Our daughter has been at LPF for almost 2 years and we've had a wonderful experience! Laetitia runs…read morean amazing daycare/preschool and all the staff are very caring and engaged with the kids from infants through preschool age. The community is friendly and the space is large, clean, and safe and has plenty of outdoor space and stuff for the kids to play and engage with. We're very happy with LPF overall and looking forward to our new baby starting there at the end of the year as well!

Our baby was at LPF for 6 months and it was a wonderful introduction to childcare settings. The…read moreinfant teaching team is so warm, kind, and fun, and our baby quickly felt at home there. The communication is great and provides all the information and peace of mind you need. They sing, dance, and do lots of daily activities, serve a variety of tasty sounding meals, and expose the kids to not only French culture/language but lots of other cultures during different celebrations around the year. We switched daycares because of location and work commute logistics, but happily recommend LPF to other families!

Our son had a great experience here. It was his first time being outside the home. We started him…read moreat 13 months old and stayed her until starting preschool a year later. Evalyn and Evan were both great with him and were great with him through his transition to being away from home. After the adjustment period, he was always happy and excited to go to school.

Evalyn is the best! She very patient, and loves what she is doing. The kids are always doing…read moreactivities and come home with big huge smiles, ready to share what they did during the day. Her center is organized, secure, and welcoming - you can tell that she gives her heart to it. I am completely at peace with the notion that my infant is with her. Highly recommend Evalyn's Child Care!

Great and affordable childcare with very convenient hours. The staff is friendly and caring for the…read morelittle ones. It has a good-sized front yard with many toys for the kids.

Awesome place for little ones to develop prior to schooling, they serve 1 year to 5 years olds…read more Love the fact that they are willing to be flexible with parent's schedule, it made it so easy when I had unexpected meetings. Additionally, they provide healthy and delicious foods for the kids. The place is well gated to allow the kids to safely explore the outdoors. It is obvious that the owner loves kids and want the best for them. She provided constant communication regarding my kid's progress/needs.

#ThankyouThursday…read more I can't imagine sending more gratitude to any local business more than Cornerstone. My son has been going here for a little over a year now, albeit the 6 months or so while they were closed down due to COVID and us not sending him back until we felt ready. This is a gem of a child center that ranges from infant to pre-school. They aren't super expensive as the Bay Area goes and it's filled with wonderful, caring and able people. First, they are doing a tremendous job during COVID and adhering to the constantly changing parameters. This is such a tough time and they are doing the best the can, and it can't be easy. The teachers are all so lovely and caring, and I can't ask for better role models to have my son learn from each and every day. It's a diverse group of teachers, which is just additional appreciation for the quality of care and knowledge my son is getting. It's quite a big school, and your child graduates to each class by age, with different instructors (although this may be on hold a little bit as they deal with COVID parameters). The facility is part of a church (with some prayer involved), and they run a tight ship. They have rules and guidelines for both children and parents, and it makes the school run on time. They facility itself is wonderful: large classrooms, they have a gym for the kids when it rains, an outdoor play structure with bikes & scooters, a sand box, water feature, etc.. They have a free parking lot for parents for pick-up and drop off, so no need to think about parking. All the children are wonderful, and I even built a little community with the parents. I get to drink a cup of coffee, take my time writing this review and enjoy quiet time during a global pandemic, while my son is being taken care of, growing, and learning at Cornerstone, and for that, I'm forever thankful.

Like any new parent, I was completely up in arms about sending my sweet baby to a daycare center…read more He had been at home for 10 glorious months, but the time had come where it was necessary for him to attend a local nursery. My husband and I used Yelp to narrow down our choices. This is why I'm writing a review now, for future parents, as well as a way to say thank you to Cornerstone's teachers and staff, for all that they have done for my son and our family. Cornerstone has been a home away from home for our little one. He began in the Waddlers group, and he received so much individualized attention - and genuine affection from all of his teachers. When I say "all of his teachers", I mean that he had three teachers who were with him and his classmates daily throughout the day, and there were additional caretakers who would come in at different times to watch and interact with the children while the main teachers were on break, or ill, etc. This is a perfect setting, because the children become familiar with all of the teachers at all of the levels, which eases the transitional process. Because of our jobs, we would drop off our little one for early care at 7:30 AM. He was able to enjoy his breakfast there, and even when he "graduated" to the next group (Cubs), he was still able to see his favorite teacher from the Waddlers every morning. This was amazing in the sense that it was a profound comfort for him. Tara and Grace were instrumental in facilitating communication between parents and teachers. There was never a moment when I was concerned that I would not be told about my son's day; any accidents or incidents that took place were shared with me in real time, either via a phone call, text message, or email. I was especially happy to receive occasional "just because" photos of my son enjoying his day. There is a genuine sense of gentleness throughout the daycare. The children are calm, yet boisterous, happy, friendly, and full of laughter. They are simply at peace and seem to enjoy the freedom to be themselves as they discover and explore their school environment. It may sound a bit strange, but once you visit the facility, perhaps you'll understand what I mean. Each child is honestly celebrated as an individual, and it's beautiful to see that the teachers are seemingly content, focused, and emotionally vested in the children's needs. They care about our babies and children. The teacher-child ratio is very low, which is ideal. Our family recently relocated from the Bay Area, and during this stressful time, Tara (the Director) actually took the time from her busy schedule to interview other daycares in our new area to give us peace of mind that our son would be transitioning to a place that was as similar to Cornerstone's views and values as possible. I will forever be astounded by this TREMENDOUS act of generosity and grace, and it proved to me that there was genuine love for my son at this beautiful daycare. Our experience with Cornerstone has been life-changing in the most positive ways! We are incredibly grateful for all that we've experienced there and highly recommend Cornerstone Children's Center to all.

