Where do I even begin with Meridian Hills Cooperative? My family and I love this little school so…read moremuch. This is going to sound overly dramatic, but it aint no lie: Enrolling my child into this school has probably been one of the best decisions I've made since moving to Indiana. We just finished the 4s class, which was our first foray into any type of schooling. Meridian Hills Cooperative is play-based, which means that the kids learn through exploring, building, creating, moving their bodies, and just plain being kids. The teachers do not push the kids to do anything (as in, they aren't receiving formal lessons in the 4s class) -- instead, the teacher invites each child to participate, and lets them join in whenever they feel comfortable. Each child is valued for whatever stage they're at in life. Similarly, each type of personality -- from super shy guys to boisterous kids to everything in between -- is cherished and respected. A huge plus about the school is that they value playing outdoors. They will tell you straight up when you go for a tour: We play outside in all types of weather! The only time the kids won't play outside is if the weather is dangerous, such as during thunderstorms, or if the windchill is in the single digits. Otherwise, kids bring their snow clothes, rain boots and other outdoor gear because they know they'll be playing outside, rain or shine! Meridian Hills Cooperative is a co-op, which means that parents participate in the classes on a rotating basis. I love this aspect of the school because you really get to know your child's classmates, and in turn, the other parents really get to know YOUR child very well. It's very much like an extended family, with everyone invested in each other's well being. One of the most unique aspects of Meridian Hills is the Kindergarten class. This school is one of the only in the Indianapolis area that offers a part-time Kindergarten. (It meets Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.) On Thursdays, the class spends all day outdoors in the "forest Kindergarten" area, which is basically set up to be an outdoor classroom. So the kids get to learn while feeling the cool breeze, hearing the birds chirping and feeling the earth under their feet. It is such an amazing space, and an amazing way for kids to learn. I feel like I could go on and on about Meridian Hills, but it's just one of those things you have to check out yourself. I'm probably the most jaded and cynical person I know, but whenever I talk to people about this school, I get super mushy and emotional recounting all the ways I love this school and how much my child has grown and blossomed because of it. It's truly been a blessing in our lives.

I searched high and low (aka Noblesville to downtown Indy) looking for a nondenominational,…read moreplay-based preschool for my daughter. After looking at multiple Montessori schools and not finding many other options, I was delighted to find MHCNS. As soon as I arrived, I knew I had found something special. The spacious outdoor playground is like no other I've seen in the area (and there are hiking trails, too!). Once inside, I was impressed by the "block room" full of wooden toys for building, the "art room" with easels set up and a table full of homemade play dough, and a third room where the children were enjoying board games and reading in little groups. And then I met the teachers. There are three, and they are all amazing. They have history with the school, an easy rapport with the children, and they believe in the power of play. I was also impressed that this school has a half-day kindergarten available. As a cooperative (and member of Indiana Council of Preschool Cooperatives), this preschool is run by parents. One of your child's caregivers will help out in the classroom once or twice a month and take on a "job" within the school. Your job could be anything from organizing the Fall Picnic to ordering the art supplies for your child's classroom or caring for the class pet. My daughter loves seeing me in her classroom, and it really gives me a better sense of what she is experiencing and what I can do to help her grow. MHCNS offers parent education nights and a two day training workshop. Since all of the parents are so involved with the school, you really get to know the other families and create lasting friendships. Overall, I feel that being part of this school has not only been beneficial to my daughter, it has also made me a better parent.

This school used to live up to it's claims of meeting the child where they are, educating the whole…read morechild, fostering their individuality, etc. In the past few years I have experienced a tremendous decline in their ability to hold true to this, sadly. I give it an average star rating because these days is just a costly version of any typical, yet capable public school with the addition of arrogance in their approach.

All three of our children attended The Orchard School. We are very pleased with the education they…read morereceived and so are they. I've often tried to sift through all our years and determine what they most learned/received at Orchard and if I had to pick one attribute (and there are many), I'd pick confidence. They are all confident public speakers. For example, when my daughter was a junior in high school, she won an award that required her to speak at a dinner with over 400 people present. I tried several times to get her to practice and review her speech in advance, knowing that the previous recipient had a professional speech writer. In frustration, one evening she said, "Mom, I went to Orchard. Don't worry." She delivered a flawless speech without notes. They are all confident about their ability to learn. Orchard likes to say they help create lifelong learners and they do. Each of our children knows how to learn and they like to learn. They are all confident expressing themselves to anyone. In high school, their teachers observed that unlike many shy teens they were not afraid to ask questions and advocate for themselves or for others. And, this has continued throughout their college and post-graduate years. Orchard invites and teaches children how to respectfully approach adults. At Orchard, education is not just about science, English, history, etc. While these are important, it's also about helping develop good people and preparing them for the future.

Overall I am happy with the care & trust the people. The teachers/front desk and the staff get 5…read morestarts from me. The organization on the whole is expensive - what you pay for fees, activities and just the care is pricey & sometimes it seems endless. Overall we have been happy.

