When my 1.5 year old walks into school with his chest up ready for the day and doesn't look back,…read moreor when my almost 4 year old runs into the school yard yelling his teacher's name with excitement, I know they're doing something right. Little Hands Together has become a second home to my kids. It's an environment that educates and embraces every one of their differences in the most nurturing and caring way. The progress I have seen in my boys have been phenomenal and I don't ever feel like I have to supplement their education and growth with outside lessons. Little Hands Together is a well-rounded school, where the children are academically excelling beyond their level and are able to express themselves creatively through different outlets. The school is helping them grow into the best versions of themselves, and I am confident that my boys will transition easily into elementary school when the time comes.

Do your homework and ask around before enrolling. We initially loved it here (started ~18 mos old),…read morebut as our son grew, things shifted quickly. At just 2 yo, our child was "uncooperative" bc he wanted help putting on sneakers, putting on jacket, climbing on & off the big potty. Power struggles around these things at school corresponded with reports of acting out: yelling "go away" at teachers, not eating -- behavior we never saw at home. When we met about this, the director was not willing to look for causes or solutions within the context of the classroom. Her sole response was to instruct us to match the school's very high independence expectations at home, which we did. We had no difficulty teaching our son to consistently put on his own shoes, unassisted, at 2 yrs 3 mos old, when we did so with love and patience. Meanwhile, this apparently persisted as a big issue for the school. After our initial meeting, the only update we ever got was "no change" or "no improvement." In our final weeks here, conflict at school around the director's insistence that our young 2 yo use the adult-size potty instead of the training one corresponded with sudden potty anxiety & uncharacteristic signs of shame. Breakdowns in communication & trust caused us to abruptly leave just a week before our planned last day. Leaving on bad terms was hard on our child and sad for us. We went from being the school's biggest champions to feeling very concerned and mistrustful. There are so many lovely things about the school: thoughtful curriculum, field trips, homemade meals, etc. However, the extreme pressure placed on children to meet age-inappropriate independence standards really backfired for our son who is a super happy, easy, capable kid at home. We feel regretful about placing him in an environment where he was treated like a bad kid for being a normal toddler who wanted help from his caretakers. I'd strongly recommend asking parents who have recently left about their experience before enrolling, as there is a pattern of families leaving earlier than intended from this school.

A wonderful school where our daughter excelled academically and socially. In Ms. Rosa's class she…read morelearned how to read, write, and do arithmetic. She also learned about the solar system, dinosaurs, and the lifecycle of butterflies. Socially she went from being hesitant to speak to other kids, to expressing herself through her coloring, playtime, and daily outfit selection. Communication with the school was great, emails were answered quickly and the teachers were always happy to provide feedback about your child. The school is located in a gated community so we always felt that our daughter was safe. Once our second child is ready, we will without question, send her to Pacifica.

We loved our time at Pacifica so much so that we sent both of our children there. The teachers…read morethere are so kind, so patient, and have done it for quite a while that they know how best to tailor their approach for the children. Our children are both now in elementary school, and we firmly believe that the time of Pacifica has helped set them up for success, not only academically, but arguably, more importantly, socially and developmentally. Mrs Vargo and team there are great !

We couldn't be happier with our experience at MACC. From the very beginning the teachers have been…read moreincredibly patient, attentive and genuinely invested in each child's growth and well-being. My child started in Ms. Shuley's class and she is truly the perfect teacher to begin a Montessori journey with. She is warm, thoughtful and exceptionally skilled at what she does. She made my child feel comfortable and secure and within just three days she was fully adjusted to her new school environment. Ms. Shuley's teaching approach is remarkable that we began noticing positive changes and growth within just a few weeks. We couldn't have asked for a better start. Our Montessori experience concluded with Ms. Melody and Ms. Gaby who made an equally lasting impact. My child absolutely adored them and even a year later still misses them dearly. They take the time to understand each child's unique strengths and interests, nurturing independence, confidence and a genuine love of learning. They strike the perfect balance between being loving and maintaining clear expectations for discipline. The growth we saw in our child academically, socially and emotionally was truly wonderful. The school maintained excellent communication with parents, consistently kept us informed about our child's progress and daily activities. The environment is clean, organized and thoughtfully prepared with engaging materials that inspire creativity and critical thinking. We wholeheartedly recommend this Montessori school to any parent seeking a supportive, enriching and child-centered learning environment. We only wish they offered an elementary program especially with Ms. Melody and Ms. Gaby as teachers!

