We loved our time at Cardiff Family Daycare. The owner Jodie is so warm and experienced- we…read moreimmediately felt safe to leave our 9 month old in her care. We loved that the kids do lots of outside activities and that Jodie is flexible with how they nap and any other individual needs they might have. We will continue to bring our kids there when their new schools have breaks and we need coverage care. 10/10!

We cannot recommend Jodie and Cardiff Family Daycare highly enough! Our son started with Jodie when…read morehe was 16 months old and stayed for a full year. During that time, we saw incredible progress in his development and social skills. Jodie is so creative with her daily activities; she doesn't just 'watch' the kids, she truly teaches them through play. One of our absolute favorite parts of the week was Music Day, where a musician comes in with a guitar to sing with the children. It was a highlight for our son! Jodie has cultivated a wonderful, kind group of children, and the environment is always warm and welcoming. We only moved him because we wanted a Spanish-immersion environment for his language development, but we are so grateful for the love and care Jodie gave our son. She will be missed!

Absolute most wonderful teachers and staff, and such a special place. Both my boys went there…read more(newer Olivenhain location) and I can't recommend it enough.

Love this school. They take such good care of kids and meet kids where they are. They value play…read moreand understand that drive problem solving and long term success.

When I first saw this place, I was like oh it's just old school, California earthy. I liked earthy…read morewhen I was young this will be great. Mistake number one on my part. I am sure this was a great place and idea in the 70s. I don't know the exact history, but it was probably more of a small neighborhood school for the neighborhood when it began. But truth be told, it isn't what it used to be. I don't know maybe it was always like this and nobody expected anything better or thought that they would need to evolve. We have evolved as parents, teachers and guardians of how to raise a healthy secure child and how to really help them thrive and feel safe in a pre-school/school environment. There are too many incidents to mention and too many red flags to mention of what my child witnessed and I myself witnessed and other parents witness but I didn't know any better. Your young child will not be in a physically safe environment in the outside area, there are hiding spots for children of all ages to wreak havoc and harm each other. Despite what you're told, the bigger kids are definitely mixed together with the younger kids without proper supervision and it's basically a free for all. "It's a kids will be kids and boys will be boys environment". That said, they also have them watch tv if they aren't allowed to nap. Yes they can tell your child they can't nap, there is not room for everyone. The teachers feed them candy without asking your permission and your child will be totally filthy when you get them, unless it's raining, then they have to block the whole dirt/Sand back off because it will be totally muddy with pools of water. The bathrooms are also a free for all. If your child is potty training, this is not the place you want them. Although the 2 tiny little potties and sinks are cute, they have zero privacy. Children are allowed to open the doors and crawl under the doors while other children are going potty. I saw this more than once and nobody did a thing. Things such as big boys were slamming the doors back and forth bothering a little girl who was going to the bathroom. My kid who was learning said that he didn't want to go at school because the big kids bothered him, so he was terrified. Maybe they get to eat a proper lunch without being harassed. The children with emotional or behavioral issues are not helped properly and are left to do as they please to the other children if they are not constantly supervised. Even during lunch or snack time. My child literally begged me not to take him to school on several occasions and I just thought he was being a toddler but now I know better. I have also witnessed children climbing the fence begging parents not to leave them. Again, I thought this was normal. It is not. He and his friends were being bullied and tormented by other older children and he was emotionally stressed, time has passed and he STILL talks about it. When I had to address an issue and asked to discuss it, I was heavily dismissed and ignored. Security-They leave signs for delivery people on the front latch gate to leave packages in the outdoor hallway. Which means if your child is hanging around alone someone could easily snatch them. Granted it has probably never happened but it's not actually secure. Anyone can walk in through the two old iron school gates and harm the kids if they wanted to. This place in theory could be great if it were updated, cleaned up, painted, managed and staffed properly and not a total fire hazard. If you let your child go and he or she thrived, great for you, but if your child showed or shows signs of being abnormally stressed, hopefully they will be able to express that to you and hopefully you listen to them. My son was sad and stressed after only a short few months and my heart broke. I felt like the worst parent ever for not noticing it wasn't his age but the environment I placed him in. PROS-great art projects and Ms. Lara One teacher Ms. Lara was always kind and gentle and basically had to protect some of the children and she knew it, but even she was afraid to have a voice. I felt like she was pretty intelligent and should probably be in a better place herself; but Ms. Frankie, Ms. Cathy and the other teacher(s) were not that smart and I am not even sure if they have degrees in child development, If they do, I am shocked and I didn't ask and that is my fault. Cons-Everything else Please do your research, there are much much much better/safer options for your child and you only have to pay as much as this place costs or a few hundred more for a quality education in the area.

