Like Roseann S., I was also disappointed to see a negative review here for TYS Meadow Creek. In fact, Roseann's child and my child are in the same classroom at TYS (hi Roseann!). I posted the following review on another website, but I'd also like to post it here as I know people may go different places for reviews. My 19 month old daughter has attended TYS Meadow Creek since I went back to work when she was 4 months old. I LOVE them and cannot imagine sending her anywhere else. We live in Reisterstown, and I returned to work in Westminster initially. When my daughter was a year old, I changed jobs, and now my husband and I both commute into downtown Baltimore for work. To keep her at TYS, I drive 30 min from Reisterstown to Westminster and then about an hour and 15 min from Westminster to work. I repeat this process in reverse at the end of every day. That is how committed we are to the people and what they do at TYS. In the infant program, the children keep their same teachers until age 2 as the move from the infant to the "todfant" to the toddler room. Both my daughter and I are tightly bonded to her primary teacher, and I have also developed friendships with the other 5 (awesome) mothers in her classroom, including Roseann :) I have the luxury of never worrying about my daughter when I am at work, because I feel like I have left her with family - but even better, family who are highly educated in early child development! I could go into detail about all the activities they do, the pictures they take of my daughter during her day, the skills they have taught her. All of those things are fantastic, but more important than that is the fact that they are wonderful, caring people who I unequivocally trust with only child. I'd also like to address some of the comments in the negative review more directly. My daughter is older than Roseann's child, so she started attending TYS earlier. When we originally took a tour of TYS, the previous directors were there. At the time of our visit, I found them to be very friendly and did not have any reservations. We were told there was plenty of space in what would be my daughter's classroom, so we did not need to put down our deposit right away. The previous director assured me that she would contact me if I had not yet sent a deposit and the (6 total) spaces began to fill. After my daughter was born, I contacted TYS to confirm the deposit amount and was shocked to find that the room was almost full! I almost missed having a spot for child care; yikes! The previous director had never mentioned me to the incoming director. I have had NO such communication difficulties with the current administrators (more on this in a second). My daughter was in the same cottage as the Assistant Head of School's child when she started. The assistant head left TYS not long after, but in the time that there was overlap, I actually always saw her at her desk greeting families in the morning when we came in, and even though our children were in the same room, I never saw her spending time with her child in the infant room. In fairness, it is possible, of course, that (1) I just never happened to "catch" her and / or (2) she had received feedback about that and changed what she was doing. Nonetheless, it was not something I ever observed. I have on a couple of occasions had concerns that I brought directly to the Head of the School, and I have been completely satisfied (on both occasions) with her response. I'll describe one of them. My daughter, since she was about 3 months old, has never been willing to go with anyone other than me or her primary teachers. As soon as you hand her over, she would scream and cry (still does at 19 months). During the time where there was some staff turnover, there were some changes to the teachers who "opened" the infant / todfant / toddler cottage in the morning and dropping off my sobbing child was very difficult (for me and her). I thought long and hard and carefully crafted an email to the Head of the School, asking for modifications to the staffing arrangement, which is not a small request. She emailed me back promptly and asked me to come talk to her at pick-up. At that time, she explained why the staffing was the way it was and even agreed to make some changes - for the sole purpose of helping me and my child. Seriously. She rearranged teacher schedules because it was something that my daughter and I felt we needed at the time. Where else would that sort of thing happen? Finally, like Roseann, when I come to pick up my child at the end of the day, I get a run-down of how her day went - everything from how her nap and food intake were (which is also written on a log that is sent home every day) to the silly things she said or did. I have NEVER had difficulties with communication with her teachers or administration. I could go on forever about how much we love TYS, but really, I'd advise you to just go see for yourself how awesome they are read more

