Upon moving back to Oakland we were panicking because we had missed all of the preschool…read moreapplication deadlines. After being placed on a ton of waitlists we came across CWO. From the first interaction we were impressed with Jessica's professionalism and care for the school body. Healthy meals, tons of water, rigorous curriculum and lots of play! The cost in 2020-2022 was comparable to the other options in the area. Jessica has also been a continuous resource to us post graduation. Childcare recommendations and information about OUSD, BUSD and private schooling. My only criticism is I wish the student body better reflected the community.

Our two kids have both had great experiences at CWO. I've been impressed with how well the teachers…read moreget to know and appreciate our kids, and then come up with and individualized plan to help them learn and grow. They have some amazing teachers there, and the kids do such fun projects. It's a lovely community for little ones to grow up in.

I can't begin to say enough good things about this awesome preschool! It's honestly a little gem or…read morea diamond in the rough as some would call it. Both of my kids have graduated from LSP in the past couple of years and they both made so many awesome friends and even my wife and I have made some amazing friends as well with some of the other parents. The teachers there are amazing and they've done so much to enrich the little ones who attend with a great curriculum while instilling great values to help them grow into such wonderful TK students (TKers) to make sure they're all ready for the next chapter in their lives. If you want your preschooler(s) to attend a great school while knowing they will be in great hands, while learning, having fun (and even getting potty trained if they need to be....bonus!), and making special friendships, then Little Sprouts should definitely be worth checking out! PS They've always be very reasonably priced as well!

All of our 3 children went to Little Sprouts Preschool and had an amazing experience. Teacher…read moreZugeyli has been such a loving presence for our children (potty training all of them!). Her care extends to the families of the children as well. Our children have gone onto school at NYU, UCSD, and Oakland High. Little Sprouts laid such a beautiful foundation for them to thrive as students and as members of a larger community.

Both of our kids went here from 1-3 ish, they were great. We love that there is a playground…read moreoutside with fullheight privacy fence around it so our kids got to play outside most days and would come home tired! They also make food for meals, post lots of pictures, and we noticed our son's silverware (fork / spoon) skill increased, less spillage at home.

Wonderful daycare with great teachers, a fun view into the daily lives of the babies and toddlers,…read moreand a great value compared to other options.

To say that GCA changed our family's life, is an understatement. I've had two kids there over the…read morepast six years and there's not a place under the sun that would tell parents to go. It's more than a school, it's a family--- it sets an entire family's foundation. Grace came highly recommended to me and bringing my kids there was one of the greatest decisions I've ever made. We still text the teachers throughout the year to give updates and go back at least once a year for a visit. They are a constant support system when I'm in a bind for care or want to share exciting or challenging news about our family. There really aren't enough words in the English language that can express my gratitude for this place.

My child attended GCA during 2021-2022. While the school has real strengths--warm classrooms and…read moreteachers, and a play-based, Reggio Emilia-inspired approach--I ultimately do not recommend it due to inconsistent communication and unclear, unreliable policies. Over time, I experienced repeated issues with follow-through and transparency: promised parent-teacher conferences that were never scheduled, important requests buried in long newsletters, and policies that were communicated reactively rather than proactively and sometimes shifted without warning. The breaking point for me came following a COVID exposure at the school prior to a holiday break. Despite completing isolation beyond public health requirements and providing medical clearance from our pediatrician, the director imposed additional return-to-school requirements without clear explanation that seemed inconsistent with widely adopted public health guidance at the time (about two years into the pandemic). Requests for clarification went unanswered, leaving me uncertain for days about whether my child could return and forcing me to scramble for backup childcare. Although this experience was several years ago, these issues reflected broader operational patterns rather than an isolated incident. GCA may appeal to families drawn to small, family-run childcare, but in my experience, the lack of consistent, professional communication and policies made it difficult to depend on. I've posted reviews for other nearby programs we've attended, which may be helpful for families comparing options.

I cannot express how fortunate we feel to have found this school. Kiddie Kampus is so much more…read morethan a preschool. It's a community where kids and adults make life-long connections, learn, and grow together. Long-time teacher/directors, Lori & Michelle, are this wonderful blend of experience and enthusiasm that is hard to find in today's world of high teacher turnover. They've both been at Kiddie Kampus for more than a decade and the knowledge they bring is invaluable. What's even more exceptional is that their passion for early childhood education has not appeared to wane and only grows with each new group of children they meet. They are always updating their knowledge and imparting the newest techniques and practices to their students and their grown-ups. Their truly play-based philosophy/curriculum is so much more than children of the same age entertaining themselves for a few hours a day - each activity has a well thought out purpose behind it, each toy, art project, play area is added to the program with care and intention. My kids -both with wildly different personalities and learning styles- have flourished here. Getting to know and trust other families, feeling connected to (and comfortable with) other parents makes this so much more than a school to us. Being able to be a part of your child's earliest social and educational moments is priceless and has given us so much joy. We are deeply grateful that we were in the position to make Kiddie Kampus Co-op work for our family. The membership obligations required a little bit of juggling, but it was more than worth the effort to be an active part of our kids' first years in school - a time we know we will never get back. Dare I say that working at the school (even when it involves more mud, worms, and being "poisoned" by "magic potions" than I would usually want to tolerate) is actually a lot of fun and my kids aren't the only ones making new friends!

