With four kids under my belt I've had my fair share of schools, teachers, camps, babysitters and daycares. Needless to say but The Goddard School in Farmington has truly exceeded my expectations. Sure, I can go on and on about the structured days led by teachers who actually have a degree in early childhood education and brag about the art projects and the pictures I receive during the day and the complete report of my child's every activity at the end of the day...all emailed to me, but I'd like to focus on something else. The staff is owner operated, happy to be there and, my favorite part, is that when a child is having difficulties adjusting or a teacher doesn't have the "connection" with the kids they don't just sit there and wait to see if it all works out. How awesome is it that the owners are not just looking out for their bottom line but also the happiness and comfort of the student/teacher/parent relationship? The facilities are brand new, sparkling and fabulous. The hardwood floors are a perk for those who hate a germy carpet (totally me) and the bathrooms are disinfected after each use.....don't even let me get started on the epic hand washing routine they have! Amazing! Also, given this day and age, I must point out the security system, cameras, unique codes and fingerprint system. Sorry, I take no chances with my little ones and I want to know they are secure and this place is like Fort. Knox. Net/net the place is new, the owners are experienced and they too have a standard to live up to by using "The Goddard School" name. And aside from reading my fabulous review, which could be total BS because my kid goes there so I drink the kool-aid, check it out for yourself. Take a tour and see the art projects, see the doors of the classrooms changing weekly, she the teachers loving, singing and playing with the kids and, most importantly, see the kids happily responding to their peers and teachers. Reviews can be biased based on the happiness or unhappiness of a guest but what you see with your own eyes and how your child walks happily into school speaks for itself. Take a tour and drink your own cup of Kool-Aid, you'll know what I'm talking about! read more

Our two year old son has been at Goddards for 5 months. We have been very happy with the school and teachers. The school is clean, safe and provides many activities for the children's development. We have worked primarily with Miss Tia, Miss Denise and Miss Tanya who have been absolutely wonderful and caring. They were instrumental in helping our son overcome separation anxiety when he started and have all been very supportive. Our son has become very attached to all of them. read more

Not a school that I recommend. My 2 children went through this school. My oldest was there for 3 years and youngest for 2. My older one did fine, no problems. The teachers and directors were always super sweet to us. But when my younger son was 2 years old the school had no idea how to handle age appropriate negative behaviors. Some 2 year olds can be challenging but instead of trying to help, they instead tried everything to get us to leave the school and transfer him out. I would pick him up every day and his diaper and pants would be soaked and I would ask "how come no one changed him?" And consistently I would get the answer "he refused." Ummm a 2 year old refused to change their diaper and you are ok with that? Same thing with food. He would not be given his lunch but everything was thrown out daily. Their attitude towards us changed completely. No more sweet, helpful teachers and directors. It was just a very uncaring situation when a child becomes a little challenging. But if your child follows all their rules and never gives any problem (like my older one), they will do fine. We switched my younger one to Joni's down the street (I was hesitant because the building was older and cramped and I hadn't known much about that school). But I am so thankful for the switch. He did amazing and he thrived there with their love. read more

The Goddard School is an absolutely phenomenal childcare center. The owners and administrators put so much passion and attention to detail. I am continuously impressed by the care that my children receive and the activities that they plan. I have sent two of my younger children there since they were both just three to four months old. By way of background, I am a professional working mother (lawyer) and someone with exceptionally high standards. My children are the most important things in the world to me. Being a working mother can be challenging in that you feel guilt about whether your children are being properly cared for and nurtured while you are away from them. When I drop them off at the Goddard School, I feel at ease and confident that they will take excellent care of them. I am so grateful that the School enriches my children's mind, body, and spirit in creative and educational endeavors. I can also rest assured that they will call me immediately if my child appears unwell or gets the slightest bump on their head (something that I previously had concerns about with an older child in school and a daycare facility). I highly recommend the Goddard School. read more

I have only positive things to say about Goddard school. I toured several daycare's in the area and with COVID I thought this was one Of the places that went beyond to ensure the safety of the children and teachers. My pediatrician even said that Goddard did really good in comparison to other schools in the area. I also thought that they have the best plan or program to ensure the infants feels loved and My 6 month old always smiles and is always happy to see the staff and teachers in the morning. And the positive things I have to say keeps growing. We are very happy with our choice. read more

As an employee and a former parent I love the Goddard School. The teachers are phenomenal and educated in the field, the administrators are approachable and helpful, and the highest standards of health and safety are taken seriously. My child was ready for a traditional school setting because of the social emotional as well as academic teaching of the Goddard School. This school made such a lasting impression he has returned for camp and was excited to see his old teachers again. This school takes its job of nurturing and supporting and helping each family above and beyond other places every day. This is where I recommend people personally to go as they begin their journey of Early Childhood. read more

