We've had such a great experience with Bunnybears Preschool! Both of my daughters attended, and I can honestly say it's a wonderful environment for kids to learn and grow. The play-based approach made school feel fun and engaging while still giving them the foundation they needed. The teachers are warm and caring, and you can tell they truly love what they do. My girls were always excited to go in the mornings, which says it all. Highly recommend Bunnybears to any family looking for a nurturing, playful, and supportive preschool experience! read more

BunnyBears has been such a special part of our family's life since we started our oldest in the Butterfly class at 3 years old. She has excelled so much socially and in her motor skills, routine skills, and so much more. We also brought our 2 year old to BB after being in an at home daycare and were thrilled with the gentle and kind care Ms Megan gives to the little ones. Both kids really enjoy the playground, learning by play activities and the special crafts they get to make every day. Our family loves the events that BB puts so much effort into, like the Holiday Sing, Thanksgiving tea and more throughout the year. We also love that they offer soccer shots (added cost by separate company) on site optionally. Our oldest is transitioning to TK and will surely miss BB, but we are happy to keep our little one there throughout the next 2 grades. Thank you to all of the kind and special teachers and admins. Ms Francesca, Ms Thavey, Ms Megan, Ms Karen, Ms Egle, Ms Tonya. Our oldest will miss you all so much! read more

Bunnybears is a wonderful place for children to grow and play! Our son started at the infant location in LA Mesa when he was just 1, and then came here to Bunnybears Santee for the last 2.5 years. I'm so sad he has to finally leave because he's going to TK and kindergarten, otherwise we would be here next year too. Bunnybears has been such a big part of our lives, and our son definitely had a special bond with several of his teachers who are kind and very thoughtful. He's also made so many friends here, and I love seeing him play and learn. The staff also send us updates and pics of our son during the day so we get to see his activities. I highly recommend Bunnybears and wish we could stay with them forever! read more

Bunny Bears Preschool is such a good school. It offers an outstanding educational environment for my little one. The staff is caring and professional, deeply invested in the children's development. The curriculum balances academics with social and creative learning, ensuring a well-rounded experience. Facilities are safe and stimulating, with excellent resources for play and learning. Communication with parents is top-notch, making us feel involved and informed. Highly recommend for a nurturing start to your child's education journey. read more

Bunny Bears Preschool has truly been amazing. Not only is the staff and teachers professional and caring, the curriculum is great and fun, the preschool is very clean, decorated nicely and most importantly they make you feel so welcome. You literally become part of the family. Both of our girls went there from the age of 2 to 5 years of age and we couldn't have been happier. Honestly, a little sad to leave (onto kindergarten). The owners are the sweetest and very caring, such great people. We felt so comfortable from day one of touring the school and would recommend Bunny Bears to everyone. read more

My daughter attended BunnyBears Santee for two years and it was the best choice we could have made for her! Egle runs a beautiful, caring, nurturing and loving preschool program and we were so happy with how our daughter flourished in the care of her and the wonderful teachers that work there. The classrooms are beautiful and intentionally decorated and most importantly, clean. I would recommend this preschool 100x over if you are looking for childcare for your little one. read more

My children attend BunnyBears Preschool in Santee; my son started in 2020, and my daughter just started in April of this year. When looking for a preschool for my children, there were many factors that I took into consideration and many schools that we toured. As a parent ensuring your child is well taken care of and that their physical, mental, and emotional needs are met every day is monumental in making a decision. And we made the right choice with BunnyBears Santee! From the moment you arrive, you are greeted with positive energy and happy hellos from all the staff. This was extremely helpful for my son, who was apprehensive about attending school and had difficulty leaving his mom. Throughout the day, you get updates about eating, bathroom, and sleeping breaks through the Bright Wheel app. My kids can be picky eaters, so seeing that they eat different fruits, vegetables, and protein was reassuring and made it easier at home! The day's structure allows for all sorts of engagement, so I know they are getting educational and physical activities. While also getting one-on-one time with the teachers and interacting with other children through play, art, and music. Another huge attribute for us was nap time, I was unsure how my children would sleep in a big room with other kids, but they did just fine and my daughter loves nap time at school. The staff provides a safe and comfortable environment for my kids to get the rest they need. Communication is also important; when we notice certain behaviors at home, we can discuss them with the teachers and determine an action plan to help work through them. You get daily updates at pick-up about their day and anything you should be aware of. And they communicate constantly through the Bright Wheel app and email about what is happening at school. Finding a good preschool for my kids was significant, and I couldn't be happier with the care we get from BunnyBears. My kids are happy to go to school; they talk about their teachers, bring home the best artwork, and imitate the values and lessons they learn at home. I honestly feel like a small family through this school, and I highly recommend them to any parent looking for quality care! read more