This is one of the best places to send your pre-school child. This family-run business has been in…read morebusiness for over 30 years with two other locations--Encinitas and Vista. Kathy is the head cheese and has guided many children in this space many well-ahead of the game when entering kindergarten. I can honestly say is that the children are really loved and looked after here. She has had the same employees for many years as they also truly love the experience. The emphasis is on supporting the children as they explore art, learning and playing. There is none or only limited time on computers and the kids can even play in their bare feet. My child attended this awesome school for 2.5 years and she still maintains friendships that she established there. Just a note, the location has never been renovated so be prepared.

We absolutely love this school! They are so great with the kids and provide not only a great…read moreeducation, but a kind, safe and loving environment for the kids. One of my kids will be starting kindergarten soon and will be very well prepared. MSE has taught her to read, write, addition, subtraction, etc. She has an advanced understanding of science, biology, history, music, etc. The teachers we have had are all SO great. I can't say enough good things, I highly recommend!

Great school. Our daughter has learned and grown so much. We are so lucky to have this place!read more

We are entering our second year and loving it. Our daughter adores the school; she very clearly…read moreprefers this school to her other preschool because she loves the academics and challenges. So much so that our daughter requested to stay in extended day! It's a warm environment that pushes her to learn and grow- could not ask for a better environment. Ms. Miriam was an amazing addition to the school; bringing fun cooking and science to life.

We couldn't be happier with our experience at Rhoades Preschool. My oldest daughter started at the…read moreschool at 2.5 years old and graduated PreK. She is now in Kindergarten and was extremely prepared for Kinder and I credit Rhoades for giving her such a strong academic foundation. She still talks about her preK teacher Miss Roseann who is wonderful. My younger daughter is currently at Rhoades and is thriving. She says "school is my favorite thing to do" and adores her teacher Miss Danielle. Miss Danielle is so warm and loving and makes the kids feel special. She is always filling their day with fun, creative activities and makes learning fun. The kids are exposed to so much more than a standard curriculum - for example they have Spanish, Mandarin, French, music, science, and even cooking. The other families have been great and it is a really wonderful community that we are thankful to be apart of.

i'm surprised to see so few reviews for a preschool that has a long wait list, all the reviews are…read moredated. It feels like people just don't want to give away a "local secret" that this school really is. The campus is large, it used to be an elementary school. All the teachers have been working here for years, they are very kind and caring. The school is very safe and secure, they do lots of outdoor playtime, my daughter is currently attending preschool there, and later will be going to pre-k as well. The school provides very flexible schedule and full days as well, which is so important for working parents. My kid loves it there!

My 1st child actually went to preschool here...way back when…read more.. i didn't know what i was doing...didn't do all the waitlists at every hip preschool... so i started here. The school is fine..I can't say anything bad. Everybody was friendly. the teachers were kind. there were flexible options of 1/2 day, full day, partial week, full week etc... but it is truly a glorified daycare. I don't think the "teachers" are actually credentialed teachers (don't quote me on that because it may not be a fact, just my intuition) the kids are in a safe, fun environment and if that is what you are looking for this can be a great school...but I wouldn't expect a whole lot of learning here... just a note....the school i moved my son to after was the polar opposite...way to strict and no fun...3rd school i found a good balance of both.

