SGM Atelier

My son spent the last 2 ½ years here and it has been an incredible experience for our whole family. I am a child therapist and have worked in a variety of preschools and child development programs. I have rarely witnessed an environment where the children were so well respected, properly engaged and stimulated, as well as given the appropriate time and space to explore. The staff is well-​educated and cares deeply about the children and their individual needs. They continue to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the Reggio philosophy and techniques, and share this process in ongoing communication with parents. The most unique and truly wonderful aspect of our experience at SGM Atelier is the community of families we have encountered here. The parents and children this school attracts make it what it is and we feel so lucky that our son began his journey of learning here!
All of the teachers speak perfect English and there haven’t been any Hamsters at the school during our time there, so not sure what that previous post is referring to.

We are thrilled with this school and the community of families who send their kids here. At his former preschool our son used to cling to his teacher, avoid peers, and tune out group activities. Plus he often cried or whined at dropoff and pickup — he’s not a rough-​and-​tumble boy and he really didn’t like how loud the playground was there. At SGM he’s an active and willing participant in small and large group activities and is even beginning to make a couple of buddies. And no crying when we arrive or leave! The director is very experienced, caring, and thoughtful, and the teachers know how to make kids of all types feel comfortable at school. It’s a great balance of them encouraging the kids’ independence and being there to support them and give them confidence when needed. And there are plenty of family activities and meetups for making friends for adults and kids alike. Highly recommended!

I was looking for a reggio preschool for my son and feel very fortunate to have found this gem of a preschool. It’s an excellent preschool with warm atmosphere where your child will be surrounded by dedicated and nurturing staff and friendly most adorable children. The reggio approach makes learning fun and it suits the children’s stage of development perfectly. Although our stay was short lived due to moving to another city, my son thrived so much during the time there. He started the school as a very shy boy but I saw such difference in him in just 5 months. He loved his teachers and friends and would always ask for them and want to go to school on the off days too. I was also very impressed with the physical environment. They made good use of the space and I loved the fact that the outdoor space is an extension of the indoor classrooms. Its also tucked inside a school parking lot so it’s very safe and drop/​pick up is convenient. They offer flexible part time schedules as well as full time. I’m so sad about having to leave the school. I wish the director can open another location where I’ll be living. That’s how wonderful the school is in every regard. I know that my son had the best start so I feel very blessed about that.

Finding an ideal setting for my son has been a small adventure. He’s three and a half now, but when he was a bit younger, he was described as «out of control,» «not all there,» «probably has major attention deficit issues,» and «needing major intervention» by his previous teacher and director at another school. When he turned three, I took him to our local school district for a full assessment, and they denied that he had any apparent special needs that warranted him to be in their early childhood special education; they didn’t give us any services, but told us to get out that school and explore other kinds of curriculum.
Since then, my now three-​and-​a-​half year old son has been attending SGM Atelier for what has been a fantastic six months in his development. Though he is a child who used to require special considerations, the teachers at SGM are very supportive of his development at his individual pace, and he is fully integrated into the classroom, has been able to build relationships with his peers, and is thriving in more ways that I had thought possible.
I think what I like the best about the school is the interactions that occur here, on all levels. The teachers treat the children as capable, and that feeling of «I can totally do this» resonates through the kid’s work and play with one another. There is a sense of respect for the children, families, and teachers here that I have never felt at a traditional school.
I’m not by any means saying that SGM is a miracle school that will slow down your hyper child (because my son is still my son), but just the environment and level of dialogue that happens at this school are a beautiful thing. I can’t recommend this place enough as a parent.

My 4 year old daughter has been attending SGM for over a year now and absolutely loves her school and adores her teachers. We couldn’t be happier with such a nurturing, loving place. The director is always available on a one on one basis, she really cares about each and every child, all the teachers are incredible. We have made great friends with other families. Truly a fantastic experience for any family. We highly recommend it.

My 5 year old daughter spent 2.5 years at this preschool before she graduated in August. She loved it. SGM Atelier offers a nurturing environment while encouraging the children to explore their surroundings and test their many theories. The children are offered choices within structure, which lends to a nice balance. My 3.5 year old son also attends SGM and he is loving it as well. He attends 3 days a week, but always asks to go the other 2 days he is at home.

My daughter was part of the first graduating class in this lovely little school and she’s now flourishing academically and socially as a 2^nd grader in public schools. The Reggio Emilia approach to education really helped instill a love for learning and building on her own ideas.
The project based school also helps develop their concentration over days and weeks at a time which is an essential tool for learning and life at any age. We’re really pleased with the school and the teachers. Our youngest son goes their now and we whole-​heartedly recommend it. It’s a great community of parents too.
Another plus: no long wait lists. We heard about it when we applied to New School West. We needed the immediate opening when we first moved to the Westside and it’s hours of 7:30 — 5:30p M-​F fit our schedule perfectly.

My son attended this school for 8 months before we moved out of town. It is a gem and I feel so lucky to have found it. I was not familiar with the Reggio Emilia style of preschool prior to attending the orientation at SGM Atelier, but was so happy with it I enrolled my son in another Reggio school after our move. The teachers empower 3 and 4 year olds to resolve conflicts themselves, and I have witnessed kids doing this successfully both in and out of the preschool.

My wife and I did a lot of looking around at what seemed like dozens of preschools in the Santa Monica to West LA area and were quite happy when we learned about SGM through a friend of ours. It has worked out really well for our son and we couldn’t be happier with everything he is doing and learning there. Most importantly, he is very happy there as well.
We looked at developmental, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and other types of schools. SGM follows a Reggio Emilia type of program, which we felt was a good balance between completely touchy-​feely learn through play programs and rigidly structured Montessori ones. Whatever your philosophy may be though, the teachers and learning environment at SGM are top notch. The teachers are professionals not just daycare babysitters like many other preschools. They engage with the students and help them learn about a wide range of subject matter in fun and very interactive ways. For example, the other week the children interested in the moon learned about eclipses and phases of the moon using flashlights and balls to produce the same effects. Their activities are very interactive.
All the kids and other parents I have met through SGM have also been wonderful. It is a great place, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a top-​notch preschool to send their child to.