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!

Our child has been enrolled at the Young School for approximately 6 months. We did a lot of…read moreresearch prior to selecting a childcare as we are first time parents and wanted to ensure that any childcare facility that we enrolled our child in would be nurturing, safe, appropriate, and always have our child's best interest at heart even when we as parents are not there. From the first day, we were welcomed by all teachers and staff. Our child struggled with sleeping in this new environment and being away from us. We were comforted by being able to through the live camera how attentive the teachers were to his needs. They held him when necessary, sang to him and comforted him until he got acclimated with the environment. Our child looks forward to going to school, learning new skills/things, playing with friends and being nurturing by his teachers.

Our child has been here for two years with no issues. They follow her dietary restrictions…read moreflawlessly and keep me up to date on any and all information. They give me amble time to provide paper work and send reminders when needed. My child feels safe and cared for.

My son arrived at Kindercare in Hanover when he was just three years old. The director and staff…read moreat this center have been extremely supportive, and provided a wonderful environment for him to grow and develop into the smart and outgoing first grader he is today. Suzanne, the director is a warm and caring leader and these characteristics are passed down to the staff. My son has always felt at home at this center. When we moved and he started Kindergarten, instead of attending summer camp at his new school and closer to our new home, he asked to go back to Kindercare in Hanover for summer camp. The summer program was filled with activities and numerous field trips to keep the children engaged and ensure a fun filled summer! Although the center did experience a period of staff transition, the director worked diligently to ensure minimal impact to the children. This was not something the staff/director could control so it would be unfair to hold them responsible. The leadership at the center will listen to any concerns shared, and will get to know your child and ensure their needs are met. They supported us in throwing two amazing birthday parties for our son at the center. Years later he still speaks fondly about these great experiences. He was also able to make great friends while he attended Kindercare in Hanover. Due to a military move, we had to leave the center, but were very sad to leave. This is a great family environment and my family and I wholeheartedly recommend Kindercare in Hanover. Thanks to you all for providing a caring environment where children can learn and grow.

Wonderful caring teachers. Can't say enough about this place. It's an institution in SP. All…read more3 of my children went here and along with wee lad and lassie, a great experience. They were all very prepared when they went on to other schools such as severn and st martins. The owner is very invested and excellent.

My daughter started at A Child's garden in August. She has absolutely loved the preschool and the…read morestaff but most importantly her teacher's Ms. Airiana and Mrs. Katy. I can not tell you how pleased I am with them. They are so patient and great with the children. My daughter is very particular on who she gets close with but took to them right away. My daughter has grown so much since being there. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a preschool. My only complaint is that I didn't know of them sooner.

Both of our children have attended SPCC since they were 6 weeks old. My daughter is now in second…read moregrade. When she left the pre-k program here at SPCC she was more than ready to move on to kindergarten at her home elementary school. My son is currently in the pre-k program and is exceling and has already learned so much this year. The office staff are very welcoming and involved with the children and the day-to-day events that are happening throughout the center. My children absolutely love all of their teachers they have had throughout their time here at SPCC. We have had nothing but great experiences at Severna Park Children's Centre and we continue to recommend this center to our friends and family.

We had all three children enrolled in SPCC 2010-2015. The teachers and staff were very helpful and…read morecaring. My son started the pre-k program as he turned 3 as well as my daughter until they started kindergarten at our elementary school. My youngest started after she was three until she started kindergarten that fall. The older two were able to attend the summer program. The director of the preschool program was very involved in the day to day happenings at the center. I was able to be flexible and bring the children in during transitioning them into the program 2-3 days a week. I was grateful to have such caring and efficient teachers with my three children. My kids enjoyed being there in the learning environment and making new friends. We had a great experience at Severna Park Children's Centre and we continue to recommend them to our friends.

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.

