My family has been with this center for a few months and let me just say, it is clear the Director…read moreand management team does not care about your kids or the employees. It seems as though everyday, the team is just trying to "make it through the day". Every morning at drop-off, the toddler and infant classrooms are clearly over ratio and chaotic. There are constant teacher callouts. My daughter's teacher is out numerous times a week for one reason or another. This forces my child to be placed in a different room, proving that there is no consistency. The teachers that do show up everyday, are CLEARLY burnt out. I feel bad for them. Additionally, a majority of the staff lack any educational expertise and seem to view this job as glorified babysitting. Management seems to hire anyone who walks through the door just so they can enroll more families and make more money. This puts a heavy burden on the good staff. No quality curriculum is taking place. My kids never come home with any artwork or projects. The kids are just not learning anything. The center is filthy. I don't think anyone knows how to sweep or mop. I have had to step through my child's classroom to get their backpack and I am disgusted with the state of the classrooms. I truly believe the teachers are so burnt out, they are just too tired to clean. And it shows. There are a handful of wonderful teachers who seem to care about the kids; but unfortunately, that is way overshadowed by the negative vibes in this place. There is a child in my son's preschool classroom (Kairo is the child's name) that has extremely aggressive and violent behavior. My child fears going to class because of him. I have spoken with the Director Heather numerous times about this and it seems nothing is being done and my concerns are being pushed aside. This child needs special help that he cannot get in a large group setting. I know multiple parents have the same concerns about this child. I am in search of another daycare and soon as I get a spot, I will be dis-enrolling immediately.

My family has been with the Kindercare company for a few years. Both my son and daughter attend the…read moreMelrose center. Good experience!

We absolutely love the Children's Workshop. Our kids adore their teachers and classmates and truly…read moresee it as a second family. The teachers are kind, thoughtful, and incredibly attentive, and they do a wonderful job nurturing each child's individual personality and interests, something that means everything when you have multiples. Communication is excellent, and we're always grateful for the small, meaningful observations they share about our children's growth. Our kids attend both the morning program and after-school enrichment and are thriving. We wouldn't consider sending them anywhere else and plan to stay all three years.

Our son is going to public kindergarten in the fall, we were are so sad he's leaving after a…read moreWONDERFUL year at Children's Workshop! The creativity, appropriate (and fun!) activities, outdoor play, focus on kindness- with the approach this Montessori takes, my son has grown leaps and bounds. He is learning about his emotions, how to express them appropriately, how to handle conflict, and we are all so proud of his emotional development. He's writing, reading books well above his grade level, and I've come home to him explaining some math trick I've totally forgotten! They are also learning so much art and music. The kid isn't even 6 yet. Sounds like a brag, but EVERYONE in his class is doing awesome at those things too. The kids are loved by the teachers and I've never, ever witnessed such a good environment for pre-K in all my years of my kids being in any various daycares/Pre-K (4 others). Ask any Marblehead Mom or Dad (or Grammy!) who has a child at Children's Workshop and she/he will likely tell you the same. Kate Birtwell has been running the center for many years. She's more responsive and organized than 95% of any early childcare workers I've ever dealt with. All the teachers are just fantastic! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

From the first day I enrolled my oldest daughter in Preschool Social Academy we have had a great…read moreexperience.  I was lucky to see my child run into the play area and wave goodbye as she ran off with friends. She would come home excited to tell us what she had learned at preschool.  When she started Kindergarten she knew all her alphabetic symbols and numbers and was eager to learn to read.  Socially she was more than ready to start Kindergarten. Once Kimberly opened a toddler room, we enrolled our second daughter.  Within 2 weeks we saw an immediate improvement in her verbal skills.  When she arrived she was only saying a few words, but now she is speaking sentences, singing ABCs, counting.  After showing interest in the potty, she is well on her way to being potty trained.  Kimberly has helped us with the horrible transition of bye bye binky.  As a full-time working parent, it is great to know that my children have wonderful care.  I get progress reports daily.  Food is provided, so I only have to pack pullups and a change of clothes.   If it is one of those days and I forget something, no worries, they have extras.  I couldn't be more pleased with the education and care my children have received at PSA.

