared for Kindergarten from preschool learning he received - educationally and socially. I highly recommend SACC to provide loving care for your children from infant to preschool age. NOTE: As this review was written during COVID-19, we had the option to continue keeping him enrolled while school district distance learning is in effect - offered for facilitation by this school. Since we were able to secure placement at his elementary school's aftercare program, we decided to switch for guaranteed continuity. We would otherwise have remained enrolled at SACC. read more

My son started with St Andrews in July 2020. He flourished in school with well designed curriculum and caring and loving teachers. Their tuition is reasonable and provide kids breakfast, lunch and snack. Outdoor and indoor plays are balanced and well designed. Everyday, I son will hug his teacher goodbye after school and come home and asked to go back to school the next day. Every teacher is passionate, kind to my kids and they all know my sons name. I am so blessed to find a school like this. read more

My son attends this center 4 days a week and we are so grateful they are being so safe with new Covid-19 safety procedures to allow him and his little bubble of peers to flourish socially and academically. He desperately needed face to face interaction to develop emotional awareness, speech acquisition, and skill development. As a public school teacher working from home, I know I could not give him the best learning environment for his growth right now. I trust St. Andrew's Children's Center to keep him safe, nurtured, and engaged. read more

Congratulations to SACC on receiving its 10th "Best of Irvine" award. Our two boys having been at the school for almost 3 years now, and they love the warmth and attention that they receive from their teachers. They truly have fun going to "school" - which is the way that it should be. read more

My daughter attended St Andrews for two years prior to kindergarten. Her teachers made her feel like she was part of their family. The organization runs some amazing music, sports, dance and gymnastics programs as well as interacting with the kids throughout the day. My daughter misses everyone from the chef to the front desk personnel that's how much of an impact they have placed on her life. It was a great experience having her attend this program. read more

Please see attached pictures for current violations! I don't like to write bad reviews but I feel responsible to warn other parents that might potentially use this day care or parents that already have children enrolled. As long as my review is, it's a portion of what I witnessed! If there is one thing you take away from this review I hope this is it! MAKE SURPRISE VISITS TO YOUR CHILDS CLASSROOM. If you take a tour of the school, request to visit a few of the classrooms & meet the teachers because your child will be moving up eventually. If you are lucky enough to have one of the "normal" classrooms you will leave feeling pleased. My son was enrolled for a year and was lucky enough to have Mrs. Minoo as his teacher. She is one of the most caring compassionate teachers at St. Andrews along with Kathy, Maia, & Uri. He recently moved up to the next class for 18 months-36 months kids. He was with Uri (very kind) & Mrs. Joan & a substitute (carol)who are very cold with the kids. The only time I heard them speak to the kids was to reprimand them. I made quite a few surprise visits & I was uncomfortable with what I saw each time. One little girl was crying & roaming around because she was new to the class & the teacher walked over and yanked her sippy cup from her hands & mumbled "nope, can't have your water cup over here" & placed it out of her reach & left her to cry by herself. If you have a child that cries they will be placed away from the group by themselves until they stop crying. I don't think any parent wants to pay almost $1400 monthly for their child to be left alone to soothe themselves. This particular class that he was only in for a couple weeks had quite a few substitute teachers, & the parents are never notified. Twice there was a young male teacher whom I've never seen before, & a few other times were substitute teachers that are not introduced to the parents. I made a surprise visit 2 weeks ago during lunch time & found all the kids laying down on their cots, lunch dishes were already washed and it was only 11:39! Lunch is supposed to be at 11:30, so I questioned the teacher about the timing... How can you wash hands, sit the kids down, feed them, pull their cots & blankets out & have them laying down 9 minutes after lunch is served? Her response was that lunch probably came a little early at 11:25! Mind you, nap time is until 3:00. I felt like the kids were rushed to shove their food down & hurry up & go to sleep for the teachers to relax. I brought my concerns to the director Carolyn Jones, & she was upset & offended that I visited the classroom. The classes are conjoined & in order to visit without upsetting my son I would go in the other class to watch him without being noticed. The teachers wouldn't notice me right away & I think that made the teachers uncomfortable. I think if your doing a good job & have nothing to hide you should welcome unnoticed parents. We will go back to work feeling happy knowing our child is having fun at school. She told me I could no longer visit through the adjacent room & that I had to walk in his door, & when he saw me & cried when I had to leave then that's just how it had to be(Legal way of bullying me into not checking on my baby) 3 weeks ago a parent from a different room had a meeting as well to discuss why her child (in the 2-3 year old room) was slammed into a chair by the teacher(large African American woman). So of course I want to make surprise visits when these situations are occurring. Bottom line, if you choose this school, please check on your child often if your not comfortable with the teacher & if you have a problem don't expect much resolution from Carolyn as she is hardly on site (takes the train to the day care center maybe once or twice a week), and is protective of her staff to a fault. I was contacted this afternoon & told his care would be terminated in 2 weeks. He hasn't been to school in almost a week, & I had already put in a 2 week vacation notice because I felt so uncomfortable leaving him there & was hoping to find a new school asap. There are a few wonderful teachers, but a lot of unkind, weird, not kid friendly people in the classrooms that ruin it for the rest! Carolyn,In response to you, this is the most communication I have ever received from you! As I stated, there are great teachers at St. Andrews, unfortunately there are more bad ones then good. My experience the first year was mostly a positive experience. What you have stated is simply untrue and I find it sickening that a center especially that uses the "church" as their bases, is OK with such disheartening practices towards these children. My entire family never came to "spy". I came about once a week on my lunch break, alone, to check on my child and you & your staff were not pleased or welcoming. Children absolutely have stranger anxiety and that was my entire purpose for visiting the class. There was a constant change in personnel in & as I parent I was concerne read more

