We have been at Newport since our daughter was 12 weeks old...and she's nearly 4 now. It's a fantastic school. This is our second child, and our older son had gone to two different daycares, so we knew exactly what we were looking for when we toured Newport. My daughter is learning all sorts of things, but more importantly to us, she's making friends, learning how to resolve conflict, learning to take turns and share, and we're confident she'll be set up for success in kindergarten. She looks forward to school each day. When she was younger, she went through some health issues that required some extra steps in caring for her. Newport was absolutely lovely during this difficult time. The teachers, staff, and in particular John the owner worked with us so that she could still attend school. We've become part of the community, doing play dates with her school friends outside of school, meeting other parents and families. Her teachers know her, and we can always talk to them about challenging "growing up" things like potty training and nap transitions, and I feel like we tackle them together. There may be wait lists...but honestly that's the situation with daycares in the city. It's definitely worth adding Newport to the list of daycares to tour and consider! read more

We pulled our kid from the toddler room at Newport Children's Academy in January after only a few months. I'm writing this review so that you know what we wish we had known before we enrolled: this daycare relies on physical restraints to "teach" the toddlers how to behave. In the toddler room, they have "learning time" for 20 minutes each morning and during that time they arrange little toddler chairs in a half circle and a teacher sits at the front of the class and gives a lesson. The chairs have a seat belt-like strap and they strap the kids into the chairs so that they stay seated while the teacher is talking. When they first sent me a picture of my kid strapped into a chair, my mom instinct went on red alert. Why would they use physical restraints on toddlers? And why would they lecture at toddlers like they are in an elementary school classroom? It all seemed so wrong.  I talked to the lead teacher, who was very understanding but said the decision was the director's. When I talked to the director, John Sears, he said they use the straps to teach the kids boundaries because otherwise they wouldn't stay in the chairs. Of course they wouldn't, I said, toddlers don't sit still for more than a few minutes. And I said they weren't being taught how to sit and pay attention if they are being physically held into place and have no choice but to sit. We went back and forth for a bit and then his argument shifted away from boundaries and he homed in on safety. He said the kids could fall off the chairs. The chairs are toddler-sized and very close to the ground. This is hardly a safety issue. Even if there is a risk that the kids would climb on the chairs, the way to handle that risk is to watch them carefully, not to use restraints. (Full transparency: the lead teacher told me that "learning time" lasts 20 minutes. The director insisted it wasn't that long. Only 10 minutes, he said. I believed the lead teacher who was in the room everyday and in charge of the room's daily activities. But, even if the director was right, 10 minutes is still way too long to expect one-year-olds to sit still. Also, at our request, they stopped strapping our kid to the chair. But they still made her sit in place when all the other kids were strapped into their chairs. One of the teachers said it was "a requirement of this school" that she sit still.) Strapping the kids to their chairs wasn't a technique only used during the 20 minute learning time in the morning. For every activity that was done at a table (coloring, sensory activities, puzzles, eating) the kids were buckled in. That meant multiple times a day the kids were restrained. Sometimes when I arrived to pick up my kid in the evening, all of the toddlers would be strapped into their chairs for no apparent reason. One time I arrived and they were all strapped into chairs singing "The Wheels on the Bus." Why in the world do toddlers have to sit still in chairs to sing? Another time they were all strapped into chairs and doing nothing. I asked what was going on and one of the teachers said they had been playing with stickers. There were no stickers to be seen. The kids were made to sit buckled into chairs with nothing to do while the teachers cleaned up. I described the learning time to my kid's pediatrician and showed her a picture that Newport had sent me. She was dumbfounded. She said she had never heard of anyone trying to teach one-year-olds that way and said it demonstrated a misunderstanding of how young children learn. They learn through play, she said, and their attention spans are 2-3 minutes. She strongly suggested I find a new daycare.  I talked to a lot of other people about this too. I asked other parents and found no one whose daycare did anything similar. I also talked to other pediatricians and child psychiatrists that I work with who said the same thing my own pediatrician did - it is not developmentally appropriate to expect toddlers to sit and pay attention that long and the use of physical restraints to facilitate "learning" is not an accepted practice. We couldn't shake the feeling that doing something as developmentally inappropriate as strapping kids into chairs was indicative of the fact that they just didn't understand or respect child development. We couldn't trust a place that relied on physical restraint as a teaching tool. read more

