Our son has been a student at House at Pooh Corner for a year now and I can say that this is a…read morespecial school. There are many things I like about this school--the love and patience shown by the teachers, the intentional community-building, the inclusive atmosphere--but what really sets it apart to me is thought and care that goes into the design of the educational experience. I am a teacher, and I think a lot about how an educator's vision affects how students learn. My experience has been that many daycare centers either lack any educational vision at all, or else teach a "canned" curriculum devised by an institution outside the school. Not so at Pooh Corner. The educational director works with the teachers to develop a curriculum that is appropriate for THESE SPECIFIC KIDS and reflects their interests. They do special projects based on whatever the kids are excited about--my son's class did a project on shoes, and then another on "gravity" (things going up and falling down). The kids get exposure to lots of different kinds of learning experiences. They have a weekly science class that involves gardening, composting, and bugs. This is not just "experiential" science either--they collect data on their plants (I don't think they call it that, but that's what it is) and compare the ones growing inside and outside! There are options like Spanish class and dance class as well. This is all in the context of lots of free play with a great outdoor playspace, as well as time for physical skills, reading, letters, and numbers. However even the letters and numbers are incorporated thoughtfully into the things that the kids are interested in. The school works as a team with families on big changes like potty training--it made it so easy for us, I think he went from diapers to underpants in two days. They also encourage kids to do as much as possible by themselves, which helps them to be independent.

After a very disappointing experience at another daycare, I can confidently say that House at Pooh…read moreCorner is everything you want and can expect from a daycare. We send our current toddler there, and we plan to send our future infant there as well. (And we plan to have them grow through each class within the center.) The daycare is well staffed and has floating staff, so each room is always equipped with the minimum (often more than) number staff required for each age group. This helps the staff morale, as it seems that no one is over or underworked. The staff is friendly, knowledgable and truly cares about the children and the community. And many staff members have been there for many years (some are former students of Pooh Corner). Notable Pros: -Staff members are ALWAYS "on the floor". They are never sitting in a chair and on cell phones (unfortunately, many other daycares accept this). Staff are actively involved and playing with and teaching the children. -Lesson plans are sent through email weekly. Other emails are sent with pictures of events and other things that the community is involved in. -There is a strong community mentality. Pooh Corner is a welcoming community with many volunteer events, art shows, and social events (at the center and at parents' homes). -Everybody knows everyone else. Because of the movement of staff floaters and the community mentality, everyone knows my wife, my daughter and me, when I walk in (from the director, to the pre-school teachers, to all of my daughter's teachers in the toddler room). This truly makes me feel like my daughter is in safe and caring hands. -Outdoor play everyday (weather permitting). They have a wonderful playground and do things like water play in the summer. -They have a focus on sustainable practices and organic materials. They welcome cloth diapers provide organic sunscreen and bug spray during the spring/summer.

My son has attended Schwartz since he was 2 and just turned 4. I am so grateful for the teachers…read moreand community at Schwartz. It truly feels like a family. My son always looks forward to going to school. I am also a teacher at a local school and am always very impressed with the emotional, social and academic skills that Schwartz kids that come into Kindergarten with!!

Our son has been in the PreK classroom for a year, and the school is phenomenal. His teacher has…read moregone out of her way to get to know him individually and create a curriculum that supports his interests and strengths. The kids are exposed to a wide range of subjects and activities - art, music, reading, writing, gymnastics and soccer. The school does a great job preparing kids for kindergarten.

Brilliant Beginnings was the best place for our son. He was so happy there and was always nurtured…read moreand cared for. The extended hours were a wonderful option for working parents, and they were a great help through potty training. They do a wonderful job of teaching children to experience different ways to learn, and have such a great space for kids to explore. They are also thoughtful about how to make all of the kids feel like they belong - having a Hannukah celebration that all of the kids participated in meant so much to our son.

