The Children’s Place Montessori School

Ms. Jenquin is the heart and soul of The Children’s Place. I have interviewed multiple schools, even other so-​called Montessori schools, before I placed my daughter in this school. Ms. Jenquin is very patient, warm and caring to all the children. There was a period when I was carting my daughter from Pasadena because I didn’t want to relocate her from this school.
Parents cannot simply trust the broken school system to care for their children’s education. I am a pro-​active parent who is aware of my child’s progress at all times. The Children’s Place’s teaching philosophy is that which I believe in.
For example, if a child is chronologically a second grader, but reads at 4^th grade level, this school would allow him/​her to progress at his/​her level regardless of age. This was really important to my daughter and me. It promotes community among the children where older children are encouraged to mentor the younger kids.
Both Google founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, attended Montessory School. The Montessori system speaks volumes in results. My daughter is doing academically well because of her experience at The Children’s Place.
The shape of a child’s future starts very early. I believe that the general education path is flawed. Teachers take the easy route and dole out copious amount of homework. I have always questioned it, especially in elementary school.
The Children’s Place is a true place of growth. It doesn’t just lazily hand out homework to keep the kids (mostly their parents) busy. Ms. Jenquin is a teacher to be praised! If you want your child to lead an exceptional life, this is the place to place them.

The Children’s Place is an excellent place if you desire a safe environment for your child. The staff takes CPR and First Aid classes every year even though they are required to take them every two years. The staff is professional and courteous. In addition, the school is clean and kept up.

Do not judge a book by its cover. The buildings that the Children’s Place Montessori in Torrance are in look delapidated from the outside. But, it’s what’s taught inside that counts.
My two boys have attended the Children’s Place for the past two years. My oldest started out in kindergarten at a public school, but they were ill equipped to handle a 5-​year-​old who was reading at a 5^th grade level and doing math at a 2^nd grade level. Not being challenged and not always well-​mannered (as is true for all little boys), my son was classified by his public school kindergarten teacher as «disruptive» and having ADHD, despite assessments from our pediatrician and pyschologists who said otherwise. After one month at the Children’s Place, there was a remarkable difference. He was engaged in activities that encouraged learning, exploration and cooperation. The teachers had to bring over books from the elementary (1^st-​5^th grade) building for him, but they were very patient and attentive. Seeing how they were with my oldest, I brought my youngest over from another preschool. I do not regret my decision and am very happy with the education that my boys receive at the Children’s Place. I plan to keep them there through 5^th grade.
In response to some other reviews, the 24-​hour policy for fevers, vomiting, etc. is a policy recommended by the CDC and adopted by many school districts and private schools. The charges for early drop off and late pick-​up are clearly outlined in the parent handbook. In my experience, all preschools/​daycares and after-​school programs charge an extra fee for late pick-​ups. The fee at the Children’s Place is less than I have experienced elsewhere. Yes, there are some teachers (okay, maybe one) who are quicker to pick up the phone and call the parents to pick up their kids. I was once asked to pick up my youngest when he developed a «rash» on his arm after playing in the sandbox. I needed to get a note from his doctor, stating tht he was not contagious before he was allowed back. Luckily, I was able to see his doctor (who thought the teacher’s reaction was extreme) that same day.
Overall, it is a good school and the teachers do a wonderful job with the kids.

