Another Daycare....Yet Another Deposit Down!

Jan 2011 update-We are not sending Tillman to this "school."  Since they are listed as a "school," my dependent daycare account at work will not cover it.  Also, I have not been impressed with the Director's communication--she is not responsive to email and doesn't return phone calls.  That alone is very frustrating.  The program sounded good when we visited orginally.

I mentioned a few weeks back that Nick and I were checking out another daycare.  Well, little did I know, we were going to check out a "little school" for infants up to five-year-olds.  Creative Learning on Johns Island recently expanded their hours to accommodate children for full days (before only 1/2 day program). 

Before visiting this "school," I was already impressed because they actually had a website!  As you read from this post, most of the centers in town are word of mouth only and there is very little information on the web.  Funny thing is we actually heard about Creative Learning through word of mouth (ironic) at a birthday party for one of my friends.  We got to talking to someone who just had a child.  The child care subject came up, and they mentioned that is where they were taking their daughter in the fall.  I was curious enough to check it out and was glad I did!

Of course when I call, they mention that they only have one spot left  for March 2011 (always the case).  We visited the program on a Friday and put the deposit down the following Tuesday. 

Things that impressed us about their program:
-All teachers are masters prepared in teaching and/or child therapies.
-Infants to 5-year-olds are integrated for activities and learning.  Infants are only in the "infant" room to nap.
-Kids have a garden they maintain, take care of several animals, and help staff to prepare lunches (organic).
-The Rector (Episcopal Church staff member) does "chapel" with the children, and prayers are said at each meal.
-Weekly Newsletter are email about the upcoming week (we're already receiving those).
-Program is small.  From 9-12 each day is when they have all children attending school, the afternoons drop off to only 30% of the children. 
-All the children that have graduated the program thus far are reading on a first grade reading level! (very impressed by that)