We just completed our second year of Valley Parents Preschool and it is the most magical Preschool and Pre-K experience! My daughter absolutely loved the play based model. The teachers are absolutely incredible, and always meet you and your child where they are. Everything is developmentally appropriate and the kids have SO many opportunities there. The physical environment both indoors and outdoors is the perfect backdrop for the kids and learn and explore. We are so grateful for the amazing families we have met and the community that VPP creates. We cannot say enough good things about it or recommend it enough. We also highly recommended attending their summer camp, it is so much fun!! We are so sad the our time here has come to a close since it has been the best experience for our whole family. read more

Valley Parent Preschool has been a wonderful, play-based preschool for my two children. The teachers truly understand what's appropriate developmentally for this age group, and the kids have plenty of outdoor time throughout their day. The backyard is amazing, with sand, grass, water, monkey bars, a sand kitchen, playhouse, etc etc! Basically a 2 - 5 year old's dream. Another bonus - because it's a co-op, you get to know the other families really well and my children and I have all made what I hope are life-long friends through VPP! read more

Our oldest son attended Valley Parent for the AM Pre-school during the 2023-24 school year. Our whole family loved it so much that he is attending his second year for the AM Pre-K class. Teacher Neha, Tess, Viji, Ashley, and Sona make all the kids and parents feel welcome and at home. Our son has enjoyed the play-based school and loves having family participation on the days that we volunteer. The teachers have an infinite amount of patience, love, and respect for all the kids. The teachers truly make this school special. The academic structure and activities that the kids do during their respective Pre-school and Pre-K class time are developmentally and age appropriate. We love this school because they take a human-centered approach to academics both making the school day engaging and fun while still balancing learning and curiosity. The activities focus on fine motor skills, math (counting), art, and some science based activities (mixing colors which segues into "chemistry", squirting plastic spiders down a raised gutter to teach them about gravity). The teachers do a great job of including seasons and holidays into their curriculum which makes each day special for the kids. As a parent who was worried that a play-based school wouldn't prepare our son for Kindergarten and beyond, I'm more than happy to say that our son has learned to love going to school/learning, has learned emotional regulation (which is the foundation for any child to be able to learn in any classroom setting - you can't learn in a deregulated state), and has the ability to sit down and focus on a task for a longer period of time. Our son previously had severe separation anxiety and now thrives at VPP, asks if he can go back to school, and sometimes doesn't want to leave! If you're on the fence about coming to VPP, I would recommend touring the school or popping in for one of the play-date open houses! read more

Amazing Play-Based Learning Environment! My son absolutely loves attending Valley Parent Preschool! The play-based approach allows him to explore his creativity and focus on activities that truly interest him. The teachers are wonderful--caring, supportive, and always encouraging the kids to learn through hands-on experiences. I love that the school gives the children the freedom to get messy, explore their environment, and learn naturally. Every day, my son comes home with a new song he's learned or a story about something exciting he did at school. It's a joy to see how happy he is and how much he's growing, both socially and academically, thanks to the nurturing atmosphere. Highly recommend for any parent looking for a school that prioritizes creativity, exploration, and fun! read more

Our family is so incredibly grateful to VPP. Our son has thrived and we're excited to return next year. The teachers are absolutely fantastic and create a learning environment that encourages the kids to be curious, kind, and independent. The huge amount of outside time is a definite plus. And the co-op style is invaluable. It's so special knowing that your child has an entire community of adults who care about them and want to help them learn and grow. I can't recommend VPP highly enough! read more

Our family loves Valley Parent Preschool! My son started in the Twos program this year. With the caring and expert teachers, close knit co-op community, and expansive nature-based play area, he has really found a place to thrive. Even before we enrolled, I felt truly supported by VPP - there were open houses and pop up play dates over the summer to acclimate my child to the new school environment and teachers, so that on the first day of school, he already knew his way around. As a parent, working in the classroom has been such a blessing. Not only do I get to see my kid interacting with his classmates and teachers at school, but also we get to know the other students and their lovely families. We look forward to continuing onto Preschool and Pre-K with VPP. read more

Valley Parent Preschool is such a gift to our family. If you are looking for a co-op preschool/Pre-k that is play-based and also provides academic opportunities for exploration and learning- this school is for you. I want to be involved in my child's education so the opportunity to volunteer is great for our family. Not only is my daughter thriving but I also now have the most wonderful community of friends. This has made our lives so full of happiness, laughter, care and love. The teachers here are all so wonderful. The director Neha is thoughtful, caring, insightful and creative. My daughter's class Teacher is Ms. Viji and her energy, positivity and care for each child is inspiring. She really encouraged me when we first began school last year as my daughter experienced separation anxiety. I was able to stay with my child as long as I wanted. No pressure to just drop off and leave. The process of my daughter gaining trust and bonding with the teachers and other children has been so natural and beautiful to watch. She now happily runs into her school and usually straight to the backyard to play! I am amazed. The experience of being part of a co-op as a parent has filled a place in my heart. It's not easy to find friendships and connections as a young mom with little kids and this school has helped foster so many new friendships for both me and my daughter. So grateful and very happy we will be continuing in our second year for Pre-K. read more

