Kindercare NoVa

[Anonymous]

Have there been any improvements or should we still be avoiding it? Looking for a spot for our 4-year old and Kindercare is the most convenient (besides having current openings that is). Was planning to use it as a stop gap while DD is waitlisted elsewhere. Would I be better off keeping her home? I'm going to be a SAHM in the short term.

[Anonymous]

Incredible variance in quality by location. Which one?

[Anonymous]

The one in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

We were one of the families that pulled a kid out of the 4s room last summer. I spoke recently to a parent who stayed but it sounds like there continue to be problems with teacher turnover and ratio issues in the 3/4 classrooms-- apparently licensing was there again this month after a parent called to complain. It really depends what you want your kid to get out of it while you wait for another spot to open up at another center. Kindercare is really expensive and if you want the Kindergarten prep classes (phonics and math, in particular), you will pay an extra $250/month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have there been any improvements or should we still be avoiding it? Looking for a spot for our 4-year old and Kindercare is the most convenient (besides having current openings that is). Was planning to use it as a stop gap while DD is waitlisted elsewhere. Would I be better off keeping her home? I'm going to be a SAHM in the short term.

Hhhhmmm send. her to a crappy daycare run by a corporation where I'm sure she will me be loved and nurtured or leave her at home with her mother....decisions decisions decisions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were one of the families that pulled a kid out of the 4s room last summer. I spoke recently to a parent who stayed but it sounds like there continue to be problems with teacher turnover and ratio issues in the 3/4 classrooms-- apparently licensing was there again this month after a parent called to complain. It really depends what you want your kid to get out of it while you wait for another spot to open up at another center. Kindercare is really expensive and if you want the Kindergarten prep classes (phonics and math, in particular), you will pay an extra $250/month.

Could you please elaborate exactly what the problems were? There seems to be a lot of negativity surrounding Kindercare NoVa but I'm not quite sure what the exact issues are. Most importantly - are there any safety issues? All I want is for my DD to be occupied - at least for half the day if not all day and meet other kids her age. Kindergarten prep - yes, I completely understand we won't quite get that here but we're ok with it in the short term. Also, do you mind sharing where you moved your 4-year old to? We're new to the area and really lost in the pre-school world in NoVa.

[Anonymous]

The one in Arlington with the roaches?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The one in Arlington with the roaches?

Aaaah! You beat me to it. The roaches, the weekly spraying for the roaches, the inability to clean the sippy cups so they dip them in some chemical sanitizer...that Kindercare in Clarendon? LOL Look up the DSS violations list and the resturant violations.

[Anonymous]

OMG. We visited the Kindercare in Springfield. Dirty, dirty, dirty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were one of the families that pulled a kid out of the 4s room last summer. I spoke recently to a parent who stayed but it sounds like there continue to be problems with teacher turnover and ratio issues in the 3/4 classrooms-- apparently licensing was there again this month after a parent called to complain. It really depends what you want your kid to get out of it while you wait for another spot to open up at another center. Kindercare is really expensive and if you want the Kindergarten prep classes (phonics and math, in particular), you will pay an extra $250/month.

Could you please elaborate exactly what the problems were? There seems to be a lot of negativity surrounding Kindercare NoVa but I'm not quite sure what the exact issues are. Most importantly - are there any safety issues? All I want is for my DD to be occupied - at least for half the day if not all day and meet other kids her age. Kindergarten prep - yes, I completely understand we won't quite get that here but we're ok with it in the short term. Also, do you mind sharing where you moved your 4-year old to? We're new to the area and really lost in the pre-school world in NoVa.

PP- Many families moved to the preschool at the First Baptist Church, which is right up the street. Other families moved to the Arlington Montessori, Bright Horizons, Columbia Baptist--- probably others, but those are the ones I know about. If you search the archives, you will find lots of discussion about Kindercare Clarendon from last summer. You should also call Ann Dramstad, who is the state inspector who worked with the parents to resolve the issues as she may know the current status. There were two problems in the 3/4 classrooms-- first, Kindercare was doing nothing to protect the playground from the construction site next door. There were flammable chemicals being stored against the building and there was no netting to prevent debris from being dropped onto the playground while the construction workers were putting up the high-rise. These issues may have been resolved by now, but the parents were really upset that Kindercare did nothing to address the issues until we (the parents) called the county and the state licensing board after Kindercare refused to take any action. The second problem in the 3/4 classroom was teacher turnover-- teachers were being hired and quitting within weeks and the lack of consistency was creating chaos in the classrooms. From what I understand (again, second hand info from a parent who stayed), the 3/4 classrooms are still having issues with being out of ratio (not enough teachers to supervise students) and the state was in again two weeks ago after a parent complained about the lack of supervision.

