When it came time to look for a preschool for my daughter (4 years ago) I did a lot of research…read moreonline and in person. Thanks to all the great reviews here on Yelp and also a referral from one of my very good friends we decided to go with Mustard Seed as a place for my daughter to grow. She was 4 years old when she started and was very, very shy and was nervous. But it did not take her long to warm up and get comfortable with her super sweet classmates and the wonderful staff. The following year she continued onto TK and flourished into this bright intelligent little girl. The teachers at Mustard Seed did such an amazing job teaching the all the students and preparing them for Kindergarten. My daughter is currently in 2nd grade and is reading at the 6th grade level and I can't imagine her advancing to this level of education if it weren't for Mustard Seed. Fast forward - I needed child care for my youngest son as I prepared to go back to work and so thankful they have a toddler program I was able to enroll my son in at 18 months old. They love and care for all the children like it were their own and this gives us parents a peace of mind. He is now 3 1/2 years old and graduated to the preschool room where he absolutely loves to learn and play with his classmates that he calls, his best friends.

My kids really enjoyed their time here even tho it was cut short due to the shelter in place and…read morepandemic. Both my kids went here, wish the grades went up higher. My Son was in kindergarten but now he is moving on to first grade and my daughter will continue to come here she was in preschool but now she will be starting TK. The teachers and staff at mustard seed really love what they do! They are all about the children's safety and well being. Not only that they make learning fun and exciting! My kids always looked forward to going to school each day. This place is very family oriented and they treat our children as if they were their own. Nothing but love and compassion from mustard seed! I'm kinda sad that it had to end so abruptly but I'm hoping and praying this fall we can have a better year for 20/21 school year! I sure do give teachers a whole new level of respect, their jobs are not easy! All teachers need to have more recognition for the work that they do!

Step One School is truly a school of happiness! Choosing it for our son was one of the best…read moredecisions we've made. Now in his second year, he started at age three as a shy and cautious child who spoke very little. His teachers surrounded him with love and care, helping him feel safe and confident. It's no surprise that many of the staff spend their entire careers at this school--it's a special place. This year, our son is thriving! He's speaking more clearly, counting, and making friends. Watching him grow in such a welcoming and nurturing environment is amazing. From drawing to music and even playing guitar, he loves every moment of school and looks forward to going every day. We couldn't be happier with Step One!

Step One School is a magical place! Our family feels so grateful to be part of this warm, welcoming…read morecommunity. Every teacher is loving, supportive, and kind. My favorite part of the school yard is the organic garden, but our oldest son most enjoys playing in the little stream of water that runs down the hillside. He is thriving, asking us to play Stevie Wonder songs at home, just like he dances to at school.

As someone who moved to the Bay Area about a decade ago, I've often missed the sense of Persian…read morecommunity I grew up with, attending "mehmoonis" (parties), hearing Iranian music fill our home, and being surrounded by our rich, beautiful culture. When it came time to find a preschool for my son, I dreamed of a place that could offer him that same warmth and connection, and Golestan has given us exactly that and more. The first time I stepped into Golestan's "hayaat" (yard), I was instantly transported to my grandpa's garden in Iran. The laughter, the trees, the care woven into every detail. It's such a lively, loving, and vibrant space where my son learns, plays, makes friends, and creates lasting memories. The teachers are absolute angels, deeply nurturing, creative, and so attuned to each child. From the thoughtfully designed classrooms to the fresh, nourishing food (with ingredients straight from their learning garden!), every aspect of Golestan reflects an intentional, heartful approach to education and community. I feel truly honored for my son to spend his days in such a magical and enriching environment, surrounded by love, culture, and curiosity, and I'm already dreaming of the day my daughter can join. Regardless of your background or heritage, Golestan is a place worth experiencing. I'm sure they'll woo you at "Salaam" :)

It is an AMAZING school. They have created magic at the school and it has become an extension of…read moreour home. The teachers love being there and always have a smile. The happy environment is very accepting of kids and loving towards them. The environment is very conducive to learning and building self confidence for the kids. The Director is probably the most passionate person I have met about education and every detail in the school show it.

We love Angel Academy! We toured many schools for our son's…read morefirst experience learning outside our home. We were so delighted to find Angel Academy and their loving environment that was curated with amazing playthings and activities for their students! The environment is warm and loving and they do a fantastic job with the kiddos. If you're looking for a wonderful place for your child to learn, play and grow, you've found it.

I can't believe I haven't reviewed my son's amazing school yet! Halimah has created a magical,…read moreinspiring, loving, and thoughtful school that is as much a second home to my son as it is as perfect space for him to learn how to be a student. When you step into Angel Academy, the space makes you feel warm and the energy is inviting and calmly. Each toy is there for a reason - to ignite imagination. Nothing is plastic or there to "babysit" the children. In the last two years my son went from barely a few words to telling us elaborate stories and learning how to be a great friend and a role model for his baby sister. The food is prepared with love, the special celebrations and field trips are deliberately planned and inclusive, and the one-on-one attention is unsurpassed. I absolutely cannot recommend this school enough.