Our son was here for almost 2 years and loved it! The staff is amazing! They truly supported his growth in so many different aspects of education and development. It's a clean, beautiful facility with a wonderful, gated outside play area complete with gardens! Kids get to experience so many things here... daily! Gardening, painting, reading, science experiments, music, cooking! Egle is kind and knowledgeable and I never worried for a second when our son was at school because I knew he was loved and cared for there. They send out pictures and updates in an app all day so you can see how your little is doing and It's a small school so it feels "homey." Would definitely recommend to anyone who has concerns or is anxious about sending their toddler to daycare/preschool. read more

We absolutely love Bunny Bears Preschool in Santee! Our son has been there for two years and we are always confident that he is well taken care of. The preschool is warm and inviting and kiddos have a lot of fun both indoors completing art projects, reading books, playing with puzzles, blocks, and kitchen toys and outdoors on the large playground and sandbox. The teachers and director are all very positive and supportive of children's development. We highly recommend! read more

I HIGHLY recommend BunnyBears Preschool and so does my daughter! She loved to go to school and always had so much fun! The teachers were great and the director was always so helpful and communicative. The space is so cute and very clean. The outside area was my daughters favorite and talked about the big tree in the back and all of the outdoor activities. We miss them so much! read more

When I moved to Santee a year ago the first thing that I did was to start researching daycares and preschool for my son. I visited quite a few of the daycares in the area and generally found them to be acceptable and friendly, but BunnyBears stood out as better to me for a few reasons. First of all the excellent staff was clearly not just there to supervise the children. Everyone is interacting with the children either working on social development, learning activities, and working together as a team. Also, you can clearly see that the staff care about the children and enjoy their jobs and their coworkers. Staff that are happy most definitely produce an environment that is better for the children. Choosing BunnyBears was a good decision to be sure. We have had our son attend the school for a year now and I must say that my first impressions that led me to select them have provided a wonderful experience. I myself have 17 years of teaching experience and I have been pleasantly surprised by the variety of activities that my son has been able to enjoy, as well as the quality of those activities. It is clear to see that learning activities are age appropriate and planned out with an intelligent sequence. My son has regular exposure to art, music, nature/gardening, and reading. Considering all of the activities, the school is very clean and well organized. Communication has been excellent. BunnyBears posts pictures via a secure app (BrightWheel) daily. They also communicate bathroom breaks (if you wish), daily naps, snacks, and any relevant information. The app can also manage tuition payments (which is reasonable and clearly communicated). My son entered at age 2 in diapers and comes home clean and sanitary. He is fed healthy snacks and milk provided by the site, and the staff does not mind warming up lunches that I send with him. The last thing that I would mention is that the other children that my son spends his time with are very sweet and kind. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the great behavior management style of the staff. The children are given constructive guidance on how to act in a kind and supportive way. They don't get yelled at, but the expectation to behave is clear from the staff and followed by the students. My son is very happy at BunnyBears, and I'm very satisfied that we chose for him to join their school. read more

I highly recommend BunnyBears Santee. My son attended as they transitioned ownership from Montessori. A lot of changes were made once ownership changed and it was all for the better. The interior is so clean, aesthetically pleasing, and calm. I've always loved the large shaded outdoor space and the big tree. My daughter now attends the school and they are very on top of the app updates throughout the day. I'm that parent who loves to know what my child ate, which is provided in the updates, along with pictures each day. Their themes and lesson plans also seem very well thought out. It really has been a great school for the kids and a wonderful addition to the Santee community. read more

