The Learning Tree in Livermore is such a wonderful school! The teachers are caring, patient, and truly dedicated to the children's growth and happiness. They create a warm, welcoming environment where kids feel safe and excited to learn every day. I've seen so much growth and confidence in my 3-year-old daughter since starting here. A huge plus for us has been the onsite enrichment programs, like soccer and Spanish class, which means we don't have to spend our evenings driving around town for extra activities. Also, the live camera access is a much appreciated added bonus that our last daycare didn't have. read more

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As a former parent of a child who was enrolled at this school, I wanted to write my review based on facts and what I observed at the school during that time. There were good things about this school but over the last several months, something at the school has changed. These are my views and based on knowledgeable firsthand facts. Lack of Proper Oversight - The school has been hit by licensing several times over the last 6 months (details and sign up of alerts can be found here https://www.ccld.dss.ca.gov/carefacilitysearch/FacDetail/013421352). The staff will constantly turn their backs, be on their phone, stand in areas that block views, and leave children unattended constantly. For example, I picked up my son in late March (5ish) and the number of kids was 18 for one teacher, all different ages playing outside on the playground. Also, I dropped off my son last week (8:20 am), and noticed the number of kids was 30+ but only two teachers were outside (Ratio is supposed to be 12-1). I have noticed a constant repetitive pattern, and it looks like other parents have communicated these same issues to licensing. Lack of Proper Teaching - During afternoon nap time, I signed my son up for additional academic learning programs that were offered. This program, Early Explorers, was designed to provide additional education to kids that were dropping their naps. It wasn't a free choice and required parents to pay extra. Over the last six months, the program went from fun academic learning to additional free play outside. During their free play outside, nothing academic or educational was provided, it was only more play outside on the playground. When questioned about why I was paying for a program that was advertised as additional learning opportunities, an excuse about lunch breaks was communicated to me. Lack of Proper Intervention / Regulation - During my time there, multiple reports were communicated to me about my son's incidents. During these incidents it was made clear that teachers were not properly trained in the right child development techniques and were constantly intervening when situations escalated to the highest levels. For example, my son had several incident reports for physical violence, when questioned about the lead up to the situation, it was clear that my son communicated he needed another child to respect his space. The teacher watched my son communicate multiple times that my son needed space, intervening after things escalated physically between the two children. During another incident, I questioned the teacher asking things like "can you tell me more about when and how you stepped in?" or "Can you provide me with facts leading up to the situation?", which caused teachers to not provide adequate details about the situation. Lack of Communication to parents by the Owner and Leadership - A situation came up last year where parents were passing around a picture of my son being restrained by a teacher. That picture was provided to me six months later when another parent asked about the situation, thinking I knew about it. Nothing was communicated to me by leadership or the owner until I comforted them about it. When asked why this wasn't brought to my attention, the excuse "an internal investigation happened" was used. Then questioned again on why I wasn't made aware of this, the comments "well the child's parents were notified", I was the parent of the child, and it was clear Leadership was trying to keep it from us. read more

Learning Tree is a great place. The owners are wonderful people who really understand and care about kids and their learning. We are so lucky to have found this place. read more

Love this preschool! I am so happy my daughter loves coming here! :) It makes me feel good I can check in and watch her anytime too.

My son has been attending Learning Tree since August 2024 and I wish we had started him sooner! It's been a night and day experience compared to where he was before. Every single staff member has been so kind, welcoming and cheerful towards us. Both his teachers adore him and keep us in the loop about how he's doing. The directors, Marie and Sara, are absolute gems and we could not be happier to be part of the Learning Tree family. There's tons of fun events and plenty of opportunities for parent participation. It's such a relief to know he's loved and cared for at school. You will not regret enrolling your child there. read more

Reading some of these reviews, I can't help but wonder if they're about a completely different establishment! My boys and I absolutely love The Learning Tree, and we recommend it to all our friends with preschool-aged children. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with warm smiles and a cheerful "Good morning!"--a simple but meaningful gesture that immediately puts both boys at ease. One of my boys sometimes needs a little extra love during morning drop-offs, and the teachers are always happy to provide those extra cuddles to help him settle in for the day. Their genuine care and patience make such a difference. Pick-up time, on the other hand, can take a while--sometimes over 30 minutes--because our boys never want to leave. To me, that says everything about the loving, nurturing community The Learning Tree has built. A huge thank you to Directors Miss Marie and Miss Sara for creating such a safe, welcoming environment that our boys truly consider a second home! read more

