My experience trying to get my daughter (one year) into the Goddard School could not have been…read moreworse.
Three weeks prior to her expected start date, I called the school asking if they had openings with the toddler classroom. They did, and when they asked what days she would be attending, I asked if they could do a variable three days throughout the week. This is due to the fact that my wife works three days a week as a nurse, but her days aren't set. The school responded that they could accommodate this.
The following week, I went in for the tour. During the interview, I again mentioned that we would need the variable scheduling, and was again reassured that they could make it work. We then toured the facility. The facility is fine, and the teachers seemed fine. The toddler room's floor was a little dirty, and the kids were all running around with runny noses... but it is a toddler room with 10 kids, so it is about what I would expect.
At this point I was excited to enroll my daughter, and was told that they had some other families looking at the spot in the classroom. My wife and I decided quickly, and by the next morning we had given the Goddard School signed paperwork, and a check for their 'non-refundable' deposit and payment for the first week of care.
A few days later, my wife also went in to the school for a tour, and was again told they could accommodate the schedule, although the Director (Marissa) was beginning to grow a little wishy washy about having our daughter attend on Fridays. Still, we felt good, and began filling out the paperwork and purchasing the items that the school requested (lunchbox, bottles, crib sheets, shoes, etc.). We also began migrating our daughter onto their schedule (one nap a day, no bottles, etc.).
Finally, on a Saturday night, two days before my daughter is expected to begin at the school, we receive an email from Marissa, the Director, that some of their current families changed their schedule and would no longer be able to have our daughter attend their school. There was no mention of returning our money.
Yes, after a three week process of five or six separate reassurances, after we paid and visited twice, after we stopped looking at other schools and canceled our previous childcare arrangements, and only two days prior to when we were supposed to begin, sent with an email to us on the weekend with no one to speak to.... we were told to go pound sand.
So, can I recommend the Goddard School? Of course not, because the sheer administrative incompetence, horrible customer service, unprofessional communication and second class treatment never allowed my family to see the school we paid to see.
I hope that the teachers and the curriculum are great for you if you try to enroll your child here, but be forewarned that it could be your family that is hung out to dry in the future.
