Our son attended NELA forest school from ages 4-6, starting in the Sparrows class for preschool and…read morecontinuing into the Hawks class for transitional kindergarten. Simply put: this school was one of the greatest gifts of his early childhood. From the very first day, it was clear that this was not just a school -- it was a deeply thoughtful, child-centered community that honored who he was and helped him grow in the most meaningful ways. The teachers are exceptional -- warm, attentive, and deeply respectful of each child's individual rhythm. They truly see and celebrate each child. The nature-based, play-driven curriculum allowed our son to thrive in a way that no traditional classroom ever could have. He became curious, confident, resilient, and deeply connected to the natural world around him. He learned how to ask questions, solve problems, collaborate with peers, and express himself -- all while climbing trees, building shelters, observing insects, and engaging with real life in real time. By the time he moved on from the Hawks class, he was not only more than ready for the next step academically -- he was grounded, joyful, and full of love for learning. We are endlessly grateful for the foundation this program gave him, and would recommend it wholeheartedly to any family looking for something truly special.

NELA Forest School was the absolute perfect place for our son. Being outdoors in a gentle,…read morechild-focused environment helped him thrive. When he got a little older, his bookish interests were supported and encouraged by the teachers. (He was curious about a puddle one day and a teacher brought in a microscope so they could examine the water drops more closely!) NELA is about nature--but I think it's the culture and the educators that truly make it special! Now, my daughter is at NELA and experiencing the same encouragement. The forest is the perfect setting for her imaginative play (and every day her backpack is full of sticks.) TW: They will get dirty. Your car will get dirty. But if you're anything like our family, you will love it. Now whenever we are in outside, our kids point out the native flora and fauna. My husband and I are not particularly outdoorsy. They are our nature guides. NELA has been a gift.

This review is long overdue!…read more We've been part of the Rayuela community for the past five years, and it has truly become more than just a school, it's become our family. Both of our children (who are very different from each other!) have thrived here. It's clear that Rayuela is a place that supports all kinds of learners and personalities. As a non-native Spanish-speaking household, the language aspect was especially important to me. Both of my kids have grown comfortable not only with the Spanish language but also with the diverse cultures that come with it. I'm confident in saying that I have bilingual learners. The teachers are absolutely wonderful and kind. They treat my kids like their own. Even though the school is play-based, both of my children have shown strong academic growth. My oldest was more than ready for kindergarten, and my youngest is on the same path. I can't say enough good things about Rayuela. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a warm, caring community where their child can grow socially, academically, linguistically, and holistically.

My son has been at Rayuela for the past year and a half and he is thriving! The teachers are so…read morewarm and caring and we love the Spanish immersion combined with the Montessori method. My son's Spanish language exploded, he has made close friends and we have found a wonderful community of parents that we hang out with all the time. Our son never wants to leave when we pick him up (and he's there until 5) because he's having so much fun. He's also learning a ton- singing the alphabet, recognizing letters and he comes home with amazing art. We are excited to send our second son to Rayuela when he turns 2! We feel so lucky to have become a part of this special community.

Suraiya goes above and beyond to lead the kids towards the aretistic and building skills…read more My daughter did at Imagine the most beautiful art! Suraiya sees the kids already as masterful artists. She creates the environment for them to focus and explore. It's a one of a kind place!

Imagine is a one-of-a-kind preschool! Our daughter has been enrolled for 2 years now, and it has…read moretruly been formative for her. The teacher-student ratio is low, allowing for focused one-on-one attention and for learning to occur at the pace of the child. The yearly curriculum is modeled around on the interests of the kids and is approached through various lenses, allowing for deep exploration and finding connections in the material. What sets Imagine apart is their genuine commitment to fostering independence and critical thinking from such a young age. Rather than just giving answers, Teacher Suraiya and Teacher Diana encourage the children to problem-solve and explore the 'why' behind everything they do. Not only do they facilitate this with academic learning, but with peer-to-peer interactions as well. Their approach to social-emotional learning is thoughtful and inspiring, and we've seen a huge shift in how our daughter identifies her emotions and navigates social interactions with empathy and confidence. Imagine's thoughtful approach to academic and personal development leave me with no doubts that our daughter will be well positioned to transition to school when she's of age. Highly recommend!

