Couldn't be more pleased with our choice in preschool for my second son. We were lucky to be…read moreintroduced to April through a friend and learned about the school prior to it opening. We were amongst some of the first to attend. After meeting April and hearing about her 15 years as a preschool teacher at First Presbyterian, we were excited to try out her school. Once we signed up, she came for a home visit. I was immediately impressed at how she diffused my 2 year old son's frustrations and even more impressed when she diffused a fight between my 2 & 4 year old. After the home visit, I felt very confident leaving my son with her on the first day, and he felt very comfortable too. She provides thoughtful journals of their days at school and shows the intention behind all the activities that they do. My son still naps and he sleeps way better at school than he does at home. I could go on and on about how much we love The Local Preschool, if you're considering it, I urge you to go meet April and take a tour. It's an awesome place!

I had been looking for a pre-school like 'The Local Preschool' for months, until a friend…read morerecommended I'd go to check it out. I was immediately impressed by the school's mission when April showed us around, and when we also met Michelle, it was clear that they both have a deep passion for children and teaching. They both came to our house to create an opportunity for my son to feeling more comfortable around them and although he has been going only since the Fall, he counts the days until it is another school day and he always so happy to go. I love that 'The Local Preschool' is a Reggio inspired school. We receive beautiful newsletters with updates about what the children did, or said or discovered and I truly treasure each of them. If you are looking for a nurturing program where your children will thrive, you'll love this school and it's down to earth yet extremely loving program. We recently had our parent-teacher conference and I was so impressed to find out how in few weeks both Michelle and April have gotten to know my son so well. They have offered support in dynamics we may struggle at home with and I feel extremely lucky that I can reach out to these amazing two ladies who have the same passion for my child as I do. They have been the village every mother should be able to count on when raising a child.

LGP is stellar, we couldn't be happier. My daughter is 3.5 and has been attending for about 6 mos…read morenow. Before LGP she was at another full time daycare, which we liked, but the difference in her vocabulary, attitude and behavior once we switched was noticeable very early on - she is happier, suddenly knows so many more words, and really enjoys her classmates and teachers. Most days I have to chase her around the school at pick up because she doesn't want to leave! All the teachers are lovely, communicative, happy to talk through any issues and thorough in their observations during the day. The space is a little unconventional (I was initially worried about parking but it hasn't been an issue) but it's really lovely - clean, bright, beautiful, organized and has an awesome outdoor playground and garden in the back. Jolene is everything you could want in an owner/director - creative, responsive, incredibly thoughtful, follows through on things and knows how to talk to children so that they listen. The whole experience has been an absolute delight :)

My daughter attended The Little Garden Preschool for 1.5 years from age 3 to 4.5 years, and it was…read morethe best preschool experience we could have ever asked for. We love everything about the school. Immediately when you enter the school it is light and bright with a lot of natural light, and the furniture and flooring is made of natural wood, creating a calm and zen environment that fosters learning through play. The toys are all clean, new-looking, high quality and many of them get swapped out regularly based on the holidays or seasons. There is a great selection of children's books in the library section as well. There is an imaginary play section, and an art section with play-doh and crafts. There is an outdoor play area with a large play structure, a sand box, and a garden where the kids water the plants and tend the garden. As far as parking, it is very easy to pick-up and drop-off my daughter, and there is ample free parking on the street in front of the school and on the side streets. Regarding the teachers, Mrs. Jolene, the Owner/Director of the school is very warm, welcoming, easy to talk to, great with children, and extremely responsive to texts, emails, and messages. Also, ALL of the teachers are very nurturing, responsive, and wonderful as well. In our case, my daughter was very attached to me and the teachers gave her one-on-one attention and helped her to separate in the most compassionate and loving way. The teachers treated my daughter with such care and I felt so at ease knowing she was in good hands. All in all, if I had another child I would send them to this school without a doubt, and I recommend it to all my mom friends. This school is a gem.

This is my daughter's third year at Tree House. We started her right when she turned two. It's…read morereally been the most wonderful experience; Julianne and her teachers take a very wholistic approach to educating. School was very play-based, and I watched my daughter grow an incredible amount these last three years. (Not to mention, the school has amazing hours and flexible schedules that include half days and part time!)

