My older daughter graduated from the school two years ago and my youngest is about to begin her…read moresecond year. For our family the school has been wonderful. The staff is talented and committed. There is a parent participation component, as with all cooperative programs. This is something that drew me to the program. I was amazed my first year how varied people's situations are - one or both parents working outside the home part or full time, nanny's, grandparents and family friends helping out at pick-up and drop-off, as well as moms and dads working as stay-at-home parents. I didn't carpool, but some families arranged carpools. I often swapped child-care of my youngest daughter (when my oldest was in school) on parent-help days and then would watch another family's younger child when it was their turn. I've benefited from the sense of community at the school, and the chance to have a few hours every month or so to be with my child at school. The best part though is the positive experience my children have had at the school, developing social skills and learning through play.

My youngest attended their toddler program last year, and will be entering the 3-year-old program…read morethis fall. We had a great experience in his first year. It is a cooperative program, so you have to be open to that aspect. I personally loved helping in the classroom and getting to observe my child interacting with his friends. There are some volunteer components -- one work day a year to help maintain the school and grounds and service on one committee -- but they certainly aren't onerous. It's not for everyone, but so far I've found it very manageable as a working parent. The other parents are very supportive and open to switching schedules. I'm new to town, so I've found it a valuable way to meet other people and find a sense of community. The curriculum is play-based, so the focus is more on developing imagination, healthy social interaction, etc. I'm looking forward to seeing how the curriculum develops as my son progresses.

I love this place. I love the admin. I love the teachers. My daughter fights to stay (some days)…read more I know what she's doing there. I love the art they send home. I love that they're full service. I love that you can pay online.I love that they're in partnership with Kindermusic and have a music/dance curriculum. I love their transparency. I love that I know what my daughter is doing. I love that they capture when she moves from one developmental level to another. I love it all. Goodness, this place is great. I love this location, it's a good mix of wealth and working class. I freaking love this place. My kid does too. Period.

The director Nia is amazing, professional, compassionate, and dedicated. All the staff love their…read morechildren and openly communicate with the parents.

I am a huge fan of Mount Hope Christian School! They take kids from the community starting at 15…read moremonths. We love the community of educators and families that make the school. We feel that our children are safe, loved and being taught the values that represent our family's core values. The corner stone, of course, is that the education is great - my children are equipped with life skills and a solid educational foundation for a bright future. I have three kids: one who went to the toddler program, preschool, pre-K and is now in the elementary school; another is in pre-K; the last will begin preschool when she's 2.9 years old. One thing that continues to impress me is that every single year, we get an awesome group of teachers to instruct and partner with us to raise our kids. most of the classes are pretty small but have consistent and ample staffing to provide a stable and engaging environment. They are accredited by EEC & have a fun but challenging curriculum for each age/grade. Through early Covid, the school reacted and engaged with the students at a very high level online. In fall 2020, they opened back up for in person learning. Our family did not partake in that school year but we missed a lot of things about it and tried to stay informed. The only thing that has made me sad is when families move to public school for elementary and the little friendships and parent relationships fall off. I am encouraged that there is talk of expanding the school to include middle school in the near future and I hope this has an impact on more kids staying. Either way, we know Mount Hope is the right place for us! The facilities are well-kept and have recently been renovated (all of the bathrooms are new and updated and the playground equipment has been recently changed). There is a hot lunch program, which is prepared on site and catered by Burlington famous pizza. There is also for school and after school care options available. It's definitely an investment to get great childcare and education, but it's an investment well worth it! Our kids are our now and our future!

My experience with this school was extremely disappointing…read more My son spent 4 years here and completed 2nd grade unable to read independently. During that time, we trusted the school's guidance, paid thousands of dollars in tuition, and believed he was making academic progress. Only after seeking outside evaluations did we discover that he was significantly behind in reading and writing. In my opinion, this school is not properly equipped to support children who need additional academic help or who have speech and communication delays. Rather than providing meaningful support and intervention, it often felt as though children with extra needs were viewed as a burden. What disappointed me most was the lack of urgency and concern regarding my child's learning progress. As parents, we expected honest communication, early intervention, and a clear plan to help him succeed. Unfortunately, that was not our experience. Parents should carefully monitor their child's academic development and ask questions early and often. Do not assume everything is on track simply because your child is being promoted to the next grade. Every child deserves educators who are genuinely committed to their success and willing to provide the support they need to thrive.

