Our son has been attending NCA since he was 2.5. He is now 6. We would have liked to have him attend a year before, but we were on the wait list. We sent him to a daycare in N Scottsdale in the meantime, and when we were able to make the switch we noticed a difference immediately. He truly enjoyed going to NCA, where as he couldnt leave the other one quick enough. The teachers, staff, owners are all so incredibly kind, nurturing, patient. So impressed on how quickly they took action and set up protocols during COVID to ensure everyones safety. They even created a Kindergarten class, that my son was fortunate to join and gave him as close to normal school year. Some of the many things we liked about NCA: chicken coop, vegetable garden (the kids helped), playground, sandbox (expect your childs shoe to be filled with sand!), allowed the child to pick activities they were interested in, meals are healthy and organic, able to easily communicate with staff, as well as other parents. I always have a hard time getting my son to tell me about his day but the teachers will often share photos, and explain what they did that day so that I can ask him specific questions. You wont regret sending your child here!

Weve had one NCA grad, one child currently enrolled (age 3) and one little one about to attend this August. Our children love Natural Choice Academy and so do we. They love and nurture the children just as they are. The childrens difficulties or struggles are met with love and support ALWAYS. Ive watched their teachers apply their Conscious Discipline training in the classroom. Ive watched the owners lead by example and model Conscious Discipline in and out of the classroom. Ive learned from their examples and I am so thankful for it. It is comforting knowing that all needs of my children will be met with compassion. Watching the children lead the curriculum is incredible. When play is learning and learning is play, the children win in the best way!The owners re-invest in their school and in their team and it shows. From school-wide training, conferences, new skill development, nutrition, materials and upgrading the school grounds. They are always improving upon their already amazing program.

My wife wrote a review. A lengthy one - but I felt NCA deserved more stars. Since we have been working with the administration and teachers our son has been nothing but happy and we feel incredibly comfortable with the choice to have our kids with NCA. The school grounds alone are an incredible place for the kids to be. Once I learned some processes and how the innerworkings of the show ran, we were hooked and happy. Our son had stories for days each day we would pick him up. We even get a daily report card with activities and interesting things that may have happened with our kids during the day.I just cant say enough about NCA. You will not be disappointed and you will be at total peace during the day when your kid(s) are attending. Very happy parents.

If I could give this school 100 stars I would. We recently moved from Seattle, WA and had a really hard time finding a school for my 4yr old. Genna (owner) responded to my plea of an email very quickly and was able to accommodate us for the spring.We got here and did a tour first thing. Their covid protocols that were set up made for a wonderfully safe feeling from the get go. They have hand washing stations out front and temp checks in the front. Their safetly protocols are equally wonderful: parent fingerprint scan, pin code for front door access, and parent drop off in class.AND THE CLASSROOMS! My goodness I cant even begin! Since NCA is set up as play base, they follow children interest and excitement. Their rooms are set up to not overwhelm kids but encourage them. Each class room has a cover outdoor patio that leads to the big play yards outside.The big yards are increidble. They have a sand yard, a turf hill, a garden (where each class room has a special box to grow something) and chickens, and those huge wooden blocks to build things. They have natural logs to climb on too.When my mother came to visit us, Genna was able to give her a tour as well. My son ask to go to class instead of walking GG around. He wanted to be there. He wanted to play, he wanted to start his day becuase he was in a place he felt safe and encouraged.He also slept like a log when he got home so that makes for a happy momma :)We had been renting a house and while looking for a forever home I basically casted a net with NCA in the middle. Unfortunately my husband works in Chandler so we ended up moving south and could no longer make the commute. I literally cried. CRIED! because how could we find a better school for our kids!Needless to say, if you can get a lucky spot in the NCA community I highly recommend it. You will never look back and be excited to watch the growth your children.PS> Chef makes food better than a 5 star restaurant. Seriously.

I couldnt imagine a better place for my daughter to be. Especially considering the current situation and the extra effort and precautions that Ted and Genna have gone to to protect the kids and families.

Natural Choice Academy has been really great for our 2 year old daughter! The teachers are always nice and helpful. Even though its been a major adjustment to be away from us for the first time, our daughter seems to really enjoy her time at school. We have also seen great improvements in her social skills since starting school which we are very happy about. We (and more importantly her) are very happy with our experience so far! I would recommend NCA to anyone looking for an excellent preschool that provides a safe and supportive environment for children to learn and play!

This is our third year at Natural Choice Academy and we feel so thankful to have found a school with such a caring and compassionate heart for children. The teachers are truly wonderful and it is evident they love what they are doing. There is purpose and intention in the way they interact with the kids -I hope they know how much of an impact they are making. Love can be found in every area of this school from the homemade meals to the artwork on the walls. We are grateful for NCA and everyone who is a part of it!

