Goddard is a wonderful preschool for your littles, from when they are tiny tots until they are…read moreready for kindergarten. The admin staff are warm, kind and welcoming. Ms. Jennifer, Ms. Lana and Ms. Delmy know all the children's names and take the time to really interact with the kids as well as the parents. The teachers treat the children with such love and care, and they also give attention and communicate well with parents. Daily reports are shared along with photos so parents can stay in the know about their child's day to day. Parent teacher conferences are useful as teachers share the progression of work when it comes to academics. There are also tons of wonderful activities brought to Goddard like basketball camp, reptile day, water/foam day (for summer time) plus visits from professions that teach about music and the importance of brushing your teeth. I love the fact that everything is onsite so your children never need to leave the school (compared to public school/elementary school). The facility is clean and bright, and the seasonal decor on classroom doors are fun to look at (designed by teachers that sometimes include the children's faces). Kids come home with art projects, drawings and some academic work (letters and numbers for their appropriate ages). AM and PM snacks are now provided (lunch must be brought and labeled with names and dates). That was nice because we had to bring in our own snacks during Covid and for a long while after Covid. Goddard is a great preschool and I highly recommend it. As a note, they do have a mandatory rest period from 12:30pm - 3pm and most kids nap. They turn down the classroom lights, play calm music and have the kids lie down on cots with blankets. If you don't want your kids napping, this can be problematic. I've had conversations with the teachers and Ms. Parina (the owner) about securing more staff to allow non-napping kids to have other things to do (ie quiet activities like coloring) but no solution was ever reached during my 3 years there. I've heard pricing for babies is pretty high and babies are required to come in 5 days a week vs part time. I saw prices rise a few times during my time there as well. That said, you get what you pay for, and I believe Goddard has set the bar pretty high. I'm very pleased with the education my kids have received (heartfelt thank you to Ms. Vivian and Ms. Chetana) and I wish public school was as excellent when it came to the level of service and care we've seen at Goddard.

do not recommend this school based on our family's experience. Unfortunately, we experienced…read moreongoing stress due to the school's administration and management. Communication was often difficult, and we did not feel supported when concerns about our son were raised. One of the biggest issues was the constant turnover of teachers in my son's classroom. During our time at the school, his class had multiple teachers, making it difficult for the children to build stable relationships and adjust to a consistent learning environment. Several staff members expressed concerns about the work environment, which was disappointing to us. The administration/ specially director did not demonstrate the level of knowledge or expertise in child development and child psychology that I expected from a leadership team responsible for young children ( I even heard this from teachers). Rather than working with families to understand children's behaviors and support their growth, I often felt that the focus was on discipline instead of teaching and guiding children through age-appropriate challenges. Young children need patience, consistency, and positive guidance to learn appropriate behaviors. Unfortunately, I did not feel that the management took that approach, and I believe my kid would have benefited from more understanding and support. It was my impression that families who gave gifts or maintained a closer relationship with the administration received more favorable treatment. As a result, I felt our kids did not receive the same level of support!!!!! Last but not least Please consider that very serious Goddard director talks about "fairness " however she treat parents differently when they give her expensive gifts? I've heard this from several parents who warned us, but unfortunately we didn't listen.

We definitely wish we signed our son up here sooner. Our son has learned so much and the small…read moreclass size allows our son the extra help when needed. They provide a loving environment and I drop off my son daily knowing he will be cared for and will learn. Everyone knows our son my name and he always loves to tell us about his day. They have farm animals (a pig and a tortoise) but the pig is not for play but the tortoise the kids get to feed. If you're on the fence, please give Country Village a chance. Thank you Ms. Jennifer, Ms. Yuta, and Ms, Mary I will be sad once our son leaves for Kindergarten

I am so glad that we found Country Village! When we enrolled Onyx he was speaking very little. It…read morewas also very hard to get him to follow directions. He has been in Ms. Sucell's class for five months now and it's like he's a completely different child. He has grown his vocabulary so much, he is following directions much easier and he loves saying his ABCs, numbers and reading books. Their staff is amazing Miss Jutta and Miss Baja were so patient with him because he used to cry when it was time to go into school. They calmed my mind and assured me that this was a normal part of the transition and sure enough he quickly began walking into school without tears. Ms Jennifer is always sending me pictures and I love that! I also love that they take temperatures at the door every morning and I have no idea how they get Onyx to wear his mask but every day he comes out with it on! They are child whisperers :) I couldn't have chosen a better school to help develop our Onyx!