Our family loves BunnyBears! I'm a child development major so I'm very particular about certain philosophies and what environment I want my son to learn and play in. I fell in love with BB when we did our tour in September and I've only grown to love it more since. We are hoping to expand our family soon and plan to have all of our children enrolled! The center is always clean and organized, with a large variety of open-ended materials available for the children through out the day. Toys, books, and materials are cycled through regularly so there is always something "new" and engaging for the children in a light, natural environment. Creativity and exploration are emphasized in everything the children do here, including getting dirty! Playing in the rain and mud is encouraged and my son loves it. One of the closing teacher, Ms. Nadine, has built a close relationship with my son and he adores spending time with her. I also usually find her helping the children picking and eating fruits straight off the trees on the playground. She thinks very highly of children and sees so much potential in them, always making sure to find something special about them to be proud of, and I have a deep respect that. Ms. Oksana is friendly, funny, and engaging and my son loves her too! The teachers are always welcoming and kind and it was immediately apparent to me that they have built meaningful relationships with the children based on how they interact and talk to them. If I ask one of the closing teachers how my son's day was, they can always answer my questions without a vague response. My husband is active duty military and is not stationed in San Diego, so my son's behavior reflects how he misses him. His teachers are very receptive to hearing my concerns and providing advice when asked, all in a respectful and empathetic manner. I know my way around licensing regulations and developmentally appropriate practices, and I'm completely satisfied with my son's safety and well-being at BunnyBears. They serve a morning snack and an afternoon snack, and we bring lunch. Their food is always healthy and although my son is an incredibly picky eater at home, he usually devours his school snacks, and that makes me happy! They use a great app called Brightwheel to communicate with parents regularly. I get notified of every diaper change, potty use, what snacks and how much he ate, the time and length of his nap, and if he needs wipes or pull-ups. I can send a message to his teachers or director if I have a question or want to give them a heads up on anything and they're very quick to respond. I also get at least one picture a day of him and love being able to send them to my husband. He ADORES his 2yo teacher, Mrs. Megan. She is easy-going and fun to talk to while still being professional. She is very sweet and shows genuine concern or excitement whenever we talk about my son and is always on top of any request I may have. Although I'm hoping he will get to move up to the 3yo room soon, I want him to stay with her forever! I just completed an internship at BB where I worked closely with Egle, the owner. She is a great mentor and taught me so many things that I look forward to doing when I have a center one day. She is well educated in this field and is incredibly receptive to the needs of families and their children. Due to the covid-19 virus, Egle decided it was in the best interest of both the families and her staff to shut down the center for about a month and a half. She has been very good about keeping families up to date with any news and even asked families to participate in a survey to see how many parents were essential workers and would be needing childcare ASAP. She has implemented many extra precautions during these times and I am more than satisfied with the amount of attention and work she's put into making sure the center is clean and safe. The teachers and Egle have been staying connected with families via playlists online and making take-home activity kits. Egle also truly cares about her staff and has done everything possible to ensure they are able to get paid during these hard times, which I also have respect for. A truly thoughtful, caring, and educated woman, Egle runs a beautiful center that is FULL of love and laughter. I love seeing my sweet boy so eager and excited to go to school in the mornings and know that he is in great hands, and I love seeing how much he enjoys playing so freely with his friends and exploring and learning with his teachers. BunnyBears is the perfect fit for what we wanted for our son and is the perfect fit for his highly energetic personality. I highly recommend them for anyone looking for a play-based preschool that encourages creativity and imagination and is inclusive and developmentally appropriate! We love you BunnyBears! read more

BunnyBears Preschool - Santee - A sensory wall in the 2yo room. - Preschools Near Me - Santee, California

See all

This has been our son's first preschool and we love it here. He looks forward to going every morning, as the staff and parents all seem very invested in making the space feel inclusive and welcoming for the kids. After almost a month there, we already notice distinct positive changes in his behavior, vocabulary, and motor skills. The phone app they use is also great, you get updates throughout the day with photos. We've often shown him these photos on days he's a little apprehensive on coming. All said, we feel very lucky to have found BunnyBears. read more

