We truly couldn't love this preschool more. Both of my boys go here, and it's been such a blessing…read morefor our family. From the moment you walk in, you can feel how warm and nurturing it is. I feel that my children are part of a larger community where everyone knows them by their names and their individual personality traits. The teachers genuinely care about each child--not just academically, but emotionally too. My boys are excited to go every morning, which says everything. The balance of learning and play is just right, and I really appreciate the communication and transparency. As a working mom, I cannot stress enough how secure I feel through out the day knowing my children are well taken care of.

Update on Business Owner's reply:…read more Hi Arun, Thank you for your response. When you said "Unfortunately sometimes children run and get hurt", I need to clarify that this was not a simple unfortunate accident. My 2 -year old child didn't injured from just running, he was pushed by another child. The result was not a minor hurt, but a very deep cut that you could almost see the tissue in his forehead, requiring 9 stitches and leaving a permanent scar on his face! When your staff met with me and my husband, we were not provided with any proof demonstrating that proper supervision was in place at the time. On top of that, when we asked how can a 2 year old push another 2 year old inside the classroom hard enough to require nine stitches, Ms. Ash responded, she knew because it has happened with another child in a different classroom. Which is deeply concerning. If management was already aware of such incidents, what corrective actions were implemented to prevent recurrence? Furthermore, prior to this incident, my son got scratches in his face because a friend pushed him and he fell. This raises serious concerns about supervision. "If a similar push had already occurred, how could a repeated push happen that resulted in such a traumatic injury? When you saying safety is your number #1 priority, being pushed hard enough to cause this type of injury is not just typical play, it indicates a lapse in managing the situation before it escalated. Ensuring children safety requires more than general statements, it requires accountability and proactive supervision to prevent foreseeable harm. Original review: I wish I never had to leave this review! After touring several centers, we chose this daycare because the staff seemed really nice and kind, and the facility was clean. As working parents, we always try to find the safest place for our kids, and I truly believed my son would be safe here. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Our 2-year-old suffered a serious injury while in their care and needed nine stitches on his forehead. Since that day, our lives have been turned upside down. He got so traumatized that he is now fearful of everything and becomes extremely distressed around doctors and nurses. Every time I look at his face, the big scar on his tiny forehead brings me so much pain! No parent or child should ever have to go through something like this! Not only that, in addition to frequent incident reports, he once came home with socks and shoes completely soaked from morning water play and had apparently worn them all day, including during nap time. His feet were pale and wrinkled from being wet for so long. That should never happen! I don't know if the pain I feel every time I see this scar on my son's face will ever go away, but I truly hope this daycare takes children's safety and supervision as seriously as they present themselves. Clearly, they need closer oversight and stronger precautions!

We couldn't have asked for a better preschool experience. From the very first day, the teachers…read morewelcomed our child with open arms and open hearts. They are not only incredibly knowledgeable and nurturing, but they treat each child as if they were their own -- with so much love, patience, and genuine care. Every morning, our child was excited to go to school, and always came home eager to share something new they learned. That joy and comfort came from the environment the teachers created -- one where every child is seen, valued, and encouraged to grow at their own pace. The communication with families was always thoughtful and consistent, and it was clear the entire staff was deeply invested in each child's development -- socially, emotionally, and academically. We are forever grateful for the strong foundation this preschool gave our child. Although, our child only spent around 10 months there. The memories made here will stay with us for a lifetime, and the love and guidance from the teachers will always hold a special place in our hearts. We thank the teachers for cheering on and for loving our child like one of your own. You made school a place they were excited to run into each morning -- and that's a gift we'll never forget. Highly, highly recommend to any family looking for a warm, exceptional start to their child's learning journey.

My girl went to preschool here from ages 3 to 5 and it was the best thing we could have done for…read moreher. She made great friends, learned so much and above all enjoyed herself. Loved the whole staff! Ms. Leo, Ms. Tanya and Ms Renuka are all patient and fabulous with kids. Would recommend to anyone for your little ones.

What a wonderful, personal, caring and involved school. My daughter went here 1 year at 3/4 and I…read morewish we came sooner. The classes are small and teachers are attentive. The activities through the year are thoughtful and fun for the family and students.

If I could give this school 10 stars I would! A little hidden gem we were lucky to have found. My…read morehusband, daughter and I moved here last year from LA county, and this is one of the first schools I came across when doing my research. Prices are very reasonable, curriculum is based on play, art and music which I am all about at this age. When my daughter is put in a new environment it takes her a bit to warm up, so when I first dropped her off on her 1st day she was a little timid and tearful, but Mrs. Brown, and Mrs. Young who received her treated her with so much kindness and love, as if she was their own. I can't say enough good things about this school. The teachers are amazing and I love all the activities and performances that they host.

Best daycare center in the IE. We are so lucky to have this gem in Riverside! I will always…read morerecommend this place to every new mama.

I love this school. My daughter goes there and she's so well taken care of! She loves it! She's…read morelearning lots of new things and making lots of new friends!

