MFT has been an outstanding experience for our son throughout his time there. Terese, Lori, and the…read morerest of the staff are deeply attuned to the needs of young children and have created an extraordinary early education and social experience. We couldn't have asked for a better learning environment for our son to grow up in. Highly recommended!!

Both my kids went to Terese Montessori and they both are thriving at their schools. The…read morefundamentals they learn are the best in Novato. They approach each kid different and it is an individualized approach. It is a strict program but my kids have learned to be confident and independent. My son has a lot of energy but has learned to focus in the classroom where now at his elementary school he is one of the best behaved kids in the classroom and releases his energy outside. Highly recommend this school and by far one of the best in Novato. My only thing it is small so great for ages 2-3.5 or a kids that needs that small class.

We absolutely love this preschool and feel so lucky that our daughter gets to be here…read more What we love most is that it's a co-op. It's not just a preschool where you drop your child off and pick them up later. Parents are actually involved, you get to know the teachers and the other families, and you really become part of the community. My husband and I have both really loved that aspect of it. We also love that the kids are mixed ages instead of being separated strictly by age. The little ones get to learn from the older kids, and the older kids naturally help and look out for the younger ones. It feels much more like a little community than a traditional preschool classroom. And the outdoor play is amazing. Our daughter gets to take her shoes off, play in the sand, get dirty in the mud kitchen, do water play, paint, make art, ride bikes and scooters, play in the gravel pit and playhouses, and help water the garden. They have such a huge, beautiful yard and the kids really get to just PLAY. There is indoor time too, but we love how much time they spend outside exploring and getting messy. The teachers are all so kind and loving, and most importantly, our daughter absolutely loves going. She looks forward to preschool, which says so much to us. The school has also been part of the Novato community for so many years and has such a great reputation, and now that we're here, we completely understand why. There's just something really special about the community they've created. We're so happy with our experience that we'll be sending our second child here next year too. We truly couldn't be happier to have found this place for our family. We would absolutely recommend it to other families looking for a preschool that feels warm, welcoming, and truly centered around letting kids be kids.

I learned about NPNS through my sister and sister in law, they both sent their kids here and had…read morereally positive experiences. I am so happy we started our daughter this year. It is a coop so there is some family involvement like working one day a week in the preschool which is one of the main reasons I joined. I love being able to get a first hand look of my daughter learning through play and how she is interacting with her peers. I also love that it is mainly outdoors, play based, child centered, and Reggio Emilia inspired. The teachers are so supportive, nurturing, and have so much knowledge on child development. If a coop preschool can work for your schedule I highly recommend enrolling your child. I am so happy to have found this special school/community.

Loving teachers and a wholesome environment. The kids are outside as much as possible. My daughter…read moreis in the preschool (sage) class. We transferred after having a not so great experience at a different school where the teachers were cold and burnt out... this is the complete opposite. The teachers are amazing. In particular, Ms.Carrie, is a gem... greets my daughter every time we do drop off, holding her hand and telling her how happy she is to see her! This is a nature based school and the have an amazing lunch program with organic healthy food. My daughter went from being a picky eater to now loving her veggies thanks to the lunch program. The director, Melinda, is fantastic, super smart and passionate about the school and loves every single kiddo. This is the best preschool in Novato!

We love Hummingbirds Nest. This is our first preschool experience where our dude loves being…read moredropped off, and tells us to pick him up from school as late as possible. The teachers are caring and supportive. He comes home singing songs about nature. They play outside a ton, even in the rain, which is perfect for us. He loves his friends there. His imaginative play is fully supported. He helps around our house more now because that is just normal, part of school too: chop veggies for soup (with safety knife), help sweep, etc. We've seen such a complete turn around in our son after a really tough school right before this (teachers there were cold, our dude said he didn't feel loved there, he revolted) and when another school closed suddenly. Melinda and team communicate openly with parents, which is so refreshing. (Note: ignore the for sale sign; that is for the property. The school stays). My mom taught kindergarten for years and knows a good school when she sees one; she also loves this place. Thank you to all the teachers and staff at Hummingbird Nest!

Teachers were always good. Just a really liberal school. Lots of the kids end up going to…read morealternative schools afterwards. Or those outdoor learning schools.

Toured many preschools and found St. Francis to be the right fit for our child. While the school is…read morenot faith based we liked that the campus was at a church and tucked away. Immediately upon touring St. Francis we felt it was something special. It felt cozy and whimsical yet they offered structure and an established reputation. The staff are competent, caring, and enthusiastic about their work. We love our teachers so far and our kiddo is constantly doing things at school like art, cooking, and general play that support her current social and emotional skillsets. Definitely a great place to start your kiddos educational journey. We feel very lucky to be a part of the St. Francis community.

We loved Miss Sandie's. My daughter was happy there, the teachers were so sweet and caring, and it…read morejust felt like a really warm, comfortable place for her to be every day. As a mom, that peace of mind means everything. They were also really accommodating and easy to work with, which made our transition so much easier. We're really grateful for the time she spent there and would absolutely recommend it to other local families.

My kids have been going here from the ages 2-5 and I could not recommend the preschool more…read more Friendly staff, great communication and most of all the hours are great!

We absolutely love Noah's Ark! From day one, it felt like such a warm and caring place for our…read morechild. Heather, the preschool director, is incredible. sShe truly cares about each child and it shows. She's so kind, attentive, and creates such a loving environment where kids feel safe and happy. Our little one comes home every day excited to share what they learned and the fun they had. The teachers are wonderful too -- patient, creative, and always smiling. We're so grateful for this preschool and the amazing team that makes it feel like family!