Both my daughters started at the Young School in July 2013, and yes there were a lot of resignations but for good reasons. The head of school resigned to take care of her sick mother and the Mountain cottage director resigned for medical reasons too. These were both older women. They did have an Assistant Head of School that was not a good fit. She was just replaced back in May with the Bay cottage director who is really superb. The new Mountain cottage director is exceptional. My kids adore her. She is up to PAR with the lesson plans. As for the supply fee, have you ever been inside a Young School? I don't understand what the other mom is complaining about. The things they have setup for the kids is amazing. Back in the spring, the children observed the life cycle of a monarch butterfly. They do self portraits with pieces of scrap metals and learn about Picasso! They just had their art work exhibited at the Carroll Art Museum. My oldest daughter's art teacher was astounding. She was just promoted to the Bay cottage director position since that lady is now the Assistant Head of School. The right people are in place now and the school is flourishing. We had a couple of resignations in the past month but that was because those teachers were offered teaching positions at an Elementary School. That is the next step in their career path. Other points: My kids are not sick like they used to be at their last center. This place is so clean and that was the first thing I noticed. The atmosphere is inviting and relaxing. The layout is my favorite though. They have stations set up for the kids in ways unimaginable. It makes the kids want to learn. They play all day and make it fun for them to learn new things. My husband and I plan on having another baby in the future and we are excited for the infant area. Usually, infant areas are small but not at the Young School. You always see the teachers and babies sprawled out on the carpet playing with toys and exploring. The teachers are approachable, understanding and communicative. My daughter is now in Kindergarten and has learned so much in one year she attended the young school. I'm excited for my 3 year old because she will get a total of 3 years at the Young School before she starts Kindergarten. read more

The Young School is simply incredible. My son has been enrolled there, except for a brief hiatus, since he was 8 weeks old. He has thrived under their care and instruction. As a parent and a teacher, it is incredibly gratifying to see my 2 year old wake up excited about going to school each day. He loves everyone there. What makes The Young School different from other care providers is the mentality of the employees. For them it is not simply a job and a paycheck. Everyone there truly cares about the children in their care and routinely goes above and beyond to ensure the best possible day for the child every day. My son spent the first 2 years he was there with the same group of students and teachers, who still light up when they see him and greet him with love and enthusiasm everyday. The academic programs that are in place here are MSDE certified for Early Childhood Education. This truly is a learning facility. It is a school that not only teaches skills, but curiosity, independence, creativity, and an overall appreciation for learning. Every child there is actively engaged throughout the day, all the while having fun while learning to love learning. Having gone elsewhere, I will look no farther in the future for childcare. The Westminster location is the place I want my children to know and to grow. My son was enrolled during the spate of changes, and yes, communication wasn't always the best, but his teachers were incredible throughout the confusion in the school. I do not feel that he suffered at all during the time that the administration was in flux. The changes that were going on had nothing to do with the reasons we left the school and enrolled him somewhere else. The family atmosphere and the true enthusiasm the staff has for the children in their charge had everything to do with why we came back. It is without a doubt the right place for my son to be. read more

It's unfortunate that the main recommended review for The Young School at Meadow Creek on this site is so dated. It is detailed, and helpful - just the kind of review I would appreciate - but the staff mentioned in the review is also explained as having left the school. My son has been going three days a week since January and he absolutely loves it! The current staff at The Young School is so enthusiastic and really dedicated to the children. There is excellent communication between the staff and parents with so many opportunities to contribute to or participate in our son's school life. There was a flood situation in February. The school made the absolute best of an awful set of circumstances. They acted quickly and turned the experience into "Winter Camp" for the children while keeping the parents apprised of every progress, right down to the qualifications of the new paint! As a school, the environment is perfect for a preschooler, especially with the amazing teacher-to-student ratio. The wealth of materials (like the easels in the art studio and the clay or light tables, or the block platform and tool center in the math and science area) and the comfortable settings (like the reading area for the letter and sound circles, and the loft in the great room for role-playing or manipulatives) promote creativity and learning by hands-on exploration. There is a lot of playing too! Not every school will fit everyone's particular needs. I initially enrolled my son in another preschool and quickly discovered it was not the right fit for him. I might never have known about The Young School if not for the realization that my first choice was not the right choice. In my opinion, The Young School is the best option in Carroll County. If you are considering any sort of daycare or preschool in this area, you should schedule a tour and see for yourself. read more