On paper, The Britleys School seems like a great environment for children to learn, grow and…read morethrive. In reality, my family's brief experience with the school was disheartening, reinforcing our greatest fears about raising a Black son in America. Shortly after our son began at The Britleys School, he started exhibiting challenges with hitting his peers and teachers. As his parents, we recognize this behavior is not ideal, and we worked with him at home to address, redirect, and correct it. While we were diligently working to help him navigate this behavior, we also recognized that it is developmentally appropriate and, in many cases, typical for a 21-month-old. Both can be correct. Despite having several conversations over the course of a few weeks at pick-up with my husband about additional strategies to address this behavior, the administration believed it was important to have a virtual meeting to discuss additional resolutions. As soon as the conversation began, Ms. Britney mentioned how my son, at a mere 21 months, a young boy who is considered small for his age, was "dangerous" to his peers and teachers. She then went on to berate us with an interrogation about "what's going on at home?" and we were subsequently criticized for how we were addressing the behavior at home. The insinuations were clear, and they were insulting and highly disrespectful. Instead of seeking a collaborative solution, we were being lectured on basic "Parenting 101" practices for raising children (with the implied assumption that he was witnessing physical abuse at home). If this is how leadership was talking to me and my husband in our faces, I can only imagine how they were treating my "dangerous" child while we weren't present. In a society where Black children are constantly vilified for simply existing and developing appropriately, this approach did nothing but reinforce the ideology that Black children require more significant discipline measures compared to their peers. THIS is how the school-to-prison pipeline begins. Research shows that Black children are 4 times more likely to be suspended from preschool because of "behavioral issues." That statistic increases by 2.5 if that Black child is a boy. Knowing this and witnessing firsthand how Black boys are punished more harshly than their peers and criminalized for typical development behavior in our society, this description, this extreme language to describe a 21-month-old, did not seem like a place that would create an environment where he was nurtured and appreciated. We ultimately decided to remove him after his 2.5-month stint at The Britleys School because we will not let this institution, or any institution for that matter, steal our son's joy. The Britleys School did not recognize my son's essence and brilliance, and because they didn't, they will not have the privilege of watching him grow into an amazing young man bound to positively impact those around him. Zero stars--would not recommend.

Britleys is absolutely a "hidden gem" for parents wanting to give exceptional educational…read moreexperiences for their infants, toddlers, and young children -- helping them develop intellectually and socially. It is clear that Gloria (the owner) and her staff of wonderful teachers give lots of love and individualized attention to each student in their care. If I could give six stars, I would!

We had our daughter in this facility for about 2 months, owing to a brief period in which both of…read moreus parents had to work. The manager has a pleasant and optimistic demeanor, as does the assistant manager. We liked the information sheet idea, so we could clearly communicate the daily situation. The staff usually just put "She had a wonderful day! :-) " however, and it was hard to understand exactly what transpired, or why every day was so wonderful (like N. Korea!). Although well appointed with colorful and safe play furniture, the facility is badly in need of a deep cleaning. As you enter, the vestibule walls are smeared with what seems like years of residue from very young hands. The entry system is confusing and arbitrary: we were given a code to use until our personal code was ready, but we were never given the 2nd code, so we continued using the first one. There were supposed to be sign in sheets for each parent, but it took two weeks for that to be prepared. The sign-in system is entirely voluntary, which seems to be a liability issue for both parent and school! Often, upon entry, there was no one manning the front office. The staff was highly fluid even in the two months and our baby had no fewer than 5 different staff during that time, most of which seemed to be transferred or quit shortly after they worked in the place. A few annoying things we disliked included that staff often peeked out of the front window to see what parent was about to enter. Also, the infant room was divided into two sides, and our baby was often not visible through the room window. Infants were allowed to crawl away from the carpeted areas and on to the linoleum floor and this was not safe, nor were the three wooden rocking chairs, which were a danger to falling toddlers. Finally, it took a good month for our account to be set up so we could pay on line; this seemed to be a company-wide issue, however.

