We had such an amazing experience at Lafayette Nursery School! I attended Lafayette Nursery School…read moremyself when I was little and had such fond memories of it that I couldn't wait for my daughter to experience its magic as well. Nonetheless, we did our due diligence and toured a few schools before committing to LNS--sure enough, no other school compared. LNS has it all--a beautiful, bright classroom and spacious and fun backyard area, experienced and warm teachers that truly love what they do, and a variety of constantly changing activities that keep children engaged and excited to go to school every day. LNS is a co-op (parent-participation) preschool and therefore enabled my husband and I to help in the classroom and feel included in our daughter's first years in school. Co-oping, as well as other school-wide activities and social events, afforded us the opportunity to get to know the other families at the school and build connections (in contrast, friends at other preschools have personally shared it's sometimes hard to get to know other families at their preschools). Finally, the LNS play-based education model fostered a love of learning in our daughter and left her well-prepared to go straight to kindergarten (we chose to stay at LNS over TK). Overall, we have loved our time at LNS and highly recommend it!

The day my son started here, he was completely at home. I love getting new artwork in his cubby…read moreevery day. He's been much more in to cooking at home because they do snack prep. It's such a warm and welcoming environment. The teachers are non-judgmental and supportive of both kids and parents, and it's clear they genuinely care about each and every child. When you work in the classroom, it's so nice to get to know other kids and see your child in action. Beyond that, it feels like the school is built for families, not just kids. Having purpose in the classroom connects you to other parents in a way that doesn't seem possible anywhere else. Housekeeping days, fundraising events, parent education, school participation at city events...they all help us feel like we're part of a community.

My son went there for his first year of school (TK) and had an amazing time. DVMS is such a…read morenurturing and loving place for not only the children, but parents too. They are incredibly supportive and really care about the families. The teachers are also the absolute best! You can see how much they love the students and really pay attention to each of them individually. There's a reason they have been around for over 60 years. If you're looking for a school for your child during infant to 6 years old, DVMS is the one!

We enrolled our two-year-old at DVMS for the 2026-27 school year and paid $2,890 upfront, including…read morea $2,700 payment that DVMS's agreement specifically calls a "Last Month Tuition Deposit." The agreement also states that the tuition deposit "is applied to your FINAL DVMS invoice." Before we paid, we had asked DVMS for additional time. They declined, telling us in writing that they had "a significant number of families currently in our wait pool" and therefore could not hold the space without the deposit. Our circumstances later changed and we notified DVMS approximately 30 days before Theo was scheduled to start that he would not be attending. He never attended the school and therefore never had a final tuition invoice against which the "Last Month Tuition Deposit" could be applied. DVMS refused to return the money. Less than 24 hours after we notified them, they told us they could not backfill the opening because wait-pool families had already committed elsewhere. This was difficult to reconcile with their earlier written statement about the significant number of families in their wait pool, our two years on the waitlist, and general community knowledge that most never get into DVMS. We pointed out the language in their own agreement and asked them to identify any contractual provision stating that the "Last Month Tuition Deposit" instead functions as a forfeitable reservation fee when a child never attends. We also asked them to preserve records regarding the wait pool and efforts to fill the opening. They did not provide that information or refund the payment. Parents considering DVMS should understand this policy and the language of the enrollment agreement before paying the deposit. Our experience was that DVMS retained the full $2,890 despite our child never attending, approximately 30 days' notice before his scheduled start date, and the agreement expressly describing $2,700 of the payment as a last-month tuition deposit applied to the final invoice. We also learned that four families from DVMS moved their child to our current school in moraga in the last 30 days alone. It seems this may not be an isolated issue with how they operate.

