Amazing school with caring staff and they do a great job preparing Kids for kindergarten!read more

From the owner: Award winning preschool specializing in creative learning environments for children age 6 weeks -…read moreprekindergarten.

The facilities themselves are great. However, one of the women at the front desk was rude. I came…read morewith my boyfriend and when I was about to let her know I didn't have my pass with me and ask if she could look me up in the system, she just asked him, "What about the little girl?" I am a small woman, but it was rude to not even address me and call me that when we are both evidently adults.

It's ok, but it's really family-oriented so there's always a bunch of kids dominating the gym, so…read moreif you thought you'd drop by to shoot a few hoops, guess again. The exercise equipment is above average, but the free weight area seems like an afterthought. It's too small and lacks the redundancy you need to get through a workout if it's busy. The hours are ok, but unless you're really in tune with the Jewish holiday calendar, you're going to be disappointed periodically. Yes, the facility closes to celebrate these things. Also, special events like bar mitzvahs pop-up and make the gymnasium unavailable. It's a nice facility, but it's not a great value.

We couldn't be happier with our summer at Miss Yelena's Educational Place. She is truly wonderful,…read moreand it has been the perfect transition for our child into preschool. I would highly recommend this as a first daycare option--she welcomes children up until they move on to Pre-K or Kindergarten. Along the way, we've also met such wonderful families and friends through this experience. If you're looking for an interactive, safe, and enriching environment for your child, definitely check out Miss Yelena's.

My preschool daughter has been at Mrs. Yelena's Educational Place for almost two years now and we…read morecould not be happier with the love and care that she has received. Before finding Mrs. Yelena we visited multiple day care centers, we never liked the place, the people or simply we did not feel comfortable with the setting. (As first time parents we were nervous). When we first visited Mrs. Yelena we knew, we knew right away, we had found a place where our daughter could play, learn and grow. It felt like, and it is for our daughter, a home away from home. The small group really allows Mrs. Yelena to focus on the kids and their growth, our daughter, learned to clean up after herself, snack time and sharing, gave up the diaper, started napping (she only naps during the week, not on weekends), playing with other kids, climbing, painting, snow, new songs, English! She started singing all out and expressing herself in so many creative new ways. Every so often you meet people that have found their calling, when you meet Mrs. Yelena you can tell she is doing what she loves to do. She is a great educator, with so much warmth and kindness. Every single day the kids are playing with something new to stimulate a new sense, or new songs, or planting trees. A beautiful place and environment for kids to grow in. I highly recommend Mrs. Yelena's Educational place in West Hartford and Mrs. Yelena, if anything everyone who cares about their kids should visit her place to see what a loving and nurturing environment looks like.

TLDR - was ghosted completely after a visit; didn't feel we were welcome…read more A bit of a background, we visited this montessori to explore the possibility of enrolling our old child (less than a year old), when eligible in 9 months or so at the earliest. My spouse and I, we are both immigrants with no immediate family here for the support. We both have graduate degrees in STEM and work full-time. This montessori, given its proximity to our home and hours of availability, would have been a great option for my child to enroll. Unfortunately, we felt we were not really welcome here based on our visit and follow-through, or the lack of it. My wife made the first approach and was strongly encouraged by a staff at the school to arrange a possible visit. For clarification, the visit is a part of the multi-step process of getting admission. This staff mentioned to my spouse that this would be the best time to explore the possibility of enrolling our child. My spouse was very excited for the visit, which had to be scheduled between 9-10 am when they accommodate at most 2 people/families a day. The visit was alright for the most part. There were few odd moments here and there but we have gotten accustomed to those from our visits to other daycares and such. We were also informed by the staff giving the tour, a different staff from the one who my wife initially contacted, that the admission is really competitive and difficult to get. This sounded slightly different than the prior information from the staff. It was still understandable given how strained childcare and educational services have been in the area. At the end of the visit, we were given a brochure but were informed that they were out of the application form - odd again but not out of the norm. We were told the staff had our email and will send us the application form, and we could also reach out if we had more questions. My spouse emailed this staff with the questions the very same day. After getting no response for a couple of days, my spouse called the said staff and left a voicemail after receiving no answer. We never heard back and never got that application form. My wife again emailed the following week to no avail. We were ghosted and started wondering if we failed to meet certain standards they had set, unbeknownst to us.This is even more baffling given the fact the staff barely asked us, the parents, anything to know us. Now, in any other place, this would be an issue with one staff. Here, based on the information available on their website, it sounds like the multi-step admission process goes through certain staffs, not committees. We started asking ourselves what the chances are that if we couldn't hear back after multiple attempts or receive an application form, our application will be adjudged fairly, let alone be accepted. I am not sure whether I should be happy that the staff showed us how the "educational place" is before we got heavily involved or I should be saddened that an early development school is unwelcoming to many.

