I have a pandemic toddler that has only been at home with me, my husband and my parents (his…read moregrandparents). Needless to say, I was very cautious and nervous when selecting a preschool for when he turned 3. I looked at a lot of preschools in the Pleasanton area and finally decided on this one. If you're looking for a part time preschool you should definitely choose Gingerbread. ADMISSION - they release sign ups I think sometime in April before the school year which starts in August and it's through the city of pleasanton sign up website. Set an alarm and do it right away, although I checked a few hours after it opened and there were spots so maybe it depends. Once you sign up for one quarter you get priority registration for the other quarters so you have a spot guaranteed. CLASS SIZE - this information is for the 3 year old class. The class size was 22 but they expanded to 24. There is 1 teacher and 2 helpers. Overall it seems like a lot of kids but it didn't feel overwhelming and I feel like my son got the attention he needed. ACADEMICS - Gingerbread is definitely play based. They have a lot of toys. However, they also try to incorporate learning letters and numbers and other concepts. They don't get through the alphabet before the school year ends but about halfway through they start doing a letter and number a week. Their schedule includes playtime outside, snack time, table time where they do the learning and arts/crafts and then play time with beginning and ending circle time. Throughout the school year they have little presentations and special events where you can come see them perform a song and they also have lunch and plays where you can eat lunch in the yard with your kids and whomever else stays (no teachers). I will say however, that it's probably much more play focused/based than learning. My son definitely learned during the school year but he does seem to be a bit behind compared to other kids his age. Could be a combination of the school and his personality but I'm guessing if he went to a more structures strictly academic school he would be ahead. FACILITIES - their facilities are clean and no issues. I think they are run by the city of pleasanton, which is why it's so much cheaper so they have a regular bathroom with stalls and teachers cannot go inside the stalls with the kids. I was nervous since my son was potty trained but not used to going to the bathroom by himself. The teachers help the kids verbally by guiding them but they need to be able to get the stool or seat themselves, pull down pants, sit down, wipe, flush etc. by themselves. They take the kids at certain intervals. My son caught on pretty quickly and only had a few accidents, which was good. Drop off the parents don't go inside, which is actually probably better for the kids in terms of separation anxiety. For pick up, you wait outside until they call your class and then you go inside to pick up. It's at that time you can talk to the teacher. PRICE - the main reason I went with them is the price. It's probably 1/3 of what you pay at other schools and I would say for some of them the academic level/cleanliness etc. is the same if not better. You are only paying for 4 days a week and 3 hours with no food included. However, it's totally worth it in my opinion if you're looking for a part time preschool that will nurture your child and care for them. CONS - a few cons to mention and why we are not re-enrolling our son next year. First, it's only 4 days. Now they do have a fifth day STEM option but they didn't have that when we enrolled so if you are fine with only a 4 day preschool then that's fine. As a working mom, I need that fifth day. It's also only 3 hours with no lunch. Again, seems short but for the first time transitioning into preschool it's fine. They also don't have an app or other type of updates like pictures etc. So what he does at school feels like a black hole unless you ask your child or teacher everyday. They don't really communicate that much unless you are proactive. That being said, they are very open and nice if you want to meet after class is over and talk about your child's performance. It's also not year round and they do have quite a number of days off. So overall, if you're not too worried about not having a more full time or encompassing school with snacks or lunch provided, 5 days a week etc. then this is definitely a great option. I wish we could stay another year since they really care for your child and our teachers and helpers were great with our son's transition. He didn't have any problems adjusting and I know it's because of the staff and curriculum. However, as a working mom with a 10 month old, I need a more full time schedule and lunch included year round.

We had very good experience with Ms. Julie's my grownup and me class. She respects the little ones…read moreand takes the time to connect with them. However, we can't say the same for the 2yr old classroom - hasty pickup and drop-off with clear favoritism between the lead teacher and specific families. Minimum feedback and high turnover among the assisting teachers. Overall it's an affordable part-time solution and a lot of the teachers we've interacted with are very good.

