This is not a review of the daycare program itself but rather of the "application" process. If you are thinking about sending your baby or child to this daycare, I would think twice about paying the deposit. I was 3 months pregnant when my husband and I found his growing grove. We put down a deposit for about $250 to "apply" for the daycare program with the goal of sending our child here at 4 months old. We were basically applying one year in advance. They told us they would give us updates on when there was an opening. We didn't get the update that there was an opening until March 2024. It's hard to believe that there was no opening (i.e., not one single infant in the program learned to walk and got moved to the toddler program during our six month waiting period). Our main problem is with the deposit. The deposit does not save you a place in line and it is not refundable. It merely gets you on a list of people to be contacted when there is an opening and then it's a free-for-all to see who submits the final paperwork first. The most reasonable approach would be to not pay anything until there is an opening and then submit the fee with all of the paperwork at that time. Unless time is not a factor to you and you have daycare somewhere else, you should not rely on there being an opening here. It's basically a lottery and you are potentially throwing away your money. We found another daycare that allowed us to send our child on the exact day we requested from the beginning. This daycare had less kids and was able to give more attention to my child. read more

I am normally not a vocal person, especially not on Yelp; however, as a mother, I feel compelled to share my personal experiences with this organization so to provide a broader perspective for potential families who are also looking for a day care center for their children. My husband and I have a 22-month old daughter and it was our intention to send her to pre-school when she turns two years old. Knowing how difficult it is to secure a spot in a good pre-school, we started searching for one when she was only 4 months old (around November 2015). We found HGG, among others, on Yelp. Like many parents, we attended orientation sessions and opening houses. At the end, we narrowed down to 2 centers and since HGG was able to promise us a spot in writing to the Little Lamb class when she turns 2 in September 2017, we also committed ourselves by putting down a $250 deposit in January 2016. Lone and behold, around September of 2016, we found out that we were expecting our second child in May 2017. After much consideration, we also decided to enrol our unborn child to HGG to the toddler program for December 2017 and put in another $250 deposit in December 2016 to secure a spot. Between January 2017 and April 2017, I have been in close contact with the enrolment officer at HGG and in each conversation, I have always been reassured that they have a spot for both my kids at the date they have previously promised. Without any prior notice, I received a deposit refund of $250 in the mail in early May 2017. I called HGG right away to find out if there has been a mistake. It turns out that the enrolment for my baby to their infant class for December 2017 has been turned down and the only explanation given was because of a mix up in their administration (over-booking of babies to their toddler class). With only one week away from the due date of my unborn baby, they had put us under tremendous stress as both my husband and I have already committed to our respective employers our back-to-work plan under the assumption that we are able to send our baby to HGG by December 2017. In addition, when I tried to confirm the enrolment of my 22-month old daughter for September 2017 on the same call, we also found out that they have to postpone her for another year (i.e. until September 2018). By that time, I was furious. If I have not asked, no one at the center would have told us and we would be in deep trouble by the time September 2017 comes around. I apologize for the long read but I do feel strongly about my experiences. I have lost total faith in the school. We cannot help but to speculate whether there were any unfair preferences (i.e. over ethnicity, religion preferences, parents' occupation, etc) for the applicants on the waiting list. It does not matter how well-equipped the facility is, how great the programs are and how attentive the teachers may be, if the administration is run so poorly, as a mother who plans to be an involved parent for my children, I have serious doubts on how well the center is actually being run, which will directly affect the learning environment for my children. There is definitely disappointment for not being able to enrol my children to the school but my above comment arises solely from my frustration of the poor communication from the school administration. I encourage other parents who have also received their unexpected refund deposit in their mail to come forward to also share their experiences on Yelp since I am certain I am not the first and won't be the last. read more

I have had 3 kids go through this preschool and I was happy until the director changed. Kandi is very difficult to give feedback as she is passive aggressive. The school curriculum is outdated. She even goes as far as hold your child back from advancing classes. Many great teachers have left unfortunately. Also the church is placing a homeless shelter on the site which is very concerning for safety. This by the way was not communicate to parents till the last minute and when you ask any questions, the response is vague. Recently pg&e had a power outage that didn't affect the school and the doors were closed with no commutation to parents for 2 days! This is outrageous given the high fees we pay. Please be aware. read more