I remember being so worried with our first child - are we doing the right thing? Maybe we should't…read morebe doing this; Maybe we should be trying that etc. And I have to admit, till this day, I keep having the same inner dialogue. But there is one area, where this conversation has ceased. And that is 'What is the right school for our children?'. MSGH is a unique Montessori school that not only provides an authentic education that perfectly balances academics with life & executive skills, but a school that has created such a loving and caring community that we truly call our second home. That is the one area, where I don't have to worry anymore - I know my children are being lovingly cared for, receive the right amount of support to flourish emotionally and to grow into mature individuals that are strong academically but also feel responsible to make our world a better place for everyone.

In our experience, sending our child to Renbrook for Pre-K was unfortunate. There were two Pre-K…read moreclasses that, to us, appeared quite segregated, with most minority students and teachers in one class and others in the other. This gave us the impression that the school lacks diversity. Throughout the school year, our previously happy and outgoing child became increasingly miserable, to the point of not wanting to go to school in the mornings. We all felt a significant amount of stress. At the time, we weren't aware that Renbrook does not require formal qualifications for their teachers. It seems that individuals who were formerly teacher's aides or camp counselors are employed as teachers, without any formal education or training in child development or education. This contrasts with local public schools, which typically require a master's degree in these fields. In our view, based on what our child shared, these unqualified "teachers" seemed unable to connect with our child and perhaps others, resorting to strict discipline methods such as yelling, time-outs, and a lack of affection or support. As parents, we were repeatedly pressured through emails and phone calls to use time-outs at home to make our child easier to manage in class. The classroom environment seemed overly strict for four-year-olds, who were expected to sit still in a circle for extended periods and were not allowed to wiggle or make noises without being labeled disruptive. Any attempts to communicate with the school about how well-behaved our child was in other settings were dismissed. We felt blamed as parents, with the school insisting that the problem was with us or our child, never them. It appeared that children of teachers and wealthy donors were given preferential treatment, allowed to misbehave without consequence. Our child noticed this difference and expressed that the teachers only helped certain kids, not her or some of her friends. There seemed to be a bias, with boys being excused for inappropriate remarks or physical transgressions, while girls were expected to remain quiet and compliant. This made us feel very concerned. Based on conversations with other parents, it seemed that families who were not part of the teachers' or donors' circle were often advised to seek psychological evaluations and treatments for their children. This gave us the impression that the frequency of children in therapy at Renbrook was notably high. We never had the opportunity to meet the school counselor, as she was part-time and unable to attend a meeting we hoped she would join. When we attempted to discuss our concerns with the head of the school, we felt that our concerns were again dismissed, with the suggestion that the issue lay solely with us and our child. This was not supported by a subsequent elaborate professional evaluation, which found our child to be highly intelligent and emotionally healthy. Throughout the year, most of the school's communication centered around fundraising and monthly donation requests, with little focus on the educational details of our children. The events were more akin to social gatherings, featuring heavy drinking by some participants and the formation of cliques among parents at golf or social clubs. Notably, Renbrook does not offer tuition refunds if you decide the school is not a good fit and wish to transfer your child during the school year. This made the school year seem long and needlessly difficult for us. Things immediately improved when we enrolled our child in a different school for summer camp and kindergarten, where she now feels respected, supported, and welcome. We are very pleased with this change, and she has returned to being her happy, outgoing, curious, and well-behaved self. Lastly, we have noticed that Renbrook tends to respond to negative reviews by stating they have no record of the student attending, particularly in response to anonymous reviews. We assure you that we did send our child there, regardless of whether Renbrook acknowledges our email address.

Renbrook is by far the best private school - and better than most public schools - in the area…read more It's worth a look for any child between the ages of 3years old and 9th grade. Small class size, diversity, traditional and creative school curriculum and individual attention from teachers is the norm, not the exception.

My kids attended cadence academy on and off for 4 years. The staff was professional, friendly and…read morecaring, and courteous of our needs. If I had another child I would definitely send them here!

Our son graduated from Cadence in June after 3+ years of attendance and they really went above and…read morebeyond to make this major milestone extra special (we even got pictures of them in caps and gowns which was so precious)! We are so grateful for our time at Cadence and if we had the chance to choose them again, we would. We've been lucky to have some incredible teachers (Miss Elida, Miss Stephanie and Miss Narinee) for both of our children (our daughter still attends) and really appreciated Kindergarten Club for our son, too! We feel confident that his transition to Kindergarten will be as smooth as possible thanks to the excellent start and education that Cadence provided. THANK YOU!

We hope this is the place for your child. Finding the right fit is hard. Ultimately, it was clear…read moreto us, from the way our children took to their class, or didn't, that this was a poor fit. Overheard staff complaining about short lunch breaks at hours that made no sense to avoid staffing shortage, overheard a teacher tell a child to stop crying, that he was faking it. I hate to knock a place that someone might like. If we had no other option in the world and literally no one could take care of our kids, fine, we'd go, temporarily. However, we ended up at a different daycare and we are much more at peace with that decision. Unhappy teachers made this place feel like a holding pen for toddlers instead of a place of early childhood education.