My children attend this location and I must say it has been nothing short of amazing! My daughter…read morehas really grown in all areas and has made so much progress! The teachers and directors go all out to ensure the children have a fun , safe learning environment!

We have been going to NELC for years (literally 8...for three children) and consider them a partner…read morein our childcare arrangement. Ms. Adeeba and her daughters (it's a family run business!) are respectful and knowledgeable, and we have only had good experiences with the teachers there. They allow part-time, are flexible at accommodating schedule changes, and offer a sibling discount. We trust and value the team at NELC.

Our Experience with New Edge Learning Center: A Cautionary Tale…read more As a first-time mom, I was understandably anxious about finding the right daycare for my daughter. After meeting Adeeba, the director at New Edge Learning Center, I initially felt reassured. She encouraged me to ask questions and emphasized the importance of advocating for my child--a sentiment I took to heart. However, our actual experience turned out to be far from the supportive environment she promised. The Issues We Faced: 1. Dismissal of Medical Advice My daughter has sensitive skin, and her pediatricians at Annapolis Pediatrics, a highly regarded practice, recommended using Aquaphor to manage occasional breakouts caused by weather changes or teething. Adeeba repeatedly dismissed their professional advice, insisting my daughter had Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) despite multiple doctors explicitly stating otherwise. She also claimed Annapolis Pediatrics was unreliable, stating she frequently called the health department on them. This forced us to make unnecessary doctor visits, consult a dermatologist, and repeatedly adjust our schedules to meet Adeeba's arbitrary demands, even when supported by medical documentation. 2. Neglect of Basic Needs On one occasion, my daughter went without food for hours. I only discovered this oversight through the Brightwheel app and had to contact the daycare myself to address it. The response was minimal--an acknowledgment of the "mistake." Additionally, diaper changes during nap times were skipped, leading to severe diaper rash. Adeeba's justification was that babies were sleeping, further highlighting her prioritization of convenience over care. 3. Unreasonable Policies and Inconsistencies Adeeba enforced rigid policies, such as requiring a 72-hour notice for early drop-offs, yet failed to provide consistent communication about these rules. When I sought clarification or tried to plan ahead, my messages often went unanswered. The most hurtful inconsistency was leaving my 18-month-old daughter in the infant room while her peers transitioned to the toddler room. Despite our repeated inquiries, Adeeba provided conflicting responses about when she would move up. Watching my daughter stand at the door, longing to join her friends, was heartbreaking. Adeeba's dismissive attitude, claiming, "She can make new friends," only added insult to injury. 4. How My Daughter Was Removed The final incident came on December 20th. I arrived to pick up my daughter, who was dressed in Christmas pajamas, looking forward to a festive day with her friends. Instead, Adeeba had isolated her in an empty room with baby toys, taking her anger at us out on an innocent 18-month-old child. When I arrived, Adeeba cornered me at the door with my daughter in my arms. She coldly stated, "This isn't working out; you don't listen," and admitted to giving away my daughter's spot in the toddler room. Her tone was harsh and confrontational, with no regard for the emotional distress this caused. Adeeba snapped her fingers at a teacher, who handed me my daughter's belongings--all packed up, signaling a premeditated decision to remove us from the daycare. This abrupt dismissal, just days before the holidays, left us scrambling for childcare and deeply hurt by how Adeeba handled the situation. Final Reflections: My daughter's teachers were wonderful and played a significant role in her growth, but Adeeba's unprofessional behavior overshadowed everything. Her refusal to respect medical advice from Annapolis Pediatrics, her inability to communicate effectively, and her retaliatory actions against my daughter were unacceptable. We are now enrolled in a daycare that values communication, care, and professionalism. I hope this review serves as a warning to other parents. Adeeba's claim of running a "business" came at the cost of empathy and the well-being of my child. Check them out for yourself. I wish I had https://www.checkccmd.org/default.aspx