I am keeping my review the same, just updating since the daycare left a comment. This is a perfect…read moreexample of the communication issues. I posted my original review in 2015. The daycare did not respond until 2017. A little over 2 years later. There was no issue on my end and had nothing to do with me being in another country. I speak English and there was no issue with time zone and I had an American phone number. If you were bothered about having to deal with me because I was not in the country, then that is not my fault. I'm STILL glad I didn't have my daughter there. PS - What's unfortunate is that you refer to children as a "product" in your comment. :)

My son has been with Little Inti for almost two years. He loves his school and fondly calls care…read moretaker as tias(aunt). Its a great comfort and enjoy to see how my son is greeted by staff in the morning and attended to him. Facility is super clean and their play area keeps upgrading depending on season. Staff are bilingual and very caring. They provide healthy meals and snacks. Cost if is very competitive and reasonable.

My husband and I are educators, and when we went looking for a preschool, we were hoping to find a…read moreplace with staff who truly cared about nurturing the growth of little people. We found just that at Happy Day, and feel very lucky to have been part of the school community for three years now. We have two energetic little boys, and both have grown and thrived in the care of Fahi, Nadia, Anahita, and the other teachers. The teachers know each child very well (benefits of a small school) - their likes, dislikes, allergies, and routines. I also really appreciate the emphasis on teaching the kids independence, love of learning, and care for their environment and friends. Our kids learned great habits like cleaning up their space, sharing with others, and focusing on activities they choose themselves. When our older son began TK, it was clear that Happy Day had prepared him very well, both educationally and socially, for that experience. We also had to get a little broom so he could sweep up at home, something he definitely learned from the teachers and not from us! And finally, I just want to appreciate the warmth and compassion the teachers always show, which sets the tone for the whole community. We've enjoyed getting to know the other Happy Day families at school events, and it's so fun to see the kids running around like a bunch of ducklings at birthday parties. Happy Day has been a great first school experience for our kids, and we'd recommend it highly to anyone looking for a cozy preschool run by caring and experienced educators.

We've had such a wonderful experience at Happy Day Montessori Preschool! Our son attends here, and…read morewe couldn't be happier with the care and education he receives. Teacher Fahi and Anahita do an amazing job making sure each child is well taken care of. They are warm, attentive, and genuinely invested in the children's growth and happiness. It gives us so much peace of mind knowing our son is in such nurturing and capable hands every day.

My now 11yr old son attended Pinole Montessori from ages 2-5. I currently have a 2yr old enjoying…read moregoing to class every single day! She dashes to get into the car to go to school. Ms. Sidhu is phenomenal and potty trained both of my children when they barely turned 2! All of the teachers are kind, professional and very hard working. They make sure the children are happy and well taken care of. Holiday activities are awesome, and the kids have tons of fun during the Halloween parade and Xmas concert. Also, since lunch is provided, it's less stress the mornings for me! The staff treat you like family, and really get to know your child individually. The Director, Ms. Angela is wonderful and very prompt in her responses to any concerns. We love Pinole Montessori!

My son has been here for two years and he's loved it from the start. Everyone is extremely patient…read morewith my child's development as he grows, and I definitely saw that as my son progressed with this school. I'm very thankful for the staff as well that they always inform me on a day-to-day on things that I needed to be aware of. Their hours are very accommodating to my work schedule which is also a huge plus for me.

Little Village Preschool is an absolute gem with the most caring, patient, and kind teachers. My…read moretwo kiddos went to LVP starting when my daughter turned two, so we have over 4 years experience there. In a daycare/preschool our top priority was a place where our kids felt supported and safe and cared for, and LVP fully delivered. We went through a lot with them - drop off hardships, nap challenges, potty training, behavior issues (not to mention a pandemic), and every step of the way LVP teachers were there to offer support, advice, and so much care. They even helped me with issues I was having with the kids at home! They very honestly feel like an extended family now and, even after moving across the country, I recently called them to help troubleshoot drop off issues at our new kindergarten. I feel immensely lucky having found this small preschool with it's fantastic teachers and the absolutely wonderful community of kids and parents it seems to attract. Starting little kids in daycare/preschool can be so hard, but I always breathed a huge sigh of relief after drop off at LVP feeling assured my kids would be happy and loved. We do have experience at two other preschools, including one with impressive "academics" and a bilingual program, but they both lacked the kind of care and support that little kids so need at that age. At those schools, I saw my kids become anxious and avoidant of school and they even had issues with basic care (ex. regular enough diaper changes). At LVP we never had those challenges and my kids (now 4 and 6) still talk about their teachers and say how much they miss them. As we still navigate this pandemic, I will also add that I have worked for the health department for over ten years and saw first hand how seriously and thoughtfully LVP has navigated the challenges of COVID. I whole heartedly recommend LVP to families in the Albany area and east bay. We miss them terribly!

