On the surface level, Abundance seems like an amazing option for childcare. They tout a curriculum that combines Reggio Emelia, Waldorf and many other education styles that are hard to find in Laramie. In the year that our children attended, the school management attracted some of the best daycare and preschool teachers we've ever experienced.
However, our happiness with the center was short-lived. The truly talented teachers seldom stay longer than a few months. In the year that our toddler was in the toddler classroom, he had 4 main teachers. The management make frequent changes to policy that are not communicated clearly to parents including making parents agree to a school year contract and a non-compete (parents are not allowed to open their own daycare - um, what?). The management of the school is disorganized and lacks administrative experience. They seem to rely on their "vision" more than actually running the school. The school is one of the most expensive in town, but does not provide lunch or snacks (a policy that was changed with very little notice), the building is old and the teachers have to leave classroom windows open to avoid a gas smell that fills the classrooms, and the summer program is an absolute nightmare. Last year they hired one, college-aged young woman who clearly had no experience with kids and then gave her a group of 20, which she frequently took on walking trips all around town.
The teachers who are still at the school seem defeated and are subjected to the same unpredictable changes and behavior that we saw. They are also required to sign non-competes and one teacher that I know of was fired for babysitting for a center family after hours. It's truly a shame because some of the teachers are so, so good. If they were in a supportive environment, there's no doubt they could be one of the most competitive daycares here.
If you're looking for childcare in Laramie, proceed with caution before choosing Abundance. read more