We highly recommend this nursery school. All 3 of our kids went here and we can't say enough about…read morehow fantastic the teacher/staff are. We truly felt like part of their extended family. The kids get plenty of time to play and develop basic social skills without screens and were more than prepared for kindergarten. We also like the flexibility their summer program offers too. Definitely pay them a visit.

Our eldest came to this school from a Montessori school that he truly did not like because of his…read moreclassroom size, how regimented it was, etc. After his first day at the school he fell in love with it. He likes being dropped off and picked up right at his classroom door, reassured that I know where his classroom is. Every class day, he gets to be creative with arts and crafts, sing and dance to music, get some play time outside, learn some Spanish, learn his numbers, letters, days of the week, holidays, etc. have snack time with his friends, and lifelong lessons all in a tight-knit, smaller classroom size school. He was able to celebrate holidays they way they should be. Giving out Valentine's cards, coloring hard boiled eggs for Easter...Not like at the Montessori school which didn't allow it all for children of his age. Tucked away in a family oriented neighborhood with the city's police right down the street, I have peace of mind and happiness sending our son to this school. The most important thing about this school is that it makes our son happy, which matters most.

I'm updating my review as we've been with the Young School for a while longer now. The high points…read moreof the Young School are: - a wonderful, warm environment for kids with lots of influences from nature - an emphasis on making kids comfortable with new situations - thoughtful transitions between levels of school - fun summer programming with lots of water play and themed fantastic fridays! -proper structure for kids with curiosity - daily group events like 'hug circle' but also stations for kids to learn through exploring -cottage environments for babies: safe but encourages explorations -one downside - there are a LOT of closings for holidays and teacher trainings; the flip-side of this is teachers all have a consistent approach informed by school philosophy - always call other students "friends", speak to children in a way to support independence, etc. We've been very happy with the Young School!

I cannot recommend The Young School of Waugh Chapel after our family's experience with repeated…read morephysical incidents involving our preschool-aged son and what we believe was an inadequate response to an ongoing pattern. On July 27, our son came home with scratches on his face, hand and leg. We reported the incident and later continued observing repeated unwanted interactions involving the same classmate. On August 14, I personally watched the classroom camera and saw the child repeatedly approach and hit my son while the teachers were occupied organizing the children. Later that day, my husband and I personally witnessed the same child approach our son, kick his water bottle and step/stomp on his foot after our son clearly said, "Stop, this is mine." On August 17, we sent school leadership a detailed written message documenting the pattern. We specifically requested that the children be separated as reasonably possible, that their interactions be consistently supervised, that staff intervene immediately when our son asked for space, and that future incidents be documented and communicated to us. We made it clear that we did not want to wait for another injury before stronger protective measures were implemented. Despite that written notice, we later observed another incident during teacher-led story time in which the same child poked our son in the eye. This was especially disturbing because it happened while the children were seated directly in front of a teacher. We understand that preschool-aged children are still developing self-control and learning how to interact with others. Our concern is not that a young child made one mistake. Our concern is that there was a repeated pattern, the school received clear written notice, specific safeguards were requested, and another physical incident still occurred. Our son repeatedly told us that the child would not leave him alone and that he did not want to be around him. We appreciate the teachers who showed our son kindness and contributed to his learning. However, after these repeated incidents, we lost confidence in the school's ability to keep him physically and emotionally safe and made the painful decision to withdraw him. I strongly encourage parents considering this school to ask detailed questions about classroom supervision, how repeated peer aggression is handled, whether safety plans are actually implemented, and how incidents are documented and communicated to families. Based on our firsthand experience, I cannot entrust this school with my child's care or recommend it to another family.

Absolutely amazing daycare and school program! Everyone here is truly deserving of five stars. Both…read moreof my little ones attend and absolutely love it. It means so much as a parent to know that your children are somewhere they feel happy, comfortable, and excited to go each day. The staff is incredibly patient, kind, friendly, and genuinely cares about the children. The owner has done an amazing job creating an environment that is not only safe and welcoming, but also educational and nurturing. Words truly can't express how grateful I am for everyone there and the care they give my children. If you're looking for a place where you can feel comfortable and confident leaving your child, this is absolutely the place to be. We are so thankful we found them!

