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October 2023 by Kristen S.
I cannot say enough wonderful things about Palisades Preschool! Our son has been attending this remarkable establishment, and it's nothing short of exceptional.From the moment you walk in, you can feel the warmth and dedication that this school exudes. The individualized attention that every child receives is truly remarkable. The staff is deeply committed to ensuring each child's unique needs and strengths are nurtured.One of the things that sets Palisades Preschool apart is its carefully structured activities that encourage collaboration, discovery, and engagement. It's not just about keeping kids busy; it's about fostering their curiosity and helping them develop important life skills. My son has learned so much, and he genuinely looks forward to going to school every day.The teachers are the heart and soul of this school. They are wonderful, patient, and incredibly caring. Their dedication to the children is evident in every interaction, and they make learning a fun and engaging experience.The director, too, deserves special mention. She is kind, supportive, and extremely knowledgeable about young children and their development. Her guidance and leadership are evident in the school's philosophy and approach, and it truly makes a difference in the quality of education the children receive.Beyond the fantastic education, Palisades Preschool offers a wonderful community of diverse families. It's heartwarming to see parents from all walks of life come together, united in the common goal of wanting the best for their children and each other's children. The sense of camaraderie and support is truly outstanding.If you're looking for a preschool that goes above and beyond to provide a nurturing, engaging, and supportive environment for your child, Palisades Preschool is the place to be. I couldn't be happier with the experiences my son is gaining here, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to any parent seeking a top-notch early education for their child.
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October 2023 by Stuart J.
This is such a special school! My daughter is now in her third year at Palisades and we have seen her blossom into such a kind, curious girl who loves to learn and is always excited about the world around her. My son is almost old enough to join Palisades and we can't wait to get him started.The teachers and administrators work so hard to foster community and create special experiences for the children to draw out their interests, enable them to learn from their peers, and think deeply about complex topics. Some things that have stood out are discussions about where laughter comes from, experimenting with water's multiple states, and baking favorite treats from scratch. While the activities are of course tons of fun for the children, they are also meticulously designed to help the children develop socially, emotionally, and cognitively.Palisades is definitely the home away from home for our family!
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October 2023 by HPM J
I truly cannot imagine a more loving, thoughtful educational environment than this for my two young children (nearly 3 and nearly 5). We were at another preschool for a year before PPS. It was chaotic to say the least and has since shut down due to low enrolment. I was extremely nervous - feeling at risk of making another poor choice, but I was instantly put at ease by the warmth of the teachers and the community as a whole.The head of the school is a wondrous person for fostering such a beautiful spirit of social and emotional development here. They have a dedicated art teacher who helps the children to create the MOST expressive and thoughtful pieces of work. A music teacher who attends weekly who is unrivalled. A kitchen where the kids make and taste brand new foods regularly. Not to mention extremely high teacher ratios (we are currently in a class with 3 teachers for 12 kids) and huge amounts of time outside on a beautiful yard. And wow are those teachers magic. I don't know how I will bear leaving them when we eventually have to go.I'm sad to see another review complain about their children being behind in Kindergarten. The Kindergartens I have toured for next year have all expressed that they support children at all stages of reading/writing, including zero - it is their first year of official school after all. All the educational philosophies I care about support play-based education from 2-5. For me it's not a race. I feel lucky to have found a beautiful preschool in which my kids are thriving.
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June 2023 by Sezen O.
Our family has had such a wonderful experience at Palisades Preschool. The school has a magical environment that stimulates curiosity and creativity in the children. We have seen wonderful growth in our child over the last two years at PPS, emotionally, intellectually and developmentally. The teachers and staff are beyond wonderful - they are loving, kind and offer a tailored approach to each child.
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February 2023 by Kira W.
