Open Space Early Learning Center

professional, passionate, careful and friendly.
Dec 28th, 2022

Oct 22nd, 2022

Our son has been attending Open Space since August '21 and we have been so thankful for the environment it has provided for him - the teachers are kind, thoughtful and the space itself is just fantastic, bright and cheery. Our son began in the Toddler room and he's now in their early- preschool class. We love it - their lesson plans and activities are engaging and fun (earlier this year they watched caterpillars become butterflies and released them in the park!). Just last week he bumped into his Toddler room teacher, Ms. Mandy, and she gave him the biggest hug. It's heartwarming to see how much the teachers bond with their students. They genuinely seem to care.Regarding COVID policies, Open Space does seem to be more strict than other schools. I work in public health and, honestly, I appreciate their approach given they are following the CDPH's guidance. At the peak of Omicron, we dealt with two 10 day quarantines almost back to back. As another parent mentioned, this does seem to help with catching cases early and I appreciate the extra caution when it comes to our childrens' health. That said, I recognize the relative privilege that comes with that statement. I also recognize the importance of our teachers having a regular, steady paycheck. One recommendation I have for the center is perhaps refunding parents for any administrative/food costs that are part of our tuition payments whenever our children are required to quarantine? Now that vaccines are available for under 5 year olds, I hope this becomes a moot point. No childcare facility is perfect, especially during a pandemic. When we came to Open Space, we'd had two negative experiences with other daycares and were extremely nervous. At Open Space, we could tell quickly that we'd made the right decision for our family. The (very few) issues we've had with Open Space have been resolved quickly and easily by the school's director, Ms Kanwal. For us, the teachers and the teaching assistants are the best part - it's clear to see the kids love them. We have zero regrets and are really glad to be part of the Open Space Family.
Jun 23rd, 2022

Run, don't walk. I had a "virtual" tour scheduled 2 weeks ago (because of Covid they don't do tours of the inside of the classrooms). The "director" canceled on me minutes before because something came up. I rescheduled for another virtual tour. She was 15 minutes late to this one. Because again, something came up, and wouldn't even turn her camera on because she had a sleeping infant on her lap and "didn't want to disturb it's privacy." You do realize you can adjust the camera to just your face level to where I don't see the child, or have you never used a computer before?  At this point, this is a phone call and not a virtual tour as I have no idea what environment my kid would be in And she refuses to show me using the sleeping kid as an excuse. Can you not put the child In a crib for the duration of the call? Do you not have cribs? What are you hiding? Sorry, not buying it.  I hear kids screaming in the background and it sounds like absolute chaos (probably the real reason she won't turn On the camera). Mother's intuition says run, don't walk. I don't feel safe or comfortable sending my child here.  My impression is that this place is very poorly run and extremely unprofessional
Jun 7th, 2022

It's high time I posted this overdue review of Open Space Early Learning Center. My son has been attending since October 2021 and the team at OS has been nothing short of stellar. It was important to me to find an environment where he would be safe, they would truly get to know and care about him, as well as nurture his growth and development. It's a tall order but this is my baby so I will only leave him in high quality and capable care. The center itself is bright and cheery. The classrooms are setup with a child at play in mind. Procedures are digitized where possible including check-in and checkout and they use Brightwheel as their parent interaction app. We get daily updates and photos on the app and can see the thoughtful learning experiences that are being provided. On the subject of Covid19 protocols, I have no doubt in my mind that all the protocols enacted are in the best interest of the children and staff. They go beyond what's required and that puts my mind at ease in terms of providing a safe environment. Staff are very responsive and my son's teachers are warm and amazing. They really take the time to listen to him. Open Space has been such a great fit for our family and we truly appreciate the top quality care they provide.
May 9th, 2022