Over all we feel that was very poor communication on the schools part and it was cause a lot of frustration.
My daughter was attended the children’s Place Montessori school toddler room from September/​2012-​Novenber-​/​2012. My daughter was 18 months old thru 21 months old.
I was trying to writing done all what happen in the past three months. But it already over two sheets of letter size. So I am cut it short and want the other parents to be aware if you want to send you baby to the toddler room.
1. School does not inform parents the toddler room staff’s working hours. One is 7:00am-3:30 pm and other one is 9:00am-6:00pm. We have to figure out by yourself who should talk to in order to know how my daughter doing at school daily.
They changed the staff in the toddler room and never told us formally. There is always a new staff (9:00am-6:00pm) when I picked up my daughter at the third and fourth weeks at October. So I asked if the staff (who we knew) if is ok, the assistant just keep told me the staff just took off for personal reason. So the two weeks, I saw a lot of different new staff when I picked up my daughter, and they were not able to tell me what happen of my daughter daily. Until November, a new staff told me that she is the new hire. Very bad. The school even doesn’t tell parents that they are switching a new staff. And make it so mysterious.
2. Never told us there is a «parent’s folder» to get the tuition receipt until I asked for the receipt.
3. The director is very «proud» about herself has 25 years’ experience so as her «high education» staffs. The director back up her staffs right away and insulted me and my husband.
4. At September one day, My husband give a kiss goodbye to my daughter and the director «correct «my husband that he shouldn’t do that and need to leave the room quickly. Otherwise my daughter will feel insecure in there. That day is the very first day the director saw my daughter and she even doesn’t know my daughter never cry in the new class. My husband did what he usually did when he drop off my daughter at school or daycare. My husband did not agree with her and later the other staff who never met my husband marked it become a big deal and told me that my husband is disrespect the director and told me it is not good my husband did that because they have a long waiting list at toddler room.
5. At September and October, they called us to pick up our Daughter because «fever».
Both of my husband and me have full time job, and my husband took off from work pick our daughter up right after they called.
First two times, after they arrived home, my husband checker the temperature all under 98º. Because the 24 hrs. Police. My daughter can’t go back to school the second day so my husband needs to take off the second day even my daughter was not sick.
Third time they called, when my husband pick my daughter up. My daughter has a dirty diaper so my husband changed her and asks check the temperature again right before they leave. It was under 98º again…
At least this time my daughter can go back to school at the second day…
6. They have hiding fee for $ 8 per day for early drop in or $ 10 per day for late pick up.
They didn’t told us and gave us an invoice about $ 90 that span the pass three months right after we send the withdraw notice for my daughter
We requested copies of the check in/​out sheets & a copy of the policy that calls out the additional charges after receive the invoice. But the copies show all drop in early less than 5 mines. There are no any document shows the additional charge.
If we would have been alerted of the charges we would have been more careful with the time. We could have been told a lot earlier and maybe we could have avoid all this.
The date the assistant oral notice me is at ¹¹⁄₉ afternoon and the last time we drop in early about two mines is at ¹¹⁄₉ morning.
7. Also the other little thing like I saw my daughter having a nap and doesn’t not has a blanket on when she has a not sleeves shirt when the AC was on at September her arms was so cool when I pick her up…
8. A cool winding day, they let the less than 2 years old toddlers stay outside and play.
9. One day I pick up my daughter early, the heater was on and she still wears her big jacket and her face was red…
10. When my daughter has running nose… the dry mucus is stay on her cute little face…
11. My daughter has didn’t get good assistant to help having her lunch. Three month… she already cries for food when I pick her up. The lunch I prepared always left more than 80% full. As soon we get home, I reheat the food and assist her and she has no problem to eat them. I asked for help but no improvement.
Anyway, I will miss the other little kids at the toddler room and wish the best for them.

My daughters have been at the Children’s Place for 7 years so far. My eldest daughter, now in 5^th grade @ the Children’s Place elementary school, started when she was 3 years old. And my youngest daughter, now in 1^st grade at the elementary, has been with the school since she started in the Toddler room at age 18 months!
The teachers are wonderful, nurturing, brilliant people, and the Montessori method encourages engaged learning with hands-​on materials so the children full enjoy their «work»! They are proud of themselves for completing their work, and learn real-​life skills. The teachers are hands-​on just enough to give the children valuable lessons and teach them, but hands-​off enough to encourage the childr0en to figure things out on their own. I’m so happy with the school! It’s multi-​cultural, and respectful of all children from all walks of life.