Please do not take this review lightly, it disheartens me to have to tell other parents what I'm about to say. If you don't want your child to be kicked out and watch you get screamed at by the owner and her daughter. I'd just pick another provider and not risk your child's mental and emotional well being, as well as your own. I've never been screamed at in my face more by someone in a "professional setting" before. Mind you my son has been attending this daycare for almost 2 years now. I always wondered why all of the kids from his class and every other class weren't staying with this provider. Now I know why. I have been bearing and grinning each day that I bring him in and I mostly keep to myself. I am a single mother who works very hard to provide for my son and have many of other things come up in life as most people do. Today I got a phone call at 5:47 asking where I was and if I was going to get my son because they have families too. I then explained I'm very sorry I didn't call at 5:30 as I know y'all have been asking parents to pickup at this time instead of 6:00 due to being short staffed. I was then yelled at by the owner that they sent an email out on Monday stating they changed the hours and that I will owe them $1 a minute for being past 5:30. I try my best to be there by 5:30 everyday. I ended up being screamed at by the owner and her daughter to the point I couldn't even understand what was being said to me. I hung up and with great frustration being stuck in Austin traffic with no gas in my car just trying to get there as fast as I could. I can tell you now there has only been 1 time I've ever been 30 minutes late out of 2 years of having my son go here. I was not treated this way then. My point is, my child was listening to these "professional childcare providers" yell at me this way over being late one time. Upon arrival I was bombarded and immediately the harassment continued. I exclaimed I had received the email and I apologized I didn't see it on Monday as everyone knows my emails aren't always checked in a timely manner. Then I was told I was a liar and calling Kaitlin the daughter a liar when they claim to have told me. I wasn't aware the hours literally changed. I was only made aware we were still required to pick our children up by 5:30. Nobody told me it was an actual change in the hours or that I would continue to be charged after 5:30. I was also told I needed to come up with money I didn't have immediately when I was rushing to get to the daycare to pickup my son. Then I was told to leave immediately and today was my son's last day. If I didn't hurry the police would be called on me. I said I have no problem leaving, as I was finishing dressing my son since he had an accident before I arrived. This place is by far a lot worse then I originally thought. The plumbing is messed up. One of the classroom bathrooms constantly smells like urine. Part of the ceiling is missing in there. It's honestly sad to see one of the teachers just sit there and watch like this is normal. No wonder all of my son's previous fellow classmates were no longer there. There are plenty of other daycares where you will be treated with respect even in situations where you are late or have job change transitions. Overall I would tell EVERY parent out there if you don't want your child exposed to this vulgar behavior by adults. I would recommend going literally anywhere else. read more

When searching for a daycare, it took me months of visiting their websites, facilities, seeing how the teachers worked with the children etc. My daughter was 2 at the time and had been home with me since birth so this was going to be a big leap for both of us. Fortunately, Tina and Kimberley helped me by providing tips, comforting my daughter or any other thing I needed help with making the transition as easy as possible for her and myself. It's been almost a year since then and I have been amazed at what my daughter has learned from these people. It's more than numbers, abcs/123s; my daughter is more social, her speech has greatly improved, her not having any other siblings worried us about her social skills but being around the teachers, children, and the environment they teach them in has us no longer worried about anything. Overall, I love the family type environment, all the kids will talk to the other kids from other classes, telling them bye as they leave, teachers know every kids by name (even the ones they don't teach), and most of all my daughter loves them all. She's completely comfortable and loves First Step School, it was the best decision me and my husband could have made fore her. Plus, you get daily updates about how your child's day is going throughout the day, when they were changed, fed, how much they ate, and even pictures of them doing their special activities of having fun with their friends. Going from stay at home mom to full time student mom, this is HEAVEN because I get to my little girl throughout the day and yes I miss her but it warms my heart knowing she's having a good time at First Step School. They're just beyond awesome! read more

This has been the worst daycare experience I've ever had by a long shot. From day one any of our questions were met with hostility. No explanations about the reasoning behind their dogmatic policies, no reassurance that their method works, nothing but sharp snarky replies. The owner, Tina, is extremely rude. We had some questions about the timing on switching feeding and away from bottles and formula, etc. After another abrasive email from Tina, my wife decided to ask for clarification in person. Tina screamed at my wife and berated her because our concerns aren't real, we just want special treatment. When my wife tried defending herself Tina ran out of the room because she "needed a witness" and ran around the place screaming for the asst. director. My wife just grabbed our baby and left before she got back to keep yelling at her. We are stuck with this place for another couple weeks until we can start at another daycare, and we are concerned that Tina might take her anger out on our kid. On multiple occasions I've heard Tina talking to kids in different rooms and she is sharp and abrasive to them too. It was alarming to see someone talking to toddlers with such a sharp tone of voice. The two teachers that work in the baby room are great, but I can't recommend a place that's ran by someone as miserable and rude as Tina. DO NOT TAKE YOUR KID HERE. After about 6 months I finally got my refund from them. I took the check from her and walked away without saying anything, and she screamed A$$HOLE! at me. Wtf. read more

