My first impression was that this is a good place as it sits in a quiet neighborhood, the ratio is…read moregood, teachers look nice. But something happened in the tour changed my mind. During the tour of the 3-year-old class, I saw a teacher holding a cup of steaming hot tea without a lid, walking through a group of children and even hugging two of them. After entering the classroom, the teacher put the tea on a cabinet, which was fine. But a little later, she moved the hot tea to the table where the children were having snacks. I questioned the tour guide on the spot, and was told that the school provides complimentary drinks for teachers every day, and that this poses no safety risk since they've never had an incident where hot water was spilled on a child. This response shows that the school prioritizes not offending teachers over children's safety.

Just finished our first year at Children's Corner. We loved it for many reasons. As a parent with a…read morepandemic toddler, I was very nervous sending my son to school. But the school was great about enforcing their policy and teachers maintained a very clean environment. The teachers were loving, as were the substitutes. My son is trilingual and there were teachers that could communicate in all 3 languages. That was great. I love how each grade has its own play area. Mix up Fridays are fun so kids could explore other play areas. We looked forward to the activity of day table every morning. Each day was an amazing creation. For my 2 year old, I couldn't have chosen a better school. I toured all in the area and after careful evaluation we landed at this school for many reasons and very happy with that choice. We opted for 5, half days and it was perfect for my family and work/life balance.

Love how small the classes are and how attentive the teachers are. My son always wants to come…read moreearly and never wants to leave.

We have 3 children that have been at UOP recently. It is such a warm and loving environment. Our…read morekids have all thrived there. Some of the many reasons we love it: 1. The class sizes are super small compared to other area preschools. Enough kids to make friends while also getting individual attention they wouldn't elsewhere. They really get to know your kid and it's not a one size fits all approach. 2. The older and younger classes mix at times. Nice for sibs to see each other and to have the experience of a mixed age environment. 3. The teachers are fantastic and genuinely care tremendously about each child. No teacher turnover in the past 3 years we have been there. 4. Our kids were well prepared for Kinder and never even knew they were learning. It's relaxed and play based. 5. While it's a faith based school no matter what your background you will feel part of the family. The children learn good values and that they are loved. I would strongly recommend UOP. Please take a moment to tour it if you're considering a preschool for your little one.

My kid has gone here for a few years. We really wanted to love the place however unfortunately feel…read morelike it has become a money printing mill . Basically they stuff the classrooms with as many kids as possible and the administration does not really seem to care about the kids and the quality. The teachers are very nice and seem to work hard, but do not seem to have the resources provided by the school needed and often seem stressed out. This place has great potential and sounds like was a really wonderful special place and it's unfortunate we felt this way. The owner just walks around smiling all the time and to us never seemed to genuinely care about any of the kids.

What a perfect little school! We are reviewing the summer camps & after school clubhouse. Tired of…read morethe elementary school grind? Look no further than children's house. You get a fun, open, inviting environment where they play interactive games, do art projects, read and eat snacks! Right on the campus of Loyola, staff will pick up your Kindergarten after school, play on the playground before leading them to their "house." It's super cute, super convenient, & the teachers are especially warm & friendly. All ages are in a whole group so small kids learn from the older ones & the older ones care for the younger. It's like a big family! For extra cost, they provide care during school breaks & work with minimum day schedules so working parents aren't left without care. We are so fortunate to find this haven. Things have certainly changed since my after school days which had kids running every which way with no order or supervision. But school standards have exponentially increased since then so this is a welcome change to our high pressure climate. Thank you for accepting my child for who he is while equally working on him to become better everyday. He doesn't ask for school but he asks for Children's house :)

