Absolute most wonderful teachers and staff, and such a special place. Both my boys went there…read more(newer Olivenhain location) and I can't recommend it enough.

Love this school. They take such good care of kids and meet kids where they are. They value play…read moreand understand that drive problem solving and long term success.

This is one of the best places to send your pre-school child. This family-run business has been in…read morebusiness for over 30 years with two other locations--Encinitas and Vista. Kathy is the head cheese and her daughter runs this location. All I can say is that the children are really loved here. The emphasis is on supporting the children as they explore art, learning and playing. There are no or only limited time on computers and the kids can even play in their bare feet. I sent my child to the other location and she still maintains friendships that she established there. At this location the school house is set on a couple of acres of land allowing the kids to really get a that dose of natural fresh air they thrive in.

This is an excellent preschool in Encinitas. All of the teachers are enthusiastic and caring, and…read morethe activities are engaging. We enrolled our daughter here after relocating to the area, and her transition was seamless! She loves the outdoor/natural school setting and all of the creative activities that they engage in. The children create an art project everyday, dance, and do theme-based play. In addition, the school also tends to the more traditional school curriculum (letters and numbers). I am sure that our daughter will one day look back on her time at this school with fondness.

I have to highly recommend Little Thinkers Preschool! I have had all three of my children go…read morethrough little thinkers and it's been a great foundation to their success in school. Mrs. Heather and her excellent team of teachers give love, care and great early education to all kiddos there. We were so lucky to be at Little Thinkers and can't imagine my kids starting their school journey anywhere else. Also the art work they bring home is the BEST!

We love Little Thinkers! Our oldest attended from 18 months-4 years and we now have our 2 younger…read morechildren there. Heather and the crew do an excellent job providing an entertaining program of arts and crafts and learning about a variety of topics, so the kiddos are always excited when they are dropped off and sad to leave. We have also appreciated the socialization aspect of getting our little ones together with other kids, and thankful that Little Thinkers provides a great environment for this at a very early age. This school has been an incredible blessing for us and we've happily referred them to all of our friends!

My Daughter is 4 1/2 and started at this school with 23 months. She continues to attend the school…read moreand has turned into such a responsible, considerate, humble, focused, sweet and ultimately a very happy girl. I continue to be surprised at how much endless love, patience, guidance and support the teachers have for these children. The school is small but so vast in opportunities for a child to learn and develop. The teachers communicate with me daily and are VERY responsive since day 1 and always offered me a great deal of support from my separation anxiety! Communication is always taking place and everything they do is so consistent. From the moment I walked in I knew this was a home away from home and just the community I was looking for to raise my daughter. I highly recommend this school.

I love this small scale Montessori children's house. The space is cute and very organized and the…read morequality of teachers here are amazing. They are very experienced, knowledgable, patient and loving. They take only 12-14 kid total with age between 2- 6 years old. The school feels like a family compare to some other large Montessori schools in the area that is large, charges twice as much that felt like a money making corporate company with kids being shuffled around rooms like live stocks. Our son loves coming to school and had became so well behaved and communicative since coming here 5 month ago. We learn great tips from the teachers all the time and we have a peace of mind having our son learning here.

La Costa Valley Preschool & Kindergarten has truly been a second home for our family since my son…read morefirst started back in 2020, and as this is our last year here, I'm more emotional about it than I expected. Both of my kids have grown up at this school, and watching them thrive in such a warm, loving, and nurturing environment has meant the world to us. The teachers and staff aren't just educators -- they are genuinely caring people who know each child personally and make them feel seen, safe, and celebrated every single day. When I see my kids run up to their teachers and hug them because they've missed them, it warms my heart. Ms. Jackie has touched both of my kids' lives in such special ways. Ms. Julie prepared my son -- and is now preparing my daughter -- for kindergarten with so much patience, warmth, and dedication. My son is even coming back to read to his sister's class, and Ms. Julie couldn't be more excited to welcome him. Ms. Denise and Ms. Maize are both excellent, and my daughter still talks about them all the time! And then there's the joy of Ms. Mandy and her vibrant personality that lights up the room. All the ladies at the front desk (Janice, Erica, and Jeanne) greet us with the kindest smiles every morning -- they truly start our day off right. As I prepare myself for our last year here, I feel incredibly grateful. LCVPK has shaped my kids in the best possible ways, and it has shaped me as a parent, too. This school will always hold a very special place in our hearts. If you're looking for a preschool/kindergarten that feels like family, this is it. We were lucky to be part of this community, and we will miss it deeply.