I finally got time to write some reviews for HGG. I've heard lots of good things about it before my son joined. He spent about 9 months at HGG around 2017. I think it might have been due to the director change. The teachers in room 2 (not sure about this number, little lamb? ) were not happy. So on the first day of school, when I dropped off my son the teacher was super cold and said:" new kid? I didn't know we are getting new one!" Overall the morale in the classroom was really bad and I don't see any love and care they put in kids. My son didn't speak English very well when he joined and after a month or so, he could yell "you're not listening to me!!! " very well. Cannot imagine what happened to him... Some time we picked up the kids early and even saw the teacher giving them YouTube to watch on her phone. Also during that time, they raised the tuition... I'm so glad my son joined another very very good school afterwards and it's also cheaper. Though the location was not as convenient to me as HGG. I'm so sad that each time we drive by grove way and my son saw that church sign, he still panics and said he doesn't wanna go back to that teacher's class. I don't think he remembers all the details as he was very little at that time but he must have been pretty traumatized due to that experience. read more

Only spoke to them twice and clearly it's all about money. Never discusses any curriculum with me or made any suggestion to certain issues that came up about the payment method. It went from $250 application fee PER CHILD to all prices are going up in January. Christian based? read more

The ONE star for this place says all: Eek! Me thinks not. Well I finally got a chance to sit down and write a review for this school. We put our daughter in their Little Lamb program and it didn't last long that we felt it was best to pull her away. We've never expected a toddler at 2 years old would learn much from any place but at least should be able to learn something even in a play based environment. To our disappointment, when they say play, it is simply PLAY All day play in a very disorganized environment. They don't have any circle time or put it this way, the only 'CIRCLE' time is watching TV. They played songs on their antique TV. Kids and teachers gathered around the TV in a very short distance. Shouldn't the teachers be the one singing the songs? Why do they rely on the TV? We noticed that teachers weren't too responsible. Everyday when I picked up my daughter she must be playing in the yard. I tried to pick her up at different schedules and she was always outside. Teachers were always chatting with each others or between fences. As a parent, I would believe they were hire to be watchful, keeping their eyes on kids, especially kids are still TODDLERS...but no, they weren't even aware that I was there. There were times that when I tried to drop her off in the morning, the assistant teacher would not even bother to come over and help during that 'morning bye bye moment' - my daughter was crying because she didn't want me /my husband to leave. The assistant teacher wasn't working on anything but cutting papers...Little kids are like that, they might continue to cry/whine for a little while after their parents left, but ultimately they will stop! The teachers won't offer to take the kids away and to them, it was the parents job to calm down the kids before leaving the classroom door. Teacher is supposed to be the role model for the students at school. So, I would assume they should be nice and friendly. I didn't know how they treat the kids but at least no greeting to me as a parent. You just have a very COLD feeling from them. The front desk girl is the only staff that is nice. ( I don't remember her name, I think is Kari or Kelly, something like that). We are so glad that we found another school that is more suitable for our daughter and I believe this is the voice that many parents need to hear and these are the facts that people need to know about this place. read more

Finally -- we found a preschool that is clearly focused on the needs of the children as well as the parents! I had interviewed more than 5 other facilities before I found His Growing Grove. After my initial walk through and talk with Lauri (the Admissions Director) you could hear me scream Hallelujah!!! That should say a lot because I'm NOT religious. After interviewing other daycare/preschools in San Ramon, Dublin and Castro Valley, it was immediately obvious to me that this place was different. Kids weren't screaming, they were smiling and well mannered. The teachers weren't scowling at the kids, they actually looked as if they enjoyed their jobs! Honestly, sending my child to His Growing Grove was the best decision I've made in a long time. I highly recommend you check them out if you're considering a Christian preschool. Oh, and best of all -- their competitive tuition includes all meals/snacks! IMHO they deserve all 5 yelp stars and then some! read more