Natural Choice Academy is an amazing place! I toured two other facilities and was really concerned I wouldnt find the right fit for my son. I am so thankful that I was able to get a spot for my son in the Sprouts room. He started at about 13 months and now 3+ months later he is just thriving and growing so much. They have a wonderful natural environment, they share important resources on parenting and they have a chef that creates wonderful healthy meals for the kids.

This is our second year here. The classrooms are set up for kids to explore subjects creatively; the teachers are invested in meeting each child’s emotional needs and truly care about their well being. The teachers are loving, nurturing and trust worthy. The children have fun playing outside. They learn about growing vegetables and caring for chickens. The food that is provided for them is organic and nourishing. The admin staff members are warm, friendly and helpful. I’d definitely recommend this school to any parent looking for a safe, fun and creative environment for their child.

I absolutely love the teachers. I love the organic feeling of the school, and love the way that they handled discipline in the way the teachers act with the kids and how the teachers encourage the children to act with each other. The school is all the things that I want to be doing in my household.

Absolute best school!! My son loves his teachers and is treated with such love and respect. He is learning so much and has made so many wonderful friends. The school is so clean, smells wonderful, and is full of light. The children are fed the best food and snacks. I toured other schools and none of them came close to this school.

The first time I walked into NCA, I knew it was a special place. The love and care they give my children is like no other preschool I have ever experienced. I have worked in early childhood for over 15 years and have never witnessed a place as magical and intentional as NCA. Seeing the growth in my children’s social skills and confidence has been my brightest moment. And the knowledge and fun songs they bring home amazes me as well. They love coming to school and it’s hard to get them to leave most days. The teachers and owners are so loving of all who enter and it’s such a great feeling as a parent knowing my children are getting so much love and connection while I’m away from them.

I am not sure why somebody who has not even experienced or toured this school would post such a bad review. For the record, I did my own research before enrolling my baby to their infant room. And yes I saw this incident - but the important thing is what the owners did after the fact. In fact the State Licensing department mentioned that the owners self reported this incident and were very cooperative and have since then made the place a safer environment.To whoever this Lisa T is.. just to let you know they have double double doors and gates with fingerprint ID to their facility. The TEACHERS and the OWNERS are the gem of this facility... they continually listen to the parents and my baby gets the utmost care from these people! Not to mention that when I am at work - I get pictures in my emails and my baby is learning so much! My family chose this place for the principles and values that they stand for - to create an organic, environmentally non-toxic place where any child can thrive and learn... Organic garden, chicken coop, personal chef for the kids.. the list goes on and on and on...The owners have done a good job and I will continually support and recommend them to anybody seeking a child care/ preschool here in the Phoenix valley

We love NCA! So far it has been an amazing experience. We adore the staff members, cherish the community that this beautiful school has established and are amazed by the quality of education provided to our child.

I have worked at many schools and daycares around Arizona. I also worked for a school in Munich, Germany that displayed a very similar image and philosophy that Natural Choice Academy has. Unfortunately, those schools did not meet up to their image, that they displayed. Instead, those schools put up a false persona. Natural Choice Academy has been the best preschool I have ever worked for. They are honest, authentic, respectful to the children, provide a safe, healthy, peaceful and happy environment for the children and parents. I enjoyed working with all my team members and the owners. We all got along very well and had an authentic team work. The image and information that you are given, is what happens behind closed doors. It is an honest and authentic school that lives up to its image and philosophy. You can be at ease knowing your children are in the care of educators and caregivers who are delighted to be part of your childs growth. It was an honor to be part of that school. I really hope they provide more locations and continue to treat their business, parents, students and staff with the love and respect I have witnessed. If I could I would give Natural Choice Academy a higher star rating.

NCA has been an amazing fit for our family and your core values closely align with ours as parents. We truly admire the healthy environment and how the kids adapt to learning with your methods. We are truly happy to have found such a great fit for our kids and how well prepared they will be for grade school.

GENUINE is the best word to describe NCA! The owners truly care about making the world a better place and teaching the kiddos how to do their part. Miss Mary, Miss Patricia and Miss Ana (and all of the teachers) have been instrumental in making sure our son has the tools to succeed in his next journey, kindergarten. Thank you for a wonderful four years!

Our daughter enjoys playing in the sprinklers (during the warm days), talking to the chickens and getting a chance to run in the open, grassy yard that is unique to NCA. We appreciate that she sometimes comes home with sand in her shoes, paint on her hands and a spring in her step because we know shes had a full, interesting, hands-on, earth-friendly day. We enjoy that the school provides organic food for lunch and snacks. The owners Jenna and Ted are very friendly and always available if you need them. I appreciate the measures theyve taken to keep our kids safe, and the general positive energy of the school is refreshing.

NCA is hands down the best preschool in town. The teachers, the community, the organic meals, the playground and the love of children and their learning simply cannot be beat.

So happy we found NCA! Our boys are thriving and I love knowing they’re being provided diverse and real food daily as well as the freedom to truly learn through exploration. The teachers have been wonderful and so easy to communicate with.

