I've been in education management & leadership development for over a decade managing some very…read morehigh, and very low, performing schools in NY and NJ. While my formal training is in middle school years, the basic principles around things such as (1) family engagement (2) class observation templates (3) teacher development (4) clear & consistent behavior support plans etc. share standard expectations. I deeply respect the teachers and educators for their work. But without most basic structures and systems mentioned above from leadership, there will continue to be gaps. Outside of the leadership structure, it was concerning was how frequently students changed. Student persistence was especially low in my sons class. The rate of change in teaching staff and the lack of communication around the changes is of concern. I would show up and ask who an adult in the room was and would be told "oh that's XYZ, they've been working with us for a week". But I had had zero communication about this adult being in the room. Or, because parents aren't allowed in the class, I would receive an email "effective tomorrow X teacher is no longer in Y class". Kids need consistency and reliability.

Such a wonderful school- highly recommend!! The teachers are…read morenurturing & the students are always engaged and excited by the STEM & Character Ed Program.

This place is magic for my daughter, and was for her big brother before her. Children and parents…read moreare treated with kindness and respect. The atmosphere is calm, a welcome respite from busy lives. My son has a wonderful grasp of numbers thanks to all his hard work with the math beads. My daughter found her voice and made her first friends in the 2's program. The community of parents, teachers, and administrators is wonderful. We love MMS!

Both of my daughters attended Madison Montessori School and both loved it. It was a nurturing…read moreplace where children were treated with respect and loved learning. The teachers and staff seemed happy to be there and were dedicated to the children. My husband is convinced that both our girls' confident and direct way of dealing with adults is a result of their relationships with teachers and staff at Madison Montessori. The girls still recall the school fondly and remark on how relatively "boring" public school kindergarten was.

Wonderful school with teachers who go the extra mile with each child. I love that there is a six…read moremonth age span in each class and that the student:teacher ratio is beyond what is required in the state of new jersey. They also take two year olds, not just two and a half year olds, like other schools. And they change diapers! The director is really educated and practical, which is very refreshing. Amazing place for a first school experience.

The Gingham Giraffe Preschool is a fabulous preschool. The director, Mrs. Smith does an amazing…read morejob! The teachers are warm and nurturing. The curriculum is age-appropriate and focuses a lot on social skills which is so important at the preschool level. In addition, the preschool provides many additional activities such as lunch bunch and enrichment programs. An extra bonus is curbside service. The wonderful teachers will take the children out of the car at the start of school and put them back in at the end of school. Parents never need to leave their cars! My daughter is very shy and was hesitant to start school. After one day at the Gingham Giraffe Preschool, she could not wait to go back! She loved it so much that we decided to send her an additional day. My husband and I truly feel blessed to have our daughter in such an amazing preschool! The Gingham Giraffe has helped her develop a love of learning! Kudos to Mrs. Smith and her wonderful teaching staff!

Beyond disappointed in the bait and switch we received by the school. We toured the school 3 times…read moreand weren't given all the information needed to make a decision for our sons to attend under AFTER they received our registration fee AND the Friday before they were to start at the parent orientation. They make the 4 year olds wear uniforms (never disclosed), all children must use the school provided backpacks (never disclosed) amongst other school related decisions we were not disclosed. When we attempted to get our registration fee back we were told we're weren't charged tuition and the charge wasn't enforced as a "good faith" gesture. Pretty much you're lucky so no your $600 registration is ours. The owner was absolutely rude and snarky. The education director is cold and very rude. Make sure you ask every question you can think of because they don't ask, don't tell.

TL;DR: This is an amazing school with caring teachers. Your child will learn so much and will love…read moregoing to school. Our now 2yo daughter started at Primrose of Florham Park last summer after we relocated to the area. During a time of such transition for her, Ms. Samuels and her other teachers provided so much nurturing, love, and compassion for her. She has since transitioned into the Toddlers class where Ms. White and Ms. Santana are loving and patient with her antics AND she learns so much. Over Christmas, she came home one day and just started naming colors (at 18mo!!). She now counts as she goes down the stairs. It's clear that education truly is the foundation for everything they do and that they do it with love for each child. Lastly, I will say that in addition to her teachers, our daughter has great relationships with people at Primrose who aren't even her teachers - Ms. Cathy, Ms. Joseph, etc. To me, this shows that the culture at the school is amazing in every classroom environment. Another benefit of going to Primrose is the app they use - Procare. This may seem trivial but it's been a huge upgrade from our previous daycare. You can customize notifications to get real-time photos and updates from your child's day. And, on tough mornings, the school will send extra photos to reassure you that your little one is okay. Regarding COVID-19, the school has taken critical precautions that thus far have prevented any school shutdowns or outbreaks. It is sometimes inconvenient to keep our daughter home with a cold while we wait for a COVID-19 result; however, it gives me peace that everyone else has to do it too. Overall, we're so glad that we chose Primrose. And our daughter is too - she squeals when we pull into the school parking lot most days.

We loved the Goddard School in Florham Park. The staff and management are excellent - caring,…read morethoughtful, genuine and practical. We had to leave because we moved, otherwise, we would have stayed there forever! We were in the infant room and the teachers in that room KNOW babies. I fully trusted them with our baby and knew that he was well cared for and safe during his time at school. Thank you to everyone at this school - you truly made our son's first year awesome!