Nanny's house is a hidden gem and if you are lucky enough to have found this yelp page, call Nanny…read moreimmediately because this program is highly sought after! I was looking to send my daughter to a program in Jan 2022, with omicron in full force. A program rescinded an offer from not having enough staff so I was desperately looking for somewhere and that's when I found Nanny's house on Yelp. After reading glowing review after glowing review I knew I needed to give it a shot. From a phone call with Nanny Marta it was clear we were aligned with program types and needs. She is the biggest advocate for the kids and everything she described was on my list of things to ask for. She meets kids where they are at and nurtures them to grow into the best little humans possible. My daughter was 2.5 and definitely in many terrible two stages. She had also never been to a coordinated program or been in care of anyone other than family. To say I was nervous was an understatement. Nanny made me feel at ease. She had us transition a few hours a day to build up to normal schedules to ensure my daughter enjoyed the experience. She wants her school to be a happy place for the children with positive experiences. My daughter couldn't be happier in her care, on weekends she even asks to go to Nannys house! I have seen major progress in my daughters learning within the past 6 months. She incorporates the right amount of structure and fun. They learn their numbers, letters, seasons, etc. while also getting outside stimulation by playing and gardening. They incorporate lots of music, playing with instruments (Nanny plays guitar with the kids). My daughter has learned countless songs and gets her wiggles out by dancing. The program size is ideal for teacher/student ratios. Being a household with two full time working parents it is the best feeling to know that your child is enjoying a fun fullfing day. She comes home and is excited to share with us toddler level details of her day and her friends. She has made such amazing friendships! She has THRIVED in the care of Nanny and I feel like it was meant to be that my previous school did not work out. Another call out is that despite my daughter being the messiest painter alive, she always returns home in clean clothes. I don't know how they manage the kids through art projects while keeping clothes so clean. Nanny worked with my daughter through many transitions. Within a few short months she had my daughter transitioned off of her pacifier, sitting nicely in circle time, better at sharing and playing with other children, and most importantly POTTY TRAINED!! She saw my daughter was ready and gracefully helped her through all of these transitions while also empowering my daughter to know that she could do it! I never felt like she was rushing my daughter, she saw my daughter was ready and gave her all of the tools. She has been amazing working with my husband and I as well to be informed on these transitional areas and it has been the best partnership. She goes above and beyond. Her care is more than a business, it is her passion. She is truly gifted at what she does. In addition, She provides very impressive and nutritious meals. She offers healthy nutritious foods always in theme with the season. I am constantly in awe of all Nanny offers these kids. A cool bonus is that parents and grandparents sign up for this Kidsnote app where we get daily customized report cards with photos, curriculum/activities details, notable events, and daily menus. I look forward to the report cards and our grandparents have incorporated the report card into their own daily routine, they love it so much! Furthermore, on birthdays Nanny sets up amazing birthday parties for the kids. For my daughters birthday she said just give me a theme and I can transform it to anything. She knew my daughter loved dress up so she created this magical dress up tea party for the kids to enjoy. They had decaf teas, tea sandwiches, fruits, and desserts. It was so special and I know my daughter had the BEST DAY EVER! With every birthday or holiday Nanny creates videos of the day in addition to our report cards. We are included in every step and it is special to be a part of it. THANK YOU NANNY FOR BEING THE MOST INCREDIBLE PERSON AND FRIEND. We are so blessed to have found you.

My daughter attended Nanny's House for two years before starting kindergarten, and we couldn't have…read moreasked for a better experience. Marta is amazing, so loving, caring, and truly invested in the children. My daughter always looked forward to going, made great friends (both boys and girls), and not once said, "I don't want to go to school." I love that Nanny's House is play-based but also incorporates academics, reading, music, art, and plenty of outdoor time. Thanks to Marta's guidance my daughter was already reading before kindergarten began. I highly recommend visiting Nanny's House and meeting Marta. You'll see right away why it's such a special place.

Our family has been incredibly pleased with Growing Light Montessori in Lafayette, and would highly…read morerecommend it! The teachers are extremely skilled, patient, and nurturing. Since our child started we've seen a dramatic increase in her social development, creativity, and engagement in group activities. Class sizes are small with multiple teachers, and allow for a level of personalized attention that you can directly observe during drop-offs and pickups. Our child even talks about her teachers and asks after them on weekends. Communication with parents is also great. The school keeps us informed with regular updates, progress reports, and pictures of the kids engaged in class activities. The communication is two ways as well, they always respond quickly to feedback or questions, and they're very accommodating to any life circumstances that may come up. The campus and classrooms are well organized, spacious, and have multiple outdoor play areas. The school also organizes regular social events, educational workshops, and seasonal celebrations for families. We can't recommend Growing Light highly enough. It's absolutely worth it, and we feel lucky to have joined!

Both our son and daughter attended this preschool, and we couldn't be happier. The staff is…read moreattentive, warm, patient, and always accessible--you can tell they truly care. The environment is nurturing and thoughtfully balanced between learning and play. Our kids came home happy, confident, and excited every day. We really have nothing but positive things to say. It's been a fantastic start to their learning journey.

Our 3-year-old daughter started at White Pony School two months ago, and we've had a wonderful…read moreexperience! Ms. Susie has been incredibly supportive in helping us navigate some behavioral challenges, connecting us with helpful resources and offering parenting classes. It's clear how much she cares about both the children and their families. We're so grateful for her guidance and the supportive community at White Pony!