Natural Choice Academy is an incredible school! Exactly what I would design as a parent. When I first began looking for schools I was pretty disheartened thinking I might not find what I had hoped for for my daughter. But then I toured NCA and was blown away!My 2.5 year old has been attending school there for six months now. She is so happy! Barely wants to leave at the end of the day. The school’s owners, staff and teachers are incredibly loving and helpful. They know our family well and are always a friendly face each morning.My daughter adores her teachers and I am so happy knowing she is safe and loved while she’s there. I also love NCA’s evidence-based approach to childhood development. They protect the sanctity of childhood and use a play-based method to instill a love of exploration and learning.And the fact that they provide healthy lunches and snacks makes my life so much easier.I truly cannot day enough wonderful things about this school and I am so so grateful my daughter gets to attend NCA!

Best daycare in the area by far. We’ve tried several and this one just does it right. Teachers are engaged and in-command without being pushy or dominant. Great place.

My almost 2 year old has been at NCA for about 4 months and I love it. Not only do I not have to worry about what he is eating for snacks and lunch, but he is thriving so much. The teachers are so pleasant when we come in. I love love love love getting pictures of what he is doing during the day. This past week they have been working on sensory activities and from the pictures I am sent, I can tell my son is having a great time. He is happy when we pull in the parking lot, that says a lot. He is starting to use more words and sometimes will come up with something that I didnt even know he knew. As a working mom, it is so nice to know that he is in a loving, educational, organic environment that is similar to what I would do with him if I were at home with him. I think what he is learning at school, even at just 21 months of age is so beneficial. This is a great place

Weve always had an incredible experience with NCA. We recognize the efforts to continue to improve upon an already amazing program. We appreciate that initiative. We appreciate the opportunities for parents to participate in informative discussions and classes. We really enjoy watching the faculty interact with the children and often find it helpful to see conscious discipline used in different scenarios. We always feel welcome to interact with the teachers and ask questions, often bouncing around ideas to help at home and at school. Weve watched the owners continuously invest in the school, its program, their staff and policies over the years and it really shows. Most importantly, when we drop off our children at NCA we know that the whole child will be loved and cared for. To us that means their physical, mental and emotional needs will be met and nurtured in a loving and caring environment. NCA is a safe space for our children and to our family. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do.

Our daughter has been at NCA since August and I have nothing but positive things to say. The staff is wonderful, great communication, play based play, all very thought through. My daughter is actually excited to go to school when I tell her its time to go. One day she was sick, I had to pick her up and she wanted to go back!

I am beyond impressed with NCA. My son has been attending for 2 years and our experience has been superb. The love and compassion from all of the NCA staff is remarkable. I feel I am a better parent due to my observations of the interactions between the staff and my son and also I have taken the time to learn their philosophy of effectively communicating and interacting with children. I also love the fact that they only serve organic whole foods and only utilize materials in the school that do not off-gas or contain any harmful chemicals. I would highly recommend NCA to any parent who is in search of a preschool for their children.

My daughter has been at Natural Choice for about 2 months and the change in her is extremely noticeable. She is learning so much there and it is obvious that she is being challenged in a way that she was not at any other Valley child care center. It is wonderful to hear from your child at the end of the day that they had a great time at school and that they cant wait to go back the next day!

We are nearing the end of our sons first year at NCA, and we are very happy with our choice to enroll him here. Not only are the children great, but so are the families weve met. More importantly, the teachers and admins of the school truly care about the children and have all had a wonderful, positive impact on our son. We look forward to him continuing his attendance next year, when he will start going 5 days a week. Once our second child is old enough, we plan on enrolling her as well. I cant recommend NCA enough.

We have been extremely happy with our decision to place our 6 month old and 3 year old here at NCA. Our kids are well taken care of with the care and attention given from all the staff - teachers, director and owners. I love the emails and photos that are sent daily and report cards at the end of the day. They really take a lot of time and effort to know your children inside and out. The fact that the food is organic and everything in the building is made from less toxic substances is an added bonus for us.

Today is a bitter sweet day for Kelsey Ann, today we say goodbye to her teachers, her classmates, and an amazing school. After 4 years at NCA we leave today at 4:30 to start Kelsey Anns journey to as she calls it Big Girl School. Kelsey was so excited to get to school today and tell her teachers that it was her last day. Me, not so much. I had to hug many of the teachers, and many more this afternoon because while mommy goes to work every day these Amazing, wonderful, playful, caring, and extraordinary people LOVE my child. I am not just talking about her direct classroom teachers either, i am talking about all the teachers in this school, they all know Kelsey by name and give her hugs and watched her grow. They kiss her boo boos, help her work out her emotions (and she has A LOT of them some days :) ). They were there to share in rejoice in some pretty big events in our life, like Kelsey Anns Adoption day, her first steps, potty training and so many more. None of the Teachers have been just teachers, they have been friends, confidants and a wealth of knowledge to help talk me off the edge. While this may goodbye to some, its just see you later to others.I too have made friends with some amazing parents and thank you just as much for everything these past 4 years.We will miss you NCA!!!

