Tustin Community Preschool

This is a gem of a preschool. The best preschool co-​op in my opinion. This preschool is ran by 2 teachers Ms. Shelley and Ms. Juliana and all of the parent volunteers. Your kids will come here and will not want to leave. I’ve been coming here for 4 years now. I enrolled my 1^st child through the mommy and me program and transitioned him to 2 & 3 day preschool program. There is always something fun for the kids to be captivated by and use their imagination while incorporating social emotional, laguage, comprehension, visual, auditory and motor skills as this is a developmental school. Take your ABC charts somewhere else. Children will learn through free play and that’s what prepares them for their future academic lives. I have given my children the gift to be able to enjoy a magical preschool experience at this little community. Nowhere else will you take home tons of hands on creative projects from a painted turkey with glitter to a decorated Native American theme vest for Thansgiving, to a painted hand snowman ornament for Christmas or a snowglobe with their cute little picture. Some days they will come home and tell you that they helped make pizzas or muffins with eggs and a mixer. Yes, we allow them to help prepare their awesome snack. Want more? There are always bunnies, guinea pigs, bearded dragons and visits from ducks, turkeys, & nativity animals. Nowhere else will the kids experience 5 tons of snow in their playground brought in just so the kids can play with shovels, make real snowmen and have a little snowball toss or 2. If you have a shy child or an outgoing child, they will all thrive here. My children have always looked forward to coming back to their TCP. Yes, as it becomes their school pretty quick. They love their teachers and so will you. The parents also become involved with every aspect of running the school. If you are good at finances, how about joining the treasury committee? Good at taking pics, what about our class photographer? You are a networker or an awesome planner, welcome to ways and means for all of the FUNraising. As I write this review, which is more than a review for me, it makes me appreciate this little school very much. I don’t live as close to the school as most families but many families make the drive from Chino to Laguna just so their child can attend this school, that is a great testament to this awesome school. Word of advice, please don’t dress your kids all super cute for this school, they will get paint or glue on those outfits and that is more picture worthy than any other ‘cute’ outfit. Just be forewarned, and I do mean it, you will forever have glitter in your car, home and perhaps kid’s hair.

This wonderful school is just right for raising healthy children in an emotionally safe environment. As parent educators for over 16 years we love the philosophy of the school. Parents will feel supported and comforted by the community!

Love Tustin Community Pre school!
My twin daughters and I just finished 3 years here and I can’t say enough great things about this pre school.
The teachers are incredible and so great with the kids. Ms. Shelly and Ms. Juliana is as best as it gets. My daughters loved them so much and remembers the times spent in their classes.
As a co op pre school it’s different then other pre schools in a good way. Moms of the children help make the school run smoothly and it feels more like a family then just dropping your kids off at school and picking them up. The mothers get to know your kids, treat them like their your own and will report back any growth they may have during their time at school. If you are considering coming here I would highly recommend signing up.
Good luck on getting a spot!

This school is pretty good especially if you have a shy child. It’s developmental and that’s wonderful but I wouldn’t recommend for more than a year here. The curriculum repeats it’s self every and there is very little difference (if any at all) from being in the 2 day class or the 3 day. My son did well here for the first year but unfortunately we were not pleased the second time around and moved schools mid year. They never tell the kids «no» so on any given day at any given time it pretty much organized chaos going on. We opted to move to another school so he could also rep the benefits of a school that introduced him to structure, because we he goes into grammar school he will not be able to decide whether or not he feels like learning math or reading a book etc. This school does great work developmentally but once a kid has a good solid experience with that method they also tend to get a little bratty (what would you expect when a kid never hears «no»)…Another point that I must stress about this school is be prepared to give a ton of your time to the school. You are required to work in the classroom at least 3 times a month, there are extended days twice a week and you are required to work 5 or 6 times a year, you have to sign up for a committee which is another few hours a week all year long, they have a lot of special events throughout the year and you are required to work 2 – 3 of them (hopefully you set your own hours at work or have no other commitments because they always happen at a inconvenient time and day) there is mandatory dad work days 2 Saturdays a year etc etc etc. So basically what you save in tuition you work off at a rate of like$ 8.75 an hour.
Like I said before, this is not a bad school but it’s not enough to prepare a kid for kindergarten and grammar school by any stretch of the imagination.