Choosing the right place to send my then 4 month old daughter only gave me anxiety. Having a…read moreprevious background in childcare I was so nervous I wouldn't find a place where I could feel comfortable sending my daughter. My husband and I took lots of time researching and visiting many different facilities. I had almost given up and then I met with Moriah ( the asst..director). From that moment of meeting her and touring the facilities and hearing about their extensive program I knew that I had found the most perfect place. If I couldn't be home with my daughter full time EPC was the only place I felt as ease sending her. Once my daughter started attending I really got to know the teachers. They are so accommodating to YOUR child's schedule. My daughter is now 9 months old and I couldn't be happier with her growth there. I have no doubt that EPC is the BEST!!

This school is absolutely amazing. We attended here before moving further south and honestly my…read morechild entered Kindergarten in our new town so well prepared. He reads fluently and is just so well-adjusted socially and emotionally. I completely credit the teachers and staff at FVAM. They took a shy somewhat nervous kid and really did wonders with him. Your child would be in excellent, caring hands at FVAM. Cannot recommend them enough! PS most people don't know, but they do early education (toddlers) and summer camp too. Enjoy!

My children attended FVAM for 4 years and we loved every minute being there. The teachers are all…read morevery dedicated and the curriculum is top notch. They deeply understand children and how they grow and develop, and they are amazingly in tune with each child's individual learning growth. From art, to science, to math- the teachers are just the absolute best. I know other families who moved, switching their children out of FVAM, and into big city fancy schools and they were sorely disappointed, noting that FVAM is really a special and unique place. We have since moved as well, and we are so sad to have left FVAM. If you are looking for caring, engaging teachers that understand your child, and a hands-on environment that includes outdoor experiences like gardening, nature exploration and animal interactions (butterflies, ducks, and other small critters), this is your spot. We love FVAM!

My son, now 10 years old and finishing 4th grade, attended all three years at Avon Nursery School -…read moretheir 3's, 4's, and pre-K programs. The Director, Joan Parks, has become a family friend for life. The staff who work with her have been the teachers there for years. This is a team of educators who truly find preschool care and education to be their calling. This team of teachers gets to know each child very well, and they truly love the kids they teach and care for. The program is a wonderful balance of educational play, hands-on exploration, art appreciation, life appreciation, love of cultures from all over the world. My son still remembers all the steps in the water cycle. He still remembers how they taught him about animals and nature. By the time he was headed for kindergarten, he was beginning to sound out short words. Although there is an academic component, it's not imposed on the kids, and they're truly taught at their own pace and interest level. We are still friends with the families who were part of the ANS community when my son was there, and he is still good friends with some of the children from his time at ANS. Truly, you could not dream up a better environment for your child. I can't say enough about Avon Nursery School and its staff. It's a very special place.

This is a review for parents looking for a bridge between now and full day Kindergarten. The Gift…read moreof Time class at the Children's Center was recommended to us by two different teachers. Our son has a late Fall birthday. He's in the 4s program at Trinity Nursery School (2.5 hours X 3 days), which we love, but we're confident that he'd benefit from an extra year (3 hours X 5 days) at a different school to help him transition to full day kindergarten. So we scheduled a visit to see The Gift of Time class last week - and enrolled our son immediately. The instant we walked into this school, we knew it was "the place." We had already visited three other schools and none of them compared to this one. The playground is spacious and set against the woods. The various play structures are unique, there is a large community garden for the children, and there are nature trails on the property. You're immediately greeted by this awesome outdoor space. Then the school itself has a great vibe. All of the rooms are bustling with happy kids. It's play-based learning, but efficient and highly-organized. Some of the classrooms are loft-like spaces with giant windows overlooking the woods. Honestly, my husband and I were blown away. One of the guided activities happening in the Gift of Time room that we witnessed (and our son participated in) was the building of a 400-year-old English village with found objects in the classroom (giant blocks, bricks, large cardboard, etc). Each of the huts had a pretend fireplace and kitchen, there was a farm, garden and pasture. It was imaginary play on a whole other level and all of the kids were super into it, and so were the teachers. Needless to say, we were sold. We are super excited to send our son there next year. The Children's Center offers a warm and happy school experience for kids as young as 2. I assure you this place is not typical - it is so unique. Please visit for yourself - their website is still a work-in-progress - you have to see The Children's Center in person!

A fantastic preschool! Two of my children have attended The Children's Center for their pre-school…read morecareers and my third will be starting there next year in their new two-year-old program! All of the teachers are experienced, loving and dedicated to teaching the young children how to grow emotionally, socially and intellectually!