I highly recommend kiddie academy, my little one has been with a private sitter since 3 months old…read moreand just turned 4. It took me from the moment I found out I was pregnant to after she was born to search for a sitter high and low, So when we unexpectedly lost our sitter our was devasted and cried for days. To start the search over and finding someone who loves and cares but also teaches your child just wasn't in my plan. I took a few weeks off to interview and search places. KA was 2nd to last on my list. (I never made it to the last one) The initial interview was well. They answer all my questions and concerns and I felt at ease the facility is immaculately clean, especially with Covid I think they go above. I also see the change in my child's learning. I believe they were already at level but I see the excel in the way my little one talks and used certain words They also take concern from parents and work through them. When my LO never really experienced a true pre-school or daycare setting the transition was hard. That they were crying to go every day that I was about to pull my LO out, I let my concern be known and ms Kiran and her staff worked with us and my LO so well. My Lo is now looking forward to going and makes me so happy. Every day it's got a little bit easier which as a parent I can continue my day know they are good hands ..... plus the cameras make it just a little bit easier on me as well My only negative is that we came so late that next school year semester my LO will be starting school and transitioning out

In the midst of a global pandemic, finding a great daycare is a huge task. We found a perfect fit…read morewith Kiddie Academy. The facility is immaculate (it is truly the nicest daycare I've ever seen) and they take the safety of the children very seriously. The teachers are kind and clearly love each child. My daughter had rarely been around other people due to COVID but she has never once cried at drop off and always walks right into the class with a big smile. As parents, many of us have to keep working. So finding great childcare is more important than ever. I highly recommend KA if you are looking for a safe, clean, professionally staffed place for your child to go to daycare.

My daughter attended Kiddie Academy for 3 years. First at their Woodlake location then transferred…read moreto their Watkins location once they opened. The staff has always been attentive, caring & knowledgeable in their childcare practices. I cannot express how grateful I am to them in how they nurtured my kiddo and made her feel safe during these developmental years.

I absolutely love Ms. Manaly at The Learning Experience! I'm convinced she's part chef, part…read moresuperhero, and part toddler whisperer. She wears many hats and somehow manages to handle them all with professionalism, patience, and genuine love for the children. I can truly see her passion in everything she does, from preparing balanced meals for the infants and toddlers to nurturing and caring for each child as if they were her own. The kids light up around her, and honestly, I think my daughter Rain, might love her cooking more than her parents' home-cooked meals! It takes a special person to make sure little ones are fed well, cared for emotionally, and still keep a smile on their face all day. Ms. Manal is truly one of the hearts of TLE. Her warmth, kindness, and dedication do not go unnoticed. Please keep her forever because the kids would probably organize a toddler protest without her! Well done, Ms. Manal you are appreciated more than you know! Shaka

This childcare is awesome. The director Ms. Heather is very caring, and so knowledgeable, it is…read moreimpressive. The school is so clean, bright colors, and those characters on the wall are so cute. My son always has a smile and he is always happy to go every morning. This is a great place for your kiddos.

I went to this daycare for preschool then every year for summer camp till middle school. Found one…read moreof my closest friends there and now that we are both 18 we still talk about the memories we made. While I can't speak on the education aspects as I simply don't remember, I can speak to all good it did for me on a social skills side, learned how to talk with other kids and the field trips taught me how to act out in public. Forever grateful my parents chose this place. As a side note if Mr. Turner still works there, he was real one.

Academically this is a good school. They scored low for me because they did a poor job with…read moredeveloping social emotional and problem solving skills. They also do not provide support in the form of resources for parents whose child is having a difficult time adjusting to the new atmosphere. I wouldn't recommend.

Amazing childcare! They have video system so you can see your child and an app so your connected…read morewith the teachers at all times. Food and diapers are also provided. They have activities throughout the week including Friday spirit weeks. Everyone is always nice and welcoming!

My daughter attended this day care for a short time due to us moving, but we were extremely pleased…read morewith the care she received here and how much like family it felt. The entire staff from leadership to teachers were welcoming, kind, caring, and knew me and my daughter by name even in her short time here. So grateful for then!!

When we were hit with some changes to our current child care situation, it prompted us to begin a…read moresearch for other options because mama needs consistency. I wasn't looking for childcare in the Short Pump area because for us, the location has us backtracking based on where we live and work, but I decided to pop in anyway. I am so glad that I did. I grew up going to daycare and loved it, but let me tell you it has come a LONG long way since those days. I popped in to TLE unannounced and the director was still happy to give me a tour and tell me all about their center. The children were napping, so it was quite a productive tour. I got to see my son's potential classroom, meet his teacher (who was lovely and made a great impression), and I was already liking what I saw. But! Then, when she showed me the indoor play areas and gym, I was sold. I've never seen anything like this before. It is like an actual children's museum inside the daycare. They bring in tons of extracurricular activities for the children, teach them sign language and Spanish, have a great schedule with tons of room for reading and play. It checked all the boxes for me. It's pricey, but not moreso than any of the other big names in town. And, also, they have flexible options which is PERFECT for us because we don't need 5 day a week care right now. Most places don't have that option. When I toured, I felt excited and eager to be able to give my child the opportunity to attend. We are planning to enroll him to start immediately, short of any unforeseen life circumstances. Even if something came up and we didn't, I would highly recommend this daycare to anyone in the area.

