5 Senses School

My kiddo had a truly fantastic experience at the 5 Senses summer program. They were outside all the time, playing in mud and water and sand. We were enthusiastically welcomed even though she wasn't a regular school year attendee, and she made great friends. As a bonus for a busy family, the school was always willing to look at adding hours and accommodate if possible. We'd go back in a heartbeat!

This is truly a special school with exceptionally talented and caring teachers. They have a rich outdoor space and spend a lot of time outside giving kids an appreciation for the outdoors. Their focus on independence is so helpful to parents who all of a sudden have a child who can put on their own clothes, shoes, and coat. They also partnered with us for potty training and our son was trained thanks to them before 2.5. I can’t recommend enough!

I cannot say enough about what a great school 5 Senses is! I have only positive things to say. I work for Early Intervention and have had the pleasure of visiting the daycare regularly. I have visited many daycares in the area over the years and this one is by far the best! I have observed the teachers to be kind, loving and very attentive to each and every child. They know how to foster the children's independence and it is so impressive to see what the kids can do without any adult help. I really like the hands-on learning approach that 5 Senses has. I have visited at different times of the day and they have always been welcoming whenever I show up. I highly recommend this school for any family who is looking for a rich experience for their developing child.

Literally the best school I’ve seen for young children. Incredibly caring and thoughtful teachers who love working with this age groups. They have so much experience in the field but remain curious and always wanting to learn more. The teachers partner with you as veteran educators but also understanding what is like to be parent and holding that perspective as well. There is no place like it!

We are so happy that we sent our daughter to 5 Senses. She learned so much independence (thanks to their unending patience) for things like: putting on her jacket, shoes, gloves, packing her backpack. Sounds simple but for toddlers and young kids - it's NOT! We loved how much time they spent outside for play and for learning. They infuse fun into learning in the most creative way. Miss Joanie (as the kids call her) cares so much for these kids, their families, and the community. I can't say enough!

I am genuinely grateful to be a part of 5 Senses preschool, where the Reggio-based environment fosters creativity and individuality. The support I receive for my thoughts and inputs makes me feel valued, and the sense of joining a family is truly heartwarming. Working alongside dedicated coworkers and witnessing the independence instilled in the children from day one never ceases to amaze me. Taking pride in my work, I can confidently say there's no other place I'd rather be.

Miss. Christina

Teaching at 5 Senses School for the last 6 years has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I am proud of the environment we have created and know that each teacher here strives to uphold the Reggio Emilia inspired philosophy, that I personally seen positively impact each child that walks through these doors. I love teaching here and look forward to continuing for many years to come.

5 senses was the best place for my kids. They fostered an environment of education , playing, and social/emotional learning.

The kids spend tons of time outside playing and enjoying the weather. (All types of weather)

My two children formed life long friendships under the age of 5. I believe that Joan and her team had a lot to do with that!

5 Senses was recommended to us by a family daycare we had our son attending when he was a toddler. My son was 3 when he started at 5 Senses in 2021. He is now 5 and is so well prepared going into Kindergarten this fall. Ms. Joanie and the teachers working with her have such amazing talent working with little kids. What I love about 5 Senses is the safe environment provided, communication, playing outside year round, the teaching of the kids to be self sufficient (put on own jacket, put on own shoes, open/ close snack & lunch containers, etc), help kids to socialize with each other and so many other things. I had researched other preschools in the area but I found 5 Senses to be the most flexible for the days and hours that I needed for childcare. I can’t say enough great things about our experience there!

This school welcomed my daughter with such flexibility on such short notice which is impressive. The approach to child development is key-child focused, with plenty of opportunity for children to be independent. The outside space is absolutely fantastic! The teachers are kind, knowledgeable professionals and have fostered such a positive sense of community. If you are looking for a Reggio-Emilia based school, consider calling this place home!

Both of my children went through Preschool and PreK at 5 Senses. I feel very strongly that it was the best decision we made in preparing our kids for real life and for their time in public school. The teachers foster a sense of independence that you don't see in other programs. Students learn skills like how to get themselves dressed, how to zip their coats and tie their shoes, and how to open their lunch containers, but also more deeply imbedded personal skills, like speaking up when they don't like the way they are being treated, understanding of bodily autonomy, speaking up when they need help, understanding what it means to be part of a community, and patience. All members of the staff are knowledgeable and LOVE working with kids in a way you don't see in many childcare settings. They spend so much time outside and understand that kids learn through experience and PLAY- which they foster and make interesting and exciting every single day.

Both of my children's kindergarten teachers have commented on how prepared they were, how independent they were, what good "student skills" they had, how empathetic to peers they were and that they were ahead of the curve academically.

Joan and her team have created an oasis in the preschool world, a place that is child/family focused, is caring AND is affordable for families in a time when costs can be outrageous.

At the end of our time at 5 Senses, I felt like I was leaving family behind. I miss seeing the staff at pickup and hearing about the amazing activities they did that day. I cried like fool walking out after my daughter's last day!

