The pick up/drop off process is pretty easy.
When you walk in, you can tell that they put a lot of money into making the classrooms and hallways look "magical" for the kids.
*This preschool seems good, and may be good for your kid. Every child is different, and mine did not do well.
This is our experience:
My 4yr old went to this school 3 days a week.. (His previous preschool, he went full time mon-fri all day.. We moved across states and chose this preschool).. We understood that transitions to a new home, new school would be rough. My son settled in a couple of months at home. And we thought he was doing pretty well in this school.. Communication between myself and teachers were pretty good, up until 5 months into it. All I heard from his teachers is "He's been sitting from afar, watching our lesson.." or "He struggled a little bit to focus"... Some days "he had such a great day".. So by these messages I thought he was finally getting comfortable.
Until I was bombarded by several text messages from the director stating, he had to be removed from his class, he's screaming on the top of his lungs, banging on walls and doors.. I was beyond furious (at this point, he's been into the school for 7mos). I have NEVER had any message from his teachers in any way stating any type of behaviors like this. The director was nice and we talked it out, and tried to find solutions that could work... Although the behaviors she expressed to me, I have NEVER seen any type of those behaviors at home or from his previous school.. He THRIVED at his previous school. I asked my son questions about his teachers, how his day was... And the only info I can gather from him is that he spends a LOT of time at the mushroom table (Which is a table where kids showing any type of negative behaviors, that need a break away from class), and he could only remember "Ms abby". He did not know the rest of his teachers names... Which leads me to a negative I have, he had 4 different teachers. So he rotates classrooms about every 30mins. The director tells me that most of the kids love the rotation and do well, which made me think there was something different about my son. Until I talked to my other mom friends, DRs, and his speech therapist. And they all agreed that rotating classes like that is very hard, for any child. Another thing that my child has told me, "Oh they don't like me" When I ask about his teachers... He couldn't give me a reason, but I knew something was going on.. My son had another "Meltdown" at this school. I came in, and talked to the director about our options.. And I decided to pull him out of the school, the following evening...
Ya know, I was a preschool teacher for years, my education is early child. Edu and development.. And every time I had to go in and talk to the director.. She would ask me tips or solutions for his behaviors.. But I just sat there and thought "Isn't it your job, the teachers job to take time, and get to know the child. To form a trust or a bond of some sort"... In my years, I have never once been in a situation where I gave up on a child or couldnt connect with them.. And I felt that the half of his teachers "Wrote him off" in a way. (We did enjoy our interactions with his music and his PE/physical teacher).. Like they see him as a negative distraction and wanted him out of their class... I get it, a child "acting up" is a distraction, and isn't fair for the rest of the kids... Anyways, he's been out of the school for a little over a month, and his normal, 4 yr old tantrums reduced. We do schooling at him and he's able to sit there. We have play dates every day. And he is thriving now..
I guess my advice for anyone looking for preschools, listen to your child and their behaviors. There was a reason why my son lashed out and had "severe" tantrums about this school. I really wanted him to stay in the school and hope he would just get acclimated. But that was my mistake. Next time, I'll know to listen more into WHY he's acting this way instead of just hoping...
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