Let me start by stressing how seriously I take this review. This review isn't for a restaurant, a hotel, or some other service that could rate 1 star or 5, it is for a service that has immeasurable impact in/on your child's life. My wife and I did NOT take this search lightly. Our first daughter attended HGG from ages 2-5. When it came time to enroll our second daughter, we looked for a place closer to our house (we live in Pleasanton - driving to Castro Valley daily is not only a pain, but out of our way). We just could NOT find anyplace that was as warm, caring, and genuinely interested in the health, well-being, and education in our child than HGG!!! With recent events at child care facilities making the news (for the worse), I felt compelled to recommend HGG. Our oldest daughter is now in grade school and is not only doing well academically, but socially. Our youngest, who will graduate from HGG this summer is also very bright and outgoing. HGG has played an enormously important role in their developing into wonderful people. That daily drive out of our way to Castro Valley? Could NOT be easier knowing why we are driving there!!! read more

I have never felt so comfortable with a place to leave my children. My daughter has been there for a year now and I am so upset that I wasted 3 years somewhere else. I then enrolled my newborn son and as soon as I went back to work, he started in the infant room. The Staff , Administration and the Teachers are the best I've ever encountered and worked with. My daughter and son absolutely LOVE all of their teachers and are eagered to go to school daily. I love the Christian foundation and my daughter enjoys memorizing her monthly bible verses. She has daily homework and is learning to read and speak spanish. The Teachers genuinely care for my children and they get to know each child and parent personally. If you are thinking about enrolling your baby or child into any Child Care facility, do not think twice about His Growing Grove. It is the best hands down! read more

My daughter has attended His Growing Grove for three years. She is excited to go to preschool in the morning because the teachers are very caring and loving. I feel that those teachers create an excellent academic environment for the children. My 4-year-old is kindergarten ready already. The school provides nutritious meals and snacks for the children too. I highly recommend His Growing Grove!!! read more

His Growing Grove is an amazing childcare. They provide a great curriculum for young children healthy development. The latest technology in classrooms which are super Clean and well maintained. The snacks and daily lunches are very healthy. The teachers are highly trained and very loving.The staff is very welcoming, kind and patient. The hours are great and they are very flexible on dropping off your child in the morning hours. They work very well with parents and children development. Thank you to the extraordinary teachers who cared for my son Miss Claudia, Miss Jade and Miss Maria. Thank you His Growing Grove. read more

I am not vocal on Yelp. But it's my son's last day at HGG and I feel so grateful to this place and all the staff there, so I want to share my experience with everyone who is looking for a place of their precipitous one. I have a 5 year old boy and a 3 year old girl. Both of them love here. My son came here when he was two and half. He was a little shy boy, only spoke Spanish and Mandarin. But now, he is vocal and confident. He learned so much from the teachers and his classmates. Everyday, he shares with me his science projects, his fun time and the books he read at school. It took me quite an effort to convince him to not be upset about leaving. HGG has bible lessons and dedicated worship time. I really love that. One day I was doing "pretend or real" game with him at home. Of of sudden, my boy paused and said to me: "Jesus is real." He might have learned this from the bible lessons, but more importantly, he saw love and faith in the people of this place. read more

My son has attended this school since he was two. At last we found a school that was willing to work with me and my son's unpredictable and sometimes challenging behavior. We currently reside in San Ramon adn went through two prescools there that were not willing to work with the normal behaviors of a two year old. This school is so amazing it is worth the travel time to Castro Valley. He will definitely attend this school until he enters kindergarten here in San Ramon. I am truly blessed that my son and I are part of the His Growing Grove family, yes family, that is how the teachers and faculty make your child and each parent feel. If you want a certified preschool in the area who TRULY care about children and if you want peace of mind that your child is in the BEST environment this is the school for your child and you. read more

