Our daughter graduated from Little Lambs in 2026, and we couldn't be happier with her experience…read more During the nearly two years she attended, she made wonderful friends, gained so much confidence, and learned to read and write. She's naturally very motivated, but the school did an incredible job nurturing her love of learning . When she first started, she spoke very little English and had rarely been away from home, so we were understandably nervous about the transition. Meriam and the staff were very supportive. Thanks to their care and dedication, she's now more than ready for kindergarten. One of the things we appreciated most was the sense of community. Meriam and the staff genuinely care about every child and make families feel like part of a close-knit community. We truly can't imagine a better preschool experience for our daughter, and we're so grateful for everything the school has done for our family. We wholeheartedly recommend Little Lambs any family looking for a warm, nurturing, and engaging preschool.

There are good preschools and then there are exceptional ones. Little Lambs is in the latter…read morecategory and by a wide margin. Both my kids attended quite a few other well-known preschools. Only when we started at Little Lambs did we find out what excellence in early education means. Auntie Meriam pays intense attention to the progress of each kid in her class. The overall curriculum is designed to advance kids to beyond the kindergarten level. She ensures that regardless of where a child is at the beginning, that they end up at an advanced level before they leave the school. The pace of learning is astonishing to me. My 4 year old is reading 1st grade books. But the most surprising thing about the school is how much heart it's run with. The Little Lambs community is a close-knit community of the teachers and families where each milestone of the children and each holiday is celebrated with fervor. The emphasis on education and emphasis on social well-being of the children are approached with equal passion. There really is no another place like it. Thank you Auntie Meriam, for all that you do for our children!

Worst school ever! School owner feels so entitled and kept asking parents to park properly while…read moreshow no intention to improve the parking situation such as buying more slots. You can circle forever and cannot find a parking and be late for 2 min and get fine of $50! The job for teachers cannot be easier - they don't tell story and let kids listen to radio - they don't do white boarding and let kids watch screens lol We stayed for one year and due to poor planning we let kid attend summer school - there is no schedule or whatsoever - kid complained so bored it was $2600 (2 years ago summer tuition) per month for absolutely nothing. We could not escape faster and this is worst school we ever attended in Bay Area across private and public schools!

We've been so happy with Merry Moppet/ Belmont Oaks Academy! Our kids have been attending since…read morepreschool, and we couldn't be happier with the experience. The teachers are exceptional--dedicated, nurturing, and truly passionate about education. They have low turnover in teachers. It's actually pretty impressive. The leadership, including the owners and principal, demonstrates a remarkable commitment to creating a supportive and enriching environment. You can feel the support and care that permeates the school. In elementary, the curriculum is academically rigorous and continues to progress. So that maybe an important consideration for your kid. We appreciate the close-knit community; it feels like family. Our kids genuinely love going to school every day, and that says it all.

I strongly advise against this school based on our experience…read more The administration is more interested in controlling and punishing students rather than fostering an environment that encourages critical thinking, love of learning and a feeling of safety. The culture is antiquated as is the curriculum. Teachers are underwhelming. There is a stark lack of innovation and limited use of technology. A revolving door of teachers. With those who remained, issues loomed. The administration had no interest in hearing from parents. The science program is a disgrace. It lacks instruction and labs. I have attached a photo that is telling. The Spanish program is a joke. Social Studies was inconsistent. A new, inexperienced English teacher had no accountability. She humiliated more than one child by timing them when going to the restroom in front of the class. She demonstrated questionable rationality and a tenuous relationship with reality. At some point, we hired tutors to advance our child in certain areas which we likely would have done at any school, just as many students take math at RSM. We do that as well. The vice principal reprimanded my child when she heard this, claiming it was unfair. This was outrageous, but not out of character. Every opportunity they had to tear down a child, they took--and that treatment extended to parents. Additionally, the school actively discouraged transparency and honesty, instructing my child and myself to conceal a learning accommodation from other students and parents. We were told, "Do not tell anyone, and if it gets out, we will know it was you." This culture of fear, intimidation, and dishonesty are toxic. Stapled your paper incorrectly? That will be 10% off. Did not include your last name? Turn in the next day at penalty. Why not simply speak to the student and offer support if needed? Is this about learning or control? It is 100% about control and you control through fear. The anxiety our family experienced during our time at NDE was profound. If you're looking for a forward looking school that fosters critical thinking and helps develop confidence with supportive adults rooting for them, this is absolutely not the place. For some, this culture may be acceptable, but others, including myself, may consider it a form of emotional abuse on top of an antiquated mode of teaching and curriculum. This school has the potential to be a positive neighborhood institution, but it requires significant leadership change to transform.

