My husband and i searched high and low for daycares in the area at an affordable price. Leucadia…read morechildrens school has kids on the waitlist for a reason. My daughter has only been in daycare for a month and a half, but i can already see my daughter's improvement with her speech, coordination and overall senses. She is so bubbly and always looks forward to daycare - she sometimes doesnt even greet me goodbye because she is so excited to see her friends! Alicia and her staff do such a great job making both my daughter and parents at ease! I am so comfortable with all of them, it feels as if i have known everyone for years! They are always responsive with texting updates, they give us newsletters for weekly curriculums and also gives us things that shes worked on at the end of the week. never have i ever had my child feel left out or out of place. This is a great school, filled with great teachers and its such a great location! I cant be more pleased! Thanks alicia and the team! My family loves you!!!

Leucadia Children's School this red school house is located in an artsy section of town on the 101…read more(literally off of the Coaster tracks), literally in a red house. The school is run by a young mom who's family has been running the school for years. The school is curriculum based, and has literacy and basic arithmetic elements as part of the curriculum (as far as I could tell from the tour). Tuition is on the higher end. $1010 per month for full time, for a 4 year old. Other than being relatively close to the beach, this school was only average in my book. Nice staff, though. And cool location.

FIVE STARS! I cannot say enough good things about The Purposeful Preschool!!! I am a very critical…read moreperson who has to do a lot of research before I make any decision, especially the huge decision of who I would trust my 2 children and their early education with. After looking into many other preschools, my husband and I knew that Colleen was the best we could find. She follows the Reggio Emilia and Montessori model. If you don't know either of those, look them up! They're the best! There is so much respect for the child and his/her needs, emotions, interests, ect. The school is filled with lovely natrual materials and non-electronic toys to foster the children's creativity and curiosities. I knew i wanted inquiry-based learning, but PP is inquiry-based learning and more. Colleen really personalizes the lessons and materials for whatever the kids are really interested in or needing that week. For example, I mentioned to Colleen that my son was having tantrums and his emotions just seemed too big for him, and after trying everything I was at a loss to help him. The next preschool day, she had books and a game (which she ordered online) all dealing with a toddler's experience with big feelings. It brought tears to my eyes, because I knew that was exactly what he needed! This is one example out of many! She always goes the extra mile and you can tell she loves all her students and loves what she is doing. The preschool has an atmosphere of genuine respect and care for one another, which I know is because Colleen models that for them. There is never any shaming or punishment when they misbehave, but always an age-appropiate interaction to help uncover why the child is acting out and what are better options for them to choose instead. By witnessing Colleen's example, I have learned to be a better mother and my children have learned how to become more kind and compassionate little humans. That's worth more than anything can buy. Another example, there is a technique she uses for sharing and, since my kids started at the preschool, they have become excellent sharers to the point that other parents notice at the park and playdates and they ask me how I did it! A 2-year-old and 4-year-old who exemplify sharing to other children. She's a miracle-worker. I obviously love this Preschool for my children and it is very hard for me to be concise in this review because there are so so many things which I could rave about and keep writing for days. If you've made it this far in my review, just schedule a tour and meet with Colleen. I can guarantee that your child will be grateful you chose The Purposeful Preschool. My kids count down the days with excitement for every "Preschool Day". Seriously, give it a try.

Coming from a conventional preschool in a big city to a home-based preschool in Encinitas was truly…read moreblossoming for our daughter. We made a big move, worried about how she would transition and what a new area would bring. Stars aligned finding The Purposeful Preschool and we took the chance (confident of all aspects of the school but just apprehensive as parents with all the change). What we thought would be short-term is turning out to be the perfect fit! It's totally magical. Our daughter has grown leaps and bounds in confidence. She's worked personally with Ms. Colleen on communication, potty-training for naps, conquering fears, writing, letters and the list goes on. Ms. Colleen is attentive (we feel spoiled), so incredibly loving, creative, patient and really a joy to know (she's totally a friend to us as well - and a local reference). The group this school attracts is equally loving. Truly feel lucky for our daughter - only wishing we could hang with her there everyday too!

This is one of the best places to send your pre-school child. This family-run business has been in…read morebusiness for over 30 years with two other locations--Encinitas and Vista. Kathy is the head cheese and her daughter runs this location. All I can say is that the children are really loved here. The emphasis is on supporting the children as they explore art, learning and playing. There are no or only limited time on computers and the kids can even play in their bare feet. I sent my child to the other location and she still maintains friendships that she established there. At this location the school house is set on a couple of acres of land allowing the kids to really get a that dose of natural fresh air they thrive in.

This is an excellent preschool in Encinitas. All of the teachers are enthusiastic and caring, and…read morethe activities are engaging. We enrolled our daughter here after relocating to the area, and her transition was seamless! She loves the outdoor/natural school setting and all of the creative activities that they engage in. The children create an art project everyday, dance, and do theme-based play. In addition, the school also tends to the more traditional school curriculum (letters and numbers). I am sure that our daughter will one day look back on her time at this school with fondness.

