My daughter attended Joyful Beginnings for 2 years before starting kindergarten. We always had a…read morevery positive experience there, but I'm kind of glad I never reviewed the preschool because now I have an even better perspective now that my daughter is in grade school. I feel like the teachers did an amazing job preparing her for kindergarten and fostering both her social and academic skills. I'm thrilled to write that my daughter is loving school and excited to go everyday. Thanks to everyone at Joyful Beginnings, especially the incredible teachers Erica, Tracy, and Taryn! The school runs very efficiently under the direction of Carol, and I always found it to be an incredibly safe and clean environment. I liked that the days/schedule was a bit flexible and that helped our family be able to select the schedule that would fit our finances. Thanks to all!

We love this school! All the staff is amazing! Very communicative, caring, professional and truly…read morehave the education and know how to care for your children and all their needs! My mom has been in education for nearly forty years and always loves everything I tell her about our preschool. I love that they use the brightwheel app and you can see pictures the teachers post to see what the kids are learning about or what fun activities they are up to. Can't recommend JB enough!

My daughter joined the Firetruck Room at OFS with Katie (her primary caregiver) and Maylis, and it…read morehas truly been a transformative experience for her -- and for us as a family. We came from a more traditional daycare setting where she stayed fairly quiet and reserved for nearly a year. Within just a few months at OFS, she was thriving. Now, after two wonderful years, she's graduating as a confident, empathetic, and wildly creative kid whose true personality was clearly nurtured and celebrated by every caregiver she encountered. One of the most impactful aspects of OFS is their primary caregiver model, which gave our daughter a deep sense of safety, stability, and trust. Their project-based curriculum, where kids vote on topics they want to learn about, empowered her to take ownership of her learning and develop a curiosity that astonishes us daily. She now teaches us about the world -- even how to take care of it! Sofia, her current primary caregiver, went above and beyond to support us with things like Kindergarten readiness. Through joyful play, she introduced foundational math and reading concepts that she now uses in everyday life. Her thoughtful assessment gave me clarity and made completing public school enrollment paperwork a breeze. Beyond the classroom, OFS fosters a strong sense of community. They host events that bring families and teachers together, and over our two years here, we've built lasting friendships and support systems that I know will extend beyond preschool. We are endlessly grateful to Katie, Sofia, Maylis, Judy and the entire OFS team. This school has been a foundational chapter in our daughter's life -- one filled with joy, growth, and love.

This is an overdue and very long but very well deserved review of the special place this is OFS…read moreWalnut Creek! We absolutely cannot say enough wonderful things about Old Firehouse School in Walnut Creek. We were on the waitlist for a little over a year and we are so glad we held out for our spot! It was beyond worth the wait! From the moment we first toured, we knew it was something special and that feeling has only deepened as our son continues to thrive at OFS. He is graduating from OFS this summer and will enter Kindergarten this Fall. One of the things that immediately stood out to us was the school's primary caregiver model. This was very important to us and to my knowledge OFS is the only preschool in the area with this special model. Each child is paired with a dedicated caregiver who truly gets to know them and builds a deep, nurturing bond over the years, not just with the child, but with the whole family. This consistency and emotional safety has made such a difference in our son's confidence, sense of security, and joy at school. It's clear the staff understands how essential these early relationships are for lifelong trust and emotional development. Our teacher, Maylis is a true gift! She is such a special person and is the epitome of a dedicated educator. In Maylis' care our son and his class have been encouraged to explore their own ideas and curiosities in collaborative, creative ways. The projects she has them participate in are so impressive. I don't know how she gets a classroom full of preschoolers to engage so deeply in each lesson with such passion, it is truly magical to see! Maylis has helped our son learn to stretch his thinking in beautiful, and creative, age-appropriate ways. Our son comes home full of questions, ideas, and stories from his day, proof of just how engaged he is. The rest of the staff at OFS Walnut Creek is equally as exceptional. The entire school environment is warm, joyful, and promotes independence while also encouraging classroom belonging and connection. We honestly wish every child had the chance to attend Old Firehouse Walnut Creek. We often say we'd send our son here through elementary and middle school if we could, that would be a dream! This school has given him the most magical, foundational start, and we're forever grateful and will be so sad to end our time at OFS this year. Thank you, OFS Walnut Creek!

