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February 2024 by Rachel Westwood
Updated review as of Feb 2024:My 3.5 year old toddler still attends Stepping Stone McNeil, and now my 6 month old baby does as well. We still really love this daycare! Ms. Donna is an outstanding principal, and the new vice principal is also really great, Ms. Marissa. My baby is in Ms. Francis and Ms. Sakina's infant room, and she always is so happy to see them! I always feel very much relieved that she really enjoys them as care givers and they always make sure to go above and beyond in their care for the babies. My toddler has been in several teachers' classes now, which include Ms. Elizabeth, Ms. Lorraine, and Ms. Aleyia, and they are all really exceptional. Their care and dedication to the kids is obvious in the way that my son would always ask about them even when he wasn't there. He would be upset as well if I dropped him off and his teachers weren't there yet. He also really enjoys the teacher aids he regularly interacts with, which include Ms. Melissa and Ms. Paula. I also have referred various friends and neighbors to this school, and they all ended up choosing this daycare as well. Their kids are still all attending, and say nothing but really positive things as well.Original review written sometime in Feb 2021:My 6 month old attends daycare here and we really love it! The staff are very attentive to him and Principal Cami answered all of my million questions before dropping him off for his first day once my parental leave ended. I feel like the caregivers do really care about the kids and also want to make sure my needs are met as a parent. The staff that I regularly interact with are Principal Cami, Ms. Maggie (Assistant Director), and Ms. Francis (infant room care giver). They're all really considerate and fun to talk to so I look forward to seeing them and I'm pretty sure my baby does too. For the infant room there is a window for us to watch the kids if we ever want to drop by and check on them. Also, it's cute to see all the older kids come to this daycare everyday. All of them seem super happy and look forward to coming here since I would like my child to continue coming here as he grows. One other important thing is I feel like this daycare is being very safe to prevent any potential spread of covid-19. No adults are allowed in, they do temperature screens for every kid before they enter, and all staff have to wear face masks. That makes me feel really reassured since I heard from my friends that other daycares aren't being that careful so they pulled their kids out.
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October 2023 by Colter MacKenzie
We have been at Stepping Stone McNeil for the last 3.5 years and have had a very positive experience. Ms. Elizabeth, Ms. Aaliyah, and Ms. Tony were absolutely amazing, enthusiastic, and kind. They were always so warm and welcoming each day and made it easy for us to trust them with our child. The management, Ms. Donna and Ms. Jessica were always very attentive to our needs and questions. We could not ask for a better team. The building is older but well maintained and very spacious. The playgrounds are very big and separated by age group. The food served is quality and I never heard complaints from my picky eater. They have fun activities like swim day in the summer and they have visiting instructors for dance and other sports. They have a musician that comes by to play kid songs and the kids seem to really enjoy it. The facility is secure with a key code at the entry, video surveillance, and a very attentive staff. They have a great app that allows for daily updates and photos to be shared with parents. I highly recommend this day care. They are popular and rarely have openings so if you get the opportunity, take it! The low google rating is a reflection of past management, definitely not the current team.
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June 2023 by valerie williams
I love this school! We are moving away from Austin and I wish I could bring this school with us! I definitely mean SCHOOL as well because the education is visible each and every day, at all ages. I had to put my daughter in full time care as a baby due to returning to work and was so nervous to do so BUT finding stepping stone was a gift! Every day I feel at ease knowing my little one is under the TLC of the staff at SS McNeil-especially with Donna as the director. I also work in education myself and feel that I can say with certainty this is a top-tier program with regard to content, care, and health and safety of the children. There are also many long-time staff members which is NOT easy to do in the field of early childhood. It really speaks to one of the many ways SS is a cut above many other centers or franchises. The owner is also very involved in the Austin community, including membership on austin's early childhood council. The center is so welcoming, clean, and has joyful and calm energy. The outdoor play space/backyard is absolutely gorgeous. And the teachers TRULY know the little ones and give genuine love and care. Ms. Shafia and Ms. Shwetha, Ms. Katia, Ms. Paula, Ms. Melissa, Ms. Frances, Donna, and everyone on staff: thank you from the bottom of our hearts <3!