AVOID AVOID AVOID I…read morepulled my daughter, 4 at the time, out of this daycare last year around May. It is now March 2025 and it's still bothering me and I'm still mortified by what I saw and I need to warn parents. One random weekday I decided to pick my daughter up early so we can have a girl-date. I showed up without letting the teachers or anyone know, walked in and said I was picking my child up early to the front desk. They said that's fine and I went through the door (after scanning my card). What I saw was heartbreaking. "Class" was in session for the pre-pre-k (2-3yo I think) class which I had to walk past in order to reach my daughter's class. There are windows that stretch through the hallway so you can see in the classroom. Clearly they didn't see me. I saw the kids all sitting in a strange silence except one little curly haired black/mixed boy. He was clearly having a meltdown, crying with tears streaming down his face. The teacher visibly was yelling in his ear with so much anger in her eyes. I can tell she was threatening him, something scary. She looked so angry and the little boy looked so helpless. There was another staff member there who looked at the teacher and didn't say anything. I hesitantly kept watching and slowly walking past, the teacher did not look up and at this point she forcibly grabbed him by his arms and sat him down on the chair with the rest of the kids. The boy was still visibly crying. She was still in his ears visibly angry. I grabbed my daughter, her class was sitting together while the teacher paced around their table I guess quizzing them? She didn't smile when she saw me, she didn't look friendly. (They never did honestly) I wish I never enrolled her here. I pray that they never mistreated her, but based off the other comments I'm now thinking it's very likely. My daughter was also newly turned 4, and wearing pull-ups because she was having accidents. They told me she wasn't allowed to wear pull-ups. This place needs to be shut down. I wish anyone who is in search of a daycare center and is considering this one stays far away. If you're in the short pump area don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions.

Update: Initially, I was hopeful my report to the Department of Social Services would be…read moresufficient, but unfortunately, the "investigation" let me down. I reported Celebree School of Henrico for the following violations: Special Care Provisions, Emergencies, and Staffing and Supervision. On August 18, 2025, I received the daily report for my daughter, who was exclusively breastfed, which reported she was offered and took 4oz of formula. Celebree's response was nonchalant, and that it was entered incorrectly. The investigator agreed, even though she and I both uncovered that they had gone back into my daughter's report and changed days and weeks of data regarding feeding. Given this incident and the previous, recent violation in February 2025, where staff mistakenly fed a child another child's breastmilk, I find that hard to believe. Regarding the Staffing and Supervision violation, oftentimes, my daughter's teacher(s) had not arrived when she was dropped off, and she would have to go to the other infant room, meaning the 1:4 ratio was exceeded. We'd drop off a teary-eyed girl and pick up a hungry, sad, and sleepy girl. As new parents, we wrongly assumed that it was normal or that there would be an adjustment period. As time passed, it became clear her basic needs were not being met. My biggest regret, one I feel guilty to this day, was not unenrolling sooner. My hope in sharing this new information with other parents is simply that how you interpret and what you do with it is ultimately up to you. Trusting someone and someplace with your child is not easy, and I wish all parents nothing but the best care. (End)

When my daughter started it was great. The teachers in her room was fantastic. but…read more.... for the amount I paid a month was insane and having to provide lunch on top of it was a downfall. Also they tell you very last minute when school is going to be closed unless you search through the handbook and write it down and remember yourself and you still have to pay for the days they are closed when most places wont charge you for that. The first classroom she was in was such an amazing experience , and i must say the people who run the place are very pleasant! but... When my daughter went to the next classroom because she was getting older, i noticed almost everyday it was a new teacher, and they never acknowledged you when you came to pick up your kid. There was only 1 or 2 teachers that were nice and friendly , the rest was a different person almost everyday i couldnt keep up and i had no idea any of there names. & then one day i went to get my daughter and she wasnt in the normal classroom , nor was she in the classroom that age group goes in towards the end of the day and none of the teachers knew where she was so i was furious and panicked i had to run to every classroom searching for her and i shouldve complained then and there but i didnt.. i found her and left and knew her last day was coming up so i let it go because she was safe in a younger classroom but that specifically made me grateful to leave.. Also, the teachers would complain that what i packed for lunch was not healthy and they would tell her she cant eat it... so why have us provide lunch if you wont feed it to them , i had a lot of issues after she moved from the 3 year old classroom to the 4 year old classroom. started off great, ended badly. It is a safe place very guarded nobody can enter or leave without a code and the front desk always knows who is who picking up which kid so that part i did like a lot. So very mixed review!

We've been with this daycare for 4 years, and I cannot say enough good things about the care my…read morechildren have received. Monica (the director) and Veronica (assistant director) go above and beyond in every way -- they've supported our family in ways no other daycare would, and they've always done it with kindness and understanding. The level of care here truly starts at the top and flows down to every classroom teacher. Teaching 3- and 4-year-olds is no easy task, but the staff handle it with such patience, grace, and love. My children have grown so much academically, socially, and emotionally during their time here, and I always feel confident they are safe and cared for. If you are looking for a daycare where your children will be treated like family and receive top-notch care, this is absolutely the place.

My son has been attending Brandermill KinderCare for 8 months now and I can't say enough positive…read morethings about this school! He loves his teachers Ms. Haley and Ms. Dana. I believe my son has learned so much because of the two of them. I would not be able to express the amount of gratitude I have. We also love Ms. Becky (cook) who is there most every morning when we arrive with a welcoming smile! So happy we found Brandermill KinderCare!