I have one grandchild currently enrolled and two others who have graduated. The environment at the Learning Tree is safe and welcoming. The teachers are friendly, supportive, and highly encouraging to the young learners. The kids always look forward to their time there. read more

Both our boys started at learning tree in the month of June and we LOVE it. Every teacher adores our boys! Our boys come home happy and never want to leave. They use the brightwheel app and communicate often, answer every question, and send tons of photos!! read more

Many other parents and I recently did a mass exodus because our complaints to management/oqenership were left unheard. All our favorite teachers either left, or were fired. It wasn't worth our children's development, or the money. So much drama ensued, yet management doesn't support teachers or parents at all. On top of all that, there was no supervision for children. Lastly- children constantly came home with bug bites. An ex teacher, that was left on teacher communication still, informed some families, that were leaving, of an UNTREATED infestation- management never informed us of. read more

I heard really great things about the school and was excited to speak to someone about possible enrollment. However, after a few phone calls, voicemails and emails it seems they aren't quite as professional. It's been weeks and I haven't gotten a single response from them, not even a "sorry we are currently full or only booking only for fall".. NOTHING. read more

I have had my children and children in my family at the Learning Tree for many years. I have seen lots of changes to the school and staff. I pulled my two children recently as the culture of the center has changed drastically. There was proof from the cameras of children being forcibly controlled and of inappropriate behavior amongst staff. I am not surprised by the course of action taken here on yelp to cover up an honest review or for a teacher to follow Marie with a review. Maria's inappropriate relationships with her teachers are well known, may that be with relations or partying. It has been shared by coworkers that this is not the first school she has done this with. This daycare is completely inadequate, with a clear lack of professionalism , transparency, supervision and inconsistent staff practices. The turn over is very high without any notice for the children or valid explanation as to why given. We have to hear the stories on the side. My oldest child often came home tired and with no clear explanation of her day's activities. The facility was frequently messy, cluttered and the new staff seemed overwhelmed with the simplest issues. Daily ignoring children's needs and concerns. There are many cameras to watch the teachers and directors spending their day on their phone as chaos is happening around them or children are not resting during nap. I strongly advise parents to look elsewhere for a reliable and safe childcare environment. Don't take my word for it. Look around on your tour, Ask questions, research staff and turnover, ask other schools in the area, we are a small town and they have turned into a joke of a center. The reputation is well earned. read more

Love love love. I knew about this school for awhile and had/have friends that worked their as well. The staff is just hands down awesome with all the babies. It is so apparent. You get what you pay for. My son loves it here and he is thriving. We personally highly recommend. Great positive learning and growing environment. read more

So grateful for the Learning Tree ! My son went here at 18 months until it was time to spread our wings and fly to begin kindergarten. Now our second child is going to start soon and can't wait to do it all over again. At the Learning Tree they create such a fun loving experience for our kids and also preparing them for kindergarten. Hands-down I highly recommend and you will see why. read more

Touring different schools have to say The Learning Tree is very unprofessional. I have tried to schedule tours and see if they have availability for my children and they haven't even gotten back to me. I have heard mixed reviews about this place and the top topic of this place is that the teachers are not supported by the office staff. Teachers bend over backwards for the students and parents and matter what the teachers try to do in making this a positive environment for the children. The office staff does not back them up. Needless to say, I'm taking my children elsewhere. read more

No school in the 2 years that I have looked around for my little ones had this kind of customer service. They won't call you back, not email you back, not answer calls nothing. Terrible and so unprofessional, if you run a school/ daycare please have people respond to parents even if it's just to say "hey we have no openings now, please contact us in so and so month". I have been in touch with around 7-8 play schools in livermore and till date i write to even one of them just to ask a general question on admission and they respond back so professionally in 1-2 days. Absolutely disappointing with this place. read more