Goddard Gambrills is more than just a childcare provider--it's family. The teachers there have…read moretruly been like aunties to my daughter. She started when she was just 2 years old, and as an only child, she has flourished in ways I never imagined within just one year. The facility is super clean. Cleanliness is so important for preschoolers, and Goddard takes it seriously. But it's not just the space that's clean--the staff are cheerful, professional, and genuinely happy. And happy caregivers mean happy children. If you're a parent who sometimes struggles with "mom guilt" like I do, you'll appreciate that Goddard provides a real breakfast. Not just a snack, but a hearty morning meal. It takes the pressure off when mornings don't go as planned and you missed breakfast that morning. Goddard is not a daycare--it's a preschool. I didn't fully understand the difference until my daughter started here. The teachers are amazing, the leadership team is respectful and professional, and the owner is warm, approachable, and lovely to speak with. When I moved to the area, I toured more than a dozen childcare facilities, and while many were just "facilities," none came close to the level of care, professionalism, and joy at Goddard Gambrills. If you are blessed to get a spot here, consider yourself blessed. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out: londonlady0505@gmail.com.

The sad story of impressionable years daycare can be compared to the story of a beloved bakery…read morethat, at one time, baked every cake from scratch and with care, only to compromise the quality of their product because they scaled the business to an extent that the quality that was once associated with the business was impossible to maintain. It's a common story, one that could be avoided by tempering growth until the business has a chance to scale with the increase in business. This maintains product quality while also adapting the methodology to serve more customers. It's a difficult process that many businesses fail to account for, which is why we see once-great businesses close their doors when better options become available. A once-great daycare that has grown to the point where the quality of the education and supervision the kids receive has become substandard. My family has had a long history with Impressionable Years. Once owned by parents, now passed down to their daughter. The parents built this company from the ground up. The population cap was low in those days, and the parent owners were on top of their game. The employees were of high quality, the owners were always there, and the collaboration between the parent and the center was easy, streamlined, and productive. That is no longer the case. My three children went through Impressionable Years, and I lament that my third child did not receive the same standard as my older two did. When dropping my child off, teachers are commonly too busy talking amongst themselves or doomscrolling on their phones. Most teachers won't even look up from their phones when acknowledging your presence. This can only communicate that this practice is tolerated. The feedback you receive from the school will commonly be short-handed and unhelpful. I can forgive this for most things because when you have a class of 20 children, I don't expect a fully articulated essay on my kids' day. This becomes an issue, however, when your child doesn't meet the center's expectations. They will berate you with short-handed comments (that are pre-written) that say your child made terrible choices that day. But here is the main issue with the center: when you push for specifics, you will commonly get the cold shoulder. The owner of the establishment (Courtney) makes high-level decisions and then blames her mother when she knows the outcome will be controversial or is not justifiable given the student handbook. Her Mother handed over the business to her almost 2 years ago. A director who deflects responsibility is a giant red flag. When my child was dismissed from the daycare for "bad behavior," I asked for the video footage so I could see what happened (this was denied). I asked for specifics on what happened, but when Courtney kept deflecting, and I kept pressing her, she hung up on me and then refused to pick up the phone again. If you take nothing else away from this, then highlight this part. If you ask basic questions about your child, they will crash out because you don't buy the narrative that they are giving to you. The reason they can't give you specifics is that your child will not be adequately supervised. The teachers are too busy on their phones, talking on their phones (please count how many ear buds are actively in the ears of the teachers when dropping your kids off), and the center is removed from any responsibility because they can kick your kids at anytime with no notice. There are other problems as well: They commonly send employees home when the student population doesn't justify their presence. Yet, you have to pay full tuition whether your kids show up or not. This is a predatory practice that seeks to maximize profits while causing inconvenience to parents. This little flaw will show itself when they put your kids in a room that is developmentally inappropriate for your child due to "staffing problems," because the room's population didn't meet the standard for them to pay someone to be there all day. Impressionable Years was a great daycare. It is no longer. This is what happens when something is given to someone who doesn't have to earn it. The quality of this place has been run into the ground. And even though the cake you get isn't quite what it used to be, you should, as a parent, ask yourself what you are paying for, and whether the management is competent and coherent in their ability to communicate to parents. All of which this place lacks.

I had a very disappointing experience, there isn't genuine concern for the overall well-being of…read morethe children. Incidents involving children occurs. Ms. Kiara displays unprofessional behavior. She allows personal relationships to interfere with her professional responsibilities, creating conflicts that negatively impact the daycare environment and, ultimately, the children. Her involvement of personal relationships with male parents at the workplace is inappropriate, and her communication with parents is disrespectful and lacking professionalism. Do not send your kids here Additionally, Ms. Carrie as well in particular, spoke to me in a very disrespectful and inappropriate manner regarding my child. Her tone was rude, dismissive, and unprofessional, very aggressive which is unacceptable when addressing a parent's concerns and down talking children; racism has occurred at this daycare as well. Parents should feel safe, informed, and respected when entrusting others with their children. Unfortunately, that was not my experience at this daycare. Stay away and stay aware. It's surprising because it's a very good location in Crofton it's the staff that is unprofessional and my child felt as though they were treating others better than my child, unfair and poorly.

