Temple Beth Shalom Children&#x27;s Center

(4 reviews)

0.3 mi

I have been a teacher at Carter for the past 12 years but before that, all three of my adult…read morechildren attended the school. Dedicated, loving teachers and a warm, caring environment provided the foundation for my children to be successful in kindergarten and beyond.

Both of my kids go to Carter and I can't say good enough things about this school! The teachers'…read morenurturing and loving energy and years of experience helped my timid kids feel comfortable from Day 1. Their play-based curriculum is stimulating, engaging, and appeals to a variety of interests. Carter is a special place for these early years and we feel lucky to be part of such a wonderful community!

Panda and Teddy block room

4's block room

4's playground

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The Rashi School

3.0

2.8 mi

Rashi is a different type of school. Your children first will get the world class education…read more My daughters student teacher ratio is about 8:1, not including the gym, art, social justice (more on that later) and Hebrew teachers. However, Rashi is unique for reasons other than a great education. Their partnership with Newbridge Senior center is inspired. Your child will get life lessons and wisdom from people much older. Kindness, Respect, and Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) are the other hallmarks of a Rashi education. Students learn to see the world as it and how best to improve it. Social justice isn't preached, its intertwined with the curriculum. I once asked a teacher at Nobles why he sends both his kids there. His reply speaks volumes. He said Rashi kids at Nobles are different. They are more grounded and respectful than other kids. Lastly, the community is just plain awesome. Seriously. They are just a hard working bunch of parents who want what is best for their children. I normally would end a review there, but October 7th has taught a valuable lesson. I want my daughter to be proud of her heritage and be able to stand up for herself in an increasingly hostile world. Rashi is the only place where education, social justice and your heritage will be taught.

For a Jewish Day School, Rashi lacks Jewish values. We found Rashi to be unprofessional, unethical,…read moreand the school's administrators to be highly disrespectful. There was no transparency/communication in the admissions process - after countless hours, including a ninety-minute tour and on-site assessment/pre-screening, and $125.00, we were told that there was no financial aid left for the coming year, which should have been communicated to us before beginning the admissions process. I would not waste your time and money investing in Rashi!

Tenacre Country Day School

2.9 mi

This school is has an extremely welcoming community of students, teachers and parents and provided…read morean exceptional foundation for our two children.

From the owner: Founded in 1910, Tenacre enrolls approximately 195 students from pre-kindergarten through grade 6…read more Located on 10 acres of land in Wellesley, Massachusetts, the Tenacre grounds include five buildings, athletics fields, swimming pools, and the Phyllis Scoboria Orchard. Tenacre is accredited by the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE). Students come from 26 towns. Twenty-seven percent of students self-identify as students of color. The school employs 53 faculty and staff with a faculty/student ratio of 1:13.

Tenacre's small group model offers immense benefits. The low student-to-teacher ratio allows every student to participate more fully.

The annual 5th and 6th grade spring musical is a beloved tradition among students.

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Tenacre's campus is located on 10 acres in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Pine Village Preschool - Needham

4.2

(10 reviews)

1.0 mi

Needham location needs severe improvement. My son did not…read morelearn Spanish and his naps were way too long. He would arrived at 8:00am and at noon they went to nap until 3:00. I would then pick him up at 3:30. Terrible if you ask me. My son is 5 (late birthday) and he only needed an hour of rest. He never wanted to nap honestly. The teachers at times would put them to nap at 11:50 which made me a bit furious....I would pick my son up for lunch and sure enough when I would drop him off at 11:50 the teachers would place the kids down for a nap 10 min early. They need to move this location into a bigger suite/building. It doesn't look like they invest much because it's obvious inside they need new toys/everything really just an upgrade. For the amount I spent to have my son attend, I expected better. Lastly, Jenn Doyle from enrollment needs to be fired. She's rude and takes forever to get back to you. She typically has the same lame excuse stating that she is in a meeting which an attitude. I pulled my son out of Pine Village because I felt that he was not learning at all. He is now in another Preschool where he's been learning really quick academically in order to be ready for kindergarten. Look elsewhere or stay away from the Needham location. Lastly, my son learned horrible habits of hitting and biting from other children. That stopped at his new school because the teachers would not tolerate this. But, at Pine Village the teachers my guess is that they did not pay attention to the kids or no consequences happened for example. pulling the child aside. And this is why it persisted. The teachers are nice here but they have a high turnover...My guess is that the higher up's do not value them and simply do not pay them well. The higher up's only cares about profit and they are rude. They should try treating the staff every Friday to maybe lunch as a thank you. Lastly, in order for teachers to receive a bonus they ask us parents to donate money. We pay a lot for our kids to attend school. They should maybe give them a bonus on their end...