My family and I just LOVE this school. My eldest one graduated here, middle one is attending now, and youngest one will be there soon. Directors, Diana and Stephanie, are doing awesome job to make the school as happiest place ever for kids. About 2 years ago my wife and I found this school by chance. We visited for tour, and we immediately enrolled our girls right after we had conversations with Ms. Diana, director and owner of the school, who was giving the tour. For us it was impressive she knows every details of individual kids. Staffs were also looking happy for their job, which was another important point for us when making decision. Staffs are friendly and kind, always be willing to help families of their students, which I sincerely appreciate. They communicate to each other very well, I can literally leave message to anyone or can hear about how my little one's day was from anyone. I also like the part that they bring in many kinds of events to the school rather than going on field trip. It is their strategy for safety. They regularly arrange visiting of fire fighters and kids just love it. Various activities make kids happier and families have full access to many events. They offer in-school birthday party for reasonable price which I had for my little ones. Sometimes during the weekend they offer child care for special days like Christmas shopping, or Thanksgiving preparation. They seriously care about their facilities. They don't let something remain in broken or dirt. I am very happy about it. As I know a sandbox in front yard is being covered for every night so kids can play with cleaner sand. They periodically install new mulch on playground. Thank you all and just keep doing the awesome job! My family and I are so lucky to have you all. read more

I honestly can't say enough good things about The Learning Tree. The main win for me is communication. I have been so impressed with not only how much the teachers and director know about my son, but how they have informed me about every issue, and followed up on everything they have said they would. The cameras are amazing. My son is 19 months old, and sometimes he still has a hard time with drop off. I'm able to quickly log in from my phone, and watch him playing with the other kids and teachers- so my mind is immediately at ease. The ratios are small, and this allows the teachers to give my son the attention he needs. Also, they are able to step in and help with situations quickly. They have an organized curriculum, and they communicate snack schedules, as well as activities via email every month. It is so nice to to have that available in a soft format. I'm also able to text their teachers if I forgot to mention something, and they are always responsive and helpful. I really feel like every single teacher there knows my son, has interacted with him, and they all are extremely professional at pick up at drop off. There is a closed facebook group where the teachers upload pictures of the kids every single week. I really feel included in what my son is doing every day. Moving my son to the Learning Tree has been the best decision we have ever made, and there is a reason for the long waiting list. I'm so glad we were patient. read more

My son attended Learning Tree (formerly called the Ark) for 8 months from Jan 2014 through Aug 2014. He started in the youngest class, then ended in the 2yr class. (I'd like to mention that I only left the school because I have an older child who was already assimilated at his school, and I didn't want to continue 2 separate drop-offs). During that time, I was able to see how a variety of the teachers interacted with him and the class as a whole. Not only would I frequently check the video feed (SO nice to have as a working parent) I would also stay for a while when I picked him up in the afternoons (he often didn't want to leave right away). I was able to observe how nice the teachers were, and how calmly they were able to respond to corrections. The focus was more on teaching positive behavior teaching, rather than discipline for negative behavior. The curriculum offered a nice variety of art, independent and guided play, music, story time, and outside play. I liked that the school offered separate age-appropriate play areas. Not only did I know my son was safe from bigger kids, it gave him something extra to look forward to as he moved up through the classes. My favorite part of the big-kid play yard (aside from the cool dinosaur) is the vegetable garden the kids help tend. But I haven't even gotten to my favorite parts yet! The school is GREAT at planning extra, fun events for the family to participate in and get to know other families. AND the directors are parent/family-focused - in my experience, this is not always the case. But Diana and Stephanie are so kind, so attentive, and beyond helpful in making sure each child, and family, receives the personal care they need. They truly set the bar in what makes for wonderful directors. And not only is the Learning Tree already a great school, the directors have a vision for the school, and further enhancements are in the works. They are also open to new ideas and love parent involvement. I just can't say enough good things about this place. Even though my son isn't there anymore, I feel connected to the school and I know they will continue to thrive and be a highly regarded preschool in Livermore. read more