Such a relief to finally find a place where we feel comfortable leaving our children in someone elses care. This place has everything that you want for your child - loving teachers who are engaged with the kids, owners who are present and responsive, other parents who are pleasant to interact with, healthy food made on site, creative spaces to play in, respectful discipline philosophies, etc. We are better parents for our association with NCA. Couldnt be happier.

I am incredibly happy with NCA. My three year old is happy, safe, healthy, and learning! I dont worry a bit about her while she is there, which is more than could be said about other centers in the area. The building is secure, the teachers love their job, and everyone who works there genuinely cares for every single child. Couldnt be more pleased! I only wish they went up to kinder and beyond! Id have my daughter continue there as long as possible.

My wife and I feel very lucky to have found this place. This school is a fantastic introduction to formal education for young children in every regard; the teachers and owners are committed to a nurturing environment that fosters curiosity and confidence.We have 3 children enrolled and have been sending them here for over 5 years. These people are family to us.

A great environment for our preschooler. He is excited to go to school and loves his teachers. Would highly recommend NCA to families looking for a play-based introduction to school.

My son and I love Natural Choice Academy. It is play based learning, lots of fun, and an extremely nurturing and healthy environment. My son gets lots of time outdoors and is learning about new topics each week. The teachers genuinely care about my child, and they are firm but very loving.

We are very happy to have our kids at NCA. The owners, teachers, and staff are all good people, and our kids genuinely love going to preschool. It is sad that there are not more places like it, because every child should be treated the way they treat our kids. NCA has really raised the bar and set a new standard!

Positive. I really enjoy my child’s teachers and he gets to play like crazy all day, everyday.

My daughter has been attending NCA since she was one years old and this will be our last year 😔 and I know I will holding any other school at a high standard after experiences here. Between organic knowledge, all the art and crafts, the music and the general teaching, she is going to shine hard when she hits kindergarten. We have had nothing but amazing loving teachers. I have and I will continue to recommend him to anyone and everyone. Very fortunate to have found our NCA family. 💓💓💓

Absolutely love this daycare! the teachers are very caring, their program is amazing, happy they offer organic food and an environment that playful and happy and also responsible to our environment. Love that they focus on learning through play, my son loves going and im a happy mommy!

As a pediatric occupational therapist, I know that children thrive in a play-based environment. So, when I found NCA and learned about their philosophy, I was thrilled. My son started here last year in Veggies (3-4yo) and is now in Apples (4-5yo). It was suggested that he be held back in Veggies and I agreed. After one week of being retained in Veggies, I could tell he wasnt thriving based on the developmental level of the new class and my sons current developmental level. I worked closely with Genna (owner and director at the time) and she listened to my concerns carefully and worked with me until we found a solution that worked for everyone. He ended up being moved up to Apples, and transitioned smoothly. He enjoys going to school each day and loves his new teachers as much as his old ones.I love the teachers, support staff and especially the director/owners. I feel consistently listened to and understood. I brag about this school to all my friends and colleagues and explain how they utilize conscious discipline strategies and organic practices. They are doing an excellent job and its apparent that they truly care for the kids (and the staff!). Im so grateful that I found this school!P.S.- The teachers in Veggie Bunch 1 are wonderful and we go back to visit often (Miss Michelle and Miss Rhea).

We have been beyond thrilled with our experience at NCA. Our daughter is developing into such a confident little girl and amazing friend, and we feel that NCA played a huge role in that. There has never been a day that I’ve dropped her off where I’ve felt any trepidation or anxiety...I’ve always felt very comfortable and happy with her there. I’ve also learned a lot about myself as a parent through NCA’s conscious discipline method. Thank you SO MUCH NCA for all that you do, you are incredibly appreciated.

My 2 year old is really free to be a little kid there. We love this place!

They are constantly reinvesting in the classrooms. The teachers have so much kindness for these kiddos!

We are moving and I am writing this in tears as an appreciation to NCA and their teachers. My daughter is in Veggie Bunch class room with Miss Michelle L., Miss Genevieve, and Miss Michelle S. They are the best teachers ever! Could not have found a better school for our daughter Sophia. The school looks like a preschool dreamland. The environment could not be better. My daughter has blossomed and learned so much there. This school and their teachers offers so many ways for our child to learn and experience the world around them. I cannot say enough about this school. It a safe, nurturing environment. That teaches the children kindness and how to socialize and share. We love the NCA!