Pine Village is a Spanish immersion daycare and preschool, with classes from infant to…read morekindergarten. There are a number of locations (10 by now?) and my son went to two: Brighton (for a transition summer before the new school opened) and Newton Highlands, and we toured West Newton. We LOVE PINE VILLAGE! It's clean, organized, professional, and so warm (emotionally, but also on cold winter days, literally). Spanish immersion. The teachers are native Spanish speakers but there are teachers who speak English (for kids who don't speak Spanish yet, and to talk to the parents who don't speak Spanish). The Directors are fluently bilingual and are around at dropoff and pickup if there is any linguistic confusion. (So no Spanish? No problem. Kids are supported in learning but are understood in English and parents can communicate.) My kid came in as a toddler knowing no Spanish and within a couple months he understood everything but responded in English, and now in preschool is expected to speak Spanish (with gentle prompting) given his abilities. There are Spanish books everywhere to read, or for teachers to read out loud. The price is on the lower side of area daycare/preschool, based on about 13 other schools I looked at. Still not cheap exactly, but maybe licensed trained and educational child care shouldn't be cheap, right? The 3 facilities I looked at are in different spaces, but all seem pretty nice and have access to play areas. The West Newton one is in a UU church basement near Mass Pike, and has a HUGE indoor space for winter running around. The Brighton one is in the bottom of a city block, with big windows, and a small playground/big field across the street, and a short walk away over a sky bridge is a huge glorious public water park with 2 big playgrounds, and Charles River walkways. (Pretty awesome especially in summer.) The Newton Highlands one is also in the basement of a church, in two large rooms, with a permanent smaller indoor play area and (depending on church uses eg play) access to the large empty room next door. There are two small fenced playgrounds and a short walk away is a big field. I'm told there are sprinklers for hot summer outdoor play. In addition they have group exercise classes, such as yoga or Zumba, which kids do according to interest & ability. Pine Village has a dedicated curriculum quality rep, who goes between all the locations to ensure that quality of education stays high across the sites and that best practices are shared. They're ok with different locations having their own 'flavor' or feel, so long as the quality stays consistent. They also really focus on emotional self regulation. Deep breathing like blowing up a balloon, and taking a time out to gather one's reserves when too emotional.

Newton Highlands location

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The Fessenden School

4.2

(5 reviews)

4.1 mi

You will never find a more fruitful and valued experience than what Fessenden has to offer to young…read moreboys looking to become respectful men. The tuition is high, but the return of investment is priceless. I would recommend Fessenden to anyone looking to send their son to the best junior boarding school in the country.

I attended Fessenden class of '98. It was a different place then and my hope is that the rampant…read morephysical and sexual abuse that I encountered has come to an end. After 19 years of silence I finally reported the abuse to authorities. Based on my forensic interview the DA determined my statements were "highly credible." Unfortunately the case didn't go to trial. The school offered me 100k to shut up. Fessenden then released statements to the Boston Globe in favor of the sitting administrator having been "cleared" of my allegations. How can an administrator be cleared and reinstated following a SETTLEMENT?

Forth Grade Wester Expansion Project

Pre-K Creates Wearable Art

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Lower School Valentine's Day

SolBe Learning

4.6

(19 reviews)

3.9 mi

Our toddler started at SolBe on day one of the school opening. We had very high hopes after our…read moreinterview, despite the cost being much higher than the alternatives. For the added expense, we were promised minute by minute updates, a two-to-one ratio of teachers to students, and a focus on education that could be overlooked elsewhere. Unfortunately, despite an excellent experience with the Director and our son's first teacher, a significant change was made after a few months. The Director, along with many more staff members, were replaced, and the focus seemed to shift notably towards higher profits and cost cutting measures. Our son was moved into a much larger room where there were often two teachers for eight babies, even after they showed up late. The stress put on the staff still making an effort meant that the "minute-by-minute" updates through the app were ignored until the afternoon when they played catch up while all the kids were napping. Often, we wouldn't find out if our son had eaten or had a diaper change until hours after he'd been picked up. The high ratio also contributed to clothes being lost or ruined with art materials unsuitable for infants, diaper changes being skipped, brusies and scrapes, and a near weekly changeover of staff who were clearly frustrated with the experience as well. Our son's class shared a changing room with another, and it was very common to hear the teachers there, unaware they were being observed, repeatedly screaming at the toddlers "everyone come here" and "be quiet". Another thing for prospective families to consider is that SolBe considers themselves a school first and a daycare second. On the average month, SolBe closes around three working days for holidays, conferences, and "teacher enrichment", meaning that working parents will suddenly have a child to account for (not even to mention the frequency that they contact you and ask you to bring your child home early because they "seem like they're not feeling so well', with no other symptoms than a low fever and a lack of energy; a very common experience for young kids). Obviously, the monthly cost is the same regardless of how many days they actually care for your child. Ultimately, we found another center that is offering 5 nine-hour days a week for the same price that SolBe was charging for 3 seven-hour visits. The new school doesn't have a fancy app or gourmet lunches, but we feel our child is a lot more than just an income source in their eyes, and we're much happier. (FYI- This review refers to the new location on Sherman Road, which doesn't have its own listing as of this date.)