Their tuition for all ages seems to be a mystery or closely guarded secret. You can find anything anywhere on the internet. Not even a approximation or price range. I even called the school and they wouldn't even give me that information on the phone. I had to send an email. After reading reviews of horrendous waitlist times, and strapping kids into chairs, I dropped the school off my list. read more

Perhaps this school is great, but they really need to not promise prospective families a 12 month waitlist that turns into 2+ years with no end in sight. We got on the waitlist when I was 7 month pregnant and with a 1.5 year old, we were told we were still 35+ on the list. It's almost as if they want to take your deposit knowing a spot will most likely never open up. There were inconsistencies with what they told us as well. They said they did offer part-time and then after over a year on the waitlist they said they only offered full time care. They did not follow up as promised, and the reception we got after following up was not great. I was promised a call from the owner, and we set a time, and then he never called. I was never anything but respectful and in 2 years I followed up 3 times, being told the same thing - they just don't know. Which is fine. I just wish I would have known that when I put my deposit down. All we were looking for was honesty and clarity in the process instead of waiting for something that would never happen. They should be more up front with prospective families and set a realistic expectation of actually getting a spot at their school. Just know that every child born to parents with children already attending the school will bump your spot down and if they say 12 months it likely means 3 years. My advice - get on the waitlist before you are pregnant and have a backup option for childcare! Good luck! read more

Be prepared to be in their waitlist for awhile, even if they tell you they'll have availability a few months later. However if you have a connection, that is to your advantage because they engage in nepotism. I was glad that I asked if they would refund my $150 deposit after we were on the waitlist for over three years and they did. read more

This school is top notch....I have experience with a handful of preschools on the north side of Chicago and Newport takes the cake. Welcoming, inclusive, attention to detail, they go over the top to make the early learning experience for you and your child extraordinary. You've won the preschool lottery if your child attends Newport. read more

I can't give Newport Children's Academy enough stars. From the minute I took a tour at their new facility, I was blown away by the owner John Sears and his team. The place is brand new, clean, and they all genuinely care about the kids. All of my daughter's teachers seem to want to be there and are so great with all of the children! I love the fact that I get daily updates with pics, descriptions and notes too. They really focus on education and I was looking for someplace that balanced structure, education and play. This place nails it. My daughter runs into her class, all the kids say hello to each other and it makes me both happy and teary that she just dives right into things the minute she steps her foot in the door. She even comes home with a new craft project she has created each day. Additionally, my daughter sees several different specialists and they've been able to accommodate her sessions at the daycare when needed. They even wanted to know about her progress and notes so that they can continue to help her advance! They took that extra step to ask because they truly care about her development. I am excited that they are continuing to invest in their facility and program. There will be a new indoor play area as well as outdoor one coming soon. Overall, I highly recommend Newport Children's Academy for any age because of the attention the people give to the kids, the extra steps they take for them and the community feel they create. read more

Newport Children's Academy has been a HUGE blessing in my family's life. The administration and Director are extremely detail-oriented, have the highest standards, and above all are so responsive -- they exceed my expectations. The teachers in EVERY room care deeply for my child and his growth. They are truly invested in their efforts and I hope they know how much they've positively impacted my son's life. read more

My wife and I can't say enough great things about John Sears (the owner) and the rest of the team at Newport Children's Academy. Each and every teacher in the facility has a big smile on their face and knows the names of all the kids in the school, not just their own class. It truly feels like they teach there because they love to do it and not just as a job. If you have the opportunity, I would stop in and meet with John and get a tour of the school. You will not be disappointed. We are going to miss Newport when we move to Indiana. While touring schools in Indianapolis, we kept comparing them to Newport and coming up disappointed. While we eventually found a school we liked, we don't think it will ever compare to the care and love we experienced at Newport. In terms of curriculum, we always felt Mack was coming home with tons of new songs and knowledge. Our pediatrician and friends have been impressed with how polite and kind our child is and we attribute nearly all of that to the way Newport runs their school. read more

This school has made a huge difference in my son's life. John Sears and his wonderful team at Newport truly care about the well-being of their students. My son has been at Newport for almost a year, and he is thriving - he is talking more, engaging with teachers, focusing on projects and has started to socialize with peers. We couldn't have hoped for a better outcome. I attribute so much of my son's development and progress to Newport Children's Academy and would recommend it to everyone. The staff is top-notch. read more

