Highly unprofessional preschool and I wouldn't recommend. Here's why:…read more After accepting a job offer in La Jolla, I had to find a preschool in the area, fast, to enroll my daughter in. On their website it said that they help potty train and our daughter took to the preschool and the kids right away so we signed her up to start the following Monday. I expressed my concerns that my daughter was not potty trained and that she is incredibly stubborn and has no interest in learning. They assured us that they had done it "a thousand times" and it shouldn't be a problem and she would be potty trained in no time. They told us the first month would be a grace period for potty training at the normal rate and then it would be raised for the following month if she still wasn't potty trained. Starting the first Tuesday, my daughter was sent home in different clothes because Melanie said she had pooped in the yard...in her diaper. I was really confused and asked if she had soiled her clothes if she was wearing a diaper. No answer. Then it happened again the next day. And the next day. I asked for clarification and still got no answer. I was confused as this had never happened at the previous daycare where she had been for 3 years. When I inspected her "soiled" clothes that were brought home in a plastic bag, they were all clean! Like I had just washed them. Unless Little Poppie washed them but they wouldn't be tied up in a plastic bag if they had been washed. I dropped my daughter off Thursday morning, asked how things were going with the potty training and all seemed fine and that she was making progress; no mention of any issues. When I picked her up on Thursday, still her first week mind you, Melanie handed me an envelope and said, "this isn't working out. Her last day is tomorrow." I'm sorry, WHAT? I thought she was joking. I was confused, asked if there was behavior problems and she said absolutely not, but that my daughter needed one-on-one, *hourly* attention to potty train and it was taking away from their time with the other kids. Here is my problem: If you can't commit to potty train a new kid, then don't accept the child in your program. Also, do not give the parents ONE DAY to find new childcare. As with any professional working relationship, a two week (or even a week, geez) notice would've been nice. Or they could've given us a heads up about what was going on with my daughter. The whole situation was weird. I thought both women were aloof, distant and cold. Since my daughter had the last spot out of 12 kids, chances are they cherry-pick who they want in their program simply because they can. Just a heads up parents. The preschool is in a very small house, maybe 800 sq ft, in a not-so-great neighborhood in Clairemont with horrible traffic. All 12 kids take a nap in a room that's probably 10 x12. Big backyard for play which is good for the San Diego weather. Plus one star for the homemade meals and the awesome parents and kids that also go there. I guess that says something for their cherry-picking.

Best decision we made with regard to picking a preschool. My son has been there for over a year now…read moreand I can't express how wonderful this preschool is. From day one it has always been about my child and his well being. They are beyond what any parent would expect from a preschool. From the meals to arts and crafts to all around learning this school is one your child will benefit from. I have a 17 month old that I am patiently waiting to enroll him in as well. When I talk with my mom friends they are all envious of what this school offers my child. (I am not from here so my friends are out of town) I feel BLESSED to have found them and so does my 3 year old. He loves them!! *** This is an edit on 4/9/2014. ***************************************** After reading the review about the child that was kicked out I can't help but imagine that mother was writing her review out of anger and ignorance. How could she know after a few days if this is a good or bad school AND if he house was so small and the room they nap in isn't to her liking WHY would she send her child there? Why would she have choose this place that isn't up to par to care for your child? I live in the area and it's not "a bad area" and the preschool's ENTIRE home is dedicated to the school and no where near 800 sq feet, it's much larger. And it's not on a major street with minimal traffic. As far as potty training my son was potty trained in 3 weeks, with no problems at all. The teachers at the school are educated and professional. They teach the kids to be respectful and they have STRUCTURE. Any parent that thinks structure, healthy homemade meals, a entire home that is dedicated to these kids, and educated professionals is a bad idea doesn't belong at this school. I am so grateful for the wonderful women who run this school. I thank the school for their honesty, communication, advice and the care they provide my child. The comment from that mother is completely false and should be disregarded completely. Thanks for reading, Amanda B

We are very happy with the experience we've had during our daughter Elena's first year at the…read moreschool. Her growth has been remarkable in every way -- academically, emotionally, and socially. From the very beginning, we felt welcomed and part of a true community, which made all the difference for us as a family. Principal Dena Stoneman is always attentive, approachable, and thoughtful in every detail. Secretary Sara Sinclair is a kind and loving person, always willing to help with warmth and efficiency. We are also deeply grateful to Elena's teachers -- Ms. Chu, Ms. Delgado, and Ms. Andy -- for the care, dedication, and love they've shown throughout her learning journey this year. We fully trust the school and are excited to continue this journey with you all in the upcoming school year!