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My son has been going to school here for the last 2 1/2 years and we are so glad that we found them when he was 6 months old and we needed care for him while my husband and I were at work. Being my first child I was nervous leaving my son somewhere new but they were so compassionate and made me feel at ease. All of the teachers and staff are so wonderful and loving towards the kids as well as they provide such a great environment. We walk in and they all know my son and are so sweet with him. This school provides such amazing family atmosphere for families with activities as well. Now that we are facing COVID-19, this school has taken great caution to ensure the safety of the children, staff, and families. They have a drop off station out front where kids wash their hands and get temperatures taken before going inside to their class. I greatly appreciate all that they are doing to protect everyone so that parents can go to work as needed and kids can be kids playing at school. I highly recommend this school! read more

I'm reading some of the negative reviews and I'm surprised. My son attended this school at 18 months old, the school was very accommodating to his needs and level of care needed. He was non-verbal and was recently diagnosed with Autism. The teachers took extra care to ensure he never felt left out, the noise level was kept at a minimum and took time to teach him baby sign language. When I asked if he could have an Occupational Therapist come in during the day, they accommodated that request as well. They never complained about schedules or interruptions (as another daycare I took him to did). They made her feel welcome and she in turn helped him learn to interact with the other kids non-verbally. Now I have my daughter in the baby room. She's thriving and learning so quickly I can't catch up. The teachers ask if I want to try certain foods with her and understand when I'm hesitant and respect my wishes. I get full reports at the end of the day about all the activities and accomplishments. They call right away when they think she's spiking a fever. They put her to sleep the way I ask them to. They let me know her progress, it feels like we are all sharing in the raising of my girl! And now the center has a therapist on campus. I regularly get milestone questionnaires to make sure she's meeting milestones. My son came back for Pre-school, he's loving it. I've contact the therapist for my son's needs, she's very helpful with encouraging both me and the teacher. We get written out reports what he's done during the day, ate, how long he napped and anything else. I've never had to contact Carolyn Jones. The staff is helpful and very responsive. From Stephanie at the front desk who is an absolute pleasure, to Lila who runs the ship. I've had concerns discussed and met quickly. Never did I feel not respected or listened to. I say take a tour and see for yourself. It's a small community of women caring for a neighborhood of children. I think they do great. read more