We are so lucky to have found Playschool! It was Feb 2021, after visiting many other preschools this one was recommended by our pediatrician. The moment I saw the happy, joyful children playing outside I knew this was the right place for us. My 3-year-old was a late talker and needed help coming out of his shell at school and lots of patience in separating and transitioning. He needed help building independence, learning to wear a mask (we were still in covid), speaking up when he needed something, answering questions, making friends, cleaning up, taking turns, the list goes on. If all of this came easily for your little one - you are lucky!! It did not for us. But we got the help and support we so desperately needed from Ms. Rose, Ms. Shawnta, Ms. Maria Elena, Ms. Cristina, Ms. Ferneyn and Ms. Susan!! They have each been instrumental in helping him love school, not just critical academic skills but tons of new experiences he wouldn't have had otherwise (see pictures :). In the beginning, my son was the child who wandered around during circle time, not participating and not listening. We started off with a behavioral therapist in the classroom always with the goal of no longer needing the aide. Everyone at Playschool was so supportive and caring throughout this whole journey and their feedback was key in adjusting as needed. I'm so happy and proud to say he doesn't have an aide in the classroom anymore, even doing two short presentations to class (that's HUGE for him!) and we have his nurturing teachers to thank for that. Lastly, the best part is you get a weekly newsletter loaded with fun pictures and a summary of what the kids did that week. We're excited to be graduating to kindergarten in the fall, but we're just a little sad to be leaving Playschool. read more

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Our family loves Playschool! My oldest went there for 3 years until kindergarten (he was so ready!), my middle son is there now, and my youngest will start this fall in the parent and me class. All the teachers are wonderful, the classrooms and play yard are great, and the park setting is so so nice. Can't recommend it enough! read more

We are so grateful our son got to attend Playschool and their Practice & Play parent participation program. This has been a wonderful experience for him and I know it will help him seamlessly transition to the pre-school environment. He was always so excited to go to this school on Monday afternoons and loved seeing his teacher, Teacher Selena! She was absolutely amazing with all the kids in this program and made all the activities so fun. I knew right away this was the best place for Landon to be around other kids and have a lot of fun. I can't say enough positive things and would highly recommend this school to any parent. read more

Our family has been attending Playschool since 2019 and we've absolutely loved it. The teachers lead with play and encourage confidence, friendship, imagination, creativity and a love of academic learning. Our son and daughter are one year apart in school and have different personalities and learning styles. Both have thrived in their Playschool classrooms. Their teachers have offered us great insight into their unique characters and gave thoughtful advice on how to support their development. We adore the entire staff. Our son starts kindergarten next year fully prepared and confident in his ability to learn new things. We are going to miss this little school with its awesome staff and thoughtful curriculum. We're grateful for the important role they played in this magical season of life for both our children. Bonus: The location is also perfect- inside a beautiful park with a playground. read more

When we moved to the area, I consulted a few early childhood education and development experts from Stanford to find the best play based program I could for my son. Playschool was at the top of the list. Seeing my son's growth and development over the past two years, I can see why it came so highly recommended. While he started off shy and quite he has grown into a confident child who loves to play with his school friends and comes home excited to tell us what he learned that day. He has grown so much, personally, socially, and academically. The class sizes are small and the teachers are so loving and creative. He will be heading off to kindergarten this fall completely prepared for his next adventure. Our daughter starts this September in Playschool's two-day program and I am confident her experience will be just as positive as her brother's. read more

Playschool has awesome teachers and an amazing environment for kids! Both of our kids had a great time at Playschool. The teachers especially are exceptional! read more

We LOVE Playschool!! Our son talked about his teachers and friends every days including on weekends. At drop off he ran straight to the class room and barely looking at us while saying "Bye Bye" It's the best feeling to see our son is thrilling at school. The teachers energy is so bright and fun!! Susan, the owner is very open mined and listening to us parents needs. Their outdoor play area is one of the most beautiful ones in the area. I've been recommending Playschool to anyone I know and you should defiantly schedule the tour at Playschool. read more

