Both of our children attended Wee Ones, and we have experience with the Mommy and me two's,…read moredrop-off threes, and drop-off fours (pre-K) programs. I can't say enough good things about our experiences with the owner, Kara, and the warm, professional teachers/teaching assistants she uses to staff the classes.
The facilities are clean, bright, and welcoming, especially after the 2015 remodel. A policy of removing/changing into indoor shoes at the door is enforced, which I love.
We've enjoyed all programs, but I am a raving fan of the pre-K program and want to focus my review there. I think it is one of the best (though not intentionally) kept secrets in the Murray Hill neighborhood.
Kids are exposed to a very structured (but fun) full-day program that typically includes daily uppercase and lowercase letter/number writing, (with 2 weekly homework sheets), free play, counting exercises (learning to count by 10s, etc.), daily reader worksheets, art, music, stretching, show and tell, Chess, pre-math skills via Cuisenaire rods, rest time, and tons of field trips (at least 5 per school year, I'd guess). There is no pressured emphasis on learning to read, but the kids are given a great pre-literacy foundation, and some that are ready/interested will often learn to read in this class in my experience.
Pre-K class size varies by year, but is incredibly small some years, which has its pros and cons, but has been a mostly positive attribute in our experience (and one of the reasons we chose Wee Ones over UPK twice). Even in small class years, the class has both a head teacher and a teaching assistant present most days.
While the class is very structured in nature, it is not a cold environment in any way. The teachers are available and responsive via e-mail and sometimes text (even throughout the day if there is a pressing concern, in my experience). My kids have really loved going and being welcomed down the stairs and into the classroom every day. I truly feel that they have been better prepared for Kindergarten than some of their peers who went to entirely play-based-learning preschools (oh, and did I mention that it's a fraction of the cost of most other neighborhood options???)
Please feel free to reach out if you have questions.