We started at LCVPK in 2018 and have since sent all three of our kids, and we couldn't be happier!…read moreOf course, they've learned their colors, numbers, and how to be great listeners and students, but what truly sets this school apart is the incredible care and excellence of the teachers. Every classroom is filled with dedicated, nurturing educators, and Ms. Jackie has become like a second mom to my three boys. The peace of mind I feel each morning when I drop them off is absolutely priceless. All of my kids have loved going to school here and have been very well-prepared for Kindergarten. Jeanne in the front office is always kind and responsive to any questions I've had, which makes everything run so smoothly. LCVPK has been such a blessing to our family- warm, welcoming, and truly exceptional in every way!

We absolutely love this school! They are so great with the kids and provide not only a great…read moreeducation, but a kind, safe and loving environment for the kids. One of my kids will be starting kindergarten soon and will be very well prepared. MSE has taught her to read, write, addition, subtraction, etc. She has an advanced understanding of science, biology, history, music, etc. The teachers we have had are all SO great. I can't say enough good things, I highly recommend!

Great school. Our daughter has learned and grown so much. We are so lucky to have this place!read more

FIVE STARS! I cannot say enough good things about The Purposeful Preschool!!! I am a very critical…read moreperson who has to do a lot of research before I make any decision, especially the huge decision of who I would trust my 2 children and their early education with. After looking into many other preschools, my husband and I knew that Colleen was the best we could find. She follows the Reggio Emilia and Montessori model. If you don't know either of those, look them up! They're the best! There is so much respect for the child and his/her needs, emotions, interests, ect. The school is filled with lovely natrual materials and non-electronic toys to foster the children's creativity and curiosities. I knew i wanted inquiry-based learning, but PP is inquiry-based learning and more. Colleen really personalizes the lessons and materials for whatever the kids are really interested in or needing that week. For example, I mentioned to Colleen that my son was having tantrums and his emotions just seemed too big for him, and after trying everything I was at a loss to help him. The next preschool day, she had books and a game (which she ordered online) all dealing with a toddler's experience with big feelings. It brought tears to my eyes, because I knew that was exactly what he needed! This is one example out of many! She always goes the extra mile and you can tell she loves all her students and loves what she is doing. The preschool has an atmosphere of genuine respect and care for one another, which I know is because Colleen models that for them. There is never any shaming or punishment when they misbehave, but always an age-appropiate interaction to help uncover why the child is acting out and what are better options for them to choose instead. By witnessing Colleen's example, I have learned to be a better mother and my children have learned how to become more kind and compassionate little humans. That's worth more than anything can buy. Another example, there is a technique she uses for sharing and, since my kids started at the preschool, they have become excellent sharers to the point that other parents notice at the park and playdates and they ask me how I did it! A 2-year-old and 4-year-old who exemplify sharing to other children. She's a miracle-worker. I obviously love this Preschool for my children and it is very hard for me to be concise in this review because there are so so many things which I could rave about and keep writing for days. If you've made it this far in my review, just schedule a tour and meet with Colleen. I can guarantee that your child will be grateful you chose The Purposeful Preschool. My kids count down the days with excitement for every "Preschool Day". Seriously, give it a try.

Coming from a conventional preschool in a big city to a home-based preschool in Encinitas was truly…read moreblossoming for our daughter. We made a big move, worried about how she would transition and what a new area would bring. Stars aligned finding The Purposeful Preschool and we took the chance (confident of all aspects of the school but just apprehensive as parents with all the change). What we thought would be short-term is turning out to be the perfect fit! It's totally magical. Our daughter has grown leaps and bounds in confidence. She's worked personally with Ms. Colleen on communication, potty-training for naps, conquering fears, writing, letters and the list goes on. Ms. Colleen is attentive (we feel spoiled), so incredibly loving, creative, patient and really a joy to know (she's totally a friend to us as well - and a local reference). The group this school attracts is equally loving. Truly feel lucky for our daughter - only wishing we could hang with her there everyday too!

We love this school. I went to Rhoades as a kid and now my daughter gets to have the same amazing…read moreexperience. We love the quality of people that Rhoades hires and our daughter loves them too!

We are entering our second year and loving it. Our daughter adores the school; she very clearly…read moreprefers this school to her other preschool because she loves the academics and challenges. So much so that our daughter requested to stay in extended day! It's a warm environment that pushes her to learn and grow- could not ask for a better environment. Ms. Miriam was an amazing addition to the school; bringing fun cooking and science to life.