Both of our children have gone to HGG (although we are not religious). One child went from 2 yrs of age until he graduated to go to Kindergarten (didn't do TK - instead he stayed at HGG). Our second is still in HGG and has gone since she was 2 and is going to graduate this summer. So altogether we have been HGG parents for almost 7 years continuously. Some of the great things about HGG (don't mean to be repetitive with other reviews): 1) Care from early morning - 6pm 2) They follow the required child/care provider ratio religiously. 3) Clean facility and they do a clear notification if the room has been exposed to some virus etc (inevitable when you have children with siblings attending) 4) Meals and snacks provided and a posted menu weekly. 5) Teaching kids hygiene - they make kids line up and wash hands before mealtimes etc. 6) Potty training (for the youngers) - they work with you on it in their programs since they take all age ranges and give you some helpful tips as well. 7) Separate play areas for the different age groups - they keep smaller kiddos (babies separate from toddlers and separated from the older ages. 8) Lots of arts and crafts and opportunity for kids to be kids and play in the sandbox, sensory tables, playdoh, etc. (I'm always taking home their artwork, cleaning some sand out of my daughters shoes because she loves the sandbox) 9) They do focus on teaching - you can see their posted schedules in every room - Monday - Friday varies depending on the day. 10) They have very low turnover in teaching staff and the teaching staff really cares for the kids. One of the challenges with preschools and all teaching professions is pay/turnover. Over the time we've been there, we still say hi to the same teachers that taught our first child. 11) Constantly working on their curriculum - They brought in the smart boards a few years ago and the kids have taken to it. They also teach the kids responsibility by assigning them "chores" or jobs within the classroom. Our first child was an outgoing one, but my second didn't like ANYONE except mommy. Not even grandma could hold her. Now she is super outgoing, talks and talks to everyone, and is doing great. I haven't done a review until now because we've been so busy with the day to day, but now our 2nd will be graduating and we won't be visiting HGG anymore and I know we've really valued having such a great place for our kids in our neighborhood. Ms. Kandi was a wonderful teacher with a great focus on academics. I hope that as the new Director she spreads her methods and philosophies throughout the school even more. Since she has started I already noticed more science topic project weeks where kids make art work and learn about the science topic for that week. read more

My youngest son went here and he loved it. He loved doing "homework" like his older brother so the staff would give him lots of homework to do while he was there. I was amazed at all the things he learned on a daily basis. He started going there when he was 3 and as he got older they would let him "help out" with the toddlers because he liked helping out and was gentle with the little ones. They were so great at meeting the needs of each individual child. I was so sad when my son had to move on to public school. read more

My daughter started at HGG when she was 2 1/2 yrs old and recently left to attend Kindergarten. Prior to starting at HGG, we took a lot of time trying to find the right place for our daughter. Our primary concern was the SAFETY of our child, the cleanliness of the facility and the daily programs for the class. After visiting many preschools (Peter Pan, Montessori @ Five Canyon, Happiness Hill, etc to name a few), we decided on HGG despite it being more expensive than the others. On our first visit, we had a great experience meeting with teachers and staffs who were all very friendly. Again, being that SAFETY is our main concern, I found HGG to be VERY SAFE for our child. All parents are required to have a special key to enter the facility which is ENCLOSED except for the play area. Those without keys or visitors MUST BE buzzed in by the front desk receptionist (Kerry) who seems to be there ALL THE TIME. This gives me comfort knowing that strangers cannot come in readily. Other schools that we have visited "claim" to have someone there to monitor who comes in and out but there were instances when we visited and it wasn't so. The facility itself is VERY CLEAN ... especially after we've seen other facilities. Upon entering the facility, you can feel the warmth and the setting of a "school" rather than a day care center. Children were mostly well behaved. Another plus for this facility is that the children were provided meals (breakfast, lunch and snacks) using fresh ingredients from Traders' Joe nearby. I can truly say it's fresh because there's kitchen on site. For some this may not be a plus because their children may not eat the food provided. However, for us, this was a great idea because as working parents, we don't really have time to pack food for our kids every day. And even if we could, the food would not be the "hot" kind but rather something that can be packaged. Having this "hot" food was great for our kid so that they can learn to eat whatever is given to them which would come handy when they start kindergarten. The programs for the children were also great ... it is a balance of "play" and education. During the time at HGG, my daughter learned sooo much ... not just educational but also social (sharing, communicating, playing together, etc) which are vital to their growth. After all, we can't expect our children at this age to be Einstein. Well, to be honest, I did not know what to expect from our daughter from HGG since I'm not sure how much do we expect our daughter to learn and know UNTIL my daughter started her kindergarten yesterday. Having other children to compare with, I see now how well mannered my daughter was, how she can read more than others, how she can write "neatly", articulate what she is trying to say, how easily she can cope with new surroundings, AND MUCH MORE. I am not a parent that expects soooo much from a school to "teach" our children (after all, the parents are the primary teacher of our children) but I am impressed and satisfy of how our daughter have progressed. THIS IS WHAT PROMPTED ME TO WRITE THIS REVIEW for HGG. Special thanks to the our daughter's teachers: Ms Kandi, Ms Eineida, Ms Gloria, Ms. Betty and Ms. Maria ... THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR DAUGHTER'S LIFE !!! read more

