We have now been at RMS going on 2 years with a second child entering next year and we are so happy…read moreand grateful to have found it. We looked into every Montessori w/in a 25 mile radius (Wilton, Ridgefield, Danbury, Newtown, Washington) and the Toddler/Primary programs here are second to none. The school is not too big, so you feel you're part of a family. There is something so special here and you feel it as a parent the moment you walk in, but your child experiences it, too. We saw this during observations and we're experiencing it now as parents. It's important to know several things about Montessori schools. 1. Not all are created equal and each is independently owned/run. This means some adhere more or less to Montessori values/principles. RMS is a beautiful balance, adhering to the principles while making room for modern needs and allowing each child to grow but also, to be. 2. As in any school setting, the teachers make or break it. The Teachers in every room/program here are beyond plugged in, nurturing, warm and caring. AND, they work very collaboratively while still minding their individual programs. This means a holistic approach for your child as they grow through the years. My daughter embraces each of them and speaks so highly of them outside of school. She looks up to them but doesn't view them as simply 'adults' or teachers. These are her guides and she is so thankful for her relationships with each one of them. I did see a review from several years ago mentioning 25 students to a class/teacher. Not only is that not the Montessori method, but it has never been the ratio at this school (nor do I believe it's allowed by the state in these settings, but I could be wrong). For interested parents: In each Toddler room (2), you're looking at about 10-12 kids with 2-3 teachers/class (depending on enrollment each year) so usually a 1:4ish ratio and the Primary room (used to be 2, is now 1 large room broken up into 2 sections to follow core Montessori method) you're looking at about 30-36 kids total with 4 Teachers and the class is somewhat split into 3s/4s Section and then 5s Section w/2 teachers focused on each at any time. You're still at a 1:8 ratio roughly, so not sure where the 1:25 ratio came from. In any case, we're active and present and have seen this school from all angles and truly, couldn't be happier. The physical space itself is also beautiful, pristine and built for kids (bathrooms in the Toddler room, bathrooms right outside the Primary class). The biggest issue we're facing is what comes after RMS as we've yet to find anything in the area that is suited to follow. We hope others will take the time to come see for themselves what makes this school, the teachers, the program and the students so [truly] magical. These years should be spent exploring through play, not rigid curriculum, and RMS has made good on that every step of the way while still exposing these littles to the world around them in a way that engages them and lays a foundation for a true love of learning. Thanks you, RMS

I was recommended Ridgefield Montessori School by a friend when my son was just a baby. I am so…read morehappy she did! My son went to the school from when he was 1 years old when they used to have an infant room all the way until Kindergarten. My son is now in public school and misses RMS very much. It was like a family to him and the relationships he made there were wonderful. We loved how independent and creative he became all due to the Montessori way of teaching. He is currently thriving now in public school because of the foundation he was taught. They also have very flexible hours for working parents which was very useful. He loved the after school activities like cooking and science. He would beg to stay late. The staff and teachers are the best! You won't regret your decision to send your children here!

I had 2 kids in MCR, and both loved the school. Picking them up at the end of the day, I would hear…read morestories about all the exciting things they did: what they learned, what books they read, what song they practiced, what games they played outside with their friends, what art project they worked on after school and so forth. Our experienced teachers really knew kids' personalities, their likes an dislikes. They kept close track of their progress in each aspect of Montessori curriculum and customized learning for them when needed. The school is a very safe and nurturing place with talented staff (after-school program is one of the best I've seen) and rich traditions. By the way, their celebrations are simply amazing! They remain among our most precious memories from that time.

My son started going to Montessori Children's Room (MCR) at 19 months and we loved this school, and…read morehe seemed to as well. When he was about to turn three this past September, he moved into the 3, 4 and 5 year old class. That is when they noticed he had a hard time sitting still and focusing. He was about to age out of EI (Early Intervention) and start CPSE (Committee on Preschool Education), which would mean the therapists that were approved (Speech, SEIT and OT) could work with him in his classroom environment. However, MCR does NOT allow ANY therapists in this school to work with children who have been approved to receive it. So, we were left with no other choice, and had to scramble to find a new school in the middle of October of 2018. Not an easy task considering that most were already full by that point. Luckily we found a school that my son adores. It is a play based, loving and nurturing environment, that is so in tune with nature and outdoor play. I guess everything happens for a reason, and we were very fortunate to end up where we are now. MCR does wonderful things with the students, my son learned a lot in his time there. Their holiday show and graduation are amazing as well, along with their camp. That said, Montessori is not for every child, especially a child that requires therapy of any sort. What bothered me about our experience is how they didn't give me any feedback of his behavior in the baby class (NK) prior to moving up. We did have parent teacher conferences twice in the school year, but they never spoke about how he was disruptive, couldn't focus or sit still. Had I known this was going to be an issue, we could have looked for other schools before he started in the toddler class. The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth, as we felt forced out of there in a way. In closing, I debated on whether or not to write a review about my experience with this school. However, I recently learned the same thing is happening with another child there, so I wanted to give other parents a heads up before you consider going to this school.

