Both of our children, our son and daughter, attended The Goddard School of Durham, and we have consistently been impressed with the quality of care and education they received. The teaching staff is knowledgeable, caring, and skilled at fostering each child's development. Our kids grew tremendously in confidence, social skills, and academic readiness during their time here. The teachers took the time to understand each child's individual needs and learning style, which made a significant difference in their progress. The curriculum is well-structured and age-appropriate. Daily communication kept us informed about our kids' activities and development. We also loved the constant stream of photos we received through their app; it helped us put faces to the names of our children's friends and sparked conversations at dinnertime. The facilities are clean, safe, and well-maintained with great outdoor play areas. As working parents, we appreciated the reliability and peace of mind that come with quality childcare. The staff treated our children with genuine care and helped create a positive foundation for their future learning. Our son is transitioning out after several years, and we are confident--just as we were with our daughter--that the skills and preparation he has gained at Goddard will serve him well. We would definitely recommend this school to other families seeking quality early childhood education. read more

I have visited the Durham Goddard several times and this particular teacher in the Preschool is not very friendly with the teachers that is her classroom and she is very rude and disrespectful, she believes in yelling at her students and the teachers and wonder why she doesn't have a teacher in her classroom read more

Our time at the Goddard School of Durham was wonderful. The teachers were, without exception, so caring, selfless, and kind. They worked with us through developmental milestones and sickness in ways that showed thought and care. Communication has been great, and the front office is very open to feedback and comment. We can not recommend this group of care givers and teachers highly enough! read more

The Goddard School of Durham is beyond exceptional. They are dedicated to fostering each child's experience. All students matter, are included, and are celebrated. Communication with parents is consistent and thorough. The staff are kind, empathetic, and always smiling. It is apparent they love coming to work. It is a joy to watch my daughter blossom in the classroom. I get to see her expand her knowledge, develop social skills, and have her curiosity nurtured. read more

This is definitely the place you want your child care! Mr.Mehul and his staff are wonderful, the school is professional and clean, and my kid never wants to leave! She comes home happy and educated every day. They even handled Covid like champions! Worth every penny. We are thrilled! Thank you Goddard of Durham. Much respect! read more

I love the teachers at Goddard Durham and highly recommend the school! Over the four years that we've been enrolled both of my kids have had a great experience and have learned so much. I especially appreciate how they have been supported by all of their teachers through various developmental milestones. The owner, Mehul, and directors provide regular updates and they are very responsive to questions. read more

My baby started going to The Goddard School when they were about 5 months old. We had a rocky start (mostly with the teachers as the front staff is great!) while they had some turnover in the infant classroom, but it was magic once Ms. Eleasha and Ms. Alajah arrived. Not only do they (both teachers and staff) care deeply for the babies and celebrate all their milestones, but they will also work endlessly with the babies until they develop a skill (and will share your joy at the accomplishment too). We got on their waitlist when we were only 4 months pregnant and it was about an 8 month wait, so definitely reach out early. read more

The teachers are amazing and care so much about the kids. They go the extra mile to ensure everyone is happy, safe, and learning to their full potential. read more

I give 5 stars because I truly love this school. The teaching staff, admin and curriculum are all amazing. The curriculum is fun, inclusive and educational. I especially love the communication between the staff and the parents (very transparent about what is going at the school and responsive to parents concerns). read more

Goddard was there for us during the pandemic and we're so very grateful. Six months into the pandemic-induced shutdown, we realized that COVID wouldn't be solved quickly and that our 3 y/o daughter couldn't wait another six months to reengage in healthy socialization with her peers. As parents of an only child, we determined that the only way she was going to have routine, unrestricted access to 'safe' socialization was in the context of a professionally-run educational environment. We toured a couple of comparable schools, but ultimately concluded that Goddard was our preferred school. We attribute our positive experience at Goddard to the people there and to their overall communication practices. Mr. Mehul hires caring, friendly, and very capable people to work in his school. Whenever possible, he was proactive about keeping us informed, and whenever anything unforeseen developed, his updates were timely and transparent. He and his staff in the front office were always responsive and professional and our daughter's teachers were all very warm, approachable, and attentive. Our daughter was enrolled full-time at Goddard for just over six months and has been out for just under one month. Needless to say, she STILL affectionately inquires after her teachers and Mr. Mehul! For context I feel I should share that, from the outset of enrolling her in school, we'd determined it was to be a temporary response to a temporary crisis, and as we're now vaccinated and most things have reopened with a new normal, we were relieved and happy to acknowledge that Goddard was no longer the ONLY place where we felt that she could socialize safely. Though safe socialization was the key driver that compelled us to find a school for her, I never considered just how significantly she'd be affected by the whole experience in terms of her social-emotional growth. Goddard's play-based approach to education really resonated with us at the time we elected to enroll her, and unsurprisingly, after six months there, we feel that she's a walking testament to everything great at Goddard. For our daughter, Goddard was a wonderful option, and we can wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone looking for a safe place for their child to learn and grow. read more