My daughter absolutely loves this play school and all the teachers, especially Ms. Samantha. The…read moreteachers here are loving, patient, and genuinely passionate about their work. My daughter feels safe and cared for. The play school environment is clean and tidy. My daughter is always happy to go to school and often shares with me what she learned there. The communication between the play school and parents is excellent, which gives me great peace of mind.

The Fulbright elementary program has been amazing! I can't say enough great things about Ms…read more Cherish and what she does on a daily basis. She makes learning fun and exciting. My son is currently in 3rd grade with a great group of students and I am so grateful to know he'll be alongside them for several more years. My daughter is attending Fulbright as well and is currently in Pre-K. The leaps and bounds she has made since the beginning of the school year is incredible. Ms. Viviana is kind, patient and really worked with my daughter to increase her social skills. The director of the school, Ms. Maha, has been such a pleasure to deal with. She takes the time out of her day to answer any question(s) that may arise. I've never felt so confident in a head of school before. We've attended two other Montessori schools prior to Fulbright and I can finally say that my kids have found their favorite school!

A Truly Wonderful Montessori School -- Highly Recommended!…read more My daughter went to this Montessori school since she was an infant, progressing through the toddler and preschool classrooms, and we couldn't be more grateful for the experience she's had over the past three years. The growth we've seen in her socially, emotionally, and academically has been remarkable. The teachers, especially Ms. Shelby, Ms. Chloe, and Ms. Sal, have been nothing short of amazing. They create a warm, nurturing environment where the kids feel safe, encouraged, and excited to learn. My daughter absolutely adores them. One of the things we appreciate most is how the school follows a thoughtful Montessori curriculum that helps children learn independence, discipline, and responsibility through hands-on activities. They sing, explore new materials, and learn to manage things on their own all of which has supported our parenting at home, too. My daughter loves going to school every day and enjoys spending time with her friends and teachers. We truly miss this wonderful community created by Ms Richa and Ms Prerna and wholeheartedly recommend this Montessori school to any family with an infant or young child in Lake Forest. It has been such a positive and meaningful part of our daughter's early years.

Scholarshine Montessori is an exceptional school and we have absolutely loved our experience with…read morethe school. My son joined there for preschool and went through Pre K. Ms. Richa and Ms. Prerna are so caring, cool and accommodating, absolutely loved their vibe and patience. The teaching staff here is simply fabulous and truly dedicated to each child. During his preschool years, my son had the absolute best experience with Ms. Sal and Ms. Chloe. They provided such a warm, nurturing foundation that helped him love coming to school every day.When he moved up to Pre-K, Ms. Arti and Ms. Hasini were equally incredible. They worked so hard to ensure he excelled academically and socially, seamlessly blending genuine care with true Montessori-based activities. It is such a gift to drop your child off knowing they are in safe hands and coming home so happy.The facility is spotless, safe, and provides a wonderful, home-like atmosphere. I highly recommend Scholarshine to any parent looking for high-quality education paired with genuine emotional and social development.

All my chikdren have attended Guidepost Montessori since a very young age. We have had the…read morewonderful opportunity to meet great teachers who are not only experienced but passionate for the Montessori method. My youngest son just started in the Nido program and I know that he is in great and loving hands. Ms Abby and her team are very nurturing, experienced and caring towards the infants. I can go to work in peace knowing that my son is not only cared for with love but is also in an environment that is truly focused on the Montessori philosophy starting as early as infant age. Love the Guides! love the prepared environment!

