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November 2023 by Katie Hornbuckle
Management is awful and inconsistent. My son enjoyed this daycare but apparently MY SON WAS NEVER ENROLLED!! They don’t have his paperwork, they overcharged me, and they won’t call me back to resolve anything. My son was never in the same room when I had to drop him off and pick him up. I gave 1 star because my son loved Mrs. Amber. That’s the only positive thing I have to say about this place.
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June 2023 by nancy “kennedy” kennedy
So far so good. Our little girl's teacher Ms. Pearl has been nothing but amazing! Ms. Bailey and Mrs. Mel rock as well! It's only been a week, ha. Love the reports and pictures! The app can be better, but everything else has been great.
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April 2023 by Christy Michaels
Our experience with Stepping Stone was very distressing and caused our little grandson unnecessary stress.It has taken me over a month to ponder things and write this review.I want to be fair and not let my disappointment taint this review. Our 2.5 yo grandson was here at this Stepping Stone for three months from Dec 2022-Mar 2023 and we kept thinking that things might get better. The classes were overfilled , he was rotated from person to person daily, we would drop him off and it would be somebody new that didn't know him or his name, he was moved from class to class. We would drop him off in one room in the morning and then go to pick him up in the afternoon and he had been moved to a new room/ teacher and had been in another class for that entire day.There was no continuity or consistency. We tried taking him later in the morning because we were told the " teacher" arrives at 9 am. But, that didn't help, I am not exaggerating when I say, each day felt like we were dropping him off to a new exasperated substitute/ helper that had no idea who we were , who he was nor what they were supposed to do. One girl told me it was her first day, another told me " I have 17 kids( 2 year olds) and I'm trying to get some other staff to take some kids( move them around from room to room with other older kids and adults that these children do not know). There were mornings I would stay for up to 30 minutes helping to assist with the kids for the overwhelmed morning caretaker.After 3 months we were so disheartened, realizing that the dysfunction of this school was systemic. Our grandson was suffering from the inability to bond with his caregivers, feeling lost in various classrooms with older children and adults that were unknown to him and worst of all, the sense that we were taking and leaving him in an environment that was unstable and unsafe. I witnessed multiple instances where toddlers were very upset and crying for long periods of time and not attended to or comforted. This is why I would stay to help, many times they needed a drink of water, help taking off their coats/ outerwear ( being overheated) help with a shoe, or just a kind word of recognition and a smile. The staff was super frustrated and it showed, the environment for these small kids was extremely chaotic.Two examples of disorder/ potential harm:1. I came to the school about 4 pm to pick up our lil guy, I found him on the floor laying against the wall lethargic, his face was flushed red, he was burning hot. I asked his caretaker about him. She hadn't noticed him and said they just came inside from the playground. I took him out of the room into the atrium and removed all his clothes. Raced home and took his temperature, it was 103.5, ( he had strep throat) no one noticed his ill appearance or that he was very sick.2. Another afternoon when being picked up he was on the playground wearing one boot. His mom asked about his missing boot. Concerned because there are tricycles and push-cars that can run over unprotected feet. The staff member shrugged ( he'd been on the playground since nap time ended, for at least 30 minutes). After searching two to three classrooms his boot was found on the floor in the corner. No one seemed to notice or care. It was also a cold January day.
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April 2023 by Christy M.
