I was someone who was very nervous about sending my kids to daycare because of all the bad things you see in the news and social media. I'm not someone who trusts my kids with just anyone. They had only ever been watched by family. After finally letting go of that fear, I tried this school. I in no way regret it. The children are great and friendly. The teachers are caring. The director is so sweet and addresses any concerns or questions I have. I'm very grateful to them for giving my kids a warm and welcoming environment to go to. They keep me informed of anything I may need to know, and I don't have to sit around worried. I don't usually write reviews, but I know if anyone is like me, they are trying to read reviews of where they are trying to entrust their children. I didn't see many while looking at this school, so it made me wonder why. I honestly almost passed it up, but something was urging me to find out more. This place deserves more praise and more recognition. I'm sure everyone has their own situations, but mine have been nothing but positive. So I'm hoping I can provide even the tiniest bit of comfort and encouragement to reach out and see for yourselves. read more

Pride and Joy was a very disappointing experience. I gave notice after 2 months of attending, but needed to stick around for 2 months more due to P&J's rigid contract. What a long 2 months they were! P&J is run less as a student-centered preschool than a manager/owner centered business. Moilan is a nice lady, and I believe that she cares about the kids, yet to her own convenience. I don't get the sense that she does any kind of research on current trends in early childhood education, pedagogy, nutrition, or the benefit of building a parent community to support student social and emotional learning. Here were my main concerns: 1.) When I asked Moilan for the phone numbers of parents of kids who my son connected with, she totally blanked me and didn't give me that information. I get the sense that she doesn't want parents talking amongst themselves about their experience at P&J. 2.) I'm an educator with a PhD, and am a former professional dancer and stage performer. I offered to come and read stories to the kids, conduct dance and theatre classes, do some storytelling workshops, and so on. She clearly let me know that they have a strict schedule, and can't really accommodate parent participation. There is no parent network, no parent list, etc. available to parents. 3.) She provides kids lunch every day which is great, but it's pretty cheap food from Costco. She feeds them non-organic milk, non-organic meat (chicken nuggets), non-organic fruit and veg that is on the EWG's dirty dozen, and so on. I started sending lunch with my son, but he wouldn't eat it because he wanted to eat the low-quality food that other kids were eating. 4.) When my son came home smelling like perfume every day, I was concerned. The perfume would stay in his hair and on his skin for days afterward even after bathing him daily. I sent her 4 different peer-reviewed articles published by the National Institute of Health that had been cited over 400 times about the connections between perfume, fragrance and endocrine disruption. She didn't want to budge on the issue because she said, "I don't want to violate my staff by telling them that they can't wear perfume." Moilan also wears heavy amounts of perfume, and because she likes wearing it, I get the sense that she likes smelling nice even though her odor can potentially affect the health of the kids. On another note, Pride and Joy is clean, tidy, and the kids seem pretty happy, but I have no sense of what happens once I dropped my kid off. I didn't have a relationship with a single teacher. And, it was very clear that parent involvement in P&J is not welcome. If you're the type of parent who likes to drop their kid off and leave, doesn't mind that your kid is eating food that's chock full of pesticides and hormones, that your kid comes home smelling like perfume practically everyday, and have no time or interest in being part of a community nurtured and fostered by the preschool, then this place would be great for you! read more

We love Pride and Joy. We are moving, and our children will have to leave Pride and Joy...and we are SO SAD! My son (3 yrs old) and daughter (19 mos old) have been at Pride and Joy for almost a year now and we couldn't be happier! The facility is custom built for children and so well cared for (it's so clean and full of awesome toys). There are even separate age-appropriate outdoor play areas for infants and older kids. The teachers are amazing, and Moilan (the Director) and Mark (the Manager) are fantastic. Every time I talk with Moilan I can see that her number one priority is the health, happiness, and well-being of all the children. My daughter is on the infant side and she cannot wait to get there each morning. Sometimes I can barely get her shoes off before she runs inside with a huge smile. I can tell how much they love and care for her. She comes home with pictures and artwork every week...even a framed painting of a butterfly (made with her hand and footprints) for Mother's Day. My son is on the Preschool side and he has learned so much since he started. At 3, he can spell his name, he knows all the letters of the alphabet (even when pointed to at random), and he can count to 15. They also pretty much potty trained him for us. They practice going to the potty with all the kids on the preschool side, and one day he came home and said "I don't want to wear diapers anymore". That was it! I give them 5 stars in every possible category! read more