I am so happy that my 2 year old daughter is lucky enough to attend The Learning Tree. She looks forward to going and I feel incredibly comfortable with her being there. She has learned much since starting school. Each week I am astounded by what she has learned, things I never would have thought to teach her! The teachers are kind, interactive, attentive and welcoming. Seriously, I could not ask for more! I'm actually excited for my son to get old enough to attend so I can watch him grow in leaps and bounds too! read more

We have had our daughter enrolled in the learning tree for a little over a year and we could not be happier! We love everything about the school- the staff, cameras, all their events and family oriented functions! I'm super picky and looked at 8 schools before making a decision and as soon as I walked in and met Diana and Stephanie, I was sold. Highly recommend to any parent! read more

My three-year-old daughter has been attending The Learning Tree (formerly The Ark) since October 2013, and we could not be happier. We left a very well-known preschool in Livermore after discovering the student-teacher ratios were not always as represented, and that the children watched up to an hour of television a day when staying a full day. In deciding to leave we toured a number of local preschools in Livermore, Pleasanton, and Danville (now knowing what to really look for!). The moment we toured The Learning Tree (at that time known as The Ark) and met its new owner, Diana, we were immediately taken and knew we had found the right place. While we love so many things about The Learning Tree (too many to list!), the biggest distinguishing factor for us remains the quality and commitment of the staff. In my experience, not only does each teacher know every child by name, but each teacher also knows each child's personality and temperament, and can immediately comfort or redirect a child as needed. I've witnessed a number of occasions where a reluctant child at drop-off is quickly comforted with welcome arms by a teacher and then, when appropriate, redirected to play with a toy or with friends. I can tell that each teacher really loves what they do, and genuinely wants to be there, and that sets a great tone for the school. And, boy do the teachers have energy and creativity! It is common to find a teacher in the sandbox playing with children, at the table engaged in a craft with kids, or on the floor singing or reading to a small group (even at 6 pm after a full day of teaching!). Other things that sold me on The Learning Tree: low student-teacher ratios; three separate, age-appropriate play yards (including a beautiful yard in the back with grass!); lots of enrichment programs (my daughter loves Soccer Shots in the backyard); a well-balanced, play-based curriculum; a Director and Assistant Director that are second-to-none and very open to parent suggestions; and a supportive and down-to-earth parent base (there are a lot of family events to interact with other parents!). Oh, and The Learning Tree has one thing that I didn't find anywhere else: cameras in every classroom with a secure feed accessible to parents. Now that's transparency and confidence in your staff and program! The one initial hesitation I had before touring the school was that the school was located on a busy street (East Avenue), but the sturdy double front entrance gates quickly alleviated my concern. I can't tell you what a wonderful feeling it is to take my daughter to a place that she enjoys, and leave her with people that clearly love and care for her. (In fact, she often runs up to the gate to get in!) And, when I pick her up from The Learning Tree, she is not watching television; she is listening to a teacher read, or engaged in a sing-a-long or free play with others (and many times she doesn't want to leave!). She chats all the way home about what she learned and the fun she had, which just reminds me that we made the right decision in changing preschools. If you are touring preschools, I strongly recommend you visit The Learning Tree to see if it is the right fit for your family. read more

This is my first time taking my son to a school of any kind, he just turned 2 on 1/11/13 and goes to The Learning Tree part time. I had researched many schools in the area and this school by far was the best. Ms. Diana and Ms. Stephanie were so helpful and took their time to answer any of my questions. The staff there are attentive to details of your child's needs. You can tell by the atmosphere the kids are happy and thriving. They truly want the best for your kid and as a parent the best feeling is leaving your child with people who care and are loving. I highly recommend The Learning Tree to anyone looking for full time or part time education. read more

We have been at The Learning Tree since January 2018 when my first born was 22 months old. He'd only been cared for by his dad and I and Grandparents so we were very nervous about leaving him. He started in the Sprouts classroom and I cannot say enough nice things about Lexii and Mandy. He thrived there so so much. He loved it so much by week 2 he was asking to go to Lexii and Mandy's house on the days he wasn't there. He learned so much and his speech improved dramatically. The directors Diana and Stephanie are amazing and always keep parents well informed. Everyone there is so loving. My oldest is now a Maple and Dawn and Angelica are amazing too. All of the kids there are so sweet and kind. I love my son has made friends and I have made friendships with some of the parents. My baby will start in Sprouts 11/19 and I can't wait for him to experience what my oldest has. They provide such wonderful events and experiences. Couldn't be happier! read more

