Discovery World Early Education Center

Great place for our grandkids! I have the pleasure of picking them up twice a week and they are so happy and fulfilled. A very well-​rounded establishment for the up and comers. Great caretakers and seemingly a very caring staff. Thanks for taking such great care of our babies.

Our child was in this school for approximately 6 months. We decided to withdraw her last Wednesday because on two separate occasions she was neglected as all the other kids ate their lunch. My wife and I would pick her up at noon so she could have lunch at home and nap at home. One day, we were 10 minutes late picking her up and we found her sitting on the side by herself while all the other kids ate lunch. Our daughter was obviously hurt and cried the whole way home, which never happened. None of the teachers had the common sense to give her a snack so she wouldn’t feel left out. When we picked her up, her teacher said: «She really wanted to stay for lunch». We called the director to complain and received a weak apology and a promise that that would not happen again.
About a month later we were 2 minutes late picking her up; we found most of the other kids eating their lunch and our daughter wandering among the tables not knowing what to do. Not a single snack in her hands, and again her feelings were hurt. Needless to say, I was very upset. I pulled one of the teachers aside, but she didn’t know what to say. The director didn’t apologize but instead speculated about other reasons for her sadness/​crying. She later sent us an e-​mail where she described what she saw on the security video but no apology was found. We felt that teachers lacked the common sense and initiative to prevent a child from feeling left out and having her feeling hurt.

Discovery World is truly an amazing place. We have used Discovery World to provide all-​day child care for two of our children from infant to age 2. We have also used it for drop-​in-​care for our older kids during a vacation week when they don’t have school. The teachers have always been wonderful and truly enjoyed the opportunity to care for our kids. They also use this great app called tadpoles which allows the teachers to email pictures/​videos of your children and also provides a paperless update re: what they ate, diapering, naps, etc. I highly recommend Discovery World to care for your children — you won’t regret your decision!

For me, there was nothing harder than deciding to place my son in a sort of daycare environment. After all, who could possibly provide the same love and guidance as a mother? I was so worried about being the perfect parent that I even earned a certificate in Early Education, myself!
After investigating a dozen options, I found Discovery World (DW) and I haven’t regretted the decision for one minute. DW isn’t a daycare, it’s not a preschool… it’s more. It truly is an Early Education Center where Sheryl Austin and her amazing daughter, Liana, have combined the best of early childhood development philosophies.
They hire some of the most highly qualified caregivers I have met who inspire me and elevate my own parenting practices. Their geographical curriculum presents a wonderful framework for introducing your child to different cultures while weaving in academics, gross/​fine motor skills development, cognitive development and creative activities. In addition to their basic curriculum, there are also daily enrichment activities. Currently, it is Happy Kids Yoga, Mandarin lessons, Critter Squad, Rhythm & Music and a specialized science/​math enrichment activity on Friday. There are also weekly Parent & Me offerings and family field trips, such as a recent tour of Space X!
Another wonderful enhancement is their use of Tadpoles, a daily email report specific to your child that summarizes the daily lesson plan, notes on their lunch and nap habits and suggestions for what to work on at home. The report also contains videos and photos of your child during the day so you get to have a peek into their day! Nothing thrills my son more than the drive home in the evenings as we talk about his day and my observations of what I got to see!
But, what truly sets DW apart from the rest is their responsive, attentive and open communications with parents. They guarantee response to emails with 24 hours (often I receive a response immediately) and they work hard to incorporate parent feedback into their programming, adjusting snack offerings, evaluating enrichment options and working on specific items based on your child’s individual needs.
Bottom line: DW is a place that both my son and I LOVE. I look forward to enrolling my next son into DW soon!