My daughter started at The Goddard School in Durham at 18 months and over the past 2 years she has loved going to school. Most days I have a hard time getting her to leave! Every teacher she has had has been warm, caring, and invested in her progress. She has made great friends with the other kids. We have never had a problem. They often do extra things like party events, pony photo shoots, and special surprises for holidays. The administration and aids at GSD are also so wonderful. They take great care of the children, follow policies, and make you feel a part of a community. I definitely recommend this school. read more

I absolutely adore the Goddard school. My son just graduated after 4 amazing years there and I wouldn't have had it any other way. The teachers there are so caring and really get to know you child and their individual needs. Being a working mom, it was so important for me to know that I was leaving my child somewhere where he would not be in the best learning environment, but also be in a nurturing environment. The teachers really love the kids as if they were their own. The owner Mehul Desai is so amazing at addressing any questions or concerns IMMEDIATELY and is so easy to talk to. My son has learned so much in his time there whether it be taking care of potty training him, to getting him to love coloring and drawing (and just overall crafts!) when I couldn't, to prepping him for kindergarten, I really felt he was covered very step of the way. It's hard to picture moving on to Kindergarten but I know he will be the most prepared kid in his class! read more

My daughter was at Goddard over the past 13 months. The teachers and administration have been nothing but caring, communicative and kind. It has been a terrific experience for her and for our family. read more

My two-year-old daughter has been very happy at Goddard. Her teachers are so caring and enthusiastic, and they truly enjoy working with the children. The educational curriculum has been great; our child has learned so much just in the span of a few months at the school. The administrative staff here is also top-notch. They are friendly, responsive, and really care about the well-being of their families. I highly recommend Goddard! read more

This is an excellent Goddard School branch. The staff are all very friendly and attentive. Had we not moved away to Chapel Hill, our children would still be enrolled there. read more

The teachers are wonderful, caring, and there is a daily communication log on what is happening in the classroom. The staff and administration are friendly and incredibly responsive. Overall, a great school for kids! read more

We love it here! If you are expecting, check it out early as there can be a wait list in the infant room.

The Goddard School in Durham is a fantastic childcare center. Our son has been attending the school for the preschool program and has had an amazing experience. Not only has he made some great friends, but he absolutely adores his teachers in the Bear Class. We are so appreciative of Ms. Ralencia, who has made our child feel loved, safe, and heard while at school. He has been learning so much too. At Goddard, they do a lot of learning through play which is so important at this age, but they also implement a lot of great programs such as "writing without tears." They also do a lot of other family events like the "Goddard Birthday Party," and "Family Garden Night," which are so fun for the kids and parents. Finally, Mehul, the owner is incredible. He is thoughtful and communicative, he works hard to ensure that the children, parents and staff are all take care of. Our boy will be moving on to Kindergarten, but we will sending our daughter to Goddard for preschool too. It's nice to know we can rest easy about this decision of where to get great childcare. read more

As a working parent, I really was looking for a program with good hours and convenient to home. With a child who just started kindergarten after 3 years at The Goddard School in Durham, I realize even more how beneficial it has been. Many of my concerns about parenting, like "will they ever get potty trained" or "how can I get them to use their words and not cry", were alleviated with the help of the team of teachers there. The teachers truly focus on the skills that need to be developed as toddlers and pre-schoolers while also showing love everyday. They really pay attention to each child and tailor their approach to fit them best. so back to kindergarten readiness - The Goddard School prepares them with learning sight words, early math, independence, computer skills, and exposure to a variety of topics in science, history, and art. While there may be lingering concerns about daycare choice, I would finally add that The Goddard School follows regulations around infection control, child nutrition, and child safety. I found it to be a very safe and welcoming place. read more

Goddard school has been an excellent experience for our family. The owner, Mehul, really cares about the students. He understands the balance of running a business and having personal relationships with the parents and children. He is always receptive to feedback. Laura and Meredith are in the front office and both make sure the place runs smoothly, listen as needed, and offer child-related expertise as parents are navigating the natural development of their children. They have helped me contextualize stages of growth and challenge with my child more than once for sure. The teachers that my child has had over the course of his time there have been excellent. Each teacher is different, each class is different, but what is true is that my son has had a special bond with at least one if not both teachers in his classrooms all the way through. Meredith (now in the office) was his first teacher there and they continue to share a special bond. Other teachers both my child and I have had excellent experiences with include Ms. Ciara, Ms. Valencia, Ms. Relencia, and Ms. Kierstyn. Each of these teachers have been a regular instructor. Even when he moves to the next class he asks to go back to see them and give them hugs. There are also folks who have not been his regular every day teacher who are great including Ebony, Mercedes, Brandyn, Desiree among others. Beyond the care, concern, and relationships... my child is thriving socially and academically. The community of parents at the Goddard school has been phenomenal and I expect some of those relationships will continue through elementary school and beyond even though they are not all at the same school anymore. Academically, my child has come home and talked about how elevators are pulley systems, asked for math problems (simple addition), and asked to get books so he could start reading on his own. He is proud of his artwork, shares creative stories, gets exercise daily, and loves to go to school. I just feel really lucky that we found a place that fit our family so well during the early years and I thank each and every person there who has had a role in shaping my child over the years we have been there. Next year we go to kindergarten and it will be great, but we will miss our Goddard family too. read more