It's very unfortunate for the community to have Dr. Jeremiassen as the principal of the school. Her…read moreonly conflict resolution methods are 1) sweep it under the rug and pretend it never happened, and 2) get rid of the people involved, be it students, teachers, or volunteers. (Yes! MANY times!) There is a typical oppressed atmosphere at the school: People are unhappy, but dare not say anything. Students jeer at the "fake smile" of the principal behind her back. How ironical it is for a Catholic/Christian school, and how unfortunate for everybody who had to go through this "educational experience". To be fair, Dr. Jeremiassen may have done some good things like modernizing the school's IT system, so she might be an Ok administrator, but lacks empathy, the basic nuance to handle problems appropriately, and the drive to try to fix problems at their root. She should never be a leader in any position.

Our 2 year old really loves CPNS. So many good things about this place but what really stands out…read moreto me as a helicopter mom are these reasons below (yep, I'm that mom who toured 10 different places before making a choice for my kid): 1. Flexibility - they let me stay with my kid until we both were comfortable doing drop offs. This is huge as a parent because I couldn't imagine just dropping my 2 year old off without making sure he's okay. 2. The facilities and teachers are great. We love the HUGE open space and my kiddo especially loves the variety of things to explore and play with. 3. Teachers listen to your feedback and are warm. They recently added new schedules and classes available - it's diverse in terms of their offerings. 4. It's extremely affordable (monthly rates). You can't beat their pricing for the ROI you get. If you're looking for a solid co-op, I'd definitely encourage you to book take a tour before you make your decision. My second kid will definitely join CPNS when she's of age!

We have been a proud CPNS family for 2 years…read more My heart overflows with gratitude when I see the incredible parents in our community caring for every child in the class. It's such a beautiful thing to witness so many people truly getting to know your child, cheering them on, and making them feel loved and supported. And in return, we feel so fortunate to interact with their amazing children too--it's a joy that goes both ways! CPNS is more than just a school; it's a genuine caring community, a true gem that reminds us what humanity is all about. We have also fallen in love with the parent education classes, and we're so grateful for the support from our wonderful teachers. Honestly, we feel like students ourselves--learning, growing, and discovering how to be better parents every day.

My son (started at 2.5, now is 3) has loved every minute at PFBS, he asks to go every day! We…read moreappreciate and trust the teachers and he is cared for with love and affection. He thrives in the beautiful forest classroom. In just a few months has become deeply aware of his surroundings in nature and has developed a true curiosity for the ocean, animals, bugs and plants. Now that he is 3, we planned to send him to a traditional preschool full time, but because of his love for this special program, we are continuing part time at PFBS to foster his love for the outdoors.

My first experience with PFBS was during Covid, when we needed a summer day camp for our oldest…read more They basically just hung out at a local beach every day, exploring the length of it, nearby tidepools, discussing rocks, etc. She enjoyed herself despite the setting being fairly mundane. Now my Kindergarten student attends a weekly pod at the Coastside Moss Beach location and we are really happy to be sending her. The location--Fitzgerald Marine Reserve and the neighboring forest--is spectacular, and I am constantly being surprised at the random nature knowledge she casually spits out. They visit the tidepools whenever the tides allow, make secret hideouts in the trees, make dams in the sand, etc. I wish I could go to forest school!

Great childcare provider! Rachel and her team took great care of our daughter. They made us feel…read morecomfortable from the first day and provided a safe and fun environment.

Our daughter was at Rachel's daycare for over a year. We had a great experience. Rachel and all the…read moreteachers were very attentive to all our daughter's needs. You can tell they all truly love the children and their job. We are so impressed by how much she learned there!

Footsteps at Puma Cubs helped my children transition from infants to toddlers to school-ready kids…read more Dedra McFarland is the site director there, and she's a wonderful, proactive leader who puts on programs for the kids' growth that are genuinely age-appropriate. Footsteps help kids continually improve. Engaging environment -- Footsteps is a play-based child care center. Kids really learn to socialize and engage with their environment through play and social interaction with each other. Furthering teacher education -- Dedra and the Footsteps team encourage continuing education so teachers stay current on the latest in socio-educational child development. An added benefit: the teachers are great about letting you know how they interact with your kids and what they say to them throughout the day. A healthy balance between fostering independence and providing assistance. Setting the tone for a family's introduction to school by providing a nurturing environment to socialize -- families really create lasting memories and grow relationships at Dedra's social events. Open communication -- Parent-teacher conferences happen twice a year, so you get real insight into your child's strengths and areas for growth. Beyond that, the teachers maintain an open-door policy and always welcome questions -- communication never feels limited to just those two check-ins. I felt my children were very prepared for school and transitioned to new environments because of Footsteps.