We truly cannot fully express the amount of joy, comfort, and confidence we feel leaving our…read morechildren in the loving hands of White Pony Preschool. When searching for the perfect preschool, we had very clear priorities - and White Pony was the only school that checked every box (for context, I'm an Excel-spreadsheet fanatic and a serious researcher - I visited many schools, observed classrooms/teachers, analyzed environments, and spoke with current and former parents across 15 preschools in Walnut Creek and Lafayette before choosing Meher Schools). Our top priorities were: 1. Teachers who genuinely practice kindness, patience, and love, creating a safe, nurturing environment that mirrors the care we provide at home. 2. A strong focus on kindness, emotional and spiritual development alongside academics, using the Nurtured Heart Approach to teach leadership, right from wrong, and strong values - something that truly matters in today's world. 3. A calm, orga, clean, and open environment inspired by Montessori/Waldorf principles, filled with music, dance, art, nature exploration, and joyful activities that spark curiosity and a love of learning. 4. Low teacher-to-student ratios with consistent, dedicated staff and minimal turnover. 5. The ease and convenience of reliable daycare availability and consistent school hours, which is invaluable for working parents and provides tremendous peace of mind. Our children have grown into calm, patient, loving, socially and emotionally intelligent individuals. They come home happy - singing songs, performing dances, and confidently demonstrating leadership skills such as speaking up, standing up for others, self-regulating ("resetting"), appreciating nature, sharing their finished "projects" from school, and truly loving life. We are incredibly grateful for the dependable, efficient, and communicative staff and teachers. Watching our children's growth, confidence, curiosity, and joy throughout their time at White Pony Preschool has been nothing short of amazing. We wholeheartedly and highly recommend White Pony Preschool to any parent looking for the very best for their child.

My daughter attended Joyful Beginnings for 2 years before starting kindergarten. We always had a…read morevery positive experience there, but I'm kind of glad I never reviewed the preschool because now I have an even better perspective now that my daughter is in grade school. I feel like the teachers did an amazing job preparing her for kindergarten and fostering both her social and academic skills. I'm thrilled to write that my daughter is loving school and excited to go everyday. Thanks to everyone at Joyful Beginnings, especially the incredible teachers Erica, Tracy, and Taryn! The school runs very efficiently under the direction of Carol, and I always found it to be an incredibly safe and clean environment. I liked that the days/schedule was a bit flexible and that helped our family be able to select the schedule that would fit our finances. Thanks to all!

We love this school! All the staff is amazing! Very communicative, caring, professional and truly…read morehave the education and know how to care for your children and all their needs! My mom has been in education for nearly forty years and always loves everything I tell her about our preschool. I love that they use the brightwheel app and you can see pictures the teachers post to see what the kids are learning about or what fun activities they are up to. Can't recommend JB enough!

My son has attended TCDS in Lafayette for 2 years. I cannot say enough great things about this…read morewonderful school. He absolutely loves his friends and teachers and feels "at home" there. The teachers are warm, patient and caring and truly seem to care about each child. He has learned so much, both socially and academically and I know that he will be more than prepared when he attends Kindergarten in the fall. I work full-time so he is at school all day, but it gives me peace of mind to know that he is being well taken care of, challenged, and also having a great fun time at school. I truly cannot think of one negative thing to say about this school.

From the owner: The Child Day Schools, LLC (TCDS) provides a unique curriculum and dynamic environment that sparks…read morechildren's excitement and curiosity for learning. TCDS also honors the vital relationship between the teacher, child, and family to enhance children's lives today and in the future. * Preschool * Pre-K * Kindergarten * School Age Follows NAEYC Accreditation Standards Low Teacher-Child Ratios Preschool: Full Day: 6:45 am to 6:15 pm School Day: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm AM Preschool: 9:00 am - 12:30 pm Kindergarten: Full Day: 6:45 am to 6:15 pm School Day: 8:30 am to 2:45 pm AM Kindergarten: 8:30 am to 1:00 pm Our Lafayette location, the first campus of The Child Day Schools, opened in 1976. We are located in downtown Lafayette, on Stuart St., just off Mt. Diablo Blvd. Karen Garrity Director

Old Firehouse School is Exceptional!…read more We sent both of our children to OFS after moving to Lafayette, and it was a wonderful experience for our family. The dedication of the staff is truly what sets this school apart. We especially valued the model where teachers, like Liz, Pam, and Zahara, continue to work with the students as they grow. This consistency and the deep care they show for the children is evident every day. Our kids absolutely loved their teachers. We are huge fans of their kid-led, project-based learning approach. It allows the students to drive their own education. Just as important is their focus on emotional education--teaching kids practical ways to understand and manage their feelings, which is a key skill for life. Alex and Michelle are fantastic leaders, and the entire team deserves praise. We have nothing but great things to say about OFS and highly recommend it.

