We couldn't be happier with our experience at UVMS. From the start, the warm, family-friendly…read moreatmosphere set it apart from more corporate-style schools. The owners, who are also the teachers, are deeply involved and genuinely care about each child and family. They take the time to understand and support every student as an individual. Our son, who had trouble fitting in at another school, has completely transformed--he now looks forward to going every day. We've been so impressed that we also enrolled our daughter, and she's thriving just as much. Parents also form a wonderful, tight-knit community with the teachers, creating a true sense of partnership and support.

I am a current and alumni parent of Westmont who was admittedly clueless about the difference of a…read moreMontessori education when evaluating schools for my children. Westmont educated me while educating my children and now I am an advocate for life. My children, now 7 and 3 have experienced countless benefits from the Westmont environment and I feel so strongly about the community, teachers, administration and leadership that I was driven to action to post my very first YELP review to say as much. Westmont has each and every student's best interest at heart and I have seen that demonstrated over the course of my last 3+ years affiliated with the school. The academics and social/emotional curriculum is second to none. The community we entered has provided lasting friendships for my children and my spouse and I that have become our foundational friends in this community of Chester/Mendham that was new to us. You will not regret giving your children the opportunity to thrive at Westmont. Please reach out with any questions because as a business person I value a balanced and objective perspective but I also have very high standards so when a business exceeds those standards, especially when my children are the benefactors, I had to post a review!

Westmont provides a truly exceptional environment for young minds to learn in. My daughter has…read moreattended since "Little Steps," at two years old. She is and has been nurtured and cared for by a staff that cares for her nearly as much as I do. She also has learned independence, respect and how to deal with emotional situations. In addition to the solid foundation she is learning for bigger concepts, she is learning to become a solid human, as well. I would recommend it for anyone that cares about their child and values education.

We have had an outstanding experience with East Rutherford Montessori. I attended the school myself…read moreand graduated kindergarten here, and years later, we chose the same school for our daughters. Our oldest recently graduated, and although we had the option to move her into public school earlier, we intentionally kept her at Montessori. The combination of small class sizes, individual attention, and the quality of the math and reading curriculum made the decision easy. She left extremely well prepared academically, which was exactly what we hoped for. Our younger daughter is entering Pre-K4 this year, and we're very happy to continue with the school. The Montessori approach and strong curriculum are major advantages, but the consistency of the staff is equally important to us. Teacher turnover is very low, and the staff are experienced educators who focus on learning and development rather than simply providing daycare. I also appreciate that the school continues to add experiences for the kids beyond academics. Dance classes and the annual recital have been great, and this year they added an aquarium field trip as well. It's rare to have the perspective of experiencing a school both as a student and, years later, as a parent. East Rutherford Montessori has continued to deliver the same strong educational foundation. 10/10 from our family, and we have happily recommended it to many others.

Our two girls have had such an amazing experience at Montessori of East Rutherford. They have…read morelearned and grown so much during their time here, both academically and personally. The teachers are incredibly nurturing, caring, and truly invested in each child. Most importantly, our kids genuinely love going to school every day, which says so much about the environment the teachers and staff have created. We are so grateful for the wonderful experience our family has had and would highly recommend Montessori of East Rutherford to other families!

My 3rd child is currently enrolled at Long Hill Montessori, and I only have positive things to say…read moreabout the education, care, and attention my children have received at LHMS, in no small part to the new owners Kelly Legiec & Fiona Rouse. They both have strong education backgrounds, and have been at LHMS for 5 + years, and recently bought the school from the sorta shady guy that previously owned the school. The school is set up in 2 large classrooms - the Acorn Room is set up for the the 2.5 y/os - 3 yr/0, and the Oak Room is for the 3-6 yr olds. It's a nice set up so the super young kids don't feel overwhelmed by the older kids, and the older kids have a sense of accomplishment moving on to the Big Room . There is a pretty nice, mulched playground out back for the kids can burn off some energy during the day. I knew nothing of the Montessori system when my first child started there, but it's really kinda cool. The students are given a lot of autonomy for such a young age -- they are gently guided through age-appropriate tasks & lessons, where they work independently or in small groups. Not only are they learning counting, letters, shapes, sizes etc--- the things you'd expect your kids to learn in preschool, but they are also learning to self-motivate, work independently and work in small groups --- all great life lessons. My older 2 children are thriving in public school in great part to the skills, confidence, independence and education they gathered at Long Hill Montessori. I highly recommend this school !