From the owner: Learning Time Preschool is privately owned and has been serving the needs of young children and…read moretheir families for over 30 years. Our oversized classrooms are nestled in a homelike environment. The children together with their teachers rotate into theme based classrooms where they are introduced to a variety of language art activities, creative art, large muscle and science activities. Our infant and toddler program focuses on the individual needs of the children offering them sensory, music and cognitive experiences.

Wonderful facility with excellent staff. They are welcoming and friendly, and really take a great…read moreinterest in your child on a personal level.

ECC is an amazing childcare facility! The classrooms are decorated to feel like a school setting…read more The staff start prepping the kids for development milestones and is more than just childcare - they help them learn!! All of the staff are amazing! The director, John, is excellent with the children! Whenever we do drop off they know my kids names (one who does not even go to ECC) and MY NAME! Just a wonderful community I can not say enough kind words about.

We were here a few months and it wasn't a good experience…read more Our son started crying about going the night before and was consistently very upset at drop-off, which had never happened before. Communication was minimal (rare updates or photos), and staff seemed to change often. I spoke to the directors about wanting even ONE photo update a week, which felt reasonable considering my son was there 5 days a week, but nothing happened. Food quality was pretty poor. My child often didn't eat anything throughout the day. I also overheard a teacher speaking to kids in a way that felt too harsh for toddlers. The center is now a Paths to QUALITY Level 1 (previously a Level 4), which may explain the decline. There are some positives (hours, cost, outdoor space), but overall it wasn't the right environment for our child.

My son has attended Polly Panda for approximately six months, and I could not be more satisfied…read morewith our choice! The directors, Tammy and Gail, have both been at the school for over 20 years. Their passion for high-quality early childhood education was evident the moment I met them. Every morning they greet my son warmly at the door and walk him safely to his classroom. I leave for work confident my child is receiving the best possible care. My child loves coming to school each day and excitedly tells me about his day every time we drive home. The teachers at Polly Panda are highly skilled, experienced, and deeply care about every child. I hold teaching licensure myself, hold a master's degree in education, and have nearly two decades of teaching experience (including preschool). I am highly impressed with the quality of the teacher-created lessons I have seen here. They are creative, engaging, and developmentally appropriate. My child was writing his name before his fourth birthday and can now "read" me several of his favorite stories. I have seen his skills blossom immensely during his time at Polly Panda. Most importantly, the teachers genuinely love my son and treat him as if he were their own child. "Miss Judy" even went far enough to send my son birthday greetings on his actual (weekend) birthday. He was thrilled, and so was I! To everyone at Polly Panda, THANK YOU!!! Keep up the great work! It is obvious, simply looking at the tenure of the average staff member, that this is truly a magical place.

I am writing this on behalf of my granddaughter, my daughter and son-in-law. Our granddaughter has…read morebeen going to KinderCare close to a year. In that time, my daughter and son-in-law have been asked numerous times to keep their baby home or come get her early. Also, they are asked on occasion for parents to volunteer to keep their child at home/find other care for that day. Consistency in staffing is a big issue. Fridays are particularly bad for last minute staff call-offs. If you are looking for a dependable daycare for your child, I would look around and pay attention to the reviews. For the most part, the actual care has been good. But when the turnover is so frequent, and the call-offs are regular, and you're looking last minute for someone to watch your child, something isn't right. Not dependable. Moving elsewhere.

From the owner: Infant Programs (6 Weeks - 1 Year), Toddler Programs (1 - 2 Years), Discovery Preschool Programs (2…read more- 3 Years), Preschool Programs (3 - 4 Years), Prekindergarten Programs (4 - 5 Years), Before and After School Programs (5-12 Years), Summer Programs (preschool, prekindergarten, and school-age)

Most people would shy away from a "private school" in a home and that was us at first. We drove by…read morethe first time and kept going but my co-worker insisted that I speak to the teacher to ease my fears. My husband and I met with Kasha in August of 2012 and have never looked back. After sending our two girls through the program, we see the value was beyond exceptional. Our girls learned to love and honor themselves and they are so ahead of the game. Their teachers were amazed at how polished and prepared they were for school. Ms. Hayden is a miracle when it comes to education and we welcome her into our village. Our daughters, who are now in first and second grade, are excelling in school and in all of their social environments. The biggest thing is the love and safety that Little Lambs provides. Kasha isn't always there, of course, but everyone these loves the children and want only what is best for them emotionally and academically. Oh and she feeds them well. We could never serve them school food because they just aren't used to eating that way. Little Lambs thinks of every possible way to nurture your children. I wish that we could stay home and homeschool but they certainly got the next best thing at Little Lambs Learning Lab. I just can't express our gratitude for the foundation our daughters received at Little Lambs. Having a licensed teacher versus a daycare teacher has really set them apart.

From the owner: Little Lambs Learning Lab is a private, primary school preparatory program for children ages 2-5…read moreyears old. We pride ourselves on a safe learning environment where children are loved and prepared for Kindergarten and beyond. Your child deserves an early childhood experience with an educated professional. We offer a Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten program based not on your child's age but their ability. Visit our website at www.lambslab.com. We are wecreatechildhood on Instagram and Little Lambs Learning Lab on FaceBook. Great children don't just happen, they are created in The Lab. We Create Childhood!™