Kudos to Lisa T. for pointing out one of the licensing citations that this preschool has received & she does not even have a child enrolled, but wants to warn others. Well, I actually worked for Natural Choice Academy and I can testify that they have huge, systemic issues.Overall, the teachers are very young and have minimum experience in early childhood education & are not required to seek any.It is not a NAEYC (National Association Education Young Children) facility therefore, minimum standards are the norm.The room I was assigned to had a (first-time) lead teacher in her 20s that was incapable of handling 22 children. She was constantly overwhelmed and when I witnessed her picking up a tiny 2 yr old, slamming her against a bookcase and berating her for not following her orders (shaking & with fear in her eyes) is when I finally went to the management.Long story short, they supported the teacher (although admitted her inexperience and said they were working with her). I was told that maybe I was the problem and I was terminated a week later.I still have not received a paycheck from NCA. So of course, I have filed a complaint with the Labor Board as well as the AZ Health Dept. Licensing Board.The saddest part of the equation is that parents think that their children who are enrolled @NCA are receiving compassionate, superlative care. Unfortunately, they are too young to tell their parents what their daily experience is really like.

Dear Ashlee,While I respect your opinion about NCA, I do not agree with it. This also coming from the mother of the owners Genna and Allyson. Your comment about the school being one for profit and not the kids is far from the truth. As you know in this economy, it is risky to start ones own business. Genna and her husband Ted, as well as Allyson strongly believe in the organic/natural or sustainability concept. Genna pioneered a recycling program at her high school 20 years ago. She has never looked back. She believes we must all take better care of our resources and ourselves in this artificially processed environment. All three believe this concept starts with children as they have 4 between their 2 families. Their commitment to reduce, recycle and reuse is evident in their daily lives. NCA is a 24/7 natural process with the love of children at its core! The parents of NCA believe in this philosophy and bring their children to learn and live it. I am sorry you missed this natural choice opportunity.

From the heart, I recommend NCA for parents who want their children in a warm, engaging, collaborative, and healthy pre-school environment! Although my two-year-old sons attendance (full-time) at NCA began just this month, theres a noticeable difference in his verbalization, conflict-resolution/behavior, manners, and overall mood, for which I cannot take full credit. Hes been stringing full-length sentences together, consistently saying please and thank you (and even youre welcome), apologies for hitting or accidentally hurting anyone, and is so much more energetic and happy.Despite attending his previous school, Tutor Time, for over a year, my son went through drop-off phases that initially entailed tantrums and screams, then unexcited acceptance, and finally (but worst of all), crying from genuine sadness...I recall him seeming happy to go to school only a handful of times. As a young, first-time mother, I wasnt sure if this was a normal reaction to separation, but after a year of it, I knew Id had to look elsewhere -- to the Internet/friends/journals I went!I ran into NCA a few times, and was astonished that not only was there an opening for my son, but also, that the cost of full-time tuition was actually the same as at Tutor Time. My child LEAPS out of my arms with a radiant smile at drop-off, and runs back into my arms at the end of the day with a messy, paint-smudged face and glowing smile -- and thats invaluable. Wholesome, organic food is provided, photos of him are taken and uploaded directly to my Google Photos account (almost daily), and the chicken coop outside is his favorite aspect of outdoor time, which he talks about when I pick him up. His teachers are wonderful and very communicative, as is the entire staff.

My daughter was enrolled in this school for about a year. Within that time the school changed. At first my husband and I were excited to find such a school, but as time went on and tuition went up and up, the true purpose of this school came out. This school is for profit, not about the kids. Meals used to come from Sprouts and Whole Foods now come from Costco and they are not even organic or all natural. The whole wheat goldfish are simply Pepperidge Farms Goldfish and the pasta is Kirkland penne. All of this food is garbage that I would not want my child eating.The second thing that started worrying me was when my daughter started coming home with bruises. I asked her what happened and she said she fell or a bike hit her. I never saw a note go home, when a year before I would have. I asked the teachers about the incidents and they seemed to want to skid away from the subject like they are supposed to cover up accidents to preserve how wonderful the school is or something.After another registration fee had to be paid and yet another tuition increase, I decided to look at what we are paying for and what we are getting. The meals are no different than what you will get at any other facility, and the tuition is extremely high and will only go up, leaving more money for the owners not better meal choices for the children. The worst part is the secrets as to what my daughter is eating and what she is doing/injuries that has me really concerned. I did the best thing by taking her out and enrolling her in another montessory school close by.