Teacher student ratio does not meet state requirement. Will merge two different age groups together…read morefor a whole day due to lack of teachers. The stability of the teachers is pretty low and quality of floating teachers is poor... witness younger infants were crying in the morning while teachers did not do anything. Owner should step in and strengthen management.

I repeatedly tried to contact Little Duck Day School to inquire about enrolling my child, and I am…read moreextremely disappointed with their lack of responsiveness and effort in responding. Despite multiple attempts to reach out via phone, email, and Facebook messenger over the past several weeks, I have not been able to reach them in a timely manner. I didn't get a responsive until I repeatedly sent messages.This unprofessional behavior raises serious concerns about their communication and overall reliability. If they are this unresponsive to a prospective client, I worry about how they handle communication with parents once a child is enrolled. I will be looking elsewhere for more dependable childcare options. Edit - After digging even deeper, it is not surprising that this day care has a health violation. I feel like we've dodged a real bullet on this one. Parents be aware.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Little Duck Day School (LDDS)! From the moment we walked…read morethrough the doors, we felt an overwhelming sense of warmth and professionalism. The staff is incredibly attentive, caring, and genuinely invested in the well-being and development of each child. The facility itself is adorable and thoughtfully designed to create a safe, engaging, and stimulating environment. My child is always excited to go to daycare and comes home with the biggest smile, eager to share all the fun activities and new things they've learned. The curriculum is well-rounded, incorporating a perfect balance of educational activities, creative play, and physical exercise. Communication with parents is top-notch. We receive regular updates, photos, and detailed reports on our child's progress, which gives us peace of mind and keeps us connected to their daily experiences. The staff is always approachable and responsive to any questions or concerns we might have. What truly sets LDDS apart is the genuine sense of community they foster. They organize wonderful events and activities that bring families together, creating a supportive network that extends beyond the daycare walls. In summary, this place is a gem in our town. They provide exceptional care, a nurturing environment, and a strong foundation for our child's growth and development. We are incredibly grateful to have found such a fantastic daycare and highly recommend it to any parent looking for the best care for their little ones! Miss Amanda has been such a big impact in our lives. My family has never been happier.

My experience with admissions and the director was poor. Very unresponsive and inattentive…read more Curriculum wasn't well articulated, we were unable to meet our children's teachers, and she gave one of my two spots for my two preschoolers away without notice after we were penciled in, and said: "let me know if you still want the other spot." I'm glad this happened early because I'm sure I wouldn't want to deal with that throughout the school year.

The Sprout House is the best possible early childhood education you could give your children if you…read morecannot be at home with them yourself. I sent my children as part day preschool and to this day I accredit their earth conscious minds to the Sprout House. My eldest just went off to college on a scholarship to a music conservatory and it was (partly) due to him starting off as a Sprout. His brother 1 year behind him is an Eagle Scout now. They were encouraged to explore, learn and be themselves in the kindest way possible. The fact that some of the teachers have been there over 20 years speaks VOLUMES to the caliber of care taken to retain employees, and with that comes caring educators. I cannot say enough good about this little gem in the heart of Chatham. May many more children "sprout" from this fine establishment!

So far we are very pleased with the care at KA Florham Park. They are very responsive to phone…read morecalls and follow COVID protocols diligently. They provide cameras for us to check in on our child, lunch and 2 snacks, and an end of the day report sent via email and through the app. Staff is friendly with us and our child is happy going there.

Kiddie Academy Florham park is the daycare with a lot love and care. My daughter Viki started her…read morefirst year at 2.5 years old. The teacher Miss Amisha and Miss Emily pad her to sleep and always hug her. She feel very safe and happy here. They have breakfast and lunch and another afternoon snack included which gives us peaceful mind. Other than that, they have live cam which you can see your child activities , eating, playing and sleeping real-time. Their skills learning and characteristics developing is the best. There is a daily report to record all of their activities and projects including what they eat during the day and how much. This is truly a best daycare I would recommend to any l body.

When we moved to the area we needed a loving, caring, fun, and comfortable environment for our 1…read moreyear old son. We are so lucky to have found Little Friends! The teachers are amazing and the hours are great for our crazy schedule! Thank you for making our move less stressful. Now we love the area even more!

From the owner: Little Friends of Chatham is an early childhood education program for children ages 6 weeks--6…read moreyears. Encompassing both a preschool curriculum and nurturing childcare environment, Little Friends has something for everyone. Little Friends understands the busy lives and schedules of the modern family and offers the most flexible scheduling available. Our exceptional preschool program is fun and comprehensive. We embrace that every child learns in their own way and tailor classrooms activities to meet their needs. We offer complimentary enrichment activities to enhance the learning experience.

Every day our son comes home with a new story or skill he learned at Cresthill. Last week he even…read moreused sing language to ask for water! With our hectic schedules, it's amazing to see the school filling in gaps and supporting his growth. The staff is attentive, and the environment is safe and stimulating.

Our daughter started at Cresthill just a few months ago, and already she's showing curiosity we…read moredidn't expect at this age. She sings the song she learned and talks about her classroom friends constantly. The facility is bright and welcoming,and the teachers genuinely care. It's a relief for working parents like us.