Gainesville/Haymarket Pre-Schools

We are new to the area and would like recommendations for a good local pre-school.

New MinnieLand off Heathcote in Haymarket

What ever you do, don't go to the MinnieLand off Heathcote!!!!!! The owner is wacked and crazy. She is emotionally unstable and treated to call the cops on the fire dept. because they were investigating a fire alarm at the day care. While the fire dept. was there she almost ran over the fire hydrant supply hose and then went crazy and started yelling and almost ran over one of the firefighters. Please stay far away from this Crazy woman!!!!!!!!!! Very unstabble.

When you say preschool I assume you mean a few hours a week, not daycare. Greenwich Presbyterian in Nokesville, Haymarket Baptist, Little Lambs in Gainesville, and the preschool at the Freedom Center in Manassas all have good reputations. Good ones usually fill up by the first week of Feb.

4 R's in Haymarket. Good luck getting a spot, though.

I agree with AKB. All are great preschools.

Romimi wrote:

We are new to the area and would like recommendations for a good local pre-school.

We use Daytime Playtime on Washington in Haymarket. We love it! It is a great school.

Lots of good schools in the area! The above mentioned are all very good, and people also really love Little Graces in the Plains.A little further in the other direction is Grace United Methodist off of Wellington- I have heard great things about them as well. There had been plans to open a preschool at Gainesville United Methodist n Linton Hall, I am not sure if that opened or not this year.

AKB wrote:

When you say preschool I assume you mean a few hours a week, not daycare. Greenwich Presbyterian in Nokesville, Haymarket Baptist, Little Lambs in Gainesville, and the preschool at the Freedom Center in Manassas all have good reputations. Good ones usually fill up by the first week of Feb.

I agree, these are all very good schools.

Haymarket Family gave 2 good recs too!

NOVA DUDE wrote:

What ever you do, don't go to the MinnieLand off Heathcote!!!!!! The owner is wacked and crazy. She is emotionally unstable and treated to call the cops on the fire dept. because they were investigating a fire alarm at the day care. While the fire dept. was there she almost ran over the fire hydrant supply hose and then went crazy and started yelling and almost ran over one of the firefighters. Please stay far away from this Crazy woman!!!!!!!!!! Very unstabble.

I have not been able to verify your statement. My son is very happy with the school and has nothing but good things to say about his teachers.

It seems most other suggestions are religion based schools, although I've heard daytime playtime is good for partial day schooling.

My daughter went to Winwood on Linton Hall Road for pre-school. She enjoyed it very much, and we thought they did a fantastic job at teaching her and taking care of all the kids. The educational program is very good, and they have good security. You can even watch your kids via 24 hr webcams in the classrooms.

My son goes to Winwood, and his older brother went there as well. At first I was nervous about sending my older son, because we were used to Montessori and I worried that Winwood would be more of a "daycare" situation--but we were actually very impressed with Winwood. They did a great job teaching him how to read!

Yes, I did mean a few hours a day, not daycare. Thank you all so much for all of the good suggestions!

Both of my kids went to St. Paul's (formerly Teaching the Basics) in Haymarket and it was wonderful. They were both ahead of their class when they entered public school.

My daughter goes to Lake Manassas Academy and she absolutely loves going. They have great teachers and have not had any issues. I'd send her to Kindergarten there if it weren't for the $$. Good luck. But no matter what anyone's advice is, you need to check the places out for yourself and bring your child to where you feel is the best place, based on your own evaluations.