I can not speak highly enough of this gem of a preschool. I tried for two years to get my son in…read moreand finally there was an opening. It's a magical place without a doubt. Their classroom is in a yurt in the middle of an epic garden. They have animals, they cook, they sew, they do art, they have puppet shows, they garden and more imaginative play than you'd think possible. It is a play based preschool which we LOVED. Fantastic ratio of 12 students to 2 OUTSTANDING teachers, Miss Jamie and Miss Jackie. They both have extensive backgrounds in education and teach with such love and respect of each child. My son was upset when it wasn't a school day and now that he's in kindergarten, he misses the school and his sweet teachers SO much. So do I!! They really create a community for both the students and their families. We signed up our daughter as soon as we realized what a gift this school is. She will be starting next year and we can't wait to get back!

I wish I still lived in Santa Cruz so my third kiddo could go here too. My sons still have fond…read morememories of this preschool. I also love how they made keepsake books at the end of the year with art my boys did throughout the year as well as photos of them engaged in play activities. Those books are as special to me as baby books and photo albums. The enriching outdoor activities and small class sizes are also big selling points. This preschool makes me miss Santa Cruz so much and I moved away almost four years ago. When I think of home I think of the Bagelry, staff of life, shoppers corner, zoccolis, and hidden treasures.

My kids, age 6 (alumni) and age 3 (Classroom 1), absolutely love CCP, and my husband and I feel…read moregreat about sending our kids to CCP. Here are my honest assessments. - Small kid-to-teacher ratios: Each room has two main teachers. Classroom 1 currently has 5-6 kids. This ratio gets bigger for Classroom 2 and 3, but children still get plenty of attentions from teachers. - Positive discipline: Caring and dedicated teachers practice positive discipline. When our kids get frustrated, they often use phrases like "I want to talk about it (my feeling)", "use words", and "checking in". - Age-appropriate progression: Well-thought out transition from Classroom1 (2-3years old) to Classroom2 (3-4 years old) and to Classroom 3 (4-5 years old). Classroom1 has cozy, free-play based, sweet and caring environments. Classroom3 offers structured programs, learning opportunities for numbers and letters, and mentally stimulating projects like "disassemble electric devices", "make my own planet", and "science projects". - Kinder prep: Shout-out for Classroom3 teachers for well preparing my kid for kinder! - I used to feel Classroom3 being too academic (children count numbers from 1 to 100 and learn all alphabets), but little I know how fast-pace and intense the Kinder is. I cannot image sending kids to Kinder without preparation from Classsroom3! - Communication: Nice reporting systems and updates from teachers, especially through Dojo app. Everyday parents get information on naptime, snacks, and any fun photos on projects. Also, CCP provides multiple teacher-parent conferences: 2 small conferences to check in, and the final conference at the end which comes with 8-page written report on kid's yearly progress and developmental assessment! - Sense of community: lots of fun events throughout years to make personal connection with school, teachers, and other parents. Lots of volunteer opportunities. - Special programs: Shout out to Teacher E for coming up with creative projects and making difference in our kids' life. She uses cooking (making snacks with kids) as learning tools to facilitate fine-motor skills, to learn about nutrition, and to introduce various types of fruits and vegies. Also, my kid learned a lot about gardening, composed bins, and bugs! Other activities include kid yoga, meditation, music and drums, gymnastics, "mud play", and of course lots of arts and crafts. - Facility: It is well-maintained and clean, but they do have smaller outdoor spaces. Teachers really try to maximize the spaces that they have, and they do lots of fields trips to nearby parks and fields. - Cost: it may be expensive side, but for us it is totally worth it. There are many fund-raising events throughout year, and we try to support as much as we can because we love and believe in the programs and teachers at CCP.

We loved the experience for our daughter at ccp. Thanks to all for a great 3 years!read more

​ Our daughter went to Common Threads for just over a year…read more We choose CT because we liked how the teachers told us they approached early childhood education (thoughtfully and with compassion). Our daughter was, at first, very excited to go the school. She talked about her friends and what she did each day. Within a month or two, we noticed that drop offs were becoming difficult. But upon picking her he end of school, we would receive positive reports almost every time. A few months later, we received a call from one of the teachers telling us that there was an issue with our daughter, but they didn't want to talk about it over the phone. We were startled by this of course. Upon meeting with her teachers we were told that they believed that our daughter was having developmental issues citing anti-social behavior and sensory-input difficulties. They insisted that they had dealt with these things many times and suggested a child psychologist observation which resulted in nothing significant. From then on, we checked in every school day to see how our daughter was doing from her teacher's perspectives. We always received glowing reports and thought things were improving. We enrolled her in summer school and continued to receive positive feedback. On her second day of her second year at Common Threads we received a call from one of the teachers telling us that they could no longer accept our daughter there. We were blindsided, hurt and confused. The teacher told us that they didn't think they could give our daughter the attention that she needed despite months and months of no issues being reported to us. Our daughter was in tears. She wanted to see her friends and talked about all the activities she was looking forward to. "I can do it, I can do it" she sobbed to us. We spoke with teachers from other preschools and they were floored by CT's behavior. Other parents reacted the same way. We were fortunate to have a schedule flexible enough to take a few weeks to find a new school. We've also been working with experts to determine if our daughter has the issues that CT cited. Though there are areas she can certainly improve on, the experts are clearly telling us that she is a healthy, bright and mature-for-her-age little girl. A few weeks later, we found a new school that our daughter immediately connected with. She's social, curious, helpful and happier than ever at her new school. She's thriving. I would never recommend CT after the way they treated our family. Poor communication and erratic behavior is how a pre-schooler might act, but it is certainly not how a pre-school should act.