It has taken me over a month to ponder things and write this review. I want to be fair and not let my disappointment taint this review. Our 2.5 yo grandson was here at this Stepping Stone for three months from Dec 2022-Mar 2023 and we kept thinking that things might get better. The classes were overfilled , he was rotated from person to person daily, we would drop him off and it would be somebody new that didn't know him or his name, he was moved from class to class. We would drop him off in one room in the morning and then go to pick him up in the afternoon and he had been moved to a new room/ teacher and had been in another class for that entire day. There was no continuity or consistency. We tried taking him later in the morning because we were told the " teacher" arrives at 9 am. But, that didn't help, I am not exaggerating when I say, each day felt like we were dropping him off to a new exasperated substitute/ helper that had no idea who we were , who he was nor what they were supposed to do. One girl told me it was her first day, another told me " I have 17 kids( 2 year olds) and I'm trying to get some other staff to take some kids( move them around from room to room with other older kids and adults that these children do not know). There were mornings I would stay for up to 30 minutes helping to assist with the kids for the overwhelmed morning caretaker. After 3 months we were so disheartened, realizing that the dysfunction of this school was systemic. Our grandson was suffering from the inability to bond with his caregivers, feeling lost in various classrooms with older children and adults that were unknown to him and worst of all, the sense that we were taking and leaving him in an environment that was unstable and unsafe. I witnessed multiple instances where toddlers were very upset and crying for long periods of time and not attended to or comforted. This is why I would stay to help, many times they needed a drink of water, help taking off their coats/ outerwear ( being overheated) help with a shoe, or just a kind word of recognition and a smile. The staff was super frustrated and it showed, the environment for these small kids was extremely chaotic. Two examples of disorder/ potential harm:1. I came to the school about 4 pm to pick up our lil guy, I found him on the floor laying against the wall lethargic, his face was flushed red, he was burning hot. I asked his caretaker about him. She hadn't noticed him and said they just came inside from the playground. I took him out of the room into the atrium and removed all his clothes. Raced home and took his temperature, it was 103.5, ( he had strep throat) no one noticed his ill appearance or that he was very sick. 2. Another afternoon when being picked up he was on the playground wearing one boot. His mom asked about his missing boot. Concerned because there are tricycles and push-cars that can run over unprotected feet. The staff member shrugged ( he'd been on the playground since nap time ended, for at least 30 minutes). After searching two to three classrooms his boot was found on the floor in the corner. No one seemed to notice or care. It was also a cold January day. I cannot in any way recommend this facility especially for young children.If you look you'll see that I left a good review when we went to tour the school and we were very hopeful about this new school.
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March 2023 by Brady Nemeth
While there had been quite a changeover in staff throughout 2022, we ultimately decided to stay at Stepping Stone once Ms. McKinzey became the director. Having been a teacher herself, she is excellent with all of the kids and provided much needed stability at the location. The school is very fortunate to have her leading things.
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March 2023 by Laura Rodgers
I cannot speak enough negative words about this place. We started our child at 2years old for part time. In the beginning it was great but management has gone downhill and it really shows.I now pickup my daughter soiled, messy hair, dirty face, wrong clothes on. I even receive daily “report cards” while she is out of the country vacationing with us. Them not even knowing my daughter truly shows.Additionally, we are required to check in our child yet they never have the check in forms available throughout the week.I could go on and on. My daughter was there for 6 months and is now in private nanny care which works FAR better! Please avoid this place.
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December 2022 by Elisabeth Ramirez
Wonderful place for our family. My daughter has been here since she was just shy of two. There has been a tremendous changeover and turnover the past 8 months but the folks that are still around are priceless! Wonderful food served and have full confidence in the new leadership. The new staff is very nice and my daughter comes home with smiles and great stories of fun daily!
