Going to copy and paste what my mother in law sent to the directors as to why we chose to unenroll…read moreour child from this preschool and will NOT recommend to any family in Cumming or around. Here is our review: I am writing to express my utter disappointment in the way in which our sweet, happy hearted four year old was treated at Cumming First United Methodist Preschool. I can not tell you how overjoyed we all were when we found out a slot had opened and she was going to be able to attend. Having been a member for 20+ years, dedicated to many years of leading and participating in all of the volunteer programs with the church, my granddaughter being baptized there and my daughter's eulogy being officiated by Rev. Kathy Stasko, our family has always considered the church leaders and fellow parishioners as being welcoming, loving and full of grace. In a very short amount of time, I have witnessed bias, judgement and a lack of understanding and grace.. Below are the details of the occurrences leading up to our decision to withdraw our 4 year old from CFUMC Pre School: To begin with, your application queries as to the level of potty training in which your child can be considered, to which my son and daughter in law answered honestly that she was not completely trained. The fact that she was not completely potty trained became an issue immediately, prompting Kim Hannigan to send the first of her condescending, misinformed emails to my son and daughter in law. After a lengthy conversation with her teacher Ms. Wendy, she seemed to be confused as to why Kim sent an email and stated that there wasn't a problem with our 4 year old; she didn't understand why Kim contacted us. We were instructed to send her in a Pull Up by the teachers and Kim contradicted that instruction stating that it was "not appropriate" After contacting Taie, the Director about the mis-direction and the condescending email from Kim, our 4 year old became a target of constant scrutiny We received reports of our 4 year old acting aggressively almost daily. In particular, we were told that she was aggressive towards a non-verbal child in the class yet when she was questioned at home about it, she would tell us how she was pushed. On a regular basis, we were told that she didn't complete work and wouldn't participate, was disruptive; despite her bringing home completed papers on a regular basis A second rudely worded, lecturing email was sent from Kim regarding an accident she had, after many weeks of no incidents, to which we called a meeting and requested that instead of hiding behind an email, maybe Kim should be a little more human and pick up the phone and have a conversation. Most people who want to truly resolve an issue would communicate verbally so that there was no misperception of one's tone or intent. My daughter in law noticed that our 4 year olds hair had been cut in the front. She asked her how it happened and she said "kids name" did it. When she sent the picture and contacted the school about why another child had scissors so close to our 4 year olds eyes, she simply received a response showing a picture of River, stating that the hair wasn't cut. Yet, if you zoom in, you can see that the short hairs were swept back and blended in with her other hair. Secondly, nothing was investigated with the other child and the same scrutiny was not used as had been with our 4 year old. Lastly, my daughter in law received a call stating that another child stated our 4 year old "touched her privates". When she arrived at the school and asked for details, she was told that they didn't further investigate. Again, it was just assumed this occurred and she was to blame. There was no discussion or attempt to try and determine what, if anything happened at all. Once home, she was asked if she touched the child and where, she said she touched "the back of her head". Our 4 year old is a member of her Girl Scout troop, plays with neighborhood kids of all ages and interacts with her cousins almost every weekend. She is a sweet spirited, active little four year old who has never acted aggressively towards anyone. I am so upset that she was exposed to bad behaviors and treated so unfairly by an establishment we all trusted. Furthemore, I am empathetic towards any child with special needs but I do not think your school is equipped with the trained professionals necessary to handle non verbal children, along with young children who are around them. In particular, you always placed blame on our 4 year old when she interacted with said child and never offered to acknowledge that he too was aggressive towards her. In closing, I am disgusted with the lack of grace shown to our 4 year old and hi-light the fact that the leadership in this children's program is sub par. You have failed our 4 year old; she loses in this situation and that should weigh heavily on everyone's conscience.

We did not have a good experience at CFUMC preschool. My child did not feel supported & loved here…read more We moved to another preschool just up the road & the difference is amazing... he's happy & thriving. Please look elsewhere... there are much better & loving preschools in Cumming. They STRONGLY discourage you walking your child to class, they want you to use the car drop off/pick up line from the first day. If your child separates easily no problem but for my child walking him in & saying goodbye at the door makes a huge difference in his day. The supply list for the 3 year old classroom was huge & rather expensive. And they were constantly having "fundraisers" which of course required more money. Also important to know in the 3 year old class if your child has a potty accident after Christmas they require you, the parent, to come clean your child up. Wasn't an issue for us but definitely shows a lack of compassion & love towards the children in their care.