Went to Kindergarden here. Loved it and visited after I graduated. It was always clean and I made some life long friends here. The teachers were so nice and the playground was awesome. As a child, I only have good memories of this place. As an adult, I've never heard anything bad about it. It's amazing just how many people gave gone to school here. read more

Cody is having a great time at HGG. We greatly Ms. Claudia and Ms. Veronica for teaching and taking care Cody. Ms. Claudia also was the teacher for Cody's older brother. Thank you Ms. Claudia and Ms. Veronica! read more

BEFORE HGG we had our daughter at a highly regarded Peninsula preschool with a minimum 1 yr waiting list to get in. We were so excited to have her in the program and to have her close to us while at work. But as soon as she started, we wanted out. At first I thought I was expecting too much but after getting to know some other parents they felt the same. After they lost their accreditation (but still were in business) we pulled our daughter out. We had a friend recommend HGG to us and scheduled a tour. It was like night and day compared to the old school. Not only do they have a great program but a strong sense of community that fosters confidence and builds soft skills other schools may advertise but not deliver. Thank you to Ms Kandi, Ms Eneida, & Ms Patty for getting our little girl ready for kindergarten! She is super excited to start in the fall! We love HGG!! read more

We visited a dozen day cares before choosing His Growing Grove. The staff is extremely professional and caring. Our daughter reached developmental milestones sooner than we anticipated and much of it due to the environment at His Growing Grove. read more

I have had two kids go through HGG, and know the staff well (I serve on the parent committee), and have had the good fortune to meet many parents that I am happy to call friends now. Here is a simple list of why I love this place. 1. Beautiful facility (part of the Presbyterian church grounds...much of it is available for kids to go on supervised adventures around campus). 2. Security (key fob entrance with staff right at front desk at all hours) 3. Teachers who have worked there for decades (a good place has good retention of employees and a sense of community) 4. Cool classrooms with library areas, toy areas, science areas, tables with various activities 5. Age-appropriate outdoor play areas (an Eagle Scout recently came and built this cool school house in one of the play areas). 6. Service of food that is cooked on site by Miss Lourdes...one of my kids' favorite people. 7. While I am not a religious person, I like that the premise of the school is religion-based. The basics of human kindness and love are part of the curriculum and my kids learned to understand those principles at an early age. 8. Set schedules of activities so you know what to expect on certain days...like days they get to go to the gym, days they can bring a share toy, wear a certain color t-shirt. My kids love these special days. 9. Year round community events that parents can get involved in, like fundraising for classroom or play equipment, spring cleaning days, teacher appreciation week, parent appreciation week, week of the child, book fair, etc.... 10. Finally, I love the fact that when my daughter started kindergarten last year, she was confident, well-adjusted, knew how to make friends and knew how to take care of herself. She couldn't yet read like some of the kids her age could, but her HGG teacher (Miss Gloria) had told her "Don't worry about that...one of these days you'll wake up and it will click", and she was right. About a month into kindergarten, my daughter was reading. And she remembered what Miss Gloria had said. My daughter believed in herself, and is in part, due to her experience at HGG. I am so glad I found this place 7 years ago. read more