Our son attended BunnyBears Preschool from the initial transition from Montessori Discovery School, up until March 2020. At first we were nervous when we found out new ownership would be taking over MDS in 2019, but we couldn't have been happier with the changes. The BunnyBears team renovated the school to make it more aesthetically pleasing and modern, including hardwood floors and beautiful, natural materials throughout. A lot of thought was put into the layout and what materials the kids would have access to, and things are always being changed up and moved around to keep the kids interested. The biggest factor that influences my review is how my son responded to going to preschool every day. He absolutely loved BunnyBears, his teachers, his friends, and the space. I never questioned my son's safety or experience. Every day he came home with a new fun fact that he learned, and he would get so excited to tell us all about what his teachers taught him (his favorite was definitely Ms. Methak). Some days it was hard to convince him to go home! Another thing I liked about BunnyBears is the use of a mobile app to sign in/out and communicate with parents. I loved when pictures of my son would pop up in the app throughout the day, and I could see exactly when he was taking a nap. At the time that we left, they were using Brightwheel, which was pretty user friendly. Sadly we had to cut our time short there due to COVID-19, but our son would have continued through June under different circumstances. We feel he is ready to go to Kindergarten and we thank the caring staff at BunnyBears for taking such good care of him! read more

My daughter had a great experience in this preschool, all staff was caring and kind. My daughter learned academics, but also lots of fun, art projects, and became more independent. I loved receiving daily info, updates and photos of my daughter. We loved the GymBus classes onsite too. read more

Our daughter turned three in January and we wanted to get her started at a preschool as she's been home with me since birth. We did a lot of research and checked out Bunny Bears due to a friend's recommendation. We were very pleased during our tour as it's very clean and they limit the amount of children per adult instead of jamming the classes with the maximum amount. Our daughter had a few tough first days but the staff here has been very attentive and supportive of her. Her teacher, Leann, eased our anxieties about leaving her in a new place. She is kind and loving and there is a genuine affection between the two. We are sent photos and updates on her days as well. If I ever have a question or concern, the director, Sandra, is always quick to respond. She has been a great support for both our daughter and us as she transitions into preschool. We are very happy with our decision to send her here. You can always schedule a tour to check it out yourself too! read more

BunnyBears Preschool - Santee - My daughter playing with a classmate. - Preschools Near Me - Santee, California

My son has been coming to this preschool before Bunny Bears took over and we LOVE it here!! He has SO many friends, and the teachers are all so great! This school also offers extra curricular activities such as soccer shots, and the gym bus that are actually on the site which is very convenient fOr working mom and dads that do not have that much extra time to take their children elsewhere. It's a great school and also offers the TK program! I highly recommend this preschool if you're looking for a school that is close knit and cares about your children and their education. read more

My daughter had been attending BunnyBears for almost a year when we had to move. We were so sad to leave this place! She loved going to school and always talked about her friends. The staff was also very professional and communicative. I loved this location too as it was a house converted to a preschool with a nice big yard, which made it very inviting and a comfortable place to start preschool. Overall it was a very positive experience! read more

I started my son here a month ago in the 2 year old room with Ms. Stephanie, and I could not be happier. Since he is a new 2, and had never been cared for by anyone but family, this has been a rough transition, but I am ecstatic with his adjustment and the caring faculty. I'll admit, mine is already completely bonded to Ms. Stephanie. She has been so sweet and patient with my son, I really could not ask for more. I can already see the work they do with fine motor skills, and my son is picking everything up so quickly. Overall, I could not recommend this preschool more. The entire staff is wonderful, I constantly see them out interacting with the kids. I feel completely comfortable leaving my little one in their capable hands. I look forward to the rest of the year, and seeing my son's personal and academic growth here. read more