Absolute most wonderful teachers and staff, and such a special place. Both my boys went there…read more(newer Olivenhain location) and I can't recommend it enough.

Love this school. They take such good care of kids and meet kids where they are. They value play…read moreand understand that drive problem solving and long term success.

La Costa Valley Preschool & Kindergarten has truly been a second home for our family since my son…read morefirst started back in 2020, and as this is our last year here, I'm more emotional about it than I expected. Both of my kids have grown up at this school, and watching them thrive in such a warm, loving, and nurturing environment has meant the world to us. The teachers and staff aren't just educators -- they are genuinely caring people who know each child personally and make them feel seen, safe, and celebrated every single day. When I see my kids run up to their teachers and hug them because they've missed them, it warms my heart. Ms. Jackie has touched both of my kids' lives in such special ways. Ms. Julie prepared my son -- and is now preparing my daughter -- for kindergarten with so much patience, warmth, and dedication. My son is even coming back to read to his sister's class, and Ms. Julie couldn't be more excited to welcome him. Ms. Denise and Ms. Maize are both excellent, and my daughter still talks about them all the time! And then there's the joy of Ms. Mandy and her vibrant personality that lights up the room. All the ladies at the front desk (Janice, Erica, and Jeanne) greet us with the kindest smiles every morning -- they truly start our day off right. As I prepare myself for our last year here, I feel incredibly grateful. LCVPK has shaped my kids in the best possible ways, and it has shaped me as a parent, too. This school will always hold a very special place in our hearts. If you're looking for a preschool/kindergarten that feels like family, this is it. We were lucky to be part of this community, and we will miss it deeply.

We started at LCVPK in 2018 and have since sent all three of our kids, and we couldn't be happier!…read moreOf course, they've learned their colors, numbers, and how to be great listeners and students, but what truly sets this school apart is the incredible care and excellence of the teachers. Every classroom is filled with dedicated, nurturing educators, and Ms. Jackie has become like a second mom to my three boys. The peace of mind I feel each morning when I drop them off is absolutely priceless. All of my kids have loved going to school here and have been very well-prepared for Kindergarten. Jeanne in the front office is always kind and responsive to any questions I've had, which makes everything run so smoothly. LCVPK has been such a blessing to our family- warm, welcoming, and truly exceptional in every way!

My daughter is in her second year at Native School and we cannot say enough good things about it!…read moreUnfortunately there has been some bad publicity because a former employee (trying to steal students away to a competing school she was opening) fed parents misinformation that scared them, including launching a really personal attack against the amazing director, Shannon, who is an incredibly transparent and thoughtful preschool director. She hosts regular meetings for parents to talk to her and will also always be happy to hop on a meeting any afternoon to discuss any questions and concerns. The program itself stood out to me immediately for being a really good supportive model for development. The students are not playing "Lord of the Flies" out in the woods, they are guided and supported by amazing teachers who spend their afternoons writing documentation of the learning in their classrooms and designing emergent curriculum. We could not be happier with the school we chose and our daughter loves school passionately. We have even decided to keep her in Native School another year instead of moving to the free public TK because of how much we love the program and the teachers.

***Warning to parents*** My experience with the teachers…read morewas generally good but you could tell there was a disconnect between them and upper management due to the high turnover rate and disruption in teacher continuity. The frequent and disruptive staff changes significantly effected my 4 year old son who was upset to see teachers come and go. At the end of our semester for 2024-2025 it became worse and substitutes/new faces were very common. We were told by some teachers that quit that safety regs/guidelines were not being followed(especially on rainy/stormy days). All that being said, we decided to pull our child out from the Fall 2025 semester. We had already paid for it but we figured we would be returned our reservation money due to the circumstances. Management refused our first attempt to reimburse us even after my child's spot was filled(Bad business etiquette). So here we are with our reviews and our next steps will be small claims. In the contract it states that they will maintain a consistent and properly staffed program...That was not our experience.

I have to highly recommend Little Thinkers Preschool! I have had all three of my children go…read morethrough little thinkers and it's been a great foundation to their success in school. Mrs. Heather and her excellent team of teachers give love, care and great early education to all kiddos there. We were so lucky to be at Little Thinkers and can't imagine my kids starting their school journey anywhere else. Also the art work they bring home is the BEST!

We love Little Thinkers! Our oldest attended from 18 months-4 years and we now have our 2 younger…read morechildren there. Heather and the crew do an excellent job providing an entertaining program of arts and crafts and learning about a variety of topics, so the kiddos are always excited when they are dropped off and sad to leave. We have also appreciated the socialization aspect of getting our little ones together with other kids, and thankful that Little Thinkers provides a great environment for this at a very early age. This school has been an incredible blessing for us and we've happily referred them to all of our friends!

This school is so sweet and the staff is caring and attentive. When you walk in class it feels…read moreincredibly peaceful and calm. My kid is given the opportunity to learn and grow and gain confidence in so many aspects of daily life. Plus she learns Spanish. The teachers Ms Ely and Mrs Yvonne are kind and make the kids feel special. Josue who manages the front desk/operations is also so kind, flexible and communicative with parents. It's a sweet, safe and confidence-building environment and I would recommend to anyone looking for a Spanish immersion preschool. We love it here!

