What would you think of this preschool?

[LemonPie]

I want some opinions, because I'm just not sure what to think of this.

There's a little local daycare that offers half-day preschool (2-5 days per week). Several of the teachers in the district have kids that are in it/have gone through it. I've heard nothing but good about it from other parents who have/had kids enrolled, and we went to check it out yesterday. DD melded right into the class and participated and had a ball while I checked things out with the director.

I was feeling really good about it, until I noticed they had a notice up on the wall--they got some "type A" violations and were required to post this notice for 30 days. I asked about it, and the director said that they basically got cited because she'd stored some paint in the closet of the staff bathroom. 'Theoretically' the kids could have gotten into it, though she claims they don't have access. She stated she shoved them in there after a project one day and promptly forgot about them. It sounds like an honest oversight to me.

I went ahead and called the local licensing division. They confirmed the paint story, but she also got dinged for letting one of the kids go into the school to use the bathroom alone while everyone was out on the playground. I have to say I'm not terribly concerned about this either, because the entire lot where the school is located is tiny--I'd estimate about 1/3 of an acre. In fact, if we're in the backyard at home and one of my kids runs in to use the bathroom, they're quite a bit farther away from me than the kid is to the teacher at this school. The whole thing is fenced in--it's just that the child was inside the classroom by themself.

The lady went on to tell me about 3 more incidents

1. a child was swinging on her tummy and fell and hurt herself. The preschool was found to be at fault and fined $100

2. one child walked in front of another child that was swinging and got kicked in the chin (again, similar incidents have happened to my kids at home in my direct supervision). A parent called a complaint in about this one, but the school was not found in violation for the incident itself. However --

3. they got into trouble with the inspector because one of the teachers walked inside to do something so they were out of teacher ratio (just to be clear there were teachers present on the playground, just not what the state said was enough for the amount of kids present, and again, this school is tiny--had one of the teachers on the playground needed help, she would have barely had to raise her voice to alert the one inside).

The school was licensed in 2005 and according to the lady I talked to at the licensing division (I'm in CA) this is the entire history of violations for this school. I have never checked out a school's licensure before though (my son's pre-Ks were through the local parks & rec rather than state licensed daycares) and I have no idea where this would measure in the grand scheme of things--for all I know they could have a pretty stellar record compared to other daycares.

So am I fooling myself and these are huge red warning flags? Or would you consider these minor issues that probably every pre-k/daycare has dealt with on some occasion?

[kblackstone444]

As a daycare teacher, all I can say is... if that's the only complaints, then that's a pretty darn good daycare!

Some of them were absolutely ridiculous. A child falling off a swing? Another child walking in front of a swing? That happens, even with the teacher standing two feet away, and paying full attention! Geez! And the out of ratio? Sure, it shouldn't happen, but I've never worked in a daycare where it's never done. A teacher has to go to the bathroom, has to take care of an injured child, etc. I'm not seeing any red flags here, no abuse, no neglect, nothing.

[soccermama]

I would certainly consider them minor as I've seen the same sort of actions on our neighborhood playground. Kids mess around - they don't pay attention in certain situations and accidents will happen. If you find that your child is learning what they should be learning, is excited to be there, is being fed proper meals, and you feel comfortable with the teachers and their plans, then I would give them a chance.

[mistymama]

Those seem very minor to me! Falling off a swing? Some parent actually reports that? Really?

I'd feel GREAT knowing that is everything on their record since 2005.

[nextcommercial]

Wow! That is awesome if those are the only complaints.

It's nearly impossible to be in compliance at all times with the rules the way they are.

I am not licensed in my state. Only regulated. But, many of the rules are impossible to follow. Some are easy, but silly.

I have been dinged for things like not having my fire escape plan written in red ink. I had no idea it had to be in red ink. I also didn't know I couldn't have scented candles in the house. The list is endless, and I didn't even know about some of them.

I think it sounds like a great school.

[Llyra]

That all sounds like relatively minor stuff, and ALL of it could have happened to ANYBODY caring for kids, really. I wouldn't worry about any of it. If you feel like the environment is caring and the teachers and directors are responsible, then no, I wouldn't let it worry you at all.

[MusicianDad]

I'm thinking the same thing as everyone else. If those are the only complaints then it's probably a dang good preschoo.

Originally Posted by nextcommercial

I have been dinged for things like not having my fire escape plan written in red ink. I had no idea it had to be in red ink. I also didn't know I couldn't have scented candles in the house. The list is endless, and I didn't even know about some of them.

Eh... that is absurd. It's not safer to have the fire escape plan in red ink. In fact, as someone who has trouble seeing red on white I could argue it's less safe.

[LemonPie]

Thanks everyone for the input! You all basically confirmed what I was thinking

[Annapooh]

My thoughts

I teach at a preschool, daycare. I have also been, and sort of still am a stay at home momma. (If my kids arn't in school, I take the time off from work.) If the citations, are something that could happen at home, or at the park with you, and you have teachers loving it, I'd say it's a good place to go. Going inside alone, would concern me a bit, but it's a case by case type of thing to consider. I have been on both sides of this coin. Stop in at odd times to see how the center runs. Go in when naptime is over, see how the teachers are reacting to the children, go in at lunchtime, see how that is handled. I'd say lunchtime at our center is the craziest, but we are pretty big. I have a very difficult time trusting others with my children, and they are 15, 13, and 7. Always trust your gut.

[Jessy1019]

Those complaints would not concern me at all.

[inky leeuhhh]

those are all minor issues imo ( i teach preschool ). i cant even believe most of them were reported. i say go for it if you like the place.

[Gray's Mommy]

Originally Posted by harleyhalfmoon

As a daycare teacher, all I can say is... if that's the only complaints, then that's a pretty darn good daycare!

Some of them were absolutely ridiculous. A child falling off a swing? Another child walking in front of a swing? That happens, even with the teacher standing two feet away, and paying full attention! Geez! And the out of ratio? Sure, it shouldn't happen, but I've never worked in a daycare where it's never done. A teacher has to go to the bathroom, has to take care of an injured child, etc. I'm not seeing any red flags here, no abuse, no neglect, nothing.

I work in a cooperative preschool & agree that this sounds like minor violations.

[Yo Becca]

Yeah that. I'd be more concerned with sending my kid to a school where parents complain about tummy swinging. Tummy swinging is a developmentally appropriate way for children to play independently and develop large motor coordination. I'd certainly never let my kids go to a school that was anti-tummy swinging.

And as a preschool teacher, yes, kids run in front of the swing. Short of stationing a full-time gaurd in front and behind, it's going to happen. Not a sign of poor care, for sure.

[LemonPie]

I don't think a parent complained about the tummy swinging--I think the injury happened and the school was required by law to report an injury on the premises. The licensing board fined them because they thought tummy swinging shouldn't have been allowed. I think it was the accidental kicking that was complained about.

But I agree with you--my kids spend more times on their tummies than on their bottoms in the swings And they've definitely accidentally kicked each other, even when I was directly supervising them

[Justmee]

Originally Posted by harleyhalfmoon

As a daycare teacher, all I can say is... if that's the only complaints, then that's a pretty darn good daycare!

Some of them were absolutely ridiculous. A child falling off a swing? Another child walking in front of a swing? That happens, even with the teacher standing two feet away, and paying full attention! Geez! And the out of ratio? Sure, it shouldn't happen, but I've never worked in a daycare where it's never done. A teacher has to go to the bathroom, has to take care of an injured child, etc. I'm not seeing any red flags here, no abuse, no neglect, nothing.

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