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!

It's been 3 weeks since my son went to school at Chesterbrook Stony Point, so far we've been very…read morehappy and lucky to have super nice teachers. They're young, bright, and very energetic. I get a report every day about his eating, sleeping, diaper changing, and various activities he's done through out the day. I call EVERY single day, and the principle Sara is super nice, and always give me a snap shot of what my son is up to. She told me I can call as many time as I like, she's super supportive and understanding. They update the app often so I can see the pictures of my son doing his little activities. Infant 1 only has 2 teachers, so there was only 8 children. They had a system, somehow whenever, I come, it was nice and quiet, and the children look BIG, clean, and content. Their curriculum is great, they'd tell us what we are working on with our son so we can also implement at home also. We're going to have more children, and I'd send them here too so we can go through we their programs. I like how there are 200 acres of wood Park right behind the school so the children would get fresh air circulating around.

My son began at this preschool this past April. I must say this Preschool holds quite a few tenured…read moregems within it. My son was privileged to have Ms Amanda of the intermediates and also Ms Tori. They are an awesome team Tori took him in as her own and loved him. They were both so patient and loving!! He is now in pre k with even more vetted teachers one of whom had been there since 86. Ms. Tucker is extremely hands on with her curriculum and we get updates as far as activities my son participated in. She challenges him to make him better with retaining his lessons. He has made friends and I'm able to see him active and engaged each day on the playground and in class. My son has sensory setbacks, so my fear was always leaving him alone and being away. Since having him there, I don't want him ANYWHERE else. Bobbie and Sarah are amazing Directors and have both been so so accommodating. All of those ladies are like family. It's really touching to me during a time when childcare is hard to come by and undervalued at times, they always ensure my little boy is okay. That he is learning and not left in the shadows or ostracized. I'm forever grateful for the staff there. Thank you all!! I Absolutely recommend as a phenomenal facility to send your child!

We were called this spring about the waiting list after we left our number 2 years ago. I was so…read moresurprised they actually still had our info and called, that in itself showed me they were very organized. We counted down the months for my sons first day and now a month into it, I can say already I understand the reason for that waitlist. My son is happy going in everyday and when o pick-him up. Everyone in the staff is personable, I get daily updates, and he's proud to show me his daily paper with what he colored. The sheet also tells me what they covered for stories, what the age, and he's even napping again. I can use the information on the sheet to talk to him about his day and I'm just mind blown at how much more responsive he is since he started. I'm so happy we got in! They are fantastic

So far, we are happy with Promise Care. Although they lack some of the modern amenities that our…read moreprevious preschool had (I really miss getting those Brightwheel updates!), they are handling Covid with grace and my child feels safe and cared for and that is what matters the most. Unfortunately due to Covid, parents still aren't allowed inside. I still got a chance to see the classroom via a virtual tour and meet his teacher on a few occasions and she is incredibly sweet. My son talks about all of his friends every night, loves the playground, and brings home some cute art projects! He has matured so much just in the 3 months that he's been there, and he quickly stopped crying at drop off because he enjoys his school so much. Negatives would be the lack of an app, not being able to go inside yet, and having to write a check to pay. But, where they lack in modern amenities, they more than make up for it in care and tuition. This is the best priced tuition in the west end for an all day program. I am so thankful that we were able to get in off the waiting list after a 2 year wait and that my daughter will be able to attend next year. We plan to keep both children here until they age out. Thankfully, they pick up from our zoned elementary school so we are set in terms of childcare. It was a rough road to get here - the childcare situation in Richmond is absolutely horrible - but we are here and so thankful!

I always had a positive experience working here and teaching classes! The owner is very kind and…read moreconsiderate to all her employees and students! Definitely recommend to all families with children and those looking for work!