Our 2.5 year old daughter joined the Goddard School 9 months ago, and we're so happy to be there! First, and most importantly for us, she is very happy here. She is so excited to go to school each day, and when I pick her up I see that she (and the other kids) are engaged and happily playing with each other and their teachers. For us, this is the most important thing, for her to be somewhere that she is happy and she feels loved. This school, its staff and students continually exceed our expectations. The teachers (who all hold degrees in early childhood education) are especially wonderful. They are very in-tune with each child, and that child's specific needs. Our daughter has trouble with transitions, and the teachers are not only aware but are very conscientious of that. I also like the way that they use positive reinforcement to address behavior with the kids. I've not only seen considerable improvement in the kids' behavior, but I also love hearing my daughter repeat these positive phrases at home. The educational directors and the owners are actively involved in the school, pop into classrooms when help is needed and know all of the children. Our daughter always stops by their offices on our way out at the end of the day to give them hugs. The few times that I've had any concerns, they were very receptive and proactive in addressing my concerns. Lastly, I find it as an extra bonus that this is a school, not just a daycare. Our daughter is learning so much; she surprises me all of the time. As a few examples: she knows over 20 signs in American sign language, can count in Spanish (and English), knows all of the days of the week and months of the year (she learned this through a song, like the ABCs), and is working on her letters. She learns through play, and each day the teachers have new activities where the kids learn through games, activities, books and creating art. I could go on and on about this school and obviously I have had a fantastic experience. I recommend that you just go for a tour and ask a hundred questions - you'll be able to see all of this for yourself! read more

My 4 year old has attended 2 other preschools in the Farmington Valley area and I have to say this is by far the most outsanding school he has attended. My drop off isn't the easiest in the morning and the teachers reassure me by sending a picture of my child throughout the day. In addition to the pictures, I receive a detailed report highlighting the activities he has done throughout day, the length of his nap, what he ate for lunch and the pictures of multiple activities. As we walk through the doors in the morning, we are greeted by several of the staff and all the teachers. Everyone knows my childs name and it is the most comfortable feeling in the world. As soon as he enters the classroom, he has to wash his hands. He also washes his hands multiple times thoughout the day, after being outside, bathroom, etc. This is such a change to see as the other facilities did not seem to be on top of hygene. Besides feeling comfortable and enjoying his day there, I have seen such a change with the content he is learning. When he started the Goddard school only a few months ago, he wrote his name in very large capital letters and only recognized a handful of letters. Now he can recognize all letters in the alphabet and has much neater and smaller penmanship. The most impressive instance from the school is when I had a concern about another student in my sons class. I spoke with the teacher about it that morning. She followed up with a phone call once she spoke to the other student about 1 hour later. The director also followed up with me 3 hours later to make sure that I had no other concerns and to talk to me about the issue. Communication is constantly open amongst teachers/directors and it is the first time I have seen a full functioning school! I highly recommend the Goddard school. It is the first school I have felt completely comfortable with in every aspect. I wish I brought my son to the Goddard school sooner than this year because he will only be there for 1 year and then off to Kindergarten! read more

My 2 yo has attended the school since January. We love the teachers and the curriculum. They teach Spanish, sign language and handwriting even before preschool. Even before 3, he knows all his phonic sounds and is starting to spell. I feel like he is getting such a great education at Goddard and would recommend it to anyone with a child for either day care or preschool. read more

The school is fairly new and the physical plant was outstanding, however I was completely unimpressed and underwhelmed. I had expected so much more based on the name and was literally banking on this school being "the one". A huge concern for me was the amount of children with runny noses and no one stepping in to wipe them. That is completely unacceptable in my opinion not to mention that I expect my child to be well cared for and not exposed to something that could easily be avoided with a very simple task. I would encourage anyone to do their due diligence and compare and contrast different options in additional to asking a lot of questions. It takes more than a sparkling facility on the outside and a daily email or update via an app on my phone to win me over. It's my understanding that this school can only take credit for pilfering this great idea of using a phone app for pictures,updates, and highlighting a memorable moment from another school chain that was using it first and deciding to use too. My point is that there are other schools throughout the state doing the exact same thing. I was fortunate enough to not have to settle which often happens to many of us parents trapped in unavoidable circumstances and was able to find an amazing learning environment with experienced and very genuine and caring educators. My experience was pure disappointment and letdown. read more

After a disappointingly downhill slide in the level and quality of care at another childcare facility, we decided to give Goddard a try for our four year old son. From day one, we felt a part of the Goddard family. The owners (professional, experienced, dedicated, smart , genuine) set a standard of exceptional care that is evident in every teacher with whom our son interacted. At the end of every work day, when I arrived to pick him up, he was happy, clean, and couldn't wait to tell me about his adventures and what he'd learned at school that day- once he got over his disappointment that it was time to go. Now in kindergarten, our son still talks fondly of his teachers and friends at Goddard. He is more than ready for kindergarten, thanks to the strong foundation in learning through play that he received from Goddard. I would absolutely recommend sending your child here, and will definitely be enrolling my next one! read more