Terrific place to send your kids. We sent our three year old daughter here. The prize feature is the teachers: Most have been teaching for many, many years. They know what they are doing. (Shoutout to Ms. Betsy who instilled a true love of art in our daughter!) The teachers and director seem to trust each other and have fun together. The setting is idyllic -- located in one of the most beautiful, prestigious, and well-maintained parks around. And the overall parent vibe is laid back and easy-going. Lovely preschool. read more

I love Playschool! My children have attended Playschool for the past 3 years and I cannot say enough wonderful things about this school! The staff is caring and attentive. My children have learned so much and become smart, independent and confident little people because of of their rockstar teachers. I will miss them terribly. read more

Both of our daughters have attended Playschool for multiple years. It's been a wonderful experience! The children love the teachers and the teachers love the children. The variety of activities is excellent. The setting (right in the middle of Holbrook Palmer park) could not be better. We love Playschool! read more

I cannot say enough positive things about Playschool. I've had two children there for 4 years total. The teachers are phenomenal and everything is geared toward developing lifelong learning, emotional well being and stimulating curious minds. We love Playschool! read more

I arrived from the UK and looking for a preschool for my youngest I started going to the Mommy and Me group at Playschool as a tester for future attendance. However I was very unimpressed. The classrooms were dirty, outside toys were old and snack time very unhealthy. The teacher also seemed more interested in chatting to other parents/staff than teaching the children. Unsurprisingly I did not enrolled my child here and was very happy with my decision. I later met a mother who had enrolled her son and confirmed all of the above negative issues I had experienced. The location is fantastic and the founder a lovely lady but my experience with this particular staff member put me off. read more

Playschool is located in Holbrook-Palmer Park in Atherton. There are classes for mommy and me, preschool, pre-K, and young fives. There is also a second location in Redwood City. It is a play based school with some structure that includes music and communication. They offer morning and afternoon programs. My son is in his first year of preschool here and he really enjoys it. He is always excited to go and each day asks me to read the calendar to find out what the activity is for that day. Recently, he's come home able to count to 10 in Spanish, say the colors in Spanish, and he's even taught me several signs! They have been learning sign language while singing songs. What's great is that my daughter will be able to attend in the fall because their preschool program begins at age 2 1/2. Many days she has a hard time leaving after we drop her brother off. I know that she'll be very happy to "officially" start school there. The classrooms are lovely and the teachers are warm and caring. There is an outdoor play area, and the school resides in a beautiful, expansive park. read more

We only started a month ago and my daughter loves this school. She learns something every single class she goes! The director makes the process easy to join and very welcoming! Our teacher is so friendly and great with kids. All the small details they do are so appreciated! read more

My children will be attending this school for the third year this fall. We've used the pre-school, pre-K and Young 5's programs and all of them have been nothing short of excellent. The teachers and director are all very friendly and welcoming each day. They treat all of the kids with respect and are very patient and attentive. Each classroom always has something different and fun going on and the kids really enjoy the variety of subjects. The outside play area is really nice with lots of different structures to play on and there is also a bike area with bikes, scooters and play cars. I recommend this school to all of my friends who are looking for a place to send their kids. Take a tour and see for yourself how happy the kids are here. read more

This is an excellent pre-school, pre-K, young 5's option. I'm not a frequent poster on Yelp, but when I saw the 2010 negative review, I felt like I had to add my family's own very positive impressions of the school. We've had a child attending pre-school at Playschool for two years and he'll be returning in the fall, along with his little sister, who'd have it no other way. The teachers are warm, engaging and enthusiastic. Each day involves free play (indoors and out), an art project, a sensory table, a 1-1 project called "second activity" for each child and circle time for the class. A music teacher comes to the classroom every week. There are plenty of celebrations and "performances" for families to participate in. The classrooms (including the bathrooms) are kept extremely clean (concur with the post below that the 2010 "smell" was short-lived). The children's artwork and writings are proudly displayed on the walls for visiting parents to enjoy. The outdoor play area is great -- climbing structures, slides, a sandbox, ride-on toys and a "lemonade" stand for young entrepeneurs. Kids are taught life skills: how to be respectful of each other and adults and how to become more independent. They also learn their ABCs, 1-2-3s and more, all through a creative curriculum involving units on everything from food to transportation to nature. The children are kept safe indoors and out -- in two years, my son has only had minor scratches. Playschool is a great first school -- set up a tour and see for yourself! read more