It has taken me months of reflection to write this review because our experience with MMS was…read moredeeply confusing and upsetting. Our 3-year-old daughter started at MMS in January 2024. We really loved her primary teachers, and initially, she seemed to be doing well. There were a few incidents of misbehavior (hitting, biting, not listening--maybe three times?) but overall, it was a positive experience. She made friends, spoke happily about school and her teachers, and seemed engaged. From the beginning, I found Dena to be condescending and sanctimonious, but I tried to overlook it. After summer camp, she returned to the same class with many of the same students. But from the start of the new school year, we began receiving frequent calls and incident reports about her behavior--hitting, biting, disrupting nap time, etc. Over the next few months, things unraveled. Our daughter no longer wanted to go to school. She became hysterical every morning at drop-off. We received daily incident reports and multiple phone calls from the school. At home and in other settings, playdates, gymnastics, family events, her behavior was very different. She wasn't perfect, but she was typical for a 3-4-year-old. It began to feel like the school had completely lost control of the situation. She was regularly sent to the office for "breaks" or timeouts, but she would just sit and color, so it didn't feel like a consequence to her. The school called us to pick her up early several times, saying they couldn't manage her and that she was essentially a danger to others. She also began saying things like "I'm bad" and "I'm mean," which was a major red flag. We took her to the pediatrician, an occupational therapist, and had her evaluated for ADHD and other potential concerns. Everything came back within the range of typical development. We had multiple meetings with the school. Dena assured us they were trying everything, but their actions didn't reflect that. Eventually, they asked if we could switch her to half days. Although it was a major challenge for our full-time working household, we agreed, hoping it would help. It didn't. The daily calls continued, and we were still asked to pick her up early. They assigned an aide to shadow her, but the behavior didn't improve. Our daughter started coming home saying no one wanted to play with her, that she had no friends, and that she was bad. Our OT was confused--if she had a one-on-one aide, how was she still getting into so many incidents? We tried sticker charts, calming strategies, every tool recommended by professionals. And yes, our daughter is emotional and sometimes struggles to keep her hands to herself, but again, not in a way that felt outside the norm for her age. We received two to three detailed incident reports each day. It often seemed like the school was spending more energy documenting her behavior than actually helping her. Over time, it became clear we weren't welcome. Dena and some of the teachers began giving us cold looks. Dena even told us that other parents didn't want their kids playing with ours. The whole environment felt hostile and out of control. After another unproductive meeting with Dena, we were told our options were to find a new school or pay for a full-time aide, on top of tuition. We enrolled her in a new school the following week, and the difference has been incredible. One of the strangest parts came when we decided to withdraw our daughter. Dena asked if we would bring her by for "closure." I declined, as I didn't feel that would be appropriate. I went to pick up her belongings, and while the students and teachers had made her a goodbye card, which seemed sweet at first, the messages inside were deeply unsettling. Things like "We know there's good in you" made it sound like she was evil or broken. Again, she was THREE. And she really is a sweet, loving kid (who gives the best hugs). At her new school, she has many friends, and in 7 months, she's had one behavioral incident. We still recognize that she is an emotional and spirited child, but she is thriving in a supportive environment. I only wish we had made the switch sooner. Looking back, it's shocking to realize that for the entire second half of the school year at MMS, we didn't hear a single positive thing about our daughter. I feel heartbroken thinking about the constant negative feedback loop she was caught in. no wonder she thought she was "bad." I'm not saying MMS is a terrible school for everyone. Clearly, some families have had positive experiences. But it seems that if your child doesn't fit a certain mold, they are unwilling or unequipped to support them. I still struggle to understand how things got so bad, especially considering the immediate change we saw when we moved her. Even at home, she was noticeably happier. she now runs into school every morning and i have so much peace of mind.

