After moving from Logan Square and going to Montessori Academy of Chicago (which was beyond wonderful) I was scared that nothing would match the level of care and learning that my 2 daughters received when we moved to Glencoe but thankfully we found Guidepost Montessori at Deerbrook. Christine and Abbey run this school like all of the children are their own. They are warm, inviting, caring and thoughtful. My daughter is 4 and in the pre-school program and the activities she participates in are endless - art class, karate, woodworking, cooking etc. The teachers are top notch and really put a lot of effort into each and every day. My other daughter is in the nursery program and the teachers in that classroom are unmatched. The teachers go above and beyond for the babies as well as the parents in sending home adorable crafts and activities that your child will do during the day. My daughter is always clean (which is a hard feat to accomplish for a 1 year old) and I truly feel like I'm dropping her off with someone in my family every morning. The teachers put up pictures daily on the internal website so you really feel as if you have a good grasp on what your child/children are doing everyday and as a working mom, that means so much to me. There is a wonderful outside playground that the kids love to play on and pickups/dropoffs are seamless and easy without rigid rules that don't work for working parents. The school itself is new and clean which was a huge plus for me. I compared a bunch of different schools in the area prior to our move and I know I made the right decision for my girls. read more

There is a lot of drama at this school between teachers and other staff members. Unfortunately, this has contributed to fairly substantial teacher turnover, which is not good for the kids. Many parents have ended up pulling their children out of the school. I've lost count of how many school presidents have come and gone. The school has also cut back on meals and snacks to save money. Not too long ago, the school was open on most holidays. Now, almost every holiday is a day off, which means parents have to make arrangements to watch their children. The current president, Sonia, does not seem to be very familiar with the school's policies and practices. Half the time, she doesn't seem to know what she is talking about, which can be very frustrating for parents. Based on the school's track record, however, there will probably be another president sooner rather than later. On the positive side, there are a few teachers and teacher assistants who are truly some of the best people I have ever met. They put their heart and soul into caring for each child, and I honestly believe that is one of the main reasons some families continue to stay at the school. read more

When we moved to Northbrook in mid-2022, we left an amazing daycare in the city and were heartbroken to move our daughter out of the care of the people who had helped us raise her for almost two years. We came to Guidepost on a referral from friends who attended and it has been nothing short of a truly wonderful experience. We did not come here as Montessori-fanatics, but quickly realized what wonders it was doing for our child. Her growth, sense of independence, and creativity have flourished here. All of her teachers have been loving, attentive, and communicative. Abbey and Christine, the school leadership, are always reachable and open to discussions when I have questions/feedback. We love sending our daughter here because she know she is safe, loved, and engaged in her learning. We would absolutely recommend Guidepost Deerbrook to any family looking for a home for their child! read more

We've been with the Guidepost for a couple of months and it's been an outstanding experience! Teachers and staff are friendly and resourceful, and communication is prompt and clear. I compared over 10 daycares thoroughly prior to sending him here and I'm very happy with my decision. I love that my little one does a variety of creative and fun activities daily with Montessori philosophy as a foundation. I feel sincere care and love from the teachers and staff here, and I appreciate the teachers taking the time to do a parent-teacher conference to share detailed feedback on the child. It helps parents understand where we can better support him to enjoy his day and grow. I also like that the school puts lots of effort into building a community. The monthly gatherings/ events for families and kids, sending out weekly newsletters, and having a FB family communication page... they go above and beyond! I highly recommend Guidepost to my family and friends! read more

Beware!!! I was told to pay a deposit and spot would become available. After 10 months there was no spot available and guidepost refused to return our calls. After finally making contact they are refusing to fully repay our deposit. My wife and I have had to scramble to make childcare arrangements as we both work full time. If you are considering guidepost I recommend extreme caution. read more

This is our daughter's third preschool. We loved her first daycare in the city and hated having to leave, but after moving to the suburbs, it didn't make sense to keep her there. From there, we put her in an "academically-focused" preschool in the suburbs. The only communication we received about our daughter's day-to-day from that school was when when she was not following the program to a T (she's 3) or calls in the middle of the day to let us know "she bumped her head, but she's fine." I was nervous about moving her to a new school within less than a year, but when Guidepost opened so close to our house, and knowing the benefits of the Montessori approach, I decided to check it out. My husband and I had our minds made up to make the switch by the time we left our school tour. The welcoming, community atmosphere created by school administrators and the more thorough (and positive!) communication from her teachers have made us feel completely validated in our decision, and our daughter is thriving. She is happier and more engaged with her learning, and even seems more loving and cooperative with us! We couldn't be happier to be part of the inaugural Guidepost community at Deerbrook. read more

We love Guidepost Montessori! Our son has been in Miss Sylvia's toddler classroom for 8 months now, and he absolutely adores her. Communication from leadership is immediate, thorough, and well-thought out. I feel very safe with my son here, which is a rare thing in America today. The guides are all kind, attentive, and remember so many details of my son's development. They are highly skilled and the Montessori curriculum is unmatched. I love getting photos every day and seeing all the cool things my son is capable of - he's learned to wash his hands, make observations, have conversations (he asks me "how was your day mama?" at dinner time), sweep floors, play outside with friends, and so much more. read more