My son has been going to Playschool for several months now and the experience has been really great. The curriculum is a mix of free play and academic learning. Many schools in this area focus on intense rote learning from a young age but we didn't want that for our son. The classes are well balanced with a good gender and ethnic mix. One of the previous reviewers noted that the school did not meet her standards for cleanliness. Playschool is about as clean as several other preschools we saw in the area. Also, the children bring their own snacks so it's not like they are giving the kids popsicles. read more

This place has been wonderful for my son. Our experience is somewhat unique, as my child is on the spectrum but still very capable and needing of academic and activity challenges, and finding a preschool that would work with us was hard. Not only did Knox Playschool work with us, but the year we have spent with him placed there has been a resounding success! The Director, Susan Knox, personally answered all my queries with so much thought and attention, never once leaving me hanging. We started the year with the support of a behavioral therapist in the classroom, but when the company that provided the services fell aaprt, Knox stepped in and communicated with my son's district teacher to figure out how to meet his needs with significantly less support. Partially thanks to Knox, my son is entering the regular kindergarten program next year. This school is in no way a special needs school, but it was a school in which our special needs received so much help in being overcome. We are extremely grateful to Knox, and cannot say enough good things about their loving, creative, and supportive environment. They truly went above and beyond! read more

Love this school! I've had 2 kids in the various programs (Mommy and me, Preschool, and Pre-K) and have loved each unique class and appreciate the individuality each teacher contributed to the overall experience. The location is welcoming and perfectly situated in Holbrook Palmer Park. The school is well maintained, clean, and wiped down everyday. The teachers are vigilant about hand washing, teaching respect, and are really "in touch" with each child's unique personalities. There are many different art projects, music programs, cooking projects, and learning opportunities available to cater to all types of learning styles. The teachers also update parents daily on every day events and pay very close attention to social interactions among the children. I can't say enough positive things about this place, the teachers, and their director, Susan Knox. We will miss Playschool! read more

My son was 3.5 when he started preschool here. He enjoyed very much because is a play based program and kids just love to play and learn this way. The problem is teachers were not approachable so forget about an open communication. As any parent : I wanted to know about my son's day or how he was doing but perhaps one of the teachers said a few words about him in a period of three months. I always felt like they were too busy for me. This was frustrating and the only reason i left my son here to finish the year was because they kept the kids safe and their washing hands policy is pretty strict. Another reason was, my son seemed pretty happy in spite of the arrogance i could perceived from the teachers. I live pretty close from the school and I thought that in pre-k things were going to be better so I enrolled him again. The class was less in sync with my son's comfortability since they had a kid with challenging behavior who hit my son with a heavy toy once. Not to mention the countless times this disruptive kid knocked whatever my son was building. On top of that, I realized my son had another dismissive teacher...oh no!! more of that?? After 2 months of playschool, I'm so glad I moved my son to a fabulous preschool where teachers are warm and make us feel so welcome....not to mention the great program they offer with lots of activities outdoors. Obviously, the fun water and sand area is his favorite and he can spend most of the time there if he wants. read more

We absolutely love Playschool and are so glad we found it. Nestled within Holbrook-Palmer Park in Atherton, it's an extraordinary setting for a preschool. The pre-K teachers my child has are terrific - they are easy to communicate with, engaging and genuinely seem to enjoy what they do and where they work. The directors are friendly, approachable and welcoming. My 4-year-old daughter is thriving there and enjoys every day she spends there. Would highly recommend to everyone I know with preschoolers. read more

We've had experience with almost every class they offer (young twos, threes and pre-k + summer camp), and absolutely adore the teachers, curriculum, director and even location (inside a park!). I wish they'd somehow expand into teaching kindergarten... read more