To say Montessori School of Pleasanton changed our life is an understatement!…read more My kids both started at MSP starting age 2.5 in primary classrooms (2019-2025). Lucie was in Cedar and Rafa was with Ms Molly at Maple. Both kids had the absolute best foundational learning possible. They had a fantastic well rounded curriculum - everything from sewing work, writing in cursive, reading, math and lots of art and learning about the world. My kids were well prepared for elementary school (& ahead of the curve esp with kinder learning from MSP). Also, I loved having my 2.5 year olds with 5-6 years olds then becoming the older kids!! The kids learn so much from each other in this excellent model. I want to especially acknowledge and thank Ms. Molly. She is simply a gift to the universe with her demeanor. She is kind, caring, loving and has the right set of expectations for our children. I kept Rafael in Kinder year with her and it was one of the best years of our family life. He grew as a leader and took accountability for his work. He thrived under Ms. Molly's teaching. We are extremely grateful for MSP and all the staff for giving my children the best launch pad. We miss our MSP family and are grateful to everyone who taught and cared for my kids, especially Ms. Molly.

Amazing experience with the Primary classroom! Ms.Molly is one the best teachers , I'm so grateful…read morefor kid's for stive years to be spent at this school, and specially with Ms.Molly!

I can't say enough about my experience with TCDS. We have had an amazing experience with this…read moredaycare! We have been with them for over 10 years, both of our daughters joined this pre-school since they were two years old. They have taken such good care of our two daughters, and the peace of mind they have given us as parents is priceless. The curriculum is exceptional. They focus on letting children learn through real hands-on experiences rather than just sitting at a desk. Kids come home excited every day to share what they explored and discovered. Their after school program is also great providing support on homework. The teachers are warm, caring, and truly dedicated, I could name each of them and only express my gratitude for all the love they have given to our daughters. One of the best parts is the very low staff turnover. Seeing the same familiar faces every day creates a stable, loving environment where kids feel safe and happy.We are so grateful for this wonderful school. We recommend it to any family looking for high-quality care and early education.

My daughter has been attending The Child Day School for the past 3 years and it has been nothing…read morebut a positive experience. The fact that she gets sad on the weekends when there's no school speaks volumes. The staff goes above and beyond to make sure each child is taken care of and I've seen my girl grow in knowledge and self confidence that will serve her well once she eventually enters kindergarten. We love TCDS so much that we are opting to continue with TK next year and plan on sending our youngest daughter when she's eligible. I wholeheartedly recommend TCDS to any parents who are looking for a nurturing, enriching environment for their kiddo!

Our daughter has been going to KinderCare Dublin since she was an infant and now she's graduating…read morefrom PreK soon. It's hard to put into words how grateful we are for this center and the people here. The staff has always created a warm, caring, and safe environment for the kids. Mr. Scott does a wonderful job managing the center and truly cares about the kids. We are especially thankful for Ms. Namita, our daughter's PreK teacher. She goes above and beyond every day - patient, kind, encouraging, and genuinely invested in the kids. We've seen so much growth in our daughter's confidence and learning this year and a huge part of that is because of Ms. Namita. Thank you for being such an important part of our daughter's early childhood years. We'll always look back on our experience here very fondly.

Our family has had a wonderful experience at Dublin KinderCare over the past almost two years. The…read moreteachers have been kind, patient, and genuinely cared about our kids. We've loved watching them grow in confidence, make friends, and learn so much during their time here. A special thank you to Ms. Namita in the T-K classroom. She has been such a positive influence and has done an amazing job preparing our child for kindergarten while making learning fun. We always appreciated the communication from the staff and felt our kids were in a safe, caring environment every day. We're very thankful for everything the Dublin KinderCare team has done for our family and would definitely recommend them.

A Wonderful Place for Young Minds to Grow! My 4-year-old daughter attends Global Village Montessori…read morein Pleasanton, and I can't speak highly enough about our experience here. From day one, we've felt genuinely welcomed and supported by the kind and dedicated staff. What I truly appreciate is the variety of enriching projects the children get to explore -- from hands-on science experiments to creative art activities, there's always something exciting that sparks curiosity and learning. The daily structure also includes plenty of outdoor play, which my daughter absolutely loves, and it's great to see her come home happy and energized. Another standout for us is the Spanish classes! As a native Spanish speaker, I really value that my daughter can reinforce her Spanish skills at school. It's a beautiful way to stay connected to our roots, and at the same time, it's a wonderful gift to introduce the richness of another language at such an early age. The teachers manage to weave learning into every part of the day with so much care and warmth, both in their interactions with the children and with us as parents. Global Village truly feels like a nurturing community where children can grow academically, socially, and emotionally. We're so grateful to be part of it!