Kiddie Kampus is such a magical, warm, and welcoming place, and I'm so grateful that we found it. I…read moretruly can't imagine my daughter being anywhere else, and look forward to sending my son there in the future. The teachers are passionate and adore our children and put so much into creating a learning environment that is FUN and engaging. When my daughter isn't at preschool she is playing preschool at home or at a park-it's been such an integral part in her growth and development, and she is so happy there. The community aspect is unlike anything you will find anywhere else-it feels like family, and having a village to navigate these early years is everything. If you're thinking about Kiddie Kampus, come check it out. I promise you will find it's like no place else, and your kid will have the best experience. And bonus, you will too!

It's difficult to articulate my thoughts on something that means so much to me. As parents, we…read morevalue the education and care of our children more deeply than words can express. As a teacher, I attach a special significance to this part of my family life. As both a mother and educator, I can confidently say that VLN is a truly special place. The head teacher and owner, Hilda, truly creates a community through her school. One thing that immediately stood out to me was how many of the families either work in education or are teachers themselves. I think that speaks volumes. VLN feels very much like an educator's choice for their own child, and many families return with younger siblings after their older children graduate from the program. At the very beginning of my daughter's enrollment, Hilda did a home visit on her own time and free of charge because she wanted to better understand my daughter's environment and needs. She also invited my daughter to attend extra days during her first month simply to help her acclimate more comfortably after being home with me full-time. That level of care and intentionality is rare. Hilda runs VLN from a place of genuine love for children and their growth, not simply as a business. The tuition is also remarkably affordable considering the children receive homemade meals, thoughtful activities, and individualized attention every day. Because my daughter is an only child, socialization was incredibly important to me, and Hilda, Marimar, and the rest of the staff are extraordinary at helping children build relationships and learn how to exist in community with one another. My daughter started at just 18 months old after being home with me full time, and instead of developing fear or separation anxiety, she quickly became attached to her classmates and excited about school. Even now, I have to be careful not to arrive too early at pickup because she never wants to leave the playground. Another incredible aspect of VLN is its Spanish immersion approach. It has been so fun and meaningful to watch my daughter begin learning Spanish at such a young age. As both a teacher and a parent, I deeply value giving children exposure to another language and culture early in life, and I love seeing her naturally absorb it through songs, play, and everyday interactions. The emotional culture at VLN is something truly special. During circle time, the children talk about gratitude, emotions, family, and kindness toward one another. Hilda also incorporates yoga, breathing, and mindfulness practices that help children feel grounded and connected to themselves. Of course, toddlers will still act like toddlers, but I truly value that my daughter is learning emotional awareness and self-regulation at such a young age. Every morning, Hilda greets her with a big hug, and I can see my daughter melt into it. There is something deeply nurturing and healing about the environment she has created. I toured more traditionally academic preschools before choosing VLN, and I would choose this environment again in a heartbeat. What Hilda has created is not just a preschool, but a deeply loving and emotionally healthy community for children.

VLN has exceeded all of our expectations, if we could give more stars we would! As new parents,…read moredropping our child off felt like leaving her with a very loving family member. As an educator, I felt she was consistently met with developmentally appropriate and fun activities to help her learn and build healthy relationships. She was well fed, loved, and supported in growing into a caring, confident kid and community member. The director Hilda is the real deal! She lives and breathes her work as an educator of young people. You see this in her warmth, years of experience, and practice of continuing to learn. She is constantly involved in early education programs and has more recently taken on yoga for children. She spends a great deal of time building the community of families through beautiful school events and we have made wonderful friends because of it! Our child would say she loves school because of the art projects, dancing and singing in the morning, playing on the giant play structure with her friends, eating locquats from the tree and mint from the garden. In her words: "The soup, it is so good and my teachers are funny!" Marimar, the head teacher, has been such an important person to our child. She has been there to care for her so sweetly when she was adjusting to school as a two year old, and now supporting her as a 4 year old: "Marimar is the best at finding bugs and playing soccer, she is soooooo funny." We could not appreciate Hilda, Marimar and the rest of the VLN family more for how they have cared for our child.

We had our toddler son go here from 18 months to 3 and a half years. We absolutely loved it! The…read moreteam is so loving and hands on, communication was great, and our son made so many great friends there. Highly recommend!!

Bright Future Early Learning Center…read more Our son thrived at Bright Future from ages 2-5! The amazing teachers (with impressive tenure!) helped him master potty training, build lasting friendships, and develop strong communication skills. We loved the weekly yoga/music classes, school garden, field trips to Oakland Zoo, and wholesome meals that celebrated our community's diversity. Tre is so ready for kindergarten! Our younger son started in January and is also blossoming. Highly recommend this gem!

I learned about Pacific Coast Montessori from friends years ago. My daughters, now ages 11 and 8…read morehave had so many enriching experiences throughout their schooling and care at Pacific Coast Montessori. Director Ann Toy and Teacher Pat were instrumental in transitioning my girls to kindergarten. Ann and Pat's nurturing manner of teaching helped to foster independence and confidence in the many kids who were/are lucky to know and learn from them. Pacific Coast Montessori's calm, bright, clean and tidy space is complemented by a cheerful play structure, teaching garden and shaded lunch area in the backyard. My girls fondly recall many memories and friendships at "Ann Toy's School."

We looked and looked and looked, and finally landed here. The decision was right. Director, Ann…read moreToy's warm, loving, with commitment is what this preschool is all about. I had a minor concern about the yard being small. But turned out just fine, as I met many nice Moms and quickly formed after school play dates in nearby parks. In the end, it's not the yard size that makes the school great, it's who teaches and cares for your children.