I can't express how excited we are to have found Newport Children's Academy! We had been at 3 daycares in 3 years, so I feel we have a good perspective of what makes a daycare work well or not work. We instantly felt comfortable and knew we would enroll before the tour even ended. The director/owner John Sears has a lot of experience in daycare centers and you can tell he's taken the best of everything and successfully put it into his center. He's warm and welcoming to everyone, greeting you in the morning or saying good night always with a positive attitude and smile. Our son has food allergies and the center is completely nut free. They also provide you with a menu and full ingredient list ahead of time; it is very comforting to have that information. Our son loves going to Newport. He comes in the front door, waves and yells hi to John and runs towards his room. The social environment and education have been a wonderful, he is constantly learning and exploring. They have an incredible app that allows you to get multiple pictures every day of what the kids are doing and you are sent a detailed daily report of food eaten, nap times, bathroom updates, and all activities. We never had this kind of consistent updates; it makes my day to see how happy he is in the pictures and the fun things they do. Newport really strives to build a family community environment. Over the holidays they had a food drive as well as a toy and clothing drive, an event to pack lunches for people in need. They have health and awareness themes, a holiday program the kids put together and so much more. The facility is brand-new and beautiful, the kids have ample space to learn, create and play. One of the best things to me is that the teacher's are really happy and like their jobs. Every other center we were at, the teacher's loved the kids, but really struggled with the administrators. You can tell that the teachers feel respected for the jobs they do and the education they are giving the kids. The teachers in all of the classrooms are absolutely amazing! read more

Newport Children's Academy is absolutely amazing! My daughter has been in class with Ms. Ricile since the school opened on Tuesday and I have been overwhelmed with gratitude at how they have taken care of her. It is clear that all of the staff love their jobs and take pride in making their classrooms as welcoming as possible. I love getting the daily reports about not only what they did in class, but also photos and comments about my daughter's progress and development. John, the director, is so personable, flexible and thoughtful. He genuinely wants every child to love coming to school. I couldn't be happier with our experience thus far! read more

So happy to have found Newport Children's Academy. Our son was at an at home daycare for most of his earlier years, but my husband and I decided to enroll him in Newport's Pre-K program - to help prepare him for Kindergarten. It was the best decision. He was not only prepared for Kindergarten the following year, but we really appreciated the care and attention the teachers showed our son. John Sears (the owner) is amazing - very knowledgeable and experienced. Stellar academy all around. read more

Newport Children's Academy is a wonderful school. We started our son there at 15 months old just after the school opened last September. Prior to Newport, our son stayed home with me. John the director understood how hard that transition would be for him (and me) so he allow us to attend half days for several weeks before his first official day. That helped tremendously with the tough transition. His teachers are very caring and supportive. The school is always decorated with fun themes and they often have parent events to encourage involvement. The latest addition of a outdoor play space will be a tremendous asset once it is complete. read more

I cannot stress enough how much we love Newport Children's Academy. Our daughter started at Newport when she was about 5 1/2 months old, and we were blown away by the change in her demeanor. She is genuinely happy to be there every morning when we drop her off, and is always in a good mood when we pick her up. You can tell that she loves her teachers and classmates, and that in itself made us happy. Beyond being a nurturing and caring environment, we truly appreciate the progress she has made regarding fine and gross motor skills, communication skills, and social skills. While she naturally would have progressed rapidly in these areas anyway, we genuinely feel that the fantastic teachers at Newport have had a direct impact on how quickly she learns, her curiosity in the world around her, and her enthusiasm for meeting and interacting with new people. I have felt confident every day that we have been with Newport that my child is safe, cared for, and engaged with. All of the teachers are kind, caring, and knowledgeable. The staff are friendly and helpful. The facilities are beautiful. I can't say enough good things. Keep up the great work! read more