My daughter has been attending BunnyBears for about 4 months. She loves it and I can see how much she's learning and developing by being there. The School is transparent and communicative with parents, responsive to changing covid guidelines and proactive about providing as safe an environment as possible. The Director, the teachers, and aides are all very sweet and caring with the kids. There are varied activities, lots of creative play, and seasonal crafts. They send pictures and information about your child throughout the day on the Brightwheel app. As a working parent, I appreciate the glimpse into my daughter's day and the information and communication through the app. I am so grateful for the warm and encouraging environment they provide. I highly recommend BunnyBears. read more

We cannot say enough good things about this school. The teachers are fantastic, down to earth, fun to talk to, and firm (but kind) with the kids when needed. I honestly had no idea how much preschool would benefit her. I have friends who have also sent their two year olds to other preschools but have not seen the level of development that we've seen with ours at MDS. Since she started, she has become so much more confident, sociable, independent, kind, and polite. They even helped with potty training. I sincerely believe this school has made my daughter a better person, and in turn, made me a better mother. It is truly a wonderful place. read more

Hello my name is Elyssa and I'm a helicopter mom. There I said it, I already feel better. With that being said I'm sure you can imagine that I quickly over react to simple things ( I'm working on it) and I was so hesitant about my fist born starting school. Dad and I visited several locations and of course we ( and by we I mean me) were hesitant about something at all locations. We are both RNs we have the great privilege of having a lot friends/ coworkers who are social workers. One of them referred us to the YMCA child resource service. They have excellent information on ALL child care options any where in the San Diego area 619-521-3055/ crs.YMCA.org Well we were big on Montessori and with the help of the YMCA CRS we discovered MDS!!!!!! This place is so fantastic. I can't express how much my son enjoys this school. He cries when he DOESN'T get to go. His vocabulary has doubled since starting here in June and he is almost fully potty trained thanks to them helping us! I feel their prices are reasonable and the staff is very caring. They have a lot of fun events like an open house to come and meet with other parents and they have a fun and unique celebration for each child's birthday. They have quickly become like family to us. I know that everyone is entitled to their opinions and not everyone will always be 100% happy. But if you have any concerns about the one negative review I encourage you to call the number listed above for the YMCA CRS and they can tell you how you can research any school in the San Diego with a license. I encourage you to utilize this resource and donate to the YMCA if you can afford it so they can continue to help ALL of us parents because parents can use all the help we can get!!!!!! We have been very happy at MDS and we can't wait to send our daughter there in a few months!!! read more

My 3 daughters have attended this school for the past year and we couldn't be happier. We moved into the area during the summer, and transferred my oldest from another Montessori school. I have always loved the Montessori method and believe kids benefit greatly from this teaching style. However, this school is head and shoulders above our previous one, simply because of how welcoming the staff has been with me and my kids. Not only do my kids LOVE all of the staff members, but I really love them too. They give me feedback or tell me stories about my kids all the time. It's so great to know how your kids are doing, or whether they are struggling with something on a regular basis. The staff and I share stories about funny things my kids have done, and I know they love my kids. I love that this is a smaller environment than our previous school because it means my kids know and love all the teachers, and they aren't struggling with 30 rotating teachers like at larger programs. They also worked with me to potty train my 2 year olds - by accepting unpotty-trained 2 year olds, they take the pressure off completely, and let the kids go at their own pace without shame or discouragement. They are more encouraging to my kids than I am sometimes! I absolutely couldn't have found a better place for my girls for preschool, and recommend this place completely. read more

I am so happy with MDS. My daughter started attending when she was 2.5 years old. As of this school year she was off to Kindergarten and my son started. I was wary about him starting because unlike my daughter who was having full conversations at 18 months he still wasn't talking. They did wonderful with him and all of the sudden his vocabulary was blooming. All the teachers are amazing and my kids love them. My daughter loves coming back to visit and tells me all the time how much she misses everyone even though she still sees them 3 days a week when we pick up her brother. I love the learning method and all the prep they do for the older kids to transition to kinder. They make birthdays wonderful and every other holiday as well. They love parent involvement and have always made us feel welcome and they listen to us when we do have something to comment on. I have to admit Nancy and her staff have set the bar very high for me. I was expecting much the same from my daughters new school and they have fallen very short of what Nancy has managed to make look simple. Dear Yelp, this comment is for you. I have read all the other reviews including the "hidden" reviews am very disappointed to see other parents reviews blocked. It's almost like you don't want to show the true rating of this wonderful school. read more