My daughter, Sammi, is 4. She's been going to Preschool Social Academy since the summer of 2012…read more We love it there! The school has a low student to teacher ratio, 10:3, which provides ample opportunities for working individually with each child. I have been able to watch Sammi learn and develop so much through her work at PSA. Each day I get a personalized report about what Sammi has done/eaten that day at school, as well as what they are focusing on. All snacks and meals are provided by PSA, which makes it so much easier getting out the door! I love to hear Sammi sounding out starting sounds of words, and seeing in the reports that, that is what they are learning at school. I love being able to build on what she is learning at school. The play plans each child draws/labels as they're able to, are great as I get an idea of what she's doing at school and she's writing them in her own words, which is huge! The school is very academic based as well as structured. Using their reports, I enjoy being able to build on what she is learning in school. It is also nice when I ask Sammi what she did at school, and she says I just played, I can ask more specific questions, and see her get all excited telling me about her day! There are 3 class options at PSA. Two year olds go tues/thurs 9-12, 3 year olds 9-12 mon/wed/fri and 4 year olds (pre-k) 1-4 Monday through Friday. All classes have the option of extending their day to include lunch 12-1. The teachers come out to assist with drop off/pick up, so you only have to walk your child in if you choose, otherwise, no need to get siblings in and out of the car! Drop off/pick up service is available as well as early drop off, and extended day, which has definitely helped me when I've been in a bind! PSA accommodates the parents needs when it comes to drop off/pick up. Miss Kimberly, the owner/lead teacher, is very available to the parents. I can't tell you how many late night texts I have sent her! Whenever I have a concern/paranoid parent moment, she listens and takes the time to get me a meaningful answer. For example, Sammi started joking around and misidentifying colors, Kimberly took the time to work with Sammi 1:1 and show me that this was just a stage she was going through regarding playing with humor. Kimberly also takes the time to go above and beyond, my husband is in the army reserves and is gone at times, Sammi was having a rough time with that, and Miss Kimberly sent home a nice book about this for Sammi to learn from and borrow. PSA offers a flexible summer camp option for enrolled students. The consistency has been so valuable to us! The teachers are so warm and caring. I have heard many stories about some minor boo boo that was a catastrophe for Sammi, "then Miss Amanda hugged me and I smiled!". PSA does not close for snow days unless driving is banned, so if you want to get your child there in a snow storm, they're ready for them! Sammi is in her second academic year at PSA, she's already signed up for summer camp and will keep going until she starts kindergarten, fall 2015!

Our son has been at Burlington Montessori for two years. He is extremely happy there, and so are…read morewe. He's made wonderful progress academically, socially, and creatively. The staff at BMS is incredibly diverse, which contributes to a rich learning environment for the children. They are exposed to different cultures and are developing a world view that is larger than their block. Miss Rubina takes a close interest in our son's progress, even suggesting curriculum and activities to keep up through the summer, which he has shown a keen interest in. The staff are incredibly involved and considerate. We are so grateful we have a wonderful school that we have confidence sending our child to. The only thing we are sorry about is that the school doesn't go beyond grade 1, we would stay as long as possible in this rich, nurturing environment.

Absolutely wonderful school. Our son has attended for two years so far and we are so excited to be…read moreable to send him for a third year. His little sister can't wait to start as well. His teachers are warm and caring and also challenge him beautifully.

My son has been here for over a year and is currently thriving in their Discovery Preschool 1. His…read moreteachers, Ms. Doris and Ms. Sasha are fantastic. They are nurturing, kind, loving and cuddly with the kids (which is so important to me since he's only two), and have remarkable classroom control. They teach both English and Spanish and we've just hit the point where my son knows more Spanish than me. The whole classroom will sing along songs in both languages. The room is also spotless at the end of every day which is very important to me going into flu season. They have an awesome app where I get 2-5 pictures or more a day of him painting, or videos of them dancing etc. and my son always tells me how much he likes school when I pick him up. As part of bedtime, sometimes we discuss who loves him and he lists off his family, friends, and almost always a few KB teachers. I know this place has had a bad reputation within the parent community around town (I've had multiple people tell me about their bad experiences) so I just wanted to address that too. All of those impressions are from when the old director, Teri, worked there. We came on and had about 6 months of her and were on multiple waitlists when she was fired. They've since brought in Brandi as the new director early this summer. Brandi is lovely, welcoming, has a personal relationship and conversation with every kid. She's worked hard all year to edit the staff and build a group of teachers who are passionate and amazing. No matter where my son is at the end of the day (kindercare as a whole has a merging policy as kids get picked up so sometimes the kids move classrooms), the teacher knows his name and is friendly and caring. I highly recommend you give this place a chance!!

Despite the high-end cost, you get low-end care. The kids are constantly shuffled around and don't…read morehave a stable teacher. When incidents happen, they do little to intervene in the moment, which is particularly critical at the younger ages, but will just write up a report. They deflect any accountability for allowing an incident to occur nor do they take any responsibility in resolving an issue. They will just resort to the method that requires the least effort for them: blaming the parents and child. The teachers are underpaid. The management are rude and often outright disrespectful. When you are unfortunate enough to have to interact with them, they are unapproachable, unavailable, and unnecessarily escalate issues. Stay far away from this place. You can get much better and cheaper care from a personal nanny. They are probably the most likely to have openings, but sometimes there's a reason for that...