I cant stress how amazing Jodi is and how this staff has taught my 2 boys a great Godly foundation…read morein life. It has spilled over to the kindness they show to others now in elementary school. I and my boys have miss you all!!! Thanks for some great memories. Rachel and Jimmy

I have two children and they both attended various other private/church preschools in past years do…read moreto relocation/COVID/family reasons, etc. I can confidently say, that this school is the best we have ever attended. All the teachers are very caring and nice, the school itself is a wonderful space full of exciting little corners and plenty of wonderful and shaded outdoor space. Tuition is very reasonable and competitive for the area, especially considering that school lunch is included. You also get to glance into your LO's day by shared photos. Love, love, love Lighthouse!

I am doing another review because the school has changed leadership and has expanded / updated…read moretheir outdoor classroom. I still stand by what I said about this school in the past. This is truly a magical place for early childhood education and comes second to none. We were sad for the former director to leave but Ms. Meredith has proven her dedication and commitment to keeping our children safe, feeling loved/included, and having them thrive in the most fun learn/play environment. Her staff loves and truly know the children down to their particular interests and personalities. The outdoor space is nothing like you've ever seen in any other preschool. Call them for a tour and see for yourself! If you're a parent like me who has been doing all the research of finding the best place for your child, this is it. I've had both my daughter and son attend as we've been a part of the program since 2020. UCUC is a very very special place. PS, your child no longer has to be potty trained to attend this school which may be a positive for some families.

We just moved to UC at the start of the school year and desperately needed a safe, soft landing for…read moreour daughter amidst such a huge personal change as well as the ongoing challenges of the pandemic. Thankfully, we found UCUC. During her year there, our daughter thrived under the care of her teachers and staff. Their highly personalized approach and commitment to enriching each child's journey has had a deep and lasting impact on our daughter. Her curiosity for learning accelerated throughout the year as did her capacity for more complex, project-based work. It's evident that the children are learning to model the kindness, compassion, and empathy of their teachers. Our daughter's emotional vocabulary has dramatically improved as she learns to navigate social dynamics with new, budding friends. It's a gift to be part of a preschool where the teachers and staff truly know our daughter and care deeply about her experience. We look forward to sending her back in the Fall, and cannot wait to see how the magic of the school continues to enrich her world.

The Garden School provides the perfect learning environment for our daughter. I love watching her…read moregrow through her interactions with her classmates, the environment, and the incredible staff: Mrs. Aloni and Miss Stephanie. She is able to run, jump, dig, climb, play, and experiment with her world then snuggle up with a book when she's ready. She absolutely loves going to school each day and I'm eternally grateful that she's able to have this experience. I can't recommend The Garden School enough. Here are a few of my favorite reasons: Outdoor setting Encouragement of boundary exploration Well-educated staff Focus on physical, social, and emotional development Excellent food Gentle but firm guidance Use of positive discipline principles Feedback about the day through discussion and photos

My daughter (almost 4) has been going to the garden school along side her best friend (almost 3)…read morefor a few months now and she truly loves it. She is a shy kid and she has opened herself up more here than I have ever seen. She gets excited to go to school! I couldn't be happier with the the way Miss Aloni and Miss Stephanie teach the kids. They get to be themselves and learn things I never had the opportunity to learn at that age. Also, she is a pretty picky eater and has REALLY opened up to trying new things. Even things they have planted themselves in the garden!

This part time preschool service is not only affordable but also an incredible program offered…read morethrough escondido rec department. It is seriously Escondido's best kept secret for parents/caretakers of toddlers. Children must be potty trained to attend and min age 3. The dedicated staff encourage parents to shadow and volunteer 1x/month which really gets all the families involved. There have been 4 class sessions per school year (m/w or t/th for 3-4 year olds) or (m/w/f or t/th for 4-5 year olds) and each session is about 2-3 hours long which is all my son can really sit through. HIGHLY recommend you being prepared to sign up your child day of registration opens and the school year follows a regular academic calendar. They don't publicize this program enough, so keep an eye on the escondido rec page for registration or call the city rec department. My son has participated in this program + summer program last 2 years and I am so grateful for the affordable and fantastic preschool community. He has developed leaps and bounds socially and academically. Miss Kathy has been teaching here for 24 years and miss Nicole , her classroom assistant is also so patient and awesome with the kids. My son didn't qualify for the income based free city preschool nor did he meet age requirements for preK through EUSD. This was a great resource for parents who fall "in between."