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March 2023 by Peter Wilke
Proceed with caution. the care we received in a 0-12M room was great. As soon as we moved up into the 12-18M room issues started and deeper management/communication problems truly showed itself. We had 4 incidences with only 3 reported in 3 weeks with no corrective actions or taking responsibility for what is happening in the room. We were not alone in this as it was openly shared that other kids were getting bit and beaten up as well. On the day of the last incident we picked up our child and took everything with us. We left a note for the owner/manger to call us as they were no where to be found. This call never happened. We followed up with an email stating we were done, which also went unresponsive. We then continued to get billed with limited help to resolve billing errors and no recollection to when we left and why.I would not trust them with my child, but if you are ok with them coming home with bruises on their face/back/arms give them a chance.
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December 2022 by Maggie Rigney
My 20-month-old has been going to Stepping Stone since he was 5 months old and we absolutely love it! Every teacher he has is outstanding including Ms. Francis, Ms. Sakina, Ms. Elizabeth, Ms. Melissa, Ms. Lorraine, and Ms. Paula. Everyone knows his name when we walk in and you can tell they really care about each kid. When I go to pick him up, he often doesn't want to leave because he loves playing with his friends so much. He also loves the chef-prepared snacks and lunch every day and it makes my life so much easier. He also learns so much while he is there and comes home every day knowing new words and with stronger skills like drinking out of a cup without spilling. Thank you Stepping Stone!
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November 2022 by Tamara C.
The team at this location is amazing. Our kids love going to school and the teachers love our kids. Our 2yo loves Ms Lorraine and Ms Elizabeth. Our 3yo loves Ms Alex and we all love Ms Donna.
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November 2022 by Jayme W.
Our daughter has been going to the McNeil campus for over a year and loves it. We transferred from the Shoal Creek campus (equally as wonderful) and we were very nervous on how she would adjust to the change. Surprisingly, with Ms. Donna as her teacher and the continuous love and support the Stepping Stone family has always embodied, our daughter has adjusted beautifully. One of the hardest decisions new parents have to make is where/who to entrust with your child when you go back to work. Stepping Stone has always been the right choice for our family. We love all of the staff at the McNeil campus. Ms. Melissa is now our daughter's teacher and she is developing (cognitively, socially, etc.) right on schedule. We couldn't be happier...thank you, Stepping Stone!
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September 2022 by Shanmeng Chen
This daycare is the worst daycare I've ever seen. I would give zero if there's the option. My son had been to this place for half a year and kept getting sick. He had always been sent to other classrooms, so I never know which room he's in when I picked him up. I waited after six months and finally decided to change to another place. I'm not a picky person and I didn't plan to leave any bad reviews before today. The final straw is my son's medicine. Today is his last day. My husband went to pick up my son's stuff. The principle couldn't find his Benadryl and Auvi-Q. First, she said the previous principle didn't tell her where they are. Then she called saying those medicines were expired and they throwed them away. I was furious. I'm pretty sure the Auvi-Q is not expired because I have another one from the same box. If it's expired, call me and ask for a new one. What happened if my son has an allergy reaction and there's no medicine? Besides, it's not your stuff. Who gives you the right to throw it away? Who knows how long it has been for my son being in the school without medicines available? I think anyone who has a food allergy child can understand my feeling. I'm glad we are leaving this place and I write all these things down to whom may consider this place. It's awful!
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August 2022 by C M
This school has absolutely no business watching kids as it sits now. The principle Peyton along with the "owner" Lisa are both aware of the issues and have shrugged it off as "kids will be kids". While I wholeheartedly agree with that statement, I do not believe letting other babies drink our child's bottle and vice versa as well as leave your baby in nothing but a diaper for 6 hours, feeding the babies their own personal lunch and last but not least...drumroll...picking your child up while he is chewing on a giant piece of some sort of glass in his mouth. Yes, you unfortunately read that right.
