My now six year old son attended Storyville while he was in Pre-Kindergarten. This was our first…read moreexperience with daycare and I could not have been more satisfied with the Storyville team. The staff was warm, professional, and well-prepared to share their experience with my son for the day when I arrived to pick him up. My son has several chronic medical conditions which requires a significant level of coordination between school, his medical team, and child care provider. Through it all, the entire Storyville team contributed significantly to: (1) his speech development; (2) ability to interact with the staff and fellow classmates; and (3) his ability to explore new and exciting activities through field trips, swimming lessons, or magicians and storytellers, which were all a part of the regular activities line up. Regarding administrative matters, I found the team to be wonderful. The director Pam would personally send me email updates regarding administrative matters and was quick to respond to any questions I asked. Joan is equally amazing, extremely helpful, responsive, and knew my son very well. The teachers were supportive, attentive, caring and aware of upcoming programming. I think they went out of their way on many occasions to invite my partner and I to join in on field trips and become a part of my sons experience. With my son's medical conditions, safety in an integrated environment was a top concern in selecting a daycare. The care that the entire team demonstrated in working with him reassured me that this was the right place for him. Because of this experience, my son has had a smooth transition into Kindergarten and I am forever grateful for all the support we received from the entire Storyville team. He enjoyed his experience so much that I had very mixed feelings about his transition to Kindergarten and that school's extended-day program verses keeping him at Storyville. But ultimately, the momentum he gained after this experience led me to keep him moving forward. Thank you.

Can't say enough good things about this school. My son transitioned here at age 3 due to a move and…read moreI was a little nervous about how the transition would go (he'd been at daycare since 3 months old and loved his previous school). He was welcomed with warmth and affection and it went smoothly! The teachers are great, they always tell me how his day went and are open to discussing ideas about how best to handle my energetic little guy. He's learned so much and has really developed the academic and social skills that I hoped when enrolling him. The administration is fantastic, always flexible and accommodating to my crazy work schedule. My son starts kindergarten in the fall and is well prepared thanks to the school and it's dedicated teachers and staff. I highly recommend sending your little ones to Storyville!

It was one of the best decisions that we made for our daughter who was in russell between September…read more2018 and June 2019. Right when you enter the school, both you and your child feels welcomed and relaxed. Very friendly and caring teachers. Kids to teacher ration is 1/4 or 1/5, so there is an enormous amoung of attention and care per a child enrolled to this score. I wish that there would also be an afternoon option as the school runs from 845-1:45 (or 1230 if you want your kid to take a longer nap at home) But in case you can timewise afford a half-day school, I honestly believe that Russell is by far the best among all preschools in the Greater Boston area.

Russell Cooperative Preschool is such a lovely school for young minds to grow and wonder! We love…read morethe themed organic snack days prepared by the children, the "all-weather" outdoor play and the storytelling. The sunny and beautifully decorated classrooms immediately fostered our daughter's imagination. Our daughters growth and development has been gently supported and encouraged by all of the teachers. Russell has also provided us with a sense of community and parent involvement that we were seeking. Our daughter has bloomed into such a thoughtful and creative child! I strongly recommend to go and check it out and be pleasantly surprised as we were!

Our oldest son just finished his first year of preschool in the 3-day program at Belmont Coop. We…read moreabsolutely love the school. The director and the teachers are so engaged with the kids and its an incredibly warm and welcoming community. We originally visited the school when it was located in Cushing Square. The space was fun and interactive but the new space has really allowed the school to grow in both capacity and programming. It's bright and sunny with plenty of room for more creative play and planned activities. It has an adjacent playground as well as a nearby park for more lengthy outdoor activities. The school provides several special activities which our son loves. Habitat, the Mass Audubon education center, regularly visits his class and provides hands-on exposure to the local fauna. They are also regularly visited by Hugh Hanley, a local musician who leads an hour of song and story telling. These are particularly fun days to be a parent helper in the classroom. Since this was our first foray into school for our son, we are very glad we chose a coop program. It allows us to see our son in his school environment and better understand his development and how we can help shape his growth both at school and home. We also get to know and work with other parents and families in the area. The teachers provide regular feedback which is encouraging and helpful. We particularly love the director who is constantly in the rooms with each group of kids and consistently checks in with us. I would highly recommend this school to anyone but would strongly urge families to look into the program sooner rather than later as the school regularly has a wait list.