After a recent very negative experience, I cannot recommend NCA. My family had been at NCA for 3.5 years and had many positive experiences. Recently, our daughter entered the 3s turning 4 room (Veggie Bunch), and things went downhill. The lead teacher was fired shortly after, due to using excessive force on a child. The second teacher quit right after. The room was chaotic. I arrived to pick up my daughter, and she was screaming (completely unlike her). The teacher brushed it off as nothing. My daughter later told me that the teacher had hurt her while forcing her to use potty. (Theres no reason to force her.) NCA then confirmed the incident. They showed me the video, and it made me sick. While they said it shouldnt have happened, they chose not to terminate the teacher despite this excessive and hurtful force. We were concerned for a number of reasons - what steps were taken to ensure this wasnt happening to other children. NCA refused to respond to our questions or concerns, instead telling us simply to trust them. When I pressed with these questions and told them I felt a duty to other parents and children, whom Ive grown so close to over 3.5 years there, they told us we were no longer welcome at the school.I am aware that, since this incident, NCA has told other parents that we are trying to harm NCA. Nothing could be further from the truth. We had been one of the most loyal and supportive families of NCA for 3+ years, up until their teacher physically hurt our three-year old child. I do feel a duty to shed light on this incident to other parents who have kids at NCA or are considering enrolling. Obviously we never wanted to be in this situation, which has been shocking and incredibly disappointing.Just a quick response to Teds note below: We never demanded the teacher be fired. Obviously we felt she should have been, after she lost her temper and physically hurt our three-year-old child, with no provocation, and then lied to us about it. However, we knew it was not our decision. When you made clear (immediately after the incident) that you were choosing to retain her, we did ask for reassurance that steps were taken to ensure similar incidents werent happening to other children. In response, you kicked us out of the school. Despite our requests for reassurance as to the safety / care of the children, you refused to provide us any indication that such steps were taken. At that point, we felt compelled to share the incident with other concerned parents of children entrusted to this same teachers care - parents that we had grown close to over the 3.5 years we were a part of the NCA family. Any other parent would have done the same. We understand and respect your desire to treat your teachers well. However, when one of them hurts a three-year-old child, I hope youll also choose to treat the child and the family (and other families under that teacher) with some level of care and concern (and honesty) as well. Instead, you continue to lie about the incident and about our family, which is incredibly disappointing. Also, regarding DHS, they do not make your staffing decisions. It is on you to choose to retain a teacher that physically hurts young children with no provocation. And you are misquoting me - while our daughter seemed to be welcomed into the other classroom immediately after the incident, we were never content with the way the situation was handled for all the reasons above. Obviously we were trying to make the best of a terrible situation. If you have taken steps to mitigate harm to other children as a result of this incident, then I am happy for the other children still there. If you had shared any of that with us at the time, instead of waiting for this situation to blow up, this all could have been avoided. I sincerely hope you will treat other families with more care and concern in the future.

I am a first time mom seeking care for my 9 month old daughter while I go back to the work force. I have heard horror stories about daycare and I wish I could have family watch but I cant. I heard really great things about this daycare and I was excited and ready to tour the facility until I saw they lost a child that was in their care. Here is the posting from the State Licensing website. I was so mortified and frighten to read this.Based on an interview with staff, it was determined that child 1s health, safety and welfare were at risk on 6/5/14 for approximately 20 minutes. The child was left alone on the outdoor play area for about 17 minutes and then proceeded to walk through a vacant classroom and the hallway and then leave the building. He crossed a street (Friess) and then stopped at a stop sign at Tatum/Friess. Tatum is a very busy street and Friess is very close to Thunderbird. The temperature between 4:00 and 5:00pm on 6/5 was 105 degrees. The child was not carrying any water with him.

I have written a review in the past and my opinion remains the same, this is the best choice I could have made for my children. I write now to the parents thinking about long term impact. My son graduated NCA this summer and started Kindergarten. My son turned 5 after the start of the school year and is a younger student. I was concerned all along, but meeting with NCA staff regularly about his emotional, behavioral and educational progress I was encouraged to enter him in kindergarten despite his age. My husband and I had his first parent teacher conference with his kindergarten teacher and her quote to me was whatever you did school wise, preschool or otherwise for (your son) you did a great job. As I like to take credit, I want to give credit where it is due. The programs at NCA are superior and that is showing in my sons excellent mid year progress and success in school to date. I am just lucky to have a daughter still with NCA so I can remain part of the NCA family for a while longer.

My son has attended NCA full-time since he was nine weeks old. He is about to advance past the nursery (Seedlings room) into the young toddlers room (Little Sprouts).Before I enrolled my son at NCA, I toured six day cares across the valley and did plenty of research online, and I found that NCA had the best security: a pool fence around the front entrance in addition to two locked doors. One door requires a pass code, and the other requires a fingerprint to enter the building.NCA was also the only day care within reasonable distance to my home or work that was truly natural with their meals, cleaning supplies, and filtered air and water.I couldnt be more happy with my sons care providers in Seedlings. Im sad that he will be leaving the ladies that feel like an extension of our family, but I know for certain that the Little Sprouts teachers will be just as nurturing. I consider our family truly blessed to be enrolled at NCA, and I cant imagine our son anywhere else.