Our family is extremely fortunate and blessed that our son's first social experience was at Solbe…read more He started school when he was just one year old, and was greeted with unparalleled love every day by his class teacher, all the other teachers, the director, and the chef. Now, he runs out the door and into his classroom. This 2 years old ability to love others and accept himself is on full display not only at Solbe, but also at the park, the supermarket, and on trips, where he greets everyone with a smile and a "Hello!" As parents, I am most grateful for : Solbe's nutrition system, the best in the US. Three meals a day, chefs prepare fresh, nutritious, and varied menus, allowing our young children to experience a wide variety of foods and get the most nutrition. So I can forgive myself when I serve him just chicken nuggets at dinner :) Furthermore, from such a young age, the teachers provide new art experiences every day. My son loves drawing, talking, singing, dancing, and running around--all of these activities are spontaneous and active. Thanks to Solbe, his brain, mind, and motor skills have developed remarkably, and most importantly, he seems very happy. So I can forgive myself when I let him watch TV before dinner time :) I am grateful to the teachers and staff who provide the world's best early education, nutrition, with a big love spirit and we truly appreciate their professionalism.

Yoga at the SolBe Fall Fiesta

Dwelling

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Yoga at the SolBe Fall Fiesta

The Creative Kids Studio

(9 reviews)

1.8 mi

I have two children in preschool and toddlers at Creative Kids and they really enjoy it. They are…read morewell cared for and teachers adore them. My kids enjoy the art and music enrichment classes in addition to their daily activities. They are well fed and the kids enjoy the food. My older son is learning a lot in preschool/pre-K to prepare him for Kindergarten. The school is clean which makes me feel comfortable and secure. I am happy to send my kids there and would recommend to other families.

My 3 year old daughter loves this school. As a parent, I love it even more. This school has it…read moreall! Aside from academics, she's learning music, art, dance, gets regular exercise and loves her teachers. A huge selling point for me is the teachers speak multiple languages with the kids. My daughter is 3 and she's already speaking 3 languages: English, French and Russian!

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Watertown Cooperative Nursery School

(7 reviews)

4.9 mi

There are so many wonderful things I could say about this preschool. The teachers are so giving and…read morepatient. They really take their time to get to know every individual child and they encourage their strengths and really help them to grow. My oldest child went here for two years and left very ready for kindergarten. My youngest will be at the school for three years and she loves going everyday. There is a very special parent community at the school, because it is a co-op all parents are asked to be involved with some aspect of the operations of the school, helping in the classroom once a month as well as fundraising activities. I have enjoyed this aspect very much, feeling very much part of a community and becoming friends with other parents has been very special. I would whole heartily recommend this school to anyone in the area looking for a preschool for their 2.9-5 year old.

Our son is in this third year at WCNS and has grown so much! He started at 2 years 10 months old,…read morehaving spent most of his time home with me. The first few months he was very interested in what the other kids were doing, but didn't want to participate. He was very much a watcher, figuring out how the other kids interacted with each other. After the Christmas break he became more involved, articulate, and participated more in group play. His second year he was still in the same class with the same teachers and thrived as a "big kid" knowing the ropes and helping out. He still liked to play by himself a lot, but was better able to invite kids that wanted to help to build a building next to his building. He also became better at stepping back from group play to go to the book corner when he was over stimulated. This year the school has moved to a mixed age format so he is with children 2.9-5 years old in his group. He is very much enjoying being a mentor to the younger children. It has also provided an opportunity too see how much he has grown over the last two years. Behaviors that he had when he started, like not wanting to share toys or wait a turn, he is now very patient with in the younger children. The teachers are wonderful and provide a range of craft, free play, and structured activities every day. The children play outside daily except in extreme bad weather. Early drop off and late pickup options are available and can be signed up for the day you need them.

