Bright Start Little School is the best daycare we could have imagined. Full stop. Our daughter and son attended over the course of three years, and it was a joy to watch them grow and learn in such a loving, nurturing environment. Vania has a deep understanding of child development and continues to expand her expertise and it truly shows. The activities she creates for children of different ages are thoughtful, engaging, and developmentally rich. From watching caterpillars transform into butterflies to making personalized Mother's Day crafts (I still have the German handprint card on our fridge!), every experience is designed with care and intention. Her two longtime caregivers, Esly and Yomara, have been with her for many years, which speaks volumes, especially in an industry where turnover can be high. Their consistency and warmth gave our children such a strong sense of comfort and trust. Daily updates and photos were always a highlight, and communication, whether about an illness or the rare small boo-boo, was impeccable. Our kids thrived at Bright Start. They entered school confident, curious, and well-prepared, not just academically, but socially and emotionally. Many of our daughter's closest friends today are the ones she made at Vania's. And funnily enough, most of our closest friends in Marin are families we met through Bright Start, too. It's hard to overstate what a real, welcoming community Vania has built. Especially if you're new to the area, this place is something truly special: loving, grounded, and just the right amount of not-too-fussy. read more

I can't say enough great things about this daycare and how incredible they have been with my son since he began attending two years ago. When we drop him off he is greeted with genuine warmth and love from his teachers and he is always excited to see them and his friends. They have many different activities scheduled for each day including gymnastics, yoga, and music classes AND they serve healthy, homemade, child friendly lunches and snacks. Additionally, the backyard area is large and filled with lot's of activities with plenty of space to run around and get his energy out. It's covered so they can be outside year round. They also go out in a buggy to the nearby park on nice days which is not something that we have seen with other school options in the neighborhood. Finally, the owner has an AS degree in early childhood education which adds to the value of this school as this is not common with home daycares. Every day we drop him off we can feel good knowing that our son is in great hands and developing his social, emotional, and cognitive skills all while having a great time! read more

We couldn't be more grateful for Bright Start Little School and the incredible care they have provided for our daughter over the last 2.5+ years. From the moment we walked in, we felt a sense of warmth, professionalism, and genuine dedication from the staff. Our daughter joined Bright Start Little School at just 6 months old, and we've seen tremendous growth--both socially and developmentally. Vania and her team are incredibly loving, patient, attentive, and nurturing, always fostering a love for learning through engaging activities and creative play. Daily activities also include dance/music classes, gymnastics and more! The communication from the daycare is also outstanding. We receive regular updates & photos which provided peace of mind and allowed us to stay involved in our child's daily experiences. The backyard is a kids' dream and the facilities are clean, well-organized, and thoughtfully designed to promote exploration and safety. Most importantly, our daughter was ALWAYS happy and excited to go to daycare each day, which speaks volumes about the loving atmosphere the staff has created. We wholeheartedly recommend Bright Start Little School to any parent looking for a nurturing, stimulating, and well-managed daycare where their child will thrive. This place and the people will always have a special place in our heart. read more

Vania and her team are truly wonderful. We have had three children attend Bright Start Little School and have had an amazing experience. Vania has a background in child development and education and each activity is thoughtful, age appropriate and stimulating. Vania helps to instill values and morals and the children learn essential skills all while in a loving and safe environment. I could not recommend Bright Start Little School more!! read more

If you are looking for a reliable daycare with loving caregivers and an environment in which your little one can develop in all aspects of their life, this is the place. Among so many options in Marin, Vania's place is organized very professionally and has everything you would want both indoors and outdoors. Homemade foods, plenty of pictures and videos showing and sharing inside information, and extra classes--Vania has it all. Every morning, our little one entered the school happily and came back home just as cheerful. We noticed a day-and-night difference in terms of our little one's cognitive, emotional, social, and physical abilities. Thank you, Vania and the team. read more

We absolutely love Vania and her team at BSLS. The grounds are incredible clean and well organized. Her outdoor space is great for all weather and she has music, yoga and gymnastics teachers come in weekly. Vania has treated our daughter with the upmost love and care. Vania recently obtained a AS degree in Early Childhood Education and committed to understanding how language, social and emotional development impacts our children. Our daughter has enjoyed her time with this team! read more

Our family's time at Bright Start Little School has been wonderful over the three years that my children attended the program. Vania and her team offer a warm and loving environment where they take exceptional care of each individual child. I always felt like they were in safe and capable hands. Kids were always happy to be dropped off to see their teachers & friends every morning. Extra classes are brought in each week for music, yoga and gymnastics in addition to the Montessori-inspired daily activities and art projects. I also think my kids learned kindness and empathy from the teachers and the mixed age group. A very special place! read more

Our daughter(2) and son(3.5) went to Bright Start Little School together. From the first day we knew we made a great choice. Easy drop offs and happy pickups. Never a dull moment (except when they were napping). Each day was well planned with a combination of music, story time, art, structured play, yoga and gymnastics. The lunches and snacks were very well prepared and our kids loved Vania and the team. Vania was very responsive to our questions and provided helpful insight regarding our children's behaviors and tendencies. I cannot recommend Bright Start Little School enough! read more