We LOVE TCP! My son and I were in Ms. Shelly’s parent-​toddler class last year, there couldn’t be a more kind and loving teacher. We are really looking forward to working with her again next year, and having our new teacher Ms. Juliana this year! So many exciting changes are happening, both with staff and curriculum. Our beloved amazing school is about to become even more amazing.

Tustin Community Preschool is where my child went to be a child. It is where my daughter learned to love learning, share in community with other children and where she began to grow lovingly into her own skin– outside of our home. We had great experiences at other preschools but we were always looking for something different, something that would speak to our child as a whole and not just academics. We didn’t feel at home until we found TCP. We weren’t looking for the cheapest, the easiest or the most convenient; we were looking for the right fit. If you want your child to have a voice, be exposed to learning through diverse interactions and opportunities, finger paint, create, develop at their own pace; learn to think, read and write, then Tustin Community Preschool may be the right fit. If you as a parent have the time and want to contribute to the learning process of your child AND that of other children (it is a coop), and you understand that it’s a Preschool not an ‘adult’ school therefore the children’s needs come before yours, than this might be the right fit. It’s a great school when the fit is right. It was right for our family and we all had an amazing experience at TCP.

I discovered this jewel of a preschool after transitioning to being a work-​from-​home parent and my second child was becoming starved for interaction with other kids. TCP offered my son experiences that border on fantastical. At what other pre-​school can kids experience age appropriate science experiments, unlimited access to supplies for their art masterpieces, music in a variety of forms and the most incredible interactions with animals that you can imagine? TCP is a pre-​school that promotes child development through experience based learning. It is all about active play, expression, and interaction. It is also a Cooperative. It runs on parents committing time to work in the classroom and assume «jobs» or supportive roles in the operation of the school. Parents roll up their sleeves, work together and invest time in the school and it’s magic and, in return, their children benefit for an incredibly small financial cost.
If you are considering enrolling your child at TCP, you should note, you will have to work for this amazing opportunity. It is not for everyone. This is not a place where you can write a check and deposit your child then go about your day. If you want a babysitter that will teach your child the alphabet, take them to KinderCare. TCP has two paid staff members. Libby Kayl runs the ship with a firm hand. She relies on 75 parent volunteers to hold up their end of the bargain to show up on time and perform their roles as outlined and she does it marvelously. She has high expectations for parents and holds them accountable. Those that can’t or won’t meet their commitment may have an unfavorable view of her but you will never encounter another person that will be as kind or as nurturing to your child as Libby Kayl. Her students love and revere her for decades after they have left TCP.
After attending TCP, my son has moved on to Elementary school where he thrives. I truly believe that his time at TCP fostered his excitement about learning, stimulated his imagination, developed a strong sense of compassion for others, fostered creative problem solving and loaded his mental toolbox with everything he needed for a successful transition into an academic learning environment. If you have the time to invest, there isn’t a better place to place your child than with Libby and Tustin Community Preschool.

