The Goddard School

This is my son's first time in an early childhood setting and we could not be more pleased with the staff and school at The Goddard School in the Doylestown Bailiwick complex. My son is in the Get Set classroom with Ms. Cathy and Ms. Heather and they are absolutely wonderful. They know just how to keep the children engaged and differentiate lessons to be developmentally appropriate for all of the children in the classroom. My son loves to come to school and talks about the teachers non stop at home which as a parent makes your childcare decision feel all that much better. He has made great strides in potty training since starting at the school and we think Ms. Cathy promotes the right steps and tools to encourage the children to want to learn to use the bathroom. My son also had a speech delay and since starting at the school his speech has really just exploded. We 100% credit his teachers for using great language with him to expand his vocabulary. One of the other great things about the school is the enrichment programs offered. They are doing things like yoga and sign language regularly as well as art, sports, and music. The staff throughout the building is also great! Everyone is kind and genuinely makes an effort to know your child and family. The administration team works hard to make sure everything is properly handled and helps solve problems promptly. We would highly recommend this school to any family!

Our son is having an extraordinary time in Miss Amy’s kindergarten class because it extends beyond kindergarten. I am writing about our experience because often great teachers, like Miss Amy, don’t get the accolades they deserve and this is my way to publicly thank Miss Amy and Miss Tara for their outstanding work. We’ve been in kindergarten now for 5 months and WE ARE THANKFUL EVERY DAY when we pick up our son from school. My son leaves school excited about what he has learned and shares his knowledge with us by recreating the experiments, art projects, chess plays, writing essays, reading 2nd grade level books, singing songs with ASL, showing us his new fitness exercises, telling analog time to a minute, monetary system, decimal system, art concepts and creating art shows with purchasing potential, building robots, solar system, multiplication,fractions, …... , the list can go on. We especially appreciate the teaching method in this classroom. Miss Amy and Miss Tara are very inventive and find many ways to keep the kindergarteners interested, motivated, engaged, and active while learning. Beyond the exceptional curriculum, (1st grade material starts in January) life skills, self discipline, social responsibility and good citizenship are intertwined in the daily routine. We feel very lucky to have found Miss Amy and Miss Tara. At this point (mid-year) my son is very excited and beyond ready academically and socially for 1st grade and to excel there. Miss Amy and Miss Tara have done a wonderful job every day to instill values, respect and knowledge into the young lives in their care. ** My son would highly recommend Miss Amy’s kindergarten classroom. ** Before I conclude, let me say, please visit and meet Miss Amy it will be time well spent. When I met her during my impromptu visit to this school and I knew instantly that hers was the program for my advanced 5 year old. Within seconds I had a breadth of specific information about the current curriculum, the goal for the next 2 months and specific goals to be met at the end of the year. Her demeanor was very pleasant, calm, direct and reassuring. I met Miss Tara after we started our attendance. I was beyond reassured that this team of amazing teachers would have immense capability to keep the fire burning in the quest for knowledge and good citizenship. Thank you Miss Amy and Miss Tara for being the amazing teachers that you are.

Now that my child has left the school and I am truly able the write an accurate review on this school my opinion clearly has changed tremendously! I came to this school I went agents what I was told by friends, family, and people in the community from the cb school district to continue to search more for a daycare. That this location in particular was not a great place. I hope beings that at the time a family friend had worked there and once my child would reach their room things would be great. I was wrong. Since the beginning I was constantly asking classroom leaders to please send my child home close to the way she was dropped off in. Knowing kids will be kids and play dirt is to be expected but there were two time in particular my child was allowed to literally roll in dirt and play in defrosting snow puddles. My child has asthma and upper respiratory issues! She even though teachers were provided with art smocks would continually send my child home with clothing that after being treated with stain removers needed to be replaced. Also was sent home at times on a weekly basis prior to being potty trained with a diaper that had not even changed and was down between her knees or just put on incorrectly and she was then on rides home peeing all over herself or wet all the way through by the time we reach home. I talked to the assistant director at the time, Mrs Kathy, and even the director Lisa. The assistant director and Mrs Kathy could agree with me more in regards to complaints and concerns. Lisa on the other hand...i saw what everyone warned me about! Rude, condescending, spoke to me as if I was beneath her, and just plain and simple lacked customer service skills. I stuck it out and gave it until my child was moved up to Mrs kathy' s room where I had hoped it would get better and where I wanted her to be since she knew my family. I did not get better and I am just appalled at the treatment my child received and the way the situation was handled. I asked Mrs kathy of please once again could an art smock be placed on my child at art time because I can not keep replacing clothes that are getting ruined. I was told by Mrs kathy that " i have 12 students and sometimes I forget". Unfortunately when caring for others children you can not forget. What of this was a food allergy. Which my child has also. I asked her to just put the smock on her please and left for work. Upon returning to pick up my child that day i found her sweaty, overheated, and red in the face wearing her art smock that is nylon. When ask the assistant teacher what was this she expressed to me that she was given strict orders by Miss Kathy to leave the smock on her all day and to not take it off for any circumstances at all. I grabbed my child's things and we left. I fought back tears leaving. I made it to the front door to leave and there was Lisa. She asked why her smock was on and told her what i was told. She called the assistant teacher out of the room and told Lisa the same. Lisa and I had a frank discussion on this situation. Lisa was upset by it or at least it seemed but the next day between her and Mrs Kathy came up with a lie blaming the classroom assistant teacher. That right there i knew even more Lisa as well as others were out for themselves and not for the children. I spoke also with assistant teacher whom was not at fault. She was extremely mature and sincere about how she she should of just took the smock off. She did not feel right leaving it on but she listened to higher up. Again this situation was it. How does a director of a daycare not know what goes on in her school. She is there on a regular basis so there is no excuse. How are adults going to treat kids like that. And if you have problem talk to me about it. Do not be spiteful and take it out on my child. I am happy my daughter is out of that school and away from the neglectful and careless attitudes and rude behavior of Lisa and some of her staff.

My son has been attending Goddard since Sept. and we are thrilled with his program! He loves going to school every day. His teacher is wonderful-- attentive, professional, and works one on one with her students. His writing has come such a long way in just 2 short months. The staff is friendly and accommodating. Highly recommend Kindergarten there!!

The Goddard School is truly the best school in the area for safe, loving care and fun learning. The staff and teachers are amazing. They have exceeded our expectations as parents. Our children have learned so much at their school and are excited everyday to tell us about their day. I am grateful not only that they have grown in many ways at the Goddard school but that I don't have to worry at all about the safety and care of my children!