this place is MAGICAL. I'm so so so glad we found Stepping Stones! The teachers are full of compassion and empathy, and provide a beautiful example for my daughter to follow. Mrs. Harpt, Mrs. Jenny, Mrs. Jessie, Mrs. Dunham, Mrs. Page, Mrs. Spade --- these are the teachers my daughter has had direct interaction with, and seriously they are WONDERFUL. I love their approach to resolving conflicts - talk it out, instead of time-outs or punishments. SUPER SMART! Mrs Harpt even has conflict resolution cards that offer different options for the kiddo to take, if s/he feels wronged. It's THE BEST. I love their focus on kindness and respect. When we aided the other day, the ratio was 5 grown-ups to 8 kids. I mean it doesn't get better than that. I also LOVE that the school offers parent aide (volunteer) opportunities that reduce tuition! So, I know all the kids at the school! Which sets my mama heart at ease knowing that my daughter interacts with all sorts of personalities. That way, she and I can discuss her interactions with friends at home, and she can directly transfer what we talk about. I have found myself in an unusual situation with my husband becoming ill, and the directors (Joanne & Julie) and the office staff (Matt & others) have been so very kind --- I forgot my daughters shoes once, and no problem. I had an issue with some aggressive in-laws, and the staff took it very seriously ensuring that no one NOT on the pickup list would ever grab my daughter. Additionally, they have allowed my husband to tag along with me when I aide, which provides him a sense of belonging, even though he lacks capacity to completely fulfill his role in a typical way. The staff and directors are tremendously empathetic, kind, non-reactive, respectful, and truly lovely to interact with. When I can donate or volunteer, I feel HONORED to do so! Whereas in other areas of my life, it can feel like a burden or resentment.... not SSP - It's a really magical place that fills my heart. I have found a family in SSP! (which says a lot since we moved away from family & friends 3 years ago!) read more

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Our family has been so happy with stepping stones preschool. We really needed the consistency of our kiddo going to full time pre-k but I love how I can help out in the classroom when I want to. I have loved seeing how he interacts with his classmates and it's so fun getting to share some of his school experiences with him and his friends. It's such a fun community feel at the school and I love how they have so many events for the families throughout the school year. All the teachers are amazing and you can tell they really care about your child and provide such individualized support for each student. My kiddo had never been in any type of preschool or extracurricular classes before he started here last year and I was really worried how'd he'd adjust but they did such a good job giving him all the tools to excel and love learning. read more

Stepping Stones Preschool - Backyard area with obstacle course setup - Preschools Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

My daughter and I were reminiscing about Stepping Stones today. I wanted to write this review to express how much we love this school. My daughter is now 21 and in her 3rd year of college. She has so many clear, beautiful memories of her time there. From snow days to gardening, she recounts with a huge smile the love and attention she received. The first experience with school is extremely important for a child, and this school, with the amazing teachers they choose, nailed it! My daughter plans to put her children in this school when that time in her life arrives. read more

It's hard to put into words just how much we love SSP. Our child has blossomed socially and academically and is absolutely thriving. The teachers are compassionate and experienced (most have been with the school for over 10 years!), the ratios are better than most, if not all, other schools we toured. You can't beat the parent participation program. The opportunity to be so involved with my kiddos class and school in itself is great, but you also get a tuition discount for doing so! I could go on and on but just know, if you choose SSP, you won't look back! read more

You will not find another school like this! When we toured with my daughter, she did not want to leave. She loves the teachers, and I love that I am able to be as involved as I would like. They play outside, garden, bake, and make messes like kids are supposed to! read more

We love stepping stones preschool so much! Two of our kids have gone here and it's been a wonderful experience. The teachers are THE BEST!!! The campus is amazing. My kids love going to school here. Play-based learning and the opportunity to volunteer to get the monthly tuition lower is so helpful and smart. read more

Stepping Stones Preschool - Preschool garden - Preschools Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

