Schools in Peoria, IL

“I’m not the type of person to go out of my way to write reviews. So, when you see that I’ve written a book (*vaguely gestures below) raving about Little Friends/Bright Horizons, it’s a sincere attempt to convey to how AMAZING this place is for anyone willing to listen. So, buckle up kids, here we go.Prior to enrolling at Little Friends, we toured other facilities in the area. Some centers were less expensive or comparable, yet we chose Little Friends for multiple reasons.Building & Accessibility:During all hours of operation the building is locked. Entry is through one set of doors & is protected by individual access codes. Visitors without a unique code must use the intercom system & speak with front desk personnel before entering.Education: Little Friends encourages child growth through multiple different approaches to learning. They often utilize STEM, play sessions, experimenting & project work.My Bright Day App: the picture updates are the best! You get to see how your child’s day is going, activities they participate in, as well as how they play/interact with others. The app allows for indicating drop off & pickup times. It allows for the teachers to plan for your arrival. I have also dropped in unannounced & it’s no different of a scene when announced. The teachers always welcome parents to come & go as they see fit.Activity Logs allow you to see everything that occurred during the day including your child’s meal consumption, potty occurrences/times, nap duration, etc.THE STAFF (the real reason I brag about this place!)Ms. Susan: she was our very first teacher (along with Ms. Zoey) in the toddler room. From the very minute we walked into her room we were greeted by name & treated like family. She made it an amazing experience! I was able to gladly give my child “the boot” at the door because I knew she was in great hands.Ms. Becky: she is so much fun & it’s obvious she enjoys being with children as they learn & play. We love to see Ms. Becky!Ms. Marge: Always has a welcoming & caring manner about her & fosters a nurturing environment for a child’s play & learning.Ms. Colleen & Ms. Ashley: are in the adjoining room to my child’s but they still know her by name & share endearing stories & observations about her day.Ms. Livia: I’m pretty sure that my child would go home with Ms. Livia & holds out hope that she’s her real mom! My daughter frequently greets her with a huge hug & it’s obvious she adores Ms. Livia. She’s communicative & willing to provide guidance for our daughter’s social & cognitive growth. She cares for each child in her classroom.Mr. Robert: always has a calm & warm demeanor. Not long after transferring to his classroom, it became obvious that he quickly established a rapport with our daughter & she enjoyed seeing him.Mr. Quinton: is upbeat, charismatic & has an obvious passion for early childhood education strives to establish a sincere personal connection with each child.Ms. Danielle: exudes a positive & upbeat attitude at all times. She provides the kids wholesome meals, made with care, each & every day.Ms. Rose: is fabulous! Whether it’s a question about administrative needs or about our daughter’s daily activities, she is my go to gal! She knows my daughter by name & even knows her unique mannerisms, likes & personality.Ms. Erin: is the director on site & keeps everything running smoothly. She is always willing to stop & converse no matter busy. She makes you feel like a priority & important.Ms. Jo: is everywhere! Sometimes she’s carrying out administrative duties, providing classroom coverage or performing child assessments. She’s always friendly, willing to help & provide answers.Ms. Michelle C.: is the remote Enrollment Manager & is phenomenal! She is incredibly knowledgeable about everything. She’s personable, accommodating & super easy to converse with.I think that’s about it. ☺️ (If you’ve read this far & found any typos……. You ugly. Jk jk)”

“PALS was an amazing place for the kids' daycare and preschool. We loved how they helped both our kids handle emotions in a gentle, guiding manner. They were clean, had friendly staff that greeted the kids by name, and kept things fun and exciting for the kids. It's hard to leave your kids in someone else's care, but I felt comfortable with PALS. I also liked the pickup policy to ensure each child's safety. Overall, I was very pleased.”

“We are not Lutheran but we sent our first child here for the social experience and we quickly found out he was getting a lot more. The staff are great with the kids, great with communicating with us (the parents), the classes are small enough that the kids are getting individual interaction time with the teachers, and the educational content is perfect for preparing the kids for the next grade. It's definitely a great place to get a great start for your kids.”

“We are so grateful to have found a preschool that genuinely love and care about the children. We went through a major transition and wasn't sure how my grandson would do away from home and he is doing excellent. Highly recommend Cadence Academy. Entire staff is excellent ?? Amias loves everyone ❤️”

“We absolutely love UPC. Our daughter has been attending for 2 years and has learned so much from her teachers. The staff is incredible, the classrooms are great, and the outdoor area is the best I have ever seen for a preschool. 10/10!”

“My daughter has loved going there and she learned so much in Pre-k that she’s more than ready for kindergarten! My son also loves going in the summer and has made great friends.”

“Whenever I pick up my friend's kid, he talks about how much fun he has and what all he learned for the day! For an outsider, the process to pick him up was easy and delightful! The staff has always been amazing!!”

“Cadence academy has been wonderful for our son. He was having several issues at the last daycare he attended and we have had a much more professional and positive experience since he’s been here. Thanks Cadence”

“We have had a wonderful experience at A+ during the several years our daughter has been there. She loves school and has learned so much, both with the StemScopes curriculum and the social-emotional curriculum they use. They have plenty of time for play and outdoor time (their playground is great!), and I love all the photos we get through the app during the day about everything she's doing and learning about. Our daughter is definitely ready for kindergarten after her wonderful experience at A+!”

“Everyone at Florence KC are so nice and they take great care of my daughter! (She's 20 months old.) I love the app because I get notifications of what and how much she's eating, when she gets her diaper changed, and pictures of what she's doing daily. The directors are professional and caring and her teachers are so sweet as well. I recommend this place! :)”