Bright Horizons at Wellesley

4.8

(4 reviews)

1.4 mi

Bright Horizons Wellesley has been a phenomenal experience for our family. We absolutely love this…read moreschool, our daughter has attended it from toddler room through k-prep. It is such an enriching environment filled with teachers who treat each child with intentional & individual care, celebrating who they are and helping them grow into who they will become. The teachers are incredible educators and our daughter comes home each day excited to share what she's learned. The director Amy is the center's bedrock, and she has fostered such a family-first culture. Leaving your little one each day at a place you feel so good about is everything. We are so grateful to everyone who makes the school the special place it is, and would choose it every time. Utmost recommendation.

Director Amy and Asst Director Rachel have been so warm with answering all our questions to ensure…read morewe are putting our children in the right childcare. It's not just daycare, but it's been such an educational and enriching experience having both my kids grow and learn here. Amy goes above and beyond to answer all my questions over phone or email or in-person. She is always energetic, sharp, and was able to find solutions to help our kids transition comfortably to school. The lead teacher Taylor has been so thorough and responsible with our kids. She always has detailed updates and navigates through challenges when my kids have tantrums. I've interview so many schools, and BH Wellesley has been top-notch in every aspect- from responsiveness to cleanliness to education to integrity to staff. I can't say enough good things about this place.

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Temple Beth Shalom Children's Center - elementaryschools - Updated August 2026

People who viewed Temple Beth Shalom Children's Center also viewed

Henny Penny Nursery School

4.0

My son has had an amazing experience at Henny Penny. They do a lot of enrichment activities,…read moreincluding yoga. The Art Show was very exciting for our son, as he was able to show us all of his creations. It is a mixed age group, which creates a nice environment of learning and helping each other. The teachers are all very experienced and have a wonderful way with children. They are quick to identify and address any behavioral or interpersonal issues among the children and they are helpful with potty training, if your child is not trained before school starts. They have a significant focus on the arts - music, dance, painting, and crafts. The children all seem very happy and most mornings my son can't wait to go to school. We have all loved our time here.

Hertz Nursery School

Hertz is simply the best! All three of my children attend/attended and the community is so loving…read moreand wonderful to be a part of. The teachers care tremendously about the well being of their students and have made a meaningful impact on their lives.

Discovery Central Learning Center

(3 reviews)

The best decision we could have made was to choose DCLC for 3 of our kids. We have been associated…read morewith the program for over 7 years now. The program has truly been a second home to our entire family. Alicia DiDuca is the heart and soul of the program, who, along with Mrs. Joanne and Ms. Marisa, made it an incredible success. The per-school program is structured with routine activities, but at the same time allows the children to explore, and venture out, thereby developing their sensory, auditory and visual senses. The children are physically active every day outdoors. They also participate in Happy Feet soccer pre-school program and are frequently visited by a variety of children's musical acts. Us as parents and our children are very fortunate to have DCLC in our lives. I highly recommend it to everyone!!!

We are so thankful for the positive, loving, enriching experience my daughter had during her time…read moreat DCLC. The two most important factors I was seeking in a childcare/preschool environment for my toddler were 1. a place that she was excited to return to each day, and 2. a director who had excellent communication skills and knew what they were doing. I found that DCLC exceeded all of my expectations and at the most reasonable price in the area. We could tell from day one that DCLC was a special place as they took extra steps to ensure a smooth transition during our first week. Alicia (the owner/director) and her staff are some of the most clean/organized, kindhearted, intelligent people I've ever met. My daughter learned, among other things; manners, her body parts, counting, the alphabet, sharing, painting/coloring, and hit so many other wonderful milestones during her time there - things that I was too exhausted to teach her at the end of a work day. In addition to everything they taught my daughter, they were also incredibly helpful to me as a parent when I'd inquire about local weekend activities, toddler sleeping habits, how to enforce good behavior at home, food questions, etc. I felt 100% comfortable and confident with them as my main resource for general parenting questions because they were up-to-date on the newest educational/behavioral training and had many years of experience. During the first of this winter's blizzards when DCLC (which follows Newton Public School closings) was closed, Alicia sent out an email that morning to all parents with several ideas for indoor activities that we could do with our kids - it was so thoughtful and helpful, and I remember thinking to myself "wow, she really truly cares about me as a parent and my daughter as her student, and wants us all to have an easy fun day today." There was zero staff turnover during our time there, DCLC follows very clear and simple policies standard for most local daycares/preschools, and we found the other families to be as equally pleased as we were. The care, attention, and curriculum that we found with DCLC is unmatched by local daycare centers, or any other in-home daycare programs we could find in the area. The experience we had was top-notch and really hard to find elsewhere, and, having recently moved away, we miss DCLC very very much.

