Also looking for feedback on Department of Education daycare, thanks!

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Any feedback on HHS’ daycare?

I don't have firsthand knowledge, but have heard negative things from several people. They've had a lot of management turnover in the last year. I'm not sure about teacher turnover. It's also much more expensive than other daycares in the area because it is Bright Horizons.

Any current thoughts/feedback on Energy?

I think you've already decided against this, but want to support your decision to not go to HUD. The turnover there is terrible; I haven't had any experience with the new director, but the last one was problematic.

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Not first hand info so may not be as helpful but a good friend has her daughter at the DOE center and is quite happy. They are in the infant room and we recently registered for the waitlist based on their feedback. Center has apparently had turnover in the main office team but not so much the teachers which was more important to me. Good luck with your search!

Potentially have spots in toddler classes at ED/HHS and Energy coming up end of August/early September. We live in SW DC so USDA, Energy, HUD, and HHS/ED are our main choices since they are walkable (we only have one car). I am a fed so we have that priority.

We live closest to Energy and like the location, the playground proximity to the center, and the learning spaces. However, many people here bash Bright Horizons, which is the vendor who runs it. Parents I talked to when I visited seemed pleased. My daughter was pretty small at the time, so I didn't know what to ask about and plan to go back to check it out.

ED/HHS is slightly less convenient but not too bad. We got a spot last summer but they were just being taken over by YMCA, and I have chosen NOT to accept a spot already at HUD (also run by YMCS) because I see the daycare staff sitting outside the building ignoring babies in the 6-seater strollers. I don't see how that counts as "outdoor time" and often at least one of the babies is crying. A friend did not enjoy the experience she had 3-4 years ago there, but I do like the set up of the center better. However, they are slightly less expensive, have a big indoor rec room so the kids can run off energy on bad weather days, and their playground is great, if a little far away (2 blocks or so across C street). I have visited recently and it seemed pretty normal, the kids were painting in the class my child would join.

I see a lot of old reviews of each center, but none recent. Can anyone CURRENT or recent give me your thoughts? Or if you totally wrote one of the centers off

My priorities: warm/loving teachers, a responsive director, and access to outdoor time at least once and preferably several times a day.

FWIW - Our 19 month old has been with a very loving nanny in our home in a nanny share since 5 months old. I know I'm not going to get that kind of TLC in a center, but my numerous observations of those HUD daycare staff made me sad. Surely there's an in between? I'm an educator by training and value a thoughtful curriculum, etc. but honestly at this age I could care less about what she's learning as much as she feels safe and valued. We can't afford the nanny much longer (dipping into savings and equity line to cover bills), she wants to go back to college, and our toddler is more than ready to be with her peers in a more structured setting.

Thanks!