I am so thrilled to have found LHMS! My eldest daughter is currently enrolled in Kindergarten in…read morepublic school and is thriving academically and socially after her three years at LHMS. She started out in the Acorn room with the schools' youngest students, and like many of her peers, she was weary to leave her mommy at three years old. Her teachers showed her such compassion and patience that within a matter of days she was eager to get through the gate in the mornings and excited to tell me about her day when I came to pick her up each afternoon. Over the course of the three years she was enrolled in LHMS, our entire family noticed such a change in her! She went from clinging to my legs at family gatherings to confidently looking adults in the eye and playing with other children. I remember how quickly she learned the alphabet, the sounds each letter makes, counting, cultures from around the world, the environment, animals and their habitats - I mean, you name it - and I am so grateful for that strong foundation because she now does her homework with such ease, making the whole school experience so much more pleasant! My youngest child is now in the Acorn room and absolutely loves it! The teachers have a way of making school so fun, that he went from crying every morning to literally running to get in the car to see them. It's the personal touches - the way they patiently help him settle down to nap, the way they brush off an accident instead of dwelling or shaming, they even personalize the school's annual fundraiser so parents have an idea of which gifts would be best suited for their child in particular. A couple times I had some disciplinary issues and they took the time to help guide me through my kids' changing emotions, giving me advice and listening to concerns; I truly consider them like a co-parent! You can tell that the staff at LHMS really love what they do, they genuinely care for the kids, they're not just supervising them or teaching them, they're caring for them in a holistic way. Each day they're offered healthy snacks, guided through the work to make sure they're on track academically, and given the affection and attention each individual kid needs, and believe me, my kids can be a handful, they demand a LOT of attention! I trust them with my most precious little ones, and endorse them whole-heartedly!

My two daughters attended this school from 2005 to 2010. I agree that the school is better suited…read morefor children with a sense of structure, or this organized becaus they will not spoil the children, and it does require a certain amount of structure in the day and a child who is willing to work on it . However, the amount of care and personal attention that's my daughters got here was amazing, all of that in a very clean, perfectly organized environment that prepared both of my daughters to continue and excel in excellent private schools. We As parents were very happy and I am planning to put my third daughter in when she comes of age. I think the best testimony to the greatness of the school is my oldest daughter memory. Even today, she claims that the real difference in her education was her kindergarten years and she still remembers all teachers dearly.

Is your child is an active explorer? Curious, kind and always in motion? This school is not for…read morethis type for sure. We started out with great hopes but the underlying problem of this school surfaced pretty fast. This is a one-person show and the rest of the teachers and aids are changing very fast. The Montessori method is great but keeping children sitting on the line for an ​extended period​ of time is simply unacceptable. Also,​ each time when they line up for any activity they have to stand motionless otherwise they won't participate in any activity. Her solution - sit back on the line. So what are they doing all day?! Nothing! Young children should never experience such harsh treatment. This woman shows​ no genuine emotions towards the children. Her only way to manage the classroom is by ​screaming and yelling. Harsh verbal discipline (HVD) is scientifically proven to be harmful therefore it is a wrong choice to keep the children under control. The last drop before we pulled out when we realized the water bottle was almost full in the lunch box after a whole day in school. Imagine your child was neglected without drinking for more than 6 hours. Extremely​ disappointing experience! No trust what so ever! Oh,​ and your children's​ vocabulary will pick up a few new expressions such as: "I am overwhelmed with you"; "Shut your mouth!"; "Be quiet" and "It is your​ fault". Isn't that great​!? I am very happy that I could save my child from this bad energy and harmful environment.