I came across BunnyBears with my first child touring school after school. I was immediately in love and knew this was a wonderful program. As tho the timing didn't workout with availability at that time. Shortly after my daughter came along, also with an expansion of another location of BunnyBears located close by. Learning my leason the first time around with waiting list and preschools I was sure to not make the same mistake twice. We have now been apart of the BunnyBears program for two lovely years. There has been so much growth for my daughter here and amazing memories made. This school will always hold a special place in our hearts as it has helped shape our strong determined daughter into such a creative, outgoing, independent, fun, very well mannered and loving little lady. Thanks to the teachers she is ready to take on TK! This school has helped in so many ways as a parent to help navigate through all the changes, milestones and stages of a strong willed 2 1/2-4 1/2 year old girl. Especially through the pandemic bunnybears was our saving grace for keeping one thing somewhat normal in our child's life during that time. I truly can not thank this school enough and will forever highly recommend this outstanding program. read more

I really enjoy this preschool. The owner Nancy works very hard and does a great job at hosting little events like meet the firefighters, Easter parties and so on. They also have soccer shots and gym bus if you want to join. They have a great set up with 3 different class sections so kids that are at more of the same level can concentrate on activities. My children always seem to be playing and they say they love going there. All the teachers are great and are sure to give my youngest lots of snuggles as he loves them. I do love how when needed they can be stern when a child is not acting accordingly. I feel that my oldest child who started kindergarten this year was well prepared. Thank you Montessori teachers for all your hard work in helping my kids succeed. read more

My daughter has been going here four about 6 months. She is almost 5 and we switched schools after she was being singled out as a disruptive kid at her old school. Her self esteem was suffering and she would complain of stomachs every morning when she was getting ready to attend her prior school. So we decided to try a montessori based program and MSD has been amazing. Ms. Dunn, the director and my daughter's assigned teacher, truly loves children. She understands them and their needs and really targets her program to be developmentally appropriate. Kids are loved here and they know it. Since coming here my daughter no longer complains of stomach aches and enjoys coming to school in the morning. Almost every day there is one special activity (like dance class or zumba or gym bus) that gives my daughter something special to look forward too. When my daughter has struggled to control her behavior, instead of chastising her or labeling her they have talked to me privately (not in front of her) and we work towards a solution. they also do parent teacher conferences which really gives you an uninterrupted chance to discuss your child's progress. They have worked with us on every level to accommodate my daughter's needs and truly reward and focus on her good behavior and attributes. In fact my daughter has started reading in the short time she started here. I could not be more proud! This is also a community school in the sense that parents are invited and encouraged to participate in various activities. They have holiday parties and use parent volunteers to run games and offer snacks. they do a thanksgiving potluck where all the parents and kids come together to get to know one another. I just love this about MSD. Also, I noticed one unhappy parents post about nap time. My daughter has always struggled with nap time. She outgrew her naps a while ago and was always in trouble for being noisy and disruptive. Many schools require a 2 hour nape time, which is hard for many 4 and 5 year olds. Understanding that this is not developmentally appropriate, MSD allows a shortened quit or rest time for the older kids. My daughter still struggled with this at the beginning and was more disruptive then most but was NEVER placed in the bathroom. They continued to work with her and no she is one of the best resters in the bunch! read more

My son has been going for over a year now and is loving it! He has grown so much! We started just after his 2nd birthday and now hes alittle over 3. We found out that our son is mildly autistic when he was 2 1/2. Along with therapies he going to and another specialized school hes going to, we wanted to keep him in the Montessori School since he was doing well in a regular school environment. They are working with him and want to help him out with his special needs. He learned his ABCs within the first 3 months of going. Hes learning to open up better with kids his own age and talking alot more which he really didn't talk at all when he started. I love all the activities they do there and my son always has a smile on his face when I pick him up. Its been the best decision I made to put him in this school! read more