My baby began at BBELC at the age of almost six months, and for the first month, the care seemed…read morefine. As time went on, I noticed when leaving or entering the facility, I would hear caregivers speak in a very rough tone when correcting the Pre-K children. When I left one day and heard an infant room teacher tell a child UNDER TWO to "Knock it off!" and "You better stop" when she was crying, I placed my baby on a waitlist for another center. In the meantime, on a day when a lead teacher was absent, my baby was only given 3 oz. of breastmilk between 7 a.m.-3:45 p.m. My child went to this center every day with a 6 oz. bottle of formula prepared, 4-6 oz. of milk for a second bottle, and 4-6 oz. of milk in the freezer so that she can, ***at least***, have 10-12 oz. of formula and breastmilk when I am away from her. When I complained about this horrendous issue to the administration of the center, I was, at first given an apology by the DIRECTOR-- WHICH IS NOT ENOUGH when dehydrating a child. Then, the staff member who oversaw this infraction said to me, "They told me to apologize, so I am, but ..." and then proceeded to attempt an excuse for not giving my child two bottles. After this time, the ASST. DIRECTOR asked me to come in her office and told me she needed to interview me to discover what is going on with my daughter's feeding schedule, and very quickly into the conversation, I realized she was trying to shift this issue to being a questioning of my parenting-- asking me why I "only provide two bottles of breastmik for my child a day?" ....to which I said. "WELL, if you looked at your records OR IF YOU KEPT DECENT RECORDS, you would see (and be prepared to discuss), she is provided 6 oz. of formula PLUS two bottles of breastmilk a day, PLUS a pouch of babyfood." She then said, "Oh good, I am glad, because I was about to come at you." Uh, what?? Ridiculous record keeping, unprepared parent conference, lack of accountability, and accusatory in the face of DEHYDRATING A SIX MONTH OLD... a perfect recipe to send my family as far away from this center as possible. ***Oh, and when I said issues like this one are serious enough to report a center to the state, the asst. director said "Oh, are you threatening us? We've made accommodations for you. Where is ours?" ....She was insinuating I should be making them accommodations because they had made an accommodation for me once to cash my check for childcare payment one date later than usual. Payment plans are supposed to make it okay NOT TO CARE FOR YOUR CHILD????!!!! I told them upon leaving we would never return, and I called the director after we left. The Director assured me they are doing professional development for all levels of admin and caregivers to correct this egregious situation. I hope she is serious about it because as it stands, as a mom of three with kids as old as 9, this is the absolute worst childcare experience of my motherhood. What a disaster.

As a working mother of three (ages 3-7-10) children, I've seen my fair share of child care centers…read more I have to admit, Just Children (Mt. Laurel) has been favorite! My youngest son has been attending Just Children since he was 18 months old. From day one, he was welcomed into a warm and nurturing environment. His lead teachers have been consistent. No turn overs like mentioned in other posts. To speak directly to the program, his day to day is a well-thought out mix of age appropriate activities, learning and free play. At 3 years old, he has already been taught his letters and numbers, and can read and write them, too! Throughout the day, I am provided text message video and photos, which makes me feel like I am still a part of what is going on! I love seeing his activities each day! There are a variety of enhancements my child receives at Just Children, which he didn't get at other centers. Touchscreen computers, Spanish lessons, and offerings for sports or dance classes! The staff at Just Children is well educated, friendly and warm. They care about my son - really, they do, and keep me updated on his progress. The other review I read mentioned something about a problem with communication at Just Children. As a parent of a child currently in the program, I couldn't disagree more. The director of the school has an OPEN office at the reception area. She greets the parents as they come in, and knows each child by name. The lead teachers in the room keep me informed about my child's day to day progress, and each evening I receive a communication from the teacher with notes, food, etc. They will even remind me of upcoming events, or if there was an issue my child had that day (this is never a surprise -- I'm always aware prior to the email). In my honest opinion, I wouldn't think to put my child in any other daycare center in the area. They say that actions speak louder than words...so I will also say that Just Children is so amazing that I have THREE neighbors who also send their children there. In fact, they are the ones who referred me to the center. Their children have all been attending since they were infants -- and most are now 4! Thank you, Just Children, for taking such amazing care of my child! You make a working mom feel so comfortable leaving their baby each day.

I had an immediate need for child care help that was flexible and easy! JUST CHILDREN was just that…read more:) the director is so easy going, knowledgeable and professional. Picking your child's daycare can be SUPER overwhelming, but look no further. With convenient hours, AMAZING staff and fun filled days, this daycare center was the best option for our family. My daughter LOVES going to school everyday and cant wait to go back the next day. In the few short months shes been there I have noticed a significant increase in her speech, she mastered potty training with their help AND learned to put herself to sleep for nap time!! Give them a call and check the place out! I like it because its smaller so my daughter gets the attention she needs :) Every parent's dream! HIGHLY recommended!

As parents who have no prior experience with daycare or schools for kids, we had lots of worries…read more Being the protective mom that I was, I was never too excited or keen with the idea of having our son go, so we waited until he was a year and a half. My husband and I agreed that it is about time as he needs to learn to socialize as well. We searched and looked for the right school or a care provider and eventually found Lightbridge Academy at Delran, NJ. They eased all our worries, answered all our questions, excellent staff, even great walkthrough! Everything was on point. They also have cameras where you can check in on your little one whenever you wish. In such a short time, our son showed amazing progress. This is coming from a boy who is exclusively BF and only sleeps with mommy, rarely with daddy and is very dependent on being latched. Like any kid, in the beginning, he showed attachment issues and cries at drop off. The teachers and the staff are so on point that they make sure to find ways to divert his attention and engaged with him. He took a very little time to adjust, and before we knew it, he loved spending every single day with his classmates, teacher, and learning the activities. He would come home a happy kid, and when we do our own activities at home, he continues to surprise us. In fact, one day, he came home and just started showing hand movements to certain songs that he loves to interact to! This is all thanks to the excellent curriculum, patience of the teachers & staff, and how well they manage the facility. Recently we had to move out, and Lightbridge Academy at Delran, NJ had us so spoiled that we were hoping to find the same care that they provided us. To date, we are still looking. Believe it or not, my husband and I can't stop wishing that there's a Lightbridge Academy here out west. Nothing can compare. I promise you when I say this, and it is NOT an exaggeration at all ... it is not easy to find a school or daycare that will provide the love, care, AND ALSO include your child's learning as part of their priority. Some will simply be a place for your kids to stay at like a playground, which is what we realized the hard way. With Lightbridge Academy at Delran, NJ, you get to have it all and more! If you are in the area and are considering them for your kids, don't think twice about it. Highly recommended from our family to yours.

