We had a great experience at the First Academy Montessori East Campus. Our 2 year old daughter was…read moreat First academy for more than a year and we have never faced any problems. The teachers were very caring and responsive to all our concerns. We received quick responses for all our queries. We diligently received daily log books for the kid's daily activities including food intake and sleep quality. The teachers were always thoughtful and verbally gave us daily updates about the kid's day at the time of picking them off and were at the door while welcoming them in daily. Regular Instagram posts also gave us a peep into what the kids were doing on a daily basis. One major advantage is the cleanliness of the place. The Montessori is very clean and well maintained. We would definitely recommend First academy if you are staying in and around Cornell, Markham.

This Montessori has exceeded my expectations. The caring and loving staff makes it the best…read moreMontessori. My daughter cried for almost two months, the staff from supervisor, her teachers to admin all were so patient and helpful during this hard transition from home to school. My daughter is happy she is enjoying a lot. After months and months of research looking for the good Montessori we are happy to find this one. Highly recommended!

My child attended this daycare for 2 days only. First day: Monday (Jan 3rd, 2022) he was there for…read morejust a couple of hours (intro day). On Tuesday (jan4, 2022) he stayed there for a nap. His dad an i KNEW it will be a disaster because he's never slept anywhere other than in his crib and we made the childcare staff aware of this. This daycare has video surveillance. My husband and I were glued to the camera during lunch and into nap hour. We watched my son repeatedly leaving his cot and being put back. At one point an ECE grabbed him and flopped him onto his cot, pushed him down (pushed his chest and torso down) and then pinned/held him there while he was kicking and screaming. This went on for around 2 minutes (we were later told by investigators who watched the video). I emailed the owner (Angie) and requested a conversation. Amanda wrote me back told me they can't talk and to email them. I wrote them a stern email asking for an explanation of under what circumstance is it ok to push and pin a child down on his first day of daycare to force him to stay laying down. They told me they will investigate the footage and call me in the morning. I never got this call. I followed up with another email requesting a call. I finally got a call in the afternoon and Angie minimized my concern citing that this "ECE has worked there for a year and never had any issues and that she was only holding him down for "literally seconds"" - this is not true. We went on talking and I kept listing other issues we've experienced in just a few short days (daycare staff lying when we saw the truth on video, being generally rough with kids (yanking them by the arm, wtc...) they haven't taken the kids outside all week, no covid protocol, etc...). I got no apology until I deliberately asked for one. Pitiful. I have this entire conversation recorded for anyone who wishes to hear it. In the end I yanked my child out, demanded a refund and they are currently under investigation with the ministry of Ontario and children's aid surfaces.

Great staff and great safe environment for the kids. My daughter attended for many years and i…read more have nothing but positive feedback for this daycare

super place my son enjoyed it he learned a lot the teachers are very caring I am very grateful to…read moreeveryone thank you very much.

Both of our children started here when they were just one year old, and it's been amazing to watch…read morethem grow in such a caring, safe, and nurturing environment. The principal, Tanya, truly cares about every child and always goes above and beyond to support families. The entire staff is kind, patient, and welcoming, and it's clear they genuinely love what they do. The daycare provides healthy, nutritious meals prepared fresh by an on-site cook, filtered drinking water, and is very accommodating to each child's individual needs. We especially appreciated that they were willing to make sleep arrangements for older JK/SK children when needed. The children enjoy so many enriching activities throughout the year. They celebrate different holidays and cultures, organize special events like puppet shows, graduation celebrations, and many other fun experiences that create wonderful memories. Thank you to Tanya and the entire team for your love, dedication, and care over the years. We will always be grateful for everything you have done for our family, and we highly recommend this daycare to any parent looking for a place where their child will be loved, supported, and encouraged to thrive.

It took me a while to find a daycare that both myself and my daughter felt comfortable with. I was…read morerunning out of options so despite reading the one bad review I gave it a shot. I literally signed her up on the spot. She didn't want to leave and after coming with her on the first day for an hour, she pushed out the door, on her first full day and said, 'go Mama'. I've never seen her more comfortable before in an unfamiliar environment. I genuinely feel they have taken the best care of my daughter in the 1.5 years she attended. I feel like she got 1 on 1 time with teachers on a regular basis, she often came home with braids in her hair or her hair redone after a nap. She learned so much and grew leaps and bounds thanks to her caring teachers. Kate looked forward to pre-school everyday and it was emotional for both us when she graduated. My son will be going to Maple Seed Montessori as well in the coming year. Thanks for being a wonderful place for my child to learn and grow and a place I feel at ease taking them to, knowing they are well cared for.

