Our son loves going to school (well...most days, anyways). The learning environment is really…read morecatered to each child's ability so there's a lot of encouragement both from the teaching staff and from the older students. From math and science (his favorite subjects) to yoga, gardening and sports day - the school really strives to develop the whole child and their place in the world. And the camaraderie that the parents develop is great - the school board really does listen to the parents and it shows in the content of the monthly newsletters as well as some of the projects that we are asked to participate in to spruce up the school grounds. Definitely glad we are a part of this community!

If I could I would give 0 start to this place. This is one of the worst schools I have ever…read morevisited. The lady who was supposed to give me a tour was very unprofessional and rude. She was offended that I had some questions to ask. The school itself looks horrible. Tiny and very dark with a very small outdoor place.

While I wanted to believe Sonshine Preschool was the right fit for my daughter and family, we have…read morecome to find it falls short of our expectations in philosophy and practice. We have tried to be collaborative, and provided a laundry list of comforts in her backpack that help our daughter feel safe as well as additional outside personnel support. We have gone above and beyond in my humble opinion to try to make this work. With that being said, I do not think we are aligned in values despite our sincere commitment to our daughter's education. First of all, Sonshine's behavioral and developmental expectations of toddlers are incredibly unrealistic for many children. While kids are not developmentally one-size-fits-all, expectations at this school are black and white for the most part. Children will either fit into the arbitrary mold or not for their chronological age group, and inadequacies will be conveyed frequently in one way or another. We were told to arrive 15 minutes late consistently because our daughter was struggling with separation anxiety during orientation and 1 day after that. I believe this colored their faith and perception of her moving forward. The thought behind the 15- minute late start time was that maybe it would help her avoid crowds, and have immediate access to an aide. We tried it out a few times and considered it, but after much thought I couldn't swallow or reconcile how it may make my daughter feel to be the last to walk in the classroom when she is already in significant distress from all the changes going on around in her world right now. We were told to pick her up 20-30 minutes after dropping her off each time. Despite the reiteration and understanding of this just being "handbook procedures" implemented across the board for the purpose of equality and fairness, what I cannot accept is that this protocol is not backed up by any logical research whatsoever to my discovery nor is it in the best interests of children. I firmly believe it benefits staff more than the kids themselves. First of all, my daughter would likely internalize a 15-minute late start time as being "different" or "othered" like the black sheep of the group, creating the opposite of safety and inclusion especially in children who are very sensitive to the environment and implicit messages conveyed. Also, what human being can manage distress in 20-30 minutes? From my experience in working with people from all backgrounds and ages, some adults can't even manage to meet that timeline so is it really "reasonable" to expect that of a toddler? No, it isn't. Children have to start somewhere, and we need to give them ample room and opportunities to grow rather than hinder their progress by being too conservative. They should be provided with the opportunity to learn and reinforce skills in new circumstances, and given consistent and predictable routines for safety. All children deserve patience, strengths-based approaches, and adults who build up their confidence and self-esteem. When we believe in children and their abilities with positive psychology, they thrive and meet their full potential. As a family of health providers with a combination of decades of experience, my husband and I agree that kids should be taught that having and expressing feelings is normal and acceptable without negative punishment. It is our responsibility as adults to model this effectively for children, and consider the interpretation received by our kids through our actions as well as the lasting effects. Positive psychology teaches kids that it is not "bad" to feel, and there is nothing "wrong" with having big emotions. We are not meant to be robots. When we were told the plan is to reevaluate her every Thursday to graduate up in a "reasonable" fashion, we were given no indications of how she would specifically be evaluated as evidenced by omission of clear examples or goals for time advancement. I do not think my daughter is being given enough credit for her resilience observed by those who have worked intimately with her over the past year and witnessed her growth nor do I feel she is being challenged enough, which for someone like her could lead to stagnation in adjusting to a new environment without the ability to get the full benefits of the program such as adapting to transitions, participating in social interactions, and engaging in a timeframe that optimally supports her ongoing development. Every child deserves sufficient access to an education and learning opportunities with their peers. It is a basic human right. Because we hold the message of inclusion near and dear to our hearts in our family and our values and approaches to basic child rearing and psychology diverge with that of the school, we found another preschool that aligns more with the security of the child and the family system.

best preschool in ventura hands down. You will not be disappointed, and your child WILL thrive…read more Phylis and Annette always greet you with a smile and make you feel welcome- the teachers and helpers become family. I love coming here, and my kid comes home everytime with a smile!

