Update: April 20, 2015 My children are now 7 and 3-1/2 years…read moreold and I and they love the school as much as ever. Currently, the school announced that they do plan on expanding the school. Update: August 16, 2014 My 6 yr old daughter & 2-1/2 yr old son attend. The school and parent community is still incredible and my only wish is that they expand their elementary program to middle school. Original review: It may not seem like much from the outside, but this school is a hidden gem. I honestly believe that there is no better learning or childcare environment than Gateway Montessori School. My daughter is 3 years old and has been attending Gateway since she was about 10 months old (Infant Program). When my wife and I were interviewing daycares, nannys, etc. for our daughter, we asked ourselves 3 important questions: 1. Can you we trust the Institution and Providers? 2. Will our child be Loved & Respected? 3. Will our child be learning and developing to her full potential? Can you we trust the Institution and Providers... ? Both my wife and I have complete trust in the school's Directress, Shelley Torres (and teachers). Once you meet her, you will understand. She teaches the 1-3 year old class and has the composure and patience that few have (and that is necessary for this age group). She has a long history as a Montessori teacher (AMI) and upholds to the standards that make a true Montessori school a great education. Gateway is a small school with small classes so you know all the teachers and assistants. The school hosts teacher presentations (as well as guest-lectures) and classroom observations. These are great opportunities for parents to see how teachers work with children, understand the classroom environment & materials, and talk with teachers. We leave our daughter at Gateway everyday knowing that she is in the best care outside of family. Will our child be Loved & Respected...? I see everyday not only how loving and respectful the teachers are to the children, but how my loving and respectful my daughter is to others. The teachers exemplify the qualities that I value in a caring & quality school. Among other things, they help the children become independent, guide them with reasoning (rather than control), support them emotionally, and encourage them to support their classmates with love and respect. I think my daughter has developed a true sense of empathy and understanding through working in the classrooms. Will our child be learning and developing to her full potential...? Number One, I want my daughter to be Happy (and she is). Number two, I want my daughter to Learn (and she does). Not only do the children build on their knowledge, but they learn about independence and practical life. They are drinking from cups in the infant class, baking bread in the 1-3 yr classroom, and learning about the trinomial equation in the 3-6 yr classroom. My (limited) experience with Montessori... My wife and I had never heard of Montessori education prior to attending a Gateway lecture. After meeting the director, learning more about Montessori, and seeing the school we were completely sold. Whether you are already familiar with Montessori education or not, you should see Gateway. As my wife and I have learned, this is no ordinary school.

My daughter has been attending Gateway Montessori School since she was 3 and it was located on…read moreMontrose Avenue. It's now in a brand new building on Pulaski specifically built for the school and my daughter is now in 5th grade. She loves it. She feels connected to the community and safe in the environment. I love the school, the teachers and the Director who has 35 years experience and I learn from her every day. The new space is large and bright with a lovely garden area for playing. The classroom sizes are still small with one trained teacher "Guide" and one assistant in each room. Classes are broken into 15months to age 3, age 3-6, and elementary age 6-12 years. Gateway is one of only two Montessori schools in Chicago that is recognized by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). This means they follow the original teachings of Dr. Montessori and they have all the required materials. All of the classroom teachers have under graduate degrees as well as the required AMI certification program for the level they teach which requires several years additional training. I feel really fortunate to have found Gateway Montessori.

We switched to this location of KinderCare from Ladybug on Irving park. We were worried about the…read morechange but surprisingly our kiddo liked it better and didn't miss her old daycare much which was more upscale. The director Michelle is super accommodating and we had 0 problems with Early Intervention therapists visiting the kiddo at school (Ladybug requested additional fingerprinting even though they had Early Intervention screening ). But the best part was that our kid became potty trained on day one because her teacher Ms Mary takes time to put them on a potty at regular intervals . The group size is smaller than at our previous school and pretty relaxed atmosphere.

I enrolled my sweet girl in late January. I was so nervous to put her in school as this was the…read morefirst time she would be separated from me. I spoke to Ms.Gaby on the phone and explained to her my situation, she was super energetic and happy to talk to me about kindercare and gave me a virtual tour (covid times). She literally put my mind at ease. I came in to grab some paper work met with the director Ms. NEFALI and her team. They were amazing and so happy to have my little one there. Honestly this facility is the best and the teachers treat your children like their own. I am incredibly fortunate to have my baby girl here, she is happy and well taken care of. Not to mention every single teacher there is genuinely happy to work there. Thank you ladies for all you do you are the best of the best.