Our son started here recently, a big transition from daycare to "big boy school" aka preschool. All…read moreof the teachers are so nice and accommodating! He has already fully acclimated and is excited to go in the morning. They have a full schedule of fun activities, outdoor play, and art projects. It's affordable, clean and in a great location. Tami is always around to answer questions. Highly recommend!

I waited a couple of months after starting daycare before posting a review, and now that our son…read morehas been at Orkidz for over two months, I truly can't say enough good things about it. There is a reason this place only has 5-star reviews! As a first-time mom, I was extremely anxious about leaving my son with caregivers outside of family. What I didn't expect was that the wonderful teachers at Orkidz would start to feel like extended family to our baby. Before enrolling, I had heard plenty of horror stories about daycares where staff seemed disengaged or unhappy in their jobs. That has absolutely not been our experience here. The women at Orkidz genuinely LOVE children, and it shows every single day in the warmth, patience, and care they bring to the classroom. We toured several daycares before Orkidz, but the moment we walked in for our tour with Ms. Sheila, we were sold because no other place could compare. We were amazed with the facility, their library, their beautiful outdoor space, and the impressive commercial-style kitchen where they make yummy food for the kids. As for our son, I had prepared myself for difficult drop-offs and lots of crying. Instead, after a brief moment of confusion on his very first day (not sadness or separation anxiety because the teachers got to distracting him right away!), he settled in and adjusted to daycare immediately. He loves being around his little friends, is excited to go every morning, and is all smiles every time we come back to pick him up. Our son loves all the teachers, his face lights up when he sees them every morning, and he is especially attached to his primary teacher, Ms. Azadeh. They also have fun and engaging classes and we absolutely love the daily updates and pictures! In just a couple of months, we've already seen our now toddler become more social, curious, and comfortable around other children and adults. He also eats so well there and they have a variety of homecooked meals that I could never replicate. If you see a spot open at Orkidz, consider yourself lucky and save the spot as soon as you can - you will not regret it!

Our son started at Orkidz about six months ago, when he was 14 months old, and we couldn't be…read morehappier! Beyond all the great things about the daycare - the beautiful classrooms, the great outdoor space, the fun activities, and the amazing homemade food- the most important thing is the truly wonderful teachers. They give so much care and love to our son and all the other kids. He absolutely loves his teacher and happily runs into daycare every morning. As first-time parents, we had a lot of worries about the transition from being together at home to his first daycare and I feel choosing Orkidz turned out to be one of the best decisions we made. It's such a great feeling to know he's somewhere he feels safe, happy, and loved. We couldn't recommend Orkidz more.

We are so grateful for the wonderful experience our children had at this school! From day one,…read moretheir teachers showed them so much kindness, patience, love, and genuine care. It gave us peace of mind knowing our children were safe, happy, and nurtured while we were at work. Their teachers went above and beyond to get to know our children, celebrate their accomplishments, and make them feel loved and supported. It was clear that their well-being and happiness were always a priority. As they move on to their next chapter, we are incredibly grateful for the teachers and staff who made their early years so special. Thank you for taking such wonderful care of our babies and for being such an important part of their childhood. I could not recommend this school enough!

To the entire staff -- Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!…read more I just want to say thank you for all the love, patience, and hard work you pour into the children every single day. As a parent, it truly means so much to watch my son grow and improve more and more because of the care and dedication you all give him. Every day I notice progress in his learning, communication, mobility skills, confidence, and independence. He is excited to explore the world around him. It's clear that the staff genuinely cares about the children and creates a safe, loving, and positive environment for them to thrive in. Thank you all for the role you play in helping shape these little minds and hearts. Your work does not go unnoticed, and our family appreciates each and every one of you more than words can explain.

