I am moving to Sarasota with my family - husband and 2.5 yr old daughter - in July. Would love to get information on some quality preschools fo my child. Prefer a center that also offers before and after daycare. Thanks!
I have been searching for this too! The Church of the Palms comes very highly recommanded. There is a waitlist, but I heard that it was worth it. My son Austin is attending Concordia Luthern on Wood Street and he really likes it there. The class size is small.
Casa dei Bambini on 133 S. McIntosh Road...almost to Fruitville Road, next to Temple Emanu-el. It is a hands on center...they do not have any televisions in any of the rooms, they have an AWESOME playground, and the tuition includes lunch (catered by WHole Foods) and snacks!!
Check out Stage Door Preschool. It is a performing Arts preschool and my son loves it (they do theatre, dance, gymnastics, etc. in addition to academics). On Tuttle at Bee Ridge. they have a website - www.stagedoorpreschool.com You can call them and talk to Patty or Christine. good luck! melissa
I agree with Rubyslippers this is the best kept (not for long) secret in Sarasota. Patty and Christine are loving and caring. This is their first year at their new place but they have been teaching for many years.They are not hourly workers they are both Directors. At Christmas they had Santa come in on a big FIRE TRUCK, no less, it was very exciting. We performed at the Halloween fest downtown they were soooo cute. The kids all sat on real toboggans on a float they built and rode down main street in the Christmas Parade. I don't think they are full but people are finding out about them and switching over. I would definitely call to see if they have any openings.
My family has just opened a performing arts preschool in Sarasota as well. We offer care from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm and are open all year. We accept children ages 3 to 5. All of our students receive dance, gymnastics and Kindermusik weekly. Here's our website www.srqpreschool.com. we are taking fall enrollment now for three and four year olds. Because we are so new we have a couple of spots left for our summer program but it is filling up. I love the program we have developed and the wonderful staff I work with. It is an academic based program so we have a lot of fun learning through arts, play and educational games and activities.
Sharon Boyas? SRQ Preschool of the Arts? Holy smokes! It's Melissa! Chloe LOVED your preschool! Can't say enough terrific things about it! And I heard Whole Foods is going to cater now? That's awesome! I have to tell you, her kindergarten teacher went on and on about how impressed she was with everything you taught her! She's in the highest level for reading and math! I don't know how you did it, but you brought my little baby so far! Can't thank you enough! Ted and I are off to Paris next week for our anniversary! Then we'll be back to enroll Chloe in dance classes! She's excited to be with the "big girls." Congrats again on your success!
The Gan at Temple Sinai is a wonderful school full of very knowledgeable and nurturing staff. They are a fairly new school, but don't let that be a fault. The director is a young, mother to 3 and teacher herself. She is terrific. They offer mommy and me classes, as well as a program for ages 18 months to 5 years. They are even starting into the VPK program for the fall of 09. They have a terrific Breakfast with Bethany on January 30, 2009 open to all to attend, from 9-10:30. Definately a place to check out!! You will love it!!!
Stage Door is my recomendation too. My son has been there for 2 years and I cannot say enough about the well rounded education he has recieved. These ladies know preschoolers! Their experience shows in all the activites. They are academic and arts oriented so the kids get a great variety of subjects. My son has become such a creative thinker and has really learned great social skills. Iagree, that they are the best kept secret in Sarasota and we feel so lucky to have been a part of their program.
I visited this link when I was looking and would like to share that after months of searching I was fortunate to wait it out and found a brand new school opening now July 2009 called Little Scholars Preschool.. It is behind starbucks off of Clark. My daughter is 2 1/2 and was with a nanny since 6 months. She told me after her 1st day Dont worry mommy, my school is nice... I just can not tell you how much nicer it was than the others I had looked at. They have a website littlescholarspreschoolfl.com (note add the FL) but you have to tour it and see how nice it is...Just want to share because I spent hours online looking for recommentations and I was surprised how few there are...They are very organized and have a great program. The owner is seems extremely passionate about what she does. I was so relieved to find it...
My son and daughter attend Temple Emanu-El Preschool and love it. The staff is so kind and nurturing, and the curriculum is great - lots of free play and playground time but also stations, science experiments, art, social skills, etc. They also have gymnastics, creative movement, and computers every week and you can sign up for karate and Spanish as well. The facility is clean and the building is secure which I love.
I work for the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County. My agency offers several different services. One of which is the child care resource and referral service. Basically, we maintain a database of all of the Sarasota County child care providers. We can customize a referral listing of child care providers who meet your specific needs such as days of care, location, curriculum..just to name a few. This service is free and confidential. It is only a referral listing as we cannot recommend a particular provider or type of provider. We do provide you with materials to help guide you in your search for a quality provider such as a great checklist to use when looking for a provider and information on how to proceed with your search. If you are in need of help in locating childcare, please give us a call and request a referral list. The main number is 556-1600.
You will not be disappointed with Primrose. My daughter is just turning 3 and has been there almost a year. I could not be happier or more at peace knowing she is taken excellent care of*