Both our girls went through Bright Start Little School and we couldn't be more happy with their/our experience! Vania always provided a warm and welcoming environment. The place was always clean, neat and tidy. From the fun activities(music, yoga, art, gymnastics!) to the delicious homemade lunches and snacks, our girls absolutely LOVED going to school. Vania was always flexible with our schedule and communicated often with upcoming events/announcements. Bright Start became a second home for our girls, they always felt comfortable and safe there. Over the years Vania and Yomara showed so much love for our family, we got so lucky that they were able to go there. I would highly recommend Bright Start! :) read more

This place is a GEM and so are Vania and her staff. It is very clear that they put the children's happiness and safety first and they do everything with love. I had 2 kids at Bright Start so they've become family to us. So thankful that there's a place like Bright Start in our community. Very special place. read more

My daughter was 1.5 when she started going & has been there for almost a year. She is on the shy side & it takes time for her to get adjusted, and within 2 weeks she was completely comfortable & looking forward to going everyday. Vania & her staff are so loving & attentive. They have a huge outdoor area and everything is kept super clean & tidy. She also has completely separate space for the school which makes it completely kid friendly...the best space we had seen by far (and we toured a lot!) Also - same as the other reviewer said - they have music classes, yoga, buggy rides, library visits ect. She also has fun things for the parents to be involved in as well - easter egg hunt, halloween party, xmas party, mother's day get-together ect. It's nice to be at a place that you can also get a chance to know the other parents as well! Additionally, Vania sends out monthly emails on what the kids are learning - separate for the younger & older children. She's very organized & creates lesson plans that are age appropriate. While the kids get interaction with all ages there, she does a great job of separating the age groups during the day so that they are doing things & interacting with other kids their age. This is a wonderful fun loving in-home care that could also substitue for a pre-school for the older kids. While they get their fair share of playing, they learn so much and my husband & I are always amazed at what our daughter has learned in a short amount of time. Feel free to contact me if you want more information or have specific questions! read more

BSLS is a wonderful place and a god send! My son went to BSLS since he was 6 months old and was there for 2.5 years - he was so happy there. It's so hard to find a daycare that I trusted with my infant and I'm so happy I found BSLS. Vania and Yomara were so wonderful with my son and our family has grown to love them. They respected and stuck to my personal care preferences for him throughout. Food is homecooked and organic. Indoor space is always clean and lots of fun things to do. Great outdoor area for play and lots of crafts and activities. Halloween and Christmas party each year. Most important of all, we trust Vania to provide excellent care and if and when we have another child, without hesitation will send to BSLS again. Highly recommend! read more

My daughter started at BSLS at around 18mo and while the first few weeks were rough (all transitions are!), she settled in beautifully and came to absolutely adore Vania and her assistant Yomara. They provide a clean, safe, engaging and FUN environment for all the kiddos. The outdoor play area is better than some of our local parks and the fact that a large part of it is covered means that the kids can enjoy it all year round. Plus the weekly yoga, music and gym classes are amazing - my daughter comes home regularly singing new songs and showing off her moves. Vania and Yomara are so thoughtful and attentive to the kids. I know my daughter is safe and loved at BSLS. Plus they are great communicators - sending pics and videos periodically, and keeping me updated on skills they are working on with the kids so that we can reinforce the good habits at home. We have loved our time at BSLS and are so thankful to have found it! read more

Cannot recommend BSLS enough! My daughter started when she was 15 months and is now 2 years old. She is so loved and taken care of at BSLS!! Vania and her team give personalized attentive care. They send photos and videos throughout the day showcasing the various activities they are doing. I look forward to seeing what my little one is up to on any given day! It makes me feel like I'm not missing out :) When I drop her off, she runs excitedly to the front door and doesn't even look back at me to say bye!! Throughout the week they do yoga, gymnastics, music, arts and crafts. She has learned SO much during her time at BSLS! I trust Vania and her team implicitly! The other kids and families are also so sweet and kind. My daughter is safe, well taken care of, and THRIVING! Thank you BSLS for having such an incredibly positive impact on my daughter, for keeping her safe and well attended to! Also- Vania is trained in child development so activities are always stimulating and age-appropriate! read more

My son went to Bright Starts Little School for about a year and a half I have nothing but amazing things to say about Vania and her team/school. Her helper Yomara is unbelievable, my son absolutely LOVES her. Vania is super honest and open and kind. The school offers awesome learning, is very safe and I genuinely feel like the kids thrive there. My son is 'strong willed' so I am sure that he tested their patience but he loves going to school and I love picking him up. I looked at several other schools in the area and this was my number 1 choice and I haven't regretted it for a second. I am so sad he is leaving but we live in Petaluma and found a local school that is going to work better for our family. read more