Can I give *10* stars?…read more My children have been under the care of Discovery Point (in one way or another) for nearly 10 years. They are an extension of our family... and I would trust ANY of their staff with either of my children at ANY time. My children have grown up in this facility... and the quality of our children's character is due, in part, to the guidance and love they've received from the staff at Discovery Point. The wonderful teachers at Discovery Point are nothing but kind, compassionate, loving, and caring individuals who care deeply about the well being of EVERY child that walks through that front door. My family will always be grateful for the times Discovery Point has been there for us.

Our 5 year old daughter just graduated Pre-K from Discovery Point Cumming and I couldn't be happier…read morewith how much she has learned in these past 9 months! Her teachers, Miss Dana and Miss Kayla have just been WONDERFUL! I don't think I could have gotten better teachers if I tried! They taught her so much in such a short period of time, that I am proud to give them 5 stars! From her days of the week, months in the year, how the seasons change,how to read and write,shapes,patterns (abab,abbabbabb), weather changes... they are amazing at what they do! They keep parents in the loop as well,sending us weekly emails to keep us informed as to what they will be learning,field trips,and fun days like "Dress Like a Superhero" to "Wear your favorite color"! They create a fun environment for kids to learn and ve successful and independent! I am so proud of my big girl and feel confident that Discovery Point have not only prepared her for, but have also given her the tools to succeed in Kindergarten! The only thing left to say is Thank You!

Ms. Arta is so wonderful. My son is well cared for here and loves all his teachers. They truly care!read more

Fantastic school! My daughter is in the Pre-k class. Ms Alaina and mrs Beth are truly outstanding !…read moreThey love what they do which makes a huge difference overall experience for my daughter. Clean and communication is great with the portal system . 2020 has been rough and tough so I give it up to them and and staff for making school even happen with us stressed out parents. Overall 5 stars with me :)

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Ms. Rani and Ms. Sravanthi. My son recently started at…read morethis school, and as any parent would understand, both he and I were nervous about transitioning to a completely new environment. Thanks to these incredible teachers, that transition has been nothing short of seamless. From day one, they welcomed him with warmth, patience, and genuine care. They've created an environment where he feels comfortable, supported, and excited to learn every day. Seeing him come home happy, engaged, and confident has been such a relief as a parent. I no longer carry that "mom guilt" because I know he's in a safe, nurturing, and high-quality learning space. This school truly has amazing teachers and maintains a very high standard of care and curriculum. I wholeheartedly recommend it to any parent looking for a place where their child will thrive. Thank you, Ms. Rani and Ms. Sravanthi, for making such a positive impact on our lives. My son is happy because of you, and for that, I'm truly grateful.

worst daycare the don't sanitize , my toddler caught with…read moretoo many sickness once he started this facility. the front desk people has no concern or respect towards parents . they look down on us. i see all the kids in my sons class room with runny nose , the Teachers don't clean it, kids wipe it all over their clothes and face, they touch and wipe it on toys (easy way to spread the germs) . that class room always has foul smell in it, I doubt that they sanitize the classroom and toys . my son had sickness with high fever and cold wheezing all the time. We went to pediatrician more than 4 times every month when he was there. As a conclusion, it's like paying to get sickness and meeting disrespectfu/ignoring people. i blame myself to choose this facility. And i put my older kid in different daycares, I never had this issue.

We (along with many other families) left Oak Grove Academy in Feb 2023 for better care and…read moreeducation elsewhere. Despite talking a lot about the curriculum, Oak Grove really just provides babysitting services. They will show you the binders of curriculum and that it's posted outside the classroom door. But curriculum is only as good as how well its implemented. There was little education or development during our time there. The staff at Oak Grove is babysitting, not educating. The large classrooms look fantastic, until you realize how many kids they have in a classroom. They will tell you that they meet state requirements for teacher/student ratios, but just because you CAN have so many kids in a classroom doesn't mean that you SHOULD. Classrooms are chaotic and teachers are overwhelmed. There were a number of other issues during our time with Oak Grove, but the overall issue is that you can get better for your money. Oak Grove may seem cheaper at first, but other daycares include extracurriculars in the tuition that Oak Grove charges extra for. By the time you include the cost of extracurriculars, Oak Grove is not cheaper. Also, Oak Grove had parents provide food and supplies for holiday parties, but at our new school all holiday parties, egg hunts, etc are funded by the school. So much more convenient for the parents! We regret the time we wasted at Oak Grove and are so much happier with our new school. ------------------------- Note about the response from the school: Again, they quotes ratios. Be sure to ask how many kids total are in the class and how many of the adults in the class are true teachers versus helpers/assistants. I know that at one point there were almost 30 kids in my child's class. That is simply too many toddlers in a room. That said, considering the number of families who unenrolled their kids this year, the ratios probably have improved... but not for the right reasons. Also said in the initial review, the leadership talks a lot about the curriculum... but the curriculum is only as good as how well it's implemented. Lastly, why on earth would the owner want to contact me months after we have left other than to attempt to improve my review? If they were truly concerned, they would have worked on improving the situation before we and other families chose to leave.