We used pride and joy for about two months. Our daughter was only two months old at the start. And I will say, the experience was amazing. The teachers at this day care took great care of our daughter and enabled me to go back to work with little worry. She was always happy on pick up, and for what we needed it was everything. The director worked well with us to ensure we were happy and felt comfortable since we are new parents. If we hadn't moved to another state we would still be going here. The only thing that was a down fall for us was the start time for the day, only because we both work really early. I would recommend this place to all parents, the kids were always happy and safe. ultimately that's one of the most important things. read more

We sent our one-year-old to Pride & Joy for full-time daycare, and we loved it! The staff were so caring, they kept my son on a good schedule, and he would be all smiles during drop-off and pick-up. It was a great relief to go to work and know he was in great hands. I'm very sad we had to leave the Pride & Joy family due to a relocation! read more

There are so many WONDERFUL aspects about this school! The Owner & Teachers are both so amazing! Well educated, well versed in Preschool readiness, highly enthusiastic & sweet, attentive, caring, Genuine, Honest, Cheerful... ALL of the staff that both my child and I have encountered all display this high level of excellence. The curriculum for this school is very well rounded. There is more curriculum that takes place in the afternoon once the kids eat and take naps. From Communication, Yoga Fitness, Fine Art, Dramatic Arts, & Music My child comes home from school insanely happy, singing songs, talking about what she learned throughout the day and she goes on talking about all she did at school. She just turned 21 months. These young women who own/teach/operate this school have a wonderful system & the school lives up to it's name...Pride & Joy exhibits just that and I am overjoyed to have my child attend... My husband and I could not be more thrilled with our experience with this school and look forward to many more years of involvement with Pride & Joy. read more

Pride and Joy Preschool has been a great match for our family. From our first meeting with Mark, to our subsequent interactions with Moilan Manning, the director, we have been completely satisfied. Our first child has gone through the program, and has had exceptional teachers all along the way. He learned a tremendous amount and was more than prepared for school. Our second child, is still in the program, and is having an equally amazing experience. Their learning entails a wonderful balance of play, social interaction, learning, creative thinking, and artistic expression. The teachers are extremely gifted and absolutely wonderful with children. They lead in a gentle, kind manner. They are nurturing, yet they command the respect. I felt compelled to write this review, because of some of the negative reviews I read... Keep in mind, you cannot please everybody, and most of the people who gave negative reviews did not stay in the program for a long time. If only they had given it a chance... Let me refute some of the negative statements. As far as Moilan serving foods with hormones, that is absurd! The only meat she serves is chicken, and in the state of California it is illegal to put hormones in chicken... she also serves fish sticks and pasta which do not have added hormones. Regarding organic food, even organic compounds can be toxic. For example, rice has traces of arsenic...The students who do require special diets, bring their own food. Our son would not always like the food, so we would send him lunch from home along with some snacks--some of which were, yes, organic. Moilan is very conscientious about the health and well-being of the kids. They are her first priority. The site is immaculate, and it is cleaned every day. In addition, it is maintained regularly. If there is a child who is sick with more than a cold, everyone is alerted and that child is sent home. In addition, the school is peanut-free. If a student brings a toy that is a choking and strangulation hazard, for example, it is taken and returned at the end of the day. She and her staff are very vigilant in these matters. Also, I have never smelled perfume on any of my children, nor on the teachers. Most shampoos have fragrances, could that have been it? I do not appreciate heavy perfume either, but I have never had that be a problem at Pride and Joy Preschool. Regarding people not being able to perform at the school, that is just not true. On occasion, there have been musicians or other guests that have added to student enrichment. With regards to the statement about the contract, it is very clearly written. Parents should read it carefully, check out the school and make the decision for themselves before signing it. There was also a comment about the school not sharing parents' information. I do not find it a problem that my information is not shared with others. If parents want to meet and exchange information, the school does not discourage it. Parents just need to make contact on their own. The school is only respecting the individual's privacy. Get over it people! In closing, as I mentioned above, you can't please everyone... maybe Pride and Joy Preschool is not a fit for you, and that's okay. However, If you want your kid to go to an amazing school, with incredible teachers, have a safe, well-rounded learning experience, then look into Pride and Joy Preschool as a possible option. I would rate it way more than five stars if I could! read more

Unprofessional staffs! Called several times and left messages but no answer! Even went there and spoke to the person that we are interested to enroll our daughter and left our contact details! No call back! Left voice messages, no call back! Went there second time, left unattended! The only reason I considered this place as I live close by! Not enrolling my kid! read more