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December 2022 by Brooke Peterson
Two stars because they keep my daughter alive (so far). The enrollment process was a nightmare. I think I called over 5 times JUST TO GET AN ANWER IF THEY HAD AVAILABILITY. Then I would be told I would get a call at a certain time, and it wouldn't happen.Once I finally talked to someone to schedule a tour, I was shown a different classroom than the one she is actually in.They do not respond to e-mails. Another thing, I called and asked for a form to be emailed to me - they said they would and I never received it.Her classroom is literally disgusting. Not like, oh there's a bunch of 3 years old running around and it's cluttered and needs a quick tidy, I MEAN THERE WAS A USED TOILET PLUNGER OUT! The high-touch areas have never been cleaned. There is food and crumbs everywhere.There are children walking around and eating food from home and restaurants everywhere - I mean everywhere.Their app is awful compared to other schools. They do not provide updates during the day. YOU CAN'T MAKE A PAYMENT ONLINE IN 2022.And lastly, there wasn't anyone to welcome my daughter on her first day. We meandered from class looking for someone to help us. It stressed her out and me out, as they knew she had been in her previous daycare her entire life. This change was very traumatic for her.Maybe this review is a bit harsh because my expectations are so high. She was previously enrolled in Primrose Westlake which was *chef's kiss*.We have toured a bunch of schools in Kyle and none of them seemed much better. It is what it is; hopefully, someday, my daughter will enjoy school again. Currently, she just cries and asks to stay home with me.Update: I have withdrawn my daughter effective immediately. This school is unsafe. There were at least 20 children running circles around 1 teacher this morning - more than half were crying.
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December 2022 by Rae G.
Our daughter is (almost) 3 years old and has been going here since before she was 1. We were in a crunch for finding childcare when we moved here and went with the first place we could find that had availability... best choice ever! As a mom, it can be hard to trust just anyone with your child and I couldn't ask for better caretakers for my child. They love her and treat her as their own and every morning she wakes up super excited to go to "school" because she wants to see her teachers and friends. Their communication is fabulous and are always there to help with any questions you may have.
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September 2022 by Laura Ramirez-Mann
My child has been attending for about 9 months. He has made so many great friends, and he loves his teachers (especially Chef Mel). It is a great learning environment and they have a lot of fun playing. My sun especially loved the summer Friday splash days and dancing with his friends. The tadpoles updates is also really nice as we get to see what the children are doing and how much fun they are having while learning. I highly recommend.
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September 2022 by Johnathan White
Mckinzey is the best! I did a tour with her and she was the easiest to talk too and made me feel very welcome and at home.
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February 2022 by Ashley H.
My daughter has been going here since Nov 2020 and she absolutely loves it. She's actually learned a lot and most the time when we drop her off she doesn't even tell us bye because she's so excited to see her friends.
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January 2022 by Andrew P.
Mask policy for 4 year olds and up. They waited two years into the pandemic to then institute a mask policy for children 4 and up in the school.
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September 2021 by Laura C.
We put in notice to pull our daughter out of this daycare after a week. Apparently her teacher was new and didn't know what she was doing- she would tell me daily "oh we didn't do anything, not even read a book". Which was very concerning to see no activities or structure. Apparently other parents had the same concerns and this teacher was switched to another classroom. During the tour before enrolling, I was shown a weekly calendar of planned activities throughout the day. I would rarely get updates in the app with activities but just potty and food entries. My daughter did come home with marker all over her arms and clothes one day. I never knew what class my daughter was in. The principal told me one class but whenever I would drop her off her name was under a different section. I emailed the principal about this but she never responded. A lot of the staff wouldn't wear their mask correctly and when I'd go to pick up my daughter two staff members would be talking to eachother from opposite classes not even watching the kids. Sometimes in the mornings when I'd drop my daughter off I'd have to go back and forth to different classrooms cause no one knew what class the kids were supposed to be in for the morning. We were charged a late fee for not paying for the last 2 days of the billing cycle but we thought it was just going to be auto drafted. I emailed the principal and she finally responded saying they never started it up cause we took her out- so we were charged because they didn't communicate that to us. Nice. Overall it didn't seem very professional, there was ALOT of lack of communication and not enough experience from the staff. Update: the administrative office contacted me and sent a refund for the late fee. Appreciate their prompt communication and understanding.
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July 2021 by Angela C.
My son (20 months) loves it here! All the teachers are really nice, know his name, and I have had no issues. We changed him from another location in March and we like this one so much more! I wish they had the video feed to peek in here and there, but I do get daily pictures. He his happy when I drop off and at pick up. He's great as using sign language ( taught here), and his vocabulary and dancing skills grow daily!
