Coral Gables Congregational Early Childhood Center

My daughter has finished her first semester at ECC and I’m very happy with how it’s going so far. Every day when we arrive to school, the staff are waiting outside to greet you. They know every kid by name and even their siblings’ names who don’t go to ECC. My kids love Mr. Carlos, the security guard, who gives them high fives every morning. My daughter goes into her classroom with ease, she never says she doesn’t want to go. Before and after class, the playground is open for parents and kids to socialize. The school is clean, it feels safe, and the faculty and staff are very easy to get in contact with.

ECC is truly the best preschool and kindergarten in Miami. We’ve had an incredible experience through Pre-K3, Pre-K4, and Kindergarten. My eldest daughter graduated from Mrs. Nichol’s kindergarten class last year, and she is thriving in first grade. She loves to read and write, and she is confident, social, and so well-prepared. My youngest is currently in Pre-K4, and she’s already sounding out letters and words. Each week, the class focuses on a new letter and its sound, and the children bring a toy from home that begins with that letter. Choosing the toy and presenting it in class really helps reinforce the letter and its sound—it becomes truly ingrained. This strong foundation is already helping her begin to read, and she’s only 4! ECC also has two on-site speech and language therapists as well as an occupational therapist. This makes early screening incredibly easy, and therapy can be done during school hours, which is a huge help for busy families. The aftercare enrichments are fantastic. My daughter participates in drama, ballet, soccer, STEAM, and sensory language lab—all during the school day. They also have yoga and cooking classes. The school incorporates so many creative, hands-on learning opportunities. The children do activities like pumpkin carving, gardening, and planting pumpkin seeds, which make learning fun and memorable. They also have the sweetest butterfly garden. The art and music programs are truly unmatched. The music teacher, Ms. Shea, introduces students to different instruments, teaches rhythm, and exposes them to musicians like Beethoven. She also prepares the students for the Christmas and graduation performances, which are always beautifully done. The art teacher, Ms. Laura, is incredible and thoughtful in creating her curriculum. We also love ECC’s early care program, which begins at 7:30 a.m. It allows us to start work early and gives the kids a calm and happy start to their day. ECC hosts wonderful events throughout the year, including a Thanksgiving parade and picnic, a carnival, a book fair, an art show, a Halloween parade, and so much more. My daughters love them! The school administration is so knowledgeable and approachable. Ms. Brooke, Ms. Lisi, Ms. Natalie, and Ms. Cody create a warm, supportive environment. The playground is so sweet - decorated beautifully for every holiday and season. I love meeting other parents and children during pick-up. My girls love to play there after school and never want to leave. We are so grateful for ECC and couldn’t imagine a better place for our children to learn and grow.

Incredible childcare choice! Play based learning with opportunities for parent involvement. They have lots of opportunities for parents to be involved and to meet other parents. They are also very responsive to questions. They offer developmental evals and options for therapies if needed (but it’s not pushed on you- all elective and can be integrated into the school setting with their own therapies if desired).

We couldn’t have asked for a better, more nurturing experience for our son’s first year of school. ECC is truly a magical place. From day one, our son was welcomed with open arms and made to feel special, and that love extended to us as parents too. One thing I didn’t realize would be so meaningful was the open playground area after pickup. It became a daily gathering spot for families, giving parents a chance to connect with each other and, more importantly, to connect with our kids in a relaxed and joyful way. It was the heart of our after-school routine. What makes ECC stand out is the community—it’s intimate and intentional. Every staff member knows every child, not just their name, but who they are and what makes them unique. That level of care and attention is rare, and it meant the world to us. We highly, highly recommend this incredible school.

As a traveling pediatric Occupational Therapist, who works in many public and private daycares and schools throughout Miami Dade County, ECC is by far my favorite. As a mom of 3 kids myself, I wish I had found this preschool when my kids were that age. I love that the kids learn through play which is the absolute best way for a child to learn. They have art and music classes, centers to play in, beautiful playgrounds, science projects, sensory based play. The administrative staff are always looking out for the best interests of all the children. The teachers love all the kids as if they are their own and it shows in the joy of all the kids faces each and every day. As a therapist it is an absolute joy to have teachers approach me and ask how they can better help a child and so eagerly implement my suggestions. They have a true team approach at this school, including communication with parents. This should be your first and last stop in the hunt for a preschool!