We cannot say enough wonderful things about Guidepost Montessori in Foothill Ranch. This has been…read moresuch a special place for our family and a huge part of our son's early growth and development. We started our son here when he was just 6 months old, and as a first time mom who is naturally very anxious, I was incredibly nervous about leaving him. I worried about everything. From day one, the guides took the time to get to know not just our son, but us as parents too. As time went on and as I built relationships with the team, my confidence grew because of the care, communication, and trust they created. Ms. Abi and her team have been absolutely incredible. Ms. Abi has been amazing at helping guide us through our son's milestones and development, always offering reassurance, insight, and support. Every single guide we have interacted with has shown genuine love and care for our son. Ms. Abi, Ms. Michelle, Ms. Marianna, Ms. Dora and so many others always took the time to give thoughtful updates about our son's day, which meant the world to us. Our son truly loves it here. He lights up every time we pull up to the building and is excited to see everyone inside. Knowing how happy and comfortable he was made all the difference for us. We are heartbroken to be leaving, only because we are moving out of state. This community has meant so much to our family, and we will always be grateful for the role they played in our son's early life. Thank you to everyone at Guidepost Foothill Ranch for creating such a warm, nurturing, and supportive environment. We will miss you all so much.

I put in a request to schedule a tour of the school…read more Because I answered "everyone" to a question about who would be masked in the "ideal" circumstance, I received a two sentence email thanking me for my interest and telling me they are a "mask free school." Never mind the fact that I was not insisting on masks and merely answered a question about what would be ideal. Not to mention, I didn't mean that this should be a year round policy--only if and when necessary. They didn't even ask if I had questions that might address any concerns, or if I would even like to tour the school and learn about the program. In my opinion, this is unprofessional. Not sure why I was treated this way.

Where do I even begin...this is by far the best school that my daughter has ever attended. The…read morestaff and children are as wonderful as can be and the school philosophy is one of a kind. My daughter THRIVED thanks to the teachers and structure taught here. We have since moved to Northern California and there really isn't a day that goes by that my daughter doesn't tell my husband and I that she misses her friends and teachers. We plan on visiting every chance we get

My son Lukas Clark went to Bella Montessori since he was 19 months and we just loved it! Everyone…read morewere wonderful. When he was young he connected right away very well with Mrs Eman and he felt like she was family. She took good care of Lukas since day one, I trusted her when I had to travel for work and Lukas still talk about how he likes Mrs Eman and he is now 6 years old. Valerie & Lukas Clark

My baby started daycare a few weeks ago at Bella Montessori and I can tell you this was the best…read moredecision ever! The Teachers (such as Ms. Iman, Ms. Jenny) are so loving, you can tell they really care so much about all of the children and also for the parents. The Admin Team (such as Ms. Simina, Ms. Alexandra, Ms. Ildy, Ms. Stefanie) are very personable and kind - they always make time to talk to you and answers any questions. You can tell that everyone here loves their jobs. The facility itself is also beautiful, clean, and organized. Plus, there is also a big indoor gymnasium for the children to run around and play. I am so happy that my baby will get to spend many years here and be surrounded by such wonderful people.

The best decision we ever made to join our little kid to HMS lake forest. He was just two when we…read morestarted and Ms.Tamara was his first teacher, she has that warmth and kindness to her that you cannot ask for a better first teacher to your kid ever. Ms.Maryam was his second teacher and she is the perfect combo of challenge, education and play, my kid started reading letter sounds and words at just 3 years old and makes friends wherever he goes, all thanks to this amazing school. They have introduced every festival there to these little munchkins by celebrating one every month, we loved celebrating and learning so many different cultures.