We enrolled our daughter at this daycare. She was 3 years old. It turned out they put all 2, 3, 4…read moreyears old in the same class. The program is not focused on teaching. Our daughter didn't have lunch and didn't pee at all for the first two days. The teacher told us this, but the office lady (one of the owners) said, "they all didn't eat in the first two days. " Finally we decided not to go with this one after the first two days. The office lady said they won't refund the one-month prepay (Just for two days!!!). She even thought of keeping our deposit. Worst experience at all. Be careful. This lady mentioned this day care as "business". She kept repeating "We cannot do business that way".

In general, Mother Craft-Avondale provides a reliable service, but it is not up to par. It is a…read morepositive thing that there are a few good teachers who take care of the kids well. The Manager and a couple of teachers show signs of discrimination. Discrimination is not acceptable in any part of the world especially in Canada. Due to the fact that our kids are in day care, I am unsure where to file a complaint. They might be more affected if the complaints are straightforward. Couple of parents I spoke to also have the same issues. I am sincerely hoping the Director of Mothercraft Avondale, as well as the top management at Mothercraft Avondale, takes note of this review and warns or provides training to those teachers and manager.

Overall, I am quite happy. And yes, the waiting list is quite long, I went on the list when my son…read morewas 3 months, and we have started attending when he was 2.5 years old. Right now the preschool price is 1180 (for year 2012). The good: - I find the program to be quite varied, there is an ambudance of good toys and books, that are not just fund, but educational. - Right now there is Yoga and Music on alternating weeks and library visits for kindergarden group. - There is a water day every week during summer, when kids get sprinklers and all sorts of water toys. - most of the staff is great, the children get picked up and physically cared for when they're upset. They also seem to be quite sincere and genuinely interested in small children. - some food from home are allowed: we are bringing organic milk, bread and cereal. - a fair size yard for outdoor play, with sand box and, could be bigger and better of course, but compared to what most daycares have it's very good. And lots of outdoor toys. It's a bit too shaded, which is good in the summer, but no sunshine in the winter. I think I have only seen bigger yards in schools, or in a few suburb private schools such as Montesorri or Waldorf. - Also, weather permitting, kids stay longer outside than mandated minimum for the second outing, which is great! - GREAT: a report is put up of how much kid ate, when they slept and what was the program for day (this way on the way home you can follow up with your child a bit). Could be better: - food - breadsticks should not see daycare even as snack. Neither should wonderbread. It's better to serve local fruits and veggies - they have more vitamines. Porridges are unheard of here (except rice). It's not bad menu, but sure could be improved. I also don't see the merit of milk with lunch. I'm sorry, milk is food, not drink, just like soup. And drinking milk along lunch with meatballs is just wrong by any established cuisine. Morning snacks are cold, which in the winter is bad. Milk is always served right out of the fridge btw. Gee, skip all the GMO corn cereal and serve everyone a mug of organic hot chocolate (warmth, iron, calcium and calories). Or nice oatmeal, polenta or buckwheat porridge (either can be prepared day of or day before and reheated). - too much sanitization w/ clorine. Better don't let street shoes and sick kids in and wipe runny noses promptly. And it seems to have been established that triclosane soap (anti-bacterial one) is not a good thing on daily basis. My sister with PhD in Bio says the same - it just kills all the flora and weakens immune system. Yet, the kids are using this type of soap. We personally have our own - it is allowed. - it's a bit chilly in the winter - around 20C - I'm a bit upset with all the waste with papertowels, especially when there is laundry on site. Although after lunch kids use damp clothes to wipe their faces.