[Anonymous]

I was at Kindercare at this time that 11:31 is talking about, but I don't remember any controversy about dangers lurking with the construction next door and Kindercare refusing to do anything about it. To me, Kindercare was being proactive. They called a meeting to discuss the construction even before it really took off and wrote a letter outlining what they were doing to shield the playground from any hazards. It could be that they only did that after pressure from the parents, but no parents ever talked to me about it.

My kids went to Kindercare sine they were infants and I did move my kids out after last summer. Both really missed Kindercare and wanted to go back.

For me, the issues were smaller but indicative of a broader and systemic breakdown of leadership at the administrative level.

We ended up leaving after last summer because we had one "graduate" and thought it was a good time to move the other. We struggled a little and came close to staying, but in the end I'm glad we made the change.

It's been a while since we were there and even since I talked to parents who had stayed. I don't get the sense that if someone sent their kid there that he or she would be in jeopardy and they would probably have a good time there. Kindercare has a nice summer camp program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was at Kindercare at this time that 11:31 is talking about, but I don't remember any controversy about dangers lurking with the construction next door and Kindercare refusing to do anything about it. To me, Kindercare was being proactive. They called a meeting to discuss the construction even before it really took off and wrote a letter outlining what they were doing to shield the playground from any hazards. It could be that they only did that after pressure from the parents, but no parents ever talked to me about it.

My kids went to Kindercare sine they were infants and I did move my kids out after last summer. Both really missed Kindercare and wanted to go back.

For me, the issues were smaller but indicative of a broader and systemic breakdown of leadership at the administrative level.

We ended up leaving after last summer because we had one "graduate" and thought it was a good time to move the other. We struggled a little and came close to staying, but in the end I'm glad we made the change.

It's been a while since we were there and even since I talked to parents who had stayed. I don't get the sense that if someone sent their kid there that he or she would be in jeopardy and they would probably have a good time there. Kindercare has a nice summer camp program.

After the initial meeting all the steps kindercare took to address the building constructions hazards and infestations were only after parents contacted county and state officials. OP try Little Beginnings also.

[Anonymous]

It don't understand why anyone would pay for "kindergarten prep" at kindercare. In our FCPS school there is nothing to prepare for. If a kid is able recognize letters and numbers, to speak clearly, get along with others, follow easy directions and hold a pencil, I would consider them prepared. No need for academic prep. What a load of hooey.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It don't understand why anyone would pay for "kindergarten prep" at kindercare. In our FCPS school there is nothing to prepare for. If a kid is able recognize letters and numbers, to speak clearly, get along with others, follow easy directions and hold a pencil, I would consider them prepared. No need for academic prep. What a load of hooey.

To clarify, at Kindercare Clarendon, the exposure to letters and numbers is done through Phonics and Math classes (which each cost an additional $125/mo). The only kids who get this exposure are the ones who sign up and they are pulled out from the bigger class for 30 minutes each day. So the recognition of letters and numbers that you reference above will not necessarily happen outside of the paid supplemental classes. This is what PP meant by "kindergarten prep"- nothing fancy or particularly academic, but as you note this is an important building block for starting Kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It don't understand why anyone would pay for "kindergarten prep" at kindercare. In our FCPS school there is nothing to prepare for. If a kid is able recognize letters and numbers, to speak clearly, get along with others, follow easy directions and hold a pencil, I would consider them prepared. No need for academic prep. What a load of hooey.

To clarify, at Kindercare Clarendon, the exposure to letters and numbers is done through Phonics and Math classes (which each cost an additional $125/mo). The only kids who get this exposure are the ones who sign up and they are pulled out from the bigger class for 30 minutes each day. So the recognition of letters and numbers that you reference above will not necessarily happen outside of the paid supplemental classes. This is what PP meant by "kindergarten prep"- nothing fancy or particularly academic, but as you note this is an important building block for starting Kindergarten.

Assuming the person doing the teaching is qualified. lol