This school is wonderful! The space is beautiful, tranquil and spacious for this kids. Our 3 year…read moreold loves it. They have plenty of activities planned each day and they send precious photos regularly. The teachers are attentive and professional in the way they foster learning. They treat the kids with kindness and patience. An added bonus, our boys Spanish grammer and vocabulary are growing quickly. 10/10 would recommend.

When I first saw this place, I was like oh it's just old school, California earthy. I liked earthy…read morewhen I was young this will be great. Mistake number one on my part. I am sure this was a great place and idea in the 70s. I don't know the exact history, but it was probably more of a small neighborhood school for the neighborhood when it began. But truth be told, it isn't what it used to be. I don't know maybe it was always like this and nobody expected anything better or thought that they would need to evolve. We have evolved as parents, teachers and guardians of how to raise a healthy secure child and how to really help them thrive and feel safe in a pre-school/school environment. There are too many incidents to mention and too many red flags to mention of what my child witnessed and I myself witnessed and other parents witness but I didn't know any better. Your young child will not be in a physically safe environment in the outside area, there are hiding spots for children of all ages to wreak havoc and harm each other. Despite what you're told, the bigger kids are definitely mixed together with the younger kids without proper supervision and it's basically a free for all. "It's a kids will be kids and boys will be boys environment". That said, they also have them watch tv if they aren't allowed to nap. Yes they can tell your child they can't nap, there is not room for everyone. The teachers feed them candy without asking your permission and your child will be totally filthy when you get them, unless it's raining, then they have to block the whole dirt/Sand back off because it will be totally muddy with pools of water. The bathrooms are also a free for all. If your child is potty training, this is not the place you want them. Although the 2 tiny little potties and sinks are cute, they have zero privacy. Children are allowed to open the doors and crawl under the doors while other children are going potty. I saw this more than once and nobody did a thing. Things such as big boys were slamming the doors back and forth bothering a little girl who was going to the bathroom. My kid who was learning said that he didn't want to go at school because the big kids bothered him, so he was terrified. Maybe they get to eat a proper lunch without being harassed. The children with emotional or behavioral issues are not helped properly and are left to do as they please to the other children if they are not constantly supervised. Even during lunch or snack time. My child literally begged me not to take him to school on several occasions and I just thought he was being a toddler but now I know better. I have also witnessed children climbing the fence begging parents not to leave them. Again, I thought this was normal. It is not. He and his friends were being bullied and tormented by other older children and he was emotionally stressed, time has passed and he STILL talks about it. When I had to address an issue and asked to discuss it, I was heavily dismissed and ignored. Security-They leave signs for delivery people on the front latch gate to leave packages in the outdoor hallway. Which means if your child is hanging around alone someone could easily snatch them. Granted it has probably never happened but it's not actually secure. Anyone can walk in through the two old iron school gates and harm the kids if they wanted to. This place in theory could be great if it were updated, cleaned up, painted, managed and staffed properly and not a total fire hazard. If you let your child go and he or she thrived, great for you, but if your child showed or shows signs of being abnormally stressed, hopefully they will be able to express that to you and hopefully you listen to them. My son was sad and stressed after only a short few months and my heart broke. I felt like the worst parent ever for not noticing it wasn't his age but the environment I placed him in. PROS-great art projects and Ms. Lara One teacher Ms. Lara was always kind and gentle and basically had to protect some of the children and she knew it, but even she was afraid to have a voice. I felt like she was pretty intelligent and should probably be in a better place herself; but Ms. Frankie, Ms. Cathy and the other teacher(s) were not that smart and I am not even sure if they have degrees in child development, If they do, I am shocked and I didn't ask and that is my fault. Cons-Everything else Please do your research, there are much much much better/safer options for your child and you only have to pay as much as this place costs or a few hundred more for a quality education in the area.

This is one of the best places to send your pre-school child. This family-run business has been in…read morebusiness for over 30 years with two other locations--Encinitas and Vista. Kathy is the head cheese and has guided many children in this space many well-ahead of the game when entering kindergarten. I can honestly say is that the children are really loved and looked after here. She has had the same employees for many years as they also truly love the experience. The emphasis is on supporting the children as they explore art, learning and playing. There is none or only limited time on computers and the kids can even play in their bare feet. My child attended this awesome school for 2.5 years and she still maintains friendships that she established there. Just a note, the location has never been renovated so be prepared.

We have had the BEST experience at Coast Kids. The teachers lead with their hearts and are…read moreincredible educators both academically and with personal growth. Our daughter feels right at home and we don't have to worry about her at all. I love how welcoming the staff is to parents, and there are easy lines of communication. We aren't a religious family, but still feel welcome. I highly recommend Coast Kids!

Love Coast Kids! My grandson went there 2 years ago and is now in elementary school. We just…read morestarted my 4 yr old granddaughter a month or so ago and she loves it. Right up until the morning of her first day she adamantly told us she was NOT going to school! After her first day there she was completely changed. The teachers are so caring and loving.