We had our son enrolled at Discovery World for two years, we had to move away with work, if I could have taken Discovery World and all the teachers with us I would have.
If you are looking to enroll children in a school and looking for an environment that is safe, professional, quality, clean, healthy, nurturing, loving, engaging and above all fun look no further, you will not be disappointed. Discovery World sets the bar high, when we moved we have been unable to find any schools that offer half of what Discovery world provides.
The curriculum is unique and takes the children on a journey around the world visiting a different country each month, they each have a passport which is stamped at the front desk then onto an imaginary plane and whoosh off they go, they get to experience the different cultures, languages and the lunch menu reflects each country visited, there are also guest speakers who are native to these countries, what a great idea and such fun for the children, our son was bursting with excitement everyday. It is quite obvious there is a lot of thought, care and attention put into the lessons plans for each month. Enrichment activities, Critter Squad, the children got to experience wildlife, were able to see and touch /​pet live animals, not cats and dogs but small animals usually found at wildlife parks and the zoo, fantastic. Yoga, language classes and Friday science classes were something else, I found myself learning too!
After school each day we received a report via the Tadpoles app with cool photos and videos of their day at school.
The teachers are fantastic, Danielle, Lisa, Melina, Hoshi were our sons teachers and deserve a mention, a heart felt thank you to you all, we miss you, your energy, enthusiasm, love and support!
The children are treated as individuals, are able to develop and not treated like robots. The children learn to respect themselves, each other and the world and environment we live in.
The school environment is very safe, clean and modern the front entrance is secure with a reception area parent access at the rear is via keypad entrance. When dropping off children sign in is via a biometric system, I had no concerns about our sons safety whilst at Discovery World. The playground area is nicely shaded and fun, the sandpit area was Always popular with the children.
Discovery World also offers a drop in service for evenings and weekends, great for a date night. Family trips are also planned for occasional weekends, to the Cabrillo Beach Aquarium, The Lagoon in Redondo, Space X, a Pumpkin Farm to name but a few. Numerous other activities are organized throughout the year… The Christmas Show is fantastic.
I know there are many schools in the area to choose from but none come close to what is offered at Discovery World, we could not have been happier with Discovery World.

My son started full-​time care at Discovery World at three months old and we couldn’t be happier. Going back to work was really tough for me and the staff was so empathetic and took the time to make me feel comfortable with leaving him in their care. I got emotional every morning and they let me take my time until I was okay. Valerie, Jocelyn, and the entire infant care staff is so caring and my son smiles every time at drop off, regardless of the teacher. Seeing him smile every morning at DW is hugely important to me.
I love that they have activities for him at such a young age. He’s felt mud and rice with his feet, he’s played with paint and sand, he is sung to during circle time. He also gets quiet play time on his own which is important as well. And I’m able to see daily activities pics (as well as naps, feedings, and diaper changes) through DW’s use of the app, Tadpoles. I often use their activities to get creative on how I play with my son on the weekends.
They have several parent conferences per year and It is a great way to hear about my son’s development. Each child has a folder that lists all the developmental milestones and the teachers sign off as the child has masters them. During my conference I was told that my son needed more tummy time and practice sitting up. The teachers had also sent me reminders via the Tadpoles app on this issue. This was really helpful because we have a big dog and I didn’t realize that we weren’t putting him on the floor enough because of our dog.
As a new mom I’ve had many normal new mom questions, and will ask in person, on the phone, via multiple emails. I probably get absurd at times. The DW infant care team and admin staff (Chessy, Tara, and Patty) are always so caring about it and have always gone out of their way to ensure my needs are addressed and my questions are fully answered.
I looked at many daycares before choosing Discovery World. And as another reviewer mentioned, no one tried to «sell» me on DW. When we toured, the Director gave us all the facts but wasn’t overly social. I appreciated it– Discovery World is a well-​run facility with a loving staff focused on the children. She let her daycare speak for itself.

Our son has been at Discovery World a little over year and a half and we have been very impressed. Discovery World uses Tadpoles as one way to keep us up to date with what our son is doing daily. Tadpoles is a service to share pictures/​videos/​comments with parents which my wife and I found to be fun and very helpful. I had never heard of Tadpoles before but I think its a great feature that more schools should use. The teachers would also meet with us periodically to give us an idea of what to expect at different ages. All of his teachers as well as the administrative staff have been great, caring, and communicative.
The school name is fitting as they have the kids use their different senses to experience all sorts of things that I would never have thought of. Weekend trips are occasionally organized so kids can experience more of what they are learning outside of school. They also use sign language which was helpful with his communication at home at a young age and it still comes in handy. Discovery World is open 7 days a week until late at night, very convenient if needed. We are constantly amazed with the vocabulary he brings home. Our son has grown leaps and bounds and we think this school has really helped him.