I am the Owner/Director of First Step School. We have been in business for 30 years. Some people question our policies but only when they get upset as the parent handbook is online and parents sign that they read it. Since we're taking care of their children, they don't seem to think we are a "business." We have rules, policies and standards that we must follow and none of these are hidden. We are a business who relies on income to pay our everyday operating expenses, just like any other business. These are crucial to being able to operate. We love our job, and our team is amazing. Everyone loves coming to work and we are all very supportive of each other. Often times we are told by families that it feels like family. We have many teachers who have been working at First Step School for 10+years. We are also 4 Star Texas Rising Star and have a good licensing inspection history. We TEACH the children manners, self-help skills, academics and use the Frog Street Press Curriculum. I love my job and it is my passion! I appreciate knowing that I have made a positive difference in many families! lives. We offer a great learning experience for infants up to school age children. We have a hot meal, snacks, a Kindergarten Readiness Program and are involved in Community Events. Come join our school family! www.firststepschooltx.com read more

If you're searching for a preschool that truly goes ABOVE and BEYOND, this is the place!!! From the moment we enrolled our children, it was clear that this is not just a daycare. It's a nurturing, educational environment where children are genuinely cared for and thoughtfully taught. The staff here are exceptional; they don't just supervise, they connect, guide, and invest in each child's growth with real passion and intention. What sets this preschool apart is its commitment to early education. My son and daughter are not simply being watched. They are actively learning every single day. They are consistently encouraged to practice their manners, communicate through sign language, and develop strong skills in both English and Spanish. The structure and curriculum are impressive, yet still delivered with warmth and patience that makes children feel safe and excited to learn. It brings me so much peace of mind knowing my children are in an environment where they are valued, supported, and challenged to grow. The difference is undeniable. This is a place that builds a strong foundation for lifelong learning, not just a place to pass the time. Quite honestly, is there even another choice for excellent childcare and early education around here? In my experience, the answer is no. My children will never go anywhere else. read more

We love First Step School! Our son has flourished extensively while attending this school. The Director actually LOVES all the kids and there are emails and pictures that keep you in the know. She has an ASTONISHING staff and everyone there takes waaaaaay more than just the required amount of continuing education classes. They go above and beyond. I have witness children on feeding tubes that have since become hearty, miracles that may have never truly made it. MIRACLES! The children learn songs, play, learn social behaviors, grow in their education and are more prepared for school then theirr peers. We are extremely pleased with the fantastic care that is given to our son. We wouldn't send our child to any place else. Oh and the healthy meals and snacks are appreciated. Good meals help kiddos grow! I did read the nasty review below and I can speak to that parent. She was having a fit in the office about paying her bill. And the Director had already bent over backwards for her. If your child means the world to you, then shouldn't the people who dedicate to helping your child succeed, get paid? They deserve every cent and if they raised their rates, I wouldn't think twice about it. My son means everything to me and deserves the very best! read more

It truly saddens me that there has been some negative reviews being said about a place I have loved as kid and still do to this day. My mother used to work there in the infant room when the school first opened till she wasn't able to work anymore due to health problems. (she LOVED working there, taking care of and loving the children who walked through those doors.) And who knew years later I would also be working there in the infant room. I have been working there now going on 4 years and I can honestly say I absolutley LOVE my job !!! I LOVE all my babies and all the other children that attend First Step. It makes my heart so happy to see all these beautiful children everyday when I walk in the door. And I also LOVE all the ladies I work with who are like family to me. We work together as a team all day, every day to make sure your child is safe and loved while parents are working. The owner/director has ALWAYS been so good to me since I was a kid and I couldn't imagine working for anyone else or at any other place. First Step School is the place to be !!! read more