I first went here hearing decent things about this school. The director was very nice and the staff seemed good. I signed my child up and was excited for him to learn the MONTESSORI way and be really prepared for kindergarten and was hoping to have his kindergarten year there. Unfortunately it didn't turn out the way I had hope.. The teachers sit under the patio when the kids are playing at the end of the play ground and are not fully able to see what going on. My child had to lay on the bathroom floor at nap time. Gross. He was moved because he was being noisy at nap they did mention that but failed to mention where he had to lay. I heard it from my 4 year old. They claimed but he laid on a mat and it was partially in the bathroom.. Unacceptable. You put him on a bathroom floor. That's disgusting! Last but not least my mom went to pick him up and never had been to the school to pick him up or drop off and they didn't question who she was, look to see if she was on the list ask for id or nothing. Nobody said one word to her and let her walk out the door with my kid! Some of the teachers are decent one is not. She was rude and would give you dirty looks walk by you smirk and laugh not to mention when my kid would try to talk to her she would ignore him. oh and not to mention licensing had been out because teachers weren't paying attention and a kid got out of the gates and ran toward the street. Needless to say he isn't going back! read more

My daughter has attended MDS for over a year now. I feel like this school is the perfect fit for her bc the staff is friendly, they regularly attend Montessori conferences and other staff development days. I love that the school provides dance and music opportunities during the school day! My daughter is growing into a confident and very independent thinker bc of the special attention and care she receives. I have known many families over the past ten years who have sent their children to MDS so it was an easy choice for us to make to choose this school. I am an elementay school teacher and I taught preschool for over 6 years befor that. I feel I have a critical eye of other teachers and I really admire the teachers' at MDS and my daughter ADORES them all. read more

Great school! Teachers are very professional and attentive. Friendly atmosphere, always plenty of great educational materials and toys, nice yard. It was first preschool for my kids and I've checked out about 10 others before choosing Montessori Discovery School and we are very happy with it. read more

This is a disorganised school who can't handle kids with challenges. The lack of communication between teacher and parent is disheartening and the follow up does not nonexistent. It may be a good school for some but in my opinion it is not a good school got the majority. read more

Montessori Discovery School is AMAZING! Our family started there in 2011 when my son first turned 2 and now both of my boys attend, ages 5 and 2 1/2. The director, Mrs. Dunn, and the rest of the staff have cared not only for my boys, but also for my family, in the 3 years that we have been a part of the school. My boys truly look forward to going to school each day and as an educator myself, I drop them off knowing that I am leaving them in good hands. Most of the time, they don't want to leave when I come to pick them up at 3 pm! The teachers care for the students as if they were truly their own. When looking at preschools, due to budget, we were going to send my son to the YALE program through the Santee school district once he turned 3. Once that time came, I just couldn't leave Montessori Discovery and now both of our boys attend. You will not regret enrolling your child at Montessori Discovery School! read more

I had my son here for only a few months. The staff was AMAZING. It made my day seeing them and my son equally loved them. It was the only reason I kept him there that long. I am so glad I pulled him from here, though. I didn't get good feelings when I would speak with the director. She wasn't very forthcoming and when my son started exhibiting weird behavior, she lied about why he could have been behaving that way. I got a very greedy vibe about this school -meaning my son was getting subpar education in order to save a quick buck. I would not recommend this school. There were too many alarms that would go off in my head and when I finally spoke with another parent I learned I was not alone. I later found out A BUNCH of disturbing things, including the fact that none of the Montessori instruments were actually used in the classroom. If you live in santee there are plenty of good preschools like the Yale preschool which is through the actual school district and has reasonable, adjustable prices (adjustable as in they charge you depending on how many weeks of school there was that month not just one flat rate even if your kid only had two weeks of school that week and then EXTRA if you needed care during the time off) read more

