After the sudden passing of my daughter, my son-in-law and I decided it was time to find a…read morereputable and nurturing daycare/preschool for my grandson. Just by luck, we found Petaluma Village Preschool and quickly learned that this IS the absolute best preschool/daycare in Petaluma and quite frankly, the Bay Area!!! I know this for certain because my son attended You and Me in the 90's and they don't pale in comparison to Petaluma Village Preschool! Every morning without fail, my grandson cannot wait to go to school, he even cry's if we drive anywhere near the school on his days off because he wants to be there with his friends! The staff shares pictures and videos throughout the day (every day!) via an app...which is like having a second set of eyes inside of the facility!!! I just cannot say enough good things about this school and I am SOOOOOO thrilled to have my grandson in such a nurturing, supportive and caring environment. Thank You, Thank You

My daughter (and my son before he entered Kindergarten) attends Petaluma Village Preschool. We…read morehave been very happy there. The preschool is child centered and play based, which were both important to me. It is also very community oriented, sending home weekly emails, having monthly PAC (like PTA) meetings, and arranging social events for families. I also love that they serve a family style organic lunch.

This is a beautiful preschool with wonderful instruction, potty-training bathrooms and large…read moreoutdoor space with a playground for growing littles. Cherie the own is a wonderful person as are the teachers. However, this is not a Montessori preschool. My daughter loved Willow Tree when it was a Montessori preschool, but when my son attended years later, it was not the same and that's when I learned it was no longer Montessori. The website is from 2008 and the sign is from the previous ownership when it was a Montessori school. So while I am sure this is still a good preschool for many reasons, it is very misleading to continue using the word "Montessori" in the marketing materials.

I can begin to express my love for this school. Cherie has made such an program for the children…read morehere and my son is thriving. He comes home at three years old knowing how to spell his name knows almost basic math (almost) and plays so well with other children, parents at the park comment on it. I was lucky enough to have a good egg anyway but my god he loves going here and I love every teacher they have because of the love they have for these kids. Hands down the best little secret in town as far as daycares go.

Great start for your kids. The staff is friendly and welcoming. So far 3 out of 3 kids love it…read morehere.

My daughter began attending Children's Corner just before her third birthday and stayed for two…read moreyears, having just graduated from their Preschool program in May. I love their program and have recommended them to many people who have been equally as pleased with them. What really appealed to me about their program was that the classes are divided by age group and this structure allows kids to learn age-appropriate skills and thrive in a fun and encouraging environment. This has helped my daughter to excel in her Kindergarten preparedness. I was consistently impressed with how nurturing and responsive each of the teachers was and the majority of them have worked there for 10+ years. Jan, the Director, is such a pleasure to interact with and the kids love her. Their hours, with drop-off as early as 7:15 AM and pick-up as late as 6 PM, were very accommodating to my work schedule and the fact that they are open year-round meant that I didn't have to figure out different options for a summer program. My family loved Children's Corner and on my daughter's last day, there were lots of tears and hugs from the staff and us. It has been such a positive experience and I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to send my son there for his preschool experience when it comes time.

We live in Novato, so Spring Hill means a daily commute for us, but honestly, I'm happy to make…read morethat drive every day knowing my kids are receiving this kind of education and are this well cared for. It's worth every minute. I genuinely cherish those 20 minutes in the car, on the way there or on the way home, listening to my kids get excited about their day. My 2 year old will tell me all about how creeks evaporate and how the rain coming down is really just that same creek water returning from the clouds, or about the flower arrangement she made today with her friends and teachers. My five year old talks about practicing her B sounds in class, or tells me stories about what she read with her classmates, or the painting she did, or the field trip hike she's taking with her class to learn more about the lifecycles of plants and animals. Those little windows into their day are everything to me. We honestly didn't plan on switching schools. We were happily settled at another school and figured we'd stay at least another year. Then we toured Spring Hill, and that plan fell apart pretty quickly. The Montessori toddler and primary classrooms completely won us over, and once we saw how the older kids on the TK-8 campus learn through hands-on projects instead of worksheets, we were sold. We enrolled both of our kids and haven't looked back since. The difference has been huge. My two littles have thrived, academically, socially, all around. They come home talking about what they built or figured out that day, not just what they memorized. That kind of engagement is hard to fake, and it's made learning feel exciting instead of like a chore. The teachers are honestly the best part of this school. They're deeply engaged with each child, taking the time to understand how every one of my kids learns best and meeting them exactly where they are. Schools we toured had classrooms of 26 kids to one teacher, with kids parked in front of tablets for large chunks of the day. Spring Hill takes a much more deliberate approach to technology, so kids can stay present and engaged. Teachers actually have the bandwidth to work 1:1 with students. Seeing that other environment, the contrast was immediate and honestly a relief. I do want to be upfront that the school has been through a lot of changes lately. What's kept me feeling good about it is that the board is made up mostly of parents, and they've made it clear they're relying on feedback from families like us to help guide where the school goes next. It doesn't feel like decisions are happening behind closed doors. It feels like something we're building together. If you're considering it, go see it in person. Walk through the classrooms, see the kids in the middle of a project, get a feel for the community. That's what convinced us to change course, and it's been one of the best decisions we've made for our kids.

We absolutely love Spring Hill. Our kids are thriving here and learning so much more than they did…read moreat their previous schools. The teachers are passionate, engaged, and really get to know each child. They challenge students to reach their individual potential, so the learning feels incredibly personalized rather than one-size-fits-all. Academically, it's hard to beat. we've especially loved seeing our kids become genuinely excited about math and the project-based learning in science and other subjects. We also appreciate that the strong academics don't come at the expense of social-emotional development. The school really supports the whole child and creates an environment where kids feel known and cared for. There are lots of community events, and the parent community is warm, welcoming, and tight-knit. We've been incredibly happy with our experience and, most importantly, our kids love going to school.