I have my daughters enrolled here, and they truly love it. I really appreciate the warm and…read morewelcoming atmosphere, and I especially love that so many of the teachers know my girls and greet them by name--it makes such a difference. I value that the school follows a set curriculum and that my daughters are also learning Spanish. The structure is wonderful, and I appreciate how their learning at school reinforces the values and teachings we focus on at home. In full transparency, the beginning was a bit challenging. Since my girls were only two at enrollment, they were frequently sick during the first six months and missed quite a bit of school, which required me to rely heavily on my mother-in-law during that time. I also felt that the two-year-old classroom experienced a higher level of staff turnover, making it difficult to keep track of who their teachers were. That said, now that my daughters are older, there is much more stability in their current classroom, and they are truly thriving. Overall, I am very happy with the school and the growth I have seen in my girls. Special shout out to the amazing Miss Nay and Miss Tiffany! My girls adore you!

Beautiful place amazing staff when I leave my son will get carried by one of the teachers and he…read morewould stop complaining about me leaving and a teacher playing guitar for all the students great service great communication AMAZING HERE

We love this schools, they are very kind ,they have a curriculum and teach our little ones numbers,…read morecolors letters etc . My little one always happy to go to school and play with her friends and kind teachers . This school is highly recommended

It's such a wonderful learning and growing environment for our son. We really appreciate all the…read moreteachers for their love and tender care toward our child. Our son loves to sing his ABCs and bring home his crafts everyday. I am looking forward to seeing him grow and learn so much more.

Love this place I will be there soon very professional very organized I will be going there soon…read more staff is very professional.

He tenido a tres de mis hijas en este preschool. Les enseñaron a todas a ir al baño y me ayudo…read moremucho. Las maestras son super amables. Mi hija se queja cuando la recojo temprano porque no se quiere ir. Tienen actividades como yoga, en verano una resbaladilla de agua y aprendido mucho que esté avanzada para cuando entre a kinder.

One of the best preschools in the inland empire! It used to be called Big Sky preschool (a nature…read morebased school that prioritized outdoor learning/exploration and sunshine). Parents considered it a diamond in the rough, a hidden gem, and therefore it attracted students from up to 30 minutes away! It was recently sold and renamed to Sunny Hills Montessori Academy, but heart of the school has remained the same. There is a chicken coop and a garden on campus (where children are encouraged to explore caring for animal life and growing their own food), weekly Spanish learning, dress up days, summer camp, and more! The children enjoy vegetarian meals with an emphasis on healthy, whole fruits and vegetables. They are still outdoors most of the day, but the indoor classrooms are just as robust with a wide array of hands on activities. The teachers are not just standing around babysitting, but actively engaging each student in opportunities to learn and grow and sharpen their developing minds. From potty training, to handwashing, and encouraging self-reliance, this school is 100% dedicated to the whole human. With a diverse staff & student base, supportive parents, and a loving director keeping it all running smoothly, truly, it is worth checking out.

just now New It's…read moretaken me some time to get around to this but wanted to make sure I did this before the new year begins. When I came to Big Sky Preschool it was owned and operated by different people and in the time I was there is was sold to the now owners. Prior to the sale Big Sky was a dream, as soon as the transition to new owners began things immediately started to change despite being promised they wouldn't. To start this school has slapped the name Montessori on their name but are not actually accredited. Second they lied to parents and withheld to let parents know about construction that was occurring on property while class was in session. Be sure to research the school as they have a a type B citation because of the way they chose to handle the upgrades to the space. Furthermore this school chose to terminate the care of my child because I was vocalizing my concerns and questions and the owners refused to ever meet with parents. Lastly, they terminated her care on a Monday upon arrival, I had no back up for work it was very traumatizing for us all. The owners sent an email at 1am to the "Director" Lucita, whom also is known to yell at students and be the least gentle if you ask me, whine then just printed the email out to me and handed it to me with my stuff. The email claim I made baseless claims about the school. Obviously not so baseless since they were cited for putting the kids at risk with the construction that took place there. If you are looking for a play based school that actually cares and isn't cold and clinical like this school Che k out You're Invited. They are amazing and took me in during this traumatic experience.