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The best preschool ever. The teachers are the kindest souls I have ever met. Teacher viji and teacher Sona were my kidddo's favorites. He is a shy kid who didn't have much social interaction due to Covid but he opened up to them immediately. Neha, Tish and Ashley are also very good. It needs some level of parent involvement. So if you want to watch them grow and flourish this is the place for you. read more

Two of my kids went to VPP and I couldn't be more pleased with our experience. Before I signed my first child up I hesitated because of the co-op requirement. It meant that I would have to volunteer my time in the classroom/school. I'll be honest. I was looking forward to having that break for myself and really didn't want to be on the hook to volunteer. Until I did. Then I realized that the volunteering was actually fun. I am very socially anxious and it helped me have a common goal and reason to talk to other parents and bond with like-minded families. The families that bring their kids to VPP are the most down-to-earth, authentically caring people I have ever met all at one place. This feeling of community connectedness is fostered by the wonderful teachers and staff at this amazing school. It is because of the volunteering that we all became so close. We loved it so much that my youngest also went here. I found my stride in volunteering and learned how to connect my kids better and how to connect with other children. This meant more confidence in playdates and making friends became easier. Now that both my littles have graduated from VPP we maintain many of those friendships and still feel connected to other VPP alumni who are now with us in elementary school. It's amazing how making those bonds early on can have such a positive lasting effect throughout their school years. I have an older child who didn't go to VPP (because we didn't live here yet) and is totally jealous. She went to a lovely preschool but VPP is a unicorn among preschools. Things I've noticed with my younger two during and after their experiences at VPP: 1) They are confident and openly ask for their needs to be met! Adults at VPP are there to help facilitate whatever the kids' are curious about. This environment helped my kids feel that they would be listened to and treated with kindness and respect. It made them eager to communicate with children and adults alike, even years after VPP. Their elementary teachers and strangers always comment about how confidently they speak to adults and children. 2) Manners are reinforced by adults throughout VPP. With that kind of consistency and strong expectation from their social group the kids quickly learn that manners are necessary. It's awesome. 3) Conflict resolution happens right away and is thorough because there are always adults engaging with the children down on their level playing with them so the adult is aware of any unfolding conflict. And the kids come to expect a respectful exchange because that's what they are used to at VPP. So when kids are not kind to them my kids recognize it know it and do not accept that behavior. They will walk away and refrain from engaging after using their words to explain how it made them feel (e.g. "You're not being nice. I don't want to play anymore.") They have learned to apologize, to check on friends who are hurt by them or others, how to repair when they make a mistake. 4) Kids are not punished they are redirected and encouraged to do the right thing and repair as best they can. There is no time-out. I love this approach because we all learn through mistakes. Having a safe place to make mistakes and know that they will be gently and consistently be steered on the right path by caring adults makes kids want to try things even if they don't know how. They aren't afraid to fail. They are encouraged to try. 5) When a kid uses their imagination to come up with an idea, something they want to do or try, the teachers encourage adults to take proper safety precautions (like protective eyewear for flying objects) and INDULGE the child's curiosity. It's amazing what fun the kids have here and they'd voracity for learning and trying things. 6) The place looks like a fantasy play space with indoor and outdoor activities and play spaces all year. Families are encouraged to dress for the weather so the kids can experience outdoor play year round. 7) You will really get to know your child and see them blossom in an environment where you're not the center of attention. They will thrive here. 8) The whole school community really helps each other out in and out of school. It's a group effort and you will absolutely feel the love. When you have illness, a family emergency, or any kind of rough patch you will experience that "village" feeling your heart has been yearning for. I wish every school was based on VPP's approach. I do not say this lightly, it is truly a gem. Volunteering is only a few times a month dependent on how many days a week your kid goes to school. It's not hard. It's unifying and fun. Take a chance. Go visit. Take a tour. This was the most lovely and wholesome experience of my life. read more

Valley Parent Preschool has been a wonderful experience for both of my children. My son attended pre-K there in 2021-2022 and now my daughter attends preschool there. For my son, coming into VPP as his first school experience in the midst of the COVID pandemic, the VPP staff and community did an amazing job working to keep kids safe, while still providing a supportive, creative, and fun learning environment. He had a truly great experience and still talks about how much he loved VPP and wishes he could have spent more time there. My daughter, who is at VPP now, is also thriving there, enjoying the free-play and creativity based learning. She has already grown so much in terms of learning critical social skills, building independence, and developing a love of school/learning. As a licensed child psychologist, I appreciate the child-focused, developmentally appropriate programming offered at VPP as well as the incredible kindness, patience, and dedication to play-based learning demonstrated by staff. As a parent, I also appreciate the opportunity to work at the school and be involved in my children's early learning experiences. It does take time during the week and sometimes on weekends for community events and may not be the best fit for every family, but if a co-op experience is what you are looking for, VPP is an excellent choice! read more