Our family loves The Tree House School! The biggest reason being that our 3 year old son wakes up…read moreevery school day screaming "It's school day!" over and over with so much excitement. We toured a dozen pre-schools ( I know it probably sounds a bit overboard), and the The Tree House School was head and shoulders above the rest. We love their laid back approach, and their willingness to listen to parents concerns. They have a great curriculum where each week there is a new fun and interesting theme. Our son comes home super excited and tells us all about his day. The teachers are all easy to talk to and very kind. They have an age appropriate approach where they allow the kids to learn and explore activities and friendships through play. Also, our son loves playing outside, and The Tree House School has the biggest play yard of any school we toured in the area. They have a giant sand box, swings, a garden, a large tree house, a wooden home, tons of tractors, oversized dinosaurs and giant wooden blocks. When I visit it makes we wish I attended this school when I was a kid. I am super happy we found this amazing school!

Don't loose your time with tour and enrollment if you don't have an army of contacts that can…read morerecommend you. Absolutely not fair selection made. It's not first arrived, first served as they will proudly announce during the tour. Not fair for young expat families so not very multicultural.

We feel SO lucky that we found Redwood for our toddler. He absolutely loves his time there and the…read moremanagement team run an incredible center. The teachers are excellent and the activities really prepare him for big kid school. Cannot recommend this place enough!

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.

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!

My toddler started this preschool a couple months ago and loved it right away. She's learned so…read moremuch from her teachers and friends, and it's been amazing watching her language and social skills take off. We adore every single teacher--they give so much personal attention and put a ton of creativity into planning activities for the kids that are fun and educational, and totally age-appropriate. I love they they share photos and videos all week so I get to see my little one painting, dancing, and playing with her friends. The parent community is also incredible. It's a small school, but there's a really warm, welcoming group of current families and alumni who get together for things like beach hangs nearby and show up for preschool and synagogue events. We feel so lucky to be a part of it.

My two daughters attend the preschool at Mishkon-- my oldest has been there for three years, and my…read moreyoungest is in her second year. Their experience has been overwhelmingly positive. The teachers and staff are nurturing and committed to their growth, both academically and emotionally. Because of this, my wife and I have witnessed so much development in our kids' confidence, social skills, and love of learning. We also appreciate Rabbi Josh's presence in the program-- especially when he leads engaging holiday celebrations and finds opportunities for teaching moments through stories and songs for the kids. Beyond the classroom, my wife and I feel very connected to the other parents and staff at the school and synagogue. The synagogue in particular has created such a welcoming and inclusive environment. To us, this isn't just a preschool--it's a community, a family, and a place where our children have really thrived.

This place is truly special. My daughter attended this Montessori preschool for three and a half…read moreyears, starting at age 2 and graduating directly to kindergarten. I knew it from day 1 when the other children reached out and held my daughter's hand to welcome her to the circle. The teachers are incredibly loving, patient, and dedicated. They created an environment where she felt safe, confident, and excited to learn every day. When she first started, she had very limited speech and was still in diapers, but the teachers met her exactly where she was with so much patience and encouragement. They welcomed our speech therapist to work with her at school each week, partnering with us to help her succeed. She made incredible progress--her speech blossomed, and she potty trained quickly in the supportive environment they created. The school's monthly learning themes are thoughtfully planned and keep the children engaged while exposing them to a wide variety of topics. The regular learning assessments provide meaningful insight into each child's progress, and I always appreciated knowing exactly what she was working on and where she was growing. Their approach to teaching reading and writing is exceptional, building skills in a way that is both effective and enjoyable for young children. By the time she graduated, she was exceptionally well prepared for kindergarten. She can write, is already beginning to read, knows all 50 U.S. states plus oceans and countries around the world, and developed a genuine love of learning that goes far beyond academics. Just as importantly, she learned independence, kindness, confidence, and curiosity. We are so grateful for the care, guidance, and foundation this school gave her during such an important stage of her life. The teachers truly cared about her as a whole child, and it showed in every interaction. I wholeheartedly recommend this preschool to any family looking for a nurturing, high-quality Montessori education.

Defining what it means to be a unique one of a kind daycare!! As a single mom of a 2 year old, I…read morelooked at over a dozen places until I met Ms Byanka and for both my daughter and I it was love at first encounter. The love and care Ms Anallely and teachers provide to my daughter is remarkable. My daughter is thriving and has learned so much in 4 months, making me so proud. They really go above and beyond. And she brings home impressive art projects weekly. If you are looking for a special, intimate, highly educational, and loving place for your littles - look no further. I can't rave enough about this place. Knowing my daughter is safe, happy and enjoys going here melts my heart. She even asks during the weekends is it Monday yet? They even have yoga and soccer for a nominal $. In 4 months she has learned her days of the week, the months, colors, can count to 20 and can recognize her name and can draw an S. Where else will you get such an education for your littles.... probably not many places. I just love this place- it's our home away from home ;)