My 5-year-old daughter has been at the Learning Tree for approximately 6 months. I cannot recommend them enough! Within the first few days, she was writing her name. Now she's able to identify all her letters and numbers, count by 5s and 10s, identify words and so much more! She has become so social and confident. She raves about school at the end of each day. The only drawback is that she often does not want to leave! The Director, Ms. Diana, and teaching staff are phenomenal. They are fully committed to bringing joy, creativity and learning to each day. There is no mistaking how special the children are to them and how much of their hearts they put in to making them feel as important as they think they are. The creativity never stops and my daughter comes home with beautiful projects, singing new songs, and telling us about space and nature and health. It's been far beyond my highest hopes! The teachers are great with communication. My daughter was in Ms. Carolyn's class and she was wonderful about sending reminders and information about my daughter's progress academically. She looked for feedback on how the kids were doing with any assignments and was always gently encouraging them to learn and excel, even beyond a pre-K level. Before the Learning Tree, I was concerned whether my daughter would be ready for Kindergarten, now I know she will not only be prepared but will thrive. My daughter tells me how much she loves Ms. Carolyn and how she knows Ms. Carolyn loves her too! There are often special theme days (pajama day and crazy hair day were my daughter's favorites!) and events that the whole family is encouraged to attend. They go out of their way to make the parents feel special for Mother's and Father's Day and even have events like carnivals and bouncy house days. You will never see an open house or graduation ceremony like the ones they have here. The thoughtfulness and care that are put into every detail are truly evident. We feel very fortunate to have found such a wonderful school! We will truly miss it as my daughter moves on to Kindergarten. read more

Nearly three years later, my younger son now attends the Learning Tree. We are still THRILLED with all of the staff, directors, and even the high school helpers! I cannot day enough good things about this school. Definitely get on the waitlist ASAP...they are full! read more

My Daughter attended this school from 18mo. to 2.5 years. We only left because my son goes to an elementary school with a preschool and the convenience of one drop off and pick up cant be beat. But anytime anyone asks me what preschool they should look at I always say the Learning Tree! Diana is a wonderful Director and since she took over it has gone through a huge transformation. They have separate playgrounds for the toddlers and the bigger kids which I loved and the teachers are AMAZING! Ms. Donna & Ms. Alisa in the Sprouts room are so loving and caring, it is unbelievable. My Daughter actually called Ms. Alisa "Mommy" for a little while. They also do fun party's and have special guests (like a petting zoo, and a pony!) which I have never heard of before at a preschool. I had a really hard time leaving her at first but the classrooms all have live video feeds which really puts you at ease. My daughter at her current school is far more advanced then the other children, they make learning fun and the kids really don't even know they are learning. I would highly recommend them to any and all of my friends looking for a preschool. read more

This school is awesome and has helped my son to grow so much. I just went to the parent teacher conference for my kids TK class to talk to the teacher about his progress. She said he already knows everything they are supposed to know by the end of the year and it's only the first quarter of school. Him and A few other kids who went to the learning tree are all ahead of the class in terms of academics. And of course the one thing they had in common is being in learning tree and having miss Jessica as their teacher so thanks so much. They are over prepared for this. You guys have done an amazing job I am very great full. Best preschool ever! read more

My 3 1/2 year old daughter has been attending Learning Tree for 7 months two days a week. The staff are all extremely friendly , caring, and professional. They're always willing to listen and answer any questions I have. I will be enrolling my younger son at the Learning Tree as well as my daughter because our experience with them has been nothing but positive. read more

The Learning Tree is the absolute best! Each teacher is wonderful, Ms Stephanie has a special place in my heart she is incredible! Ms Diana is an exceptional director. The teachers care so much about each child, its like the teachers are extended family. The caring,love and positive guidance they teach your children is priceless. read more