My 3-year-old son loves going to "Vania's" and has attended for 1.5 years. BSLS is an in-home preschool with ample, clean and beautifully styled indoor and outdoor play space for the children. Vania and the three other teachers are so loving and attentive. BSLS provides nutritious meals and snacks, along with monthly emails detailing the menu. The monthly emails also detail the lesson plans and special activities. Vania is careful in creating a community, with events around holidays and periodic texts of photos of our children at play. At the beginning of the day the teachers have 3-4 different activities set up for the children, so that there is something for them to immediately engage in upon entering the school. The teachers are good at responding to the child's needs of the morning, whether that is helping to say good-bye to a parent, read a story, or find a friend. My son especially enjoys the special activities scheduled for the day, such as gymnastics, Spanish, and an outing to the local library - his favorite. Everyday I pick up my son, he proudly states, "I had fun at Vania's!" read more

My daughter attended Bright Start from the time she was 4 months old until she was 3.5 years old and we LOVED it. The caregivers became like family, very loving and interested in the development of the children. They have yoga classes, music classes, take field trips to the fire department, library, farmer's market. I cannot recommend Bright Start enough! read more

I started my daughter, who is now 6 years old, at Bright Start at 2.5 years. The transition from home to Bright Start was seamless. My daugther's favorite was the weekly music/singing classes. She came home speaking French and Portugeses, which we love as ours is a multilingual family. Now, my 1-year old is there; he's been there since 4 months, and again the transition was seamless. The activities, "field trips," outdoor/indoor spaces and healthy/organic food are top-notch. read more

One of the best decisions we've ever made was choosing this wonderful school for our son. Vania and her teachers are top notch. They are extremely loving and nurturing. You know that your child is left in great hands and can feel confident they are learning and growing academically as well. I'm a teacher myself so this was really important to me. I will always be extremely grateful for their love and support during our time here. read more

I cannot say enough positive things about Bright Start. I was so nervous to go back to work and was really struggling with leaving my daughter with anyone. Vania and her staff made me feel so comfortable and I knew my daughter was having the best care possible. Vania really loves and cares for all of the children that attend her school and my daughter loved going there. Even after we moved out of state, Vania will email us to ask how our daughter is doing. As a mom, I would highly recommend this daycare. read more

My 3 year old attended Bright Star Little School and she really enjoyed being there. She learned a lot of things. She really blossomed. Vania and Yomara were really great ladies! They really cared about the kids. Too bad we had to move. My daughter really misses this school and she still talks about how much fun she had. I will definitely recommend this preschool. read more

I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old at BSLS and they are both SO happy here. I love that my kids eat organic food, play outside (even in the rain as they have a covered patio), go on walks to the farmers market, go to the library, have yoga class and music class and More!! My kids come home every day and share what new songs they learned or their art projects. They learn so much and are very well cared for by the loving caregivers at BSLS. I am so thankful that I found such a great place for my kids. I never worry during the day as I know that they are in good hands. My son has a very serious dairy allergy and they have always been very careful and accommodating with his meals. I feel that my kids are safe and very well taken care of here. read more

My daughter was signed up for almost 2 months to attend this day care and 2 days before she was supposed to start I received an email from the owner, Vania, that she no longer had space. This put our family in a major bind as we have 2 working parents and were left without any options. Vania offered no alternative solutions, didn't even have the decency to call, just 'I have some bad news for you'. There are a ton of day care options in this area of Corte Madera. You should beware of signing up for this one. read more

Our family has had a wonderful experience at BSLS. Vania runs it along with a couple other ladies and they are all so loving with the kids. It's infant through preschool and they do a great job of adjusting the activities to be appropriate for whatever age. My son has been there for almost a year and he is always excited to go and always happy when I pick him up. It is such a blessing to be able to take your kids somewhere and trust completely that they're happy and safe. :) read more

My daughter also started there at 4 mos and is still there at 3 yrs old. I can't think of anything I would change there. It's great! With the covered deck, they can be outside all year round. There's healthy meals, yoga, field trips, walks in the bye bye buggy.... She even emails photos out of what your child does during the day. Also, now that my daughter is one of the "big kids" now, she's starting to do tracings, learning how to cut with safety scissors, etc. so she can be ready for kindergarten. Vania is so dedicated and her staff is very warm. You feel good knowing your child is in such good hands. read more

We had a good experience sending our daughter to Bright Start from the time she was about 15 months until she was almost 2. The school is an extension of the owner's home, and is a nice size space for 1-year olds (i.e., big enough to not feel cramped but small enough and navigable for children that age). The school itself is very clean, and our daughter's face and hands were always clean when we picked her up; this wasn't the case at her previous school. The director and other staff are very kind and great with kids. They speak both English and Spanish at school and we were pleased that our daughter picked up some Spanish words. Bright Start prepares snacks and lunch for the children each day, which made getting out the door in the morning much easier than it would have been had we needed to pack lunch. We always felt safe leaving our daughter at Bright Start because there were usually only 10-15 children there at once, and they were well cared for. They organize lots of fun art projects, have music classes, read lots of books, and play outside as well. Our daughter now attends a different preschool for 2-year-olds and up, but we would definitely feel comfortable sending our second, younger daughter to Bright Start when we're ready to enroll her in a daycare program. read more