In early 2013, I was looking for child care services for my soon-to-be-born infant starting in…read moreNovember 2013. I visited several child care centers and settled on Magical Beginnings in Wakefield because they were very close to home, well-accredited, and reasonably priced. I was told that I should reserve my spot quickly before they fill up, so I sent in my deposit + application fee of $750 in late May. The deposit is non-refundable, which I figured wasn't a problem because we had every intention of using this child care center, and I figured even if something happened, they'd probably be reasonable and refund it if they were able to fill my spot (and if they weren't able to fill the spot, obviously they should keep the money). Unfortunately, something happened, and I had to relocate out of state for work and therefore couldn't use this daycare center. That's where I had a disappointing experience with Magical Beginnings. As soon as I found out in mid June, I notified Magical Beginnings that I wouldn't be able to send my daughter there. I wanted to give them as much notice as possible so they could fill the spot with a paying customer. I had only sent in my deposit a month earlier, and was giving them over 4 months notice, so I was hoping they'd do the reasonable thing and refund my deposit. In fact, when I spoke to them on the phone, they said they had a waiting list, so clearly they'd have no trouble filling the spot. I had to ask if they'd refund my deposit. I had hoped they'd just offer without me asking, since $750 is a significant amount of money to hold from me if they didn't have a logical reason to keep it. But they didn't. And after I asked (very politely), they simply said the deposit is non-refundable. I then explained why I had hoped they'd refund the deposit (again, politely), but I was just told that it's non-refundable and that they could have the director call me. Unfortunately, I never got a call, so instead I wrote an email to the director (again, very polite) with logical reasoning as to why it would be nice if they refunded the deposit. All I got was a response that they'd refund $50 with no reasonable explanation why they'd keep $700 of my money other than "it's non-refundable." They're within their rights to keep the money, since the paperwork I signed said it was non-refundable. And if I had canceled at the last minute or they were unable to fill my slot, of course it would make total sense for them to keep the money. But I gave them lots of notice. And they have plenty of time to fill the slot (and appear to have done so). And if it's worth anything, it's not like I canceled for no reason... the job relocation was sudden and unexpected. I can't speak to how well this child care center runs on a day to day basis, but I get a really bad feeling from anyone who would keep $700 of my money without a good reason. Just really disappointed in how they conducted themselves. That's a lot of money.

My daughter (now 13 months old) has been attending Magical Beginnings since she was 4 months old…read more Originally we planned to use an in-home daycare but we got a weird vibe during our test week and had to scramble to find a new place. We lucked out as MB was just opening a new infant room in Wakefield and had space. We were a little nervous as we picked MB based on our tour and interview with the director; we didn't get to meet her teachers as they hadn't even been hired yet. It was a gamble that paid off. We love Miss Katy and Miss Sue, but more importantly, so does our daughter. Even during her phases of separation anxiety, she is always calm and happy at drop-off and pickup and has big smiles for her teachers and classmates. The communication from the staff is excellent and they are very flexible. Our daughter is a very easy baby in many ways, but she likes to skip naps and got distracted during bottle feeding, but Katy and Sue have worked hard with us on those issues. They also do lots of fun activities and crafts and we have been saving her day logs and "artwork" in her baby book. Soon, our girl will transition to the toddler room; I'm impressed with the communication and planning around this step so far, but I don't know who will be more sad about my girl leaving the infant classroom: her or me and my husband.

My husband and I can't say enough great things about Little Treasures. We have two kids enrolled in…read morethe daycare and since day one they've been nothing but accommodating. Our children have grown in so many positive ways since being there. We have always appreciated how invested the staff is in making sure the routine at home and at daycare always stays consistent. It is also very clean and organized which makes it that much more inviting!!! Thank you Little Treasures for everything! Patrick and Ashley Cassidy

I have been a part of the Little Treasures family since 2004...both as a parent and as a…read moreteacher/administrator. As a parent, there is no where else I would have wanted my kids to develop their educations. When they went on to elementary school (in another town), I was asked (by their teachers) where they went to preschool/pre-K. I was told that they were more prepared than most of the other children in their class. Amazing! As a teacher/administrator, there is no where else I would want to work. I am the music teacher (for all 3 locations) and the after school and vacation program director. The home-like atmosphere provided at LTS is true and organic. While still professional, the teachers and administrators at LTS are intelligent, loving, kind, generous, honest, trustworthy, dependable, fun and just plain old nice! The 3 locations are all different and amazing in their own right. The programs offered at each location are well-planned, consistent, engaging and constructive. If you are looking for a positive learning experience for your child, please check out Little Treasures in Reading, Lynnfield or North Reading.

this school is good but the after school got a new staff and shes a bitch which my child comes home…read morecrying because shes mean and I doenst make my job easier as a parent.