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August 2022 by A M
Absolutely do not recommend if you want your babies and/or children to be safe. Multiple terrible incidents.
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December 2021 by John Spae
We had a great experience with Ms. Cami & her staff here! Our daughter looked forward to going to school every day with all of the various learning activities & playtime. The campus is well kept, and has a huge playground with lots of oak trees for shade. She loved her teachers, and made great strides in her development thanks to the care they provided her. They were also excellent with covid protocols and made us feel comfortable that she would be safe while attending. This is a great Stepping Stone, highly recommend!
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May 2021 by Jennifer M.
We have been to every class at the McNeil location and love each teacher both my kids had over the years. The teachers are all awesome, fun to talk to, both kids love all the different teachers they interact with and all provide a staple, fun, and safe environment. This school has been wonderful with Covid procedures to ensure our kids are the safe. We don't lose items (blankets, jackets, etc) as they do a great job at keeping track of personal items. I feel very comfortable leaving both kids and know they are learning and having fun in a safe environment. I am so impressed with the amount of information each kid comes home and shares with us. They know way more than we did at this age and it's awesome to see both kids excelling and having a great day at the same time.
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April 2021 by Hayley Belveal
My family and most importantly my kids love this Stepping Stone on McNeil. Both of my children have been in attendance here since they were 2 months old and now one is almost 5 and the other is 2 years old.They both had Miss Francis in the infant room. She and the other ladies were like magic and got both of my kids on nice schedules. The employees treat our children like family and make accommodations for their individual needs. They helped to resolve my daughter’s biting issues and worked with her on potty training a little longer and more patiently because she went through a phase where she was scared of the toilet. They eagerly share with you something funny, smart or cute your child did during the day.They are transparent with any bumps or bruises your child may have and if the staff member you are speaking with isn’t sure what happened, they will find the teacher who knows. They are also great about keeping track of your kids clothes. In the over 4 years we have been there I don’t think we’ve lost more than maybe a sock and few hair ties. Once my son threw his shoe in the trash unbeknownst to his teacher. They searched for his shoe EVERYWHERE until they finally found it! They sanitized it and handed it to me in a closed bag. That’s dedication!I took the kids out of the school for 6 weeks when I got laid off during the covid shutdown and they made special accommodations for us financially that made our transition easier. I felt that I provided a disservice to my children for having them out of daycare. Their daycare days are full of learning opportunities and social interaction that I couldn’t provide them. As soon as I was back to work the kids went back to daycare. They love it so much here, they run inside every morning and barely look back to say bye!It is GREAT to be able to send my kids to a safe place I trust. It eases my paranoia ridden mom brain because I have one less thing to worry about. All around this Stepping Stone is a great school for our kids and I have found the staff and company very transparent and honest.
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March 2021 by Rebecca C.
I really wanted to take a moment to show my appreciation for Ms. Francis and the team at this daycare!My daughter has been attending day care for the past 6 months now and we couldn't have been more blessed to have found such an amazing place to take care of her! As a parent, the choice to put your child in daycare, the who and the where, can be very stressful. My daughter is so happy every morning to go see Ms. Francis and all of her friends! I am a new mom and Ms. Francis is always there to guide us in our next steps and new milestones in our daughters growth. From the beginning the principal Ms. Cami and her entire staff has made the process so very easy, proving time and time again that they are caring, nurturing and the best pick place for our daughter!
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February 2021 by Abby Rodriguez
Our son has been attending Stepping Stone at McNeil since he was 2 years old. He’s now 4 and has grown leaps and bounds. We absolutely love his teacher Ms. Payton who is very patient, thoughtful, and loving. The leadership under Ms. Cami has been excellent! In true form it takes a village so shout out to all of the staff! Everyone has been great with following COVID procedures and sanitizing ensuring our little ones stay safe and healthy!
