I have had the worst experiences when it comes to childcare in the DMV. When I first applied to…read moreCelebree, I could not believe how open, transparent, and informed they were. There was a little bit of a waiting period because the school wasn't open just yet. But during that wait period, my son and I still had a chance to interact with both the teachers and the parents. Every question I had was answered with meaningful intention. They truly and honestly made it feel like a second home for my toddler. The time and attention given to each parent, child, and staff member shows how much effort is put into upholding the Celebree Values. * Communication: 10/10 They use the "HiMama" app where everything from the fire drills to the daily report is consistently uploaded daily. Recently my toddler was sick and had to stay home for a week. If I didn't reach out to the team someone from the team would reach out to check on him. * Culture: 10/10 They focus a lot on the kids and parents comfortability. If my son isn't feeling well or is just having a bad day they go above and beyond to understand what's going rather than just brush it off as an off day. They have parent events to have the parents connect with not only the teachers but other parents as well. * Curriculum: 10/10 I love the structure the curriculum because it's geared more towards comprehension and not solely memorization. For example: He knows how to count to 20 but does he know what the quantity actually looks like. * Procedures and Policies: 10/10 Safety is a number one priority for me so I spent a lot of time interviewing them about the safety procedures and policies. They have a policy in place for every and any issue you could possible think of. They have an open door policy and I can't count the amount of time I have dropped in to say hi or ask questions. * Facility: 10/10 I love that everything is always clean and childproof. The playground is on top of the roof which I know sounds like the most dangerous thing but the security around the playground is very reassuring. The structure of the multiple fences does not allow any devastating accidents. They do not leave the building outside of fire drills. The toys and books are up-to-date and well kept. Everything is very aesthetically pleasing. * Staff: 10/10 Each and every teacher has been amazing! My son is extremely excited each day to go to school so that he can see his teachers and friends. Life happens and sometimes teachers have to rotate out but the quality of care does not change. The staff makes sure know each student whether they are in their class or not. The Admin team really is the DREAM TEAM! The work like a well oiled machine the way the support each other, the staff, the kids, and the parents. * Ms. Shawn has to be one of the best support manager. She takes her time to connect with every student and parent. When I have a problem she has already began working on the solution! One moment she will bring doing Admin duties and the next she is in the classes teaching the kids. She does a lot of work to make sure the needs of everyone in the Celebree Family is met. * Ms. Jana is AH-MAY-ZING! She is the conductor of this train. Although she has worked in childcare for many years she is not jaded and somehow is able to give each child and parent consistent love and care. She brought us in and made sure we felt like family. She has even improved my parenting with all types of advice, tips, and tricks. * Mr. Mohammad and Mrs. Ayesha have been welcoming and open from the very beginning. I was hesitant because you never really get to form a bond with the owners of a daycare but they make sure to not just "show face" but actively be inside of the classrooms assisting the teachers with anything they need. I really wanted to make sure that this team of amazing people received their praises! I really appreciate each and every person that is apart of the Celebree Family.

This has to be the most unprofessional atmosphere we have ever observed…read more The leadership or "mentors" could care less about the children. They let them act unruly in public settings with screaming, kicking one another, while these adults converse with each other or stuck in their phones. We observed these multiple afternoons from a balcony next the playground and was in shock how misbehaved the children were. These children lacked the discipline and control from 4-5:30 daily, and disrespectful to the community as well. We are so disappointed to see the lack of effort in this "School" ... This place is a day care only and should be embarrassed... Do not have your children come here.

I have 2 nieces that attend this daycare. I am the AP of a high quality pre-k 3 thorough 5th grade…read moreprogram. I am very watchful of the development of the children in my family. What I have seen so far, especially in my youngest niece, is growth, growth, and more growth. She's been in the toddler program since July and her cognitive, fine motor, verbal, and social skills are quickly increasing. She loves school and looks forward to going every single day. I'm not a satisfied with my older niece learning. Unfortunately she has been out of school for up to one week at a time due to illness which certainly may be impacting her learning. Hopefully she will be attending daily and can begin building her learning momentum. I will say that her class, from what I have observed through Brightwheel, is involved in a good number of social emotional activities that support their ability to make good decisions. They also lean a lot about community. When i drop the girls off everyone is friendly. Overall, I am satisfied with what I am seeing.

This school has been amazing for our family. My son has…read moreexcelled in the jkprep classroom. He has a close relationship with teachers, administrators and other students. i feel confident that his growth here will have him ready for kindergarten. All of the staff, teachers and administrators have been responsive and helpful when i need something or have a question about anything regarding my child or the school, always kind and warm! We love our school