This is just from my tour of this facility! I am also comparing this with other tours of schools in…read morethe same time period and how this school failed to make an impression, the good one! At first, I was really surprised to see a stained couch, not other friendly notes or things (live activity list, books, pictures, good notes etc) in the entrance and waiting area. There is a plastic/Glass wall on the side behind which the person sits to say Hi to you!!! The you walk in to an office room, equally disgusting and dull. Instead of showing me real kids doing stuff or just letting me ask stuff, they have a really long BOOK of photos from a time when kids did something and they captured (perhaps). Then the lady emphasized so much on potty training (FYI, it's not okay to force, you should be polite and offer good suggestions no press the requirement on a parent). Then we walked through the hallway, has like 4-6 class rooms may be, small playground, class rooms are messy and oddly structured. No diversity FYI! I don't know something about this school just made me want to walk away quickly vs other schools like stratford, primrose, quarry lane or even a home based daycare. It's like I would send another Mathilda here! It's pathetic, needs color, fun, smiles, diversity, cleaner rooms, cleaner entrance for sure, clean that white couch too please.. it looks like a prison! May be cheap but it's terrible to think I could send my kid here for the entire day

All four of our children attended this Preschool. I can not say enough about what a great…read moreexperience this was for our entire family. This is going to be a long review. I taught in early childhood for 14 years, and I visited over 10 schools before this one won me over. I was looking for a fun, nurturing environment, but also looking for Kindergarten preparedness. So I'm just going write for ten years about why this school with forever remain in our hearts and photo albums. I love the old school nostalgic feeling this classroom has. One great big classroom, that is inviting and spacious. with separate learning and exploration areas, that allow for learning through play. The classroom set up is well thought out, and has all of proven favorite activities that facilitate learning through play.The rocking horse, piano, playhouse, paint easels, marker easels, animals, dolls, dress up wardrobe, blocks, toy phone booth, kitchen set, puzzles, cars & trucks, play dough, trains. Fine motor development is fostered with a writing table that has enticing activities, like tracing paper, small sight words, the names of the children, lined paper, and envelopes. There was a time allotted to a small group craft project, that encourages the children to follow age appropriate directions. Some of the other daily activities are: welcome circle, weather check, calendar, pledge of allegiance, sharing circle, outside playground time, clean up time that requires children to participate, snack time, and music. The teachers are kind, patient, and caring. They work incredibly well as a team, and it is so apparent that they love teaching the early years. The respect for each child as an individual, is what really struck me. Professional, always approachable, highly knowledgeable, never condescending, and extremely supportive. One of our children had sensory integration disorder, in addition to a few learning differences. When it came time for the Kindergarten readiness evaluation, and addressing our concerns, the teachers at JKCP, were open, compassionate, honest, and helpful during the process of getting additional help for our child. They also offered to speak with the future Kindergarten teacher if it would help ease the transition. Our third child had a significant speech delay, so she arrived at JKCP, both cautions and reluctant to engage. At times I dropped her off crying and frustrated with EVERYTHING. The teachers were so well prepared to embrace and encourage her to feel secure enough to participate. They require the children to be potty trained, but my three year old was allowed to wear pull ups and was given frequent reminders. Once she hopped on a tiny toilet and fell in love with the decals on the bathroom walls, our potty problems were solved! It's a friendly place to connect with other parents as well. When performing co-op duty, there are opportunities to meet and casually talk to the other volunteer parents. I had two babies during my time at JKCP. I was so touched when people signed up to bring us meals, also offered to sit in my car with our newborn at pick up or drop off, or bring my older child out to me. it was a wonderful lifesaver! The co-op and maintenance requirements are not as large of a commitment as they are at other co-ops. Also, when planned in advance, you may have a substitute fill in for you. They take 3 fun field trips a year, a local nature hike, a trip to a museum, and singing at the senior center. JKCP also has visits from the book mobile, and community members such as dentists, veterinarians, firefighters, etc. So many memories were made, goals achieved, connections that will last a lifetime. Everyone in our family learned and grew at JKCP, and we are forever grateful to the nurturing teachers, volunteer parents, parent board members, and admins that have kept it a wonderful place. The tuition is very reasonable because of the parent participation. We were at this happy little school, on and off, from 2007 until 2020.