I'm writing this 5 years later. My son will be a third grader and my daughter (just born when I…read morewrote the last post) has her last day at MACC tomorrow. I still have the same warm, positive, and grateful feelings towards the school I did five years ago. All of my children's teachers (Misses Esmeralda, Ana, Elaina, Allie, Cynde, Shuly, Melody and Gaby) have been excellent. I'm a total snob about people and experiences - I don't like most things - and I love these women. They have all been such positive influences on my children's lives. I also want to give a special shout out to Ms. Marycarmen and Ms. Michelle, who are transparent, communicative, and proactive - I always feel very well-informed with what's happening. And thank you to Ms. Gao, the Mandarin teacher! My daughter loves her. Lastly, thank you to Ms. Ruhi. She is a terrific leader. She celebrates the children while also being serious about their education and well-being. In the depths of Covid, Ruhi was calm, direct, strong, and smart. I'd send her questions and she'd get right back to me with informed and smart responses. When we had a family emergency, she was right there to be a resource for us. Tomorrow is the end of a chapter for us, and I really do have tears in my eyes typing this. Every day when I drop off my kids - tomorrow with Miss Gaby and Miss Melody - I know they will be well taken care of and come home a little smarter, happier, and kinder. Miss Gaby and Miss Melody are icons in our house. Heroes for those of us who believe you can be serious and still kind, funny and still strong. Thank you to everyone I mentioned here, and anyone I forgot. You all have made an incredibly positive impact on me, my children, and ultimately, my family.

We have sent our older kiddo to Gan West for a year now. Being new to the community, we did not…read moreknow what to expect when it came to school/childcare. But we feel that thanks to Gan West our elder child has made great strides in learning academically, practicing potty training, and learning to empathize and socialize with other kids. Also being a non-Jewish family we were able to continue on learning its beautiful traditions and always felt included in this community. Though a little bit closed off to parents than usual due to new COVID procedures in place this past academic year, from what I have seen the teachers have been great. Whenever we address a concern, they do not take it lightly even if it is coming from the mouth of a toddler. We feel this is due to the leadership of principal/owner/morah Sarah. It is a small community so we feel that in a big city we have made some good friends. We will unfortunately be relocating to another city, but if we weren't we would be back here again :) Thank you Gan West!

We had such a wonderful experience at Gan West for both our boys. Our kids loved going to school…read moreevery day and we knew they were in great hands!! Huge thanks to Sara, Elizabeth, and all the wonderful teachers at this special school.

We've had multiple children go through the Trimmersion (Mandarin + Spanish immersion) program, and…read moreevery single one of them have absolutely loved their time at CCM. My older kids were devastated to leave. The teachers and staff are beyond exceptional, and they treat the kids with so much love and kindness. We've become close friends with many of the other families, which speaks to the care and thought CCM takes in putting classes together. They also have a robust activities/enrichment program, including soccer, tennis, and dance. Most importantly, my kids have come out of the program fluent in 2 foreign languages! There's really no other preschool like it on the Westside. My only note is I wish CCM would extend through elementary school! :)

Our kiddo just graduated from the best preschool which prepared her for the global world!…read more Specializing in full immersion programs Spanish only Mandarin only Mandarin & Spanish dual (switching classes after nap) I read that exposing children to multiple languages before the age of five unlocks part of the brain otherwise not developed. I researched and toured countless preschools before selecting CCM. Our kid did the dual which was the best decision ever. My husband speaks Spanish (but doesn't at home) and I know very rudimentary Korean. Our daughter at the agent of 2 years 3 months picked up both languages quickly. Hearing multiple languages was normalized at her young age. She has loved learning the language & experiencing both Latin & Chinese traditions. All kids get to dance with mariachi singers for Cinco de Mayo Break piñatas Lunar new year Dragon or Lion dances And too many more cool events to list Culver City Montessori is intimate, clean & safe. We loved the teachers & staff. They became family throughout the years and we hope to continue to be a part of the CCM community for years to come. Highly recommend!

