In-Depth Preschool Ratings and Reviews for:

• All Cities
• Austin Preschools
• Berkeley & Oakland Preschools
• Boston Preschools
• Chicago Preschools
• Dallas Area Preschools
• Los Angeles (West LA) Preschools
• Los Angeles (San Gabriel Valley) Preschools
• NYC & Brooklyn Preschools
• San Diego North County Preschools
• San Francisco Preschools
• San Jose Preschools
• Seattle Preschools

Solana Beach, CA
Hanna Fenichel Center for Child Development

Parents at this school would recommend this school to other parents.

Review this preschool

Telephone: (858) 755-0860  · Website: www.hannafenichel.com

• Summary
• General Info
• School Philosophy
  & Day-in-the-Life
• Curriculum &
  Teaching Approach
• Quality of
  Teaching
• Home/School
  Connection
• Discipline,
  Health & Safety
• Ages, Schedule
  & Tuition
• Application &
  Admissions
• Kindergarten
  Placement&Tips

Home-School Connection

OVERALL RATING (4.4)
Conducts an open house at start of school year
Conducts a parent-teacher meeting at start of school year
Conducts regular parent teacher conferences
Provides summary of child’s learning at end of year
Provides guidance on developmental goals for the following year
Provides guidance on best Kindergarten and elementary schools

source:

Separation

OVERALL RATING (5.0)

Beginning of the year separation is handled through:

- Home visits by teachers

- Pre-entry meetings with parents at school

- Parents in classroom early on

source:

Director's Comments

All newly enrolled children are visited in their home by their teachers prior to starting in the classroom strengthening the home school connection and allowing the children to begin to develop a relationship with the child and the family. All new parents must attend a "New Parent Orientation" meeting prior to the school year where school procedures and policies are reviewed. The orientation meeting is a mix of social acitivities and school business. Parents walk their children into the classrooms daily building strong parent-teacher relationships. When children see their parents enjoying a relationship with their teachers, and see that their parents enjoy being at school it naturally follows that the children feel comfortable and happy to be at school.

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
Hanna Fenichel does an at home visit before one's child starts his/her first year.

Parent #2
Hanna Fenichel focuses on the social development of your child. The teacher to child ratio is 1:5. The environment is very family-focused. A lot of parent involvement.

Parent #3
The school is play-based, and there isn't a curriculum of things children must learn, but teachers do communicate in verbal and written form about the things children are learning in the classroom and how they are learning. In conferences we receive oral and written feedback about how our children are progressing in several developmental areas. I'd emphasize that this isn't a report card, much more of a summary of what is going on for our child and how the work in the classroom is challenging and encouraging her.

Parent #4
Hanna Fenichel is a wonderful school. We have been attending since my daughter almost 2 - this school is very attuned to it's students. the low student teacher ratios are what brought us here. The cohesiveness of the classes - the fact that the kids stay together throughout their time there is really wonderful.

Parent #5
Kids start with a whole year of parent/toddler (two afternoons per week for 1.5 hours each visit), so children get to know the school and the teachers very well before the following 'transition' year, when the parents drop off the children. It usually makes for a very smooth transition. Children who don't have an easy time of it are comforted and kept in close contact with the teacher until they calm down.

Parent Community

COHESIVENESS RATING (4.2)

Parents:

- Sit on the board of trustees

- Hold social events at the school to build community

- Fundraise

- Are able to visit the school anytime we want

- Go on field trips

- Volunteer in the classroom

- Receive newsletters

- Hold social events outside of the school (with and/or without children)

- Encourage play dates out of school

- Shares information on matter related to our children (e.g. babysitter lists, pediatricians, extracurriculuar classes, etc.)

source:

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
Make donations, although they are not required

Parent #2
Are encouraged but not required to contribute to the classroom fund (end of year gift for teachers, etc.)

Modes of Communication Between School and Home