I love it here! My daughter started when she was 1 years old and I have been so thrilled with Guidepost. She has grown and learned so much and the teachers have been a blessing - so communicative with us and wonderful with the kids. I cannot recommend them enough! read more

If there were more stars, I would give them more. My daughter is 2 and this is her first school. WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! From the moment I saw this school and met the administration, I knew it was the right place for us. My daughter LOVES her classmates, her guide, Miss Bri, and the class fish! She loves learning and playing outdoors in the big playground. I appreciate the daily lessons and the photos so much! We are so happy with it, we are considering increasing from 3 half days to more. Added bonus, when my daughter is ready, they will help us potty train her! YAY! I cannot say enough good things about our experience with Guidepost Montessori at Deerbrook. You would never know it has only been open a few weeks by how well it is run. read more

Guidepost Montessori at Deerbrook - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - Deerfield, Illinois

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Best childcare on the North Shore! I've visited every daycare nearby and Guidepost is by far the best. My daughter is thriving and so independent. She learns so much everyday! We love it here! read more

We have loved our experience at Guidepost Montessori. The teachers are attentive and caring, and the directors care about the community, scheduling lots of events for everyone to connect. I love their level of communication and interest in the success of every child--I'm extremely grateful that this place exists in the Deerfield area. read more

We couldn't be happier with our experience with Guidepost Montessori at Deerbrook! After extensive research of the different childcare options in the area, we decided on Guidepost and we are so grateful we did. My daughter has been attending the Young Toddler class since their grand opening in April '21. I have seen nothing but positive changes and a tremendous amount of developmental growth in her since then. She has developed a love of learning through play and new experiences. She has become much more social, confident and independent. At 17 months, she enjoys setting the table for dinner and picks up her toys after herself- which I cannot take credit for. The communication with the teachers and leadership team is excellent. The school has been completely renovated, everything is bright, new, and clean. It even smells good when you walk in which can't be said for every childcare facility! It doesn't even feel like a facility though, more like a home of learning and exploration for young minds safely being shown the way by caring, experienced guides. I am so happy we found Guidepost for my daughter and more importantly- so is she! read more

Our family is new to the area but so far our son has been loving his time at Guidepost. We have seen a growth in his development in such a short time. The center does a great job of keeping you up to date on what is happening throughout the day, as well as tracks progress your child makes to ensure they are keeping up with their milestones. read more

More than a year in, I have to come back to reinforce the amazing experience our family is having at Guidepost. Our now 3-year-old daughter is in Children's House and absolutely thriving under the warm and compassionate guidance of her new teachers, Miss Karly and Miss Ellie. The mixed age classroom is such a wonderful model that is challenging her to meet her full potential, and the teachers and materials are of the highest caliber. Our 1-year-old son has been in the Nido classroom for almost 4 months now and we have only incredible things to say about Miss Sonia and Miss Jenny who create such a nurturing environment. Miss Sonia has made such an effort to get our shy son comfortable and thriving in his new environment, all the while helping me to feel comfortable with the transition as well. He is making leaps and bounds with his motor skills and social skills thanks to their guidance. The leadership of the school is also absolutely top-notch. Christine and Abbey are warm, friendly, organized, and so enthusiastic about running the best possible school for our children. They know all of the kids and families so well and have fostered a caring and inclusive community that we feel lucky to be a part of! read more

I cannot recommend Guidepost Montessori Deerbrook enough! After moving to the suburbs in May of 2021, I needed childcare for my now 3.5 year old (who was in daycare in the city) and 16 month old. We were still looking for a house, so I ended up researching 21 childcare options all over the Northshore to find one that fit our needs, and Guidepost instantly felt like the right place. The facility is clean, spacious, and beautiful, the administrators and teachers are amazing, and the hours/days of operation can't be beat (very few closures, flexible with part time for my newborn!). It is such a warm, welcoming community of families and staff, and my kids are thriving. We have been in all of the classrooms over the past 1.5 years (Nido, Young Toddler, Toddler, Children's House) and have had a great experience with each. I feel like the teachers and admin truly know and love my kids, which makes it easier for me to go to work every day. We are so happy to be part of the Guidepost family! read more

My daughter joined Guidepost-Deerbrook back in May 2021 and we are just thrilled and so happy with the school. The staff and teachers are so welcoming and very responsive to questions, etc. My daughter started in the Toddler Room with Ms.Bri and she has grown so much in her classroom. She has become more independent, confident and her language skills have improved tremendously. It's exciting and fulfilling to hear her come home saying new words and singing/dancing to songs she has learned in her classroom. Now my daughter has turned 3 and recently transitioned to the 3-6yr old classroom, Children's House, with Ms. Karly. The teachers/staff made it a seamless process and my daughter was very excited to move up to the "big girl" classroom, she is loving her new friends and teacher. The materials/resources the children use are unique and provide a hands-on way to learn new skills and content. The food/snacks are super healthy/organic. Also, the teacher worked with me to potty train and encouraged and helped my daughter gain the confidence to go on the potty independently. Yay, she is potty trained. Overall, I am very very happy with Guidepost, best decision I made for my daughter. read more