Damian S. and Ford A. have got it right!!! The school, also known as Playgroup is fantastic!!! I…read morevisited so many schools (both on the Westside and Eastside) and all the work was well worth it. Playgroup's a diamond in the rough and a well-kept secret. You, fellow Yelpers, are lucky I'm sharing it with you! I would've been fine keeping it all to myself but I've got to give credit where it is due! Playgroup was established decades ago and is undergoing somewhat of a revival under their director, Tina. She's passionate, vibrant, and educated (a Trojan - but I won't hold that against her). ;) Under Tina's leadership, I feel that Playgroup is just going to get better and better. The school's teachings are based on RIE, Reggio Emilia, and are child-centered. Basic concepts are children are curious learners and active participants, and thrive in an environment that is safe, challenging, nurturing. Playgroup is located in the hills of Echo Park in a former residence. The rooms have all been converted to classrooms. It's really quaint. The playground is composed of a large slide structure and 1/2 of the ground is covered in a nice, rubbery material that absorbs shock and is almost spongy, whereas the other 1/2 or so is a large sandbox. There is also a little garden and I believe they will start composting soon. Students regularly paint and play with the organic playdough Playgroup makes. Also, every week there are additional (free) activities such as yoga, dance, music, soccer, and nature walks. Unheard of!!!I Most schools charge for these "extras"! Note: Tina, if you're reading this, please don't get any ideas. LOL! My daughter loves her teachers. The teachers all speak Spanish and English. They vary in age, which means there is a good mix of experience. Teacher Irma sends a daily handwritten note with a summary of events, and any important reminders. Teacher Betty sends a weekly e-mail to wrap up the week. The student-to-teacher ratio is amazing! On any given day, my daughter's class has 5-8 students and there are always 2 teachers. That is seriously unheard of in Los Angeles! Believe me when I tell you this is incredible. The best preschools in LA (including UCLA and LMU) don't have this! So what does this really mean? It means that (a) your child gets a lot of attention and (b) your tuition money is very well spent. Speaking of which, tuition is very reasonable given the (a) student-to-teacher ratio, (b) flexible hours (7 AM - 6 PM), and (c) nutritious breakfast and snacks are provided. I can go on and on, but I'm sure you get the idea! We heart Playgroup!

The center, known also as Playgroup, is the absolute best daycare around. The staff to student…read moreratio is the highest I have found. The philosophy of the school is called "non-violent education" and is based on empathy for the child's point of view. Ruth Beaglehole, the school's founder, is also the director of the Center for Non-Violent Education in Echo Park. We can bring our 3 year-old son at 8 am and pick him up at 6 pm if we have to. As it is we usually get there at 10 am and pick up at about 5:30 pm. But it is nice to have the option of longer hours if our work week is intense. Our son has really blossomed since he started at Playgroup the very day he turned 2 years-old. What was also great is that he didn't need to be potty trained when he started. He uses the potty now and I feel like training was so much easier because he saw other children doing it and modeled their behavior. Anyway, it is an a great place for children and the other parents are cool, so the social aspect is good for adults as well. There are also a dozen or so subsidized slots for families with moderate incomes. And the prices are not bad for full and part time students even without subsidies, considering what we paid a babysitter before our son was 2 just so we could work a few hours a week. I highly recommended this school and suggest you call right away to get on the waiting list and come visit Playgroup.

My lil one has been attending this school now for a lil more than 3 months. She absolutely loves…read morethe time that she spends here. She works well with all the teachers, aides, and other staff. Everyone in the office knows who she is and she knows all of them, by name and face. I really love that my lil one's teacher uses Classroom Dojo to keep in constant contact with the parents of the students. I feel like the environment at the school is perfect for my lil one. She has already shown so much growth and an increase in her self esteem. I have no complaints.

I am really ecstatic to have my son go to Glassell Park Early Educational Center. My son started…read moreschool at 3 year old. This is going to be my son second year going. It was a bit scary sending him to school during the early pandemic period but this school has definitely made my son and I feel safe and valued. I like how friendly everyone is and the environment is very earthy. Learning wise is mainly hands on. Safety protocols have been added to the school to ensure that all staff members and students are being kept safe from covid. Thermometer checking before entering the school & sanitizing hands. Students also wear mask and other protocols to secure that students can learn in a healthy environment. My son's behavior has improved drastically thanks to his teacher, Ms. Artoonian. She also informs me on how to help my son with subjects that come as a struggle or that he needs to work on at home. I really like how she keeps me updated on the school app ClassDojo. She send me pictures of my son and activities for example water play and artwork that he brings home. The school also celebrate holidays and the children are able to dress up for Halloween. My son was even able to go on a school field trip. He was also able to celebrate his birthday and allowed to bring cupcakes and juices for the class. I really appreciate that my son was able to have his special moment, in contrast to other schools which might not allow; due to covid. Overall, this school has proven to be a fun, safe and educational facility that I trust and can confidently leave my son while I go to work. Knowing how much this school has influenced the progress of my child's education has given me hope that he will do great in the rest of his education.

