We were initially thrilled to enroll our daughter at Ivy Land, but our excitement quickly turned into disappointment. Once she started, our daughter fell ill consistently, missing out on the learning experience we had hoped for. What added to the frustration was the lack of incentive for parents to keep sick kids home. The preschool's policy of charging full price regardless of attendance meant that many parents sent their sick children after administering fever-reducing meds.
Despite a staff member contracting COVID-19, the promised changes to drop-off protocols never materialized. We were essentially paying $180 a week to Ivy Land to 'hold the spot,' even when our daughter was sick four out of five days. This left us home sick, without a paycheck, and questioning the value of the preschool.
When I raised these concerns with the staff and to the owner through their messaging system, instead of addressing the issues, I was met with a withdrawal form the next time I walked in. When we wanted a short break before Christmas vacation due to our 90-year-old grandparents' health concerns, and that we couldn't bring illnesses with us or they could die, we were met with laughter instead of understanding. Many preschools offer discounted rates for sick or vacation time, but Ivy Land seemed indifferent. They will cite their contract when faced with morality. When I readdressed the illness issue, the owner explained how it's normal for kids to get sick, told me to "google it", and that they hold their temperature records for 7 years (although she knows these numbers are manipulated). It may be normal for kids to be sick under their care, but our daughter has not been sick since leaving. We were too sick at Christmas to go anywhere, except we did go to the Urgent Care and ER for a strep infection; we should have taken that withdrawal form.
Moreover, our daughter's time at Ivy Land was marred by bad behavior and inappropriate incidents. She complained about frequent harassment in the bathroom by a boy, sand-throwing, pushing, and someone defecating on the toy pirate ship. Where were the teachers? Why were some of these things able to happen at all?
We were also unaware of an aggressive breed rescue dog with social and anxiety issues frequenting the premises. Has the state approved this? Is it really appropriate to socialize an anxious dog around babies and preschool children?
Lastly, the $90 late payment fee for a weekly payment structure felt excessive and unreasonable.
It all culminated in a disheartening experience that fell far short of our expectations for a nurturing and supportive learning environment. read more