Many years ago I visited VPP and I wished we lived in the east bay so my kids could attend to VPP. Two years ago we moved and now my youngest child is in his second year at VPP and we couldn't be happier. He loves the school, the teachers, all the parents. VPP is a great community, we always look forward to go to school and experience the day. The days are filled with art, games, fun and friends! We are extremely satisfied! read more

We have loved our time at Valley Parent both through their PreK program and Outdoor Explorers. VPP has given our daughter an opportunity to grow in so many ways. She LOVES going to school. The teachers have been extremely accommodating in adapting to our daughter's specific medical needs which is a huge weight off our backs. We love that VPP empowers the children to learn in their own way and to problem solve. We have really enjoyed the co-op experience as it allows for us as parents to get to know other classmates as well as our daughter to grow more familiar with her friend's parents. It's truly a welcoming environment for all! read more

We love Valley Parent Preschool! This is my kiddos second year at VPP and he is thriving and growing so much. The teachers are amazingly kind and patient, the property is just a kids dream with multiple play houses, sand, a slide, art, water play and imaginative plays spaces aka drama room. I initially was concerned about the cooperative hours but it's actually been really nice. It helps build community, I get to know my sons classmates, teachers and have made friends with the other parents. It is such a very special place and my older son frequently asks why he didn't get a chance to go! I wish we had because this is to me the best experience my kids could have. I also really like the emphasis on play based education. So if you are wondering at all if you should check out VPP, you absolutely should. read more

VPP is the sweetest preschool. It is like a children's museum with so many opportunities for exploration. Preschoolers have so much autonomy and time for play inside and outside guided by loving teaching. My daughter loves going and I love being able to help once a week to watch her in action. Because parents co-op weekly, there is a real sense of community and love for all the kiddos. It is a special place. read more

We found VPP through their amazing Little Explorer's Outdoor program for toddlers and it's been wonderful for both our son and our family. We toured several preschools and knew that we valued a play based curriculum and that VPP was the one. The teachers are kind and caring but also provide great boundaries and the high adult to kid ratio (1:3) is unbeatable. We are in our second year and as a pandemic family with a stay at home parent it was wonderful to find a community where parents are involved and want to connect with other families since stay at home parenting can be very isolating. Our son looks forward to school every day and especially cherishes the days we co-op. I love that the kids are allowed to get messy and play outdoors rain or shine and the school has so many cool features like a climbing wall, a garden with apple trees, indoor and outdoor playhouses, etc. When my son went through a rough patch with separation when I returned to work from maternity leave they were so supportive and would read with him until he was calm and call my husband later in the morning to reassure him that our son was settled and having fun. If you want a village this is your place. read more

When I first took a tour of Valley Parent Preschool - it immediately "felt right" for my daughter - who was born at the start of the pandemic and a little hesitant about getting to know the "outside world". VPP embraced both my daughter (and me!) and supported us with so much patience as we both learned to transition apart from one another. It is hard to express in writing how beautiful our experience has been with VPP. It has been a sacred place for my daughter to grow up at her own pace, and be surrounded by the most gracious teachers and families - and of course - make her first friends. The unexpected part was how much the school helped me out as well. It helped me grow my confidence as a new mom (parenting is not for the weak!), introduced me to lifelong friends, and provided us the best teachers that turned into mentors. I am forever grateful for choosing VPP as my daughter's preschool. read more

VPP is such a special place that will stay with your family for a lifetime! I have two kids who both went to VPP and we still hang out with friends that attended VPP with us. The co-op atmosphere not only allows you to see your child in action, but it also helps you as a parent too. I learned so much from the wonderful and caring teachers and staff that work at VPP. The teachers and staff care so much about each and every child. Co-oping in the classroom also gives you the opportunity to meet your child's friends and make real friendships with other parents. When you work side-by-side with other parents there's a special bond that forms that keeps your friendships going long after VPP. The environment that VPP offers gave my children the choice to explore what they were interested in and provided new experiences as well. When I was touring preschools with my oldest child, VPP was the only place that she didn't cry at! I could tell that she immediately felt welcomed and comfortable, which made me feel the same way. We are beyond happy with our preschool years spent at VPP! read more

We are now in our 2nd year at valley parent and love it. Our children love going to school there and always come home with stories and projects that they've done. We love the community feel of the school and they have a private Facebook page set up where current families have access to photos that are shared daily. We just love that! Everyday I know what my kids have done at school and it makes it so easy to say "I saw you were planting in the garden" or "tell me about the Chinese New Year that you learned about today". Miss Sarah is a fantastic director who replies to emails so quickly and is at the school even on her days off. Now that's dedication. Even though we live far from the school, it's worth the drive. Can't wait for next year! read more