My son went here for 4 yrs (1.5 to 5.5 yrs old). He recently "graduated" from the pre-k classroom. As for academics, he and 3 other children from his class are all attending the same Kindergarten now and are more than well prepared for the work they will be doing this year. The kids do have to test to get into the new school class and all 4 passed with flying colors. Socially he has flourished and bloomed learning how to interact with other children, respect adults, and to become independent and do things for himself. The teachers and staff at HGG are simply the best. They all know every child in the school, not just the ones in their class. Each is kind and patient (and I mean PATIENT) with the children. If they would have had a continuing Kindergarten and/or grammar school option, I would have never left. The value is there too. My son loved the meals and snacks provided each day. The kitchen staff are very conscious of planning healthy meals for the kids. They are also very accommodating to children's allergies and/or special meal needs. Lastly, the security is simply awesome. It is one of the main reasons we chose HGG 4 years ago. I was a nervous wreck to let my baby out of my site. After the tour and the 1st day, I never worried again. The school is on complete lockdown. A key fob is needed to enter, and there is always someone at the front desk/office to monitor anyone requesting entrance that does not have a fob. There is a high security fence surrounding the entire outside area. Staff is medically trained as well to alert yo if your child is ill. I would post every teacher's name here if there were space - so special kudos to: Ms. Carrie, Ms. Kandi, Ms. Ruby, Ms. Betty, Ms. Maria, Ms. Gloria, Ms. Glendy (got my kid potty-trained at 2.5!), Ms. Jerry, Ms. Tess - and the list goes on................. read more

My 2 year old joined His Growing Grove in October 2016 and here's why we love it ! 1. Clean and Hygienic environment ( I have looked at their bathrooms and kitchen several times and it's always clean) 2. Diverse activities and learning pockets in the classrooms and outside in the play area 3. Meticulously designed curriculum for kids. 4. Delicious and nutritious meals (breakfast, lunch plus afternoon snack) prepared daily in their super clean kitchen. 5. Teacher to student ratio is great 6. The day care provides a great structure to the child to look forward to daily. 7. The staff is approachable polite cooperative and understanding. 8. The timings are great (up to six in the evening). 9. There's a variety of activities including music and worship, Spanish , circle time, sand box and nap time to look forward to so the kids don't get bored. Nice play area for kids to interact and explore. 10. My son looks forward to go to school and is happy and smiling when I pick him up. And the most memorable experience so far has been the Christmas pageant and Halloween! HGG is a crucial part of our life now. Thank you HGG! read more

My daughter has attended HGG since she was 3.5 years old. She's now almost at the end of her term there as she starts Kindergarten and the fall and we'll be really sad to leave this amazing preschool. We've been to two other preschools in the area and by far HGG is the best. They have smaller classes which is great for that 1:1 time that the kids really need to learn and thrive. The environment is safe, clean, and they have up-to-date learning facilities like the "smart TVs" in each class, etc. I'm truly impressed with the school. And, even better that they offer meals in the tuition and they are GOOD and healthy meals. My daughter eats everything every day (she doesn't do this at home) and tells me about the "yummy food" she eats. Score! All of the teachers are amazing and have the biggest hearts. You can tell that they genuinely care for each of the kids. We've experienced the Praising Penguins (Room 6) and Giant Giraffe's (Room 4) and although they had some turnover last year, I can truly say that this past year I've really seen a difference in a good way. Kandi (the new director who was a head teacher) has done an amazing job since taking over. You can't go wrong with HGG. Your child will thrive and be set with all the necessary skills for kinder. My daughter counted to 100 the other day while driving her home from school and she's also already starting to read. She'll be ahead of the pack for sure. Thanks HGG for the amazing experience. read more

Both my daughter and son went to His Growing Grove and I wouldn't have it any other way. The environment is caring and comforting to children and parents alike. The staff is EXCELLENT!!!! They really do care about your child's best interest and work hard to deliver the best possible care. I have recommended HGG to many of my friends who have little ones and they are glad they took my advice by having their children enrolled. If you're looking for QUALITY childcare and the BEST environment for your child to thrive, HGG is it! read more

Our daughter attended this childcare from 2016 to the end of 2018, starting with Little Lambs (Ms.Rocio) and transitioning to the Pinguins group (Ms. Claudia). We loved all of the teachers, the curiculum and the whole schedule they had for kids. The food was good as well. Our daughter still talks about the friends she made there. We really liked this place and would definitely recommend it to our friends. read more

