Early Childhood Center (ECC) or Rockville Nursery School (RNS)?

[Anonymous]

Hi,
Trying to make a decision between Early Childhood Center (ECC) and Rockville Nursery School (RNS) in Rockville for my two kids (ages 3 and 1). Want something nurturing but also highly effective in preparing for kindergarten. Both are logistically the same distance wise. One difference seems to be that RNS does a 2 hour nap/rest time whereas ECC has a short rest from 12:30-1 before going to afternoon adventures from 1-3. Also RNS is slightly less $. It really seems like both schools are great so it's hard to make a decision!
Thanks!

[Anonymous]

RNS has daycare hours while ecc does not.

[Anonymous]

ECC begins at age 2.

[Anonymous]

My kids went to ECC and we loved it there. Small, nurturing environment.

[Anonymous]

Anyone know how Rockville Nursery is handling COVID protocols? Was unable to get that information over the phone. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Do you need daycare hours? Will your younger kid be < 2 in September? Then RNS.

If you don’t need daycare hours, then ECC. Both are very good at preparing for Kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

I'm most concerned w/ COVID protocols and just haven't been able to get that info from RNS by phone. Child is 2, 3 in November next year. Ideally would prefer daycare hours, but could find a way to deal w/ earlier stop time if COVID protocols are much laxer at RNS. ECC seems excellent with them, strict separation in classrooms, mask wearing mandatory, cleaning playground between groups, and bleaching toys each day, etc.

[Anonymous]

I have a child at RNS and will be enrolling my second in the fall. Super flexible hours, I’ve been impressed with the COVID protocols and communication, and the staff are wonderful. Masked, spaced out kids, small class sizes, tons of time outdoors. But - they are upfront that they will still hug the kids/nurture. They really invest in and love the kids — go for a visit, you’ll be impressed. The PreK teacher in particular is phenomenal.

RNS falls a bit short in communication to new families/website, etc - they put the resources in the teachers and it’s managed by one person solo who is really trying during this super challenging time. We were willing to cut some slack on that end in favor of the attention to the kids.