Valley Parent Preschool - Loving their book choices! - Preschools Near Me - Danville, California

We'll be going into our third year at Valley Parent Preschool for my oldest and first year for my youngest. It has been a fantastic experience for us. With that said, my disclaimer is that it works for us. It will definitely not work for everyone. I'm also speaking with no comparative experience at any other preschool. We chose it for a few reasons: 1) Cost 2) Play-based 3) Close proximity to our home 4) I liked the co-op experience of being a part of it all If you are just looking for the most affordable preschool and have no interest in the co-op aspect DO NOT choose this school. You do work, the parents run the place. That is the whole idea behind a co-op. Here are the requirements: - Each month you work however many days your child goes to school per week. If they go twice a week you work twice a month, if it's three times a week you work three times a month. "Work" entails arriving at 8:40 to prep for the day and have a meeting with all the parents/teachers about the day's activities. You choose an area to work on a first-come-first-serve basis. Depending on the area that you are working, you basically play, read, run an art activity, monitor snacks, help the kids out....it's FUN. You get to see all these kids learn and grow together AND you get to watch your own child interact. You also get to know the other parents which is great. Once the day is over you have specific cleaning instructions for your area (and yes, cleaning toilets is part of one parent's job). It's not a big deal to me, it's 20-30 min. tops and anyone who is done will often pitch in to help anyone else out. We then usually have a talk through with the teachers about the day. I'm usually leaving by noon. In the beginning of the year it's definitely more hectic with everyone learning the ropes and I'm always wiped out after my work days but I truly enjoy it. I can not stress this enough, if this doesn't sound appealing to you, this is not the school for you. - Each year there are three General Meetings that you or a partner/spouse are required to attend on a week night. Sometimes they can drag but for the most part they've been interesting. They usually have a speaker come in to talk about various topics related to children/child rearing. I've left most of them with some new info. that spoke to me. You are also required to attend Fall Orientation. - You pay a $150 maintenance fee at the beginning of each year. At some point during the year you need to put in 5hrs of maintenance and you will be refunded this amount. To me this is not a big deal, it's been one Sat. morning each year. Anyone from your family can fulfill this. You also have the option to not fulfill those hours but you don't get the money back. - Fulfill ~30hrs on whatever committee you are on throughout the year. This will entail a few committee meetings and working on executing various activities or things for the school. I'll admit I was overwhelmed by this at first but it's proven not to be that big of a deal. You can usually choose the committee you'd like to serve on and then choose a specific project to work on. Depending on what it is a lot can be done on your own. Again, this is a co-op and it does not operate without parent participation. Participation in any other school function or activity beyond the above is PURELY YOUR CHOICE. Yes, there are social and fundraising activities throughout the year....it's one of the things I like most about the school, it feels like a community. We've participated in a lot but have definitely felt no pressure to do any of it. Participation in all of those activities are purely up to you....they ARE NOT required, if you go great, if not no big deal. Our experience with the teachers and Director have been amazing. My daughter has grown and thrived and loves going. My youngest knows all of the teachers and a lot of the kids and parents and can not wait to go. It's been really great to be a part of this community. I love that I know all of her classmates and their parents. It is a loving, caring environment. Again, this is definitely not for everyone. If you don't think you can commit to the requirements I would discourage you from considering it. If you are looking for worksheets and a lot of academic structure this is also not for you. If the idea of being a part of your child's preschool experience appeals to you, if you want your child to grow and thrive in a play-based environment, and if you don't mind putting in the required time it's a fantastic option. read more

This is our family's fourth year at VPPS, and we are so thrilled with how caring and dedicated our teachers have been. Yes, it is a lot of work and a big commitment, but so is anything worth doing (in my oh-so-humble opinion!). My children are only little for such a short time, and I treasure the opportunity to be as involved as I can be in their preschool experience. I would much rather spend my "free time" helping my child's school than out getting a mani-pedi! It's not for everyone, as some reviewers have attested to, but for those who aren't afraid of a little involvement, the rewards are incredible. Our first child began at a Montessori in Walnut Creek that was very stifling to his creativity, and made an already shy, quiet child even more introverted and rigid. Even worse, he began to dislike school -- and this was a child who had an insatiable thirst for knowledge and loved learning new things. After 2 years of a play-based, loving, nurturing experience at Valley Parent Preschool, he is now a thriving, happy 1st Grader (who excels academically), having completed both the Pre-K program and the Kinderprep program. Now our 2nd child is in the Pre-K program, and will probably do the Kinderprep program next year, as well. If you want to be involved in your child's education, and agree with the play-based, developmental philosophy, then VPPS is a wonderful fit. The added bonus is the wonderful community of families you get to be a part of. Even the teachers are known to join in the fun! read more