I can't say enough about how much not only my wife and I love this school, but also how much our children love this school. I mean what can you say about a school that my son, who graduated, still loves to visit. We aren't religious, and this was initially a concern for us, but that concern was very quickly erased. I believe it is partly because of the religious foundation of the school, but I can tell you that it is amazing how much ALL of the teachers, administration, and staff truly LOVE and care about the children. It's common to find at least one good teacher, but to universally have high opinions of the teachers is pretty amazing (and between both of my kids, I have had experience with 5 of the 6 classes). The fact that so many teachers have been there for so long is a testament to how much they enjoy working there (some over 20 years!). If you notice, I call it a school and not a daycare. There is a huge difference. We have tried other day cares and "schools" in the area in the past and I can honestly say that this is the one my children have learned the most from. It's amazing to me how much fun they turn the learning experience into for the children. Our son is finishing up Kindergarten currently, and I can say that he was so well prepared and had such a great foundation from HGG (His Growing Grove) that it definitely made the year smooth and easy for him. As others have mentioned, the fact that they make food for the children (breakfast, lunch, and snack) is huge! They have great play structures and a gym to play in. Nothing but praise for this wonderful school! If you are looking for a great pre-school, do yourself a favor and check them out. And do your homework, ask parents around you and/or current parents. read more

My 5 year old son and 2 year old daughter are currently enrolled at His Growing Grove (HGG). I love everything about this school: the kindness of the staff, the various activities my children do throughout the day (and the art work they come home with to prove it), the healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks provided (loves this - saves me time, planning and money!)... We are not Christian, but just love the loving environment of the school. The school is clean and they have access to a gym, which is particularly great in the winter. The tuition is from 6 am-6 pm and even though my children do not go there that long, the flexibility it provides is amazing for working parents. read more

When transferring to this center from MDS we weren't sure what to expect....but we soon found out that this move was the right choice! The administration is hands on and wonderful and all the teachers are fantastic, plus they have been there for up to 18 years (that is pretty much unheard of in these large centers). The food that is served is kid friendly and adds to my kid's exposure of other foods than my cooking...and they love it. The availability of the gym is wonderful during hot or rainy days, as they get to run off steam no matter what the weather looks like. The outdoor play areas are great and fairly large which gives the kids room to play without being crowded. The 3x/wk worship-time is great fun for the kids as they get to sing and dance along with the music (We are not a religious family). We love it here - and I know you will too (plus Trader Joe's is only steps away , so you can quickly do your groceries before getting your kids! How awesome is that)! read more

Our daughter has been attending His Growing Grove for the last two years and she loves it. She started when she was two and has been in both the Little Lambs and the Praising Penguins class rooms. The teachers go out of their way to make the transitions as smooth as possible. As you can imagine it's tough for a small child to say goodbye to friends she sees everyday and join a new group. The teachers start by having her spend some time in the new room, along with her favorite teacher, for just a couple of hours a day. Slowly it transitions to the child spending most of her day there and soon she looks forward to staying in the "big kids" room. As the other reviews have said, HGG is a very caring and child-centered preschool. Every day Christina comes home with artwork and stories about the fun activities they did. I couldn't imagine having our daughter go anywhere else. When our son is two years old, we'll be signing him up as well. read more

My daughter attended HGG for 3 years, from ages 2-5. We just love the environment, the teachers and the cirriculum they have. They do a great job teaching the children preschool and pre-kindergarten basics while allowing them to be kids and have alot of fun. My daughter felt loved and cared for there. She just started kindergarten this fall and was well prepared. I would highly recommend HGG to anyone seeking child care for an infant up to age 5. read more

In May, my 9 month old daughter was FINALLY enrolled after several (4-6) months on the waitlist. We were sooo excited. By September I had pulled her out and October she started at a new daycare. The teachers were nice enough. My major complaint was the schools policy and practice on communicating when communicable diseases are going around. They have no problem letting me know when there is a bake sale, t-shirt sale, day off, etc. But when the room has been exposed to the stomach flu (highly contagious), or hand, foot and mouth (highly contagious) is going around, I find out because I've already taken her to the doctor because somthing isn't right with her. And when I called to speak to the director at no point did she tell me when the exposure took place, how many other kids called in sick, etc. It was like I was the one that brought it to the school and she was quietly blaming me. So needless to say after 4 months, and she wasn't there full time either because of my travel schedule, I just didn't take her back while I waited out my 30 days of paying them but not sending her. I've since found a smaller, more personal place to send my daughter and she hasn't been sick once!!! This place clearly works well for some; but my advice is to ask directly about their communication policies. As this is my first child, I didn't even think to ask about how they will let me know when there are contagious diseases going around. I guess I assumed that they would have the common courtesy to tell me and not post it on the door days after the exposure occured. So be certain that you are happy with how they respond to this question and hold them to this communication method. read more