What can I say about this incredible place? Both of my kids attended The Academy, and we have loved…read moreevery single moment. It all started in the winter of 2022, when we found out we'd be moving back to California. I was frantically searching for a preschool and hitting walls at every turn. I knew I wanted a Montessori-inspired approach, and I needed a school with room for both of my children. When I reached out to The Academy, they responded quickly and were so accommodating of the fact that we couldn't do an in-person tour. Kristine, who was the interim director at the time and has since become the director, did our tour over FaceTime and the moment it ended, I just knew. And the best part? It ended up being right down the road from the house we bought. If that doesn't scream meant to be, I don't know what does. My oldest started in the preschool class and my youngest in the young toddlers class. By the time my oldest graduated, he was more than ready for kindergarten and now the time has come for my youngest to do the same. I won't pretend I'm not going to cry on her last day. This school has been so much more than a preschool. It's been a place where I knew, without a doubt, that my children would be loved, protected, and given every opportunity to flourish. Every teacher we had was wonderful. The admin team consistently goes above and beyond for their families. Our previous preschool was a completely different experience. The constant staff turnover at this other school, meant our kids rarely had the same teacher twice, and it showed. The stability and consistency at The Academy has made all the difference. If you're a parent searching for the right place for your little one, look no further. Truly. My kids already ask if they can come back to visit. That says it all. Thank you to Kristine, Mallorie, Maricel, and every teacher who made our time there so meaningful and special. You will never fully know how much you all mean to our family. We will miss you more than words can say.

We have had a very positive experience here! I have an older son so this is also my fourth…read morepreschool so I feel like I have something to compare it to. My daughter started at 18 months. The teachers in the toddler classroom are so sweet and patient - Miss Monica and Miss Jayme. They are willing to work with whatever schedule you'd like to ease the children into the classroom. They are also very good at helping the children transition as many times this is their first place away from home. They have part time or full time schedules available. There is also an app and there are constant updates parents receive including lunch time, nap time, diapers and play time with pictures. I also love that there is a drive through drop off and pick up where the children are brought into school or out to the car. I'm a working mom and responsible for all the drop offs and pick ups and since my son attends another school, we don't have to get out of the car so this makes things much easier. The school also hosts some parent classes for free if you're interested. Cost wise for full time, it is on the higher end from what I've seen but it's cheaper than having a nanny which is what we had previously. I also believe it is reflected in the quality of care so it is worth it to me. I am happy we found this school and my son will be attending as well starting in a couple of weeks.

I wish I could give more stars. We love it as well, because our daughter loves learning at her own…read morepace here. ! She learns both English and Spanish! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! Quality of her teaching and the value the kids learn is amazing!!!!!

This review is overdue. Aria came under Ms, Gladys' care 2 years ago. She was skinny, picky at…read morefood. Aria could have gone to TK but I kept her at Gladys 1 more year bc I did not think she was ready for a bigger school. Now after 2 years, she has flourished so much. She eats all kind of food, actually Ms Gladys' food is the best not mommy's . She reads well, is good at math, follows Montessori. Kumon even complimented her she had passed TK level on math. This is coming to an end for Aria at ABCD as she will start kindergarten soon. It is such a bittersweet moment. But at least I know I will bring my second daughter to her soon. Thanks Gladys and Pablo for loving her, caring for her from feeding 1 spoon of food at a time. She is now ready for K, and she is well equipped because of you. This is not just daycare, it is preschool and love and heart. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I can't believe I haven't written this sooner but sometimes you take for granted the amazing places…read morethat are part of your everyday life. Sandy Hill was a refuge for us when we were worried about sending our son to school during the worst of COVID but it became so much more. His dad and I are both early educators so we are extremely particular about preschool programs. It was important for us to find a play-based preschool because we believe that play is the universal language of childhood learning. At the time, classes were held outside and that made us feel very comfortable. Even as things opened up, we continued to feel like we were in a community of families that truly cared about one another and we were all doing our best to keep each other safe. The spaces at this hidden gem are nothing short of magical. I wish I could go back to preschool myself and spend my days digging in the sand and hunting for sparkle treasure. This was such a special place for our family and undoubtedly will be again when we send our younger son in a couple of years. Our pre-k kiddo went to the MWF on-campus program and then spent Tuesdays and Thursdays at outdoor class. Outdoor class with Miss Kacy is such a unique and wonderful gift to children who love exploring their world and being out in nature. Our son is in kindergarten this year but he talks about how he misses Sandy Hill pretty much every day, which is what inspired me to finally write this long-overdue review. We love you, Sandy Hill! Thank you for everything!!!

Love sandy hill! Magical outdoor classrooms and the lowest ratios around. The teachers have been…read morearound for a while and are knowledgeable and kind.