Which setting would you choose?

[Anonymous]

I’m not in DC anymore, so this isn’t specific to any daycares in the DMV...

Prior to the pandemic we sent our children to a larger daycare facility (akin to Bright Horizons). Our older daughter loved it and “graduated” from there.

Our younger daughter is now 4. She has some speech (primarily articulation) challenges that she finds very frustrating. She also was a very late potty trainer (in the last month). Our prior daycare (“A”) asked if we plan to send her back in the fall, when they anticipate having space. At the time she wasn’t potty trained and I shared the speech challenges and they said that they’d like to circle back in late June to check in but, given their 12:1 ratio in the 4 year old room it might not be the right environment for her. They suggested a home daycare might be better. I called two home daycares that said they didn’t feel well equipped to handle a chid with speech delays.

I found another daycare (“B”) that specializes in SN children (20% of the class). My daughter would be in the non-special needs track (because of program capacity) but would benefit from their experience. The virtual tour made it look like a really great place. This is my first choice BUT they don’t currently know whether they can accommodate us in the fall - they are waiting to hear from current families and / or whether any classroom limitations lift. The ratio is currently 4:1 but goes up to 6:1 in non-Covid times.

I just spoke to a smaller care center run out of a house (24 children total) “c”. I’m touring it this week, but know people who have been happy there. They have space to take my child either immediately or in August. They said they have worked with speech therapists and the challenges I described. Their ratios are usually 1:8 but during covid are 1:6. Granted I haven’t toured yet, but I’m trying to decide if we like it so we enroll her now, enroll in August (recognizing we might choose “B” and lose our deposit) or decline and “risk” sending her to her prior daycare?

[Anonymous]

Do you need care now? If so, C now and then B if space opens in August. Let any lost money/deposit go, it's just the cost of doing business.