Undoubtedly the best pre-school in castro valley. There is low turnover of staff. Some have been there for 20 years. They are caring, patient and knowledegable. The directors are down to earth and not at all decadant and arogant. Non Christians are also very welcome and respected. There is no confusion for kids from people who are part of a family with a different faith. Kids enjoy the religious songs and the emphasis is on learning through pllay and respect for ourselves, others and the environment. We tried other expensive schools in CV but this school is head and shoulders above the rest. read more

I looked at 8 other preschools in Castro Valley and this was by far the best. When doing my interviews at the other schools, I always asked, "If your school was full, which school would you recommend?" and without fail, every single other school recommended His Growing Grove. It is a little more expensive than the other schools in CV, but it has great security (you have to have a key fob to get in the doors and the front office is right in front of the door and always manned), and the kids get a full breakfast, lunch, and snacks (which saves me time and money!) and the schools is very clean. The teachers are very nice and seem happy to work there, and there is very low turnover with the teaching staff. They also have a lot of events that encourage parent participation, which is fun. My daughter is very happy here! read more

My daughter attended His Growing Grove from 3 months old until she "graduated" at age 5. She is now in Kindergarten and is thriving. We give all the credit to the wonderful foundation she had at His Growing Grove. Our daughter spent many hours there and never once was she ready to go home. The teachers have become like family -- they are caring, nurturing and truly want to be there. Take a look at how many years the teachers have worked there. The best retention rates in this field by far. They do a great job of teaching children academics and allowing them to be kids and have fun. The principal at our elementary school even confirmed that the kids who come from His Growing Grove are best prepared for Kindergarten! Check it out. read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about His Growing Grove. My two sons thrive here. The teachers and support staff are incredibly caring. They concentrate on educating the whole child - emotionally, socially, academically and spiritually. The commitment they have to the children is very evident. Walking through the classrooms at His Growing Grove you see age appropriate learning going on and, most importantly, happy, smiling children and teachers. The staff always make each day meaningful and fun. My boys love coming to His Growing Grove and never complain about having to go to school. They usually complain about having to leave for home at the end of the day! It gives my husband and me such peace of mind knowing that our sons are in such a positive, safe and loving environment while we are at work. They are always so happy here. If you are looking for high quality child care, I highly recommend scheduling a tour of the facility. I don't think there is a center around that compares to this one. read more

I couldn't agree more with all the positive comments! I have two young daughters at HGG (5 months and 2 years) and they are both very happy there. All the teachers sincerely care about my girls and the feeling is mutual. The facilities are very well maintained and always clean and safe. I highly recommend this facility to my friends with daycare needs. read more

My daughter has been going here for a year and a half, and i love the place. More importantly, she loves it. The teachers love the children, and the facility is well-equipped. It is more expensive than other day cares/preschools in the area, but is well worth the cost as there are no others around here like it. And it is still much cheaper than places in the peninsula or San Francisco. I like the security aspect mentioned by others, I like the fact that the office and staff are very organized, and I like the fact that it has a "school" feeling to it, with planned activities and events for families. Five stars from this mom! read more

We brought our son over when he was 3 month old, the first day when he entered the school, he was smiling as he knew he will love to be in this place already. My son is now 7 month old, and everyday when I pick him up, he is always happy! And everyday I get a report of how my baby was doing that day, it's also very helpful. I also get to know every teacher ( Christa, Lily, Lynn, Petty, Julie & Michelle) in his Tiny Turtle room and they are all warm and kind with kids!! I am glad that we made the right decision for my baby. read more

Both of our children have been there since they were around 6 months old, my oldest is now 3. They both love going there:-) The staff there is fantastic. The staff turn over rate is very low. The teachers are very knowledgeable, caring, patient and loving towards the children. My oldest has excelled socially and academically here. She is continuously learning new things and coming home with projects that she has done. Individual attention is paid to each child. All the teachers and admin staff know our children by their names! The food program is great too. They have different play areas for the kids and a gymn. This is undoubtedly the best daycare/preschool in Castro Valley. read more