We moved my little nephew to this Playschool location from their Valota school. We are equally happy with his experience here - he is really enjoying his time at Playschool and learning a lot in a fun environment. It's very clear that the teachers here love what they do and they prepare a lot of educational projects for the children to work on. There's a lot of value in the education that he is receiving while being in a fun and engaging environment. We are comfortable knowing that he is in a safe place and developing a lot through his experience here. He has been at Knox Playschool for about 2 years now and we are very happy with the school. read more

Best Preschool around- some of the negative reviews are the regulars whom complain and are un reasonable. Atherton, un clean/ dirty? Really, I think not. This is pre school some mess is typical. The price/ tuition is competitive. Love the teachers!! All have high credentials above and beyond junior college degrees. If you don't find the environment beautiful; I don't know where you are from lol. To judge an Atherton park and place of business that has a great reputation with the regulars is wrong. Owner is a Stanford Graduate and long time resident on Menlo Park!!! Beautiful location, staff and families. Some people just "don't" fit in as these mean comments are incorrect. read more

My son has been going to Mommy and Me Playschool in Atherton since he was 17 months old, and we have loved every minute of it. It has been great watching him grown, learn, and build friendships within the program. We are excited to start the next chapter in September with Young Twos! read more

LOVE Playschool!!!!!! We have been part of the Playschool community for almost 3 years, and we are far from leaving. All my children love the school. I have a current kinder who was there for 2 years, a current preschooler, and a toddler who wants to stay everyday that his sister is dropped off. I was a teacher before having kids so I have high expectations for any "school" I send my children. I love all the teachers at the school. They are very caring, sweet, and truly love the kids. It is a play based program, with some structured activities. But to focus is on social skills, and being a community, and a good citizen. My 3 year old is able to identify almost all 26 capital letters, and most lowercase. She is also identifying shapes, learning spanish, and sign language. Parents are responsible for packing a snack for their child, there is always water available to the kids in the outdoor play area, especially on hot days. As I write this review there is one very negative review of the school that saddens me. They are valid concerns of a parent on a school visit but if she had asked about the said concerns she would have gotten solid answers.The smell that was there was beyond the schools control and they finally got a handle on it. It was a creature that had expired under a classroom during the summer. It took time to locate the creature but it was found and the smell went away. They let the families know what was going on the whole time. The outside gates do not lock, but students are very closely monitored. If there is an unfamiliar face in the area the teachers and staff are on it. Also when it is hot or there is a special event the students will get a treat, popsicles are as sweet as they get. The classrooms are connected to each other, but they also have two doors to the outside. When the parent went for a visit she got a tour of all the classrooms and the play yard. It would seem like a maze but really is a simple design. The students go in a front door to one classroom first thing in the morning, out a back door directly to the play yard, and then out the front door at pick up time. Each classroom also has a bathroom with two toilets and two sinks. The walls of the room may have seemed overwhelming, but that is the work of all the students who use that classroom. Preschool would be 3 classes, MWF am, TTH am, and MWTH pm. That is a lot of kids work. I am sure I am missing some information, but I hoped this helped. My family loves Playschool and we are happy to tell everybody who will listen about it. read more

Love this school. Teachers, staff, and other parents are all lovely people. I feel this is a great experience for my two year old - to play with other kids, learn songs, and be away from mama sometimes. This is the perfect school if you are looking for a part time program for your young child. read more

We have had two daughters here at this preschool and love the owner, the director, and teachers there. They have a great play-based program and I have been thoroughly happy as have my daughters. It is hard to get into the program as there is a long waitlist and would suggest signing up as soon as you can for their "Mommy & Me" class which gives you priority into the regular preschool program. read more

My daughter attended both the morning and then the afternoon preschool sessions (we needed to switch sessions halfway through the year) and we had a great experience with each of them. The teachers are all very warm, caring and have great attention to detail. The school holds a few fun family activities (but not so many that it feels overwhelming). And the setting in Holbrook Palmer park is a great perk. We'd be returning next year except we are moving out of the area. Overall we've had a very positive experience there and I'd highly recommend this preschool. read more