Lake Forest Montessori School · Infant Center, Lake Forest
Lake Forest Montessori School is a licensed child care center in Lake Forest, CA, licensed for up to 18 children and serving infants and toddlers. It has held its California license since 2015. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 4 times. The state issued 7 citations, 2 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for building & playground safety (2 of 7). None came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is #18 of 22 centers in Lake Forest and has more citations per inspection than 87% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that, LPAs observed loose articles in napping infants' cribs, which poses an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation and interview, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that, infants were sharing the preschool outdoor activity space on a rotation schedule without an approved waiver from the department, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that, 2 out of 4 staff files reviewed did not have current mandated reporter training certificates, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that, C1 and C2 did not have LIC 627 on file, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that, facility did not conduct a disaster drill within the past six months, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above. Upon entry into the infant center, LPA observed C1 being swaddled and strapped down inside a swing while sleeping which poses an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above. C1 was observed asleep inside a swing which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
About this center
Other licenses at this address
Common questions
Does Lake Forest Montessori School take infants?
Yes. It is licensed by California as an infant center.
Has Lake Forest Montessori School had any serious violations?
California issued 2 Type A citations since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Jul 24, 2025, for infant sleeping equipment. Each citation is listed in full above.
How does Lake Forest Montessori School compare with other daycares in Lake Forest?
It is #18 of 22 centers in Lake Forest by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 87% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Lake Forest Montessori School last inspected?
Apr 9, 2026. No citations were issued during that visit.
How much does Lake Forest Montessori School cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Lake Forest Montessori School for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Orange County, which includes Lake Forest, was $1,584 a month for infants (about $2,000 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Lake Forest Montessori School?
The licensee is Richa Sharma, and the administrator listed with the state is Richa Shama.
Licensed centers nearby
25435 Trabuco Road, Lake Forest · under 0.1 mi away · 80 spotsMore citations than mostHeritage Hill KinderCare
21791 Lake Forest Dr, Lake Forest · 0.2 mi away · 108 spotsToo few inspections to compareNew Thought Montessori
20651 Lake Forest Drive A101, Lake Forest · ZIP 92630 away · 60 spotsAmong the most citedThe Children's Courtyard
21772 Lake Forest Drive, Lake Forest · ZIP 92630 away · 134 spotsAmong the most citedBella Montessori
20602 Prism Place, Lake Forest · 1.3 mi away · 150 spotsAmong the most citedBella Montessori
20602 Prism Place, Lake Forest · 1.3 mi away · 40 spotsNo citations
Citations are quoted from California Department of Social Services inspection and complaint reports. Type A citations are the state’s most serious category (an immediate risk to children’s health, safety or personal rights); Type B citations are a potential risk. A citation is a finding about one rule, not a judgment about a center overall. Complaint allegations appear here only when the state substantiated them.
To read the full state reports, search facility number 304371063 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 3, 2026.
Comparing centers? See how to choose a daycare: 30 questions to ask and a printable checklist.