I agree with the previous reviewer - the leadership and teaching staff at this school are amazing…read more My twin boys had a wonderful year in the 3-day class as their first out-of-home experience, and we all loved it. Everyone on the teaching staff is extremely committed, detail-oriented, and caring. They are working really hard to create a fun, engaging environment, and to make sure that every child is included and enjoying the experience. The classroom is organized thoughtfully, with an impressive range of activities always available to the children plus daily curriculum plans that include developmentally appropriate and seasonal enrichment activities, and also the year's enrichment activities from outside visitors included theater, music, yoga, and art. There is always so much going on at this school, and yet it manages to feel comfortable and homelike for the kids. We have also really appreciated the co-op aspect of it, since we recently moved to the area from out-of-state. The school has a wonderful mix of families and they have all been very welcoming. This school feels like a close-knit family with teaching geniuses at the helm. I love it, the kids love it, and I can't believe we were lucky enough to find it.

We decided to withdraw our place at Goddard for our infant after we toured it. While we were…read morethere, we saw a teacher gruffly push the head of an infant back down after they woke up. We were deeply concerned by this and shared our feedback with the management. They reacted dismissively to our feedback. It was an easy decision for us to not move forward despite losing our full $3,000 deposit and having to scramble to find alternative childcare.

I can't say enough about what the Goddard School has done for our family…read more In our previous center, We were told my son was a "problem and "what are we going to do with him." At one point, I dropped him off and I went to pick him up 5 minutes later. I couldn't. And I searched for another center. Our son started in a room on the cusp of the younger kids because of his speech and social development. He fell in love with one teacher, Kelly. She (and Goddard!) saw what we saw in Vincent. Goddard helped Vincent learn to love school. He's now in pre-k and loves all of the teachers, friends and now learning. He loves animals, math, writing, asked when he can start reading, and surprises us every day! My son is in speech through the Belmont Public Schools and needed an evaluation to assess the whole picture of his education. After the school visited Goddard, they expressed their approval of Ms Kim and Ms Nicole in their control in the classroom (even with some high energy little boys-- my son being one of them :)) and what love they had for teaching. I know he'll excel in kindergarten! My daughter loved every second of everything. Goddard brought out the best in her and created life long friendships! She loves to go pick up brother and say hi to all of the staff, teachers and friends. It's a place you'll always feel welcome! We'll be sad to leave Goddard this summer and recommend to anyone and everyone. The owners truly care about not only the success of Goddard, but every individual student and staff. It shows in everything at Goddard!

We started at Bright Horizons on the Charles when our daughter was 16 weeks old. Our experience…read morethere completely exceeded our expectations (and they were high). As first time parents, we needed a lot of reassurance and they went above and beyond to provide it. They offered so much time and advice as we were navigating the various stages of early parenthood, and our teachers were accessible through weekly zoom calls for questions and information on our daughter's development. Their encouragement meant everything to us. Their facility is one of a kind- you will not find outdoor play space like they have, or a center with so many movement and play options inside their facility. Every teacher has been wonderful, and the administration at this facility is phenomenal. Not just great at running their entire operation but at being kind humans to parents during a pandemic. Our family has made wonderful memories and lasting friendships from Bright Horizons and we are so grateful for everything they have done for us.

FYI - The jackass below has no clue and has falsely lowered the star score. Idiot.read more

This place is excellent for toddlers and older kids. I like the fact that is a Spanish language…read more(Bilingual) Montessori school. Something hard to find if you come from an Hispanic background and you want your child (children) to explore their ancestry language outside of home. Also great for those who want their children to start learning another language too. So, you get a bargain here they teach them the Montessori way a second language at the same time. The teachers are very caring and friendly. They show a lot of respect and kindness to the children and their parents.

Our daughter, age 4, has been a student at Montessori Escuela for almost two years. We have been…read moreconsistently astounded by every aspect of the school - the gentle kindness, the astonishing academics, and the true love for learning they instill in the children. The teachers are incredible. They each embody the type of kindness we need more of in this world. They model patience, respect, grace, gratitude, and kindness at all times. They teach these qualities with elegant purpose, integrated into a curriculum that beautifully weaves in discussions of diversity, respect for differences, and peaceful resolution of conflict. On top of their wonderful work to promote strong character development and peace, Montessori Escuela runs a top-notch educational program. The students positively thrive. They excel academically (we are constantly in absolute wonder at the students' work), while most importantly developing a true love for learning. Our family only speaks English at home, but to our delight, our daughter is seamlessly learning Spanish. When you enter Montessori Escuela, you step into a beautiful educational preserve. The children are happily involved in their various "works," often helping one another. The sunlight shines through the windows. There is a reverence for concentration and true accomplishment. The children are smiling, truly genuinely happy, absolutely thriving in their special discoveries. Our daughter comes home happy, singing tunes from "Circle Time," and enthusiastically telling us stories from her day: what object was in the "Mystery Bag," what foods they prepared in the kitchen, what project she is working on (and can't wait to get back to!). The range of projects from all subject areas is mind-blowing. We love the influence of the Montessori method that we see trickle into our home: she understands the value of organization, responsibility for her own actions, and quiet focus. She is truly excited to initiate things like sounding out words or seeing how high she can count, with a twinkle in her eye. This happens at home without prompting - seemingly from an internal curiosity, although I know it has been significantly cultivated by the loving educational environment of Montessori Escuela. I cannot say enough good things. I feel incredibly grateful to this preschool. This program is a hidden jewel!