Update: Noah's Ark has been cited and fined by the State Department. This organization created…read morefalse documentation in our family law custody dispute. Marin Christian has been fined and admonished by the State Department for failing to support parental rights and for false reporting. Marin Christian/Noahs Ark administration got inappropriately involved in our custody case by being a trial witness for dad and made meritless claims. Their school administrator complained to the family law judge that I was a demanding parent by making a ONETIME request for my daughter's student file. All parents under the State Department have a right to request for their child's students file without being penalized. The administration also created false statements and willful misleading reports for our custody case filled with meritless speculations. I'm glad to say, my daughter no longer attends this poorly managed school since I am now the primary caregiver to our child resulting from the school's biased witness statements in our custody trial. Despite providing the administration a copy of our custody order, Marin Christian failed to provide me any information for my daughter for over a year. I had reached out to management and the board for early resolution but was blatantly ignored because the dad was on their PTA and had personal relations with Marin Christian organization. My recommendation is for Marin Christian senior leadership and board members review its policies and procedures to ensure their organization and the school administrators are adhering to State Department policies and guidelines to ensure the school is abiding by the law, not making baseless accusations, not getting inappropriately involved in custody matters and not having parental bias. Very disappointing actions from a Christian-based institution.

My daughters love coming here! The teachers are great and my girls come home and are excited to go…read moreback to school the next! Can't thank Marcie, Katie, Jennifer, and Rosa enough for caring for my 2 girls!! I'm so glad I found this place!

My kid went here for a year and a half the staff there are great! They are caring and have patience…read morewith the kids. She learned so much while in their care and made so many great friends! I would definitely recommend them to any family in search of child care!

My child has been attending Hamilton Montessori School for over a year, and we are very happy with…read morethe school right now. The classroom has changed so much since the start of this school year. Almost every day, I can see what my child has been working on through the school's app. At home, he has started changing his shoes when he comes inside and pushing in his chair when he leaves the table. He often sings the songs he learns at school. He has also learned to thread a needle and tie a knot--all by himself! These are challenging skills for a young child, and I am so proud of him. The teachers are caring and dedicated. They have been working together with me to help him transition out of diapers, and he is gradually becoming less dependent on them. I am very grateful for their guidance and patience, even when he needs frequent changes of clothes. When I drop him off in the morning, I see the children working with such care and concentration. I feel proud of them, too. Helping young children develop that level of focus takes time and dedication. Our family needs a later pickup time, and the school's extended hours have been a tremendous help, allowing us to work with peace of mind. We are grateful to be part of this school community and would love to welcome more families into it!

Our daughter has been a member of the regular pre-school program and the summer camp. She has had a…read morewonderful time. She typically has a lot of separation anxiety with daycare and after her first day she has welcomed each day with genuine excitement. She is excited to see her teachers even more than she is excited to ride her bike. Also, the grounds are idyllic. It's a secret garden that so many people don't seem to know about. Full heartedly would recommend

We started Jan 2024. I had a kindergarten boy and a 8th grade girl that started at Marin Christian…read moreAcademy. I see a huge changes in both of my children for the better. My son is now in 1st grade: He loves his school and looks forward to hearing about God and reading his bible. His reading and math skills have caught up as last year he was behind when we started at Marin Christian. We are so grateful to see how great he is doing and my son is so proud of his achievements here. My daughter was only at Marin Christian for Jan 2024 to June 2024, then transitioned to high school. She says what she learned in those few months have stayed with her and that she is much closer to God and this has helped her find her way at high school. She also was behind as she was home schooled over covid. In these few months this school was able to help with confidences and taught her what she was missing to do great in high school. She loved the middle school and we wished that we find this school sooner. Thank you Brenda

Fantastic local school that offers an alternative to public school. Great teachers and the school…read moreadministration is top notch. My children are very happy here and I feel they are receiving quality academia and being well-cared for. The MCA parents association offers ample opportunity to meet other parents and support the school.

My daughter was under Magali's care for 2 years, and I can't believe the way she has blossomed!…read moreIt's been beautiful to watch. She has gained an understanding of what it means to be a good friend. I see her acting with patience and kindness. She can work independently with focus and care, and I see the pride she takes in her work. And for me, San Marin Montessori was the perfect situation. The hours are convenient, drop-off and pick-up were super easy, and I loved the way Magali would personally greet each student as they came in the door with conversation and attention. When I had parenting difficulties that I wanted help with (Ex. my daughter not wanting to get dressed in the morning), Magali was always available to talk about the specifics of the situation and she gave me great advice. Magali and her assistant Jesse won my complete trust. I studied Maria Montessori's work when I was pregnant, and I can see that Magali is truly using the philosophy and the tools. Most schools only use the name. I feel very lucky that I found this small school. My daughter benefited from so much love and personal attention!

My husband and I couldn't be happier with our choice of having our son in the care of Magali and…read moreJesse. We looked into many schools in the area and fell head over heels in love with the atmosphere provided. A very clean, organized, happy place my son looks forward to going everyday. They have routines that make the children feel comfortable and classroom changes monthly to keep the children from getting bored. Our son comes home daily with art projects and a smile. All of the children respect each other and love one another. The teachings of Magali are one in a million. I never thought we would start our school experiences with such an exquisite person, we are lucky and grateful. It will be hard to move on next year. Luckily our daughter will get a chance to spend her preschool days at San Marin Montessori.