My sister has been working for this school for a year. She has had nothing but amazing things to…read moresay about Oak Grove Academy. She is amazed by the level of education here and the intellect level of these kids. Most of the kids are able to leave and enter kindergarten reading and writing on a 2nd grade level. She has the greatest respect for the other teachers and workers at this amazing school. I highly recommend this school to other teachers looking for a great place to work that is truly a family!

I an absolutely thankful to have found Kiddie Academy of Cumming! I started my daughter at Kiddie…read moreAcademy Fall of 2024. I seriously lucked up finding this school! The teachers actually care about the kids, they care about their wellbeing, they care about them being on time so they don't miss any lessons. The staff always greet me with a smile, the owner is always polite. My daughter seems to be more independent since she's been going to Kiddie Academy and for the first time my daughter actually wants to go to school. Its like her home away from home. If you're looking for a school that cares and where you are at ease knowing your child is safe, I highly recommend Kiddie Academy of Cumming.

I Actually love this place now! I think this location has gotten better. In the beginning it was a…read morelittle to no Communication with teachers being switched over and some other little small things. Overall I like the staff. They are hands on with my baby. She comes home singing songs she learned at school, doing sign language, different dances as well as hands on activities. Also she comes home with paint sometimes on her clothes and exhausted because she had so much fun at school! which I love! My baby been going there a little over a year now. I always give people the benefit of the doubt because we are not perfect and there's always room for growth. So I kept my baby here because I don't believe in changing schools so much and plus they love her so much! I've seen the change. I forgot to mention I feel safe with her being there! One thing I do not play about! Thank you kiddie academy!

I LOVE Ivybrook Academy and more importantly my son LOVES Ivybrook Academy. My son was pretty much…read morenot speaking when he started school here. He could only say a handful of words at 2.5 years old. I was worried, I would hear other children during playdates saying their colors and numbers and I felt my son was behind. Within only a few months of sending him here he speaks full sentences and he has completely transformed into an advanced speaking child. The teachers are above and beyond and you can tell they really care about their students. The owner and principal are amazing as well. My son does not cry when I drop him off, he is actually excited to go to school and never puts up a fight.

From the owner: Bright futures begin with solid foundations. At Ivybrook Academy, we take a progressive approach to…read morePreSchool that encourages critical thinking, highlights creativity, and fosters a love for learning. By recognizing the strengths and needs of each child, we allow their individual uniqueness to shine.

My kid learns so much everyday! we love love the teachers and they are the best.. love this school!read more

My daughter has been enrolled at Goddard for a year and a half, and we've had a wonderful…read moreexperience. The majority of the staff are attentive, loving, and genuinely invested in the well-being of the children. While there has been some teacher turnover, this seems to be a widespread challenge across industries right now, especially in daycare. That said, many of the staff members have been at this Goddard location for several years, which speaks volumes about the positive environment they've cultivated. I've been impressed with how much my daughter has learned during her time here. By the time she was just 15 months old, she could recite her ABCs and count to 20! She even asks to go to school on weekends, which is such a comforting sign of how much she enjoys it. The facility is very clean, and the office staff is incredibly organized and excellent with communication. As someone who is picky and very particular about schools for my children, I feel confident recommending this Goddard location. Leaving your child in someone else's care is never easy, but this team makes it much more reassuring.