I have 2 children that attend NCA and we absolutely love it! My oldest will start kindergarten next year. He has been at NCA for a little over a year now. Prior to NCA we had tried 2 other preschools and neither of them can begin to compare to NCA. I love that hes receiving hands-on and attentive care from his teachers and very nutritious meals. Hes thoroughly enjoyed the play-based learning and I love how emergent curriculum encourages the children to learn. I appreciate that the main classroom teacher is the same for each class and that the additional teachers are also consistent. We struggled with him being moved from room to room in his previous schools. It made it difficult for him to adapt to a new environment and set of teachers each time. At NCA he spent and year in the Veggie Bunch and will be in the Apple Orchard for a year as well.Our youngest son started in the infant (seedlings) room almost a month ago. He is 4 months old and I would have had a terrible time enrolling him anywhere else but NCA. I hadnt planned on starting him so early but it became a necessity and he attends NCA 2 days a week. NCA is very supportive of breastfeeding mothers. I can comfortable nurse when I drop him off, come mid-day and nurse at pick-up. They are also careful not to waste any milk. His teacher has even worn him to get him to calm down and take a nap. They are incredibly attentive and capable. They start sensory play early on and I love that! My 3 month old got to finger paint!!! Parent and teacher communication is great! I know when he eats, sleep and how many diaper changes hes received. I receive photos of both boys regularly. He has his own crib and they are perfectly happy to let him sleep and eat on demand.I could really go on and on. The school is family owned and operated and the owners are very involved! There is not a high turn-over rate and they treat their staff well. I know I definitely want my children being cared for by people who are happy and love their job and the teachers at NCA truly do! They encourage parents to be involved and are happy to hear suggestions. We are very happy to have our children at NCA and I feel confident dropping my children off knowing that the teachers and owners are going to give them the same genuine care they would give their own children.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love this school. I had a horrible first experience previously. When my daughter Olivia was 3 I enrolled her in Clildrens Learning Adventures on Lake Pleasant and Happy Valley. My daughter is extremely shy and I am aware that it does take a little bit of effort for her to warm up and become comfortable. From day one EVERY time I picked my daughter up (time varied significantly as I wanted to check up on what she was doing during various times) she would be laying on her blanket in the corner sobbing, her cheeks tear stained and her lips dry from not drinking anything for who knows how long. I would literally have to tear her off of me when I dropped her off (leaving the school in tears myself). After 1 week I could no longer chalk it up to her being shy. There was no comforting, affection from these teachers. Dont even get me started about the prepackaged crap they fed her( would not allow me to bring her food). Last straw was when I went to go pick her up and they were outside on their playground, the teachers who looked about 12 and I use this term loosely were both sitting on the bench texting on their cell phones(which when I asked WHY they have cell phones when they are supposed to be watching my child I was told to keep track of when kids are to be taken inside... buy a WATCH) Anyway I withdrew her immediately.I found Natural Choice Academy and was immediately drawn to the organic concept which is how I feed my kids at home. I fell in love with the staff and the environment immediately. My BIGGEST concern was my daughter adjusting to another new environment, and the first day I picked her up I was expecting to see her laying down crying as she had been EVERY day at the previous school, not at all, I walked in and she was sitting with the teacher and they were drawing a picture together. I was shocked. When I expressed how amazed I was,My daughter is now 4 and is now in the Veggie Bunch class. She is still on the shy side, but that is just her personality. I love to see her excitement getting ready for school wondering what fun projects they will do that day.The food is amazing! They introduce the kids to lentils, kale, squash and many more in a fun and yummy way. I am constantly in awe of everything she is learning and the fun and imaginative way they teach!I have nothing but positive to say about Natural Choice and especially the owners. If you EVER have a concern, question about anything they are more than happy to help. They never make you feel as thought you are bugging them at all:) I actually live on 104th ave and Deer Valley and my husband and myself drive all the way to Tatum an Thunderbird because we love it so much.My only suggestion is to open one on the West side :)

My son has been attending Natural Choice Academy practically since it opened, and it is the only place I would ever send him to preschool. I use the word preschool and not daycare because that is what Natural Choice Academy is - a preschool. The children are encouraged to explore and learn and ask questions, and they do a variety of developmentally appropriate art, sensory, and academic activities. When my two-year-old comes home from school, tells me hes a paleontologist, and gleefully points out a dinosaur femur in a book we are reading, it really validates my decision to send him to NCA.More importantly, he is LOVED when he goes to school. His teachers have all been amazing, and the owners are personable and present. My son asks to go to school every day - even on the days we arent enrolled! His teachers always have anecdotes and stories to share each day, and they even email pictures of him several times of week.I cant help but be confused by a previous posters comment about the food. Ive actually seen inside the cupboards and stayed for lunch several times. Not only is the food DELICIOUS, it is nearly all organic and natural. Applesauce is Trader Joes organic. Milk is Shamrock Farms organic. My sons favorite lunch is an amazing chicken noodle soup with ABC pasta. I asked the nutrition director where she found the ABC pasta, and she showed me a box of Deboles organic alphabet pasta. This is in addition to all the food the kids eat from the on-site organic garden! Its pretty amazing to be able to ask my toddler where carrots come from, and he will respond from the garden rather than from the store. But really, I challenge you to find another preschool where your child will eat homemade quinoa and lentil soup, saffron rice with chicken, or beef and eggplant stew over brown rice (with the eggplant picked directly from the garden outside)! I love the healthy eating habits this school has instilled in my child from the moment he started eating solids.I wouldnt say Natural Choice Academy is cheap, but I absolutely believe you get what you pay for. And frankly, we toured a preschool three miles away that charged higher tuition and a menu of canned fruit cocktail and Life cereal. Ill stick with NCA any day.I would highly recommend Natural Choice Academy to anyone looking for a safe, loving, engaging, healthy environment for their child.