I bought our son here during COVID-19. Let me just say, he and I loved it. He was in the part time…read moreprogram from 8-12 and then he told me he wanted to attend all day. To me as a parent, that says something. He enjoyed it SOOO much! Thank you to the staff who helped my child thrive. We ended up moving so we had to disenroll. But If it was up to me I'd 100% put him and my daughter back in LSM. All the activities they would do and daily pictures helped me during the height of the pandemic. I really appreciate them. I would recommend taking your children here. Plus, it was competitive when it came to the value and pricing!

Very nice place and staff my tour went great and the director was very pleasant to interact with .read more

Finding a daycare you truly trust with your child is everything, and we've felt so grateful to have…read morefound this one. Our daughter has been here for the past two years and the care they provide is exceptional. The teachers are warm, attentive, and genuinely invested in the kids. It's clear they create an environment where children feel safe, happy, and excited to learn. One thing we especially appreciate is the communication with parents -- they keep us informed and are always thoughtful and responsive. They also put so much effort into planning engaging activities and fun days, both in the classroom and on outings, which makes every week feel special for the kids. Knowing our daughter is in such caring and capable hands gives us so much peace of mind. We truly feel lucky to be part of this community.

I have two kids attending this facility, and I could not be happier about it. The teachers are…read moreamazing- they all focus on play-based learning, and Positive Discipline practices. There is routine, structure, and an overall embracing/welcoming atmosphere. From Center Time to field trips, I feel at ease knowing my children are in such great hands. The classrooms are spacious and orderly, the infant rooms require shoe covers for cleanliness, and there are different play areas outside that are age appropriate for the different age ranges. If kids get a booboo, parents are notified immediately. VCLC also regularly practices safety drills, such as fire & earthquake, etc, which also gives me peace of mind to know they are always prepared. The care and support the staff gives to the little ones is boundless! Communication is constant, via ClassDojo app, where teachers upload pictures of the kiddos doing different activities like crafts, garden time, or fun events such as Firefighters visiting, or Dave the Magician. Infants also get an app called Tadpoles, where they send pictures throughout the day of the babies doing baby stuff. I love this place and my kids do too!

All of the teachers were sweet. My boys loved the backyard area and their teachers and friends. We…read moreenjoyed most of our time there. The price is kinda steep, but remember teachers are responsible for our little ones and deserve livable wages. Sometimes schools fit and sometimes they don't. That's ok. We are all human and doing our best. Check them out!

It was a great start for our lil guy age 3-4 Love the outdoor play area and Lydia! There were a…read morefew standout teachers that our son got to spend time with.

I have had kiddos attending Kiddie College since 2021 and we've truly had such a wonderful…read moreexperience. My son was more than ready for TK and my daughter is thriving. She's always so happy at pick‑up and loves telling me all about her day. I completely trust the teachers and staff--they genuinely care about the kids and always put them first. They plan fun events all year long (color run, snow machine day, beach day), and the kids absolutely love it. Not having to worry about who is watching your child or the level of care they are getting is priceless, and you get that peace of mind at Kiddie College.

Phenomenal. Student to teacher ratio is really low. It's the cleanest and most cheerful daycare…read morearound. The staff is all professional and gives our child the attention she deserves. They care about their well being - socially, emotionally and academically. We wanted something we could trust and they could have a positive, safe experience - and that's kiddie college!! I've never once worried and the staff is on top of all procedures, regulations and provides excellent curriculum! Outdoor time is awesome and we love the other families - it feels like a community

We LOVE TLC preschool! My child has blossomed so much during the 2016-2017 school year and ready…read morefor Kindergarten because of her experience here. There is so much love, patience, and care that is given to your child. You feel confident leaving your child there. My daughter was in the sunshine class with Mrs. Karine Materson. She had great lesson plans and documents your child's school year with a year book at the end of the year. That yearbook I will always hold special in my heart. She captures the fun and the beauty of your child growing that year that you never knew your child experienced because they don't tell you all the details of their Day. We're going to miss TLC the friends we made. Parents, kids and staff are all wonderful who come here. VBS is also a wonderful program they have during the summer my daughter had a blast The price of tuition is very affordable compared to other local preschools. I will use this preschool again in the future their awesome!

I love TLC, the teachers and curriculum are awesome! It's affordable but doesn't lack anything. My…read moredaughter asks to go to school on days off! Nothing but good things to say, the Teddy bear teachers are wonderful women!