Let's call it what it is, ALL childcare/ summer camp programs are an extraordinary expense. For my…read morefamily a completely necessary one. With that said, Footsteps, both the after school care programs (Cipriani) and summer camps (district wide) is GREAT. The program organizers and teachers like Kenzie, Chris, Jaime (everyone on the Footsteps team) really do go above & beyond. They have been consistently awesome since our little first joined their programs two years ago and going. Communication- the very best! Great connection with their students! Fun & engaging activities. Yes the cost aligns with all child care in the Bay Area yet I am so grateful the Footsteps team takes such good care in all the important ways for our little. Thank you for everything you do!

Excellent preschool in the heart of Belmont. We love it here and feel like our child is getting the…read morebest preschool experience we could ever hope for. We feel so lucky to have found such a gem of a program. The teachers are SO caring and great with communication (they send daily pictures and videos and are responsive to messages), the curriculum is thoughtful, they have the best teacher to kid ratio of the preschools we looked at in the San Mateo/Belmont/San Carlos area, and we love how they do so many fun activities with the kids! Besides learning their colors & letters and going on fun field trips in the area, they focus on different subjects each week (insects, planets, emotions, vehicles, etc.). For example, during their insect section, they grew caterpillars into butterflies and got to release them in the school's garden (they have an onsite garden!) and during vehicle week, a backhoe came onsite and did a demonstration for the kids! Special guest instructors come to the class to expose the children to sports-related activities, juggling, cooking, and there is also a music teacher who does music class with the kids a couple times a month. The school throws fun events for families to enjoy with the kids, like Spring Fling (the kids were ecstatic about SF Bubble Man!). The classrooms are very clean and are attached to a play area dedicated to the preschool classrooms. The preschool rooms have dedicated restrooms within them. There is also access to a larger playground and field which is fun for kids and parents to spend time at after pickup. There is a dance school that operates in the same building complex and the preschool teachers help get students ready for dance (if they're enrolled with the dance school) and will walk the kids to the dance classes & bring them back to the preschool rooms afterwards. Morning and afternoon snacks are provided, and the school offers extended hours (730am-6pm), if needed, which is a huge plus for our family's schedule. Our child has been thriving in this preschool program and has blossomed so much since starting at BCLC.

I have to send a shout out to BCLC. I am enrolling my third child here, and they have always done…read moreand continue to do a stellar job. My kids have always loved it here. The teachers are patient, kind, and very experienced in dealing with the children. They have had the same staff for years. The director is very responsive. Their new protocols in light of Covid-19 are quite adequate and make me feel comfortable with having my child attend. They do crafts and projects, and have lots of enrichment activities for the kids. Unfortunately for safety, some of these are on hold for the moment due to Covid-19 but I'm sure they will be back when the time is appropriate. If you're looking for serious academics, perhaps this is not the place. They do story time, and they do projects with letters but they are not going to drill your child. It's preschool, I want my kids to enjoy themselves and interact with other children. They do talk about numbers, letters and phonics but they keep it fun and light, in an age appropriate manner.

All four of our daughters went to The Wonder Years over the course of six years and we had an…read moreamazing experience (even during covid). We still keep in touch with many of the teachers and friends we made while there. Most of the teachers have been there a very long time and really love and care for the kids. They do so many fun activities (endless art, multi-cultural holiday celebrations, themed weeks, etc.) and all the girls were well prepared for Kindergarten when they graduated. We cherished the time we spent there and the community we built - cannot say enough good things. I recommend TWY to everyone!

The teachers were really great with both of our kids. Very caring. The low score is because of the…read moreinteractions with management that we experienced and others we know experienced. Despite supporting them for months during Covid with know service, paying full tuition. After we returned we gave notice one day into the next month and they still forced us to pay the following month after that. I do not recommend.

We had a great experience with Challenge. Great teachers and community. Highly recommended!read more

An absolute gem of a preschool!…read more ​We cannot say enough wonderful things about this school. It is exceptionally well-organized, and they are always planning fantastic events that bring the class (including parents) together--our absolute favorite is the dance performance, which always completely blows us away! ​The teachers are incredible, and the convenient lunch options make our morning routine so much easier. Most importantly, our daughter comes home happy every single day. Seeing her love school this much gives us total peace of mind. Highly recommend!