It saddens me that after nearly 2 years at OKA, my child was a victim of continued biting incidents…read morefrom the same student that were not properly addressed by OKA staff. Let me preface by stating that I understand this situation is regarding a two year old child who is learning right from wrong, my main concern lies in management's lack of transparency and failure to appropriately communicate and uphold any policy related to the repeated incidents that compromised my child's safety. Our child suffered bites to the face, both arms and hands by the same child on 4 different occasions. When the behavior first arose, my child was in the toddler level classroom and I was told by the school that there was a zero tolerance policy for this behavior once the behavior was displayed in the preschool level classroom. When it happened a second time and in the preschool classroom, I was then told that the policy was now a 3 strikes policy (a policy that was not documented in their handbook and is still not reflected on their website which has a 2020 version of the handbook currently listed). On the same occasion, the teacher informed us that the bite left no mark, until we requested a photo and only then she said said "When looking at it now you can see a small mark." When it happened again, the student was temporarily suspended. But at pickup on the day of the most recent incident, the director pulled me aside and asked me if my wife would meet with the mother of the child who was doing the biting. She then inappropriately requested that I as her father not be present during this meeting since she felt this situation would be best discussed between mothers. She told me that we needed to have more empathy and understanding for the personal situation of the child doing the biting, however we were shown a clear lack of empathy for our child who was the continued subject of the biting. In this conversation I was made aware by the director herself that this child had recently bitten another student, which meant that with my daughter's newest bite, this student was already beyond the three strikes. However because the other child's family (who's parent is an OKA staff member) was willing to give the biter a "free pass", it did not count towards the three strikes. When I voiced concerns about the exception of the three strikes policy to the director, and that it left the door open for my child and others to be harmed, I was berated by her and told that my wife and I were gaslighting her. After 4 incidents and repeated failure by the school to properly address the situation, we made the decision to take matters and our daughter's safety into our own hands and withdraw her from the program. I've never experienced this level of unprofessionalism in my life, and especially by someone who is supposed to be caring for my child. The state really should look into this school with a fine tooth comb and parents should proceed with extreme caution before considering sending their child here, as policies directly related to child safety are inconsistently applied by management.

My daughter only attended 5 months out of that I was asked to keep her home even with a doctors…read morenote over a common cold or had to pick her up because she coughed And still having to pay the 70$ day rate While in the waddler room teachers where nice once she got moved to the preschool room her teacher had an attitude every morning I don't know how you can work with children and not be compassionate or understanding to their small emotions I never got an evaluation of how's she's doing or anything overall wouldn't ever go back .

I'm a social worker who works with children & families across NJ and I have three children who…read morecurrently attend this daycare for well over a year now. Ms. Angela, Ms. Kayla, Ms. Tamia, & Ms. Zeba have been there from day one and are amazing early educators. I cannot thank them enough for the care & education they provide my children with on a daily basis. Other teachers/aides are also wonderful with the children, Ms. Sam & Alyssa have been wonderful additions to the classroom. The front office staff is very friendly, super helpful with communication, and answering any questions that may arise. Jamie, Julie, Bonnie, and Amy have always been supportive and available to our family and I've even seen them help out in the classrooms with the children when needed. The school has camera access so when I get a chance, I often see the children learning to write, sensory learning, circle time, and many librarian visits. They also offer breakfast, lunch, snack, & transportation. Kiddie Academy in Toms River has been a huge support for my family.

From the owner: Kiddie Academy of Toms River, an educational daycare in Toms River, offers age-specific child care…read moreprograms. Our flexible, standard-based curriculum encourages children to progress in school and in life. We pride ourselves in providing a daycare that focuses on developing positive character traits for kids, while providing a nurturing learning environment. Our programs can range from infant and toddler to kindergarten and school age. Read our child care reviews, take a virtual tour and learn more about Kiddie Academy to find the best "daycare near me" for you and your child.

I can't say enough great things about Mr. Vinny, Mrs. Michelle & Mrs. Jade. Mrs. Michelle has been…read moreincredible with my son. She's helped build his confidence in a way that's been so special to watch as a mom. She's patient, kind, and really understands how to meet kids where they are while still encouraging them to grow. We've seen such a positive change in him, and I'm so grateful for the impact she's had. He goes to school skills program an my daughter will follow with him. Mrs. jade and Mrs. Michelle create such a safe and encouraging environment for the kids at school skills you can tell everyone at Gymboree genuinely cares About the kids.

I love Gymboree play and music in Toms River. The owners are amazing and the teachers are simply…read morewonderful! Great place to help my child grow and learn.

I enjoyed the tour I was given. Everything was nice, clean, and quiet. The staff there were…read moreexcellent and nice.