Nestled in a quiet family neighborhood, St. Joseph School stands proudly having educated children…read morefrom Wakefield and surrounding towns for generations. Visitors are immediately charmed by the school's architecture, well manicured grounds, gleaming floors and ornate woodwork. This same attention to detail is evident throughout the educational experience as well. From pre-kindergarten through grade eight, students are challenged as they are nurtured in an environment that is educationally and spiritually rewarding. A tight-knit community, fostered by a talented faculty and parental involvement, St. Joseph School is rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition.

Our family loves Odyssey Day School! My son has attended for 7 years, going on 8, and we love the…read moreteachers and staff. We have made many friends here, and we enjoy the STEAM and nature education, as well as creative developmentally structured curriculum. Instead of teaching to a test, they teach to the individual child.

My youngest has been at Odyssey from pre-K and will graduate this coming year. My older 2…read moretransferred into Odyssey from public school in 2nd and 4th grade. All of my kids got a fantastic education in a caring environment. They were treated with warmth and respect and were expected to treat their classmates that way. It made for an outstanding learning environment. My older two were extraordinarily well prepared for high school. All of my kids were encouraged to cultivate their unique interests and talents. It's an amazing place!

My son did three years of preschool at The Children's Gathering. He is thriving and doing wonderful…read morein kindergarten! We will always hold a special place in our hearts for the school. They teach kindness and it shows, my son is often referred to as being extremely kind by his current (kindergarten) teacher. I believe it was due to the positive redirection and encouragement he received during preschool. The director, Ms. Lori, is so dedicated and reliable. She is also very knowledgeable and passionate about early childhood education. I don't know where she gets her energy! There is no one you can trust your children with more. The teachers are also committed and reliable, and will take great care of your children. In the three years my son attended the school, I always felt so comfortable and confident in the care he received. He loved it there ! He made lots of friends, and I even made some connections that we have maintained for play dates, etc. The other families and children were all wonderful when we attended. It's a wonderful, warm community. Thank you Children's Gathering !

I recently took a tour of this preschool. I wasn't impressed miss leslie and miss kirsty are not…read morewarm and fuzzy . Seems like they are just there to be there . Just didn't get a good feel. Also they had expired syrup out for the kids which rubbed me the wrong way. Also the basement was very musty . A few other things also. Sad because laurie is nice . But don't feel comfortable leaving my child there .

We have been incredibly happy with this preschool for our children. All of the teachers are highly…read moreskilled and dedicated to the Montessori approach to education. My children have learned so much from their incredible teachers, as well as from the other children in the program, and have made wonderful friends. Attention is paid to each child's learning style, strengths, and areas of development, and the low student/teacher ratio allows the teachers to support each child through their own learning process. Fantastic extra activities, such as music and theater enrichment, take place regularly. So happy we chose this school!

My son is in his third year at RMS, and I cannot say enough about the school. He originally…read morestarted in a neighborhood nursery school, and it was not a good fit for him. He is very active and needs to move A LOT, and he is also very bright and needs a lot of intellectual stimulation. The combination was hard for our local preschool to provide. Since going to RMS, his self-esteem has skyrocketed and he is excelling in every domain. He LOVES school and comes out every single day with a smile on his face and full of things to discuss. Since he is very advanced in his reading, his teachers provide him with extra reading tasks and works and personalized attention so that he doesn't get bored. The program genuinely appreciates the individual in each child and doesn't force them to fit into a certain mold. That being said, while individuality is very much appreciated, the school also focuses on community and working well with your peers. Children are expected to be kind and generous to their friends. All students there are called "friends" by teachers and children, and I think this terminology is important and deliberate. It is incredible the things these young children are learning in the classroom about the world around them!!! I can say with 100% confidence that my son would not be where he is today without the teachers at this wonderful school. My 3 year old is starting his first year there this fall, and we cannot wait to see what awaits him!

Great school for the little ones. The teachers are fantastic. What progress seen from the…read morebeginning of the year they just learn so much!!

I love this school for my little one! It feels like an extension of our home instead of feeling…read morelike I was sending her to elementary school early.

Two of our kids have moved through Rockland Montessori Academy for preschool and had excellent…read moreexperiences. The teachers are amazing and so dedicated. The curriculum is fantastic- our kids learned so much! They also get outside everyday and do awesome crafts. The school offers many special classes (our kids' favorite was cooking class, from a real chef!) They really create a community for the families, and have many special traditions and events throughout the year. They also offer a great summer camp program that is very well run and convenient. The leadership team is excellent to work with and they run a tight ship. I wish we could stay there forever! But they have given our kids an excellent social and academic foundation for their elementary years.