Steps to Learning Montessori Preschool

Our children Clara (5) and Julian (1) spent one year at Steps To Learning Preschool during our stay in Goleta. We are extremely grateful for the wonderful experience they have had this year. We loved everything about this school. It has a friendly, nurturing, and caring atmosphere while providing a safe structure for the kids to explore, learn, and develop. All the teachers have been amazing in treating our children with respect and teaching them to communicate their ideas, needs, and feelings in an appropriate way. We are amazed at how our children have developed on all levels: intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically. They loved going to school every single day!
The infant group is such a warmhearted place where babies grow into toddlers with lots of cuddling, singing, playing, and opportunities for social interaction. Whenever we dropped off or picked up our son we saw happy babies and always felt this was just the perfect place for him. The preschool group has been a great place for our older daughter. She especially loved the art projects and the Montessori material, both of which helped her find calm and explore her creative and academic potentials. Ruwini, the manager of this school, has made us feel at home from day one. She is attentive, well organised, and always goes the extra mile to arrange extracurricular activities that the kids (and parents!) love.
We are very sorry that our kids cannot continue at STLMS. We would heartily recommend this school to any family!!!

My son began attending Steps to Learning about a year and a half ago. He started in the older infant group and has since moved into the Toddler program.  I have to say that the school has been one of the best things to happen to my son. The care they give him shows and it has been great to see.  He has had so much fun and has really flourished and learned a lot from the field trips, socialization skills, ABC's, numbers, Spanish lessons, stretch and grow exercises, vocabulary and speech, and he has even had help with his potty training there. Since our family is unable to take care of him during the day due to work circumstances, it's really a weight off our shoulders knowing he is getting excellent care and learning  so much. The staff is exceptional and very knowledgeable, they are very courteous and friendly, they are well trained, and their attention to detail is amazing. The are all also CPR certified.  The schedule there is flexible with the children and they go out of their way to make sure things work for the parents. Ruwini is very involved with the day to day, the children, and the staff. We couldn't ask for a better place for our son to be when he is not with us!

I have both a toddler and preschooler who attend and they both have a very positive experience.  Both kids were happy to go and it was great to hear the new words, colors, numbers and letters my little toddler picked up on everyday.  There are so many fun learning activities for the kids to do.  The teachers put together a great Carnival day and other fun field trips/celebrations throughout the year.

My daughter went here from age 3 mos to 1 year. She was so happy here, and absolutely loved her teachers. They are very flexible and responsive to individual infant needs. She was ahead of the curve for many developmental milestones and I really do credit that in part to the activities and quality care she received here.

Steps to Learning is a very good preschool. The owner, Ruwini Goonewardina, is hands on, always open to suggestions and she will make sure that your child's needs are met. We enrolled our son Elias at 16 months. He experienced the infant and toddler program. Both helped him develop great social skills. My husband and I are thrilled about the things Elias learns at preschool. We've never talked to him about seasons or the days of the week, still at two years old he knows what month we are in and can name all the days of the week. I highly recommend the school.

This team of child care professionals has been a good fit for our child.  Our child started preschool at about 2.5 years of age.  It was a big change from being at home with family.  The Steps to Learning Preschool were one of the few places that didn&#39;t push us to send him full time.  In fact, they even suggested starting with 1/2 days until our child was more comfortable.  A great idea!  We chose to start preschool to give our child socialization and help improve talking, manners, and social interaction, but didn&#39;t want to loose all of the at home time.  The Steps to Learning Preschool has welcomed the part time position that works for my family.  My husband and I have discussed our goals for our child with the owner.  We appreciate the willingness to help address our goals and work along side us to help our child learn.  The teachers all are very attentive and kind.  The school has a sunscreen routine which works for most children; our child&#39;s sensitive skin needed more.  When our child was getting too much sun exposure on his face and we brought it to the school&#39;s attention this was met with understanding and adaptation.  That&#39;s really all you can hope for - when an issue arises a plan is made to improve.  Going well so far. We are fans of this school and let our friends know.

The instructors and leadership of this organization really live the values they declare. It&#39;s inspiring to me (and likely for our child) to see adults really walk their talk and simultaneously remain open to new perspectives. <br>I love that I can count on our child getting an integral early education. From my perspective, I see an emphasis on play, discovery, creativity, kind communication, organizing and personal responsibility. <br>I drive 20+ minutes each way to pickup and drop-off my child here because it&#39;s worth it.

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