I am absolutely appalled by my experience with The Learning Experience of Toms River. Imagine…read morereceiving a phone call from Child Protective Services informing you that your child's teacher was anonymously reported for **physically abusing him**--this was my reality. I rushed to pick up my son, panicked and horrified, only to be met with a director who seemed more concerned about **staff conflicts** than the safety of my child. I was told that teachers may have reported each other due to personal grievances, as if that somehow made this situation any less alarming. When we rightfully asked for our money back--since there was no chance we'd be sending our child back to an environment where this was even a possibility--we were told we had to **wait for the investigation's outcome.** No compassion, no urgency, no reassurance--just indifference. And to make matters worse, we haven't heard a single word from them since. The investigation concluded with some teachers saying they witnessed the incident and others claiming they did not. Because of this, the state ruled they **could not confirm the allegations.** But what does that mean for my child, who was the victim in all of this? The teacher in question is now likely reinstated and undergoing "training." That is absolutely **sickening.** When I asked if they had cameras in the classroom during my first meeting with them, I was told, **"Yes, we do" Never did I think to ask, **"Do your cameras also record?"** because, like most parents, I assumed they did. Had I known otherwise, I **never** would have entrusted my child to this place. At the very least, I expected The Learning Experience to handle this situation with care and transparency. Instead, they offered **no support, no communication, and no accountability.** I feel completely misled, disappointed, and betrayed. If you are considering this daycare, **please think twice.** No child should ever have to experience what mine did.

PreK class had more than 20 kids - too big for a private school compared to other private nursery…read moreschools. Teachers need to do better as well as director. Overpriced for what they provide.

The Goddard School on Bey Lea Rd has provided both of my sons with a safe and nurturing learning…read moreenvironment since they were infants. The school also offers quality educational and extracurricular programs and I feel like my children are set up for success as they enter their school years.

From the owner: At The Goddard School located in Toms River, we're more than just a daycare. The Goddard School is…read morea private preschool, offering childcare to infants and toddlers to pre-k. Our programs are designed to nurture each child's curiosity in a safe and caring environment.

I recommend lil sprouts preschool to everyone. The staff are wonderful. My daughter has been going…read moreto lil sprouts for 6 years. She's been in the toddler and preschool classes. She is currently in the before and after care program, and loves it. Michael Giovinazzo

I really don't like to write flat out negative reviews. I try to be fair and list the positive…read morepoints as well, however, in this case there really are no positive points to speak of. I put 3 of my kids in Lil' Sprouts upon moving to Toms River, simply because it was right up the street from my house. When I signed the kids up, I met the owner whose name is Maryellen or Maryann or something like that. Although she seemed a lightly airy, she sold me on the place when she told me that the teacher for my 2 boys was a former school teacher who follows a school curriculum. I didn't want to leave my kids somewhere where they would sit in front of a TV all day. I quickly noticed whenever I picked them up, all the kids were watching cartoons. I asked my son's what they did all day and they told me watched TV. I let it go a few weeks thinking maybe they were on an off time because we signed them up mid year. Nothing ever changed. They only watched TV everyday. I soon learned that the teacher who followed a curriculum not only didn't work there anymore, but she had given her notice before I went to see the school. The owner never told me this. I really hope she had expected to replace that teach with another board certified teacher who follows a curriculum rather than just deceiving me to get me to sign. It should be noted whoever took over never did follow a curriculum, the students all just watched cartoons all day. Now for the worst part: My 2 son's are both extremely allergic to peanuts so the school had in their possession an Eppi Pen for each of them in the event they accidentally consumed a peanut product. I came there on a Friday afternoon around 3 PM with 2 new pens because the old ones had expired. The owner searched for the pens for over half an hour before telling me she couldn't find them and to just give me the new ones. My head was spinning as all I could think is "what if they had accidentally ate a peanut? What would they do if they didn't have a pen on hand?" I expressed my concern and asked her "what would have happened if they ate a peanut? You don't have their pens". To which she responded "but they didn't". It took everything in me to not flip out. I asked her what she was going to do to make sure that this doesn't happen again. Her answer "this doesn't normally happen. We usually know where all the students medicine is". When I asked her if that's the case then how doesn't she know where theirs are. I asked if she doesn't see that there is a problem with their procedures for storing medicine then how can they fix it to which she got snippy and said "we don't have a problem sorting medicine. We know where everyone's medicine is." So I countered with "ok, so give me their old Pens". When she told me "I just told you I can't find them" I asked how she could then say there is no problem. I realized at that point I was just spinning my wheels. I told her my kids would no longer be attending her school to which she said I'd have to give notice and pay the month (it was only the first or second week of the month) to which I told her she would absolutely not be getting and walked out. She called me on Monday morning to tell me they found the pens locked in their teachers desk (She was out sick that day and had the only key to her desk home with her). She asked "so since we found them will the kids be coming back?" To which I said no they would not. In summary, this place has been the only place that I have written an entirely negative review for, but in my opinion it is absolutely warranted. I don't think it's safe to leave your kids someplace that you cannot trust would have their lifesaving medicine accessible in case of an emergency. I wound up moving them to The Goddard School which had opened a few months before I left Lil' Sprouts and I have never looked back. The Goddard School is amazing and I would highly recommend taking your kids there instead.