This review is for the NOVA Early Learning II which is attached the the strip mall next to the…read moresmoothie shop. My son went there from 6mths old to 17 mths old. I'm giving 3 stars because most of his time there was in the infant room and I want to start by saying the infant room teachers are fabulous. It seems they really get to know the babies, their habits, and personalities very well and they were truly so loving towards my son. Never once did he cry and not want to go into class when we dropped him off... until he was switched to the toddler room at 16 months. I didn't feel the same warm, inviting feeling from the toddler teachers. My son was hesitant going to that class. And within the first 2 weeks, he had had 3 accident reports that left bumps and bruises for days. We had been able to find a new day care, but he was going to be staying at the NOVA early learning academy for 2 more weeks. After giving the 2 weeks notice, I began getting a strong sense that the teachers were a bit indifferent towards him. He would be penned up with maybe one other child or by himself. Something just felt off. Then when picking him up towards the end of that first week, he ran over to me and I had to pull an OPEN STAPLE from his mouth. The teachers barely seemed concerned. No apologies from them at all. Just an excuse the HE must have pulled it from the bulletin born in the classroom (that is all within the kids' reach). The director eventually called to apologize.... But my trust in them was completely lost. I didn't bring him back there to finish his last week. I should have trusted my gut. And I'm thankful, I caught it in his mouth as soon as he ran up to me.

I also have neighbors who have praised this center. Although, my child was never actually enrolled…read more- I did tour the center for the infant rooms. I have to say, especially for the infant 1 room.. I was not impressed. 1) There are 16 babies are ages 3-4 weeks - 16 months. That's a HUGE age and developmental range. And 16 babies? Wow! 2) 3-4 weeks is SO young. I seriously cannot imagine they have all their necessary vaccinations to be protected in group care at that age. Most centers do not allow children under 6 weeks into group care. I have to wonder why this center does. 3) Besides the range being so wide, there is no separation, logical or otherwise, of older/younger infants. While I was touring, an older baby maybe 12 months or so, climbed on top of a very young sleeping infant in a bouncer and woke them up. Now I will get to my primary complaint: 4) The administration is incompetent and above all else, they are rude! We put our daughter on the wait list for this center. We were told in September of 2014 there would be a spot available for her in March 2015. When we called in December once our daughter was born to check in and make sure a spot would be available, they told us that there would no longer be a spot available in March, but there would be one in May. I wasn't thrilled, but eh, okay.. I guess. THEN, we called back in January to check in on status (they request you call once a month... for some unknown reason) they told us they wouldn't have a spot for her until DECEMBER of 2015. September of 2014 - December of 2015. The classroom only holds babies for 16 months! They could fill the ENTIRE class up in that amount of time. We called, very upset, and visited to get clear answers. They refused to admit they skipped us on the waiting list. They insisted they give 'preference' to current enrolled families. I totally get that. But it takes 9 months to gestate a baby. The math doesn't add up. September 14 - December 15, makes us at 15 months on the waiting list. The classroom only holds babies for 16 months! They would be refilling the whole class by that point. Again, the math just doesn't add up. They obviously skipped us on the list for some reason or another and didn't even bother apologizing. During our visit, their demeanor was hostile and their overall response was appalling. They were rude. They were deceitful - and I just wouldn't trust them being the leadership where my child spends 8+ hours a day. Look for somewhere who values your child, your family and is honest and upfront with you. This is NOT that place.

Everywhere you go, there are brochures and promises, from preschools to colleges to nursing homes…read moreand spas. It's the usual relentless and carefully parsed blah-blah-blah, intended to lure you in. We were made to believe that my child would be treated with empathy, kindness, fairness and integrity. That wasn't our experience. Perhaps we misunderstood what we experienced, but that wasn't our impression. Make careful evaluations, and trust your nose.

We have been a part of the DRMS community for two years now and have been so pleased with our…read morechoice in preschool. The Young Children's Classroom (YCC) will always have a special place in my heart as such a loving and caring environment for our child's first school experience. The primary classroom has also been an amazing experience to watch our child grow in knowledge, curiosity and independence. DRMS is the real deal when it comes to having AMI certified lead guides (teachers) in all classrooms. We've appreciated the parent nights that help us transfer Montessori principles and positive discipline into home life. An added bonus of this school is the local community you build with other families and parents. We are so grateful to the friendships we have built and to the other parents who equally support this school and invest in building up the teachers and administration.

Director with the acent not very nice lady . I pulled my daughter out because she called her a…read morespecial circumstances baby when my daughter had a seizure all it was do to a fever but the way she spoke and said it was so mean and hurtful

I love Great Beginning - they have very much vested in every aspect of making sure a child feels…read moreloved, learns a great deal, and is heathy and happy. Every caregiver from the director to every teacher makes a great effort to love and care for the children. May Both Kids had the best time, developed incredibly, and made some deep friendships.

My little girl is two years old and has been at CWLC since she was just seven months old, and I…read moretruly don't have enough words to express how grateful I am. They don't just take care of my daughter... they love her, teach her, support her, and make her feel safe every single day. As a mom, leaving your baby in someone else's hands is never easy, but CWLC gave me peace from the very first day. I've watched my daughter grow surrounded by love, patience, and dedication. She arrives happy, she learns so much, and every day she shows me through her hugs and smiles how well she is treated. CWLC isn't just a daycare... it's a place filled with people who have such big hearts. Thank you for helping me raise her, for caring for her as if she were your own, and for giving her so much love. CWLC is truly a blessing in our lives.