We have had such a wonderful experience with Heritage Montessori daycare and are so grateful for…read morethe care, effort, and thoughtfulness that goes into the program. Ms. Karla is incredibly helpful, organized, and hardworking as the director, and it really shows in the way everything is planned and communicated. The teachers are very involved with the children and are hands-on with activities, which makes the environment feel warm, engaging, and supportive. One of the things we really appreciate is the strong focus on educational activities. The children get to do many crafts and special projects, but what stands out is that the crafts always seem to have an educational touch behind them. We have seen other daycares where crafts are more generic or less focused, so it is very nice to see activities that are both fun and meaningful for the kids. The daycare also offers many great extra options for families, including book club, early drop-off, and afternoon care, which makes the program very convenient and flexible. There are also lots of extra special activities, and we love seeing the creative projects the kids bring home. The facility itself is beautifully decorated and has a charming artistic, homestead feel that gives it a lot of character. Another highlight has been the weekly video recaps. Seeing the kids participate in activities throughout the week is so wonderful and gives parents a special window into their day. We also really appreciate that the daycare advocates for and emphasizes no screen time for the children, which has been such a positive and refreshing part of the program. Overall, this is a caring, creative, and well-run daycare, and we are very thankful for everything they do for the children.

Our son started at this daycare shortly after turning one, and the transition was much smoother…read morethan we ever expected. From the very beginning, he adapted quickly and happily. Every day when we pick him up, he's in a great mood, and it's clear that he genuinely enjoys his time there. In fact, after being away for a while, he actually misses his teachers, which says so much. The two teachers, Mandy and Danni are incredibly caring, attentive, and responsible. You can truly feel how closely they observe and care for each individual child. For parents, that level of attention and thoughtfulness makes a huge difference. The activities the school organizes are also wonderful -- engaging, age-appropriate, and thoughtfully designed. Our son is often fully focused and immersed, which is not easy for toddlers at this age. We highly recommend this daycare to other families. It gives us so much peace of mind knowing our child is happy, well cared for, and engaged, especially during the workday when we need to stay focused. We feel very grateful to have found this place.

My son has been to this school for about 4 years. He started when he was 2 years old. He had so…read moremuch fun and love from the teachers there. They have creative classes and fun activities designed for different age groups. The teachers are very patient and always keep parents up to date. Now, he is going to kindergarten but he still goes there after school hours and summer winter breaks.

Staff is very attentive to the children. My little one has learned so much while attending. The…read morestaff accommodates to the children's needs and provides wonderful service. Communication with parents is amazing.

My daughter enjoyed coming here. She had a great group of kids she loved to play with, and it was…read moreencouraging to see her make friends where we sent her. My son was miserable. He hated being dropped off and would show an urgency anytime I came to pick him up. This wasn't his first experience with daycare either. At his previous school, he never had an issue with being dropped off. A large part of my frustration with this school and our experience is that many of the staff don't seem well equipped to work with kids or know how to manage age-appropriate behaviors. The school's app allows you to see video footage of your kids throughout the day, and I saw one of the older teachers (Teacher Juielta) in my sons class yank a toddler by the arm. I witnessed that same teacher grab a kid by the face and yell at him. If I'm watching this happen to other kids, using the system they encourage parents to use, it was most likely happening to my son too. From what I gathered from parents who still take their kids there, that teacher is still working in that classroom. This kind of behavior towards toddlers is unacceptable. I couldn't keep my son in that classroom as I watched his peers get manhandled by an older teacher. There was also an very explicit tension between some of the staff that was unprofessional and inappropriate. It was common to hear and witness staff yelling at each other over their walkie-talkies, staff who would blatantly ignores questions or requests from other staff, and at one point an argument occurred in front of kids that forced me and some other parents to bring it up to leadership. We only attended the school for 3 months and we fortunately were able to take our kids somewhere else! I would give this a 1 out of 5 staffs but there were a couple of positive things about the school that I just couldn't ignore. Pros: the kids and families we met; Teachers Jo and JoJo were great to partner with when working with my kids. Cons: accountability for complaints of staff, immature interactions between staff in front of kids, and abusive behaviors towards toddlers.