We recently enrolled our 2 year old son at the Goddard on Route 70 and could not be happier. Our…read moreson truly enjoys his time spent there, most mornings he runs to the door to head to school to start his day after breakfast. The owner, Ms. Alisa, is amazing and takes the time to truly know each child and their parents. My son is comfortable with all of the staff and teachers. He has been learning so much, from language acquisition to social skills, he amazes me every day that he comes home. The Goddard on Route 70 goes above and beyond for students enrolled, this summer they even had a farm come to the site and bring animals and they often have a live musician come to sing with the kids! We are so happy with our experience at the Goddard on Route 70, I would highly recommend them.

My son recently graduated from The Goddard School on Rt 70. He loved it there. Ms. Alisa, Mr. Pete,…read moreMs. Maura and the staff left me with peace of mind every day for the past 2+years. It was very hard for us to move on from there. The Goddard family provided a very SAFE learning environment. They answered all of my questions and concerns with care and were on top of my son's allergies. I am mostly pleased with them for preparing my son for kindergarten and keeping him safe during his time there.

Unethical, experienced social workers. Traumatized and turned my daughter against me. Prevented…read morereunification with one bad review. Judgemental and not understanding of my concerns and feelings. Slow at returning phone calls. Disgusting experience overall.

cannot express the disappointment I have in the Ocean County CCSH Tomsriver office. I recently…read morefound out that my CCS was exporting from my school for my son last Friday. To find out they weren't going to cover my sons full-time kindergarten. Mind you they did not contact me I physically went into the office and Contacts Them.To be told they can't cover my sons full-time kindergarten that he's been going to for the past six months. I spoke to caseworkers several times from back in July to December how do you spoke to about four case worker since then and they never said anything.Now as a parent who works a full-time job and this company jeopardizing their job and not taking the responsibility from their mistakes is sad is very sad they sit here and say they understand but I don't. I've been going back-and-forth they don't answer the phone they claim I only work in the office once a week I spoke to CCS workers in the Momouth office and they basically said Ocean County office is full of shit and they're liars this is coming from the Momouth county office I'm not gonna stay who said this to me but I know you guys are liars. If you make a mistake you're supposed to be held accountable for it not the person the company should be held accountable for this not me. It is beyond disgusting the lengths I had to do to get in contact with a supervisor because he basically act like they don't want to help anybody that's what I got from the last couple days. I spoke to supervisor Debbie first she told me they couldn't cover full-time then she told me they would cover the month of February on the phone call conversation we had. Then I get a phone call back saying she talk to her district manager who I asked the name was in the email so my daycare can email them she refused to give it. Then I asked her well what about February cover in February she goes oh we can't do that. Don't offer anything on a conversation and you can't offer it I'm a supervisor that's ridiculous.The only one who has been helpful in the situation was my school CCS has not been helpful at all they don't return phone calls they don't state when your schools calling them who you're calling in regards to didn't say any of that they lie. But little does this office now when I try to call and ask if I can three-way them so we don't have to play the back-and-forth they didn't want to do it they were telling the school one thing they were telling me a different thing which is absurd.I suggest whoever is the district owner manager whatever talk to your supervisors because your supervisor tell people things on the phone and then something completely different. NO when I asked her Debbie the supervisor to give me an email of the entire conversation from Monday she still hasn't sent it I have received nothing. She also told me she's gonna tell Someone to send me my paperwork via email I still have not received anything.It's truly sad the Length you have to go through to get through this office I had to go through the Momouth office to even have the supervisor call or email my school back as I told her and she didn't she zoom called them.How unprofessional is that it's very unprofessional I suggest the Ocean County office gets it together I'm assuming I'm not the only parent because I've heard things about the only Ocean County office of how bad you are I would like the main supervisor to give me a call I'll leave my number on this review if I can give you a zero star I definitely would because your service is horrible.And To find out my school has contacted higher above the supervisor Debbie they said she is incorrect about her information that their information they gave me and stated to me is not correct at all several CCS offices at different locations said she is wrong I suggest the supervisor a the Debbie Klaus reach out to me ASAP and my school.jenee curry