We've had our son here for four months and are very happy with them. Great teachers, a really…read morecaring staff.

"My new school is frickin' great!!" That kind of sums it…read moreup but let me expand on our three-year old's initial impressions after his first day at Natural Bridges. We cannot believe how lucky we are to have found this incredible school for our son. He has been here for two months and is absolutely thriving. The staff are so nurturing, thoughtful and child focused. The program is active, and engaging without feeling regimented, giving the kids the space and freedom to explore, learn, and grow. Most importantly our son feels safe and well cared for, which makes leaving him in the morning easy and picking him up a joy as he enthusiastically shares the details of his day. All of the teachers are highly qualified, so kind to the children, and obviously dedicated to the growth of each of them as individuals. We are already sad that at some point our son will have to leave and go to kindergarten!

We love NBCC. Our daughter is in the Monarch program and thriving. I love the thoughtfully designed…read morespaces and the wonderful programming. It's been a place for our four year old to really spread her wings and gain some much needed freedom this year and she'll be starting kindergarten so much more socialized and confident. Can't say enough good things about this school.

i am lucky to find ACR. The thing that stands out about it is that it is run by 2 fantastic people…read more- Naoko and JD. Their philosophy of running ACR resonates with me. It is very satisfying to know that your kid is in good hands. As far as facility is concerned, its kept clean. Timings are great. We plan to continue sending our kid to ACR.

Our son has been going here for over a year now, starting in the infant care area, moving through…read morethe toddler area and now is in the pre-school. He is exceedingly happy and the communication has been stellar all the way through. There are communication books which the staff write the notes so that we can keep up with what he has eaten, how long he has slept, and more. He has a lot of friends and is always so happy. These are the main things I am looking for when considering a school for him at this age. The owners have pretty high standards, and from where this school got started from when they took over, it has come a very long way. The old school, A Child's Reflection, got ran down, the carpets were 20 years old and held a lot of nasty. They basically stripped the place down and put all new floors, toys, and more. My son, as he progressed from one room to the next, has been allowed to interact with kids he has known that are either behind or ahead of him. He still likes to stop in the infant room to say hi to some of his toddler friends before moving back to the pre-school. There are some days he is having so much fun playing, I have to wait, but this is his time and place and I am happy to see him enjoying himself. I suggest to parents that are wondering if this is the right place, to watch how the kids are acting. Kids are smart and know how to tell us they don't like something. We just need to be patient and listen to them. Take a moment to attune yourself to the place and watch the kids, they really can tell you how things are going at the school. Do that for all the schools you visit!

Great school. I realize that the school is more guarded during the waiting list timeline to protect…read morethe safety & guard the routine of the children during school time. My daughter is attending this school now and I have to say that the children are prepared for educational success in every way imaginable. There are three groups; youngest group, middle group, and pre-K. Some highlights: Onsite reading specialist Bilingual education Montessori classroom time structured and free learning time Non profit with emphasis on community service Healthy (usually organic) vegetarian diet served at meals Parent involvement in the direction of the school. Wonderful educational field trips Advanced curriculum designed for school preparation. Emphasis on Science, math, music, language, cultural enlightenment. This school is also very culturally diverse, when looking at the "make-up"' of ethnicities amongst the children. The school is extremely hygienic with an aggressive health policy, with sink stations in every class room and around the play yard for hand washing. Resulting in healthier children (and parents) with less time off from school in the long run. I am very pleased with this school. We were invited for a visit once our names were high on the waiting list. I was instantly sold when my daughter was invited to participate in the days activities. The first was dissection of owl pellets and identification of the animal consumed based on bones found. The next was a story circle, the children each performed a portion of the book in a dramatic manner with props and costumes included. The next was a bilingual story and song circle, with children being "submerged in spanish," for the duration of the 20 minute circle. The final was a magic circle., which was fun and educational. I highly recommend this school. The teachers were patient and supportive while my daughter adjusted to the separation from me and my husband. They actually surpassed my expectations!

Great school, great teachers. Really enjoying the bilingual program they offer, as all the off-site…read moreadventures. My son throughly enjoys it and we look forward to sending our second son as well. A great mix of play-based and Montessori curricula.