Started our son at one year old, and have been at both the Moraga and Rheem Campuses for 15 months…read more We really enjoy the team and the care our son receives. The teachers are all amazing, super friendly, and our son enjoys talking all about them when he gets home - Ms. Nancy, Ms. Dani, Ms. Liz (x2), Ms. Gabby, Ms. Becky, Ms. Lulay, they are all amazing, sorry to those i missed! Antonio is always helpful and responsive. The school uses the brightwheel app which is great for communicating with both staff and admin and getting regular updates and photos during the school day. We can really see the daily learning when our son comes home, and it's such a pleasure to know he's getting socialized and receiving great care durning the day. They let kids be kids! During most holidays you can signup for holiday care to avoid taking more days off. The cost has always seemed very reasonable especially for Lamorinda. The only comment I would mention, is the school runs like a well oiled machine, thus when you are new it's overwhelming to learn how the system works for drop off, pickup, and bringing food and clothes, etc. This was stressful when leaving your first little one for the first time, but this subsides after the first week or two after you learn the system. Advice, don't hesitate to ask the staff either in person or via brightwheel, they will always help. Packing lunches the first few months was stressful! Would recommend Lamorinda Montessori to any family.

Our family has a had a great experience at Lamorinda Montessori (Rheem Campus)! We started there…read morein June 2023 and at the time our daughter was 2.5 and son was 10 months. They have checked the boxes for us in terms of providing a reliable, loving, and kind care solution for our kids. The teachers seem very attentive to the kids and we are always met with smiles at pick up and drop off. The school continues to try and implement new programming to engage both kids and parents, like spirit week and off-site excursions but there is probably even more opportunity to do more of that. The school also offers "parents night out" care giving about once a month which provides for an easy solution to leave the kids for a few afternoon hours on a Saturday. Communication could be better just in terms of updates / photos throughout the day, but our kids are happy every day when they come home so honestly that's all we could ask for. The administrative and teaching team makes a real effort and genuinely cares for the families and children. Thank you to Antonio and the team!

Our little one has been attending for almost a year now, and we have only wonderful things to say…read moreabout TCDS Moraga. Our daughter looks forward to going to school every day, which is a testament to the loving and fun environment that the amazing staff has created. She had Ms. Grace and Ms. Mary in the toddler room, and now has Ms. Ashley, Ms. Aurora, Ms. Danielle and Ms. Gigi in the 2's room, and everyone has just been so fantastic. I was worried about the transition from the toddler room to the 2's room, but the staff all worked together and coordinated so well to prepare her for the transition. Mr. Emil (director) is always so helpful, flexible, and accommodating, and conveys such positivity and a sense of peace that really adds to the culture and vibe of the school, especially during such a sensitive time with COVID. A huge thanks to all of the amazing staff at TCDS Moraga!

My son has been at The Child Day School in Moraga since he was 1 years old. He is turning 5 this…read moreyear. The teachers have all been amazing. Ms Laura Ms Mary, Ms Juliet, Ms Rebecca ( who is now at the San Ramon campus) and Ms Yuli in particular have been standout teachers for my son. He has been in their loving care, and even the school's director Mr. Emil have taken the time to get to know my son, and have given him personal care. During Covid, it has been tough and I was so lucky to have their loving arms to put my son back in with proper health protocals. I can't say enough about them. They are family to me!

Our family has been incredibly pleased with Growing Light Montessori in Lafayette, and would highly…read morerecommend it! The teachers are extremely skilled, patient, and nurturing. Since our child started we've seen a dramatic increase in her social development, creativity, and engagement in group activities. Class sizes are small with multiple teachers, and allow for a level of personalized attention that you can directly observe during drop-offs and pickups. Our child even talks about her teachers and asks after them on weekends. Communication with parents is also great. The school keeps us informed with regular updates, progress reports, and pictures of the kids engaged in class activities. The communication is two ways as well, they always respond quickly to feedback or questions, and they're very accommodating to any life circumstances that may come up. The campus and classrooms are well organized, spacious, and have multiple outdoor play areas. The school also organizes regular social events, educational workshops, and seasonal celebrations for families. We can't recommend Growing Light highly enough. It's absolutely worth it, and we feel lucky to have joined!

