We have so many good things to say about Skytown and its staff. Our daughter attended from age 18…read moremonths, in the Toddler Room. We were initially drawn to Skytown for the ratios (3:1 in Toddler Room), the transparency that comes from parent participation in the classroom, the respect for children that's at the core of their philosophy. We also appreciated the level of involvement that parents get in the preschool's day-to-day, without being a pure parent cooperative (the teachers/director are employees of the school with formal training in the education space). As we spent more time there, we really came to admire the staff, Allison, Nancy, and Bex who really embody the values of the school and do an incredible job at sharing their expertise with the parent community. Our toddler is highly verbal, intense, and energetic. We were reluctant to have her in school so early, but she thrived at Sktytown and learned social skills there that we/nanny wouldn't have been able to provide on our own. We were impressed with Skytown's commitment to using positive language to guide children's behavior, respecting children's autonomy, making each child feel heard and understood, and treating even the youngest toddlers as highly capable individuals with as much autonomy as they could safely have. The 3:1 ratio and small class size allowed even the youngest toddlers to be given with a high degree of autonomy in a way that wouldn't be as feasible in typical classroom. It is a great school for families who are happy to have their child come home with paint on their clothes or food from their snack still on their face because the child was given the opportunity to clean up after themselves. Skytown's commitment to making it a truly child-centric space shows in everything from the way the classrooms are structured and equipped to the way staff talk to the children. It was a joy to see the children be able to play with water, paint, wash hands on their own, visit sensory or pretend play areas, and transition from indoor/outdoor playspaces on their own accord. We have not seen anything else like it. The staff does an exceptional job at helping children learn how to problem solve on their own, and address interpersonal conflict while respecting all the children involved. Even in the toddler room, teachers and parents help the youngest children use age-appropriate methods of communicating through conflict, and use positive language to address unsafe behavior (running indoors, hitting, throwing things, etc) in a way that allows children to learn while still feeling respected and able to express themselves safely. As parents of a daughter, we are aware of when adults might be unintentionally interacting with girls differently than their boy counterparts, but this was never a problem at Skytown with staff or parents. We also noticed the staff and parent community were attuned to racial and gender inclusivity, didn't sweep things under the rug, and were proactive about diversity and inclusivity in all aspects of the school from the materials chosen to the way they communicated with one another.

Take a tour! Our family loves being at Skytown. This was our first experience having our son away…read morefrom us (no sitter, daycare, school) and this gave me the option to finally gain some freedom, but also still be a part of his learning experience through the co-op. It's been comforting to know he is safe and supported at Skytown by child development experts with a strong philosophy, and a community of parents and families with strong values. The care and concern for his food allergies by everyone has also contributed to our sense of safety having him away from us. Beyond all this, my son genuinely looks forward to school and his favorite people now are his teacher, the parents, and his friends! Skytown has become our village - we participate in the classroom together, we play outside of school together, we work on school initiatives together. It's really a unique and special experience and I'm so glad we had this option available to us. Skytown offers the only co-op toddler program (starts at 18mo) in Contra Costa County and is 1 of 2 in the entire East Bay. Like I said there's nothing like it around!

Our daughter has been attending Shining Star, and we couldn't be happier. Every day she comes home…read moreexcited to share the activities, show us her art projects, and sing songs she's learned. The teachers are incredibly kind, and Preeya's warmth, professionalism, and love for children truly shine through. Our daughter often comes home with salon-level hairstyles thanks to teacher Daisy! The meals and snacks are fresh and organic, each month we get a lunch menu (our daughter always talks about the big bowls of fruit). The kids get plenty of time to play, socialize, and learn through rotating activities and themes. When possible, they take walks to nearby parks which was a huge bonus for us. We know that a big part of our daughter's confidence and social growth comes from her experience at Shining Star. We feel so lucky to have found this school! It's the highest quality care with true community and heart.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Shining Star Schoolhouse in El Cerrito and its owner,…read morePriya. From the very first day, she and her team made my son feel completely at home, like he was part of a big, loving family. They helped him settle into a routine, and thanks to their patience and guidance, he was even potty trained during his time there--something I'm so grateful for! He absolutely loved the daily activities, from playtime and story time to the fun trips to the park. Every day was filled with joy, learning, and laughter. Beyond all of that, he built strong, lasting friendships that I know he will carry with him for years to come. Priya's warmth, dedication, and genuine care for each child truly set Shining Star apart. We feel so fortunate to have found such a nurturing place where our son could grow, learn, and thrive. I highly recommend Shining Star Schoolhouse to any parent looking for a safe, caring, and enriching environment for their child.

Neighborhood School is a gem! Located on site at Kensington Hilltop Elementary School it provides…read moreand before and after school care for Hilltop students as well as on site pre-school. Both my now teenage children attended from pre-school through 6th grade. They both loved it and it became their community. The staff is great--diverse, educated, responsible and very supportive of the kids. The continuity of care from the toddler years through elementary school makes for very smooth transitioning. The on-site location and flexible scheduling is a working parent's dream.

Remarkable family run local pre-school, with great staff, and programming for children not kinder…read moreage yet. They also have a great after school program. Great facility and recreational.instructional offerings for kids (Spanish, yoga, music, etc) All teachers are great but, Teacher Liana is absolutely wonderful with all the children.