This is a wonderful daycare! My experience is specific to the young toddler/infant care. My youngest attended this daycare and we have had nothing but positive interactions with the owner, Moilan, and her staff. Everyone is warm and communicative. Our daughter is not verbal yet, but throughout our experience she has been happy at drop-off and pickup and appears to be well taken care of, and cared about. She's a new walker and they have kept her safe through her wobbly learning. She loves the baby music enrichment time and we love the stimulation she gets throughout the day. We are moving away, but wish we could take this wonderful facility and staff with us. It's so hard choosing infant care and this program is well run, reliable, caring, and I couldn't recommend it enough! read more

My family and I moved to the area recently and was looking for a nearby preschool for our toddler. I took a tour of Pride and Joy, and really loved the space. We signed him up to attend, and paid a large sum up front -- one month of tuition, so about $1500, plus a $785 deposit and $480 nonrefundable registration fee. After four days, we decided Pride and Joy wasn't a good fit for several reasons, but mainly, because we felt it was impersonal and uninviting to parents and had stringent, unreasonable policies. After I signed the contract, I asked if I could stay with my 18-month-old for the first few minutes of his first day, and the director hesitated and said she preferred I not stay, but maybe just a few minutes for that one day. The way she reacted made me feel defensive, and like I wasn't welcome in the school. I like places that feel warm and inviting, and that was not the feeling I got from Pride and Joy. The contract states that there is a 30-day trial period, but it doesn't mean there isn't a penalty. For just four days of our son attending, the school kept the remaining month's tuition and the $480 registration fee, so about $1500 extra dollars. The contract also states that after the 30-day trial period parents have to give 60 days notice before their kid leaves Pride and Joy, and that the school can keep any remaining tuition if they stop attending before the 60 days is up. There are so many reasons a family might not be able to give 60 days notice... it seems unreasonable that they keep two months' of tuition if you have to leave right away. Although the director insists that Pride and Joy has an "open door" policy, it doesn't feel like it. I like to be able to get a feeling of what my son's day to day life is like when he's away at school, and I wasn't able to do that here. It just wasn't what I wanted for him, even if it had the cutest tiny toilets I had ever seen ; ) read more

Pride & Joy was the best experience we had in the Bay Area. After being shuffled out of the city on affordability/child care issues, we found a opening at Pride&Joy the same week we rented a home in El Cerrito. With all the stress (& usual skepticism) of childcare, Moilan put us at ease, but more important delivered. Her and her staff are truly a family. I learned a lot from them about my son, but more important, watched their patience and individual emphasis the provided. My son's development was leaps and bounds after just a week and he couldn't wait to go every morning. As parents, we should all be so lucky to find the privilege of such an operation simply doing things the right way and putting children first. We recently relocated out of state, but we have an expectation based on this experience. I am happy leaving knowing the door has opened for another family. Thanks, Moilan. read more

This is an awesome preschool. My daughter attended for 3 years and she is totally ready for kindergarten. The owner, Moilan Manning, and office manager, Mark, are excellent administrators as well as have a genuine love and joy in playing and nurturing the children. The teachers are awesome, particularly Erika and Catherine. They work with the older students. The school was custom built to house the babies/toddlers on one side and the older kids on the other. Students are encouraged/taught to mix with kids of different ages, learning essentail social skills. If you/your child love structure but want with flexibility to meet the needs of the individual child, Pride and Joy Preschool is for you! Check it out. read more

I had my son in their toddler room and I can't express how happy we were with the team Pride and Joy for their amazing work. The administrator, Moilan is just a wonderful and very professional person. She personally monitored my son's first days in the daycare and provided us with pictures to reassure that he was doing fine. The teacher, Natalia, was also great very attentive and patient. They did a great job of communicating with parents and were very attentive to my son's needs and our concerns. We will miss it and hope to find a place like that in our new hometown. Highly recommend. read more

Very bad service and unprofessional conduct! In the beginning, I tried to reach them many times, nobody answers the phone. Finally, I reached them after 1 month! My boy dropped from this school after enrolled 3 days, because of his terrible experience... highly not recommend this school! read more

I wanted to enroll my daughter here as it's right next to our place! The worst rude people ever! Never responded phone calls and voicemail ! Walked in several times! Left us unattended! I considered this school as it was close by right next to our place! If they treat the parents like this how are they going to treat my daughter! They could have atleast said something but no!Sorry not enrolling here! Very unprofessional! read more

