Somerset Valley YMCA Childcare Center: Somerville, NJ

Infant program is horrible – mixed with toddlers, kids are always sick, and the facility is less than sanitary. Toys are not sanitized on a regular basis. There is NO security in place and the staff, ever changing, hands children over without confirming parents, completely unaware of who’s who. The staff also lacks in communication skills with each other (am/pm) and with parents. The environment is old and in a small basement without play stations, only a few old toys. Toddlers are able to open the door to the infant room, and free to leave the facility. Children are taken to a separate room for changing which then changes the ratio of teachers/babies left in the room. Staff pulls babies by the arms, and feeds unapproved foods. IF you care for your child’s wellbeing, DO NOT send them here. Complaints go unaddressed, and they take a security deposit which doesnt’ get returned without 30 day notice. Clearly this lends to the reputation of the facility – one without concern of losing children due to substandards, wouldn’t need to.

•  OVERALL School Rating: 1
•  Health and Safety: 1
•  Environments: 1
•  Teaching Staff: 1
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 1
•  Curriculum: 1

I am responding to the above review.

1. Our infant program is called Bright Beginnings and the age range is from birth to 18 months. The older toddlers are in a different room.

2. The above reviewer made a complaint with the State of NJ. We were inspected and the claims above were NOT substantied.

3. Although the child care facility is on the lower level, there is a bank of big windows providing lots of natural light and fresh air.

4.

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

Continued from above:

4. Our lead teacher in Bright Beginnings has been in her current position for over 15 years. The assistant in that room has been with us for over 5 years.

5. The reviewer (like all families), signed a financial agreement with us. One of the conditions is that we require 30 days notice when leaving the facility. The reviewers deposit WAS returned.

We are very proud of our program. We have many children who are with us from birth to PreK. We are happy to provide prospective parents with a tour (no appointment necessary), and/or names and numbers of current families for references.

Thank you.

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

This is a wonderful child care center. The children are all so happy and enjoy coming to school everyday. My child is always asking to go to school and never wants to leave when I come to pick up. The teachers are wonderful always asking questions and spend quality time with the cildren when possiable. They all seem to get along and help each other out when needed. The director Tina stays on top of everything and makes sure that any problems with parents or staff are sloved asap. The teacher are always getting along and you can tell when you walk through the door that everyone is there for the children and will do anything that they can to make sure that the children are well taken care of. Plenty of outside time along with swim classes, music, gym, and many more. I will always send my children here! Please come and check it out for yourself!!!!!!!

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

I am absolutely speechless. This is a wonderful childcare facility. I currently have my 12 month old son enrolled in the Bright Beginnings program. He is so happy to see his teacher when I drop him off in the morning. I feel secure knowing my child is with trusting staff members. I do not need to worry about him while I am at work. I know he is safe and in good, motherly hands. The rooms are colorful and filled with the children’s artwork. The teachers are always nice in the morning. They greet me and ask me how my night was. I would definitely recommend this facility to my friends and family!

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

I am a mother of 2 girls. One currently got moved to the Pre-K room and my other daughter is in the Infant Classroom. I have been with child care center for a very long time. My children have always loved the center and are so happy to go to school in the morning. The teachers (all) are wonderful and caring and help out in anyway that they can. My children have all been in the childcare center and I have never had a problem before. Tina has been wonderful always talking to parents and making sure to spend time in the classroom with the children when she can. The parent that has complain was a parent that wanted stuff done to the center that was not allowed. She wanted the children to be locked in the classroom and other things to be done that can not be done in a daycare center. I will always tell people to go to this daycare center. The children have a ton of stuff to do and the staff is always making sure to keep the children busy and always playing with the children and making sure that their day at the center is the best that it can be.

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

this center is … the teachers do not focus on the children. They are worried about talking about other staff members and not watching the children. There are only a few good teachers in the school (that is if they have’t left as well). The director never makes sure that their is snack for the children and the teachers are forced to buy EVERYTHING for the children without getting any help from the school. Children go without water due to the fact their are no cups and several times they have had to eat with their hands due to no spoons all of which the center is suppose to supply. The preschool classroom consists of children from the ages of 1 1/2 to 4 year olds. The teacher is unable to teach the children what they need due to the large span in ages. THe children are being taught at a 2 year old age what they need to know as a 4 year old and the teacher ends up doing differnt projects with the kids. The assistant has no ecperience in a child care setting and I often just see her sitting in a chair.

•  OVERALL School Rating: 3
•  Health and Safety: 1
•  Environments: 1
•  Teaching Staff: 1
•  Teacher/Child Ratios: 1
•  Curriculum: 5