I had all my three kids at Neighborhood Preschool over the last 7 years, and I do highly recommend…read morethem. They offer a warm, safe, play-oriented environment, and have been incredibly accommodating to my always changing work situation/needs. Small groups, very clean, great art work and music program! All my kids loved going there! Christina K.

Albany preschool is a wonderful place for children to explore, learn and develop through…read morecreativity. Inside, there is a large classroom/play area full of fun activities. And outdoors, there are two huge playgrounds. One with a sandlot and swingset and on the other side, a playground with monkey bars. It's been over a year since my daughter last attended APS, and she still talks about it and misses teacher Nancy. The children learn about different flags and countries, and and also about anatomy. It was amazing to listen to my daughter explain the brain, lungs, heart, etc... they learn about sea creatures and many other things! At first I was worried my daughter was going to have a hard time adjusting, but ever since the first day, she felt right at home. I would always pick her up with a smile on her face, and she even wanted to stay longer to play with her friends. And one last thing, the volunteer parents take turns making special meals for the kids and it really helps them develop their taste buds and try different foods. My daughter's favorite snack is pickles lol. Thank you APS!

My wife and I cannot speak highly enough of Albany Preschool. Our eldest attended for one year (the…read morefirst year she was eligible we applied too late and they were full), and my youngest attended for two years. APS utilizes a play-based learning model, which allows kids to self select activities, leading to more engagement and intrinsic motivation. There are very few required transitions, so kids can really focus on a sustained activity. My kids' consistent favorite was the sensory play in sand and water. The teachers are exceptional. They are loving, patient, responsive and supportive. Each teacher brings a different strength, while still maintaining consistency as a team. Personally, I believe the greatest selling point of APS is its community. It is a cooperative, so families contribute effort, which keeps costs lower. That effort ranges from making play dough, garden and maintenance projects, laundering towels, planning community events, etc. This shared responsibility for the school and students connected us with so many wonderful families. We built more community in 3 years at Albany Preschool than in the previous 10 years we have lived in our neighborhood. In a world of daycare as an industry, Albany Preschool is a rare gem. It is a space rebuilt every year by the imaginations of the kiddos and the commitment of the families and teachers.

No review for this school? This is a great school, indeed. I love how kids play freely in the huge…read moreyard, how they are disciplined by experienced teachers with gentle but firm attitude, and the special birthday cupcakes, and garden planting. I like that it's play-based and the kids have plenty of time exploring by themselves, interacting with others, or just wondering around. My only suggestion is that I wish there will be more shows/performance for holidays, we had a spring fundraiser festival this April, it was great, but would have been even better if some activity such as organized chorus/dancing are performed.

This place is horribly managed. There is no structure in their programs, and the "teachers" are…read morehighly unqualified and unprofessional. The children have free reign because the staff are not paying attention. The staff are also rude and disrespectful. Beyond this, the program is inaccessible to students with disabilities, and the directors actively work to push out such students. They also breach confidentiality by sharing personal information about disabled students with the other parents creating a stigma and a safety concern. Would not recommend!

Great daycare. My kid has been attending for about a year now. They do lots of play and learning…read moreactivities. My kid just brightens up when we pull up to the daycare, and always comes out smiling. The teachers are great. The director, Ms. Hanna is a sweetheart who cares for her students individually. She is professional and easy to communicate with. They use an app called Brightwheel. They log in all the meal/snack times, potty/ diaper change. Lots of pictures too! My kid loves her daycare!

Our son went to Golden Gate Learning Center from the time he was 14 months old until he was nearly…read more3 yrs old. Hanna and Sabrina are wonderful, hard working, and responsive leaders of the center... really wonderful thoughtful people. Our son's teachers always took exceptional care of him. Every day was a different fun and supportive activity especially designed for his stage of development to help him grow socially, emotionally, and physically. They have music, dance, and theater classes. He had plenty of outdoor playtime every day. They are improving their front yard to increase outdoor play space for the younger children. We couldn't recommend the team at GGLC any higher. We will REALLY miss the people here as will our son.

I can't say enough good things about Lorie and Linda - we sent our first born to Toot-A-Lou and our…read moresecond born is currently enrolled. Lorie and Linda provide a loving and caring environment for the kids, take great care/pride in the food the provide, and have a great home-based facility for the kids to learn and grow. When at home, our 2 yr. old asks about "Lorie an Linna" and when he gets to see them again - a super endorsement that our 2 yr. old loves them so much. Our 2 yr. old has an egg and tree nut allergy which is super difficult to accommodate (even restaurants have a hard time), but Lori has been super diligent about reading all labels and ensuring the safety of our child - we haven't had to think about this issue twice! They really provide the best of both worlds; a fun/loving environment and one that parents can trust 100%. Two big thumbs up for Toot-A-Lou!

Our daughter is going to TK program this Fall, and we will surely miss a lot the time with…read moreToot-a-Lou. As my daughter's preschool was closed due to the pandemic, her school friend's parents recommended us to this wonderful school running by Lorie and her assistant teacher, Ani. They are such caring and supportive early childhood educators. They offered a lot of great insight and advice when we had seen some concerning things on our daughter at home. At school, Lorie provides kids with a flourished and play-based environment and has a well-structured curriculum, Mother Goose Time, to help older kids ready for TK/K. It gives us peace of mind to know that our daughter is in good hands while we're at work. We highly recommend this school!