As a central IL grandparent who raised 5 of my own, I am so impressed with Creative Minds. When we…read morebabysit in Chicago we would drop the boys off, so comfortable in leaving them with such loving people. And the boys always enter the doors with enthusiasm. Graduation was today, and we witnessed, firsthand, the nurturing that happens here. The staff was crazy proud of their student's accomplishments. And the fact that my city grands are in a bilingual school is such a plus. And of course all the children are precious. I'm thrilled that my son and daughter found this preschool. It's the best environment I've witnessed. Congrats to the staff.

We just had our last day at Creative Minds and we will miss them so much! Our daughter loved her…read moretime there (over 4 years) and the teachers and staff are so kind and amazing with the kids. They take great care of the facility and have taught my daughter so much. I wish I could take them to our new home....finding a new daycare that measures up will be hard. We absolutely love everything about the daycare, staff and owner. She loves her teachers and has made many friends. The events they hold for students and their families are amazing and make you truly feel like part of a family.

We love Apple Tree! My kiddo has been going there for almost a year now. The teachers are kind,…read moreintentional, and knowledgeable. Our toddler comes home with so much artwork and now that he's moved up a class, so many learning activities too. They seem to balance play and learning well here, and share insights often: each day we get a report that summarizes the day's activities, and at the end of the week we get a classroom newsletter that covers more specifics about the theme/focuses, overall facility updates, and additional pictures. They also share photos and videos of the class goings-on a few times a week. They take the time to speak with you about any incidents that arise, and the actions they take to help the kids works through them. Ms. Jasmine, the director, is responsive and lovely to work with. Everyone we've met there genuinely seems to care about kids. The facility is nice inside with a cute, homey aesthetic, and has a big attached outdoor playground and smaller indoor playground. The food they serve the kids is pretty healthy overall and the meals are home-made onsite. The biggest thing we had to get used to is the at-the-door dropoffs and pickups, which I believe is a safety measure. It was jarring at first, but now I think it's nice that the process is so swift and it gives you a chance to chat with other waiting parents. And to top it off, it's right across the street from a library. This place is truly a gem!

Everyone here is so kind and attentive! My son started here when he was 2-3 years old and had some…read morespeech issues and now he talks clearer than ever! They work so well with your kids, and I recently started my daughter there first time ever at a daycare and they are so patience! Ms.Jasmine is also so nice and supportive and helps you with anything you need and is very transparent about things.

This is a long-overdue review for Bright Start, as they have been an incredibly supportive, safe,…read moreand loving place to send our son (and soon to be our newborn daughter). As two full-time working professionals (and an educator myself), Bright Start has given us peace of mind that our children will be nurtured academically, socially, and emotionally. They are truly our village and partners in helping our children thrive--and in this season of life, that kind of partnership is invaluable. We began the process of finding daycare for our son when I was still pregnant with him. From the get-go, it was clear that Bright Start was head-and-shoulders above every daycare we visited in the area. We loved that it struck a balance between being a small, intimate center, while still providing structure and intentionality to the day--even for the infants. It's a place that feels like home, while still offering the routines and enrichment of a high-quality early childhood program. Ms. Nikki eased my concerns as a new mom through the entire registration and waitlist process, giving me a thorough tour of the facility and patiently answering all my (many!) questions about what daily life at BSLC looks like. She didn't just sell the center--she made me feel confident that my child would be seen, known, and cared for. We were so thrilled when we secured a spot and began sending our son when he was 6 months old. My son started in the infant room, and has since grown into the toddler room, and now the twos room. Every teacher we have interacted with has been professional, kind, and deeply attuned to my son's personality and needs. It's clear they prioritize relationships and connection just as much as they do routines and curriculum. Through every major early childhood milestone--introducing solids, sleep regressions, potty training, social-emotional growth--the teachers have gone above and beyond to partner with us and meet our son where he's at. It feels collaborative in the best way. The communication with families is top-tier. Caregivers are kept in the loop through newsletters, memos, and daily updates. The Procare app is a fantastic tool--they update it in real time with info about meals, naps, bathroom trips, and even share adorable pictures of your child throughout the day. It's the kind of thoughtful touch that goes a long way when you're juggling work and parenting and just want to feel connected to your little one's world while you're apart. Most importantly, our son is thriving. He's happy every time we drop him off and even more excited to tell us stories when we pick him up. His language has exploded, he's developed empathy and problem-solving skills, and he's constantly curious. We know that a huge part of that growth is thanks to the intentional, caring environment BSLC provides. If you're a parent searching for a place where your child will be loved, supported, and encouraged to grow in all the right ways--look no further. Bright Start is not just a daycare, it's a community. And we're endlessly grateful to be a part of it.