My family LOVED this place - for reference, my daughter attended from age 4mos to 20mos. Staff was always very attentive to her, and she grew to love them, running out the door from home in the morning asking for Anna or waving and saying "Bye Carolina!" as we left. There was minimal turnover - same 3 caregivers in the year and a half we were there (I liked that they also had kids of their own, so they completely understood the parent side of things!) My girl flourished - learning so many words,songs, abc's/numbers/colors...she also learned a lot of good manners, which really impressed me. I got regular pictures and videos from Moilan (the director) keeping me up to date on what my daughter was doing; I always got a call on the *rare* occasion of a little boo boo (totally normal, toddler stuff). They did fun activities like a Halloween party, had musicians in for caroling in December, etc. The only reason we left was because of a work-related relocation to Southern California, and leaving this day Care was the hardest part of our move (we're now searching for a new place, and having a hard time finding something that stacks up!) On our last day, the teachers gave us a little artwork with all of her friends' handprints on it and a picture of our daughter playing; her teachers teared up when it was time to go, and I could tell they had genuinely cared for our sweet girl. Having a loving, safe environment to care for your child is priceless - you'll find it here! read more

This school is extremely clean and organized, the teachers and administrators are friendly, in particular Erika is very funny and makes it a lot easier for my kid to enter the classroom each morning. They offer healthy food and kids brush their teeth in school. The only thing which it needs improve on: interaction with parents. The teacher doesn't really talk with the parents about the child's daily performance, and parents can't enter the room during drop off&pick up. We later transferred to another school, I love that I can stay and observe as long as I'd like to essentially anytime during the day. read more

My daughter attended Pride & Joy for 4 years before starting Kindergarten. I can't say enough wonderful things about this school. My daughter was a very shy toddler, but grew up to be a very social and happy girl thanks to the positive experiences and interaction with teachers and friends. Her teachers were always professional, patient and kind. I could tell how happy my daughter was at school and how much she loved her teachers and Moilan. read more

My son, Ryan, started at the Pride and Joy Preschool when he was only 3 months old. We have been very happy about his development in this center. They are doing an absolutely great job. I see parents who are bringing their first and second child to this center for years and are very satisfied. My son is not a very easy one, but teachers in this center are very well experienced and they know how to keep babies happy and healthy. The center has a separate outdoor play area for younger kids, and the rooms for infants are located in a different part of the building, which is great! We often receive photographs of our baby in the daycare while he is smiling, sleeping and listening to music. In particular during the very first days these pictures gave us the best possible feeling. How thoughtful ?! In summary, here are our ratings for the Pride and Joy Preschool: Management: 5/5 Teachers: 5/5 Cleanness: 5/5 Child development: 5/5 Cost compared to quality: 5/5 Outdoor play area: 5/5 I needed to go back to work very quickly, and our parents and relative are so far away, and we had absolutely no help. The Pride and Joy Preschool made this transition so easy and pleasant for us that I never forget how lucky we were in finding this place and getting a spot for our son. Thank you ! read more

We love Pride&joy preschool very much. My daughter has been there for 8 months and she likes her school so much. Every morning, she wakes up with such kind for words:" I miss my teachers." or " I like to go to school". She even wants to have school on weekends. Everyday, she came back from school happily, talking about her teachers and friends, singing a lot of songs, even Spanish songs. The principal and all of teachers are so nice and kind. They take great care of and give a lot of love to each kid. I just share one thing here: my daughter was a very shy girl at first one or two months. She was too shy that she could not eat anything when she sit with many kids, no lunch, no snack. She just sit there and watch. The principal and her teachers are very patient and thoughtful, they thought many ways to help her and encourage her, and finally, my daughter is such a good eater that she eats a lot at school :). We are moving and my daughter has to leave Pride & joy. Not only my daughter but also my husband and me are very sad. We do not want to leave such a good school with so nice principal and so many nice teachers. We wish we could still be here and stay in this school for longer time. I give Pride&joy 5 stars and I'd like to recommend this school to all parents. read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about Pride and Joy. My daughter has been there for more than 2 years, and she is almost 4. My son has been there since he was 3 months old, and now he's 19 months old. Before placing our children at Pride & Joy and researching other daycares/pre-schools, my husband and I worried we wouldn't be able to entrust our children in anyone else's care but our own. However, Moilan, Mark, and the teachers put our minds at ease, and, from the start, we've had no issues leaving our children in their care. They have been so great with our kids and treat them like they are their own. The lessons, art projects, and social atmosphere have given my children opportunities to be curious about the world in a good way. The kids are always excited to go to school in the morning, and when they come home in the afternoon our daughter can't stop talking about what she did earlier that day (19 mo. old doesn't talk much yet). :) So glad to have found this place! read more