Thinking about switching to St. John's
Looking for thoughts from experienced parents as I evaluate whether to switch daycare centers. My 16 month old has been enrolled in the UC Berkeley Early Childhood Education Program since she was almost 4 months old. She just moved up with the rest of her class into the toddler level. In general, I like the teachers, program structure, and facilities, and it's very close to where I work. My daughter is very happy there, and is often reluctant to leave at the end of the day.
The main downside has been inconsistent staffing. There was some teacher turnover, and whenever there's a vacation or illness, which frequently happens, we usually get a random a succession of subs from the substitute pool that serves several ECEP centers. Creates a lot of stress during transition times. Now, we lost our Center director. We stuck it out last year with months of substitute coverage for at least 1 of the 3 teacher positions in our class, and I'm honestly wondering when the next shoe is going to drop related to staffing.
I recently toured St. John's. Teachers seem warm and attentive, and the kids were playing happily there. I like that they handle transfers between age levels on a case by case basis, especially after dealing with some of the rigid aspects of a childcare program enmeshed in the UCB bureaucracy. Class size at St. John's is somewhat larger, they split shifts in the play yard between toddlers and preschoolers, so it's more crowded and louder compared to what my daughter is used to. I'm concerned she might feel overwhelmed, since she already gets worn out by the play and social interaction with her class, which is a pretty mellow group.
I realize this is a first world problem, and we're fortunate to have a choice of quality daycare providers. But I'd appreciate any relevant experiences or thoughts. Thanks!
Parent Replies
My son is in the toddler room at St. John's and we recently decided NOT to switch to one of the UC Early Childhood centers precisely because of the concerns you outlined in your post. We had heard of their staffing issues - I'm sorry you had to deal with it. We were also generally just worried about making a change when we didn't really have to, so I know how hard it can be.
We have been really happy at St. John's. We started in the baby room when my son was 1, and he'll be moving up to the preschool room soon. It's a nurturing and warm environment and you're right that the flexibility they allow families and kids (in terms of transitions) is really wonderful. Many of the teachers have been there for many years, and it really feels like a big family. They organize family potlucks during the summer and also have parents' night out a few times a year. It's a really nice community. My son has flourished there, and he's kind of a quiet guy too. He actually loves being on the playground with the bigger kids (though they do sometimes run fast and get rowdy, but it hasn't really been an issue), and also loves having access to the babies. I think the mixed age playtime has been good for him, and after our experience at St. John's, the separation of play areas was something we really didn't like about the UC center.
I would be happy to chat about our experience or answer any specific questions you might have. The Center Directors at St. John's also have a list of parents who are willing to talk to prospective parents, so you could also ask them for some additional names. They are very approachable and understanding, so if you express your concerns to them, they might suggest specific parents you could talk to, who have dealt with similar concerns or issues.
Good luck with your decision!