Well, I don’t know where to start. I enrolled my son in November of 2015, after reading all these amazing reviews. I was hoping that DW will be a great place for my son, but I was mistaken. The place looks nice and clean, and it seams that the personnel is nice as well. However, after the 3^rd day I decided to take my son home for good. My son at that time had a speech delay and was very attached to me, so as a result he was very upset each time I dropped him off and cried for the entire 2 – 3 hours (each stay). I was asking Sheryl if I can stay with my son, until he gets used to the place and personnel. I was told that its against their policy, but she would allow to stay for 10 – 15 mins??? Again I explained the situation to Sheryl that it is not acceptable that my son is crying for hours and I cant stay just because of the policy rules. Sheryl told me that my presence will disturb the teachers??? ARE you kidding me? Do I care about teachers or do I care about my son? Why that would be a a concern for me in the first place? Anyway, I told her that I can’t let my son cry for hours and no one cares about it in this place. I asked if they can refund me, since I paid in full, but I was told that to get a refund I would have to give a 2 week notice! So, that means that I would need to foresee the whole situation 2 weeks ahead of enrollment day, and give them a notice 1 week before I decided to enroll my son to DW… So, I asked for a credit hoping that we will be back in a month or two — Sheryl promised to email me regarding my refund/​credit. well, I never got that email!!!
Some things to consider:
1. Safety — they make you to use a computer to sign in (not a safety feature, you can just walk in without signing in)
2. Refund policy — if you decided that this place is not for your kid, make sure to give that 2 weeks notice! Good luck with that! You better have some psychic talent!
3. Transition period — get ready for your kid to cry for hours, since you wont be allowed to stay and help your child with separation anxiety! They don’t care!

I have had my daughter here for going on two years. She is the youngest of four kids. Education is a huge priority in our family and we have had several experience’s with other schools. The Discovery World has exceeded our expectations by miles! She has a new found confidence about her. The knowledge she is gaining not only will prepare her for kindergarten but give her an advantage. I have nothing but great things to say about the teachers and staff!

In the search for a pre-​school for my son, who was two and a half at the time, we visited many schools and we found Discovery World to be the best. Discovery World is very clean and organized. The facility is very secure and safe. The staff and teachers are all very friendly and caring. They helped us transition my son into the school as smoothly as possible. Now he loves it. He would say «I want to go to school.» This is because he has fun there everyday. We like it because they provide different enrichment activities every day. Every day is different, they have yoga, do science experiments, learn about and meet different animals every week, and learn foreign languages and countries. Many other pre-​schools are more like day-​care where they just watch your child without any structured learning. Discovery world really focuses on hands-​on learning. I believe the structure and the detailed lesson plans really helps with teaching my son discipline and patience. My son was potty-​trained in about a couple weeks with the help of Discovery world. We get daily e-​mailed reports filled with pictures and videos of what they learned, what they ate, when they slept, and anything else that happened. It was the best decision we have made.

Do not be fooled by appearances.
Discovery world seemed like the perfect place for my 2 year old son so I went for a visit on a Saturday. I met with the director/​owner Sheryl and had a conversation regarding what I was looking for in a school and DW seemed to meet my needs. I was impressed with the cleanliness of the school and was very happy to see a playground that my son would love. Overall it seemed like a good choice so I enrolled him that day. Now in hindsight I should have gone during school hours instead of the weekend so that I could see the school in operation.
On the first day of school within the first 30 minutes was when I experienced the «real» Discovery World. My son was only 2yrs old at the time so he had some separation anxiety, which I had discussed with Sheryl on my first visit. She had assured me that they would try and make the transition as smooth and gentle as possible. She had made it sound like she understood the whole attachment parenting style that I was comfortable with etc… Which is why I enrolled him.
The first incident happened as we were being escorted to the playground when my son decided to sit on the ground and touch a toy in the classroom. I saw Sheryl become impatient and grab my son very firmly by the wrist and pull him up abruptly as she said «no, no, we are not doing that right now». Although it bothered me and I should have said something I regretfully didn’t. We proceeded to go to the playground where the children and teachers were.
The second incident happened when I left him at the playground to go back to the office with Sheryl to finish the paperwork. I let the teachers know that I would be in the office and if he cried or became inconsolable to come and get me. As I was in the office I thought I heard my son’s cry so I excused myself and went to the playground. As I tried to open the door I felt it was being held shut. When I did open it I saw my son crying hysterically and I asked the teacher what happened and she lied to me saying he just started crying and didn’t know why. So I asked my son what happened and he began to tell me that they were blocking the door and wouldn’t let him come to me. I was furious and I took my son and went to Sheryl to make a complaint. This was very upsetting to me especially because I thought we had an understanding about the gentle way I wanted to deal with the separation anxiety.
After I told her what happened her response was unbelievable, she asked me in a condescending way…“does he understand English?“
I was so insulted! So I replied by telling her.“Although I am Korean my first language is ENGLISH. Therefore I mainly speak to my son in English. And furthermore his nanny speaks to him in Spanish so my son is TRILINGUAL he speaks and understands English, Korean, and Spanish. He is only 2yrs old but he is quite intelligent and can speak in full sentences!“
To which she didn’t even apologize and was quite smug about the whole thing. That’s when I decided to just leave with my son.
Now in hindsight there were several things that just didn’t seem right. For example… The kids weren’t really having fun or playing in the playground especially in the sand area. I heard later from another mom that DW is so concerned with keeping everything spotless that they don’t really allow the kids to play in the sand. Also, I really didn’t like the fact that although you say you serve fresh organic foods whenever possible you still serve Costco pizza on Fridays?
I am so glad that we were able to see the «real» DW so quickly and now we are extremely happy at a wonderful Montessori school.