Yelp I absolutely…read moreloved having my daughter attend pre-school & pre-k at KinderCare. We started our daughter there on March 1, 2020, just in time for the pandemic to take over and shut down the world. Our location was shut down temporarily & during the shut down KinderCare kept us informed weekly as well as provided online resources by email to teach and entertain our kids. They notified us immediately when they were ready to open our location up again. Throughout the pandemic, the center Director, Ms. Shawn, and Asst. Director, Mrs. Alyssa, have put the safety of everyone as a priority by remaining strict to daily health & temperature checks, mask usage and social distancing guidelines, yet continuing to be sensitive to the situation. All of the staff there are polite, personable, friendly, respectful, caring, smart & great at communication. The teachers are amazing. My daughter absolutely LOVED her Pre-K teachers, Ms. Erica and Ms. Kirstie. Both are admired by my daughter beyond belief. They have treated her as an extension of their family and made her feel safe and secure during a time when life has been at it's most unstable point for the entire world. Also, they have a great app where pictures and daily activities are recorded to keep you informed of what your child has done daily (communications from the center /teacher, nap schedule, snacks & food consumed, etc.). Their teaching skills & curriculum are above my expectations for a Pre-K program. In fact, after two weeks in Kindergarten our daughter is only one of a couple kids in the class who can write her full name, knows her alphabet and can count to almost 100. I would recommend this KinderCare location to anyone who wants a positive influence in their children's life.

Our son started at the Ventura center when he was 7mo old and is now 15mo. Each of the teachers…read morewe've met and center leadership have all been spectacular to work with, nothing but great feedback to give. Since our initial tour visit when we were expecting, we saw so many kids interacting with their teachers as they were leaving for the day with so much love and enthusiasm. From the Infant A room; Ms. Sheryl, Ms. Megan and Ms. Davina all gave our son such a great environment to develop his initial skills, independent play time, group play and developed friendships with some of the other kids. They were all so mindful of his individual likes and difficulties, we knew we could always ask questions and get great feedback on how to better align our home activities with skills in the classroom. Through the Infant B room, Ms. Sara was a huge help to get him through his milestones until he was ready to move on to the Toddler room. I love seeing all the teachers for the little ones work well together and shift between rooms depending on where they needed more coverage. We understand this age is difficult and would regularly see Ms Alice or Ms Shawn jump in where needed and were always so passionate about the kids and keeping everyone safe. Now that he is in the Toddler room, we have seen a huge leap in his sign language skills, motor skills, object identification and eating abilities....even learning how to throw away his plate and cleaning up after himself. A huge shout out to Ms Cheryl in this class, she welcomes him every morning with such a huge smile, greeting and excitement for the day. Even when he is sad to see Mom and Dad leave, she's quick to get him smiling and sometimes even sends pictures showing what a happy boy he is shortly after. Each of the teachers in this room have been amazing and regularly see pictures of them playing with the kids and great interactions with them all when we pick him up early, Ms. Frida, Ms. Kaileia and Ms. Davina are all fantastic. I'm sure there are other teachers that have helped our son along the way but wanted to give a big shout out especially to these staff members that we've interacted with regularly. The center also coordinates fun activities for parents to join and play with their kids - a summer foam party, trunk or treat, ice cream party and valentine's day parties. Of course the kids have fun classroom events throughout the year and celebrate birthdays and holidays together. All parents get nervous dropping off their kids to a daycare but we have always gotten so much relief knowing he is in great hands with caring teachers and always comes home happy with new skills learned everyday. We highly recommend KinderCare Ventura to all fellow parents and even his grandparents have been really happy with the care and learning he receives at this center.

Our son is TK age but we much preferred the school hours, community and teacher to student ratio at…read moreChildren's World. Best decision! Our son thrived here and we are sad that he is aging out. The staff here are professional and friendly, with decades of experience and they simply love children. Thank you, Children's World!

Kim has been an absolute Angel for our family. We met her at Children's World where she was a…read moreteacher for our oldest & followed her to her home preschool, Sunnyside Adventures. She has encouraged our children's interests and provided the best loving care I could have ever hoped for. I'm extremely nervous about after school care next year for our youngest (moving to kindergarten) because I can't imagine someone as enthusiastic & caring as Kim. As an aside, our youngest has Down syndrome & Kim treats her just as she would the other kids while proving all the support she needs.

Our family moved to Ventura in June of 2016. We were looking for a very good private Christian…read moreschool for our soon to be 6th grader. This place came highly recommended from the friends that lived here. They were SPOT ON, VMS is such a WONDERFUL school. Our Son loves it here!! They do give a little more work than we would like, but that is the ONLY downside. Great kids, parents, teachers and staff.

Great school with awesome teacher to student ratio.read more