I have two children enrolled at NCSC and I couldn't be happier. The facilities are amazing…read more Classrooms are large, bright, and well stocked and the kids also have access to a gym, auditorium, and a great playground out back. Coming from a city daycare that was housed in a storefront, we couldn't believe how much space our kids had to run around - rain or shine, they get plenty of activity every day. But more important than the space, what makes this place really great are the teachers and staff - they are truly exceptional. Many have been on staff for 10+ years, and they are all caring, dedicated educators. Everyone from the classroom teachers, to the front office staff, to the handyman knows our kids and says hello to them when we arrive. The teachers come up with the best ideas for projects, and give the kids a great foundation for kindergarten. They also have a great sense for how to help kids with individual issues they are working on. For example, we had a difficult transition last fall, big move, new home, new job and new daycare all at once. My then-3-year-old was overwhelmed and scared to go to her new classroom, which her teachers picked up on immediately. They started giving her "special jobs" like taking attendance and handing out snacks. I realized they were encouraging (but not forcing) her to socialize with the other kids, and as a result, she quickly made friends and adjusted to her new school. Within a week, she loved school and looked forward to going. Last but not least, I love the community service component of NCSC. There is an active parents' group that raises money for special events at the school, and NCSC also has a number of programs dedicated to helping low-income families, teen parents, and the elderly. It makes for a very inclusive atmosphere, infused with exactly the kind of values I hope to instill in my kids. I realize this is starting to sound more like a marketing pitch than an honest review, but I assure you, we are a real family who really love NCSC. We've been at 4 daycares before this one, and NCSC is leaps and bounds above the rest.

I have sent both of my children to FA for the past few years. I really appreciate their focus on…read morethe whole child, their emphasis on play-based learning, and their weekly communications through newsletters with pictures. I have found the leadership to be very transparent and communicative with the families. Truly the teachers love the children so much and they feel incredibly at home. Every time we pass by the center my daughter shouts out "that is my school!" because she is so proud and feels so connected to it.

Pine Village is a Spanish immersion daycare and preschool, with classes from infant to…read morekindergarten. There are a number of locations (10 by now?) and my son went to two: Brighton (for a transition summer before the new school opened) and Newton Highlands, and we toured West Newton. We LOVE PINE VILLAGE! It's clean, organized, professional, and so warm (emotionally, but also on cold winter days, literally). Spanish immersion. The teachers are native Spanish speakers but there are teachers who speak English (for kids who don't speak Spanish yet, and to talk to the parents who don't speak Spanish). The Directors are fluently bilingual and are around at dropoff and pickup if there is any linguistic confusion. (So no Spanish? No problem. Kids are supported in learning but are understood in English and parents can communicate.) My kid came in as a toddler knowing no Spanish and within a couple months he understood everything but responded in English, and now in preschool is expected to speak Spanish (with gentle prompting) given his abilities. There are Spanish books everywhere to read, or for teachers to read out loud. The price is on the lower side of area daycare/preschool, based on about 13 other schools I looked at. Still not cheap exactly, but maybe licensed trained and educational child care shouldn't be cheap, right? The 3 facilities I looked at are in different spaces, but all seem pretty nice and have access to play areas. The West Newton one is in a UU church basement near Mass Pike, and has a HUGE indoor space for winter running around. The Brighton one is in the bottom of a city block, with big windows, and a small playground/big field across the street, and a short walk away over a sky bridge is a huge glorious public water park with 2 big playgrounds, and Charles River walkways. (Pretty awesome especially in summer.) The Newton Highlands one is also in the basement of a church, in two large rooms, with a permanent smaller indoor play area and (depending on church uses eg play) access to the large empty room next door. There are two small fenced playgrounds and a short walk away is a big field. I'm told there are sprinklers for hot summer outdoor play. In addition they have group exercise classes, such as yoga or Zumba, which kids do according to interest & ability. Pine Village has a dedicated curriculum quality rep, who goes between all the locations to ensure that quality of education stays high across the sites and that best practices are shared. They're ok with different locations having their own 'flavor' or feel, so long as the quality stays consistent. They also really focus on emotional self regulation. Deep breathing like blowing up a balloon, and taking a time out to gather one's reserves when too emotional.

Needham location needs severe improvement. My son did not…read morelearn Spanish and his naps were way too long. He would arrived at 8:00am and at noon they went to nap until 3:00. I would then pick him up at 3:30. Terrible if you ask me. My son is 5 (late birthday) and he only needed an hour of rest. He never wanted to nap honestly. The teachers at times would put them to nap at 11:50 which made me a bit furious....I would pick my son up for lunch and sure enough when I would drop him off at 11:50 the teachers would place the kids down for a nap 10 min early. They need to move this location into a bigger suite/building. It doesn't look like they invest much because it's obvious inside they need new toys/everything really just an upgrade. For the amount I spent to have my son attend, I expected better. Lastly, Jenn Doyle from enrollment needs to be fired. She's rude and takes forever to get back to you. She typically has the same lame excuse stating that she is in a meeting which an attitude. I pulled my son out of Pine Village because I felt that he was not learning at all. He is now in another Preschool where he's been learning really quick academically in order to be ready for kindergarten. Look elsewhere or stay away from the Needham location. Lastly, my son learned horrible habits of hitting and biting from other children. That stopped at his new school because the teachers would not tolerate this. But, at Pine Village the teachers my guess is that they did not pay attention to the kids or no consequences happened for example. pulling the child aside. And this is why it persisted. The teachers are nice here but they have a high turnover...My guess is that the higher up's do not value them and simply do not pay them well. The higher up's only cares about profit and they are rude. They should try treating the staff every Friday to maybe lunch as a thank you. Lastly, in order for teachers to receive a bonus they ask us parents to donate money. We pay a lot for our kids to attend school. They should maybe give them a bonus on their end...