The BEST experience we ever had with our now 12 yo daughter. I still consider the parents/​children the best friends we have in Orange County, and the ONLY ones we trust our daughter with outside of family. We learned much about being parents while there, and our daughter had FUN… something sorely lacking in most preschools now. They have forever to be academic… for goodness sake… let them play. Yes, the curriculum is much the same year after year… but that’s part of the charm… hearing a sibling or a friend’s child talk about the elephant, the Mom’s Day tea, Dad’s night, visiting the Kayl house at the holidays… it is NOT easy. You are expected to work when it’s your time there. but it seems to attract like minded parents. I still interact with many of these kids, and they are usually socially well balanced, respectful, friendly kids… even now as tweens. When I had a major surgery the entire school came together to bring me meals, etc. We STILL try to attend alumni events such as sugar cookie decorating, Franklin Haynes Marionette show, etc… Mrs. Kayl HAS to be tough. otherwise she would have parents chatting, not paying attention to the kids, etc. I’ve since been a team mom, Girl Scout leader, etc, and I have this problem and find it hard to be tough… she has to be. And, they don’t let the kids run wild… they play… if they are not acting appropriately, they will be «invited» to sit aside, they learn to use their words, etc. I still tear up thinking about those days… and I know several young ladies (still in my Girl Scout troop) who say it was «the best time of our lives.» (this coming from girls all of 12 now!)

Tustin Community Preschool is not just a preschool, it’s a «community.»
Thinking about our six years at TCP brings happy mama tears to my eyes. We had just moved to the area when my daughter and I attended the mommy and me program. The school embraced us and it soon became our community of thoughtful, kind, resourceful and wonderful families. My kids have the fondest memories of «their’ school. It is a traditional developmental preschool that seems to run without limiting your child’s imagination. My kids not only got their daily developmental needs met but thrived through their TCP experiences.
As the curriculum coordinator, I was able to expand the daily curriculum with full support by the director, Libby Kayl. I wouldn’t trade our time at TCP for any other school. We loved it so.

Both of our boys attended this school and received the best preschool experience we could ever hope for. This is a co-​op, which means parents are required to participate. This is one of the main reasons why we were attracted to TCP. It is very affordable and the children get to do many wonderful things; but most importantly, they get to be kids andLEARN WHILE THEY PLAY! My wife and I are educators and we see that when kids who have had meaningful preschool experiences (such as our boys did at TCP), they are well prepared when it comes time for them to go onto «big school.»

Worst preschool experience I could ever imagine… Curriculum was ok at first, but I came to understand that the same projects are implemented every single year. Some kids attend for 3 years, which means they do the same old thing each and even year. The art is forced upon the kids, or «strongly encouraged». It is in no way creative when each child is expected to make the same thing. It is really not done for the child’s benefit, only so the parent has something to take home. There is absolutely no supervision. Children fight without consequence. The idea of the co-​op os fantastic in theory. But this is not truly a co-​op. Parents are expected to follow the «commands» of the director. If anyone questions her about anything she is not shy to show her distain. She will yell at parents, treat them in an abusive manner, and gossip about them to just about anyone. She claims to embrace diversity, yet she told one parent not to speak Spanish while at school, complained to myself repeatedly about those following special diets, and has no understanding of any children with special needs of any sort. She doesn’t remember anyone’s name, even though the kids are required to wear name tags every day. Much of the time she is on the phone conducting «director» business while she is supposed to be teaching. She then instructs a parent to take over her job. She may have been a decent director or teacher 40 years ago… maybe, but I’m doubtful. She is just too cruel and distracted to actually do her job now. The only time this school is actually happy and beneficial for the children is when there is a substitute, such as Ms. Shelley. The only good thing I can say about the school is meeting the many families. I wanted to like the school, I tried to embrace it and ignore all the negatives, but it was just to harmful to my child and myself. Perhaps this school could be a nice place if Libby Kayl were to retire.

TCP is where good parents learn how to become great parents, where children learn how to be GOOD children, and where families foster timeless relationships with other families.
Thank you to Mrs. Kayl and Ms. Shelley.

This is what Pre-​school should be… DEVELOPMENTAL. A great place for your children to grow. You will NEVER worry about your children being safe or loved.
This is old-​school pre-school…just what your children will love. Because it is a «coop» with only one paid person. it costs much less, and because you are the parents who run the program the program is much better. Who knows better what your child needs then you. PLUS your child does NOT need to be potty trained… Remember old school. the director is still happy to change diapers.