Stages Childcare Center

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I would not recommend Stages to anyone looking for quality childcare. Both of my sons attended this center, one on days school was closed and the youngest after morning preschool. When I first visited this center to determine if it would be a good fit for my family I spoke with the director and informed her, in detail, of my youngest son's special needs. She assured me that Stages would be able to work with him. He did very well at first and the director kept a close on him, making sure he was OK in the classroom and giving me daily feedback. Eventually the feedback tapered off because he was doing so well - not one incident or behavior issue. The director left the center and a new director started. I made a point to meet with the new director to be sure she understood my son's needs. This was not easy, as the new director was rarely in the center during drop off and pick up times. (The previous director had always been available, which was one reason I chose this center.) Even though I gave the new director the same information she did not relay it to the new teacher. I was unaware that my son had been placed in a different class, as he was still in the same room at pick up. Had I known there was a new teacher I would have met with her myself. The new director then left, and the owner of the center did not notify the parents. I found out a good 5 weeks after the departure. By the time we left the center there still was no director on board. Because of the changes in staffing and no one communicating my son's needs my son began to have behavior problems. He had spent three years in a very loving daycare setting in our old town with very few incidents, so I am sure that had Stages been willing to work with us my son would have been fine. I was notified of the behavior issues after they had been going on for some time. Even though we had a plan in place, no one at the center was aware and no one was following the plan. By the time I found this out it had escalated to my son being removed from the classroom and forced to spend time alone. All because I was not notified of the staffing changes and there was no communication on the part of the center. No one knew what was going on. When I was finally notified I offered to have assistance from the county come in to address his behavior issues but was denied. Which, I have been told, is illegal. During the two week of incidents and threats of being asked to leave the center we were not given anything in writing- nothing explaining the incidents and nothing stating we would be asked to leave. Not only is this against state guidelines but it is also contrary to the Stages parent handbook, which the center created themselves. They were not even able to follow their own guidelines. When we left the center I did file a complaint and it was substantiated. This center was out of compliance in notifying parents and in supervising children- when the reviewer was there she watched a room of a mixture of older and younger children with no teacher in the room. Not one teacher. Parents are paying for supervision. Parents are paying for loving care. Parents are paying for a center that will not give up on the child at the first sign of a problem. Parents are paying for open commuincation and safety. None of these expectations were met at this center. I would give them zero stars if I could.

My son has been at Stages for 3 1/2 years and my infant daughter for 6 months. The center is very clean, bright and nicely decorated. The teachers are caring and committed to the development, learning and well-being of the children. The administration is the same and the owners are often on the premises (they have kids in the center as well.) The cost includes hot meals for lunch and snacks too. I plan to keep my son there until Kindergarten (although they do have a program there as well) and my daughter will be there long term as well.