Early Bird Academy

This is a great local center with a lot of love. They take great care of the children and have one…read moreof the cleanest facilities I have ever seen. It's not only a day care but, also a school. They even have a curriculum for the children to do as early as 18 months. I would recommend them highly.

St. Paul's Nursery School

4.5

SPNS is truly the best! My son would run in everyday with a smile on his face. The teachers are…read moretruly amazing and the same goes for the community of families and students that attend. As a parent I feel it's the perfect mix of learning and play. Honestly can't say enough good things about this school- so happy with our decision to attend! My son has since graduated but I'm both eager and excited to be sending my daughter as soon as she turns 2.9 in a few months, I know she will be in great hands!

My son has made amazing progress during his time at SPNS, and we are very happy with our experience…read moreduring the last two years. The teachers are outstanding--they go above and beyond to engage the students in meaningful play and learning. The school community is welcoming and highly involved. My son loves going to school every day, and we will miss SPNS when he goes to kindergarten. Highly recommend!

Li’l Steps Academy

4.7

(3 reviews)

Thank you to all the staff at Lil Step your work and dedication means so much to my son. Your…read morecommitment to what you do shows. Thank you for being there the most

The teachers there are terrific, my kids adore them as much as they adore my kids. They are very…read morehelpful when it comes to teaching our kids, my son learns something new everyday. We need more like them!

Kingsley Montessori School

When looking for a school for our children six years ago, we found Kingsley Montessori and were…read morevery impressed by the staff and the educational program. We decided to our have our children attend the school and are very happy that we did. By utilizing the Montessori method in the younger classes and weaving it in to the older classrooms (which go through 6th grade), Kingsley offers a creative, fun, and effective way of learning. Not only are our children achieving academic success, but they both also love going into the classroom each day. As a family, we adore the caring and thoughtful staff and the overall school community. Highly recommend.

We love Kingsley and feel so lucky to have it in the neighborhood. Our son and daughter are…read morethriving there even though they are very different kids. The teachers are amazing - so helpful, caring and experienced. The school's leadership is very dedicated and engaged. It's also in a beautiful building, right in the heart of historic Back Bay. Every year the graduating kids get into their top choice schools. We couldn't ask for more from a school!

Stepping Stones Family Care

We were so lucky to find this type of care for our daughter. While at Stepping Stones, our daughter…read moregrew so much on a day-to-day and week-to-week basis. It was so fun to pick her up to see what else they did and learned that day (the daily reports are great). Nicole is able to give a lot 1-on-1 attention when necessary. I'd be hard pressed to find a more patient, caring, and compassionate person. She treated our daughter like she was a part of their family. It was so bittersweet when our daughter graduated. She still mentions Nicole and the other kids today. We miss Stepping Stones, but can't wait to visit when the weather gets nice. It's a great feeling knowing you'll always be welcome. Thank you Stepping Stones for helping mold our daughter!

We love this daycare! Nicole treats our daughter like she is a part of her family. She is getting…read morethe best care and lots of attention. Nicole creates lessons for each child including a full day of arts and activities. We are very lucky and happy to find Stepping Stones Family Care.

World of Wonder

Both of my kids went here (now in 5th and 2nd grade) and I cannot rave about this place enough. My…read moreson went here for 3 years and they molded him into a child who loves learning. He was taught structure and discipline and manners while having fun with his friends! The teachers are fabulous and friendly and really have a way of making their lessons fun. All of the children feel included and loved. My daughter went to a public preschool for 1 year and it was a nightmare! She didn't learn much and the teachers couldn't be bothered to engage her. Once I placed her into WOW I saw a huge transformation in a matter of weeks. She thrived. Not placing my daughter in WOW from day one was my stupidity. I was trying to save money and it was a huge regret. You get what you pay for. This place is amazing. They do not have a large turn over because the staff is dedicated and never leave. It's refreshing. My kids often talk about WOW and like to browse through their memory books. Every child graduates every year and it's incredible. The kids feel so special and it's a nice way to acknowledge all of their accomplishments and achievements.

The Early Skills Center Preschool