Hacienda Child Development Center

We’ve had a wonderful experience with Learn and Play Montessori in Pleasanton over the past four months. Director Imelda gave us a thorough and honest introduction, including what to expect with common daycare illnesses and how to care for our child at home. Our son’s infant teacher, Fazila, is incredibly caring and attentive. She shares helpful tips on feeding and daily care and truly shows genuine concern for the children. The school maintains excellent hygiene — toys are cleaned daily — and the infant room is spacious with multiple play areas and equipment that support crawling and early development. Infants and toddlers are kept in separate groups, ensuring age-appropriate care. Even starting during winter, our son only experienced minor illness early on and has done very well since. Most importantly, he arrives and leaves with big smiles every day, which gives us great peace of mind.

We were caught in the middle of the year trying to find a place where our Son felt emotionally understood and cared for at this critical developmental age (preschool) and we are so grateful to have found this place. We joined right after the switch to Learn and Play. From the very beginning, the level of care, patience, and individual attention has stood out. The teachers truly take the time to understand each child as an individual, and that one-on-one attention has made such a positive difference for our son. From orientation onward, we felt supported and welcomed. The staff took the time to explain routines thoughtfully and patiently, which immediately put us at ease as parents. In the classroom, the teachers are calm, attentive, and genuinely invested in each child’s emotional and developmental growth which is VERY CRITICAL at this age to teach healthy emotional regulation and build a sense of community. Our son feels safe, understood, and cared for and that shows in how happy and comfortable he is at school which is a contrast from his previous one where he rarely wanted to speak of it or tell us about his day. Now he comes home excited to show us his worksheets and has opened up to us so much about how he loves this new school. The leadership is also excellent. There’s a strong sense of intention, organization, and warmth throughout the school, which creates a nurturing environment for both children and families. It’s clear that this is not just a place where children are supervised, but a place where they are truly seen, supported, and guided with care at a nurturing pace. We feel incredibly lucky to be part of this community and happy to have found a spot here. I highly recommend this preschool to any family looking for a thoughtful, loving, and attentive environment for their child.

We began looking for a daycare for our 11-month-old son last month, and LAPMS Pleasanton came highly recommended. From the start, the experience has been reassuring. I scheduled a tour with Ms. Imelda, and she graciously answered all my questions—and I had a lot! Our main priority was finding a daycare that could accommodate our son’s eczema and severe allergies. Ms. Imelda was very welcoming and reassured us that they could meet our goals and help him thrive. I also really appreciated Ms. Celina for promptly answering all my follow-up questions after the tour. It has now been three weeks, and my son absolutely loves it. One of the best parts is that the staff have been there for a long time. Ms. Cindy and Ms. Fazila are the absolute sweetest; they have a warm, nurturing presence that puts me at total ease at drop-off. I love the pictures and updates I get throughout the day, and I don't feel worried at all. We were looking for a place to be part of our village, and LAPMS Pleasanton is definitely it.

After Chuck retired and sold his business (Heads Up!), I wasn’t sure what to expect—but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much the school has improved. The updates to the campus are beautiful—new flooring, bright paint, modern equipment, and safe, engaging playgrounds. Everything feels refreshed and thoughtfully designed for the children. My kids have truly thrived here. Their curiosity, confidence, and manners have blossomed, and I can tell they feel genuinely loved and supported by their teachers. The academic growth has been amazing, but even more than that, I’ve noticed how much happier and more independent they’ve become. The school community is warm and family-oriented, which makes such a difference. Yes, tuition is an investment—but one I would make again without hesitation. Every penny feels like it’s going toward building my children’s foundation for success in school and in life. If I could, I’d keep them here forever! Learn and Play Montessori has truly been a gift for our family.