We now have 2 children enrolled at Little Shepherd. I have really enjoyed working with their…read moreentire staff. They are always pleasant and it's clear that they care about the children and their families. I am very confident that Little Shepherd was the right choice for our children's first educational setting outside of our home.

Still the preeminent pre-K in Petaluma. Some others have come and gone over the years, but Little…read moreShepherd, as sponsored by Elim Lutheran has an enduring program for many, many years. They offer excellent (and safe) premises, with full kitchen and restrooms and many classrooms. They attract and retain a staff of caring and qualified teachers. Easy parking, and the have their act together administratively. Little Shepherd is a great entryway school to the public elementary system.

Lately I've been reflecting on all that has made Petaluma great for my family in the five years…read morethat we've been here. Arts in the Garden is up there with the best! My daughter spent two years at this magical preschool, exploring nature in the beautiful garden and letting her creativity run free. Every day she was seen and heard for her ideas, letting them flourish, and this has helped her maintain a self-assurance and ability to think for herself even as she goes into 2nd grade. Thanks to Amy Rose and the whole Arts in the Garden alumni for all of our treasured memories.

Our son has been attending this school since February 2013. It is such a warm, nurturing…read moreenvironment, enriched with art, craft infused with a keen appreciation of the natural world. It has enhanced his curiosity in so many ways. He moves on to kindergarten this summer and is already so sad to leave! ADDENDUM: So we actually could not leave! Decided to treat him to afternoons at Arts in the Garden, so he could continue to enjoy his favorite teachers, friends and the gentle environment we all cherish so much. (There is a license for a few school age children each day.) Do your child the ultimate favor and visit Arts In The Garden!

This place is truly special. It is where profound love, awareness and soft discipline are coming…read moretogether to shape a young mind into a strong kind and creative individual. Each teacher is special in so many ways. Our son went from being all over the place to being focused and eloquent. They not only give education but emotional awareness. We are truly grateful for you guys being able to work with us and our requests since we are health freak, family :) thank you for letting us be the part of the family. And thank you so much for doing your job brilliantly with such dedication. So sad that we have to move on, but hope we will see each other in the future. Liana and Giancarlo

Carolynn, Laura and Alma became like family over our two years at Miss Carolynn's. This truly is a…read morespecial place. My daughter developed self-confidence, respect, kindness, knowing how to take turns and work independently and with others. Miss Carolynn also supported us with parenting skills and community with the other parents. An amazing preschool experience.

My child has been attending You and Me children's center/preschool for a few months now, and I am…read moreso very pleased with the center and the staff. Everyone has been friendly, helpful, and wonderful with my child. They have grerat communication skills, and are very clean and professional. My child loves going there, and asks to go there even when it's the weekend! I would highly recommend this center to any parent in Petaluma looking for a great facility for their child.

My daughter absolutely loves this preschool. I have nothing but great things to say about You and…read moreMe. We are so happy here.

We recently toured Learning to Learn while considering it for our son, and we were really impressed…read morewith the changes under Teresa's new leadership. We had a less positive experience in the past, but the environment now feels so much warmer, more welcoming, and better organized. Teresa clearly brings a thoughtful, nurturing approach, and we'd absolutely consider L2L in the future.

My son has been attending Learning to Learn in Petaluma since last summer. The staff have been…read morefantastic, very communicative and quick to respond to messages. The property and layout has been ideal for this little guy and his development. The space has a great indoor outdoor flow, with a small garden, little break out rooms, nap zone, and mini kitchen. The program has been especially accommodating to our unique co-parenting schedule and a change we requested middle of the year when more child care was asked for. Highly recommended

We were initially drawn to this school because of its beautiful philosophy and child-centered…read morelanguage about independence, exploration, and nurturing a love of learning. Our grandson started there shortly after turning two, and he absolutely loved going to school. Unfortunately, our family's experience with the administration did not reflect the warm and developmentally appropriate environment described in the school's mission. From early on, my daughter was repeatedly approached with concerns about completely normal toddler behavior -- including delayed expressive speech at just over two years old and difficulty sitting through circle time. Many toddlers, especially active young boys, are simply not ready for highly structured group expectations at that age. Rather than partnering with parents in a supportive way, the communication often felt pressuring, judgmental, and lacking in understanding of normal developmental variation. At one point, the director even suggested that although we were paying for three days per week, our grandson should be removed for the middle day "to reset." That recommendation made little sense to us and did not feel supportive or solution-oriented. In our experience, families should understand that despite the Montessori-style language and emphasis on following the child, this program operates with fairly rigid behavioral expectations for very young children. If your child is under four, still developing speech, highly energetic, slow to warm up, or not naturally inclined toward structured group participation, this will not be the right fit. This environment may work well for children who are already very verbal, compliant, and comfortable with structure at a young age. But for active toddlers who are still developing at their own pace, it did not feel accepting or supportive of the "whole child" philosophy the school promotes.

We truly love Pepper Preschool and the wonderful teachers. The space is so thoughtful and sweet…read more The "Montessori Light" style has been perfect for our sensitive son and the themes for each months learning have taught him so much. There is a wonderful balance of outdoor and classroom time and his two years of Pepper Preschool have made him more independent and interested in learning. Each teacher brings a unique perspective and we love that they have all been at Pepper School for years. Most importantly he has learned how to be a kind friend and his ability to interact with other children and adults has blossomed. When recently deciding between TK and a third year at Pepper we opted for another year at Pepper. We know the skills he is learning and the wonderfully low teacher to student ratio will prepare him well for school.