Vineyard Children’s Center: Ann Arbor, MI

this center is …Fabulous, we couldn’t dream up a better daycare for our child. In fact, he is so happy there, half the time we have to coerce to leave!

•  OVERALL School Rating: 5
•  Health and Safety: 5
•  Environments: 5
•  Teaching Staff: 5
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 4
•  Curriculum: 5

Both our children (3-year-old son and 10-mos-old daughter) have had wonderful experiences at Vineyard Children’s Center. I never worry about their health or safety, which means a great deal to me considering my son has a number of potentially life-threatening food allergies. All three classrooms are appropriately set up and stocked with toys for the children that play there (in terms of the children’s ages and developmental stages). The teaching staff and the center leadership are fantastic – they are well-educated, enthusiastic, creative, kind, and loving. As far as I know, the teacher/child ratios are always in line with state regulations. The curriculum, including the routines and experiences, for each age group have worked wonderfully for my children – they are learning new things every day.

•  OVERALL School Rating: 5
•  Health and Safety: 5
•  Environments: 5
•  Teaching Staff: 5
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 5
•  Curriculum: 5

this center is …AWESOME!! Everything about this center is great. From the staff to the cirriculum, to the environment and to the health and safety. I have been to other daycare centers where I have seen things go on that totally shocked me. Taking our youngest daughter to the Vineyard is a great feeling. The staff are so great with her and then they go above and beyond whta they need to do. They greet me at the door and take my child’s items out of my hand and they talk to her to get her to be excited about her day. And she usually doesn’t cry when I leave her! There is the occasion when she will but I think it is when she is tired! They will even warm up her food for lunch. (the previous place we went didn’t do that.)
For ciriculum, she is learning quite a bit. I was afraid how her learning would go because she is a preemie but she is coming home and counting and she is even counting backwards. She hasn’t quite caught onto the phonics yet but I am sure she will it just takes her a little longer.
For the health and safety, there is GermX in the room and the staff use it regularly which is great since our child was a preemie! They even sent a note home the other day to let me know she went to the restroom more than usual so watch for an infection. I like that feedback because it is always helpful to know what is going on while I am not with her and if they see something like that.
So yes, I think everyone there is great and they show that they love the children so much!

•  OVERALL School Rating: 5
•  Health and Safety: 5
•  Environments: 5
•  Teaching Staff: 5
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 5
•  Curriculum: 5

When we discovered Vineyard a little over a year ago, we knew we’d found a hidden treasure. We transitioned our daughter from a bigger center and love Vineyard for all the special touches a smaller facility their size can provide: more individual attention to each child, a personal greeting at the door, help with drop-off and pick-up logistics, and genuine attention to even slight changes in my child’s habits, mood, or behavior. Most importantly, my daughter is loved there, and loved by many people. She looks forward to “school,” and I feel comfortable leaving her in that environment every day. The curriculum is age-appropriate and ever-changing, so my daughter is never bored, and she learns new things every day.

•  OVERALL School Rating: 5
•  Health and Safety: 5
•  Environments: 5
•  Teaching Staff: 5
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 5
•  Curriculum: 5

I have two children who love going to school at Vineyard (3 and 1). The teachers actually seem to really like the kids and therefore the kids love the teachers. In a lesson about a year ago, when my son was asked who he loved in his life he listed three of the teachers, and completely forgot about his parents.
Additionally, the school is well manageed, safe and has a great staffing ratio as well as a diversity in its student and teaching population that I love.
If I had one complaint it was that they do not go outside quite as much as I would like.
Still, since the staff creates a great learning environment and everything goes so smoothly for each day that my kids are there, I love it.

•  OVERALL School Rating: 5
•  Health and Safety: 5
•  Environments: 4
•  Teaching Staff: 5
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 5
•  Curriculum: 5

this center is …

•  OVERALL School Rating: 5
•  Health and Safety: 5
•  Environments: 4
•  Teaching Staff: 5
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 3
•  Curriculum: 5

Vineyard is wonderful. As a first-time mom, I had no idea what to expect when I toured multiple daycare centers before my son was born. The second I walked into VCC I knew it was “the one.” The infant room was bright, clean and inviting. It did not feel “institutional” like some other centers I looked at.

My son has been at VCC for several now and we have had nothing but great experiences. The teachers really make an effort to get to know the kids and their likes and dislikes even at such a young age. You can tell they really love and care about them rather than just see it as a job.

Also, one other thing I should mention is that you do not have to be a member of the church to send your child there. They are very open to people of all faiths/religions and although I am not Christian, I never once felt uncomfortable about sending my son to VCC.

•  OVERALL School Rating: 5
•  Health and Safety: 5
•  Environments: 5
•  Teaching Staff: 5
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 4
•  Curriculum: 5

VCC is great! The teachers are very caring, and completely understand when my daughter has separation anxiety. Age-appropriate toys, nice clean space. This place is a gem! Only wish they made outside playtime a daily activity for all ages. Also, VCC has been cloth-diaper friendly, which is great in crunchy Ann Arbor!

Overall, highly recommend.

•  OVERALL School Rating: 5
•  Health and Safety: 5
•  Environments: 5
•  Teaching Staff: 5
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 5
•  Curriculum: 5

We have our two daughters enrolled here. The older is 4 and a half, the younger is one and a half. We are completely happy with the center. The teachers are great, the curriculum is effective, and the communication is excellent. All around a great place.

•  OVERALL School Rating: 5
•  Health and Safety: 5
•  Environments: 5
•  Teaching Staff: 5
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 5
•  Curriculum: 5