My 3 yo son has thrived in Joy's forest school for over a year now. The children are at a different…read moresetting almost daily. Joy takes advantage of the great regional parks and playgrounds throughout the Eastbay and we love it! Joy truly understands child development and interacts with the children in such a positive way that contributes so much to their learning. That's one of the things I love most about her and why I trusted my son in her care in the first place - she knows how to communicate to the infants and toddlers. Additionally, her curriculum is child led and research based. I've recommended her program to all my mom friends!

My daughter loves joy so much! We love the summer camps and the above and beyond care / love that…read morejoy puts into the program.

Five and a half years, two kids, two Nomura grads. Today was our last day, and I want to put down…read morewhat this school has meant to our family. Joe (my son, age 7 at the time of this review) started at the peak of the pandemic. For a stretch there, we couldn't even come inside the building -- and somehow Nomura still made us feel involved and in the loop every single day. They took extraordinary care to keep the kids and the families safe without letting parents become strangers to their own children's world. I don't think I appreciated how hard that was until much later. Joe's transition to TK went beautifully, and I know exactly why: Ms. Rosi, Ms. Nickie, Ms. Djamila, Ms. Rosita, Ms. Young, Mr. Kim, Ms. Nao, and Ms. Valia (and surely others). That kind of readiness doesn't come from a curriculum. It comes from people who know your kid. Here's the thing you don't fully understand until you leave: at Nomura, parents are always welcome. Every child is treated as the main character in their own adventure. Not once -- not one single time in five and a half years -- did we get the feeling our child was a number, or an administrative inconvenience. That is rarer than it should be. When Diana (our daughter, now 4) had a rough transition into the Chickie class, the teachers sat down with us and built a plan. They were so attentive to what she needed that it stopped feeling like childcare and started feeling like family. And on her very last day -- today-- she arrived somber and withdrawn, and her teachers noticed immediately and gently brought her back out of it. I have watched that happen hundreds of times over the years. It is who they are. The teachers go above and beyond, always. And Administrator Matt Clark clearly treats this school as something precious, which it is. We're excited for what's next for our kids. But whatever they go on to do, a real part of it will trace back to who they became at Nomura as very small children. Today I'm sitting with gratitude and, honestly, a profound sense of loss. We went from being the new family on the block with a three-month-old, looking across the street thinking "wouldn't it be neat if our son went there," to being the parents of two Nomura graduates. What a ride. We're not planning a third child. But if we were? A big part of the reason would be getting to do this all over again. From the very bottom of our hearts -- thank you for how our children were nurtured and loved by this community.

Nomura preschool is truly a gem and our family feels very fortunate to have been a part of this…read moregreat school and community. Our 3 kids have started at Nomura since they were 2 years old, in the youngest Chicky classroom (although now enrollment is open to 18month olds!). Ms. Rosi, Ms. Cassandra, Ms. Djamila, and Ms. Kim were instrumental in helping our toddlers learn important skills such as feeding themselves and potty training! We were updated daily both verbally and with photos, and the amazing communication made all the difference during these huge milestones. In the middle classrooms, we have over the years, had the true pleasure of having Ms. Keila, Ms. Diana, Ms. Linh, Ms. Nickie, and Mrs. Young as our teachers, who have helped our kids learn their letters and numbers and learn how to share and play with others. The balance of academic, play and social skills was perfect and our kids have thrived during these years! Even Ms. Chieko, who we have not had the pleasure of having as a classroom teacher yet, has also played a crucial role in our daily routine. She has jumped right in to help with the transition at drop off, showing the great teamwork and community of all the teachers. The pre-K year has been an extra special year in our experience, with real friendships forming between the kids and lasting bonds forming with the pre-K teachers, Ms. Keiko and Ms. Nao. They truly care about the success and well-being as kids go off to Kindergarten or TK and often keep in touch with graduates. They do a lot to make the last preschool years very special, with field trips and special activities, again nicely balanced with academics and social skills that have lasting effects in years to come. There are also many extracurricular activities available, including Gardening with Ms. Rosita-who has the most calm and caring nature, Music with Mrs. Green, who delights the kids with her whimsical classes filled with music, instruments and magic (literally magic tricks!). This is such a great community that even teachers like Mrs. Kathy, who previously retired has come back to substitute teach! Nomura preschool is such an amazing, welcoming, and nurturing place for little ones. We are so lucky to have found the school!