After having my kids enrolled here for over 4 years, I seriously cannot say enough good things…read moreabout this school and the teachers. My daughter started attending when she was 2 (now 6) and my son began as a toddler at 18 months (now 4.5). The curriculum is expansive, including typical montessori activities/practical life skills (like washing dishes, tying shoelaces, folding clothing, polishing, potty training) but also very advanced academically. Through their guidance my daughter is reading at a grade 4 level and doing math at a grade 3 level as she enters grade 1. My son who is predisposed musically, can sing various beautiful songs in different languages, and has learned to write letters and read phonetically (entering JK). Most importantly, they absolutely Love going to school every day - they have been happy and felt safe there. We have had a few different teachers over the years as we progressed through stages, as well as a few constant (Ms. Eva - we love you!) and they have all been knowledgable, capable and exceptionally kind. They and the staff were always accessible and flexible when needed. And anytime I have gone to the school I witness kids who are happy, having fun and thoroughly engaged in their learning. The facilities themselves are located in the downtown core in an office-type building that initially seemed unusual for a school or daycare - but inside it is truly the sweetest little setup and the classrooms are clean, organized, well appointed and clearly taken care of. The outside area is small, but well utilized, and they also have an indoor playground which is useful for the winter months and bad weather. They've done a really great job with space in the downtown core, and you can really feel the sense of love and commitment to the kids there. Additionally - they include lunches served by ReakFoodForRealKids daily as well as snacks which offers incredible, healthy and diverse food. My kids, who can at times be picky at home, literally rave about the food - and they love that there are always healthy snacks available. Through BBMS we have additionally met a wonderful community of downtown families whose kids regularly meet and play outside of school hours. Our kids have fostered lasting and meaningful connections which continue to be a light in both our kid's and our lives. Every other parent I have ever talked to who actually attended Bluebutterfly also raves about their experience - and many have enrolled siblings after their first. Blue Butterfuly have truly been a rock for us through such integral phases of our children's lives, and in addition, during the pandemic - our family will forever be grateful to the staff and teachers here.

Our son has been attending BBMS for over a year now and we've seen him flourish there …read more.. Initially I was a little hesitant about the lack of 'real' outdoor playground feel but that has not mattered at all ..... There is a large play area that my son loves and most importantly we love the flexibility and friendly atmosphere which is important for parents juggling a job and school runs .. BBMS gets a thumbs up from us :)

We've went through various daycares in the area before signing up with Kids&Company. I even…read moredropped by few times to make sure what I saw during our tour was what you'd actually get. The site is very well maintained and extremely clean. The meals and snacks are carefully planned by a nutritionists who incorporate diverse menu (fish, tofu, various ethnic menus like pad thai) that incorporates seasonal veggies and fruits. I cannot say enough about the staff though - they truly love what they do and it shows. From the day we started transitioning my little one at 12 months, all the teachers have shown nothing but love and care. They make sure each child is engaged and cared for and I am always grateful for all the work that they do with the children. The webcam access to the room is also a bonus (it came really handy during the first few weeks when it was just as much of a transition period for me as it was for my child - I may have spent a good chunk of my day watching/weeping/laughing). Another added bonus is how responsive the head-office is to suggestions. Parents are encouraged to give feedback and suggestions and they are very responsive to parents' inputs. The weekly newsletter also allows us to know what my little one has been learning so that we can reinforce some of the things at home (ex. songs or books that they have been learning). Kids and Company really is as good as it gets in terms of daycare :)

I highly recommend Kids & Company to any parent looking for a full-time daycare for their child. We…read moreenrolled both our sons at the Finch and Yonge location and have been extremely pleased with the results. Our oldest (now in SK) moved on to full-day kindergarten and has excelled with the help of the preschool learning he received from the Kids & Co. team. The staff are always very friendly and considerate and always look forward to seeing my older son return to visit them. My youngest son is 3 years old and is currently attending the Preschool class at Kids & Co. Finch. He started off slowly with his language skills but since being at Kids & Co. he has quickly picked it up and is now able to communicate very well for his age. He is very engaged and interested in learning and this is because the staff at Kids & Company make learning fun. The site also offers a delicious and healthy meal plan that keeps the children energized throughout the day as well as regular outdoor play, as weather permits. The rooms are well-kept and there are usually two staff members in the preschool room, which helps keep things manageable and allows the preschoolers to receive special, individual attention, as needed. An added bonus is that the whole facility has recently been renovated and it really looks fantastic. The children are encouraged to play together and are taught to respect one another which in turn enables them to create lasting friendships, even at an early age. In fact, my older son still has play dates and attends birthday parties for friends he met at Kids & Company. My wife and I have been thrilled with the service and staff at Kids & Company - Finch. From the Site Lead, Stephanie, to all the staff members, they go out of their way to ensure that there is always open communication regarding our children, so that we can nurture and develop them together as a team. They are always courteous and professional when addressing any concerns or when relaying information regarding our child. My wife and I are very happy with our decision to send both our boys to Kids & Company and recommend them to anyone who is looking for a top quality daycare to put their child into.