We are blown away by our shadow day/application experience at this school…read more First of all, let me say that gaining entry into private schools on the peninsula in the Bay Area is not for the faint of heart. The process with all of these schools has been completely grueling overall, so I have nothing but love and deep appreciation for the schools who met us with kindness and handled our family situation with care. This school is a phenomenal choice. After struggling initially with a couple of private schools, we steeled ourselves and made it our mission to engage wholeheartedly in the process. We applied to five top notch schools and our daughter got into all five of them! It can be done. Alongside one other school, Waldorf was tied as top choice. The teacher moves through all grades with the class until 8th, and wow--Mrs Sykes is a quintessential teacher!! The arts program is so powerful and strong, and kids emerge deeply talented and capable. Childhood is kept intact, and academics are rigorous. This school produces well-rounded humans, no doubt. It was painful to decline the offer, but we ultimately decided that another school fit our family's current journey slightly better. Marginally. Finally, I want to acknowledge Jaime in the admissions office. She was so responsive, kind, knowledgeable, and passionate! I wish I knew the name of the other two women we interacted with--one beautiful human behind the desk in the front office, and another who sat through our parent interview. Again, simply lovely humans. I am including he body of the email we received in response to declining. This is such a classy, humble, kindhearted, and generous way to respond. I'm sad to say that we now know firsthand that this is not the way that all private schools in this area treat people--not even close. We are so grateful! Please check out Waldorf!

Our family has had a wonderful experience at Waldorf School of the Peninsula. My son started in…read moreNursery and is now in 5th grade, and we're planning for him to continue all the way through 12th grade--that's how much we value this school. He genuinely loves going to school every day, which says so much. The teachers truly care about the students in front of them--not just academically, but as whole human beings. They are attentive to each child's development and also thoughtful about the class dynamic as a whole, creating a supportive and nurturing environment. The curriculum is incredibly rich and diverse. From math and English to music, gardening, handwork, world languages, arts, and games, the education is well-rounded and engaging. It fosters creativity, critical thinking, and a real love of learning. We feel very grateful to be part of such a warm and inspiring community and highly recommend WSP to families looking for an education that nurtures both the mind and the heart.

I wanted to share an experience involving my son that I believe is important for the school to be…read moreaware of. Today, out of the blue, my son mentioned an incident that occurred a while ago, which has stayed with him all this time. He said, "Miss XXX hurt my feelings when she told me that I can't go back to her class and also can't return to Montecito school. She is on the very mean side while Miss YYY is on the nice side." My son is also quite worried about encountering Miss XXX at other schools, and he is anxious about what he would do in that situation. As a mom, it is concerning to hear that such comments were made directly to my child without parents presence. I would appreciate it if teachers could share such sensitive information and comments only among parents and teachers, rather than directly with the children. It is evident that these words had a lasting impact on my son, even though he only brought it up a year later.

Was encouraged by other moms to share this feedback:…read more My husband and I had a terrible experience with Montecito's director. She completely missed our first scheduled call then was 30 mins late to the second scheduled call. When we told her it was an inconvenient time to chat since she was late she snapped at us and told us she was overall a busy person. She tried to push us to reschedule and book a tour in a follow-up email. That's where I told her we didn't appreciate how were being treated. And she responded with a strange, rambly tirade. We never set foot on the campus because of how she treated us and wasted our time. We ended up staying at our daughter's current preschool. We were looking around because my daughter was not napping well but she ended up adjusting. Her currently preschool is not perfect but I've never been mistreated by any of their leadership. I've heard other negative things about the director so I felt very validated after our interactions. Don't believe me? Join any South Bay moms Facebook groups and ask about their director.

Ventana School is a truly wonderful school and I'd give it my highest recommendation. It starts…read morewith the leadership, who are a passionate group with a founder's mentality and a strong philosophy on how to inspire lifelong learners. And, this ethos and commitment extends down the line, through the teachers, administrative staff and the students themselves. I am blown away at how well each of the teachers understands the Ventana goals and curiosity-based (Reggio) method of teaching, and how they can explain how classroom structure, lessons and activities relate to it. And at how the kids understand it, and apply it. This is not just a stale mission statement taped to a wall somewhere. It's a real intellectual commitment and culture, and it shows. We've been at Ventana preschool for a couple of years, and a few other great things stand out. First, everyone cares. The environment is nurturing, and beyond that, deeply invested in the long-term success of your child. Second, the parents community is wonderful. We've met great new friends through the program, and been delighted by the way people show up to activities and care for each other with the parent groups. And we've found folks to be pretty down to earth for a Bay Area private school (and we've seen a couple other programs, so this is at least a somewhat qualified comparison). Lastly, we've seen the kind of kids that graduate out of the program. The Ventana philosophy really seems to deliver. The leadership recently noted that in an incoming Stanford class, there are 3 Ventana alums. 3 students out of a single-class graduating size is impressive. More impressive is how well-rounded the 5th graders are. They are articulate, grounded, capable of holding complex abstract extemporaneous conversations with adults. We look forward to the rest of the journey for our little one!

