The Learning Experience - Clinton Hill — Attraction in New York

We currently have two children enrolled full time at TLE Clinton Hill ( 3 years + 1 year). My oldest started at about 18 months (enrolled about 18 months) and my youngest started at 6 months (enrolled about 6 months, starting as soon as they re-opened in August 2020).

We have been SO happy with everything about our experience at TLE. As a family we have experienced 4 different age level classrooms and therefore had a number of different teachers and have loved each one. We have honestly loved every one. The teachers are all so engaged and loving and I really trust my kids are happy and in good hands each day. My oldest talks constantly about her teachers and my youngest will jump out of our arms each morning to see her teacher.

They offer so many activities to keep the kids engaged, learning and having fun — lots of reading and singing, pretend play, arts and crafts, science activities as they get older. Even my little one does multiple art projects a week in the infant room. The classrooms are big, bright, and clean. Plus there are a few additional spaces in the school (indoor playground) and another big play room that the kids all visit weekly. The kids also go outside daily if weather allows. Pre-covid they all went to the playground but now they go for neighborhood walks.

I also really appreciate the communication from the teachers and the school administrators. The teachers post photos and notes all day long and are always open to questions and communication from parents. Reena (Owner) and Danyele (Educational Director) communicate often via email and also frequently set up zoom calls to be able to answer parents questions or allow the space for teachers and parents to connect. They have been so transparent and communicative all year as we navigate Covid together.

Health and Safety is also a top priority at the school. Teachers are all in masks, there is no cross over between classrooms so kids interact with the same small group of kids and teachers everyday, and there are a number of other practices in place (indoor only shoes, drop off and pick up at the door, temp checks, lots of cleaning and hand washing, rotation of shared spaces like the indoor playground to allow time to clean and sanitize, etc.

Overall we have been so happy with our experience at the school and are grateful for the community its...

While some teachers at this school really care about their students, overall this place is unorganized. Most of the staff don’t even have proper qualifications and often look uninterested in dealing with kids. However, the least they can do is introduce new teachers that’ll be with kids instead of walking in to new people constantly. There’s also a high turnover rate because the owner Reena doesn’t know how to speak to people. I hope she realizes how parents and staff members avoid her because of her disgusting attitude and inability to hold conversations in a professional, empathetic manner. If It wasn’t for her wonderful administrative staff Ms. Danyele, Ms. Jaleen, and Ms. Alma, she would be absolutely helpless in properly communicating with parents. As soon as she steps in the building, the energy completely changes in a very negative way. This business will not prosper with her as the owner/director, as she knowingly says her “weakness” is speaking to parents (what a joke). They also need to implement the fact that no child should be left behind (literally my daughter was left alone with a male staff member while her classmates went to the playground) and Reena saw no issue in how she violated and how that is discrimination in the classroom. This same male teacher also lied about being alone with my daughter, and Reena naively found nothing suspicious. It’s the teachers/staff responsibility to include all students, as stated on the DOE website. Instead of hiring staff that has patience and can deal with children with IEPs/special needs (god bless Ms. Diana and Ms. Jaylin), Reena chooses to be dismissive and rather not deal with It. Her solution was for my daughter to “just get out.” It’s a shame she had a screaming match with me on the phone instead of understanding my valid concerns. Hopefully one day she’ll change her horrible attitude in an effort to save the business that operates much smoother when...

Between our two kids, we’ve now been with TLE for 4 years, and couldn’t be happier. Reena runs a tight ship, with attention paid to every detail. The staff here are honest and kind. A sense of community and belonging permeates this place, and our kids have absolutely loved their time here. Their teachers have essentially become honorary family members.

If raising children in Brooklyn is hard (it is), then running a childcare center here must be a Herculean task! I always think to myself, “how do they do it?” I believe the most likely answer is, they simply care. A lot. People that do this kind of work genuinely care for the community and our kids, and the rest of us benefit enormously because of it.

Reena and her staff are first rate, which I can attest to based on experience with other daycares in the area that simply don’t have programs or people that match what is offered here. Speculation of course, but the negative reviews are very likely parents that haven’t been through this, and who have unrealistic expectations. We all go through this. We all believe that our children are the center of the universe, but the fact is, we’re all in this together.

So if you’re considering it, just come and join the family. Believe me, your children will be in...