This day care deserves a 0/10! The facility is BARE MINIUM not worth the money, for one. Most importantly, if you have a NON verbal child that is not used to being in day care I would NOT recommend. My daughter was at this school for ONE day and I IMMEDIATELY pulled her out. This day care is staffed with IGNORANT Caucasian woman who are already black mailing & profiling interracial TODDLERS. Imagine picking your 2 year old nonverbal BLACK child up from day care on the first day and you have 4 white & Hispanic women handing you a report to sign saying your 2 year old has been physically abusing them(GROWN WOMEN NOT KIDS) all because she's in a new, uncomfortable setting TRYING TO COMPREHEND what's going on! They didn't even give her a chance to warm up before she was labeled a problem child to GROWN ADULT WOMEN. Not once throughout the day did anyone pick up the phone and call me! This is the worst day care experience I have ever had and I wouldn't send my kids here EVER unless they are 2 years old and know the law. read more

I have worked at First Step School for 11 years because I LOVE working with our team, the parents and our wonderful students. I work alongside Tina who is the owner and director of the school. She works so hard for our team, the children and parents. She spends so much of her time and money on making the school feel like home. We have lots of fun together and we both love when the kids come by the office in the afternoon for our hugs. Our team works so well together; we aren't just co-workers we consider ourselves family and once a new family comes into our school they are also family. We love working with our students to teach them as much as we can while they are in our care. The curriculum we use is Frog Street Press and it teaches the kids so much and we have lots of fun while learning; which is the best way to learn. I love coming to work every day, the kids can make you laugh the second you walk in the door. It's the best!! read more

We've attended First Step for almost a year and a half. The staff is amazing and we love our teachers Miss Dea and Miss Samantha. They dont have a full sized kitchen and do get the food catered from Lubys which is nice. They switch up what's served. Dress up days are every first Friday, show-n-tell and stretch n grow on Wednesday's along with the library bus and other events. Of course there have been limited negative interactions BUT the good well overlays the bad. My daughter learns so much it's amazing. They teach FrogStreet curriculum and change the rooms every quarter so it's not the same things in the rooms all year read more

My daughter went there possibly in 2000. I was so grateful for Tina taking us in, we had just had a very bad experience at The Montessori school in San Marcos, and she gladly took us in. I am forever grateful for that center, the whole staff loved each of those kids as their own. I applaud her for being in business this long. Times have changed, children nowadays are very different and disrespectful, and parents unfortunately do not take responsibility. So god bless them and everything they do. An absolutely amazing center, would definitely highly recommend! They will love on your child like their own. read more

My son has been attending First Step school for over a year and a half. I cannot even begin to explain how much he has learned during his time here. The school is much more than a daycare. Each class is curriculum based, which ensures us parents that the director has invested in our children and truly cares about their social-emotional, physical, and mental development! First Step School is a SAFE environment... you can check DFPS website and won't find any deficiencies listed. I can tell my child is truly loved here at First Step School, we are very happy with our decision bringing him here. read more

This daycare school is the Best! The structure is integral to the intellectual growth of a child, particularly in toddlers. Everything from a set bedtime to meal times provides them stability and safety. While they may not be able to tell the time, they can gauge how the day works by having events set in stone. I am thankful of this place and want my children's daycare parents to know and understand how understanding and appreciating of how much time and love that is invested in all the kids.Thank you all! read more

I am the grandmother of one of the babies they take care of and not only do they makes my day a much happier day by posting pictures of these sweet babies they make my grand daughter a very happy baby. She is so excited to go to the wonderful staff at First Step. Sometimes I'm not sure who is more excited about being there her or the staff. My daughter looked for along time before she found First Step and I'm so blessed that she did. I know each and every day she is happy and in the best care possible. read more

This is such a great school!!! My daughter started here in the middle of July and we have been very happy! My husband and I have seen our little girl grow so much already with the help of the school! I would recommend this school to anyone!!! They have a great curriculum that they do everyday. This curriculum even teaches the students Spanish! This is an over all amazing school! read more

First Step School is the only place I will take my grandson, he has learned so much in the past two years he has been there and the Director and Assistant Director work so hard to keep the school high quality. The teachers are wonderful and teach the children in so many ways. I'm grateful to be a part of the First Step family! read more

Our two girls absolutely love this school! And our eldest was more than prepared for kindergarten, thanks to an excellent hands on pre-k program! If your looking for childcare in San Marcos, look no further. This is a structured, yet family friendly environment where your child can explore, learn and grow! read more

I give First Step 5 stars forsure they have become so much more than just a daycare to us, they are family. My kids have been going there for like 3 years now and I dont have one complaint. Best daycare ever. I would recommend them in a heartbeat to trust with our most treasured gifts, our children. read more

We love 1st Step school, my grandson has been going there since the 1st of the year, he loves it there and they have taught him so much, very clean facility, super good staff, they just do a great job, glad my grandson is going there. read more