Our three-year-old daughter attended Arbor for the inaugural school year (21-22) and is now…read morereturning for her second year. We've been very, very happy with the school so far. The location is a beautiful, tranquil space, the teachers are all wonderful, and they've brought together a really nice group of students and families. One thing we've especially appreciated about the school is that the whole staff approaches their work with humility: they've been flexible, receptive to feedback, and easy to communicate with in general. It's inevitable that a new school will have its share of logistical hiccups and a bit of trial and error in developing optimal policies, but they consistently approach these challenges with a collaborative spirit. We plan to send our daughter to Arbor for two more years -- and we hope that our son can start there in a couple years when he's old enough!

Amazing small preschool with teachers who really care. This is a gem of a community. Very very…read moresweet place.

Monteverde is a gem. To be honest we almost went to our neighborhood preschool, but then Covid…read morehappened and lots of things changed. We ended up at MV and I am so so happy that we did. Our son is slow to warm and everyone made him feel so welcome and that he could settle in at any pace he wanted. The outdoor area is fantastic, and the teachers have long tenure and wonderful skills. They have a solid professional development budget and they treat the teachers well. My son learned and grew so much both physically (climbing! Biking!) and emotionally (friendships and conversations) and lots of amazing learning. We are a queer family and we were one of several LGBTQ families in the communities. It's one big mixed-age class with several teachers, so there are lots of opportunities to do varied activities and explore different friendships. It also has the highest number of families of color that I have seen in all of the 11 preschools that I considered (yes I know, I channel my anxiety into research! :-)).

Monteverde has been the best experience for my child. The warm staff and open space that lets the…read morechildren make choices about where to play (main room, art studio, play structure, bikes, fort, garden, and the popular "Bongo" aka the outdoor play area sprinkled with trees, plants, and meandering pathways). The anti-bias curriculum, and lessons on "You Can't Say You Can't Play" leave children confident, capable of making friends, and able to negotiate working and playing in groups.

I am updating my review, but still 5 stars. My little one has been at CCC for two years, and my…read moreolder son graduated in 2014. I have never experienced a learning community so rich, so nurturing, so real, or so joyful. Since it's been in existence for something like 90 years, CCC has honed its childcare philosophy and its routine to work like a well-oiled machine. Their Covid response has been AMAZING, and they are running, and actively enrolling, for Fall 2021! This is the best place for kids to be kids (totally play-based), while also learning essential tools for cooperation, empathy, and kindness. The teachers are phenomenal, most of them having been there for upwards of a decade. If you're up for a co-op preschool (you will have to be there weekly, with frequent meetings and other commitments, too), you should check it out.

Every time I walk into CCC I am struck by what an amazing place it is. The carefully crafted, HUGE…read moreoutdoor areas, the range of sensory/craft activities laid out each day, the abundance of activating pretend toys and environments inside. Just that alone would be enough. But then you have teachers who have been there for decades. You have the sense of community that arises from every parent pitching in to make this place special. You have my kid getting to build real, trusted relationships with 25 other sets of parents... We feel very lucky to have our 3.5 year old in the front yard this year. A co-op preschool (I am learning), is a unique thing. It's not hands-off. It's a commitment. But so far, that commitment is really paying off for us.

We're in love with Mustard Seed! We can't overstate how grateful we are for this incredible team…read moreand community. It really feels like there's a village helping to raise our family. Our eldest transferred to MSP from another daycare / preschool center during the summer term when she was 2 1/2. It was a difficult decision because there were things we loved about her first school (where she'd spent almost a year), but the switch felt right. We liked that MSP's physical space, level of enrollment, and staffing strategy provided more structure: with same-age classrooms, age-sensitive schedules, age-sensitive teaching approaches, and opportunities for mixed age play outdoors several times a day. We liked that our daughter would always have a primary teacher team focused on her, as well as opportunities throughout the day and week to build relationships with other teachers. We liked that she'd have a dozen peers close to her age, for a nice variety of personalities to befriend and grow with. And we liked that the outdoor space supports a variety of play types under a beautiful leafy canopy. It's all turned out beautifully. Judging by our daughter's energy at drop off and pick up, her transition to MSP was immediately easier than her previous transitions. Even in her first weeks there, it was clear that the structure made it easier for her to get through the day than at her previous school. In the past year and a half it's only gotten better. The vibe is relaxed and confident; they really know what they're doing and everything about the program feels intentional. The teachers are very thoughtful about helping our daughter navigate socio-emotional development and challenging social dynamics, and are happy to discuss strategies with us when we ask how we can support at home. Although her classroom teachers are primary, she has great relationships with all of the teachers in the play yard and they all know her well. She is developing strong social skills and has made wonderful friends. The community of families has been warm and fun for all of us: we regularly meet classmates at King School Park after school, the staff organizes incredibly fun family parties for holidays and more throughout the year--usually featuring Music Man Chano and his band, total celebrities for all ages!--and there's a meal train organized every time a new baby arrives. Lunches by Chef Miguel are expanding our daughter's palette and simplifying our mornings at home. We can't wait to start it all again with our newborn when she turns 18 months old!

Both my children attended Mustard Seed preschool. It's a…read morereally wonderful place run by people who truly care about children. Candace, the director, treats everyone like family. She's also a very insightful and creative educator. The administrative side of the school runs very smoothly and they are very accommodating of different schedules and constraints. My kids, now 10 and 12, still remember Mustard Seed fondly as a place where they were surrounded by loving teachers and great friends.

