El Camino Preschool

Issue mainly with the principle, Hika.
This school is in a cute old house in a beautiful area of fire mountain. Plenty of room to play inside and out. My son’s teacher, miss Saddie, was a sweetheart. My son liked his classmates and teacher. Only thing lacking here was:
1 perhaps could have done more artwork as in his whole summer session we only got 2 paintings to take home.
2 the teacher was always away on lunch during pick up time so it was hard to hear how the day went from her perspective.
3 I got the impression that maybe the teachers were a bit over worked.
Now, about the principle. She rubbed me the wrong way right from the beginning. Stand offish, condescending and awkward. She has no warmth to her. All dealings with her resulted this way. I decided to speak to some other parents and got the same take from them. Some also added she spoke very sternly and inappropriately with the children.
We’ve decided to go back to his other school even though they don’t offer care during the summer.

So far, I love El Camino.
My son is on his 3^rd day. It as if he’s always been going there. They are great with ensuring he drinks lots of water (hydration is extremely important to me, as it should be for all parents). He gets to bring his special blanket from home, for nap time. This was wonderful for him because it’s rough sleeping on mats without something for comfort. His lunch is always all gone, every day. (he’s a good eater!).
There are a wide range, and enough for everyone, of toys, books, puzzles, bikes, etc.
Each teacher is great with communicating to the children.
They were also willing to work with him regarding potty time… although he is fully trained. he needs help from time to time.
My son has expressed, every day, how happy he is there and I can’t express enough how comforting it is to know that he is safe and having fun.
I give El Camino 5 stars for the following:
Environment — Spacious, clean, well organized, well decorated
Staff — All friendly, have degrees and appropriate training, great communication
Safety — Fence closes in the «back yard» and there are always teachers present. Finger printing is brilliant for check outs. If someone doesn’t recognize you, they make it known and introduce themselves.
Curriculum — I am uncertain of ALL of the activities that they organize, but just in the last few days, my son has been speaking more, smiling more, and asking a million more questions. This tells me that he is being engaged and I LOVE that.
Parking — Large enough, and convenient. Located in a very safe neighborhood.
Pay — Two options for times of payment as well as VERY affordable!
I highly recommend El Camino!

At the beginning it seems like a good school and there were actually no problems before. Until couple of months ago things such as monthly payments were not cashed on time. 1^st reason was the person in charge was in vacation and did not had time to go. Checks were cashed in the mid of the month, 2 payments past by and same situation happened. I approached the issue and ask if maybe is better to make payments at the mid of the month since a lot of parents are expecting bills to be pay according to our pay period into which the principal replied is not her fault and she just didn’t have time, and that no matter what we still have to pay on the 1^st. and basically just for us to deal with it. I was actually not expecting this attitude from the principal. I was actually suggesting something that could be beneficial. If the checks are being cashed at the middle of he month, sometimes even at the 20s on the month then maybe we should do the payments at that time. I believe she is running a business after all and should be professional and cash the checks on time, without excuse. We alk go to work, have responsibilities but we still have to make time to pay our bills. So far as payments and customer service I don’t agree with his place. The care itself has not been so bad, however, I have found once my daughter and all the kids playing outside in the cold with just a t-​shirt on, meanwhile all the teachers were wearing a coat on that cold day. I mean, the kids jackets were couple of feet away. It was easy to get instead of being standing there talking, they could have take care of the kids 1^st. After all they are there for them. Weather wise, it was probably in the low 40s with wind.
The facility doesn’t provide lunch, the parents have to bring the lunch. In two occasions it happen that my daughter came back with the lunch that I provided untouched, I had to call and ask into which one of the answers was that my daughter ate but was not hungry? Very questinable since she is a big eater and the food didn’t seemed to be even open. Lastly, I picked her one Friday afternoon and there were 2 teachers and 2 kids, counting my daughter. The teachers rush to bring her to me and then my daughter told me she had pooped, I had to change her diaper right there to find that it was not something that happened recently, but it seemed it was in her diaper for a good hour or more. Like I said the place is not bad and the teachers are ok. But the attitude and service provided by the principal or owner of the facility is not to the standards.

We love this preschool. Owner is very educated & involved. The curriculum is very age appropriate. The playground is very large with lots of fun activities for the kids to do. My son is doing well there and pride of good ownership is evident in the staff because they always are upbeat and engaged.

Best preschool. It was recommended to me via a friend who’s very picky with her kids, and likewise I was apprehensive to my kids being outside my own care. This preschool has the most caring staff and a wholesome and down to earth atmosphere. I moved from the area and now have my children at another private preschool, but I dearly miss El Camino Preschool. There is such kindness and patience demonstrated, and creativity is certainly nurtured. I LOVED the playground, as did my kids, but hands down it was the teachers and director who really made the place what it is. Simply put, a blessing.

My kids have been going to El Camino Preschool full time since they were two and they love it. My daughter is in the 3 – 4 year old class now and is learning letters, letter sounds and even tries to write basic words. All the teachers make her feel welcome and know her name. A gymnastics teacher and a soccer coach come once a week if you choose to enroll in those programs. I love the fact that the school is an old farm house and has a nice homey feel about it. They have a ton of activities, toys, pets and outdoor space to run around. The kids there are very nice. There are things I could critique but the bottom line is that my kids like it there. I can’t ask for anything better than that and I can’t imagine going anywhere else!

I visited 8 preschools in the Carlsbad area and this one was the best one! I love the director, teachers and the program. Its a «High Reach» program. They do take 2 yr olds not potty trained and work with them. That is a huge plus. The kids there all seem to be clean and happy. The program is also very affordable. I have been recommending this school to my friends.