We went to this school on recommendation from friends who had visited. Our children had spent 6 months at a national brand preschool with about 100 other kids and it was overwhelming for our youngest who was 2.5 at the time. We toured the school after our friends had made the suggestion and we loved the school. The atmosphere was animated and lively with examples of the children's art work proudly presented. The teachers were nice and helpful even before we signed our kids up for the school. My youngest would cry and cling to my leg every single drop off at the old school; however, when it came to dropping off at Montessori Discovery School, that all went away. It is such a small, intimate setting, in a small house, you cannot help feel like your children are heading to the right place. Unfortunately, we recently had to switch schools due to the length of my commute to work, otherwise we would have enjoyed more time there. Please do not hesitate to ask questions if you would like. read more

I did observations here in 2007 and fell in love with the staff and the Montessori philosophy. When it was time to send my daughter to preschool, there was no question about where she was going to go. She has been here since 2011. My daughter has learned to grow into an independent little girl, due to the outstanding teachings of the school. The staff is extremely kind, and friendly with everyone, and especially each other .It is very family oriented, and you feel like you're part of a second family here. I love that the school offers room for each child to grow independently and offers music and dance on a weekly basis. Not many other schools offer this and it has been a huge success here. I've also had the pleasure of working here since April of 2013 and I couldn't be more thrilled to be working with the teachers that I've gotten to know over the last 7 years. To be able to work at the same school my daughter attends is a huge excitement and joy as well. This school as been everything to us and more. I'm very pleased with everything this school has to offer both as a parent and as a teacher because I get to be a bigger part of it. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. read more

I looked around for other preschools in our area and the prices were outrageous and the centers weren't kid friendly. I walked into this school and the staff was friendly and the kids were happily running around in the playground. My two children attended this school and we refer it to many friends, aquaintances. I loved the Montessori approach to teaching as well since it values children as individuals capable of many tasks that normally we don't think children can handle. read more

I am a Montessori teacher and I sent my daughter to Montessori Discovery School because the staff are ALL kind and loving to the children. The environment feels like a home which is what I looked for in touring different schools. The outdoor environment is so much fun. This school uses the Montessori method to instill a love of learning in the child rather than imposing academics on the child which many Montessori schools do unfortunately. I highly recommend this school. It is clear the amount of experience the owner has and she treats the staff very kindly and the staff treat the children very kindly in turn. Great school. read more

I've always been a fan of the Montessori method, even before I had my own children. When it was time to go back to work and I started looking for a Montessori daycare I realized how many daycares simply advertised as such but had little or nothing to do with Montessori. I remember being petrified observing some daycare places from up close... Then I found MDS. Being very skeptical (thanks to my prior experiences) first I noticed how happy the children were. I was greeted by Nancy, the school director (who is simply fantastic with kids) but also... by a couple of kids that were so thrilled to show me where they read, and where they were doing their puzzles, and where their art work was. My "ice" started to melt... Two and a half years later... now both my boys are at the MDS and I am thrilled how well they're doing with their reading and math, how creative they are and simply... how happy they are to go to school. Most of all, I'm so happy to watch them being confident, very self-reliant and eager to learn and explore. You won't find loud, obnoxious toys at MDS nor your children watching TV all day long. Be prepared to find simple wooden blocks, paint and markers, imagination stimulating toys, books, games and puzzles and many, many Montessori materials helping children to learn and explore. All the staff is very involved and caring. They do observe the kids yet allow them to be kids, have their differences and learn how to deal with them. The outdoor area gives them many options just to play and have fun. They had an incident where a kid figured out how to unlock a kid-proof latch and made a game of off it. They school has replaced all the latches right away. One reviews mentioned a child sleeping on a bathroom floor... that's just seems absurd! In my two-and-a-half years experience I've never seen anything like that take place and I know that none of the staff would ever allow a child to sleep in the bathroom. One thing I wish the school had was a hot, healthy lunch every day but that's something I've learned to work around. I remember how hard it was to find a trustworthy and reliant daycare. Even at the MDS, the first day... leaving my son... it was very, very stressful. But... it was such a blessing that I found it! I highly recommend it. So, good luck in your search and definitely check out MDS. Angela W. read more