preschools in irvine

[Stuff It_IHB]

We recently moved into the Northpark community. I am looking for a reputable pre-school for my 3 year-old daughter in the Irvine area. Since she has never been to school and the only time she is away from us is with our family, we want to start her on a part-time basis (2-3 mornings per week), then eventually move into fulltime. We would like to start her within these next 2 months (before our baby arrives in March.) I understand the good ones have waitlist, so our luck of getting her into a good one before March is slim. Any recommendation you can provide is greatly appreciated.

 

[kcmkane_IHB]

<p>We researched preschools around the area quite a bit, and ended up selecting Turtle Rock Preschool for our 4 year old --- and could not be happier with it. As a matter of fact, we like it so much we are going to leave our daughter there for their private Kindergarten program next year, and wait until 1st grade to send her off to the school district --- the private K program at Turtle Rock is a full day, as opposed to just half day in the public schools. </p>

<p>Although this may not be convenient if you are in Northpark, I recommend you check it out. We know parents with kids there who make the drive from as far away as San Clemente, RSM, and Newport Coast. Website link below....</p>

<p><a href="http://www.turtlerockpreschool.com/">http://www.turtlerockpreschool.com/</a></p>

<p>As a note, we also looked at the Montessori programs at Northwood, Westpark, and UCI (all came very highly recommended) --- but each had an 18 mo. - 2 year waitlist. </p>

 

[joeyp_IHB]

I have a two year old at turtle rock preschool and we are very satisfied with that preschool also. We also are doing 3 days a week for a few months, and then switching to full time. The switch to full time is easy at turtle rock, just give them two weeks notice.





I think we were on the waitlist for just a few months. I believe the wait is very seasonal. Many openings occur in the summer. Also, if your child is no longer in diapers it's a shorter wait.





Preschool teachers seem to come and go, we've been through 3 in six months. So, what you should really focus on is the overall structure of the program. I'd look at the list of NAEYC accredited programs, and chose schools from there. Search for accredited programs <a href="http://www.naeyc.org/academy/search/default.asp">here</a> www.naeyc.org/academy/search/default.asp. There are about 20 in Irvine. Interesting most of the church-based schools are not accredited.

 

[almon_IHB]

for what it's worth, we didn't have a good experience at tutortime in oakcreek. there was a ton of turnover (so my kid didn't know his teacher from one week to the next), there was a lack of outdoor play equipment. eventually he started hating going to school, and we got him outta there!

 

[JoonB_IHB]

We had to deal with lots of waiting lists in Irivne - so we enrolled our 2 kids in the Newport Montessori- we couldn't be happier. Very little turnover, excellent, caring staff. We have our eldest in kindergarten, and because we are renting and not planning on buying where we are renting, we will keep her through the 1st grade- it buys us 18 more months to find a house.