My first encounter was with Lizette. Lizette, was the one to give us our very first tour. She was…read moreso friendly and made the whole process feel easy. That first meeting really stuck with me, and it made me feel good about choosing L&P Montessori for my son. Ms. Norma, Ms. Karima, and Ms. Ava have been amazing. They go out of their way to make every child feel comfortable and cared for. My son can be a handful; he's energetic, can be wild at times, and is very selective about the people. They have been nothing but patient and kind with him. I want to comment about Ms. Jackie because I recently saw a negative review about her, and it made me really sad to see what was written about her. It's tough to see something like that written about someone, knowing that words like those can really hurt a person's character and reputation. I've never seen any of the behaviors mentioned in the negative review but only kindness from Ms. Jackie, even the times I would drop off my son and didn't know I was there. She's always sweet and patient, especially with kids who are having a rough morning. My son is talkative and not afraid to speak his mind if something's wrong. If there was ever anything off, my son would be the first to tell me if Ms. Jackie was not nice. Even in the older kids' classrooms, the staff and teachers are friendly, nice, and acknowledges you during drop off/pick-ups. It's a place where I know my son is safe, respected, and genuinely cared for. I'm so glad we found Learn and Play Montessori.

My daughter attended LAPMS for almost 2 years, and this is my updated review based on my…read moreexperience. If you are considering this school, ask yourself these questions: 1. Are you okay with minimal communication? 2. Do you have the time and energy to do your own documentation for incidents involving your child? 3. Are you okay with paying additional fees for dropping off your child 5 minutes early and/or picking up less than 5 minutes late? 4. Is quantity more important than quality? 5. Will you appreciate dealing with a rude and unprofessional site director (Lizette)? 6. Do you like leaving your child with undervalued and unhappy teachers? 7. Would you be okay with other children having "behavioral reports" on record, despite the site director's son's consistent behavioral issues being ignored? 8. Do you appreciate escalating an issue to the site director's boss, only to have it swept under the rug because the two have each other's backs? 9. Do you don't think high turnover of teachers and staff is normal? 10. Are you okay with no transparency and accountability? If you answered "yes" to any or all of the questions above, then this school will be the perfect fit for you and your child! Good luck. Note that if you do have any issues you want to report, it is nearly impossible to find contact information for the appropriate person. It will take some investigative work, so prepare yourself. Again, good luck!

Initially I sent my son to a Montessori school nearby. They did not meet his social and emotional…read moreneeds. Everyday during drop off he would vocally tell me he didn't want to be there. So for a few reasons we decided to switch him to TOPS. His demeanor instantly changed. Although this school isn't "academically focused" he gained self confidence and doing much better in social settings. For him, that was exactly what he needed to continue to thrive and "learn" from all the interactive and magical activities that occur at TOPS. Our son is now more confident than ever in all social settings including with strangers and adults. The confidence set the foundation he needed to thrive in other areas of learning and development. Being first time parents, it was the best decision we ever made. (On a side note: The parent participation and abundance of optional school events have fostered a genuine community of parents at TOPS. I really appreciate the connections I have made here.)

TOPS is an amazing place. Last year, my wife and I moved to Orinda from San Francisco in July (a…read moremonth before school started) and we were welcomed with open arms. The school is play based. TOPS may not be for everyone. In fact, our oldest daughter would have been a deer in headlights in this unstructured environment. However, our son loved the cornucopia of all the wonderful activities inside and outside the classroom. He's so excited by all his options that he's eager to get going after getting dropped off. Which has been wonderful, because we were worried about teary eyed goodbyes every morning. The teachers and staff at TOPS are beyond excellent. Many had been there for years, even decades. They are very knowledgeable about child development, discipline, etc. I feel very comfortable leaving my son in their care. Last, but not least, is the superb TOPS community. Because parents have to be involved, there's a great sense of belonging and camaraderie that is fostered by TOPS. In summary, TOPS is a wonderful school and environment for kids.

Happy Hearts is an EXCEPTIONAL preschool. Their staff is organized, caring, loving and creates…read morethoughtful and playful learning lessons. The environment is playful and engaging. Ms. Jackie and Ms. Shilo are two of the best early childhood specialists I've ever encountered. Being a public educator for close to 20 years, I can hands down say, any child is in excellent hand. Happy Hearts has the best early childhood environment and is the best preschool around!

This school has been wonderful for my two boys. The teachers are so loving. My introverted first…read moreborn was very nervous and clingy, but after the support of these teachers he ended up making a lot of friends and talking about it non-stop. My social second born can't wait to leave me at door. It's got a great play space outside, and lots of fun things to do inside.

We LOVE Ms. Kristina! It's clear how much thought and love she puts into her teaching. My son has…read morelearned more than I could have imagined, and he really enjoys going to school. I'm always so happy with the work he brings home from school and my son is so proud to see his work all over our walls. We feel so lucky to have found her! I can tell that he will have a head start when he starts grade school and I'm so happy I could give that to him. Highly recommend

Mrs. Kristina has been a true blessing to my rambunctious 3 year old. He has learned so much in…read morejust a few short months. Beyond the standard preschool curriculum, she has also helped to reinforce being respectful and having manners. I highly recommend Mrs. Kristina's preschool program. She introduces something new everyday and makes learning so much fun!