My husband and I live very close to the Young School in Westminster and love the convenience of the location. This was our first choice in day care facilities for our infant and we never visited another facility. The school is secure and our first impression was that it was clean and promoted fun learning. We had a tour of the entire school even though our child would be in the infant room. We loved to hear that our child would have the same teachers until the age of 2 and they are the sweetest, most caring, non-family members we want around our child. Our baby started at TYS at 10 weeks old and now at 8 months old he looks forward to seeing his teachers and classmates. He actually gets a huge smile on his face when he sees their friendly familiar faces. Every day when I drop him off and pick him up I take a few extra moments to watch him settle in and interact with his friends and the toys in the room. This is also a good time to ask the teachers questions or for us all to share stories. This is our first child and I appreciate their wisdom when I have a new mom question or concern. When he started, TYS wanted to know the recommended schedule for my child, but when he started the only thing I really had down was a good eating schedule. They helped tire him out during the day so he now sleeps soundly at night, all the while getting good nap time during the day. I cannot thank them enough for this. The level of care my child receives is second to none and I do recommend The Young School, any location, to anyone! read more

When we first toured the Young School at Meadow Creek, we instantly knew it was the place we wanted our soon-to-arrive son to attend. While we were no doubt impressed with the curriculum and the infant/todfant rooms, we were blown away by the Two's-Four's rooms. It was clear that the school's mission, teachers and staff went above and beyond to provide a safe, caring and highly enriching place for children. Our son was initially enrolled at the Young School as an infant after I returned to work full time. As a first-time parent, any fears or concerns were completely put at ease. We were grateful for his teachers and had the utmost confidence in the wonderful and loving care he received. I was always amazed at the effort put forth to to develop creative and enriching activities, especially for such young infants. When our son was seven months old, I changed jobs in order to stay home with our son but we intended on enrolling him again at the Young School when he was two for socialization. Indeed when he turned two, we enrolled our son again, part-time. As when he was an infant, we have been more than satisfied with his experience there. The curriculum and activities are always stimulating, engaging and nurturing. He is always excited to go to school, loves his teachers and learns a great deal. We highly recommend the Young School at Meadow Creek to parents of children at any age. read more

We've just enrolled in the Young School, and I have to say I could not be happier with the level of support and engagement we received while touring the school and exploring our various daycare options. I explored other daycares that seemed less than interested in promptly getting me in to take a tour and to get back to me when I had questions. Not the Young School--the director was immediately responsive to me and got me in for a tour within a day of calling. The lead teacher that provided me with the tour was nothing short of impressive. I came in with a list of questions I wanted to ask, and I didn't have to ask a single one of them--she proactively gave me every bit of information I wanted and more. Every teacher was happy to have us enter and look around her classroom, and they all greeted us with a friendly smile and the offer to answer any questions we had. The school is surprisingly clean, and the setup of the building and classrooms are ideal for each level of childhood. The infant care rooms are wonderfully calming and made me very comfortable with the level of attention and care our little girl would get. Even after our tour, the director kept in regular contact with me to ensure I felt supported and in the loop about what my next steps were. I already feel like we've established a really positive relationship and couldn't be happier to be part of the Young School family. read more

We switched out sons (now 4 years and 19 months) to the Young School from another center a few months ago and could not be more pleased. I wish we had made the change sooner. The center is amazing. My oldest tells me all of the time how much he loves his new school and his new teachers. He says that nobody yells at him anymore. Leslie and Kara are amazing and always available for questions. The teachers are all warm, welcoming, and approachable. And I never see them playing on their cell phones (a big problem at our previous center). The cottage system is wonderful because it provides the children with exposure to larger numbers of their peers and the opportunity to learn from students that are older and younger than them. I love the Emilio Regatto philosophy and the emphasis on playing as well as learning. I think the infant to toddler approach is fabulous because the babies age through each class with the same teachers (although regrettably my youngest enrolled too late to benefit from this to the fullest extent possible). The infant/toddler teachers are amazing. They are so loving and caring that we have not had tears at drop off since the first week with our adjustment to a new environment. This school is wonderful and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a loving, caring, safe environment for their children to learn and grow within. read more