Our son has been going to Discovery World for a year now, and every day I regret not starting him sooner at this school. After only a few weeks in, we started noticing incredible changes. Our shy little boy suddenly learned how to express himself whether in happiness or anger, he would ‘use his words’ instead of crying. His vocabulary exploded with new words and he started thinking about and analyzing everyday situations around him in a very impressive manner. He started reading and doing simple math other kids his age could not yet do.
The teachers (every single one of them) are simply wonderful, and they truly care about the children. I cannot say enough good things about Michelle and Keri. They teach the kids how to be self sufficient and boost their confidence level on a daily basis. They use simple, fun techniques and expose the kids to so much by ‘traveling’ to different countries, learning about other cultures, tasting different foods and even petting all kinds of animals, birds and reptiles!
Thank you Discovery World for being everything our son needed in a preschool and more.

Discovery World is a wonderful place for children and for parents. My two and three year old have been there for 3 months and they have learned so much and grown so much socially. The teachers are incredibly caring and nurturing and go above and beyond to not only make every day special for the kids but also for the parents. The best part of my day is getting the email from them with updates and pictures and videos on what they’ve done all day. I cannot recommend this center highly enough. My kids have thrived here. My husband and I have so much peace of mind when we go to work because we know the kids are happy and having fun and learning so much.

Discovery world has been wonderful. The teachers are all so friendly and genuinely care about my son’s well being. The play areas are clean and organized. I love that they have sensory integration activities, music time, and teach sign language. I have a one year old and all the babies in his class seem happy and love their teachers!

My three year old son is currently enrolled at Discovery World for the past 2 years. I can not be more pleased with the staff and the owner. This is my second child to go to Discovery World. My child was more than ready and prepared to handle the PVUSD curriculum and homework schedule. I can not recommend this school/​daycare enough.

My child attended this preschool for years and enjoyed it thoroughly. The teachers, curriculum and enrichment programs were very good, and the drop-​in care was handy and great. I’ve recommended Discovery World to colleagues who now enroll their children here.

My son began attending Discovery World over a year ago at 14 weeks old. The care he receives is outstanding. The teachers are engaged and involved with his continuous development. He looks forward to attending DW each day as shown by the smile on his face when we walk in the door each morning. DW’s director, Sheryl, is open to parent feedback and willing to enact changes to meet the needs of the children who attend DW.

My six year old son attended DW from the time he was 3 months old until he left for Kindergarten. He loved it and went on well prepared with all the skills needed to do the work as soon as he started school. My 3 year old son is still attending and loves it. recently they have added all «enrichment classes» as part of the regular curriculum. That was an improvement and everyday I hear all about the Yoga teacher, Coach Sandy, or the animals Kat brought in this week in addition to his regular friends and teachers. DW is cool!

I’m a current infant/​crawler teacher. I have worked at Discovery World close to a year now. The infant and crawler class has nurturing teachers who work very hard in taking care of the children as if they were their own. We look only for the children’s best interest. We help them transition through developments and life skills that they need, such as drinking from a sippy cup, holding their bottle, rolling from their back to front and vice versa, as well as helping them crawl and walk. Our class staff works very well together. We do very well in communicating with each other and parents. We encourage parents to let us know about their child during the days and evenings they are not at school. If you’re interested in looking or doing more research about our school, we would love for you to take a school tour to visit our infant and crawler class. :)

I am super happy with the drop-​in care that Discovery World provides my 19mo. They are very accommodating when I call to get her in for the day! Facilities are always clean and teachers are sweet. Thank you to the staff!