REVIEW OF The Learning Nest Academy - Junction BY parent, Francisca Abarzua

(5) Student Experience

My son started at this daycare when he was just 7 months old, and from day one, we felt welcomed, supported, and completely at ease. The educators are incredibly kind, caring, and genuinely invested in each child’s well-being. The curriculum and meals are excellent, and we’ve seen our son become more independent, confident, and curious through the engaging daily activities. The administration does a wonderful job keeping families informed and organizing fun events that bring everyone together. We also love the app, which provides updates throughout the day, and the classroom camera access, which lets us see our son interacting with his friends. These thoughtful features provide incredible peace of mind, especially for first-time parents. We couldn’t be happier with our experience and highly recommend it.

Why The Learning Nest Academy - Junction?

We chose The Learning Nest because of its convenient location close to our home, but what truly convinced us was its educational approach. We were specifically looking for a Montessori-based environment that would foster our son’s independence, curiosity, and love of learning from an early age. We also appreciated that The Learning Nest builds on the Montessori philosophy through its Nest-EQ framework, which emphasizes creativity, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and resilience alongside academic development. We wanted a place where our son would be supported not only in reaching developmental milestones but also in growing into a confident, compassionate, and curious individual. After visiting the school and meeting the educators, we felt it was the right environment for our family.

Expectations vs. Reality

The daycare has aligned well with our expectations, particularly in its teaching approach. We were looking for a learning environment that encourages independence and nurtures creativity, and we’ve seen those values reflected in the daily activities and interactions. It’s been wonderful to watch our child gain confidence, explore new things, and develop important skills in such a supportive environment.

Your Advice

My advice to other parents is to take the time to talk with the educators about the school’s teaching philosophy and your expectations for your child. Open communication from the beginning helps ensure everyone is aligned. In our experience, the school is very flexible and works closely with families to meet each child’s individual needs, so having those conversations early on can make the transition smoother and help your child thrive.

(5) School Leadership

The leadership team has been exceptional from the very beginning. They consistently communicate in a clear, transparent, and timely manner, which gives us great peace of mind as parents. We always feel well informed about important updates, upcoming events, and anything related to our child’s care. They are approachable, responsive, and genuinely care about building strong relationships with families. Their professionalism, organization, and commitment to open communication have made our experience incredibly positive, and we truly appreciate the supportive environment they have created for both children and parents.

(5) Teaching

The teaching team has provided a positive experience for our family. They plan a variety of engaging activities that support the children’s learning, creativity, and independence throughout the day. We especially appreciate how attentive they are to each child’s individual needs. Every morning, they take the time to ask how our son is doing, whether there is anything they should know, or if we have any concerns to share. They also let us know if there is something they would like us to reinforce at home or if they have noticed anything worth monitoring. At the end of each day, they provide a verbal update about how his day went, including the activities he enjoyed, his overall mood, and any important observations. Their communication and genuine care have helped us feel supported throughout our daycare experience.

(5) Academics

One of the things I value most about the program is how it prepares children for the future through practical life skills, independence, and confidence. I appreciate that learning goes beyond traditional academic activities and gives children opportunities to explore, make choices, and gradually learn to do things on their own. I can see how this approach is helping my son become more independent, curious, and confident in his abilities. The activities are appropriate for his age while also encouraging him to try new things and develop skills that will be useful as he grows. I also like that the environment allows children to learn at their own pace and build confidence through everyday experiences. Overall, I feel the program is giving my son a strong foundation for learning and personal development.

(5) Extracurriculars

Since The Learning Nest Academy - Junction is a daycare, traditional extracurricular activities or competitive opportunities are not really applicable at this stage. However, the school does a great job of organizing fun events and special activities throughout the year that involve both the children and their families. These opportunities create a strong sense of community and allow families to participate in their children’s daycare experience in a meaningful and enjoyable way. We appreciate the effort the school puts into creating these moments and making families feel included. Combined with the variety of activities offered during the regular program, we feel there are plenty of opportunities for our son to explore different interests, socialize, have fun, and develop in a well-rounded way that is appropriate for his age.

(5) Students

The student body feels welcoming and well connected. There is a lot of interaction among the children within each classroom, and the educators actively encourage them to build connections, friendships, and positive relationships with one another. We also appreciate the good educator-to-child ratio, which gives us peace of mind as parents, knowing that our son is receiving the attention and care he needs throughout the day. The smaller groups also allow the children to participate in activities while still having opportunities to socialize and learn alongside their peers. Overall, the atmosphere feels friendly, caring, and age-appropriate, and we feel our son has a good environment to develop healthy relationships and social skills with other children his age. In the toddler room, there are 10 students and 3 educators.

(5) School Life

Our son genuinely enjoys going to daycare. He started at The Learning Nest when he was seven months old and was the youngest child in his classroom at the time. From the beginning, the educators and staff made him feel welcome, cared for, and adapted to his individual needs. We especially appreciated the support when he transitioned to the toddler classroom. There was a clear and well-structured transition plan that gradually introduced him to the new educators, activities, routines, and learning environment. Both his previous and new educators were very attentive to how he was adjusting and kept us informed throughout the process. This made the transition much easier for him and for us as parents. Overall, we have had a very positive experience and feel that his well-being and individual needs are genuinely considered.

(5) Community

We really appreciate the effort The Learning Nest makes to create opportunities for families to be involved in the daycare community. Throughout the year, they organize different events where parents and children can participate together, giving families a chance to meet, interact, and share their experiences. Celebrations such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day have been especially thoughtful, with breakfast and activities organized for families to enjoy together. These events are not only a nice way to celebrate important occasions, but also help create connections between parents, educators, and the broader daycare community. We have enjoyed having these opportunities to be part of our son’s daycare experience beyond the regular drop-off and pick-up routine, and they have helped us feel more connected to the community.

(5) School Location

The daycare is in a great location, situated in a nice and quiet neighbourhood that feels very family-friendly. It is easily accessible by several bus routes and is also conveniently located not too far from subway stations. The surrounding area has plenty of coffee shops, parks, and other amenities, making drop-offs and pick-ups convenient and enjoyable for families every day.

(5) Admissions

Our admissions experience was simple and straightforward. After reaching out to express our interest, we were quickly able to schedule a tour of the daycare. Since the Junction location was still quite new at the time, the tour was especially helpful. We were shown the facilities and a classroom, and the team took the time to explain the curriculum, daily routines, and how the program worked. They were also very open and helpful in answering all of our questions. Once we decided to enroll our son, the registration process was completed online, and everything went smoothly. My main advice to families considering applying would be to schedule a tour, explore the space, learn about the teaching approach, and ask as many questions as you need. It is a great opportunity to make sure the daycare feels like the right fit for your family.