Our Experience - Our…read moreson was in a classroom of 36 children--an environment that quickly proved overstimulating. At first, we worried there might be a developmental issue, but after evaluation by both an ENT and psychologist, it was clear the problem was environmental, not developmental. The noise and chaos made it difficult for him to adjust. While he initially had some behavioral challenges, he improved significantly over time. Unfortunately, the final incident that led to his removal was not handled appropriately. Our son bit a child out of frustration--at which point staff intervened. However, their response and follow-up reflected a lack of attention and bias; they implied our son was lying because the other child "never does anything." This made it clear they weren't observing closely and were making assumptions rather than investigating. A few weeks prior to this incident, we received a call from CPS--not because of our son's actions, but because the school failed to report an injury he sustained there, even though staff documented it internally. We took him to the hospital and discovered he had a fractured finger, requiring a cast from his hand to his bicep for three weeks. CPS confirmed the school's reporting failure as negligence and contacted us within 48 hours. That alone speaks volumes about the school's accountability and oversight. Lack of Follow-Through on Agreed Behavior Plan My wife and I are proactive, involved parents. She's a behavior analyst who designs behavior intervention plans for special education, so we know what works and came prepared to collaborate. We met with the administration--including the owner--and created a clear, simple behavior plan that everyone agreed to. Yet, it was never implemented. Staff routinely told us they were "too busy" or that "it's hard with so many kids." They even filled out behavior logs after the fact, undermining the purpose entirely. The agreed plan only required a brief hourly check-in with three questions and a sticker. That's not excessive--it's the bare minimum for consistent behavioral reinforcement. We were told repeatedly that they wanted to "partner with us" and that our son was "wonderful," but words don't equal action. The follow-through and professionalism simply weren't there. Concerns About the Learning Environment Frankly, this didn't feel like a true Montessori school. Instead of fostering independence and self-guided learning, children were often forced to complete the same tasks and play with the same toys. Structure is necessary, but Montessori principles are about exploration, curiosity, and individualized pacing. That freedom was absent here. When his first teacher left, staff told the children she was "on vacation." For weeks, our son was confused and asking about her. Instead of using it as a gentle teaching moment about change and transitions, they chose dishonesty, which sends the wrong message about trust and emotional resilience. What We Learned After Leaving Our son is now at a different Montessori school, and the contrast is astonishing. He wakes up excited for school, runs to get ready, and sometimes even asks to go on weekends. He's thriving--no behavior issues, no complaints, and a radiant enthusiasm for learning. His new environment offers freedom within structure, smaller class sizes, and genuine care. He chooses his own activities and feels empowered, not overwhelmed. Final Thoughts We entered this school with optimism and the desire to partner with educators who understood child development. Unfortunately, what we encountered was a disorganized, overcrowded, and inattentive environment. Staff seemed well-intentioned but overextended, and the administration overpromised and underdelivered. We appreciate the time and effort of individual teachers who cared, but the overall leadership failed to maintain communication, consistency, and honesty. The failure to execute a mutually agreed plan, combined with the lack of supervision and the serious reporting lapse that led to CPS involvement, left us with deep disappointment and concern for other families who might face similar issues. We hope this feedback encourages reflection and reform. Every child deserves a safe, attentive, and developmentally supportive environment--one that not only manages behavior but nurtures curiosity, confidence, and joy in learning.

I have to tell you that this small academy for the kids is beyond reality. My kids have not…read moreattended there in about three years taking them out of it was the worst thing I ever did for their education. The classes are small personal attention is extremely high, and it seems as though they were learning about three grades up from their current level. Kids were happy. They loved their teachers and they loved learning. If by chance you get Mrs Radka to instruct your kids, you would just have hit the gold mine. She spent so much time with my daughter getting over her obstacles with learning it was insane. I financially had to take the kids out of the school and I regret it every single day. My kids are now in public school and it is such a waste of time. They have lost the fun of learning and have basically given up. Mrs Radika if you see this I am so sorry that I pulled Allie out after you spent soooo much time working with her. I truly apologize and I'm suffering the consequences for it. But thank you Miss Radtka for your love for my kids and attention you gave them.

My 4 year old daughter is going on her 2nd year with RIVMA and we've had a great experience since…read moreday one! My daughter is naturally shy and wasn't talking much but after just a few weeks, her speech accelerated and can tell that her confidence, motor and social skills were developing! All of the teachers and admin made her feel so comfortable and gave my mama heart peace of mind that she is well taken cared of. I'm very grateful for her teachers especially Miss Elizabeth who went above and beyond to care for her as she got acclimated. I really appreciated the updates of my daughter's progress and I even credit her for potty training my lil one!! Miss Tyra is absolutely amazing as well and was ready to comfort my lil one during the hard mornings. I researched several schools and not only is RIVMA competitive in tuition, but it has better operating hours, a proven curriculum that supports all of the kid's learning modalities, it's kept clean and has a great security process for pickup and drop off with their app. The owner, Dr. Chandrapala genuinely cares for the school, teachers and kids. My nephews went to this school (one going to college now) and my neighbor's kid also went here. All great kids and results of the school's strong foundation. The school not only fosters a love for learning, but also respect and good manners! I still don't know how they get all the toddlers to sit nicely and take naps ! Bottomline, I HIGHLY recommend this school! It's an investment to our kid's foundation and future and one of my best decisions as a mom

My daughter started attending this school when she just turned three. At that time, they started…read moreteaching her how to read and do math. The teachers have always been patient and kind to all the children. With the schools curriculum, my child was reading at a third grade level by the time she was in kindergarten. The school's advanced teaching methods have allowed my child to do a science project and undertake a research paper with a presentation to the class. All this while still in kindergarten. Bravo! They also have a before and after school program that helps keep my child engaged. This is excellent since my wife and I are working parents. My child, wife and I love the school and the teachers are wonderful. We highly recommend this school!