I can't say enough good things. The staff is amazing. My daughter is always welcomed with a hug and…read moreI plan to keep her here

Interior of daycare appears outdated & we have noticed that faucet in preschool-1 bathroom…read morefrequently did not work, which raises concerns about children's ability to wash their hands properly. There are several safety hazards in both early preschool & preschool playgrounds, as well as multiple blind spots that make it challenging to adequately supervise children. Placement of thick plastic barriers has caused numerous children to trip & fall, leaving us puzzled about their purpose. My son experienced a significant chin injury when he fell from a slide, resulting in a deep cut that required 4 stitches. Medical treatment cost us $1000. It is distressing that other children continue to fall & trip due to insufficient supervision. Luckily my son did not fell on his teeth and eyes. This all happened since there was no teacher monitoring on the playground. Several times we found bruises on his back and arms which eventually turned black in few days. It hurted badly but no incident was reported to us. We reported the safety hazard issues to Georgia's Department of Early Care and Learning but still no action was taken by management. Somehow my son was made a target since Feb 2023 ever since nnew management took over, coinciding with Mrs. Rachana's arrival in the preschool-1 class. Mrs. Rachana's conduct has been consistently rude & unprofessional often involving her shouting at children. Our conversations with other parents & teachers have revealed that they share same sentiments. While Mrs. Rachana provides false feedback directly to parents, her communication with management differs significantly. Her bossy behavior has led to several teachers leaving daycare or requesting transfers to different classes. Despite claiming to have several years of daycare experience, Mrs. Rachana lacks practical skills, genuine care, & compassion for children. She does not actively participate in essential caregiving tasks such as changing diapers, yet she asserts her role as lead teacher, leaving a single teacher responsible for managing entire preschool class. As a result, children with soiled diapers or accidents may have to wait longer for assistance due to limited staffing. excessive workload has led to other good teachers leaving preschool. My 3yr old son was subjected to mistreatment, & he frequently complained about pain in his arms & shoulders. When questioned, he revealed that Mrs. Rachana had forcefully pulled his hand, causing injury. Her constant nagging & belittling of my son resulted in his feeling sad & lonely, gradually slipping into a state of depression due to her harsh & unsympathetic behavior. Additionally, she submitted a biased assessment of my son, providing negative feedback based on irrelevant & nonsensical questions. assessment itself raises doubts, as it includes queries about a child's sleep duration within a 24-hour period & whether child enjoys hugs or cuddles. Mrs. Rachana failed to apply common sense to these questions, as my son has always been affectionate towards his teachers & friends, a fact confirmed by other teachers. assessment contained several other irrelevant & nonsensical questions. Mrs. Rachana fabricated complaints about my son's behavior, such as biting, self-harming, purposefully damaging objects, & prolonged tantrums. However, we have never witnessed such behavior at home or in other environments. It seems that Mrs. Rachana is only holding her position to receive a discount on fees, as her own children attend same daycare. In terms of incident management, the Primrose School of Cumming West daycare lacks proficiency. They do not promptly report injuries and take at least an hour to notify parents. In my son's case, he was bleeding for 15 minutes, and they failed to contact us promptly, demonstrating poor handling of such situations. Ever since new management took over, there have been negative changes. They have increased weekly & registration fees while reducing number of hours. Several competent teachers have been let go, while questionable teachers like Mrs. Rachana are retained. Before my son's last day at daycare, we had a meeting with Mrs. Rachana & Ms. Anu. Mrs. Rachana changed her answers & portrayed herself as innocent, pretending to be genuinely concerned about children. Ms. Anu expressed a lack of concern for my son attending daycare, stating that there were already 100 kids on waiting list. Greedy & unprofessional!

We have been at this school for 2 years now and the staff, and teachers are amazing. The…read moremanagement are always going above and beyond to show parents they care - including chocolate chip cookie every Friday, Parent Breakfast, Grandparents Day and a long list of functions that keep you as a customer engaged and informed. We have seen our children grow and learn so much at this school. It is not the least expensive, but the lasting value from an excellent investment in our children is totally worth it.

BEWARE of Infant Room Our 6 month old was rushed to the…read moreemergency room after being in the care of Primrose Cumming East for SEVERE Dehydration. Upon picking up my son from daycare, he was pale white, had sunken eyes, his mouth was BONE dry and he was crying in discomfort. When I asked the afternoon teacher what happened that day, she tells me that he's had 3 oz of milk all day and threw up 4x that afternoon - All this happened without a single phone call that anything was wrong!! We ended up staying in the ER until 5am the next morning, where my poor boy had to go through 2 rounds of fluids to get his blood work back to normal. If you're considering putting your baby in their care, please consider an alternative! They have "teachers" who are utterly clueless and they were unable to pick up on simple cues that something was wrong with my son.