We've had the best experience at Crofton Nursery School! The teachers are warm and engaging, and my…read moredaughter absolutely loves going to school. I love that it is a co-op preschool which means I get to volunteer in the classroom and be a part of her first school experience. It's been great to get to know the other parents and I really enjoy being part of the CNS community. If you are looking for a part time preschool, I highly recommend Crofton Nursery School!

Crofton Nursery School was my choice to send my son to for their 3 year old preschool class. I…read morecouldn't have made a better choice. Not just because of small class size, personal feel, or community vibe that I wanted for preschool. But it ended up being so much more! You get to meet alot of other parents and families and get to interact with teachers and the other kids. Being a working parent is great, you get to see what your kid is doing in school and how much they like it, but it's also a security to know there is always another parents eyes in the classroom. The 3 class is a great transition into school. Even if one kid needs hugs during class, that's your job. It's great to know the toddlers get the one on one that they need until they settle. Also is a good structure to enforce potty training, lots of potty breaks for those who need to be prompted. Already put a deposit down for next fall! Couldn't have hoped for more in a personal feel for a preschool.

We have been *beyond* pleased with Guidepost Montessori! The staff are all loving and welcoming,…read moreand we feel our daughter is safe in their care. On the occasional morning when our toddler decides she does NOT want to go to school that day, I can usually hear her tears turn to laughter before I even leave the building. Separation anxiety is normal in small children, and the guides at Guidepost know what they're doing! We enjoy their frequent, clear communication as well as their hours, campus equipment, and the various specialty activities that they offer such as a yearly Saturday pool party or pajama days. If you're in the market for a daycare or preschool that will teach your child(ren) REAL life skills such as cleaning up after themselves as well as subjects such as math, science, and reading, Guidepost is the school for you.

Being in the military, we have moved around a lot and have experienced many different childcare…read morecenters. Guidepost BY FAR has been the best experience. I had 2 children enrolled for the past 2 years and have been blessed to interact with all the staff in the different programs from Nido to Childrens House. They are all absolutely wonderful, especially the Director Caroline and the Assistant Director Liza. Staff go out of their way to assist with difficult transitions and they even show up to birthday parties when invited! I was a sceptic of the Montessori based curriculum but after seeing my kids make huge progress, love learning and teaching us things they learned, and really THRIVE, I am an avid believer. This place is more than a childcare center, this is an extension of family/friends that I truly trust to care for my children. It has been an amazing experience.

I'm really disappointed with my experience at La Petite Academy. From the start, communication has…read morebeen a constant issue. The director, Kalani, rarely responds to emails or follows up when concerns are brought up. Meetings that were scheduled to discuss my son's needs were missed with no explanation or reschedule, which is completely unacceptable. There's been nonstop turnover with staff, not enough staff in classrooms, and little to no structure day to day. It's very clear that the staff is overworked and the children are the ones who end up affected.My son hasn't received the consistency, support, or attention he deserves. Even more frustrating, they have failed to provide accommodations or meaningful support for children with disabilities, despite multiple conversations and requests. That's something no parent should have to fight for. Parents are barely kept informed -- no clear curriculum, no consistent updates, and no sense of stability or leadership from the director. For the amount of trust and money that goes into childcare, this is incredibly disappointing. If you're looking for a center that communicates, values your child, and maintains consistency, I would strongly recommend looking elsewhere.