My children have been attending Great Lakes Montessori in Vaughan for a total of 7 years ( My son…read morefor 3 and my daughter for 4 years). My daughter will be graduating in June and it makes me sad to leave this wonderful community. Teachers My kids have had Miss Illuminata for a total of four years, and she is amazing. She is the most senior teacher for the graduating students, and the children love her. She is both academically strong in teaching, (phonics, to support early reading, cursive, writing, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing) and is compassionate and sees the whole child so each student feels valued. All of my children's teachers have been outstanding. As a secondary educator myself, I have always been happy with Great Lakes Montessori. ECEs in the classroom , Ms Franca and Ms Alinda are excellent. French Mme Rita is a retired French elementary teacher who is super qualified in her post supporting French Language. Music Ms Lee is an excellent pianist and music teacher. She plays at each graduation and event. The kids love her! Meals Fresh food prepared by the school cook always includes fresh fruits and vegetables. Excellent value. Administration Ms Shazia and Ms Tina have always been professional, receptive, accommodating, and excellent in communicating and accommodating requests to support the well-being of our children. Special Events September grandparents day event, Bagel day with coffee. Pancake day with coffee, December Holiday concert, May Mothers Day brunch, June Fathers Day brunch, June Graduation ceremony. Parents receive gifts for special holidays. In fact I just finished a Mother's Day Brunch of melons, clementines, cheese, coffee and croissants with this special gift!

Bad experience! My son (1.5 years) was at this daycare part-time for almost 1.5 months…read more From the day two, we noticed neither my son nor his teacher (Sahar) was looking forward to seeing each other in the mornings. There were many mornings I had to stay and wait at the doorstep simply because Sahar was pretending she was busy with something, turning her back to the door as soon as she could see me and my baby boy coming down the hallway. And mind you that, these are the mornings I had to rush to go to work while dropping off my baby on my way to the office! On one occasion when I dropped off my child when I walked out of the room I heard my son screaming. I immediately looked back and noticed Sahar had hit my son's head to the shelf over his high chair and had proceeded to forcibly push my son into his high chair with anger. I went back to the room and helped her putting my baby in his high chair properly. That day I thought maybe she didn't have a good day so I let it go. I also tried to put my baby in his high chair every morning since after. On another occasion , my wife witnessed Sahar not being nice to our son when my wife went to the daycare to pick him up. Sahar did not notice my wife was watching her from behind the glass door! Bottom line is Sahar's attitude towards our loved one and us never changed. I never understood what Sahar's real problem was, but the truth is she was continuously upset to see us dropping off our baby at the daycare and she couldn't hide it. My son was at this daycare for 1.5 months and we never saw Sahar's smile. We expressed our concerns about Sahar to the supervisor(Shazia) but she said my son soon to be transferred to the toddler's room, therefore, she took no actions. From the second week, we started receiving calls from the daycare supervisor expressing concerns over the fact that my son doesn't eat by himself and doesn't walk. She got us really worried so we immediately took our son to see his doctor and his doctor thoroughly examined him and expressed absolutely no concerns over my son's motor skills. We offered to bring a doctor note to the daycare but the supervisor said she was only concerned and that there was no need for the doctor's note. The truth is that daycare supervisor was just preparing the ground for her next move. Keep reading! Towards the end of the first month, the supervisor contacted my wife and said she has found legislation that prevents her from keeping my son in the infants room, and some other legislation indicating that my son can't be accepted in the toddlers room either. We were shocked to hear this as it was never communicated to us. Basically, she asked us to stop bringing our child to her daycare! When we asked for her to refer us to the legislation or show us the existence of such information in the daycare's parents' handbook, she rudely refused to do so! Just to recap, we are in the process of filing a legal complaint with the ministry of education against the daycare and taking appropriate legal actions against Sahar. To us, Sahar could be anyone, but a child caregiver and we definitely don't recommend having your baby to stay with her nor with a daycare with such an unethical management style and lack of control over staff behavior. Another great example of a high price does not necessarily mean "high quality"! Update (May 16 2018): Yesterday and as soon as I posted my review on their Facebook page, I received the following message on Facebook messenger and Great Lakes Montessori page quickly went offline. See the following pictures for more information. ibb.co/dNV9Dy ibb.co/j9xBRJ ibb.co/gre2Yy Update (June 3, 2018) : GLM Facebook page has come back online, but rating has been disabled , my comment has been deleted and I've been blocked to leave any further comments. Due to characters limit in the Google reviews, I'll blog my response to GLM's unsubstantiated comments below.