My daughter enjoyed her time there. We were members for almost a year After about 4-5 months, my…read moredaughter started to feel a little bored and wouldn't be as excited about going. I think it's because they do the same general thing week-to-week and there isn't a sense of goals or progress over time. I am also not a fan of their membership model. It's basically $100 a month and it just goes on infinitely until you choose to stop. I would prefer it to be structured more around "seasons" with a culminating show so the kids could feel a sense of growth, progress and pride. All in all - We enjoyed our time but will be looking for other gymnastics options in the future with a different class model oriented more towards growth.

When my wife and I moved to Richmond from Raleigh in 2010 in some ways it was like starting over…read more We had both lived in North Carolina for 17 & 14 years respectively and the change while welcomed presented many challenges, especially with 2 young children. One of the first things we did when we arrived was to seek out recommendations for a good pediatrician. From that point we had the amazing fortune of being given the contact information for Joan at Open Arms Christian Preschool by our children's new doctor. The pediatrician we ended up seeing knew that with a diagnosis of autism and being on the spectrum our son would be in great hands and care at Open Arms Christian Preschool. The nervousness we felt while driving to meet with Joan for an initial tour of the preschool was immediately forgotten as we were greeted with the kindest most genuine energy and welcome. Within 5 minutes of touring Open Arms we knew we had found the right place. In our time spent at Open Arms we had both of our kids enrolled. Even when we moved to Glen Allen after the first year I fixed my work schedule to be able to drive 40 minutes back and forth for drop off and pick up. Our oldest child is on the spectrum and has been diagnosed with autism. He is high functioning but to this day has sensory issues as well as social issues. Joan went above and beyond to work with us day in and day out, gave us guidance, put us in touch with different professionals and organizations and always made herself available. She was always a phone call away and as with any situation involving children the communication factor was key. There was even a point where an additional staff member was brought in to help. For all of these reasons my wife and I will forever be grateful. I could really go on and on raving about this preschool as we had a 4 year run there. There is not one negative thing I can say about our experience at Open Arms. If there was I would be honest and post it. There were times when we had reports come home about our oldest and quite frankly a few times where we thought, 'that's it they are going to ask us to leave'... but that never happened. And I believe the communication between the school and us was a vital part of our unique situation. Communication is always key. The tuition is very reasonable for what each family receives. Activities, special trips and guest 'speakers' just to name a few of the things which go on. Art comes home regularly and the kids are also in a true learning environment which is such a plus as they get ready to make the transition to elementary school. If I could give this preschool 10 stars I would. If I could give Joan and her amazing staff 10 stars I would. I have given Joan permission to give out my phone number to anyone who has parent to parent questions. We will be forever grateful for the foundation which Open Arms Christian Preschool has given both of our kids. And we will especially be forever grateful for the added support we received to help us set our first born and only son on the path to being able to deal with his autism related issues. While Open Arms was just one piece of the support chain we received it was a vital part which helped us truly make the difficult and important decisions about our situation without added stress. Without the positive reinforcement and guidance this would have been a much more difficult road for us. Reach out to Joan with any questions about this program. She is always eager and happy to meet and welcome new faces and families. Cheers! And thank you for reading my first novel! (sorry I got carried away...) -Michael Soekawa (yes my full name)