I cannot speak highly enough of this magical little preschool. My daughter is in the middle of her third year, and my son in his first, and we continue to have a wonderful experience with the teachers, director, children and fellow parents. I am floored by the developmental progress my eldest daughter has made during her time at PPS. She has made incredible friends, learned how to speak up in front of a large group, is constantly asking questions and expressing curiosity about the world around her, and produces the most incredible art in the form of painting, clay, woodwork, sewing and collage (to name a few!). Each evening she tells me she is excited to go back to school in the morning to continue her work on a current project, and truly does skip right in to get to work the next day. My son has also grown leaps and bounds in his first year of school, and I am so grateful for the nurturing approach his teachers have taken to help him feel welcome in a new classroom. His verbal and social-emotional skills have blossomed thanks to this warm, caring, safe, playful and happy environment and I cannot wait for my youngest daughter to start in the fall. There is no other school I can imagine taking such wonderful care of my three children, and I feel so lucky to have become part of the PPS community.
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January 2023 by Nino C.
Our family has felt so fortunate to have found and been part of the PPS community. The school is a hidden gem in west LA and we would recommend it to any family that is looking to have their children be cared for and allowed to play in what can only be described as a wonderland of creativity, imagination, support and learning. We've been regularly amazed at the work our children have been able to produce and, further, their preparation in asking questions and critical thinking that has already shown itself as our oldest entered kindergarten this past year. We will miss the school when our youngest moves on, but will be eternally thankful for the community and strong foundation our children have established.
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October 2022 by Cynthia W.
Palisades Preschool has been such a great environment for our two children to play and learn and grow. The teachers are top-notch: caring, dedicated to knowing and helping your child, and extremely thoughtful in their approach to teaching. The activities they do each day require planning and preparation that I have not seen at any other preschool. The director, Linda, is professional, warm, and engaged - everything you want in a preschool director. She was a teacher there herself before becoming the director. It is a small, understated, yet magical little place for children to have their first "school" experience. The other parents are involved and social, and you feel like they have your back and will help you navigate preschool and beyond. There are families there who live close by, so there's a neighborhood feel, while others drive in from other parts of Santa Monica and the westside because it's worth the drive. The size is perfect for us - every faculty and staff member know our children by name and take ownership to care for and engage with them. We started with the toddler program and loved the thought and care put into just an hour a week for the little ones. We're very happy with our decision to send our kids to Palisades Preschool.
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September 2022 by Matthew B.
PPS is a wonderful, hidden gem of a school. They have largely been word of mouth in the the past, which is why the name doesn't pop up everywhere when you search for "best preschools in West LA." To be honest, their under-the-radar approach appealed to us. But if you speak to any alumni or current family, you will meet people who genuinely love this school and its teachers. For us, it's been the perfect school in several ways: size (not too big, not too small), focus on social emotional learning, child-led, play based, beautiful nurturing environment, loving teachers, and a responsive and engaged director. The outdoor space is an oasis. Our child has been so happy there. They also navigated the pandemic with the utmost care and consideration of everyone. Kids from PPS go on to every kind of school, both public and private (traditional and progressive). It's definitely worth touring to see this magical place for yourself.
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August 2022 by Pauline G.
They have wonderful program and very nice teachers. I would highly recommend this school!
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January 2017 by Oliver Cornell
My son's entire preschool experience was spent in the inspiring, thoughtful care of this fabulous preschool. He learned great empathy for his peers, and built a solid foundation of self-confidence and respect. He has gone on to explore the world with a sense of wonder and natural love for learning that was nurtured here and continues to serve him well. I always appreciated that he had high quality art materials to work with, interesting projects going (in and out of the classroom), and always under the guidance of high quality humans who were passionate about Reggio inspired education. (I learned a lot, too!) Thanks PPS!
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January 2015 by Disappointed Parent
After paying the exorbitant amount of money charged by this school (for essentially half days), my child is behind every student the Kindergarten class in all basic requirements such as reading and writing.The "alternative" teaching approach here is fine if you treat preschool like day care but it will not prepare your child for what's next on their learning path.What a tremendous let down.