My son attended Old South Preschool for his first school experience as a preschooler. The school…read morecame highly recommended by a trusted friend and it was immediately apparent that Old South stood out from many of the other preschools we considered. The classrooms are bright, open, and calming with quality materials used for play and lessons. The many "stations" curated and rotated by the teachers ensure children can feel comfortable choosing between their favorite activities or trying new ones. The kids are exposed to many themes and subjects. The focus on education is on building blocks for kindergarten. Kids are exposed to math and reading in a way that cultivated their curiosity. Weather, calendars, arts, nature, you name it! It's amazing how much is picked into the year. Our sons pride in his handwriting and creative creations was clear each day as we were welcomed into the classroom to review his work at pickup time. The school's emphasis on safe exploration of the city was another draw. We wanted our son to become a citizen of the city. A safe street crosser who observes and learns from his surroundings. Hearing from our son about the classes prep for their walks and then their adventures and lessons around the city was great. Finally, the staff and teachers were fantastic. The care and attentiveness they brought to the school daily was always top notch. They were always available to chat about a rough morning departure for school or other issue. Their ability to handle occasional hijinks was also impressive with the children quickly learning proper etiquette and behavior. Director of Old South, Carolyn, was very helpful coaching us young parents through some behavior challenges and through the kindergarten admissions process. All and all we would send another child to Old South and would not hesitate to recommend this school.

My son attended Old South Preschool during the 2020-21 school year. The year before, he attended a…read moredifferent, more local preschool (we live in Somerville), but that school chose to close due to COVID. Given the pandemic, we were scared to send our son to school at all, and it was even more nerve-wracking thinking about sending him somewhere new. Old South Preschool was recommended to us by friends, and being members of the church (the school is non-religious), our son was already familiar with the building. We decided it was worth the longer commute to have him in school somewhere we were all familiar with. We had no idea what an incredible year he would have. The staff took COVID precautions very seriously, and the school was open all year. Even with all of the extra safety measures, our son felt safe, cared for, and looked forward to school each day. The teachers--many who have taught there for over a decade--are masters at what they do (I am also an early childhood educator and was continuously amazed by their ability to relate to and motivate each child). Our son left Old South more confident, independent, and definitely ready for kindergarten. Old South Preschool was such a bright spot in this very bleak year. We are so grateful to Old South and could not recommend it enough.

I have been a part of the Little Treasures family since 2004...both as a parent and as a…read moreteacher/administrator. As a parent, there is no where else I would have wanted my kids to develop their educations. When they went on to elementary school (in another town), I was asked (by their teachers) where they went to preschool/pre-K. I was told that they were more prepared than most of the other children in their class. Amazing! As a teacher/administrator, there is no where else I would want to work. I am the music teacher (for all 3 locations) and the after school and vacation program director. The home-like atmosphere provided at LTS is true and organic. While still professional, the teachers and administrators at LTS are intelligent, loving, kind, generous, honest, trustworthy, dependable, fun and just plain old nice! The 3 locations are all different and amazing in their own right. The programs offered at each location are well-planned, consistent, engaging and constructive. If you are looking for a positive learning experience for your child, please check out Little Treasures in Reading, Lynnfield or North Reading.

I have two children at little treasures and I couldn't be happier with the care they provide. Each…read morechild has been enrolled since they were between 4-6 months old. Miss Ally in the infant room is amazing, loving, caring, and attentive. We have loved all of the additional teachers my daughter has been with including as she moves up in classrooms including Miss Bridgit, Miss Mandi, Miss Dianne, Miss Casey, and Miss Trina. The administrators (Robin, Mary, and Megan) are also friendly, accommodating, responsive, and welcoming. I have referred many friends to LTS and cannot recommend them enough!

My wife and I did a ton of research and site visits before deciding on Artisan Childcare Center and…read moreI'm glad we found this place! I can't say enough great things about this place. The teachers are all very friendly, knowledgeable, and very attentive! My daughter is almost a year and a half old and LOVES going to school every day. The teachers document every detail of her day so we know exactly what she did, what she ate, when she napped, etc. The teachers lover her and it shows because she LOVES her teachers. The perks we fell in love with were the daily music class, the baby sign language lessons (yes, our daughter used sign language to communicate with us at a year old and still signs when she says "please" in an over-exaggerated manner, haha), the outdoor play, the gardening program, the teacher-to-student ratios, the staff, and overall cleanliness of the facililty. It's a little more expensive than a couple of the other places we visited, but for a couple extra hundred dollars per month, WELL WORTH IT in comparison. You can't even compare a standard daycare facility to this place; Artisan blew them all away. We know our daughter is in good hands and getting top-notch care. It really is more like school than daycare, which keeps our daughter stimulated and happy! As far as the review submitted by "Life B", kids get sick, it's a fact of life wherever you bring them. In my experience, the staff has been on top of everything they possibly can be on top of when illnesses are going around, so the review by "Life B" is very misleading and based on one kid getting sick, one time. The review should be deleted in my opinion as it contains no helpful information at all. Regardless of the childcare facility you choose, your kid will get sick during it's lifetime, haha, accept that. Anyway, I HIGHLY recommend this place, there is a reason they fill up and availability can be difficult to come by at times. My wife and I lucked out. A full-time slot opened up a few days before we went in for a tour and we jumped on it. My suggestion to you is, if you are considering daycare and Artisan has an available slot, take it. You won't be disappointed, but you will miss out if someone else grabs it before you. -Ron B.

I am very impressed by the responsiveness of the staff at Artisan. The smaller class sizes really…read morehelp to provide one on one care for very young children