Southwest Berkeley

We have been beyond thrilled with the care and education both of our kids have received at Nia House. It's hard for me to know where to begin. My first child is a 2020 baby, and it felt like a huge leap for us to start her in childcare. From the moment I set foot in the school, I couldn't have felt more confident in our decision. Every aspect of Nia House from the physical environment to the way teachers speak to the children is utterly thoughtful. The teachers are deeply knowledgable about development and about helping each unique child find their place in the community. The teachers and staff have also been extremely supportive of my husband and I as parents and have offered guidance and advice when we've run into challenges at home. I feel incredibly lucky to have Nia House as a partner in raising my kids!

We absolutely love this school. We have two kids here (ages 2 & 5), and it has been such a wonderful experience for our whole family.The teachers are truly exceptional—warm, thoughtful, engaged, and deeply invested in the kids. The French immersion is obviously a huge part of what makes the school special. We’re an American family, and we love that our kids are learning another language from such a young age. Beyond the cognitive benefits of learning a second language, they’re also part of an incredibly diverse, international community. They’re constantly being exposed to different cultures, foods, places, traditions, and histories, which is a huge reason we continue to choose this school.The programming is also amazing. There’s a real emphasis on educating the whole child, including social-emotional learning with Christopher, who is incredibly sweet and has such a lovely way with the kids. The enrichment offerings are almost unbelievable for young children—cooking, mud art, accessory design, chess, drumming, and so much more. There is always something new for them to explore and get excited about.One of my favorite things is the gardening program—even my two-year-old gets to participate! The kids get to spend time outside, grow things, and learn where food comes from. There are even chickens who live at the school, which adds another wonderful dimension: the kids learn about animals, nature, responsibility, and caretaking as a natural part of their school day.What I appreciate most is how rich our kids' experience feels. They aren't just learning academics and French; they're learning how to be curious about the world, comfortable around people from different backgrounds, creative, independent, and caring. We feel incredibly lucky that both of our kids get to grow up in this community and can't recommend the school highly enough.