It's difficult to articulate my thoughts on something that means so much to me. As parents, we…read morevalue the education and care of our children more deeply than words can express. As a teacher, I attach a special significance to this part of my family life. As both a mother and educator, I can confidently say that VLN is a truly special place. The head teacher and owner, Hilda, truly creates a community through her school. One thing that immediately stood out to me was how many of the families either work in education or are teachers themselves. I think that speaks volumes. VLN feels very much like an educator's choice for their own child, and many families return with younger siblings after their older children graduate from the program. At the very beginning of my daughter's enrollment, Hilda did a home visit on her own time and free of charge because she wanted to better understand my daughter's environment and needs. She also invited my daughter to attend extra days during her first month simply to help her acclimate more comfortably after being home with me full-time. That level of care and intentionality is rare. Hilda runs VLN from a place of genuine love for children and their growth, not simply as a business. The tuition is also remarkably affordable considering the children receive homemade meals, thoughtful activities, and individualized attention every day. Because my daughter is an only child, socialization was incredibly important to me, and Hilda, Marimar, and the rest of the staff are extraordinary at helping children build relationships and learn how to exist in community with one another. My daughter started at just 18 months old after being home with me full time, and instead of developing fear or separation anxiety, she quickly became attached to her classmates and excited about school. Even now, I have to be careful not to arrive too early at pickup because she never wants to leave the playground. Another incredible aspect of VLN is its Spanish immersion approach. It has been so fun and meaningful to watch my daughter begin learning Spanish at such a young age. As both a teacher and a parent, I deeply value giving children exposure to another language and culture early in life, and I love seeing her naturally absorb it through songs, play, and everyday interactions. The emotional culture at VLN is something truly special. During circle time, the children talk about gratitude, emotions, family, and kindness toward one another. Hilda also incorporates yoga, breathing, and mindfulness practices that help children feel grounded and connected to themselves. Of course, toddlers will still act like toddlers, but I truly value that my daughter is learning emotional awareness and self-regulation at such a young age. Every morning, Hilda greets her with a big hug, and I can see my daughter melt into it. There is something deeply nurturing and healing about the environment she has created. I toured more traditionally academic preschools before choosing VLN, and I would choose this environment again in a heartbeat. What Hilda has created is not just a preschool, but a deeply loving and emotionally healthy community for children.

Our family has had an incredible experience at Vivan Los Niños. Hilda and her team work so hard and…read morewith so much love for the kids and the community. Our older kid went there for 2 years before TK and our younger is in her second year there now. They do lots of activities (yoga, art, singing, etc.), have amazing outdoors time in the yard with a play structure, and eat excellent food. From the moment I met Hilda I knew my kids would receive loving care in a safe, clear environment from experienced professionals. Communication is great, too, as is the introduction and onboarding process (we toured the school and met Hilda, and before our start date she came to our home to spend time with the kids). Hilda also puts genuine value in creating community around the preschool and between families, and I feel so very fortunate that VLN has become a part of my life. Hours are great (7:30-5) and the price is very reasonable (under 2k per month for full time). Team VLN, you're amazing! After settling in, our kids ran into VLN in the morning and didn't want to leave in the afternoon and so parents' minds can rest easy during the day. I couldn't ask for any more than that. Except there's also Spanish immersion, music, songs, community events, genuine love and care from the owner, etc. etc.

Our daughter Mabel was at OMS for about 2 1/2 years, from 2-5. It's no exaggeration that OMS was…read moreone of the best parts of our life during that whole time. She has thrived there, making friends, loving her teachers, learning independence, learning about the world and just plain having fun. We looked at a few different Montessori schools as we were thinking about preschool, and a huge part of why we chose OMS was the amazing outdoor space. There are two separate classrooms (one for 2 year olds, one for 3-5) and they are separated by a huge outdoor space, so rare to find in urban preschools. It's fully fenced, safe and provides for children to have so much room to roam, explore and play. From the time she was two she was able to explore and have real independence. It was a very special part of her time there. The teachers are also wonderful. They are kind, caring and make the kids feel taken care of and safe while also giving them space to form friendships and choose what appeals to them. We'd frequently talk about how our daughter was a 'little citizen' at school: the manners they teach them, the ability to be in a group and interact with others, the skills to sit in a circle, pay attention, be heard, share. As she gets ready to go to kindergarten this year, we are so grateful that our time at OMS prepared her for this next phase. She is on the young side for K but we feel confident that she is ready for it and a HUGE part of this is her time at OMS. We'd recommend this school to anyone.

