My son started at People's Institute when he was 15 months old (he is now 3.5 years.) We had been…read moreat another daycare before that and I switched him because of the cost. I've never made a better decision. P.I. is fantastic. The staff is caring, kind, and approachable. I love that my son has 2 main teachers, but feels comfortable going to any member of the staff. I also love that P.I. brings in special actives for the kiddos- pony rides, zoo on the go, bounce houses and more! During the day the kiddos get a well balanced amount of free play, structured activities/learning and outdoor time. The playground is safe, well supervised and fun! The staff is very accommodating to each child's individual needs (for potty training, eating, etc. etc.)

My daughter went to PI for their Kindergarten and then continued to go there for after school care…read moreand their summer camps (2004-2007). She enjoyed it so much that she asked if she could work there almost a year ago. She's just 17 and still in high school so she is employed only part-time during the school year, but is looking forward to being there full time in the summer again. She absolutely LOVES the children.

10/10 highly recommend brighter beginnings! My daughter…read morestarted here at 3 months old and I couldn't be happier with the experience we have had room 3 (the infant room) MS VIRGEN is amazing! Our daughter has such a strong bond with her and is always happy and smiling when I pick her up at the end of the day, Ms Virgen truly treats those babies as if they were her own and I couldn't have asked for anything better! Her and Nicole (who is also amazing!) read books to the babies, do arts and crafts, and make sure all babies get equal love and attention. The room is cleaned daily and their sick policies protect our little ones from spreading illnesses. They have a huge fenced in backyard with play structures and activities for the older kids. They frequently take the babies on walks with strollers. They also post the cutest pictures on their daycare app, which is nice to see while you are away from your child. Lily is awesome and runs a great facility. She is easy to work with and has always accommodated our needs without issue. My boyfriend and I both cried on our daughter's last day here (due to relocation). It was truly heartbreaking leaving this place behind as we knew how loved and well taken care of our daughter was in their care. I have nothing but great things to say and if you get lucky enough to send your child here, I promise you and your kiddo will be more than pleased with your experience

Cannot say enough nice things about Brighter Beginnings! Lilly, the Director, is amazing and really…read moreadds a personal touch to the center. They were very flexible with our needs, during a difficult transition through relocation/new jobs. Our son was enthusiastic about going to daycare each day and loved the teachers and friends he made. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

An amazing school for preschool level children. The teachers and true community of parents create…read moresuch a wonderful experience and as your child grows here you understand how special this place is.

We've had our daughter at Nonotuck for 3 years and could not be happier. All of the teachers and…read moreadministrators are stellar--very knowledgable, well trained, caring and attentive. The open, emergent curriculum fosters imagination, creativity and confidence, and gets the kids outside and moving their bodies frequently throughout the day. The school's focus on social and emotional skills has been a great benefit as well. We often comment that children from Nonotuck seem to have an easier time sharing and navigating conflict with other children. Nonotuck also offers a cooperative community of families and teachers working together to not only raise strong, intelligent, confident children, but also to support parents and families as they work through the challenges of raising children. Many friendships are made between children and parents alike.

We have been sending our son to Renaissance since he was age eligible. We chose Renaissance based…read moreon its proximity to UMass (a stone's throw!) and affordability. When I learned that Miss Dottie used to run the lab school at UMass, I was sold. I feel that people who teach aspiring teachers are up to date on best practices and truly dedicated to the field. We have been very pleased with the school. They have a really great staff to student ratio. There are a lot of interns from UMass, which is very exciting for the children. The class is incredibly diverse, with almost all of the children speaking different languages at home. I would highly recommend it!

My son just finished his second year at the Renaissance School and we will all miss it so much…read more Renaissance is a warm and loving place where kids get to play and learn by following their own interests and curiosity. Ms Dotty is so thoughtful and purposeful in how she puts together the curriculum, arranges the classroom, and talks with the kids about their developing social and emotional abilities. We really felt that our son was well taken care of here.

My two sons have attended the Common School for five years, and our family could not feel more…read moresupported during this time. Most importantly, our children feel cared for, safe and socially and academically stimulated. The Common School is a ongoing project that evolves along with the its community expectations and, committed to a just society, through equity practices.