My son has attend the Young School since he has been 18 months old and now he is 5. My husband and I have watched him grow with an enormous sense of self-esteem and the amount of knowledge is astonishing. When he attends Kindergarten this fall we know that he is well prepared for his Elementary years. The environment is very calming and very welcoming. When my son was in the infant cottages, him and his teachers were together for two years, which was a nice transition when they moved cottages. The teachers really got to know my son and how to interact with him and his corky personality :). The teachers really takes their time to "know" all of the children. The Pre-K cottages are wonderful! The open environment and the rotation of centers, really give the child the opportunity to learn on their interests. They have the ability to learn through Art, Math and Science, Language and the Great Room which fosters the social and emotional piece of learning. At the end of each foundation, the projects are amazing! Sometimes you have to think that a child created this??? Children do create masterpieces!!!! Each child is looked at an individual and is respected for who they are! We love the Young School! read more

The Young School is a great environment for my sons. My oldest son started at eight weeks and is now three. The infant cottage consists of three rooms. They were all age-appropriate and safe for him to learn and grow. The class and teachers moved up as a group. This helped our son to barely ever have any separate issues during drop off or the remainder of the day. The teachers taught my son so much more than I could have done at home. The twos room has different centers that change periodically through the year with the change in curriculum. My son has learned so much academically and socially. TYS is a little expensive, but you get what you pay for. We have never considered leaving and have even signed our baby up to start at eight weeks. There has been turnover with the directors and teachers since we started, but they have all been helpful and genuinely cared for our family. They are closed more days than other area centers, but everything else makes up for it. My son's language and social skills are more advanced than many other kids his age that we know. That is because of the RIE and Reggio Emilia approaches to learning (as well as the wonderful teachers). I would recommend this school to anyone. read more

The minute my husband and I walked in to the Young School we were blown away by the beauty of the facility and the kind and welcoming staff. Our children had been in a different facility and by the end of our tour, our decision to move them had already been made. There was nothing to even discuss amongst ourselves because we were so impressed. We have just finished the first year for our girls and we have continued to be wow-ed. Our younger daughter has grown and matured tremendously and had the sweetest, most loving teachers we could have asked for. It is so reassuring to leave your kids with someone who loves them as you would. The transition was a bit more challenging for our older daughter, but the amazing staff worked with her to make her comfortable and helped make the transition as smooth as possible. She has also matured over the year, becoming a leader among her peers and is now as ready for kindergarten as she can possibly be. I only wish she could do Kindergarten at the Young School!!! :-) I would recommend the Young School to anyone who was looking for child care or pre school for their child. read more

My son started at TYS in Sept 2014 in the toddler room. He is a shy and quiet child and had some difficulty with the transition. His teachers have been wonderful and he has grown developmentally and socially since he started. It is very clear that he his cared for by not only his teachers but the entire staff. I am always amazed that everyone knows his name and even recognize me too. The curriculum is incredible and he is learning so much. I love our car rides home when he tells me all the fun things he did at school. The parent/staff communication is excellent. I always feel in the loop on upcoming events and there is always someone is the office willing to answer even the silliest of questions. Parents are very involved with the school. There are small "parties" for every holiday along with other fun activities like grandparents day, planting flowers for earth day, and field trips to the zoo! It I have felt comfortable from day one with my son being cared for at TYS. read more