My older daughter attended Children's Academy for two years before starting Kindergarten, and still…read moretalks about how much she misses her preschool. She's already learned in preschool many of the concepts she's now seeing in Kindergarten, which speaks to how well the school prepares students. She even learned to read during her last year there, and it's been incredible to see her reading progress with the strong foundation the school gave her. The Children's Academy is one of the few true Montessori schools we found in the area. The classrooms are set up with stations like Practical Life, Math, and Language, and the children have the autonomy to choose their activities throughout the day. At the same time, they learn structure and social skills, like taking turns, sitting on "The Line," and resolving conflicts using the "peace rose." The teachers are what makes the school truly exceptional. Many have been at the school for decades. They are deeply attentive and caring, and I'm constantly amazed by how well they know each child, even down to details like their favorite stuffed animal. All the teachers are Montessori-trained and continue to stay up to date with best practices. There's also a strong sense of community. The school has been around for a long time, and there are parents who were students themselves whose children now attend the school. There is a Parent Association that organizes fundraisers, field trips, and events, which adds to the close-knit feel. Another huge factor for us was the flexibility they offer. There are before and after care options, as well as coverage during school holidays, which are important to us as two working parents. We couldn't find any other Montessori school in the area offering this. We love the school so much that our two younger kids now go there. If you're considering Children's Academy, I highly recommend attending one of their open houses. They host open houses once per month on the weekend - the fact that the teachers take time from their weekend to do these open houses also speaks volumes! We are so grateful to have such a wonderful school near us, and recommend it frequently to families looking for a preschool.

I am incredibly pleased with my son's experience at the Little Room. He thoroughly enjoys…read moreattending, often requesting additional days due to his enthusiasm for school. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to his teacher, Mrs. Lambert, who is truly exceptional. Also, thank you to Mrs. Massi, Mrs. Chubbs, Mrs. Haxton, and Ms. Olive, along with any others I may have missed. You have all made Mikey's first pre-K experience a truly wonderful one. Choosing this program for my son has been one of the best decisions I've ever made!

This preschool is a absolute gem; we feel so lucky to have found it! My son is currently in the…read more4's class (his 2nd year here) and his older sister attended as well 3 years ago. The school (which has been open in Millburn for over ONE HUNDRED years) is still set in the original Victorian house on Taylor Street. There are only 2 classes--3's and 4's--so it is super small and intimate, and because of this, a very close-knit and friendly parent community. They have an amazing playground which backs up to the Millburn community garden. The school owns 3 large plots in the garden and they include it in the curriculum. So the kids get to plant seeds (which they also use for counting & math), watch & learn about the different stages of growth throughout the seasons (science/STEM), and best of all, harvest & eat the fruits & veggies they grow! The school is very tied in with the town, including field trips to the local fire station, the local farmers market (goes with the garden curriculum), and Paper Mill Playhouse. The head teachers and assistant teachers have all been there for 15-25 years I believe, which speaks volumes about the school. They are nurturing, kind, fun, and truly great at what they do. They also make good company at the school happy hours :) The other major selling point of the school for us was the flexible hours. Kids can attend half day, half day + lunch, or full day, anywhere from once a week to 5 days- you customize the schedule. I have never seen another school offer this. This year for the first time they also offered aftercare as yet another option. And of course they have summer camp too. Between my 2 kids we have attended 4 different schools/daycares in the area, including a similar Montessori school down the street, but Neighborhood House is our absolute favorite, hands down.

I can't say enough good things about Neighborhood House Nursery School! From my son's very first…read moreday of preschool, we knew it was a good fit. The nurturing environment, caring staff, and connection to the community (including field trips and a plot in the community garden) create a preschool experience that is so enriching for students. The schedule flexibility is fantastic, and speaks to the personal nature of the school. Each family has a personal relationship with the director and teaching staff, all of whom couldn't be more welcoming. My sons have thrived at NHNS and we will be so sad to see them graduate!

The early learning center close abruptly 8.14.26... little to no warning to the parents and the…read moreleadership team said it came down to the money... no follow up.. teachers are great but the leadership is problematic around everything.. go somewhere else

The recent poor reviews are clearly malicious and patently false (they are far from the only game…read morein town, for one). I have sent both my kids there for the past five years. We have experienced three different directors in that time and each has been better than the last -- and the first was good! The staff are all friendly and the teachers my kids have had were all fantastic. Yes it is pricey. But I have never felt I was overpaying for what we get. But don't take my word for it: visit and see for yourself.