This school is such a gem! If you are looking for something super traditional, full of worksheets…read moreand conformity, then this is not the place for you. However, if you value kindness, hands-on learning, collaboration, joyfulness, and creativity, then Ventana is a tremendous option. I have had three children graduate from the school, and have a fourth currently there. All of my children are very different learners - whether seeking extra challenge and depth, or needing some learning support - and they have all thrived at the school. Ventana's real secret is the way that they get to know and treasure your child. Children at Ventana feel 100% seen, heard, and respected by adults. They are treated as competent and so they respond with competence, which is a key and transformative tenet of Reggio Emilia education. The social-emotional curriculum is intentional, consistent, and effective, and graduates of Ventana know how to conduct themselves in all kinds of social and group settings. All of my children have consistently received praise from their middle and high schools about their ability to get along with others in both social and work/project settings, which was one of our primary goals for their education. Another critical piece of a Ventana education is the confidence of their graduates. They are all children who know exactly who they are, are proud of that identity, and have no hesitation in advocating for themselves. We also have high standards for academics and did not want a school that focused on SEL and soft skills at the expense of academics. We have been very happy with the rigor of the academics, and our children have been well prepared to go on to top private middle and high schools in the area. Singapore Math is a very intuitive and effective curriculum, and our kids have graduated "ahead" in math, without any outside work or tutoring. The writing program is particularly robust and produces sophisticated and enthusiastic writers. The art program is just awe-inspiring - the art the kids create is unique and meaningful, led by an amazing art teacher. My kids adored the tinkering program, as well as music and lots of fun afterschool classes like robotics and sewing. The preschool is full of wonder and charm. Academics are taught in organic, intriguing ways through the Reggio Emilia-style emergent curriculum. For example, one class was enthralled by the Golden Gate bridge. They studied the architecture then built a replica out of blocks and recycled materials. When one student was afraid that their creation might be "cleaned away" by the cleaning crew at night, they decided to write signs asking that it not be thrown out - and learned about their letters. They practiced numbers and one-to-one correspondence by setting up a working toll both and counting tolls. I wanted my kids to feel magic and joy when they were in those critical early years, and to come out loving to learn for the sake of learning itself - and this is exactly what we got at Ventana.