So glad I made the decision to send my baby to lightbridge! all the classrooms my daughter has been…read moreI know she is in good care and comes home with a new song she is singing! 2 years old and knows her alphabet! Ms Kali, our current teacher, is the best! Dropping my daughter off in the Am is never easy but the way Ms Kali greets and eases my mind brings me so much joy! Thank you Lightbridge for my family's heart

We have been sending our kids to Little School on the Hill for the last 5 years and we have…read morecherished our time there for sooo many reasons. This is a nature-focused program with Montessori and Reggio Emilia influences as well. One of our favorite things about Little School is how the children truly learn to problem-solve and communicate with their peers. Our kiddos have brought their learnings home to us so that we can also hone our communication skills as a family. Little School is a special place and we feel lucky that our kids have had their first years of learning outside of the home with Mrs. Jen and Mrs. Barbie :)

One of the biggest hidden gems among NW Pre-Schools. Ms. Jenn and Co. provide Littles with lots of…read moreloving care, structure, nature play, and they learn a TON. Ms. Jenn is truly passionate about children. We love Little School!

A local institution…read more P.I.C. has conscientiously built up the quality of the service it provides families in the area, encouraging the development of professional child care staff and offering a working model to many other child care providers. Parent participation in the workings of the program is considered essential, which won't fit with the expectations of those who would just drop their kids off in the morning and pick them up at the end of the day. For those who are comfortable with this 'cooperative' approach, it helps the children absorb the lessons of work-play-learning integrity.

This review is for the playgroups they offer on Mondays and Fridays…read more Last year when it got cold, we were itching for a place to send our Au Pair with our daughter so that she can interact with other kids. Full blown day care was out of the question since we're already dropping dime for our Au Pair. A number of inside parks are on the pricier side, and further away. But the Parent Infant Center, also known as PIC, is close to us and very affordable. If you buy a 5 pack, it's $5 per visit. There are toys, lots of other kids, and they even provide snack time. They usually do some group songs and offer other activities. If you are up for helping, which is a super easy gig, you show up at 9am and help set up. Breaking down is even easier and typically happens while you would be there anyway. In exchange, they don't ask you to pay for that visit and give you three more free visits. Not too shabby. The crew is very nice and this is a great option for kids to interact without footing the bill for full blown daycare.

My husband and I moved to Philadelphia in the fall of 2017. Our baby had just turned 6 months and…read morebefore the move we were actively looking for a childcare center. We were disappointed that most centers were full and required us to be on a waiting list; however, we were pleasantly surprised that Bright Horizons had a spot available for our little one. We met with Laura, the director who insisted that we also bring in our 6 month old. Laura was very warm and disarming as she explained the curriculum and addressed my concerns from properly heating the breastmilk bottles and feeding schedule to when our daughter would be moved to the step up rooms. We are very much hands on parents when it comes to our little girl so we love to engage with the staff and ask how the day went and what the children learned. The instructors were very accommodating in terms of our expectations for our child. I am delighted that this is not just a daycare where I pay someone to change diapers and feed my child, but that there is a clear learning experience for all ages. We have had a couple of hiccups in relation to payment schedule/tuition fees. However, we were able to maintain clear communication with Laura and she was able to resolve those issues. The parents now have an app for Bright Horizons that include drop off notes and hourly updates on feedings, potty/diaper changes, nap times, and the lesson for the day. My last point in this review is that the classrooms are diverse. I haven't met many parents but the ones I see passing in the halls between dropping off or picking up my children are from many backgrounds. It is encouraging to know that this learning center fosters an environment of diversity at such a young age and we are happy to continue to support this education center.

We have truly loved our time at Philadelphia Cathedral Learning Center. I enrolled my daughter at…read more10 months in the part time infant room, knowing that she's a rather *vocal* and *discerning* (read loud and picky) baby. She was a terrible napper at home and feeding was a challenge for me but within a few weeks, her teachers had her taking long naps and eating all kinds of things! They've definitely given me some tips. lol. I could tell that the staff really cared for the kids. Many mornings even the Pre-K and Kinder teachers would greet her by name! And Laura, the site director, has just been fantastic in being available and well-aware of how my baby is developing. It wasn't uncommon that Laura would see me in he hallway and update me on how well my daughter had napped that day or wanted to tell me about a new skill she was trying. Because my daughter started walking at 9 months, Laura worked with her to transition her to a room of bigger babies before her first birthday. This was really key for her because this exposed her to more activities, outside time (which she totally loves) and foods that the younger babes don't participate in. Unfortunately, we had to leave because it was no longer convenient for my commute but we really enjoyed our experience there.