We love WPENS. It's been so great for my son and family. I love teacher Cory she is such a caring,…read moreloving teacher. She really takes the time to create such a loving, nurturing and safe environment for all children. My son has really thrived socially and emotionally because WPENS. We love the community and support we have at WPENS. It's a really unique experience because not only is it a preschool but also a learning environment for parents. WPENS offers parenting resources. It helps build a nurturing environment at school and at home. As a parent you can really be involved in your child's learning development by participating in and outside the classroom. Overall WPENS is the best choice. We are really happy and are returning back next year!

I love this School! We have been at WPENS for the last 3 years, and what a great community we…read morehave! The magic is all in the name: Westside Parent Education Nursery School. Notice how it says 'Parent Education' - at WPENS the parents learn with the kids! Here are some of the biggest pros: 1.) Lower cost Co-operative preschool - most affordable and keeps you involved with your child's education 2.) Community Building - get to know other families and build connections 3.) PARENT EDUCATION - because we don't know it all. Monthly educational seminars and weekly meetings help to hone those parenting skills 4.) Incredible Teachers - decades of young child education gives a perspective that is invaluable and patience that is incredible.

Lori Beth is one of the most amazing people I know. Her patience, creativity and enthusiasm…read moreoverflow when she is working with children! She offers such a nurturing, health-giving and spirit-confirming preschool; a place where our children feel safe to explore and learn about the world. The children, as well as all of us parents, all adore her! I can't recommend Tender Blossoms Preschool high enough!

Our children both attended Bridges to Kinder, and it was easily the best school experience they've…read morehad. The teachers -- Laura, Lisa, Jennifer, and Li Ping -- are kind, caring, and truly see each child for who they are. These are educators with decades of experience and tons of heart, and it shows! Dropping our kids off each day felt like leaving them with family. The program itself is exceptional. Every day is filled with art, music, hands-on projects, outdoor play, and immersive, imaginative adventures. There are weekly visits to the library, time exploring the garden with Teacher Jane, and visiting with their "Big Buddies" at the elementary school. The teachers' warm, intentional approach helped my kids feel connected, capable, and confident -- lessons that have stayed with them ever since. Interestingly, many parents at B2K are teachers themselves -- I think educators naturally gravitate to the exceptional teaching. I'm an educational therapist, and I feel like I became a better teacher myself by volunteering in the classroom and seeing the teachers in action. Our third grader and first grader still say the B2K teachers were their very favorite and often ask to go back for a visit. They're really there for their families through the good and tough times. During the flooding of winter 2022, the teachers reached out to check on us and even offered a place to stay if we needed to evacuate. That kind of care truly says everything about this school. We're so grateful for Bridges to Kinder. It's a warm, nurturing place that gave our children an incredible foundation -- and set a very high bar for everything that's come after. I only wish that every child could be a part of this school -- it would change the world!

Our experience having our son at B2K has been amazing. The teachers have a magical way of creating…read moreone of the most inclusive classrooms I've ever seen (I'm an elementary school teacher). They make every child feel seen, safe, and confident. Kids who go through this program are ready to be a good human and have the skills to flourish in TK or K. My 3 year old son wakes up every morning so excited to go to school and when I drop him off, I feel so good about leaving him with such extraordinary educators. The communication with parents is so wonderful, the photos and updates are great. We feel so lucky! Cannot recommend enough!!!

My eldest child attended Calvary for preschool, and we had such a wonderful experience that we…read moreenrolled our youngest as well. After exploring several schools on the westside, we chose Calvary based on recommendations from other parents, the experienced staff with long tenures, its convenient location, and its cost-effectiveness. The flexible scheduling and minimal time off during the school year were also important for our family, as was the diverse student body. We believed Calvary would provide a smooth transition to public school, and it certainly did. Our daughter and another child from Calvary were the only ones in their TK class who could write their names at the start of the year. Calvary's play-based approach emphasizes early literacy, which is crucial for us. The school offers abundant resources, engaging activities, projects, and ample free play. With spacious indoor and outdoor play areas, the children also benefit from being divided into three smaller classrooms and having a dedicated nap area, unlike many schools that use open spaces. Additionally, Calvary assists with potty training and provides meals and snacks, so we don't have to send anything with our child each day. It's reassuring to know she is well cared for at Calvary.

This is the first preschool I tried in Santa Cruz after we moved. My son was 2 and a half and he…read morecried every day for two weeks. They called us to come and pick him up half of the days. It was heart wrenching. Then the director told us that he was not ready for their school. Luckily we tried another school and my son adapted really quickly even though it was a bigger preschool with more kids. I regret having my child experience his time at this school and wish we never had this experience. The teachers didn't give him time to adjust and expected him to be perfect little boy without giving him the opportunity to bond and get comfortable. My son is now moving on to transitional kindergarten! I still have regrets putting him through Calvary preschool. It was definitely a "Calvary" for us parents but greateful to have found an amazing, caring, beautiful people at Lifespring preschool that loved and cared for my son! We were willing to pay more as long as our son was in a good setting but not only we found a nurturing and caring teachers at lifespring but it was a lot less expensive. More expensive preschool doesn't mean a better setting for your child. We learned the hard way.