Our oldest child attended Stepping Stones and our second child is now finishing up her second year at this wonderful school. We couldn't be happier about their experiences. If we had more kids, they would all be attending. The teaches and staff take pride in knowing each kid's personality, interests, who their siblings are, etc. Everything is hands on; no screen time here and it's great. Kids have a "backyard" for outdoor fun, an expansive playground, they have baking activities, classroom gardens, special guest led events and lots of parental support. This school focuses on hands on learning by doing life tasks; growing the mind by tactile experiences. Want your kid in class to develop 2, 3, or 5 mornings; there is flexibility with how many days your child attends. Parent's play a big part in helping Stepping Stones function, this is not a big business pretending to love teaching. These are sincere professionals who make a difference in every child's life they help. read more

Incredible preschool! I toured a few before SSP and left feeling sad until this school. My daughter immediately took to the director giving us a tour and dove right into playing outside on the playground. She's nearly through her first year now, and I'm so thankful for everyone at this school. Best preschool hands down. Teachers are amazing and I really love aiding in the classrooms while my little is in class. We've also taken advantage of the nursery for our youngest and it's amazing! read more

We love Stepping Stones so much! Both of my children attended and just thrived there. The NAEYC accreditation and Four Star rating are definitely amazing but those things just seem to be a positive by-product of an amazing, caring staff who really understands how children learn. The approach to education is amazing and the children have NO idea how much they're learning. There is a garden, sensory activities and adventures everywhere and the entire staff is loving and caring. read more

Love this school. All four of our children have gone here and loved it. I personally like that it's a co-operative preschool - parents are involved in the school. We have made many wonderful friends through Stepping Stones. read more

We absolutely love this Preschool. When we moved in this area we asked all of our neighbors & Family, and all of them sent their kids here and highly recommend it. There are daily crafts, older kids get to tend a garden, a wonderful playground, & amazing teachers that are so great with the kids. Highly recommend! read more

This preschool feels like a diamond in the world of pebbles. I am not sure where to begin....I love that my daughter is known by many people in the school, not just her teacher. Staff know her by name, greet her and show genuine care for her. Her teacher is easy to talk to and keeps me informed about how she is doing and any concerns she sees. A huge perk is that I get a discounted tuition by aiding in any classroom twice a month. If I aide more than twice I am able to save even more on tuition. I like being on campus to know what is happening in my daughter's school. And, the preschool has daycare on site in case we decide to have more children. Along with the teacher, each classroom has two parent aides, so the kids get an abundance of attention. In case you're wondering, all parent aides have to be fingerprinted, go through a brief training, and have a background check before aiding. I'm pretty particular about details and want to know who is working with my child! ;) I know this might sound crazy, but I really like the gate the school has around their entire campus. Kids are not able to open the gates without help from adults. My kid is pretty darn crafty and those gates make me feel more secure. I feel pretty darn lucky to have found this school in my own area of Phoenix. I recommend you go to the school for a tour to see the school in action! read more

I have had 2 of my children attend in different classrooms for 2 years each with Mrs Crabb, Mrs Allen and Mrs Harpt. We love that they use play to learn! Fine motor skills, gross motor skills, social! When they are younger they start exploring letters and writing their names. When they are 4 they fine tune their names, and in the 5 day class they'll learn phone numbers, addresses, last names and so much more. My now 6 year old was more than prepared for kindergarten but I also practiced at home with her too which I think is every parents responsibility. She has fantastic memories! The playground, the garden, after school activities if you choose to do so are all a part of their experience. It's a fantastic way to introduce your child to school! Oh and you can aide at the school to earn credit towards tuition! They have a nursery for 3 months to 2 years and a playroom for 2 and up. Both of which are run by exceptionally patient and understanding teachers who care deeply about your children and understand your child's age for learning. My 2 youngest LOVE both the nursery and the playroom. And I've seen them grow and learn and play and it's wonderful! read more

My daughter started going to school this year. She absolutely loves her teacher and the playful learning environment. The staff are friendly and helpful. I aide regularly in the nursery where my son goes while I aide and my daughter gets to go to the playroom on her off days for free while I aide. It's a great concept to lower her tuition and be an active part of her school. We love it! read more

This preschool is great! It is a COOP so parents are involved with the process. The teachers have been there for YEARS. My daughter has been there for two years and we have been thrilled with the teachers. The entire staff cares and you have a real sense of community here. Register early as there usually is a wait list. read more