We love Camelot! Such an amazing community of kids, parents, and teachers. My kid loves his school…read moreso much and never wants to leave! He's adored every teacher he's had.

My son doesn't go to Camelot Kids, but I took him there for a birthday party and here I am with my…read morediseased brain, writing a Yelp review. If you're still reading, I'm sorry. Camelot rents out for parties on weekends, and from what I understand, the base fee is pretty reasonable, and you can add on from a whole menu of entertainment options. We went for a 5th birthday and it was a pretty ideal venue, with tons of space, all of it outdoors. There was a covered area with tables for food and drink and cake time, as well as a huge playground with lots of equipment. I tend to judge kid party venues by how little I have to watch my own kid, and this one was top tier, safe and confined. Well, except for the train ride, which felt kind of wild, but was also my son's favorite part of the party. I guess Camelot works with a company that brings a mini-train for parties, and the kids went nuts for it. I stood in the parking lot watching that train loop around for a full hour, swerving and doing donuts to make the children giggle and scream and occasionally break out in tears. My son rode it something like ten times. He spent the rest of the time running around the playground, with brief, emotional interludes for cake and piñata (he was absolutely terrible at picking up piñata candy, just the slowest little guy, with my genes imprisoning his whole body). We stayed for three hours, and he did not want to leave. I don't know how Camelot Kids is as a pre-school (though if you have any appetite for gossip, you will not be sorry to read this: https://www.jezebel.com/the-story-and-nightmare-emails-behind-one-elite-silver-1741632103), but we were happy to visit for an afternoon. If you're looking to host a party for small children, it's definitely worth checking out.

We enrolled our 1-year-old son in two sessions of Toddler and Me at Segray, and it was such a…read morepositive experience for our family. The program is thoughtfully organized with a great mix of free exploration and structured activities, all designed with toddlers' development in mind. Each week had new, well-curated stations and age-appropriate toys that kept things engaging and fun. Our son especially loved the music portion, including a session with a guitarist singing songs with the children. Angela, the program director, and her team were incredibly welcoming, warm, and communicative throughout the program. They did a wonderful job making the space feel inviting and safe for both toddlers and their caregivers, whether parents, grandparents, or nannies. That was especially meaningful for little ones who may not have had prior school experience yet. The staff was fantastic with the children and clearly cared deeply about creating a nurturing environment. You can really see the love and thought they put into everything, from the classroom setup to the outdoor play areas. Overall, Toddler and Me was a great value and wonderful exposure for our son. I would highly recommend it to any parent or caregiver looking for a warm, enriching program for their toddler.

We love Segray. Our son started at 18 months and they really helped him with the transition. His…read moredays are always jam packed with fun, and he comes homes singing songs and telling us about what he did with his teachers and friends. It's a beautiful community with the most supportive teachers and staff.

Pulled directly from my text with a friend: Hi! Ok, I looove their school. I love how tiny and cozy…read moreit is, I love the teachers and the community of it. I love how they're able to work with kids on an individual level cause it's so small. It's very much a micro school which is great cause I feel like we matter and I can make an impact, etc. but that's totally not for everyone, of course. There's a tiny bit of religious stuff which has been ok for us. It's mostly sweet and filtered through the female, mother, pastor. It's not fancy, very much a back to basics school. But you should go visit. Just set up a tour. Take a look. You can go whenever. The school director is a mom/woman named Irma Luna, she'll meet you and give you the scoop.

We are so grateful to have found this amazing school for our children! The nurturing environment,…read morestrong values, and dedicated staff have truly exceeded our expectations. The school not only focuses on academic excellence but also instills important life lessons rooted in faith, kindness, and community. Our kids are thriving, both academically and personally, in a supportive atmosphere that encourages growth and respect for others. If you're looking for a place that prioritizes both education and character, this is the perfect school! We love Good Shepherd School !!