We absolutely loved our time at Bright Start Learning Center (BSLC). Our son was here for 3 years,…read morejoining when he was still in diapers. We felt that he was well cared for and that all of the teachers were passionate about caring for the children and providing them an excellent experience. We just began Kindergarten and he is incredibly well prepared for it. The policies and communication are very clear - we had explored other daycares that were not organized at this same level.

We love MGP! The staff, teachers, students, and parents have all been amazing!…read more Our daughter has been enrolled since she was 2, and we plan to enroll our son when he becomes of age.

Our daughter started at MGP (Lincoln Square location) a little after turning 3 years old. We have…read morehad nothing but positive experiences thus far. We love that each class has a spanish and mandarin teacher and our daughter recently learned to sing a song in Mandarin! Also, the test prep for SEES (Selective Enrollment Exams) has been immensely helpful so far in preparing our daughter. The teachers, principal and entire staff are always accommodating. Top notch Montessori education. Highly recommend!

We love LSMS very much! The teachers have loving hearts. The Rainbow room teacher Ms. Jinny has…read morelots of experience about gifted child education. There are 4 graduates were selected to gifted and classic schools.

Our daughter has been in the Sunshine Room for nearly a year already and she absolutely adores her…read moreteachers and friends. Our older child had attended two other daycares and this has been our favorite. Her teachers here have been supportive and responsive. She's loves sharing stories from her day. based on some of her stories and behaviors, it appears that she's learning basic conflict resolutions, learning empathy, and enjoy independent play along with group play. We are happy with our experience so far :-)

If only I could give more than 5 stars! That's how highly I recommend and love Prairieland…read moreMontessori! Both of my girls started their pre-K experience here (Lincoln location) and loved every second of it (across 4 years). The entire experience has been stellar from the incredible teaching staff, administration, classroom environment, Montesorri teachings and the health and safety of the kids. A true neighborhood pre-school gem!!!

My daughter recently graduated from Prairieland and we couldn't have had a better experience! She…read morewas able to develop independence and a love of learning, and she has excelled at her new school because of her experience at Prairieland. I would highly recommend this school to families who are interested in a community that embraces the Montessori philosophy in a welcoming, vibrant, and fun atmosphere with fantastic teachers!

This was my sons 1st daycare. We put him in at 1 years old. We were both so nervous about putting…read morehim in daycare. This place/staff was amazing! we got to a point where my son was so happy every time we would go and was eager to get in. I always felt my son was safe and having a fun time. Salena and the staff were really amazing And supportive. We miss them now that he is at a new daycare. Highly recommend!

My son and daughter went to this daycare for almost 2 years. Teachers are wonderful people. No word…read moreto describe how wonderful this daycare is. They don't change their teachers. Everytime I go there, same people work there. So I feel so relieved because I know who they are. If my son fells over something or bump his head, they always tell me what happened before I even ask. The most important thing is the teachers love their kids so much. When I ask about my son or daughter, I see love in their eyes when they talk about my kids. God bless them!!!!! Salena, owner of the daycare, she is such sweet wonderful human being.Thank you for everythin :)

My daughter has attended NPCCP for the past two years and she's had a wonderful experience. They…read morereally do run the school cooperatively, and I love when I get to volunteer in the classroom and see my kid in her element. There are all sorts of holiday parties that caregivers are invited to attend, and the teachers take photos throughout the day so we can share in the memories. It's clear that Ms. Lyndsey and Ms. Jen love their jobs because they treat the kids with a great deal of care, kindness, and good humor. There's a big outdoor play area (and an indoor gym for bad weather) where the kids can run around, and the classroom is really intentionally assembled with lots of sunlight, plants, crafts, toys, books, and kid-sized furniture. They even have child-size bathrooms, which is a small but meaningful detail for newly potty-trained kids. I highly recommend this small but mighty school!

This preschool has been the perfect fit for our family for the past two years. It is a warm,…read morewelcoming community where kids learn through play. All of the preschoolers love Ms Lyndsey and Ms Jen, who really see and appreciate each child and help them to grow socially, emotionally and academically according to their needs. My daughter has thrived here and I'm so glad that this was her first school experience.