My son attended Old South Preschool for his first school experience as a preschooler. The school…read morecame highly recommended by a trusted friend and it was immediately apparent that Old South stood out from many of the other preschools we considered. The classrooms are bright, open, and calming with quality materials used for play and lessons. The many "stations" curated and rotated by the teachers ensure children can feel comfortable choosing between their favorite activities or trying new ones. The kids are exposed to many themes and subjects. The focus on education is on building blocks for kindergarten. Kids are exposed to math and reading in a way that cultivated their curiosity. Weather, calendars, arts, nature, you name it! It's amazing how much is picked into the year. Our sons pride in his handwriting and creative creations was clear each day as we were welcomed into the classroom to review his work at pickup time. The school's emphasis on safe exploration of the city was another draw. We wanted our son to become a citizen of the city. A safe street crosser who observes and learns from his surroundings. Hearing from our son about the classes prep for their walks and then their adventures and lessons around the city was great. Finally, the staff and teachers were fantastic. The care and attentiveness they brought to the school daily was always top notch. They were always available to chat about a rough morning departure for school or other issue. Their ability to handle occasional hijinks was also impressive with the children quickly learning proper etiquette and behavior. Director of Old South, Carolyn, was very helpful coaching us young parents through some behavior challenges and through the kindergarten admissions process. All and all we would send another child to Old South and would not hesitate to recommend this school.

My son attended Old South Preschool during the 2020-21 school year. The year before, he attended a…read moredifferent, more local preschool (we live in Somerville), but that school chose to close due to COVID. Given the pandemic, we were scared to send our son to school at all, and it was even more nerve-wracking thinking about sending him somewhere new. Old South Preschool was recommended to us by friends, and being members of the church (the school is non-religious), our son was already familiar with the building. We decided it was worth the longer commute to have him in school somewhere we were all familiar with. We had no idea what an incredible year he would have. The staff took COVID precautions very seriously, and the school was open all year. Even with all of the extra safety measures, our son felt safe, cared for, and looked forward to school each day. The teachers--many who have taught there for over a decade--are masters at what they do (I am also an early childhood educator and was continuously amazed by their ability to relate to and motivate each child). Our son left Old South more confident, independent, and definitely ready for kindergarten. Old South Preschool was such a bright spot in this very bleak year. We are so grateful to Old South and could not recommend it enough.

Our family loves Odyssey Day School! My son has attended for 7 years, going on 8, and we love the…read moreteachers and staff. We have made many friends here, and we enjoy the STEAM and nature education, as well as creative developmentally structured curriculum. Instead of teaching to a test, they teach to the individual child.

We can't say enough in the way of positive comments about this little gem of a school. Our…read moregranddaughter spent all eight of her elementary and middle school years at Odyssey Day School and experienced tremendous success in every academic area. She's a high school student now and is in the top 10% of her class academically, thanks in part to the patient and knowledgeable staff who helped her work to her potential in a caring atmosphere. I've visited the school several time and can tell you what I've observed. Not only have the teachers at Odyssey provided resources to allow the students to learn and grow, but they guided them in positive ways and encouraged social awareness, something that's very important to our family. Their student workshops are interesting and well planned. My granddaughter had the opportunity to learn about photography, rocketry and textile arts, among other non-traditional subjects. We enjoyed visiting the school and socializing with other families during pot luck suppers, picnics and ice cream socials and the International Week festivities. We found Odyssey very affordable thanks to financial aid, but even if we hadn't qualified, we would have found a way to send her to Odyssey. All in all, five stars.

We have nothing but wonderful things to say about the TLC educators and staff members. During our…read moretime at TLC, they really took the time to make us feel so comfortable with our daughter in their care. We absolutely loved her teachers Lisa and Leilany as they were friendly, paid attention to detail, and really encouraged our daughter's daily development. Cassie especially went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable with the whole process, and Taryn was great too. We were so sad to leave but recommend this center to anyone searching for a place for their children. They will be in such good hands with TLC in Burlington.

We have two kids at TLC and love the service! Our youngest has been going here for the last year,…read moresince infancy, and our eldest (4 years) transferred in a few months ago from another school. between the two kids we're experienced 4 different classrooms at TLC, and all have been excellent. We love that the classrooms are broken up into smaller age groups than we've seen at other schools, which keeps the kids engaged in age-appropriate groups. very low staff turnover, and the kids love their teachers! A+!