I love this school!! This is our 3rd year with NCA. Every teacher is an expert in the developmental stage of the children in their classroom. I have learned so much from them. My older son graduated from pre-school at NCA last year. His current school has a very tough curriculum and his teacher said he is more than prepared. In addition, the food at this school is great. I never have to be concerned about what my children are eating. I am actually jealous of what theyre eating most days. I highly recommend this school.

My son is 16 months old and was at home with a nanny earlier and recently transitioned to a preschool environment outside home. This school is perfect for parents who want their kids to grow and be around safe products and a safe environment along with great care personal attention to individual needs and they stay connected to the parents on a daily basis by emailing photos. The food is all organic and fresh and they provide milk and all snacks which makes it easier to pack for little ones. the only thing we need to provide is diapers & wipes & bottles/ sippy cups. Love the fact that it is made so easy and I dont have to spend too much time on my sons food packing. The furniture has minimal plastic, the paint and flooring is FAF (formaldehyde free) and toys are mostly wooden (melissa doug kind) and the teaching technigues are a combination on sensory, cognitive and physical develpment using wooden bricks, montesorri approach somewhat is followed, recycled material playground, bouncy lawn turf, organic garden patch for kids to grow their own veggies and simply the best options you can find in a preschool that is neat, clean and green. Love the teachers and the care my son gets, he comes home happy, fed and clean with minimal slobb on his face and no smell on his clothes. Almost nothing I can think of is negative. They have a finger print scan for security. They literally go out of their ways to take care of your child and your childs needs. I would highly recommend a tour if you are thinking about this school. Especially if you eat and live a happy, healthy natural fresh organic lifestyle, this is the best thing you can offer for your kids. Lastly, the fees are a bit higher than others i suppose, but they provide all the food and they give me a peace of mind when Im working, my child is in good hands. I do hope the school runs profitably and wish them luck in the growth of this approach to the generations to come.

Our son attended Natural Choice Academy for the past two years, starting when he was four months old. This is our first child and we were very concerned about leaving him at daycare and strongly considered a full-time nanny. We looked at other daycares and preschools in Phoenix and did not like any of them...until we found Natural Choice Academy. The owners, Allyson, Genna and Ted are family and have kids of their own, and understand how difficult it can be to leave your child in the care of a daycare center. They truly care about the well-being of each child, as well as the parents. Their mission is to create an environment that they would be comfortable having for their own children, and they have absolutely achieved that.The infant room was wonderful and the teachers in that room were loving and caring to each and every infant. I never once walked in there and saw infants laying by themselves crying or stuck in their cribs. My son loved the infant room so much that he didnt want to leave and go to the first toddler room (Little Sprouts)! My son is a bit shy and has a difficult time with transition, and struggled a bit moving to the new room. All of the teachers, as well as Genna, Allyson and Ted were extremely supportive and provided extra care and guidance through our sont transition into the toddler room. They didnt rush him to meet quotas, and even had one of the toddler teachers spend time with him everyday in the infant room so he would be more comfortable. Our son had a wonderful experience in the toddler room and learned so much, it was incredible. Sign language, art skills, language, songs, dances, eating skills, self-care skills - he learned more than I could ever teach him myself! Every Wednesday they do afternoon music time with a music teacher, and my son talked about that constantly. If he ever had an injury while at school, we would get a phone call or note explaining what happened and how the injury was treated, which was signed by one of the owners. There was never anything severe and it was always the normal kid stuff (falls, bumps), which happen at home as well. My husband is a physician and was always comfortable with the level of detail provided in the injury report.The food at the school is organic, and they do a great job of introducing the kids to very healthy foods, some of which they grow themselves in the back. Our son is an extremely picky eater but he loved Ms. Nadias cooking. I try and replicate her cooking at home but she is a tough act to follow!If you are looking for daycare/preschool in the Phoenix area then I would save yourself some time and look here first. You will not be disappointed! We just moved out of state and are extremely sad to lose this wonderful school. On our sons last day they made him a photo book including pictures of him at school with his friends and teachers, and made him a big goodbye sign which now hangs in his bedroom. Im pretty sure most schools would not do that on a childs last day. We already miss the family feel of this school, and the terrific staff and teachers that make it a great place every day.Allyson/Genna/Ted - thank you for everything you did for us and do for each NCA child and family. You played a huge role in our lives at such an important time, and we will always look back on NCA with fond memories as we begin our new chapter in the Midwest.-Dr. and Mrs. Welch

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