I've had my boys here for going on 3 years and the staff is amazing. Ms. Juju and Ms. Angie are…read morepros and know what they are doing and really care about the kids. Price has inched up to $495 for a 5-week session, but it may be reduced for some situations. They made baking soda and vinegar volcanoes last week!

Our daughter loves it here! This was her first exposure to a school setting. We moved from a…read moredifferent city and the staff was great with communication and accommodating to our needs (touring, scheduling, etc). After starting school, she has thrived in creativity and self-initiative - she has a lot of fun with all of the art projects in Mrs. Allen & Mrs. Tanya's class and has taken those skills to do even more independent crafting/activities at home. She tells us about how she enjoys her time with classmates and we're thankful that they're all kind & respectful to each other. She's enjoyed it so much that we are keeping her for a summer session + an additional year instead of starting TK. The freedom to create & play, attentive care and communication of the teachers and staff, and flexibility of the schedule have made all the difference!

Northminster Preschool has been fantastic! We've been here for 2 years since our daughter turned 2…read more We will be continuing her enrollment for another year when she turns 4 to be in the pre-K class. She loves the arts and crafts and the really nice outdoor playground. The kids eat outside (snack and lunch) and the location is great if you live in N. Clairemont. Highly recommend this preschool, we have seen our daughter progress so much since she started!

Both of my children have been going to La Jolla Montessori School. My son since 18 months of age in…read morethe toddler program and he is now 5 and in his 3rd year of the Primary class. My daughter also started at 18 months and is now 3 and in another one of the primary classrooms. All their teachers have been amazing, kind, and experienced. Clear communication in regards to expectations and our children's needs. The classrooms are beautiful and truly uphold Montessori standards.

Enrolling my son in LJMS has been one of the best decisions we made for him…read more The teachers of LJMS provided my son the right start to his learning journey and took excellent care of him. He has grown so much since joining LJMS in many aspects and still continues to surprise us with the things he is learning every day from school. The toddler years can be challenging sometimes, and I was genuinely impressed by how thoughtfully the teachers handled difficult situations by involving the parents from the beginning and working with us to resolve any issues. Wishing Ms. Heather and the LJMS teachers the very best.

Ana and Mirko set the standard for a loving, nurturing, and safe home daycare experience. Both my…read moreson and daughter have attended Ana's Little Kangaroos, starting in summer of 2022. Ana has always been so in tune with what is going on with my children developmentally and is very observant to their individual needs. She goes above and beyond to model respect, autonomy, and love. I trust Ana and Mirko implicitly with the care of my children, which is a true blessing as working parents. They provide healthy breakfast and snacks, structured activities, learning, art, and have lots and lots of fun :). If we could take Ana and Mirko on our cross country move to continue caring for our children, we absolutely would!

Our son spent close to a year with Ana. We are so grateful to have had Ana be a part of our sons…read moreand our life. It is easy to see how much love Ana has for the children. We saw improvement in development steps right away, sharing, communicating, playing with others. Ana is great with communicating with the parents, and I always felt like I was leaving my son in great hands. We are sad that his time with Ana has come to an end, but know that other families will benefit from a truly caring provider.

This is by far an exceptional place to trust the care of your children. The teachers and staff are…read moreso caring and dedicated, the school is clean and well-kept, and the play areas are safe, mostly shaded (very important!!) and spacious! They have so many activities planned that both my daughters loved coming here and it was always hard getting them to leave at pick up time:) They would always be so busy drawing, painting, playing dress-up, puzzles, blocks, games, or interacting with other children at the sandbox (my little one's favorite spot). She is now on her last months at this preschool. She will be starting kinder in the fall and it's a bittersweet feeling to have to say goodbye to this place. We love St. Mark's School, the staff, and all the wonderful work they do with the children.

My son has been going to St. Marks since June 2013. He/we love it there. All the teachers are so…read morewelcoming, there are always different activity stations for him to go to when I drop him off. In pre-school he is learning various topics during any given month and it is posted and shared with parents. I feel like socially he has grown a lot in the last few months and he rally likes his teachers and new "buddies". There is a open door policy here and everyone (including administration) is very engaged in making sure the children are getting the best experiences. I am really enjoying the experience and if it is any testament I went to this school 36 years ago along with my brother when we were toddlers and my mother who is a 1st grade teacher (36 years) really wanted my son here because of the environment and curriculum. A great choice if you are looking around :)