This is a special place. Irreplaceable. Our child started in the toddler program where we attended…read morewith her. We enjoyed the experience and bonded with her peer parents and the teachers. We were hooked. The operator, Patricia, created a beautiful environment that feels both intimate and aspirational. The staff is immersed in the Reggio Emilia pedagogy, which makes the school feels less "schooled" and not like a daycare where they're just "watching" children. Every space presents an opportunity for learning, engagement and growth. Every teacher engages with your child. There are no "worksheets." The children learn through projects and individual study. We loved the annual camping trips and nature hikes. Over time, the school and families became a safe haven for our family, changing our perspectives of what a school should be. It should be an extension of community. I can't say enough about how amazing this place is. I literally can't find anything that compares.

Our child has continued on the Branches journey, first at summer camp, and now in the preschool…read moreprogram. This school, the administration and teachers are truly the best and we feel so grateful to be here. Additionally, the parent community is absolutely fantastic. Highly recommend.

Came to Turning Point School for my son's basketball game and was very impressed. The facility is…read moreclean and well kept, and everything felt very family-friendly. The parking staff in particular stood out - they were kind, organized, and made sure we had a place to park, even directing us to another lot when needed. It made the whole experience much smoother and less stressful. Between the nice facility and the welcoming attitude, this is an easy 5-star review from me.

A wonderful, enriching environment for children to learn and build true friendships. We can't say…read moreenough good things about Turning Point and what it's meant for our family and what it's done for our daughter.

VTP is great! My daughter feels really happy every morning to go to school and that means a lot to…read moreme. Some pros and cons: Pros: - really good space (classroom, backyard and bathrooms), it's clean, - Cindy and aunties are caring and responsive, - lots of fun extra curricular activities (kidchella, movie nights, pj days, water day, bouncing houses and much more), - weekly agenda is also well designed, besides the regular topics (ABC's, colors, numbers, etc... they also discuss about global warming, endangered animals, different cultures). - they use Bloomz to communicate with parents, post pictures and the weekly agenda, - the graduation day was remarkable (songs, videos, treats, photo book, clothes, *no extra cost*), - they are rock stars on their party/event decorations I love all details. Cons: - could improve on communication related to big announcements. Sometimes it's not totally clear the guidelines, - parking is limited on Duquesne, - they could have once per quarter a 1x1 feedback meeting with parents about their child development and behavior. My daughter is ready for kindergarten, and my baby boy will definitely go to VTP.

I wasn't going to write this review, but a recent incident with our daughter reminded me of the…read moredifference in how certain things *should* be handled. My wife and I loved this school (especially its school for toddlers on Clarington) until they started having issues with the Directors (the first one - who was very lovely - had a husband who was running a business out of their home above the school and defrauded people online, claiming to be a computer repair service). Then they brought in someone named Monica (who had no school experience per se but did come from a children's hospital) who lasted two months, tops. We were told she left for familial reasons. Then Kim arrived. Our then 3-year-old daughter was having issues with a classmate teasing her for having two moms. I was a parent volunteer there for many months, so I actually did witness the child making fun of her for having two moms, and the teachers told me about other incidents as well. After the third time, my wife and I asked Kim to intervene. She told us that while she would finally talk to the child's parents, it was *our* daughter who would need to "toughen up" (that is a direct quote) because Kindergarten was next and apparently (based on her comment), she thinks they tolerate bullying and teasing in Kindergarten. In case you were wondering, no actual good school (or teachers) will tolerate this, let alone turn around and say that the child being harassed should "toughen up." Our daughter had a single incident recently at her elementary school, and the teacher immediately talked to that student and then also talked to the parent--all without us having to even ask. And, she's loathe to take responsibility, especially for a Director with a young staff. One time Kim oversaw a Father's Day project with our daughter where they made her pose with a "Happy Father's Day. I love you Dad" sign to put in a card they had her make for her non-existent father. When I came to pick my daughter up that day, Kim brought me into the office to show me the card, throwing the teacher under the bus for it, instead of taking responsibility as the school Director, who should be approving and overseeing projects. Additionally, I would often see Kim leave on shopping trips for long stretches of time or often come in late, leaving the school overworked and understaffed. We were also surprised by the lack of diversity in the student body. Perhaps that's because when it came to enrollment, Kim was more excited about what the parents did for a living. There was one family she couldn't wait to have start because she told me the father worked at an organic snack company. She told me she was quite excited for all the free snacks she assumed they would be getting. We left Village Tree to go to Treehouse on Motor. That Director has far more experience and was always present and involved in every single aspect of that school. Additionally, on our child's very first day, her teacher asked me what name I go by (ie Mommy, Mama, etc.) because they had been trained in dealing with diverse families. Our daughter was very happy there!