Latchkey Alternative Center

I was really lucky to find Latchkey Alternative center. I have boys that are 3 and 4 years old who have attended this preschool for 5 months. My 4 year old is very sensitive, but with the facility’s help, my son is enjoying the school and is able to play with friends his age group as well. I am especially thankful to «Papa Jim», the owner of the center, and Mrs. Nicole the daughter of the owner. They are very helpful and considerate. Whenever our kids have issues, they are available, responsive, and they address problems in a timely manner. Also, the teachers here have very warm hearts, and they keep trying to work with kids in a positive way. I couldn’t potty train my 3 year old boy, but the teacher of the teddy bear class voluntarily and proactively helped out, and my boy is potty trained (Yeah~). I love the dinosaur teacher Ms. Harris as well. She is so energetic and one of the greatest teachers that I have ever met (I wish I could have had her when I was young!). She takes video of her teaching and posts it to her Facebook and YouTube (with parents’ permission of course), so we can check up on our boy without going to class. The school hours are great, and they also provide free breakfast and lunch. The cook and kitchen are inside the preschool, so they always provide fresh and healthy meals. The tuition is very competitive. They also have great outdoor facilities: a sand area, a bounce house (during special occasions), a playground, and a biking area. I highly recommended this preschool.

This is a wonderful preschool. They have a good layout and have a good mix of structure and play based learning. What I love the most is that that most of the teachers are parents themselves and they teach the kids the values that we as parents want our children to have. Ms. Nicole, Papa Jim and staff are easy to work with and you can tell that they genuinely care about your children. You can feel at ease knowing that your children are well cared for at this facility.

The husband and I are already nervous that our little H started Kinder in a totally new school with new kids and new teachers. I already had Latchkey bookmarked on my Unilocal.Enrollment was easy – all forms needed for enrollment are on their website. If you have a question, you can also email them and Nicole answers pretty quickly when she can. They are conveniently located on site of H’s school. They have before care and after school care (7am to start of school, end of school to 6pm) at a reasonable cost, including extended before and after (6:30−7am, 6 – 6:30pm) at an extra cost, also reasonable. They do have a preschool program and also a summer program.
Immediately walking into their site, you can tell that they are very family oriented and am so glad that H is now part of the Latchkey family. Papa Jim, Nicole and all the teachers on site are wonderful and friendly. They’ve put my mind at ease and we couldn’t be happier that H is here. You know it is a very good sign when we tell H that mommy or daddy will pick her up at school and she said says «no latchkey today? Aww man»

Our son attended here when he was 3, he is turning 7 soon. We found this preschool after a lot of research and was happy to meet Ms Nicole and Papa Jim. They are reasonably priced and worth it. We loved how easy it was to work with them and the staff. My son made some really great friends and we sent a bunch of our close friends to chk it out and they loved it here too!
They keep to a good schedule for the lils and teach them so much. I can’t wait til my youngest can attend in a few years!

Every parent wants a worry free safe environment for their child. Search no more, Latchkey Alternative Center is conveniently located in Daly City. My sister who is now 19 attended Latchkey and till this day she still recalls how AWSOME it was to be a Latchkey Kid. Their hours of operation are ideal for the working parent 6:30−6 which can be flexible as long as arrangements are made accordingly. Ms. Nicole is amazing! Her passion and drive to guide our children to higher levels is achieved with the help of her professional staff. Ms. Harris is a true leader her creativity and teaching skills are beyond amazing! Thanks to Ms. Ana and Ms. Stephanie my kids speak more Spanish than I do. The projects they come home with always put a smile on my face. My kids love Latchkey and ask me to take them on weekends. It’s like a family where we all get along. Every year there’s always something new and exciting. I won’t even begin with their AWSOME summer program, you have to see for yourself! Higher learning at a new level! Thanks Papa Jim for your fine establishment.

You couldn’t find a more loving family who own and operate this preschool. This is a preschool/​daycare in a convenient location surrounded by beautiful views in a family neighborhood. Miss Nicole is constantly finding new, exciting, educational and fun places to take the children. The staff is thoroughly professional and sweet with the children. It’s obvious they truly love the kids. I love the fact that the school is culturally diverse and bilingual also. An enriched learning environment for the lucky children attending.

We transferred the kids to FDR and was told about the Latchkey program. We did some research, got lets of referral’s and have been extremely happy with the care and attention that they give our children. They are kind and attentive and offer a fun but structured environment. The kids love going there! We are lucky to have found them and look forward to this school year!

Latchkey is a fantastic school for little ones! Ms. Harris and team really expose the kids to many different activities that allow them to thrive and develop. Our little dinasour has come such a long way making friends and learning alot. The program is very well organized and well thought out. One of the many things I like is that they share some of the facilities with FRD elementary and participate in the various safety drills. Scheduling is flexible and pricing is very reasonable. The staff really show the kids alot of love.

I am a school teacher Kindergarten SFUSD, so you know I am picky where my children go. My other friend who is a teacher also told me about this place. Well, here I am two children later, and my baby is on her last year of preschool. We have been here for four years now. First, thank you for being open at 630am for us parents who have to be to work by 730 and don’t have «nannies» to take our kids to school. AND also thank you for being open until 6pm, so we can pick up our children after work. The staff is so amazing, so loving so caring. My husband and I were going to move to (another town), but when we saw the preschools in this other town (that did not open until 9!!), and the way they conducted their classes, we decided to not move until our child was out of preschool. So we halted our move so we could STAY at latchkey. I live by Half Moon Bay, but I would drive miles to come here. I love clean. They clean the rooms out daily, wiping down everything when the kids are at play. They believe in play based instruction, as well as kindergarten prep. As a kindergarten teacher, we all know that kindergarten is not finger painting anymore, it is learning to read and preschoolers are almost expected to know the alphabet. SO essentially preschool has become Kindergarten. Latchkey, does all these amazing things to teach my children all these academic essentials. I love this place, they are loving, structures schedules, warm loving people. And, did I mention the price? So reasonable, so affordable for us working parents. They feed the children mindful healthy snacks, and lunch. Thank you Latchkey my family is so blessed to have you.

School philosophy: Age and developmentally appropriate. It caters the different learning styles of the children.
Teachers: They are farm and loving. They make children feel safe and secure.
Curriculum: Child-​based and play-​based. There is a structured schedule yet flexible when necessary.
Environment: It is conducive for learning. It has enough space for indoor activities.
In general, it is a great place for learning both for young children and school-​aged children.