I'm in my 4th year at VPPS. I LOVE it. Our family LOVES it! It works for our family. My 7 yo constantly complains that its not fair her little sister gets to go to the "fun" school (even though she went there for two years herself)! We are so happy to be able to be a part of our children's preschool life, not just drop them off each day and go about our personal business. It's a family luxury to get to see our child grow, play, prosper, learn, interact, and have so much fun! Too many parents today are selfish and just want an all-day babysitting school, in my opinion. If you are that kind of parent, this school is not for you. How many teachers do you know that will change their curriculum when the majority of kids in class have questions about a certain topic? This school will! My daughter's 4yo class started asking about the moon, stars, sun, and planets. The teacher immediately saw this interest among the children and changed her teaching plans for the month to focus on the kids' interests! They even went on a field trip to Chabot Science Center. This is above and beyond what you'll get anywhere else! Yes, there is the co-op aspect. But don't be fooled by the negative posts. You don't do ALL that cleaning, sanitizing, etc in a single day's work. You are assigned ONE area to work, and you are responsible for that area alone. It is not as others have it appear....you don't supervise art projects, clean toilets, sanitize toys, wash down play structure, etc in a single day. I think the school was very forthcoming in what I was signing up for at a co-op, and it is worth every saved penny to be a part of it, including a bit of elbow grease here and there to keep the school looking clean, keeping the school safe, and creating a nurturing environment for my child(ren)! I have made lifelong friendships at this school. So have my children. I encourage you to take a tour of this school if you are considering it. Ask questions. See the school in action. Pretty sure you'll be impressed. read more

At first I was a little overwhelmed by the co-op experience, but now I am very pleased with our choice. My daughter loves this school, which is very important. They offer opportunities for parent education/support, which has been great for me. There is some ethnic diversity, which we value. Overall, a very nurturing and fun environment for my daughter. I feel very lucky to be part of this school. read more

Can't speak highly enough about this school. As a working mother the "co-op" obligation was intimidating but what I have found is that I am surrounded by other families that really care and want to be involved with their kiddos. The teachers and director are absolutely phenomenal and my child loves the environment. I have gotten way more involved than I would have initially thought, but it's been a really rewarding experience for my son, and for us as parents, and even for his little brother. They work hard to build an inclusive environment for the students and the families... and I really appreciate it. read more

We signed up for the VPP virtual summer camps and they have been amazing! Sarah and Danielle have done a fantastic job putting together activities that kids of varying ages will enjoy and they provide all the materials needed for so many different types of activities. Looking forward to the rest of the summer. read more

I don't recommend this preschool. During my sons second year at Valley Parent, I realized he wasn't getting what he needed to prepare for kindergarten. The school's director was neither helpful nor supportive when approached with my concerns. I ended up switching him early in his second year to a traditional preschool that has more structure, a better mix of play & academics, & more experienced & educated teachers who really engage with the students. I'm so glad I switched schools! He's doing great at his new school. His confidence has increase so much, plus, he actually likes to be there! The play based structure of Valley Parent just didn't work for my son. The class size is very large, about 32 students. The majority of the school day is free play, which is very chaotic and loud. A very short time at the end of the day is spent in circle time, with a very brief and rushed group activity. Additionally, your child is primarily supervised (and disciplined) by parents, rather than trained teachers, and the mix of parents changes every day. There really is no individual interaction or attention from the actual teacher. Overall, very chaotic, not a great learning environment, and not good preparation for kindergarten. The required time commitment of working in class and on a school committee was also much more than expected. read more

This is a co-op preschool. The [biggest] problem is that there is waaaaaay more parental involvement required than you are initially told. In the pamphlets and web site and even on the preschool tour, no one really explains to you what "volunteering in the classroom" means. It just tells you how many hours you must volunteer, and it doesn't sound bad. In fact, I had visions of reading stories to kids in a corner somewhere or supervising an art activity. In reality, you are doing those things, plus washing floors, scrubbing toddler toilets (you think that's pretty?), cleaning the kitchen, raking cat poop out of the sandbox, wiping down all playground equipment, sweeping the back yard, washing paintbrushes, making coffee, setting up activities, vacuuming, bringing snacks. There is NO CLEANING CREW. You are it. You are also at various times disinfecting every single toy in the school, etc., etc. But that's not all. There is unspoken pressure to get involved way over the written requirements. There are picnics and exta activities for which they're always seeking volunteers, and donations, and this and that, and eventually, you look like a slacker if you don't sign up for all sorts of extra stuff. It's really more than a school: it's a way of life. For people new to the area who need an instant social life and like to feel needed, this could be great. And the parents who like it REALLY LIKE IT. This school wants to claim a lot of your free time. There are similarly priced schools requiring less parental involvement, and the involvement is more on an activity level than a janitorial one, so you can interact with your child and his/her classmates and your child actually gets something out of your presence there, as opposed to you scrubbing the toilets vs. a paid cleaning crew, which means nothing to your kid. read more