We pulled our two-year-old daughter out of this school within two months of her starting…read more Other negative reviews of OMS on Berkeley Parents Network and Yelp mention the same sorts of things we experienced. We regret not fully reading those reviews before enrolling. This was not our first preschool experience or our first Montessori experience. Our daughter was happily enrolled at another Montessori preschool in Oakland for a year. We had no real issues with that school, and our daughter seemed comfortable and engaged there. We moved to another part of town and wanted to switch schools to avoid a long commute. I was wowed during our OMS tour by the outdoor play area and the promises made by one of the school leaders. In reality, this school can be unsafe, unstructured, and understaffed, especially in the toddler class. Two good toddler teachers left within two weeks of the start of the school year and told parents they had been bullied by school leadership. Reviewing old reviews on BPN and Yelp, it seems this is not the first time good teachers have left in questionable circumstances. In the teachers' absence, a parade of substitutes came and went. There was very little continuity of care for the youngest students for weeks. One day, we saw a teacher roughly grab a child's arm in an inappropriate manner. The boy was not in danger, putting others in danger, or doing anything that warranted this treatment.  We ultimately pulled our daughter out after repeatedly seeing kids unsupervised near a gate atop a steep flight of stairs--a gate they could open. At one point, we watched a toddler unlatch the gate independently and go down the stairs without a single OMS staffer watching him. We informed them as to where he was, and no one seemed to take it seriously. At pickup, the kids sometimes seemed to be left to their own devices largely and sort of roaming around aimlessly. We know Montessori involves a lot of independent play and exploration. That's great and an approach we intentionally sought for our kid. However, this felt more like understaffing and disorganization. Our daughter frequently talked about kids crying at school and missing their parents. We didn't put excessive stock in this; toddlers say lots of things and aren't always reliable narrators. But we saw it with our own eyes at pick up. Kids were crying, and no one was appropriately responding to them or helping them through their feelings. The response was sort of clinical and rote. Since moving to a new preschool, she talks about fun things that happened at school and says sweet things about her teachers. She never talks about kids crying and missing their parents. Basic communication with parents was awful. Emails were confusing and haphazard, and critical scheduling information was poorly communicated. The only positive thing I can say about the administration is that they returned our full deposit and unused balance. In short, do your homework and really look into this school's online reviews before enrolling your kid here. It's a shame that this beautiful campus isn't better run.

We couldn't be happier with Mechita Preschool! Both of our children (ages 3.5 and 1.5) attend, and…read morewe feel so lucky to have found such a special place. The staff are incredibly warm and attentive, and with a small cohort, every child gets so much individualized love and care. It's a play-based Spanish immersion program, and our kids are thriving in the fun, creative environment filled with art and local excursions. For working parents, it's a dream. The hours are great (8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.), they provide all the high-quality, nutritious food, and they are a massive help with potty training. Our kids are happy, learning, loved, and excited to go to school every day (3.5yo is often disappointed on the weekend when she finds out it's not a preschool day). We wholeheartedly recommend it to any family looking for a nurturing and supportive Spanish immersion preschool.

Mechita's provided a wonderful environment for our daughter! A very loving family that makes…read moreincredible homemade, healthy meals - and even got our daughter loving broccoli and kale. Full Spanish immersion, educational games, lots of music and dancing. They are absolute pros at potty training and have built a lovely community of families around the daycare. Highly recommend!

Literally couldn't dream up a more idyllic preschool. Such a lovely community and the staff is top…read morenotch.

Highlands is truly a magical place that both our child and my family love. Teachers Angela, Dani,…read moreand Tracy are phenomenal--they genuinely care about each child's growth and happiness, and have many years of early childhood education experience under their belt. Their passion for teaching shines through in the fun and engaging activities they create, making learning a fun adventure. The sense of community fostered by being part of a co-op is wonderful: parents, teachers, and students all come together to create a supportive and collaborative environment. I look forward to the days I volunteer because I get to interact with my child, his friends, and teachers. I've learned so much from those days at school! The school itself is a wonderland for young minds--imaginative play areas, art stations, and an outdoor space that invites exploration and discovery. It's a place where creativity is not just encouraged but celebrated, and where every child is given the freedom to express themselves. We feel so fortunate to have found this gem of a preschool. It's a place where our son is not only learning but also thriving, and we couldn't ask for a better start to his educational journey. Highly recommended!