My 4-year-old son attended Morgan's Early Learning Center for almost 3 years and it's always been a…read morepositive experience. Recently, I made the unfortunate decision at the start of the 2019-2020 preschool year to try out Stepanski Early Childhood Center across the street. I cannot tell you what a huge mistake I made by doing that. I qualified for the Oakland County's GSRP state-funded program based out of Stepanski, so free tuition. At Morgan's full tuition was paid. Like the other reviewer mentioned, sometimes you get exactly what you pay for when it's free or low-cost.
(If you're interested in seeing photos of what can happen there, feel free to shoot me a private message. Posted my photos to Google believe they were flagged + my review was taken down.)
Why the switch? Over the summer of 2019 Morgan's informed parents they were being bought out by another company. The timing was 'ideal' to try a new center. We all know how some corporate takeovers go...potential policy changes, staff turnover, and suchlike. My son was also set to transition into the preschool-level classroom there at the start of Fall 2019 *and* there was potential to save money at Stepanski. Everyone can stand to save a little more money, right? Well, not at the physical expense of your child. Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it. And no, I did not just stutter. ESPECIALLY if you have court / judgment-issued custody parameters that are not cut + dried (if you're divorcing, factor this in BIG TIME) and the potential of court officials who think your concerns do not hold water and your ex trapped you by design. 2 months of negative experiences at Stepanski will be ignored + trump nearly 3 years positive experience at Morgan's (or another center of your choosing). It makes no sense to me, but BE WARNED if you're in a similar situation. Let my mistake be your lesson.
If you're the type of parent to freely invest in your child and are not a if-it's-free-it's-for-me individual, make that investment at Morgan's. The location on Hatchery Rd + Airport Rd should be on you daycare / child care center research list if you live in Waterford Township or nearby in Clarkston, Michigan. I have never felt that my son was in danger at Morgan's (and I am *always* on high-alert). You always get a heads up phone call if something has happened that they think you should know about or seems off (not some surprise on a piece of paper and on your kids' person at the end of the day). If you are running extra late, haven't called, and your child has not shown up by 10AM, they will reach out to you (gotta love a sincere welfare check). They also don't default to lazy app messaging use. But if one were used, I am sure Morgan's would be sensitive to how they should use them + triage the messaging accordingly.
Staff make an effort to connect + know your name. I don't know if they are trained to say, "Hello!" or "Have a great day!" when passing parents in the hallway or upon leaving as a condition of employment, but it's always a bright and cheery scene 95% of the time.
AMENITIES: They have a large outdoor play space that is sectioned off for younger kids and older kids with plenty of space to roam, summer Splash Days, book fundraisers, pizza day, holiday party days, IdentiKid events + picture day. The classrooms are spacious, clean, and well-stocked with toys and educational items. You often see staff actively cleaning, too. But daycare is daycare and germs are germs - it's part of the territory. They "make" you store nap items in giant Ziplocs. Not like the Bad Place across the street that must throw them in a heap and hand them back to you loose at some point down the road.
Morgan's allows you to customize scheduling within reason or availability: 1/2 days, p/t + f/t weeks.
One area where Morgan's can use some work: their marketing. The 2000's-looking website and Facebook activity could use an upgrade and focused content creation plan (here's looking at you Corporate Takeover Company). One thing I don't think they are doing a good job at is letting everyone know how good they are + how much they offer. Maybe move onto Instagram, too (I know that I am barely on FB anymore). Being more active with posting holiday 'we're open / closed' notice updates and text or email reminders for events. I once showed up when they were legit closed. I recently asked about the type of "curriculum" they use (not that it's a bad one, my kid learned A LOT there), but knowing that a structured one is available is a sure vote of confidence for a prospective parent.
Be advised that there are chunky late fees if you don't pay your tuition by [every] Weds (even if you get paid on Thursday or Friday that same week), so plan accordingly. Also, timely pickups are incentivized by a $4 per minute late pickup fee. Understandable, people want to go the 'H' home and the company needs to offset O/T.
Sadly, I will not see my son graduate from Morgan's, but you sure can if you enroll your kid.