My son spent two years here and this review is to recognize that he is thriving in school and I know I have VPP to thank. Last year he started kindergarten and knew letter recognition and could count to 40. He could write his name but couldn't write all of his letters or numbers. He was not at ease that most of his peers knew more than him in the beginning but school was exciting for him and he had the foundation needed to learn what was taught. By the time he finished kindergarten he was one of the top readers in his class and all summer long he would read on his own because he loved it. He just went to his first grade reading assessment and tested at an L/M. The teacher praised him and I thought in my head, this is thanks to VPP! I will also state that the parent education you receive at this preschool is unparalleled. I joined to make parent connections and to be more involved with my son's preschool experience and I ended up with so much more. read more

Our family LOVES this preschool !!!! My 1st grader went to VPPS for 3 years and my youngest will start next fall. We had Teacher Leslie for 2 years and she is wonderful! So calm and loves teaching and playing with the kids. Leslie will be back to teaching ALL the 3-year-olds next year, yay! All the VPPS teachers care so much about our school and spend a lot of non-paid time supporting it! My daughter totally loved the school from the first week. Some days did feel a little chaotic, especially the first week and the rainy days, but my daughter never wanted to miss her preschool days (or leave school). Kinderprep was a fantastic experience, giving her one more year of play and experiences before Kindergarten. She's now one of the best students in her class. This IS a parent run preschool. Parents take turns working at the school alongside the teachers, make up the school board committee, and keep it looking clean and nice. Yes, this does mean you might clean three kid's toilets as part of your 30 min cleaning time after school a few times a year, but I felt the overall experience made it well worth it. I loved being welcome to stay at the preschool as long as I/my daughter wanted when we first started (which wasn't long). I loved healthy snack foods and no juice boxes. I loved being an integral part of my daughter's school. I met some of my closest friends at VPPS, great parents who are involved with their kids. I'd trust them with my child for a whole weekend even! If you're just looking for an inexpensive preschool and don't really want to get involved, VPPS may not be for you. It's also not right for every kid, like if your child needs a lot of structure and/or a quiet school setting. A couple friends liked VPPS, but did their next preschool year at Montessori. They missed being involved, but it worked better for their child. I've also seen kids not like Montessori, but did great at VPPS the next year. Just depends on the kid. If you like being involved in your children's school, knowing all their teachers, classmates and the other parents and being part of a strong school community, you will love VPPS too! read more

My son is in his second year at VPP and so far, it's been a great experience. There are two preschool classes and three pre-k classes. The school also has an off-site "Explorers" program, which is basically hiking & outdoor exploring for kids up to age 6 (parents participate too.) All of the school's teachers are well-qualified, genuinely good with young children, and committed. The director is engaged, a strong leader, and truly dedicated to the play-based curriculum. I've never seen her waver from the school's philosophy or values. Nobody who works at VPP is there just for a paycheck - they really enjoy helping kids learn. Co-op does involve a degree of time/work and it's not going to be a good fit for some families. It's less expensive than other preschools in the area and my son really loves having me around in the classroom every 4-5 school days. Another reviewer suggested two things I feel compelled to provide additional input on. The first was the suggestion children are treated differently based on who their parents are in the school. I haven't seen anything like that at all. I'm not especially social and mostly keep to myself, particularly last year. I had no special connections or anything. I didn't/still don't usually attend any of the school's events, fundraising activities, etc. My son was and is treated no differently than any other kid there. The second comment suggested that families of different races are treated differently. Again, I haven't seen anything like that at all! The school is very diverse and values friends of all backgrounds. A quick look at the website will speak to that, and five minutes in the classroom will affirm it. The school isn't perfect, but no school is, and discrimination definitely isn't something they have any sort of an issue with. read more

Valley Parent Preschool is wonderful! The teachers are fantastic and Sarah, the director is amazing! As part of being in a co-op, there is parental involvement such as volunteering, and I love that! I get to see how son develops and I have learned a lot from the teachers in the way they interact with the children. They have had years and years of experience with children, so they have an abundance of knowledge to feed off of. I've had a lot of "A-HA" moments when I see the way they handle different, sometimes difficult situations without missing a beat and I take that knowledge home with me. The preschool is very clean and there are so many choices to keep the kids engaged and interested. They recently redid the backyard and it looks fantastic! The kids even planted a vegetable/flower garden :) I highly recommend Valley Parent to anyone! read more