In my opinion, parents should be very careful about considering The Common School for their…read morechildren and should seek out former families to speak to rather than just taking the word of school leadership or selected references. I believe there are serious issues related to student safety and that the school and board leadership retaliate against parents who raise concerns. https://thingsincommon.substack.com/

What a fantastic school! It is a joyful and nurturing place and such a gift for our family!…read more My son began as a PreK student and is now in Kindergarten. At the young age of 5, he has an independent spirit and it's been instilled in him that his opinion and voice matters. He is kind, considerate, and sensitive, and he is taught that those are values to celebrate. Each day, he is encouraged to be playful and creative, indoors and out, especially in the snow! He comes home exhausted from adventures in the fairy woods, or releasing tadpoles into the pond or sending butterflies he raised to Mexico, or building a plane and flying it to Africa. He is learning math and writing and reading, but it's so joyful and instills such pride, that it doesn't feel like work. One day, I was home sick and suggested he stay home and watch movies, but he said, "Mama, we are learning numbers 7 and 8 today, and a new poem, and I don't want to miss that!" Between the Spanish and French lessons, the intro to musical instruments and sign language and poetry and yoga and skiing and ceramics and book making and wood working and on and on, he is bursting with a love of learning. And not only does BCD know and value my son, but I feel as a family, we have been welcomed and engaged by a warm group of parents from all backgrounds. Berkshire Country Day School is one of the best decisions we ever made and if you are considering it, I say, YES, do it!

Berkshire Country Day School has been fundamentally transformative for our son. He started there…read moreat the end of 5th grade, and is now in 8th. I have such overwhelmingly positive things to say about his time there, that I barely know where to start. Many schools say they treat every student as an individual, and work to ensure each individual is known, understood and given what they specifically need to grow and fulfill their potential, but BCD actually truly does that. My son has grown in a way I hoped he would, that I knew he was capable of, because BCD allowed him to. His time there has been, and continues to be, utterly inspiring and fulfilling, and he is so, so happy. He loves school! The academics are really strong and challenging, but at the same time engaging and fun. The school is not at all preppy in the way I understand that word, and is definitely what I would call progressive. The relationship between teachers and students is one of mutual respect and teachers are part of their "team", on their side and always there for them. This relationship doesn't challenge the teachers position of authority, but interestingly seems to reinforce it in a meaningful way. Every teacher he has had there has been exceptional, approachable and welcoming, and he has loved, respected and relished learning from every one of them. He is now an amazing young man who LOVES learning. He is confident and kind and caring - everything that I knew was within him, and that has been nurtured and allowed to flourish at BCD. We were awarded financial aid, as many applicants are. Don't assume you can't afford it. We are by far what you might consider the private school profile, and without the financial aid we couldn't have given our son what I consider to be the best gift we could ever give. It has still been a struggle financially, but achievable and the struggle has already paid back in so many ways. Pay for this, and college will take care of itself!

Our son has been attending Willow House since he was 14 months old and he's now about to turn two…read more We are so grateful to have found this amazing program! Our son loves coming to school every day and we've seen him flourish through the patient and knowledgable care given by his wonderful teachers. Lessons and daily activities are well-planned and developmentally appropriate. Our family feels comfort knowing that Willow House is licensed by the OEC and that Executive Director Susan runs the center like a wheel oiled machine with thoughtful policies and procedures to keep the children safe and sound. We feel blessed that we were able to secure a space at this wonderful center.

My daughter turned three years old this past March we started Willow House this January when she…read morewas 34 months old. As a mom who had only let my mom and mother in law watch her while I was at work it was definitely an adjustment for me but Willow House showed me they care for my daughter just like she is part of their family. My daughter attends the preschool program three full days a week with the before and after care program and the amount she has learned in these past months is incredible. The preschool teacher Jess is amazing and the main reason why we picked this program. The lessons and themes are constantly changing and the children are learning new things everyday. I am amazed to see the progress my daughter has made thus far. When I ask my three year old what she loves about Willow House she tells me the activity centers which are constantly changing based on the theme of the week. I am so thankful to have found Willow House and would highly recommend this center to all my friends.