My kids went to jkcp. The staff is nurturing and completely caring for the kids there. When my…read moredaughter went to kindergarten the evaluator told me that the teachers fight for John Knox kids because they are well behaved ... they typically know how to regulate themselves in the classroom. As a parent you do volunteer in the classroom and for events. Honestly embrace it if you can. This stage is so short ... be thankful to spend the time! Once they go to elementary the teachers do not need you to be around. It's wonderful to be involved and to observe your child in the environment John Knox coop preschool is wonderful. I whole heartedly recommend this school if you want teachers with patience and care for your child.

Our family has been a part of the Shining Light community for the past three years. Ms. Kelly the…read morepreschool director and all the wonderful teachers have seen our daughter develop from a shy barely 2 year old to a thriving, happy 4.5 year old who knows she is dearly loved by God. She has also grown so much academically and it has been great to see it "click" as she learns her letters, numbers, handwriting and more. We were very attracted to SLP for the co-op format (as high parental involvement was very important to us), as well as to the biblical teachings. I love that I have the opportunity to regularly be in the classroom and know exactly what students are learning and working on and see how my daughter interacts with her teacher and other students. I have also developed many new friendships myself with other SLP parents. SLP teachers make every child and family feel seen and loved. We have so many great memories of the monthly chapels, pancakes and pajamas day in December, the amazing Christmas production "Around Back" (the cutest chaos you've ever seen!), Easter candy hunt, Mother's Day tea, end of school carnival, bike day and more!

Shining Light Preschool is a true gem in the Tri-Valley. My daughter has grown so much,…read moreacademically, socially, and emotionally, from her time here. The other morning, I told her that since we had about 20 minutes before I dropped her off, I was going to pull weeds in the garden. She announced that she was going to be a "high-give helper," (thanks for that concept SLP!!!) put on her gardening gloves, and got to work right beside me. I didn't ask for her help; I knew those were the fruits of the outstanding education she is receiving from the teachers and staff at SLP. SLP forms the "whole child." She is quick to point out letters and their sounds, just like they practice at school, and she actually has better handwriting than her siblings who are already in elementary school. Talk about TK and Kindergarten readiness! That isn't even the best part, though. The best part is how they treat each child with the utmost love, care, and respect. The teachers know every child by name and make them feel seen and genuinely cared for. I think that's why the kids at this preschool are so filled with positive attention and instruction; it simply spills over from their hands into their homes. This is such a special school. It shapes minds and hearts, transforming toddlers into caring, thoughtful, and prepared little kids. I know the lessons they have planted in her heart will take root, providing the strongest foundation for my daughter's development into childhood and beyond.

I was going to wait a little to write this review but I am blown away at Ms. Charmaine, her…read moreteachers, and the positive experience so far. The past 3.5 years we just had our moms helping us with childcare. As a parent you want to be able to trust the people you leave your kid with and make sure it's a good fit. Already two months in I have decided I'm cancelling his registration for public TK and am keeping him enrolled here. I see Ms. Charmaine when we drive by working early and late hours to make sure the children have play based learning activities. She keeps the place meticulously clean & cooks EVERYTHING fresh for the kids meals everyday. It's also very balanced for nutrition (I'm a nutrition coach and personal trainer so she gets a big thumbs up from me!). My son was very very picky with food before coming here, but just the past few weeks he has been more open to trying new foods, which is a win win in my book. I am also a big fan of the fact they send me monthly updates on what they are learning, special activities, and daily pictures of things he's doing throughout the day. It makes me so happy he's socializing and thriving in the Magic Beings Preschool program. I would recommend this preschool to any family looking for quality, great value childcare with a holistic approach. Very satisfied with my choice to put him in here. The security measures they have in place are also really nice- no need to worry!

The quality of this play based school is unmatched. I will recommend Magic Beings until I'm blue in…read morethe face. My son is beyond his grade level and the way they keep all the kids engaged is just amazing. He came home with dragon wings they made during the summer session. The projects and education they give them is invaluable. You won't find a better school or teachers than MB! I feel very fortunate that my son is starting off with a strong education and they do lots of dexterity work.