I fell in love with this place the first time I saw it at their open house. Before the applications…read morewere due I visited 4 more parent participation schools but this was easily my favorite. First, this place simply looks great. There's an outside play area with a big variety of activities and ride-on toys. Inside there's a theme for each day ("fish!" "camping!" "trains!") and the toys and activities reflect that. Some toys are always accessible (kitchen, blocks, dolls, ride-on toys), but unlike another school my kids attended, they really take care to have different toys each time, to always have a sensory table, to always have an art project (or 3!), play doh, and when it's warm, a water table. Also, everything is in excellent condition. Beyond that, it's really well organized and run well. For instance, we had a parent meeting before the kids started school. At a certain other preschool it was just a feel good session ("your kids will be so different by summer"), at Mtn View Parent Ob there was an agenda and it even included a well-articulated emergency plan. This is something the other preschool didn't even address even though it was on the same campus as an adult education center and a high school - places that have the potential to go on lock down in an emergency. Most importantly, the level of care from the teacher is through the roof. At Mtn View Parent Ob there is a mommy meeting where the kids stay at the school while the parents walk to a nearby room and talk about parenting issues. Typically meetings begin after a month, but Teacher Mindy gauged our kids' separation readiness through questionnaires and as a result delayed beginning the meetings an extra week. Each class there was maybe one child who was upset while their parent was gone (and they were of course comforted by an aide or another parent). At our other preschool (Bright Beginnings - there I said it, and now that I said it, DON'T go there), the meetings started on the second day of class and it showed, because we always had at least 4 criers each class (not just fussing or looking sad, I mean full on screaming). (There is a long digression ahead but there's a reason.) At Bright Beginnings, which we attended at the same time as Mtn View Parent Ob, my twins were doing really well at separation, and then one day my daughter got upset when I was gone. They are supposed to get you if they're crying for 5 minutes. They didn't get me at all and I was gone for 20 minutes. Several moms took turns holding her, which was nice but um, THE AIDE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN ME. There were several kids crying that day (per usual) and because my daughter's a sobber not a screamer and was inside instead of by the gate where the parents leave, I think the aide didn't notice her once the screaming ended (and the other parents were retrieved). I mention all this in order to highlight how differently Mtn View Parent Ob and Bright Beginnings handled what happened next. I had a totally different child afterwards. My daughter didn't want me to leave her side FOR ONE SECOND for months when in public, not even at snack time at school when the kids sit together. At Bright Beginnings the teacher and aide seemed sad that the incident happened but that was about it. Meanwhile when I explained the situation to Teacher Mindy, she immediately said, "Here's what we're going to do," offered a plan to get my daughter more and more accustomed to separation again, and worked with us for several months to achieve results. The mommy meeting at Bright Beginnings had a remedial parenting tone to it with topics like "playing is good for kids." No, really? Meanwhile the meetings at Mtn View Parent Ob were very informative and great gab sessions with the other moms. I keep in touch with many of them still and have had many playdates with their kids. There was a sense of genuine sadness when the year ended. The only downside to this school that I can think of is that it only meets once a week. That's telling that the only bad thing is that my kids can't go more often! Here's my list of parent participation preschools ranked based on my first visit (Bright Beginnings would now be at the bottom of the list. And yes, there was a place that looked worse!) 1) MOUNTAIN VIEW PARENT OBSERVATION, MOUNTAIN VIEW 2) Preschool Family, Palo Alto 3) Los Altos Parent Preschool, Los Altos 4) Bright Beginnings, Sunnyvale 5) Sunnyvale Parent Preschool, Sunnyvale (Also , I later visited Mtn View Parent Nursery School which seems like an excellent parent participation school for older kids ready to be away from their parents for the morning. I have also visited 7 drop-off schools and Mtn View Parent Ob would be at the top of a combined list along with the drop-off school I chose, Milestones in Palo Alto. Hence, Mtn View Parent Ob is the best of the 13 schools I've visited.)

We are so fortunate to have found MVPNS, not only as my daughter's school but as community for our…read morefamily. We have been attending MVPNS for three years (shoutout Teacher Diane and Teacher Claire!) and find it to be so inclusive of cultures and traditions. It's been such a joy to learn from other parents. We absolutely love the outdoor component and appreciate all of the precautions taken during the pandemic!

I have so many positive things to say about Stepping Stones Daycare…read more Stepping Stones has been and continues to be a wonderful experience for my child. Drop off and pick up are easy. In the morning, teachers are welcoming and ready to positively begin the day.There is the same positive feeling when I pick up my child in the afternoon. The teachers and the director, Ms. Riya, are friendly, nurturing, attentive, and professional. Daily reports are sent home via email. I enjoy the pictures that are sent with the reports. The staff is open and available to talk if I have questions or want to see how the day went. The environment is safe and comfortable for all your age groups - infants, twos and threes, and TK. There are daily hands-on activities designed for learning and growing. And there is a wonderful playground within the daycare for kids to enjoy including a play structure, sandbox, tricycle riding path, etc. My child shows an excitement for going to Stepping Stones daily, which warms my heart.