Five Senses was an absolutely incredible experience for my son. It completely brought him out of his shell and his development skyrocketed. The individual attention and care he received went beyond anything I could have imagined and fostered his interests and talents while creating a wonderful community for him. Could not recommend it enough

We LOVE 5 senses! Our son went there for a couple years of preschool (in first grade now) and our daughter is currently there for pre school. A couple of our favorite things:
- The school empowers the kids and teaches them their voice is important.
- The school is play based. according to my son he "didn't learn anything". In reality he learned a TON.
- The teachers are amazing with the kids. Both of my kids have loved their teachers. We are so grateful for the impact they have made on our children.
I recommend 5 senses to everyone I talk to that is looking for a preschool. We love it there.

I had the pleasure to send my son Johnathan to the 5 senses school as a toddler all the way to pre-k. Joan and her wonderful teachers are truly the best around! Structure and compassion are big at this school! We loved this school! 10/10 highly recommended! I always tell everyone about Joan and her school!

I had the pleasure of sending both my son and daughter, now in 2nd and 7th grade to 5 Senses. They both have fond memories of their experience with Miss Joanie and her amazing staff of teachers. To this day I am forever grateful for receiving a recommendation to this school (which came from an early interventionist - I think this says it all!!!). The teachers genuinely care about the kids and exude passion in their teaching. Social and emotional skills and fostered; using their words, speaking their needs, teaching independence with putting on and tying shoes, getting coast/hats/gloves on. So much learned through play.

Year to year no classroom or activity will look the same - I was always impressed with how much the teachers did with the kids from day to day. So much to love about this school but one point in particular is how much time the kids spend outside. This is so crucial for our kids and they got what they needed at 5 Senses. When my daughter started K she complained that it was boring in comparison to Miss Joanie and that there was not enough time outside! In the summer they spend almost all day outside - the outdoor space (science area and more!!) is wonderful with plenty of shade. My kids would come home dirty and so happy!

When the children graduate they receive books with pictures that are compiled over the years they are in attendance. Both of my kids have these in their rooms and to this day still love looking at them and talking fondly of all of their wonderful memories.

We still go and visit Miss Joanie and staff to this day :)

This is a wonderful community that feels like family and there is no other school out there like it! I am grateful for the positive impact this school had on my kids. I HIGHLY recommend 5 Senses School!

This is my first year teaching at 5 Senses School, I am very impressed by the children’s independence and social skills at such a young age. The access that teachers have to a multitude of materials allows me to support a variety of skill sets and interests. I look forward to growing at and with 5 Senses School.

I can't say enough wonderful things about 5 Senses. As a parent, finding a daycare where you feel completely at ease leaving your child is seems impossible, but I've found that at 5 Senses.

They create a safe environment where children are encouraged to explore, learn, and express themselves. My son has learned so much since starting there. He loves going to school and seeing his teachers and friends. He is excited to tell me about what he did at school each day.

I am grateful to have found Ms. Joanie and her team!

Nothing but positive things to say about our children's experience at 5 Senses. A small, warm environment where play and growth are the number 1 agenda. Small classrooms, lots of attention, lots of independence and growth. We love the amount of outdoor and free play!

All three of my kids have attended or attend Five Senses. The teachers are wonderful. There is a real priority on free play along with enrichment and early learning. Highly recommend!

5 STARS in nowhere close to being enough for how much 5 Senses School and their dedicated owner Joan have meant to my family and 2 children who each went to 5 senses for 5 years, from infant to preK. I wish I could give 100 stars. The second I met Joan and her teachers I realized this place was special and far different from the other 10+ my wife and I had checked out. The structure, the attention and genuine care and love each kid receives, the learning opportunities, the arts and crafts, the outdoor activities, the music, and the feeling of knowing your kids are in the best hands and looked after the way you would when you leave each morning after dropping them off allows you to never worry and go tackle your day.

Both my daughter who is now 12 and son who is 9 still to this day talk about the impact Joanie as they call her made on them and they consider her family like my wife and I do. In fact each of them make it a point to go visit every year and my daughter even makes her arts and crafts to show her appreciation for Joanie. I hear from my friends and family who dont live in the area about how they leave their kids each day kicking and screaming at drop off and when they pick them up their kids are running for the door....well NOT HERE AT 5 SENSES...MY kids could not wait to get to 5 senses each day and some days kicked and screamed at ME that they had to leave.

To sum it up, I know that what I was looking in a daycare was for a place that I could trust, that I knew my kids would be safe at, a place that had loving and dedicated teachers, a curriculum design for each age to help them grow and learn and at 5 Senses you get all of that and MORE from Joan and her team.

I cannot reccomend 5 Senses anymore than I do, I am so grateful for Joan and 5 senses and the lasting impact she has had on BOTH of my children who are both very different learners but who both thrived and loved their time at 5 senses. Save your time and dont look anywhere ELSE...IT will be the easiest and best decision you can make for your everythings and pride and joys and you will and your kids will be treated like family all whil receiving the structure and learning and development opportunities to help them grow.

THANK YOU JOAN AND 5 SENSES for all of your dedication and love and for making such an impact to so many families in the Reading, North Reading, Wakefield, and surrounding towns. I wish I could leave 10 STARS.