Do Not Enroll in La Petite Crofton. My Daughter started at…read moreLa Petite at 18-months-old. My daughter adapted quickly and enjoyed it there until shortly after she turned 3 years-old. She suddenly started biting and fighting at school. We were shocked. She never does that at home. It got to a point where we'd have to pick her up at least two or more times per week. We engaged the teachers, we practiced the material they gave us at home as best we could. She didn't bite or hit at home so we didn't have opportunities to reinforce the behavioral lessons. She would whine and cry every time I took her to school. She was adamant that she didn't want to go. Not even 3.5 years-old and she was already capable of vocalizing that she wasn't happy there. My husband and I, after months of racking our brain and worrying, decided that it wasn't her fault she was behaving this way - she's 3 and a product of the environment she was in. I honestly believe that she'd get in trouble on purpose so we'd come get her. Ultimately, we realized that La Petite was not the right fit for our daughter when she didn't improve no matter what we tried and La Petite proved they were incapable of taking care of our daughter consistently and reliably. Let's talk about reliability. Especially during COVID. Don't get me started on the obscene number of COVID cases they had. In November 2021, they had a full outbreak - at least 2 cases they announced, and at least 1 wasn't - the one where my daughter also got COVID. See attached screenshots. This was the first indication that there was a significant concern about La Petite's reliability and management. All that aside, I have very little complaints about how she was cared for, the facilities, or the teachers. My complaint about this facility is about professionalism: The school director, Bianca Wilson, in particular. Recognizing that La Petite wasn't the right fit, we started looking for replacement care facility in the last couple weeks. We fortunately found a replacement school that would have an opening in a month-and-a-half. Simple enough, right? We picked up our daughter from school on Friday without issues. My husband emailed Bianca to let her know to not charge us for the re-enrollment fee scheduled to be charged that coming week. Our daughter got sick with a cold that weekend, and got us sick, so we stayed home on Monday and Tuesday to recover. On Wednesday (today for me as I write this), I show up like usual to drop my daughter off at daycare and I'm stopped at the door by the receptionist, who tells me that Bianca responded to my husband's email on Sunday to tell us that our daughter was not welcome back. Of course we hadn't seen it. Let that sink in for a moment. Had we seen it, that would have been one day notice that we no longer had childcare. But we didn't see it so I was blindsided. No phone call. No sit-down meeting with the director. No notice. No attempt to negotiate with us so that we could work out a plan. This is the height of unprofessionalism and disrespect in a daycare provider. I can accept that my daughter is not a fit for La Petite, but let's work out a plan so that we can transition smoothly. Let's talk about it. An email that was never acknowledged is NOT the way to expel a child from a daycare. That's not the half of it. While at daycare, I asked the receptionist to get Bianca on the phone. She wasn't able to because Bianca was driving. But somehow, Bianca did manage to text the receptionist that we weren't charged for care this week. If she has speech-to-text, then she has Bluetooth or a speaker phone to take my call. So not only did Bianca not communicate with us directly when expelling our daughter, she avoided confrontation about it. I contacted corporate to file a complaint, but they have yet to return my calls after several hours. So instead, I writing our story as a cautionary tale for other parents. If you want professional, reliable, and communicative childcare, then the La Petite on Johns Hopkins Rd in Crofton, MD, is not the right place for you.

The CUMCDC is by far the best child care center we have ever used. In addition to child care, the…read moreentire center focuses on development, education, responsibility building. The diverse activities the center offers brings out the creativity of the kids. Throughout the year, parents and families are invited to meet for lunches and dinners where the kids showcase their art work, classroom activities and perform skits. We love this place due to the wonderful teachers and director Stephanie Marrone. The only issue we have is the Board of Directors. They are part of the Church and constantly micro managing the center. Most, if not all, on the board do not have children in the center and often seem more concerned with the bottom line rather than investing in the center. I would love to see them all replaced with a group of parents and parish members who recognize how the center is truly a special place for the development of our next generation.

My youngest has been going here for almost a year. He had a rough few weeks transitioning from a…read morefamily provider to a center, but the staff really helped him and were patient until he acclimated. They do a lot of cool crafts and get them outside every day. The place is very clean and I like the staff. They are very friendly, caring, and genuine. My older son went to before care last year and was happy there as well. The little ones go to chapel once per week and my son sometimes comes home with questions or bible stories, but they aren't pushing religion on him at all. I was concerned about a religious center because I'm not Christian. It's working out well for our family and I think the values of the church offer good lessons. They offer a lot of community activities as well, movie nights, BBQs, pool party, etc. It's a nice invitation to the community. I would definitely recommend this place. The only drawback is that they don't have much electronic communication. We don't get pictures like some other centers and the schedules are only on paper. I don't get anything via email unless they change directors or something big.

We moved here from Texas and had no idea about schools. So glad we found crofton day school. My…read morekids have enjoyed every day there and when they come home they are happy and excited to tell Me about the day. So pleased with the staff..thank you for all you do!

Wonderful center! Both of our kids have attended FSLC from infancy through pre-K. The majority of…read morethe staff has been there for the duration, which speaks volumes to me. Our kids were happy, well cared-for and absolutely given the tools for success in elementary school. And they both LOVE it there!! If you are looking for daycare, definitely put these folks on your short-list of places to check out.

this place used to be great before Covid. now it's horrible. my oldest daughter went there pre…read morecovid for years and it was great. then my second born enrolled there after Covid (age 3 class) and the teachers and the lady running the place were awful. my daughter had a hard time transitioning and they didn't care at all. there's was no compassion or caring when she cried when I left. they just stood accross the room annoyed and glaring at her. i complained to the owner but the second day they kept calling me to come get her. I couldn't handle the treatment of my daughter anymore so I pulled her right away. unorganized mess too.