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My daughter attended VPPS for 2 years and I just enrolled my younger daughter for the fall! I cannot say enough about this school that would give it the justice it deserves! I think it is sad that a reviewer only gave the school a one day chance....how naive to think that the first day of preschool is going to go smoothly without a hitch. (seriously - they are only 3 and 4 years old!) So I had some AMAZING experiences. I've seen kids thrive in the VPPS environment, where kids are allowed to be KIDS! They are learning through creative play and not being stuck at a desk and told to do tedious amounts of workbook pages, etc. They are learning valuable social skills for their future, learning how to interact with both kids and adults. They have responsibilities there too, like cleaning up and speaking to each other with respect. Did you know that your child does NOT have to be potty trained to attend VPPS? Another wonderful perk! The teachers there are amazing. Teacher Leslie and Teacher Patty (sadly no longer teaching there) are great with the kids and the parents alike. They teach with a gentle heart and a wide berth of knowledge. Teacher Sarah - I cannot say enough good and positive things about her! Not only does she also have an awesome rapport with the children, but she brought so many ideas and learning tools to the class! Sarah also changed her own curriculum around a bit to satisfy what the kids wanted to learn about! For example, my daughter's class wanted to know about "space", so they spent 2 weeks learning all about space, the planets, etc. They were so excited! And did I mention LIVE MUSIC? VPPS offers a visionary staff with your child's greatest interests at heart! My daughter is in Kindergarten now, and there is no doubt that VPPS helped mold her into the student and social butterfly she is today! I cannot wait for my youngest to start this awesome adventure herself! As for the parent workload.....this is a co-op school. Not once did the school ever not explain the actual work details. In reality, they over-exaggerated the co-op work responsibilities. Yes, you have to do some manual labor when you are working as a parent - but it keeps the costs down. If you are going to whine about having to pick up and clean up after the children, and generally don't want to be that involved in your child's preschool education, then maybe VPPS isn't for your family. What I do know, is that it was the perfect school for my family! read more

We loved our time at Valley Parent! We moved to the area from out of state and found the co-op experience to be exactly what we needed both for our daughter and for our family. The teaching staff was amazing, tailoring activities throughout each month to the interests of the students. Using hands on activities and play-based learning as an "always" not a "sometimes" was remarkable, watching the growth of the children over the course of the year blew me away. I also loved being in the classroom, helping and being a part of my child's education. We move often for work and have been able to be a part of several preschools, VPP hands down wins the "above & beyond" award. There are so many great schools out there, but the combination of the ridiculously talented, loving staff and the play-based model blew us away. Co-op's are not for everyone, and that is okay! But if you are open to the idea or value the play based model (learning by doing) you need to check out VPP. read more

Both of my children attended Valley Parent Preschool (2010-2013), and I could not be happier with the experience. This is a co-op, so the parents are expected to be very hands on and involved every step of the way. Since our children are only this age once, I was happy to participate in their preschool years by being in the classroom, learning from their teachers, getting to know their classmates and sitting down and finger painting right along with them. I would say the best thing about being part of this school was the close relationships that form between families because everyone is so present. We will definitely stay in touch with all of our Valley Parent classmates, families and teachers. Miss Leslie, Miss Tess, Miss Viki, Miss Sarah, Miss Vinnie and Miss Ashley are wonderful, caring teachers that go above and beyond for each student every day. read more

Valley Parent Preschool is a wonderful program! I had the amazing opportunity to have both my kiddos attend VPP for all 3 years of preschool. Their play based learning environment was just what my children needed in order to grow socially, emotionally, and at their own pace. Now they are both in elementary school and are thriving! I love the opportunity I had to be a part of their first school experience through volunteering . It truly is a magical place! read more

Our family is so proud to be a part of VPP. This is definitely a place where the more you put in, the more you get out of the experience (It is a co-op and the school thrives and depends on parent power!). The community is wonderful and the teachers are knowledgeable and caring. Our son's teachers have been dedicated to the children's developmental needs--multi-sensory, socially, emotionally...the list goes on! They definitely hold a special place in our hearts. read more

We placed our daughter in Valley Parent this fall and we can not be happier! The teachers are great. You do have to do your fair share, but it is far from overwhelming. We have actually become so happy to be involved in our daughters education. This type of school may not be for everyone, but we wouldn't want to send our child to any place else! read more