I wish there were more stars to give. We have two boys, 3 years and 8 months old. Prior to starting at Newport, we had been at another daycare in the area for about 3 years. We had a lot of administrative issues with them and there was constant teacher turnover. We had one teacher in our son's classroom who was great and was with him through his 1's and 2's. When she left, our son began having behavioral issues so we started our search for a new school for our boys because we had finally had enough of the inconsistencies. When we found Newport and toured it, I instantly felt like this was our new home. John Sears doesn't just seem great to get your kids in the door...he is that great every single day. His children are students and his wife is just about the sweetest woman you will ever meet. Their entire family is very involved with the school and truly makes it a nurturing setting. It's so great that he greets us with a smile at the door every single morning and evening. Its little things like this that you don't even realize are a big deal until they are happening. When searching, my biggest interest was education. Newport doesn't just make promises about this...they deliver. About a month after we started there, we had parent-teacher conferences where we discussed all areas of his development - where our son excelled and where he required more attention. I was so impressed that they were tailoring his education to his needs and challenging him in areas where he was more advanced. They also asked our feedback on what was important to us. Both my husband and I have commented on how he is thriving educationally since he has started there. There is such a sense of community and giving at Newport. Around the holidays, the parents were invited in to join the children to pack lunches for the hungry. We also had toy, food and clothing drives. There is always something going on to support those who are less fortunate than our families. It's a good lesson for our children at such a young age and while they may not grasp the concept completely, it's caused us to start the discussion about giving to others that aren't as lucky as us. The events that they host (which included the cutest holiday musical you would ever see!) are also nice ways to get to know the other parents at the school. We never had this at our other daycare...mostly because I don't think they wanted the parents commiserating. It goes without saying that the facility itself is beautiful but anyone can create a pretty building. It's what happens inside the walls that's important. The teachers in all of the classrooms are absolutely amazing and I think it starts with John. He treats them for what they are - educators, and not babysitters. I think that is the fundamental difference between many of the other centers in the city is that they hire people to babysit and not people who will enrich the lives of the children they teach. Newport is different in the best way possible. I think it's important that you know that I receive nothing in return for this testimonial. I offered to be a parent-advocate because I truly believe in this school and they have changed our life for the better. There was a constant cloud of uncertainty about the education and care at our last daycare and we finally found the place that truly feels like a home for us. This daycare is far and away the best place that you will find in Chicago and I have no reservations about making this statement. read more

We have had a wonderful experience here and would recommend to anyone. Great teachers, curriculum, lots of fun, good attention to detail and a generally very well run daycare that is responsive to both children and parents. read more

We were one of the first families to join Newport and couldn't be happier about our decision. Our daughter has done so well at Newport. She learned to walk there and is talking up a storm. The teachers are all so nice and understanding. They do a great job of combining learning and play. They do a lot of sensory activities also which are a lot of fun for our daughter. But what I appreciate most is that they do a lot of parent involvement activities. They did a lunches for the homeless night and have a Christmas Musical for the older kids. They also bought a lot a few houses down from the school and are building a playground! We love it and would highly recommend. read more

Very thankful for Newport Children's Academy. The school just opened on 9/6/16 and I have found John (director) and his team to be personable, positive, professional, and flexible. And the communication has been wonderful! Newport Children's Academy is a true gem! Check it out and see for yourself. read more

We decided to take our 4 year old son here after debating for a while as he came from a school that had 20 plus kids in the class to one that would have less than 10. Several months later, we do not regret it one bit! He continues to grow socially and since the class is so small, it's like he has his own personal tutors who challenge him daily. He's reading site words/books, writing sentences, doing math problems, and putting on his artistic cap through a variety of projects the teachers put together. Teachers are great, facility is awesome, and I would highly recommend it. read more

Our family compared 6 day schools in Lakeview/Lincoln Park for our toddler. Most important features to us are: safety, curriculum, director/teacher relationships with parents, communication & cleanliness. When we found Newport we were blown away, Newport exceeds all our requirements and then some. The safety and security is top notch and surpasses all safety and security features of the other comparable places, excellent curriculum and schedule that our son has quickly adapted to, John (Director) and the toddler teachers are so wonderful, patient, kind & take the time to chat with us and help us adjust our son to day school, we love the pictures/videos/updates we get throughout the day, the school is absolutely beautiful (large windows, bright and open). You can tell that John & his team pour their hearts into Newport. Newport is located on a one way residential street, 0 traffic and lots of space for drop off/pickup. We are so very happy here and highly recommend it to everyone we know. Deciding to start our toddler into day school was a tough enough decision and finding somewhere that we are all 100% happy and comfortable with makes life so much easier. read more