Montessori Learning House

I am a working mother of 4 and all 4 of my children have gone/​are going to this Montessori at this location or the Jamesburg location. I keep coming back because of the curriculum and because the well being of the children and staff is a top priority here. They have become an extension of my family.
My 18 mo old just started this week in Ms. Allen’s class and is having a tough transition. Ms. Allen holds him until he is acclimated and everyday when I come to pick him up he is sitting in her lap. It warms my heart how loving and caring she is with him as he struggles to separate from me. I have even sat in the office to watch him on the screen and she encourages him to be independent but is still loving in how she speaks to him. Each day I get the update on his and my daughter’s progress (she is in the PreK program) in an email and on the app, but Ms. Allen also takes the time to update me, very honestly, on what went well and what didn’t go well for him each day. Teachers don’t always take the time to do that, but she knew that my son and I were adjusting during this first week and she did what she could to help us transition.
My 4 year old daughter is now in her third year at this school. I loved my experience here and any time one of the parents voiced a concern about something, the school addressed it, including adding the daily reports, shifting staff, and even adding flexible hours for parents who need it. Mrs. Crandall is wonderful with the preschoolers. My daughter is learning social skills in addition to academics. She has the kids shake hands and make eye contact as they leave. She does this with each child, excusing them one at a time, to make sure they get the individual attention needed. I also have every confidence that she will be reading before she starts KG this fall. My older 2 were also reading at 4 years old, before they started KG in public school.
Again, this is a school that has just recently offered daycare hours, due to parent request. This is not a standard daycare. With that in mind, there is a focus on education and enrichment and they have to follow school schedules and rules.
I feel badly about the one other reviewer’s experience. It’s not easy when our child is struggling and needs some type of disciplinary attention. But, like any other school, they have to watch out for the other children and for the teachers. If a child is hitting, there are a few options they try but if the behavior doesn’t stop, the child has to be taken out of class. They have to do it because otherwise you are putting the other children at risk.