Looking for feedback on Le Petite and Chesterbrook Academy in Alexandria

[Anonymous]

These schools seem to be the only schools with openings in our area. I'm glad they have space for my child but I think it may be a red flag since most all of the other schools seem to have long wait lists.

[Anonymous]

Which Chesterbrook Academy? The one in Kingstowne? Sadly, I don't recommend it and my child is there - we're on director number three for the year I think. It's insane. Massive teacher turnovers, and it's just a mess. If we weren't close to moving on on our own, I would have yanked her out of there.

[Anonymous]

Surprised La Petite has openings. What age is your kid? I toured it for DD for the infant room but the waitlist was too long and we went somewhere else. Lots of postings on DCUM about how Chesterbook had problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Surprised La Petite has openings. What age is your kid? I toured it for DD for the infant room but the waitlist was too long and we went somewhere else. Lots of postings on DCUM about how Chesterbook had problems.

You are lucky you did not go with Le Petite. Both the kids and teachers look so miserable there. When I pulled up into the parking lot, I saw multiple kids crying and 2 kids just sitting in the swings looking unhappy. The teachers were just chatting away and not paying attention to the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Surprised La Petite has openings. What age is your kid? I toured it for DD for the infant room but the waitlist was too long and we went somewhere else. Lots of postings on DCUM about how Chesterbook had problems.

You are lucky you did not go with Le Petite. Both the kids and teachers look so miserable there. When I pulled up into the parking lot, I saw multiple kids crying and 2 kids just sitting in the swings looking unhappy. The teachers were just chatting away and not paying attention to the kids.

Now that you mention it, when I did my visit last year, there were some kids (maybe 3-4 yr old range) out in the playground. When I drove up and got out of the car, several of them came to the fence, zombie-like, to stare at me. I didn't know if that was normal for kids at that age range, but it did freak me out.

[Anonymous]

This is not at all unusual for children placed in daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Surprised La Petite has openings. What age is your kid? I toured it for DD for the infant room but the waitlist was too long and we went somewhere else. Lots of postings on DCUM about how Chesterbook had problems.

You are lucky you did not go with Le Petite. Both the kids and teachers look so miserable there. When I pulled up into the parking lot, I saw multiple kids crying and 2 kids just sitting in the swings looking unhappy. The teachers were just chatting away and not paying attention to the kids.

Now that you mention it, when I did my visit last year, there were some kids (maybe 3-4 yr old range) out in the playground. When I drove up and got out of the car, several of them came to the fence, zombie-like, to stare at me. I didn't know if that was normal for kids at that age range, but it did freak me out.

This is the type of daycare that would prevent me from going back to work. I would feel guilty all day long. The ratios for the 2 and 3 year old classes seemed larger than any others I visited in the area. I think there were 30 kids in the 3 year old class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is not at all unusual for children placed in daycare.

That is not true. Better daycares/preschool have bright classrooms filled with art and up to date toys, games, books and puzzles. Kids have smiles and look happy. You will probably be fine if you need a place where the kids won't be injured. The website is so misleading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which Chesterbrook Academy? The one in Kingstowne? Sadly, I don't recommend it and my child is there - we're on director number three for the year I think. It's insane. Massive teacher turnovers, and it's just a mess. If we weren't close to moving on on our own, I would have yanked her out of there.

I was planning to check out Chesterbrook. I can't imagine a place where there is so much turnover within a year.

[Anonymous]

Check out Chesterbrook's record with Virginia DSS. I don't think you'll want to send your child there . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out Chesterbrook's record with Virginia DSS. I don't think you'll want to send your child there . . .

Do you have a link?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check out Chesterbrook's record with Virginia DSS. I don't think you'll want to send your child there . . .

Do you have a link?

OK, I found the link and Chesterbrook's record is scary. I won't bother visiting.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried Little Acorn Patch? It's nearby and when I was over there last week for a tour it looked very promising. Also, their inspection reports seem pretty good with no real flags. I saw Alexandria location, not Springfield.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried Little Acorn Patch? It's nearby and when I was over there last week for a tour it looked very promising. Also, their inspection reports seem pretty good with no real flags. I saw Alexandria location, not Springfield.

We are a happy Little Acorn family. We have two kids there and both are thriving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is not at all unusual for children placed in daycare.

I would suggest that you take a drive by the playground at St. Anthony's Day School in Old Town. I can guarantee you that you will not see zombied-out kids standing and staring.