This daycare has some good qualities, but their management is clearly not experienced and lacks…read moreprofessionalism. They will happily charge you per minute for being late, but they do not show up at 7:30AM like in the contract. I have had to wait countless times for them when I arrive at 7:30AM. I suggest that you look at multiple daycares before you choose to go with this over-priced daycare.

We've had a wonderful experience with PAMS. The teachers and staff are incredibly caring,…read moreattentive, and thoughtful in how they support each child. The biggest change we've seen is in our daughter's social and emotional development. She has become more confident, expressive, and comfortable interacting with others, and we are so proud of the progress she's made. It's clear that this growth comes from the school's well-designed curriculum, patient guidance, and nurturing environment. We're truly grateful to Dinesh and the entire team for the dedication they bring every day. We would highly recommend this school to any family looking for a warm and supportive place for their child.

My son started at PAMS when he was 3.5, and we elected to keep him there until he started…read morekindergarten. PAMS is not the school for you if you want daily photo updates, lots of field trips, fancy holiday events or rote learning. Instead, it has an unpretentious emphasis on seeing each child for who they are and helping them grow. I believe this is largely due to the Director, Dinesh, who is one of those magical beings capable of getting small humans to listen to him without ever raising his voice. I can attest to the fact that the feedback he gives during parent teacher conferences is unique to each child, and that he genuinely has a good grasp of their personalities and needs. He also believes firmly in letting little kids be little kids, meaning lots of play and not too much anxiety or hovering. The children are encouraged but not forced to explore academically, meaning that some kids will be doing multiplication, spelling words and counting into the thousands, but only if they seem inclined and interested. There IS an emphasis on social interaction, which was perfect for my pandemic child. He really grew in his social confidence over his 2+ years at PAMS, and I must say, as a parent, I adore the families we met here. My second is still too young for PAMS but will be heading there once he is qualified! I know that just like his brother, he will be in good hands.

I am so grateful that I came across Children's Learning Cottage (CLC). When our prior preschool…read moreclosed, that prior director told us that Ms. Adela had helped get their preschool established and was open to sharing advice and knowledge. I began my preschool search there and that's where it stopped :) My little guy cried on and off for over a month starting preschool at the prior school (his first time at school), so I was admittedly nervous to switch him as he just got settled. However, the yelp reviews for CLC on how Ms. Adela helps create a warm and stimulating environment for the kids so they want to be there were very accurate - my kiddo was so excited to start preschool and there were NO tears even on the first day (I was shocked!). CLC's teachers are top notch. They provide a variety of enrichment activities (cooking, sensory bins, obstacle courses, dance, yoga, crafting...) and send long updates at the end of the day explaining what activities they did and the benefits of the activities on child development (with the cutest photos!). The environment itself is magical, with a climbing wall, sensory swings, sensory bins, etc that the director/teachers rotate out every few weeks. They also have great opportunities for parents to get involved if that's what you're interested in. The tuition is fairly priced and their schedule is flexible with half and full days. I cannot speak highly enough about this preschool!

We started sending our 3 year old here about four months ago and we couldn't be happier with our…read moredecision. The teachers are so thoughtful, caring and experienced, which made for a super easy transition. I was worried about starting a new school because he had trialed another preschool that he didn't want to go back to after the week. But he immediately took to CLC-after his first day he told me "I love my new school". Honestly that alone is worth a five star review. Since then he has grown so much. Every day we get updates about their activities, from books they're reading to recipes they're making. The school is wonderful about communicating with parents-there's an app and Adela is very responsive if you need to text the school about something that can't wait. We've had a great experience here. Thanks so much CLC! Update*** I posted this review a year ago, so updating it since we now send our 2 year old here, too! Both my kids LOVE school. Shout out to Ms. Melissa, Ms. Suzie, Teacher M, and Ms. Nandini. They've treated our children like family and take such great care of all the kids here! And special thanks to Ms. Adela who is AMAZING at what she does. This school is so special. Glad we found it.