Little Llama isn't just a daycare but a second home. The…read morecare, warmth, and intention they pour into every child is exceptional. Our toddler is not only hitting developmental milestones with ease, but is also thriving in a multicultural environment that nurtures curiosity and confidence. Trust, love, and growth is all in one place. Thank you all! We appreciate all your efforts!

We tried several models of daycare in the Belmont / Watertown area for our two children, before…read morefinding Little Llama when our youngest was entering preschool at 2.9 years. We have had an amazing experience at Little Llama and simply did not think that a childcare / preschool provider could be this wonderful. The curriculum is creative and engaging, including music, exercise, and hands-on activities every day. The children also go outside every day, often several times a day, for fresh air, walks, and play in every season. The space is sunlit, bright, and spotlessly clean. What especially stands out to us is how communicative the owner, Evgenia, has been from day one, and how communicative the teachers are throughout our son's day. We get updates, photos, and daily summarizes about his experience and any time we send a message to teachers, they respond immediately. The preschool teachers are so wonderful, treating the children with kindness, respect, and enthusiasm. And as bonuses: a healthy (!) lunch is provided every day, drop off and pick up are easy with ample side street space to pull up to, and there is a very secure safety system installed in the building. Our son is thriving and loves going to school every day. We truly cannot recommend Little Llama enough; we only wish we had found this wonderful childcare and preschool earlier in our parenting journeys.

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.

I honestly cant say enough great things about this place…read more The owner is amazing... she truly loves what she does and cares SO much. She is just the nicest person I have ever met. The school itself... pristine... locked/gated/beautiful grounds and play areas. The place is safe, the teachers are AMAZING... they care and they know what they are doing. The activities, learning plan, etc.... WOW! The families... the sense of unity in the various families who attend this school... WOW! I really cant express how amazing this place is. My daughter is learning so much from the curriculum and it is effortless. The encouragement, professional staff, cleanliness, lesson plans, overall environment... it just cant be matched. You want to be part of this place and it is well worth the money.

My son Jack is now in his second year at the Teddy Bear Club (he started when he was 2 years old)…read more It has been an amazing experience for him and our family. The teachers, the curriculum and the facility are positively amazing. I cannot say enough about how pleased we are with our experience. We live a decent distance away from the school and Jack's mom drives him from our home on the South Shore to Newton... To those of you from the area, I hope this points out just how great we think the school is, that we'd travel that far. We look forward to Jack's third year with the school next year!

We had a very positive experience at this school! Our son spent his first primary year of…read moreMontessori education at GMS and he so clearly thrived in the environment nurtured by his teachers and Miss Sahar/Tara. He joined at the age of 3.5 and within a few weeks made significant strides in terms of his learning & development, independence (such as dressing himself, cleaning up after play time, and helping out around the house), and overall curiosity on reading / writing / coloring. GMS still has that small community feel even as the classes continue to grow and the system becomes more mature over time. We are sad to have only learned of this school late in our time in the greater Boston area and wish we could've stayed for the full 3-year cycle.

Both of my children have attended Global Montessori (GMS) and we love the school. We started both…read morekids in September 2016, when the school first opened. My oldest has since graduated to elementary school and my youngest is finishing up her 4th and final year before heading to Kindergarten next year. We moved my son from a play based "daycare" to GMS because it was clear that he was hungry for more challenge in that last year before K. He thrived at GMS. Not only did he tell me that he LOVED his new school, he excelled at developing math skills (which he chose to pursue, true to the Montessori philosophy) that even 3 years later, still prepared him to be ahead of his elementary classmates. My daughter has had the benefit of 4 years at GMS. She has developed age appropriate math skills but her passion is reading and writing. At age 4, she was reading and spelling short words, and at age 5 she's reading entire books! She is so happy and proud of herself. Now don't get me wrong. GMS is not pushing my kids in educational drills. Far from it. The kids enjoy lots of outdoor play, craft projects, musical performances, and they are currently rehearsing their annual spring play (seriously the most adorable performance ever on stage!). I also really appreciate the self sufficiency skills the kids are taught (hand washing, teeth brushing, cleaning up after themselves, setting the table, etc). Two of the staff really stand out to us. Miriam C has been my kids' teacher for the past 4 years and she's outstanding. Kind, fun loving, enthusiastic, and structured. Tara S oversees the staff and is also wonderful: silly, warm, caring and organized.