My son has attended Valley Parent for a few years and my younger son is set to begin there next year. I fall in the camp of parents that are extremely pleased. I moved my child from another preschool to Valley Parent and found VPPS to be just the right fit for our family. The teachers are all passionate about teaching and work hard to make the learning environment the best place it can be based on brain research. Teachers plan a variety of learning experiences for kids and are constantly changing the materials available to the students so that they can learn, create, and explore in new ways. As a former teacher, I could see as soon as I began at VPPS that the teachers really go the extra mile to make sure the school maintains a rich learning environment. There is something for every learner: creative art activities, a variety of building materials and manipulatives, math experiences through cooking, plenty of opportunity for pretend play (they just added a "play kitchen" to sand area), even the play house in the back changes from a grocery store to a doctors office to a puppet show theater! All of these creative ideas are a testament to the staff and the power of a parent co-operative--there is so much a school can do when the parents are there to work to support the teachers and the environment. Between teachers, paid aides, and parents there is a very low student to adult ratio--there is always an adult the child can turn to for support. My son went from feeling preschool was "okay" at his old school, to becoming an inspired and excited learner who loves every minute of school--this is just want I want for him as he gets ready for Kindergarten. Our family is a part of a wonderful community at VPPS, and students at this school can see that their whole family values and is willing to work hard for their education. (Because, while the workdays for parents are fun, they can also be hard work. Come prepared to interact with the children and pitch in on some clean up!) I have found the amount of work that is required of families seems to match what I expected when starting in the school--it is time I am happy to put in. In some cases the "hours" posted in paperwork have come out to be less in reality. Oh yeah, and I love the parent education portion of the general meetings. I have learned so much about child development. And, my family has made friendships that extend outside of school and will continue for years. I saw there was one parent on yelp whose child had a hard time adjusting to the school on the first day. Preschool can be overwhelming and can take some getting used to for some kids. I am sorry this parent didn't talk to the teachers about this. The teachers are so approachable and really want to problem solve with parents to help make their experience a great one! read more

If you want a warm, caring, nurturing and developmentally appropriate environment to send your child during his formative years, then VPPS is the place for you. While many preschools in this area have edged away from developmental programs due to parental competition, VPPS has remained staunchly devoted to the best interests of the people it serves: the children. Here are some examples from personal experience or observation. 1)Last year there was a child who cried every day at drop off and didn't want her mom to leave. The staff allowed the mother to stay with her daughter for the 2.5 hour program, daily, until the little girl felt comfortable enough to attend on her own. On the days when the mother worked, the teachers accommodated this mother by taking over her duties so that she could attend to her daughter. I know two other mothers who shared that they had this same type of accommodating experience and their children really benefited from this. 2)Unlike previous posters have mentioned, I feet that the school OVERSTATED the amount of work we would be responsible for completing. I felt overwhelmed before school started because all of the paperwork listed what seemed like a large time commitment. After the first month of school, I came home and heaved a huge sigh of relief. Working with the children is NOT difficult and is so rewarding. Others have mentioned that they had to clean while working with the kids, this is absolutely incorrect. While the kids are at their activities the adults are expected to help them and interract with them. The cleaning is done afterwards and takes, maybe, a half an hour of your time. Aren't your children worth this? 3)Because there are so many parents working each day, there is always at least one adult at each activity, which allows the children to have one on one attention. If a child wants/needs help, we can provide it. If a child wants/needs some extra love, we can provide that as well. They are not overlooked like they might be in a school with a much larger ratio. 4)Again, because there are so many parents helping out during school hours, the teachers are freed up to interact constantly with the children. These women are able to get down and play with kids, read to them, and help them deal with any interpersonal issues that may arise (this is preschool afterall). This accounts for the way that these children really feel heard by their teachers. I have witnessed both Sarah (the pre-k teacher and new director for next year) and Leslie (the preschool teacher) get down to the level of the children and REALLY listen to what they have to say. These women HEAR the children and my boys know this. My boys will only be young for a short amount of time and I want to spend that time with them. I don't want to drop them off at school and guess what they've done during the day. Not only can I see first hand what they're doing, but the teachers are great at keeping me informed. This school is really a community and when parents and teachers work together for the children, the children can only benefit. I owe a great deal of gratitude and debt to, not only the teachers, but all of the parents and children who have worked so hard to make VPPS a truly great place to send our children. read more

Preschool is a funny thing. You send your kids to a place where you hope they learn something and come out better little people than they went in. What I LOVED about my 4 years at Valley Parent Preschool is I, as a parent, got to be a part of that process. I participated in the activities, got dirty playing with the kids and learned something new each time I worked at school. This is not a place where you drop you kids off at 9 and then just come back at 11:30. Parents stay a little longer and talk to each other and actually become friends. Even as a full time working mom, I was still able to make friends myself. My children not only learned from the WONDERFUL teachers, they also learned things from the other working parents. New types of music or new careers or even new ways to calm ourselves down. As a parent, you do have to work in the classroom and help keep the school running, but it is not as bad as some reviews make it out to be. What I liked is I got to be there to "BE" with my children just a little bit more. What I see and find so funny is the parents you meet at VPP are the same parents who are coordinators for soccer, coaches for T-Ball or on the PTA at your local elementary school. I am sad that after I will not be back at VPP, since my youngest is now off to Kindergarten, but I honestly can say I am SO HAPPY I choose VPP for both of my children and for me. read more

This was my second child that attended Valley,My first had great experiance there and made a smooth transition into Kindergarten,my second is enjoying it as well . This is a co-op so it gave me a chance to spend with my child in a learning enviorment.The staff is very good! read more