We have been with The Young School since our first child was born in 2010. The individualized attention and customized learning the children receive at The Young School is the best. From infant care through Pre-K, the sensory learning along with the art, math, science, and language curriculum has resulted in my children achieving advanced milestones. Their language, social skills, and manners are beyond reproach - and I thank the teachers at The Young School for these life skills and civility. The extra-curricular activities offered in house help afford my children opportunities that might have been missed due to our very busy and demanding work schedules. The super summer camps, field trips, and enrichment programs make The Young School a place my children can't wait to arrive each day. One of the best qualities of The Young School is the faculty. Each and every one of the teachers know and loves my children which makes The Young School an extension of our family. read more

My son has been at the Young school for the past 4 years. I cannot imagine my son being at a better place during these very important developmental years of his life. He will be transitioning to Kindergarten next year with CCPS. My son plays a lot with kids his age in our neighborhood and various sport activities in the county, and I am so impressed at how far ahead he is in his learning than the other kids of his age. He is already ahead of kids that I know that our in Kindergarten and 1st Grade and I owe that to the structure and learning environment that is a part of the Young School curriculum and philosophy. This is not a Day Care environment, this place is treated like a school, where kids are learning the very important social and developmental skills that will prepare for them for their future years. I cannot think of a better place to bring my child every day. read more

I have 2 kids at the Young School in full-time daycare. I wouldn't send them anywhere else!! We tried 2 other daycares before coming here. The teaching philosophy is more than I could ever imagine to provide for my own kids. My oldest started there at 15 months and my youngest started as soon as I went back to work from maternity leave. I have watched them grow into amazing little people, learning to be independent and respectful. The teachers truly LOVE their students and my kids LOVE them back! There is no fight to get them to leave the house to go to daycare every morning. They get excited to see their teachers and friends. Everyone at The Young School cares about the well-being of the kids from newborn to pre-k, from teachers to school directors. I highly recommend The Young School for daycare and even pre-k! I never worry about them when they are there. read more

The Young School is absolutely amazing! The first thing I noticed when I walked in the door was the intense sense of organized learning and routine. There is children's artwork lining the walls and I could really see what the kids do all day. Their unique philosophy of learning encourages self paced growing and exploration, which I love! The staff are wonderful and caring and from the start, have helped me tremendously in being a first time parent, and a very protective one at that. They are very informative and give detailed descriptions of what my daughter has learned and is working on every single day. Knowing that my daughter is growing well in The Young School has decreased my worrying and let's me go to work with peace of mind that she is well taken care of. I would recommend this child care center to anyone and everyone! read more

After carefully considering the preschool options available in Carroll County, we decided to enroll our three-year old son in the Young School in Westminster. We couldn't be happier with our choice. He loves the teachers there and they seem truly interested in his happiness and well being. The teachers and staff at the Young School are great at communicating with us about any concerns we have. After the building was damaged by a flood over the winter, the staff and administration went out of their way to accommodate the families depending on their situation and found an innovative, fun solution to take care of the kids while the building was repaired. After it reopened a few weeks later the building was like new and better than ever. read more

My daughter enrolled at the Young School when she was two years old after coming from a small in home daycare. The staff worked tirelessly to make sure the transition was seamless for both myself and my daughter. She has absolutely thrived in this environment and her speech has taken off since attending. I have found the administration and teachers to be caring and they seem to take a genuine interest in each child which is refreshing. I love the daily communication sheets, as this helps to facilitate conversation between my daughter and I. She looks forward to going to school each morning and as a mother, this just means the world to me and speaks volumes about the type of environment she is in each day. read more

The Young School is our daughter's first "center" setting and we LOVE it. The Meadow Creek facility is welcoming, very clean, and very well lit (with tons of natural lighting). I knew as soon as we walked in and were greeted by the friendly staff that this would be a great place for our daughter to be, but when we learned about the Reggio Emilia approach and how the learning is driven by the children, we fell in love. Our daughter has attended this incredible school for a year now and we could not be happier with the academic progress she's made, her social advancements, the independence and confidence she's gained, or the family style bond we have with formed with her teachers. read more