We love the Model School! All three of our kids attended and our youngest son is currently in the…read moreToddler 1 room. The school is incredibly convenient for working parents, with a flexible schedule between 7-6pm and you have flexibility to pay by the hour, starting at 20 hours and up. Our boys were very ready for kindergarten with the solid PK curriculum and learned wonderful social emotional skills as well as got potty trained. Our youngest started in the infant room and is now in the one year old room. The teachers are incredibly warm and caring and the parents group is very active and strong and supports the school through facilities upgrades as well as by supplementing enrichment's like Music and dance. Come visit and check it out!

We were thrilled to find the Model School!…read more The waitlist was pretty long ... took about 3-4 months to get into the Toddler Room for kids that were over 1 year old and can walk. But once we got in, we soon found why this place is so popular! The teachers/caregivers are absolutely amazing! My son, who was 14 months at the time had only been taken care of by family (parents and grandparents) so adjusting was really hard on him! We had tried another daycare facility and they refused to deal with my son. (They would call us to pick him up within 5 minutes of him crying). The Dr Mante (the director) and the teachers at the Model School (numerous of them, not just the one's assigned to my son's room) did everything they could to get my son comfortable. They would hold him, walk him around, talk and sing to him, play with him, try out other classrooms and teachers (because he connected faster with some) ... etc. Though it took some time my son eventually got comfortable with drop offs, started eating well (sometimes too well) and his naps went from no naps to 30 mins, to over an hour, to sometimes over 2 hours! Other things I love about this place: - The daily routine and schedule which my son thrives on - Play based but with structure and variety. - Ability to socialize with other kids of varying ages and other adults. - Art, music, books, dancing, playing sessions - Very active parent group that's always working towards making the school a better place.

I can't say enough good things about my family's experience at the New School. Its wonderful…read moreteachers take the work of creating a loving, safe, child-centric environment seriously, providing just the right balance of support and independence for kids as they discover themselves, their peers, and the world around them. The New School is great environment for working parents, with hours that reflect the reality of the work day, camps on days when public schools are closed, and a delightful summer program full of field trips, swimming, and ample play. We also really loved how the New School eased our transition to kindergarten by giving my child a familiar place with his longtime friends to go every afternoon. The fact that BUSD buses kids there from many elementary schools was a huge convenience, especially given the intense demand for afterschool care in Berkeley.

Amazing after-school for our 6 year old. Wonderful community, excellent teachers and care-givers,…read moreand a lovely place.

#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.

We've been members of the JCC of the East Bay for a couple of years now. With one kid in preschool…read moreand the other in the after school program, you could say we're pretty much typical family members. The preschool has been just terrific for our younger child. She's in her second class there, and the teacher's have been wonderful. She loves going to school every day, and sometimes has to be coaxed to leave. The teachers are very attentive to each kid, organize days with a combination of fun and developmentally focused activities, and seem really dedicated to what they do. There are all kinds of special "extras" such as dance, music, art, storytelling, and gardening. The classrooms and outside space have plenty of room for play and running around. Our daughter's made a number of friends at school, and their parents are more than happy for play dates and other get togethers outside of school. There are classes for kids as young as 2, and all the way up to Pre-K. The program includes extended care as early as 8am and as late as 5:30pm which is just awesome for working parents. We're also very happy with the after school care, Center Stage, at the same Berkeley location. Our son's been there 2 years, and loves it. There's transportation from local schools in multiple districts, with arrivals as early as about 12:00pm (1/2 day kindergarten). The program runs until 5:30pm and is for kids Kindergarten through 6th grade. They run multiple enrichment classes including drama, music, martial arts, art, cooking, etc. There's an option for homework time, including appropriate assistance. There's also plenty of opportunity to forgo all the formal activities and just have free hangout time. Our son's made several friends there, and often prefers to just hang out with them. For both programs, and for the JCC in general, there are plenty of holiday and other events and parties that can include the whole family. There are also holiday/vacation camps available when school's closed during the year, and these typically include some really great field trips. There's also a highly-regarded Summer camp, as well as what's supposed to be a great after school program in Oakland as well, but we haven't signed up for these. For families with kids as well as everyone else in the local community, there's a music festival every year that is a really big deal, all kinds of other performances and classes during the year, and a well-established and very well attended seniors program. Overall we've been very happy with JCC of the East Bay on all counts, and plan to be members for a very long time to come. It's a heck of a great community center. http://www.jcceastbay.org

Just spent my 15th or 16th erev Rosh Hashanah at the JCC, thanks to the wonderful organization…read moreknown as Jewish Gateways and their two amazing rabbis, Stephanie and Bridget. What a fun experience! My three year old was able to enjoy a safe, supervised playground adventure with kids his own age, while we grownups had our own time during the service. If you are searching for meaningful Jewish interaction in a safe, secure, worry-free environment, this is the place for you!

LOVE Shu Ren! Michelle, Alyssa & Yi Que made applying easy! Amazing communication & follow-up…read more Enrolled my daughter a couple weeks into the school year & they made sure Olive was well taken care of. Everyone was at the gates on her first day, welcoming us & making her feel at home. When we picked her up she raves about her teacher Vivien & all teachers. She shares with us all the lessons she learns - from washing her hands, sharing & so much more. Her Mandarin is getting stronger each day & couldn't be prouder of her. Beyond appreciative of the care, attention & thought that goes into her development. The Head of School, Rebecca is very present & the entire faculty is friendly & sincere.

Update: More staff have left/been fired, particularly the good ones that were left.... incompetence…read moreis the word here. Administration is near impossible to communicate with to find concrete answers with. Not at all happy with how the head of school has made her choices, they seem uninformed.