Both our son and daughter attended this preschool, and we couldn't be happier. The staff is…read moreattentive, warm, patient, and always accessible--you can tell they truly care. The environment is nurturing and thoughtfully balanced between learning and play. Our kids came home happy, confident, and excited every day. We really have nothing but positive things to say. It's been a fantastic start to their learning journey.

Initially I sent my son to a Montessori school nearby. They did not meet his social and emotional…read moreneeds. Everyday during drop off he would vocally tell me he didn't want to be there. So for a few reasons we decided to switch him to TOPS. His demeanor instantly changed. Although this school isn't "academically focused" he gained self confidence and doing much better in social settings. For him, that was exactly what he needed to continue to thrive and "learn" from all the interactive and magical activities that occur at TOPS. Our son is now more confident than ever in all social settings including with strangers and adults. The confidence set the foundation he needed to thrive in other areas of learning and development. Being first time parents, it was the best decision we ever made. (On a side note: The parent participation and abundance of optional school events have fostered a genuine community of parents at TOPS. I really appreciate the connections I have made here.)

TOPS is an amazing place. Last year, my wife and I moved to Orinda from San Francisco in July (a…read moremonth before school started) and we were welcomed with open arms. The school is play based. TOPS may not be for everyone. In fact, our oldest daughter would have been a deer in headlights in this unstructured environment. However, our son loved the cornucopia of all the wonderful activities inside and outside the classroom. He's so excited by all his options that he's eager to get going after getting dropped off. Which has been wonderful, because we were worried about teary eyed goodbyes every morning. The teachers and staff at TOPS are beyond excellent. Many had been there for years, even decades. They are very knowledgeable about child development, discipline, etc. I feel very comfortable leaving my son in their care. Last, but not least, is the superb TOPS community. Because parents have to be involved, there's a great sense of belonging and camaraderie that is fostered by TOPS. In summary, TOPS is a wonderful school and environment for kids.

My daughter attended two other daycares before Building Bridges, and we faced challenges at both…read more She is a sensitive, emotional child, so when we had to change schools again after her previous preschool was sold to a corporate owner, I was incredibly worried. From the very first day we walked into Building Bridges, though, we felt at ease. It truly is a hidden gem in Lafayette. My daughter blossomed there and became a completely different child. For the first time, she looked forward to going to school every morning and couldn't wait to spend time with her teachers and friends. The teachers are genuinely caring, and because the school is small to mid-sized, every child receives so much attention and love. You can truly see how much the staff pours their hearts into these kids. The campus is charming, clean, and beautifully maintained, tucked into a wonderful neighborhood with fantastic outdoor spaces. One of the things I appreciated most was the curriculum. It strikes such a wonderful balance between art, early literacy, math, hands-on learning, and play. My daughter came home excited to share what she had learned, and she constantly surprised me with new knowledge about different topics. It was clear she was learning every day while still getting to be a kid. The program was the perfect fit for her, and seeing her happy, confident, and excited before and after school every day meant everything to us. We feel incredibly lucky to have found Building Bridges, and it will always be a special part of our family's memories. Today we said goodbye as my daughter begins TK, and while it's bittersweet, we are so grateful for the wonderful year and a half she spent there. Thank you to the amazing teachers and staff for creating such a nurturing, joyful place for children to learn and grow. You made a lasting difference in our daughter's life, and we'll always be thankful.

We've been with building bridges over 2 years now, and we couldn't be happier. The teachers are…read morewonderful and it truly feels like a partnership. Ps they host date nights!!

ACS has been part of our family since the pandemic when we were looking for the right place for our…read moreeldest daughter. She was more than prepared for TK while having a preschool focused on being outside, play and arts/crafts. I always recommend ACS and their amazing teachers. Teachers have been here for awhile - always a good sign!

My daughter used to have a really hard time separating from me, but since starting here, everything…read morehas changed. She absolutely loves it and has so much fun every day! The environment is incredibly creative, engaging, and full of positive energy. She's learning so many wonderful things. I truly love this place and highly recommend it!