I have had at least one child at OFS since 2021. It is an incredible community and the director…read moreAlex is a thoughtful, bright, measured, and caring leader. We have loved all the teachers we've worked with and were first drawn to OFS because of the Reggio Emilio method they practice. This approach centers around a single primary caregiver for the majority of a child's time at the school. Our oldest has come out of OFS with incredible social emotional skills as a result of this model. We still have our son there and will be sad the day we have to leave. This is not the closest school to our home, but we trust the staff and we can't imagine going anywhere else.

We cannot say enough wonderful things about Pied Piper Preschool! We have sent both of our children…read morehere, and it has been the most transformative experience for our entire family. If you are looking for a true play-based environment where 'kids can be kids' while developing a deep love for learning, this is it. Teachers Pia, Mike, and Carrie are absolutely the greatest. They bring so much joy, patience, and intentionality to everything they do. You can tell they truly understand child development and see each child as a unique individual. What really sets Pied Piper apart is the community. Especially being new to the area, we found a village here. We've made wonderful, lifelong friendships with other families, and our kids have thrived socially and emotionally. One of the biggest surprises was the flexibility of the co-op model. As a full-time working parent navigating the transition of being back in an office, I was worried about the commitment, but the school has been incredibly supportive and flexible. My co-oping days became the highlight of my week! It gave me a front-row seat to my children's growth and helped me become a much more informed and confident parent. Pied Piper is so much more than just a preschool; it's a family.

We spent a lot of time looking for a school for our child, and we were lucky enough to find Pied…read morePiper! Being "transplants" without family nearby, we can attest to the care, compassion, and support that the teachers and families bring to the table. It is quite unique! My highly energetic son absolutely loves coming to school. It might be the huge yard that is accessible to the students for most of the day, the bikes, trucks, enormous sand pit, play structures and mud kitchens... or the rainbow room full of imaginative play costumes and accessories. As parents, we love how much he has been exposed to in just two years. The curriculum is play based and after reading up on this type of education and the science and statistics behind it... we decided we would give it a shot. I am so happy we did. Every day, there are tables dedicated to science, art, fine and gross motor skills and in the B session the kids learn how to read and write. In lieu of TK we decided to do another year of Pied Piper and we are confident he will be more than ready for kindergarten! Another thing that stood out to us about Pied Piper is the flexibility that their particular co-op model offers. Many co-ops are inflexible especially when it comes to maternity leave, or opting out of an expected committee. They have designed their co-op model for both working parents and stay at home parents. There is always an option and flexibility around your responsibilities, and all expectations are laid out ahead of time in their handbook. The teachers at Pied Piper are second to none. I am an educator myself and have worked with young children for over twenty years. Teacher Pia, Teacher Carrie and Teacher Mike absolutely love their job. They shine with the kids. They bring out the best in them and coach them (and the parents) through hard times. They are both compassionate and hold boundaries. They are consistent. My son has grown so much emotionally with them by his side. I've also learned so much as a parent co-oping in the classroom. Lastly we love how Pied Piper celebrates family traditions, and really knows how to make holidays and learning units special. Families are encouraged to share their unique backgrounds and traditions at circle time (Chinese New Year, Christmas, Chanukah,) and bring food and books to share with the class. Holidays are always over the top with decorations and celebration, and the teachers transform the school during learning units (space unit, teddy bear tea, post office). As transplants that came into the school only knowing their neighbors, we will leave the school with a wonderful group of friends and families that we have connected with. We love Pied Piper Preschool!

What a special school, led by outstanding director Holly and her truly incredible teaching team!…read moreI've been a middle/high school teacher, and my kids previously attended two different preschools in the area, so suffice to say I've met a lot of teachers and seen a lot of schools, and I am just blown away at the quality of Michael Lane. The teachers are genuinely warm, kind and loving with every kid, calm and professional in every circumstance and interaction, authentic and kind with parents...I'm not sure how they do it, other than they are just really special people, with a remarkable director, and they have a ton of experience. Great play-based program with thoughtful activities and opportunities every day/week for the kids. Inclusive and non-religious, though it's connected to a church. Hands down best decision we made was to switch to Michael Lane!!

With our first kid, we toured three preschools and got lucky getting accepted into MLP. Our…read moredaughter loved being there from the first day to her last , so it was a no-brainer sending our second one there. The teachers are amazing, the facilities are amazing, plus the snack calendar that's published every month is amazing. You'll get to know other parents and get integrated into a very welcoming community.