This will be 3 years I've trusted CWLC with the development and well being of my child. My child…read morehas liked each of her teachers, the childrens day and activities are very well structured. I love that we get picture mail and videos each day to see what our children are up to. Communication with staff is great. After a few years of full time care I've needed to transition to part time and I appreciate the staff made that pretty simple. I enjoy having my child here.

Our family's experience with this daycare in our neighborhood was miserable. I wish I had never let…read moremy child go there. We wanted to love it and did everything we could think of to support and show appreciation for the staff taking care of our little one. I think that parents sometimes see what we want to see because nothing is more important to us than child care. The space is literally carved out of a parking garage under an apartment building. Although decorated to look cheerful, it has a claustrophobic feel. The highly touted "Spanish immersion" angle is kind of a gimmick. Yes, all of the classroom staff speak Spanish. They use Spanish with the kids. We are an English-speaking family, and our child learned to say some basic words (colors, leche, agua). It was cute. But most of the time the adults spoke English with the kids. That was fine for us. More important, hiring only fluent Spanish speakers restricts even more the pool of candidates in an industry that already severely struggles to attract and retain quality employees. On that note, there was little continuity. Staff were constantly coming and going. I hated the demeaning way the director spoke to them. My child's teacher, one of few to stick around, wore a perpetual scowl. Personally, I would have enjoyed the "organic" meals. Unfortunately, my toddler wouldn't eat the variety of ethnic foods and came home famished every day. Also, if a child wasn't present by exactly 8:30 am, regardless of whether the meal had been served yet, she or he wasn't given breakfast, so this was a worry as well. Additionally, I did not feel that the preschool program was particularly educational. The daily "craft" usually was some form of gluing crepe tissue to paper. Although I repeatedly offered to assist with special events, I was always turned down. My impression was that Tierra Encantada Ford management did not want parents in the center other than at dropoff and pickup times. My child was unhappy here and told me so regularly with limited early language skills. Gradually I began to see why. Behind a hearty "buenas dias" at the door, a different scene played out. Worst of all, it was not possible to raise a safety or other concern with anyone at Tierra Encantada because retaliation would follow. The company markets itself as warm and loving, which turned out to be the opposite of what we encountered. In the end, the only thing I liked was the tiny playground because it is surrounded by a fence and hidden from public view. Tierra Encantada was our first experience with daycare and the difference, compared with our next, has been night and day. A longer drive and greater cost have been well worth it.

Our family has had such a wonderful experience at Tierra Encantada in Alexandria. Since starting,…read moremy son's Spanish has improved--it's been amazing to see how naturally he's picking it up through daily immersion. He enjoys school so much that he actually gets upset if I arrive too early to pick him up because he wants to keep playing with his friends! From the moment we walked in, the entire staff has been incredibly welcoming. There's such a warm, positive energy throughout the school, and it's clear that every team member is deeply invested in the children's happiness and development. I especially appreciate the cooks, who prepare fresh, nutritious meals every day. They always have a smile on their faces as they push their cart of delicious food into the classrooms--it's such a sweet way to start the morning and a thoughtful part of the day. The admin team is also amazing and incredibly hardworking. You can tell how much pride they take in the school and in supporting the exceptional staff that makes Tierra Encantada such a special place. Their dedication creates a supportive and well-run environment. My son has had the absolute best teacher--Mrs. Audrey--and I say that with 15 years of experience in education. She is incredibly warm, patient, caring, and understanding. I always appreciate her thoughtful feedback and the genuine attention she gives to each child. My son regularly comes home excited to share new concepts he's learned--everything from recycling to safety--and he always credits Mrs. Audrey with helping him understand. Knowing he's in her classroom gives me complete peace of mind. Tierra Encantada's approach to learning through play and exploration has been a perfect fit for our family. I love how the curriculum encourages curiosity and introduces children to new foods, cultures, books, and games through engaging, themed activities. It's a joyful, enriching environment that fosters both academic and personal growth. The school itself is also exceptionally clean, and the building feels safe and secure--something that's incredibly important to us as parents. It's comforting to know that our child is not only well cared for emotionally and academically, but also in a thoughtfully maintained and secure space. As a working parent, having this level of trust and comfort makes all the difference. Drop-offs are easy because I know my son is in the best hands--growing, thriving, and having a truly wonderful early childhood experience.

The caring love and patience they have shown my children will leave a lasting mark on their…read moreemotional and intellectual development. Their diverse, peaceful environment is a unique school that I cherish deeply!

We came to Potomac Crescent Waldorf School looking for something we couldn't quite name -- and…read morefound it immediately. As a bilingual family raising kids in Northern Virginia, we wanted an environment where learning would feel joyful and rooted. PCWS has delivered that and more. Our daughter genuinely looks forward to going to school every single day. Getting a kindergartener to bound out the door in the morning is its own kind of report card. The faculty and staff don't just tend to the children; they genuinely know each one. The nature-based learning and screen-free environment aligned perfectly with how we want our kids to experience childhood -- but what's kept us is the community. It's one of the most welcoming groups of families and educators we've encountered. If you're searching for a private school in Alexandria that takes the whole child seriously, this is it. One of the top schools in Alexandria for families who care about depth and heart.