To put it simply: this is a truly special place. My 3 year old twins started in the infant class,…read morethen went to Toddler, and began Primary (pre-school) in September 2019. Honestly, as a new mom, I had no idea what kind of expectation I could or should have for early education. The Montessori School shocked me with what I could expect of an "out-of-home" environment - it truly raises the bar. The investment every teacher puts into each child is amazing, the setting is so peaceful, and my kids are thrilled to go to school and do their "work" every day. The teachers are also highly educated (degrees in education and special certification in Montessori). There are 2 Toddler classes with about 10-13 students and 3 primary classes with about 15-25 students. There are also Lower and Upper Elementary levels which go through 6th grade. Each class has a Head Instructor and an Assistant. I saw a review critiquing diversity which was confusing to me because there is a high degree of diversity in both the staff and student body. I'd encourage every parent to visit and observe a classroom - it's incredible to see such young children being so independent, and the teachers and environment are purpose-built to encourage self-sufficiency and to engage young minds.

Getting a child into a Montessori program requires enormous trust, and it is much easier when your…read morekid is a toddler or a preschooler. By the time elementary school rolls around, people start to have doubts. No grades? No tests? 3-year cycle? Kids get to choose what to work on? How do I know if my child is doing better here than in other schools? We came from another Montessori program into 2nd year of Lower Elementary at TMS. What unfolded in front of us over the years was nothing short of amazing: strong supportive parent community, classrooms that inspire creativity, experienced dedicated teachers; rich, often above grade level curriculum; projects/events that made us wish we went to Montessori school ourselves. Digging deeper, we found that behind warm, nurturing and seemingly fluid classroom experience there is a rigorous system that ensures each student excels. When someone who left the school half way through the cycle tells you that the program didn't deliver, take it with a grain of salt - they didn't want to wait for the pieces of the puzzle to come together. Those who saw it happen become its staunch supporters. A note on diversity: international teaching staff and families across the world (you may hear as many as four different languages spoken in the parent room at the same time) make this school special. No diversity stats will show you that.

I've been taking Spanish classes with Karen for about 5 months now and she is an absolute pleasure…read moreto work with. She tailors classes to fit and focus on my level and she makes the whole experience useful by encouraging us me to learn by speaking and correcting errors along the way. She's very kind and an excellent instructor! 10/10 Highly recommend!

In search of a customized approach to learning Italian I discovered The Language School in…read moreRidgefield CT. My experience has been beyond perfect ! The Director listened to my needs and matched me up perfectly with a native speaking Italian teacher . She was able to determine the perfect pace to help me get off to a great start learning Italian. Who would have thought I would have found this quality of instruction right here in town . If you want to get a great start to learning a new language or improving on a language you are already somewhat acquainted with The Language School is most likely the place to come !

New Canaan Community is truly a community and we are incredibly thankful for the program. Our 4…read moreyear old had an amazing year - always excited and ready to go to school each day! He learned so much this year and left with a great group of friends. He is counting down until he gets to go back next year!

We LOVE NCCP! From the administration to the teachers to the parents to the fellow little ones -…read morethe whole NCCP community has been so welcoming and supportive of our daughter's development and our family. We recently moved to New Canaan and were hopeful to find a pre-school that would prepare our younger two children for Kindergarten as well as the Montessori program in NYC prepared our two oldest children...NCCP has WAY over-delivered and with still a year to go in preschool, our third child is already prepared for Kindergarten thanks to the amazing teachers! And she is so attached to the school, we couldn't imagine a better place for her to thrive. Thank you, NCCP!

With summer ending, I wanted to write my experience with Hudson Country Montessori School…read more As a mom of a 3 and 2 year old, who went through the pandemic and had trust issues with daycares or "strangers" caring for my kids, I can't thank HCMS enough for the amount of peace and reassurance they've given me. Everyone there is just absolutely lovely and such beautiful people. They have shown my children so much love and care. My daughter is a Velcro baby, meaning she's a literal baby koala. I can't thank Alexa, Rose, and Renee, in the infant room, enough for holding her when she wanted to be held, as long as she wanted. She then moved up to the waddler room, with new teachers, but they are as amazing as the infant room teachers. Sara, Susan, Chelsea, and Rebecca are literal angels. I just can't thank them enough for everything they've done for my daughter and us. They took such great care of her this past year. My son started in the toddler 2 room with Ms Mimi, Graciela, and Kristie. We absolutely love them! They're all such sweethearts! Ms Mimi is so good with the kids! She knows exactly how to take control of her class, which are all toddlers! Touché to her! Ms Mimi is also so loving and caring. I really couldn't have asked for a better school for my children. They've learned so much while being there and they've made such amazing friends and connections. I also love their security! It's gated, and you need a special passcode to enter the school. Although my children have only had the teachers listed above, everyone in that building is so friendly and welcoming. Ms Carmela is in charge of the toddler program, and she is just so amazing. She takes her time to meet families and hears any concerns you may have. If HCMS was on your list of schools to check out, go with it! You won't regret ever enrolling your kids there. It's a real Montessori school, filled with loving, hardworking, respectful teachers. You'll really see your children bloom into such smart, independent, loving, little people.

Amazing facility and staff.They are experts caring and very attentive. Highly recommended if there…read moreis room.