The post previously made is inaccurate and incorrect. We toured several schools and chose Open…read moreArms last September because of the attentiveness, love and professionalism of the teachers and Director. In January of last year, our son began having seizures - the first in his young 2 year old life. We were terrified and concerned about the present and future health, well-being and development of our child. Not only did the team at Open Arms show their love and support for us, but the families surround us with friendship and prayer! Our son Eli had a rough 4 months; spending over 80% of the time in the hospital. During that time, we received weekly emails and texts from the Director, Eli's teachers and parents checking in and asking how they could help. When Eli was stable enough to return, the entire team at Open Arms worked with us to give Eli a chance to come back to school - even part-time. I met with the Director, Joan Brennan, and his teachers regularly to discuss his development, areas of challenge and prognosis. They worked diligently to ensure that Eli had a supportive environment where he, and the other children, could thrive. They took care of our son and our entire family during one of the most traumatic times in our life. Eli has now been seizure free for several months and returned back to school full-time this year. Before starting the year, Joan and the teachers worked with my husband and I to determine where Eli might best thrive (in the older 2 or younger 3 classroom). They have walked with us over the last several months as we have evaluated his growth and development. During parent teacher conferences this week, his teachers shared with us areas of challenge for Eli and some options to help him thrive. While it is always tough to hear that your child may not be thriving and may need additional evaluation, the way that they lovingly and supportively discussed the challenges with me made me quickly aware that they were on our team. They wanted what was best for Eli's development and wanted to provide the right opportunities for he and the other children in the school. As a parent who is diligently involved in the well being of her child, I feel like I have a team of support at Open Arms. It is a community! I learned about Open Arms from a friend that entrusted the development of her two children to the school. Having now experienced the great support and student-to-teacher ratios she encountered, I have openly recommended the school to other families. Including families that have been dealing with issues such as epilepsy. While the school is not a school for children needing one-on-one shadowing or those with aggression and anger issues, it is a school for families that need a little extra support or those that simply want the best environment and greatest opportunity for the growth of their children. I love Open Arms and am saddened by the libelous comment below.

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.

It has been a pleasure watching my toddler grow and learn at TLE these past couple of years.  It…read morehas made her ready for her next adventure into kindergarten. Not just any kindergarten, Saint Bridget's private school, which accepted her based on what she learned at TLE.  So, thank you and all of the teachers.  The friends both her and I have made just added to the overall experience.

We have had a wonderful experience with this daycare! From the very beginning, Director Sue and…read moreAssistant Director Christine made us feel comfortable and valued. Before transferring to Child Time from another Learning Care Group facility, I would call Child Time and ask questions that my current facility couldn't answer. Both Sue and Christine were incredibly open, welcoming, and patient in taking the time to answer my questions and address my concerns. Their warmth and genuine care gave me confidence that this was the right place for our family. I am so happy we made the decision to transfer! A special thank you to Sue and Christine for making the enrollment process such a positive experience and for always being approachable, supportive, and caring. Your kindness and dedication do not go unnoticed, and we truly appreciate everything you do for the children and families in your care. I highly recommend this daycare to any family looking for a supportive and caring place for their child!

We relocated to Virginia from another state and this Childtime location was between our temporary…read morehouse and the home we were buying. Since our daughter started here, we have always felt overjoyed with the amount of care, encouragement and support the entire staff has given our family. Our daughter is happy and thriving from her time spent with Ms. Julia, ms. Sue and ms Christine, although every single staff member has been instrumental in guiding our girl. Although we are sad that her time at this Childtime is coming to an end (she is starting kindergarten) we're so thankful for everything this facility has done for her. Simply incredible humans that deserve and have earned our upmost respect. Thank you will never be enough.

My son has been attending Minnieland since he was 12 weeks old. As hard as it was to leave him…read morewith strangers, it soon became apparent that the staff at this school would always take exceptional care of my baby. The teachers genuinely care about him - they delight in his achievements and milestones, they keep me in the loop about all of the moments I have to miss while at work, and they treat him with individualized care. Jenny and Tori are flexible and accommodative and are regularly involved with the kids - these are not administrators who simply sit at a desk all day. They know every child and every parent and are in tune with the needs of each family. The communication is excellent - I always know what's happening in the school, in the classroom, and in my son's day. Heather, Nichole, Wanda, Nicole, Megan, and all of the teachers are so amazing - there has never been a day that I have worried at all about leaving my precious boy in the care of these extraordinary women.

My daughter has been at this location of Minnieland since January of 2014. She had just turned 3…read moreand prior to that had stayed with family. Needless to say, leaving her the first day was hard...for me....she pushed me out the door because she INSTANTLY loved it. The teachers and directors know all the student's names which gives you that family feeling and a great sense of security. I recommend everyone to take their children to this location. PLUS it's VERY affordable especially in comparison to other daycares. I am so grateful I found them.