Ankeny Lil' Tots Daycare & Preschool LLC - Ankeny IA Licensed Center

732 SE Shurfine DR , Ankeny IA 50021
(515) 965-6754
12 Reviews

About the Provider

Description: Our center has 2 rooms for each age group giving them a smaller environment per class room. 2500sqft indoor dramatic play area. Large indoor gym and large outside playground.

Additional Information: QRS RATING: 3 Stars. QRS Level: 3;

Program and Licensing Details

  • License Number: 43390
  • Capacity: 218
  • Age Range: 6 weeks to 12 years old
  • Rate Range Infant (up to 24 months) Half-Day/25.00| Infant (up to 24 months) Half-Day/25.00| Infant (up to 36 months) Half-Day/25.00| Infant (up to 36 months) Half-Day/25.00| Preschool (24 to Kindergarten) Half-Day/25.00| Preschool (24 to Kindergarten) Half-Day/25.00| Preschool (36 to Kindergarten) Half-Day/25.00| Preschool (36 to Kindergarten) Half-Day/25.00| School Age (K and up) Half-Day/25.00| School Age (K and up) Half-Day/25.00
  • Quality Rating System (QSR) Level: 3
  • Enrolled in Subsidized Child Care Program: Yes
  • Type of Care: After School, Before School, Before and After School, Daytime, Drop-in Care, Emergency Care, Full-Time, Part-Time
  • Transportation: Field Trips, To/From School
  • Current License Issue Date: May 19, 2020
  • District Office: Iowa Department of Human Services - Child Care Assistance Unit
  • District Office Phone: 1-866-448-4605 (Note: This is not the facility phone number.)

Location Map

Inspection/Report History

Where possible, ChildcareCenter provides inspection reports as a service to families. This information is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed. We encourage families to contact the daycare provider directly with any questions or concerns, as the provider may have already addressed some or all issues. Reports can also be verified with your local daycare licensing office.

Report Date Report Type
2020-07-13 Compliance Report
2020-05-26 Compliance Report
2019-06-04 Compliance Report
2018-05-22 Compliance Report
2017-05-19 Compliance Report

If you are a provider and you believe any information is incorrect, please contact us. We will research your concern and make corrections accordingly.

Reviews

...
Concerned Employee Nov 14, 2016
I am an employee

So first I want to say that the only "positive" reviews come from the damn owner herself posing as an employee/parent ???????? the owner KARRIE BERGER is actually the only real reason people hate this job/daycare center. She is very unprofessional and rude. She has no idea how to run a center, now she is even talking of opening a spa so she can run that into the ground too. After MONTHS of talking about making a playground for the kids, it is finally finished. It is literally just a couple toys on fake grass. Not sure why it took so long to throw that together. She picks favorite kids and favorite staff and doesn't care about treating people fairly or the way they deserve to be treated. She spends most days hiding in her office or gossiping with employees. She isn't hands on at all, she rarely helps or asks if anyone needs anything. As a current employee I honestly just can't wait to see her walking around once she reads this wondering which one of us put her on blast. Good luck figuring it out, you treat us all like crap. If it weren't for a paycheck and seeing the beautiful children everyday I would quit on the spot. Karrie Berger, you suck at your job! You suck at being a human being really.

63 out of 133 think this review is helpful
Was this review helpful to you?  Yes  No
...
Grateful Parent Sep 12, 2016
I have used this provider for more than 6 months

Although I have nothing to say about the lack of professionalism of how this daycare is managed, I would like to acknowledge the true heart and sole of why I was always comfortable leaving my child in Lil Tots care. Megan Koll is very professional and knowledgeable about child care! She does a fantastic job! You can tell this by the way I have watched the babies in her room light up when they see her. (And sometimes would rather stay with her than go home with momma ;) As a parent, that means everything, that your child is well taken care of when you see it transcend in their face! With all the negative reviews, I just wanted to make sure that energy is not directed towards the employees. Just know that all your hard work does not go unnoticed! Thank you Megan for everything you have done and continue to do! You Love and care about the babies that come through your room like your own! You are a true asset to Lil Tots and hope you never feel unappreciated! From our family to yours, we love you!

55 out of 116 think this review is helpful
Was this review helpful to you?  Yes  No
...
parent Sep 08, 2016
I have used this provider for more than 6 months

I am at a loss for words about these reviews. Our family has been with this center since they opened in June of 2014. I have seen nothing but abundant growth from this center. Any business in the beginning has growing pains and mistakes they learn from. Businesses are also going to have employees who are not going to be happy with their job and or management giving them rules they must follow. They have grown this business by building it themselves so it does take a little longer to finish projects and as far as the playground, we have seen them there working on weekends and when they can to finish (with family helping them). And to date it looks like it will be finished at the end of the week. I felt like I needed to write this to give them credit for taking such good care of my family and always addressing issue that may arise. Everyone is always fast to write reviews on the bad and never the good. There is more good to be addressed here then bad. I also know plenty of the employees personally and they have been there well over a year and love their jobs. And the management is very good to them. Bottom line is make sure you know the truth and don't just assume what ex employees are writing is true!

58 out of 115 think this review is helpful
Was this review helpful to you?  Yes  No
...
Current Employee Jul 18, 2016
I am an employee

Where to even begin with this center.
Staff: A majority of the staff, I will admit truly care deeply for the children in the center. As with most daycare centers there will always be staff looking for nothing other than a paycheck, however, a great deal of the staff have the right intentions.
Now as for management. What a joke. The owner has her kids running the center. She will go out of her way to avoid speaking with staff if she does not like them. She will go out of her way to avoid speaking with parents! She hides in her office (or Starbucks) daily.
She can never accept that she could be wrong. EVERYTHING is always someone else's fault. God Forbid Karrie Berger is wrong about something. Hell will freeze over.
Let's move on. Where is this so called play ground that was promised to parents over a year ago? Its quite the lovely sand pit out there! Oh but that brand new boat parked out back next to it is sure lovely. Do the kids get to play on the boat? Does the boat belong to the center? Why the hell does a daycare center keep a boat parked in their lot? Where the playground is supposed to be? Come on!
No playground but the owner can open a spa?
I could go on for days here, but I know that as soon as I post this review all Hell is going to break loose at the center. I dont even care.
These things need to be said! So I'm stepping up and saying them.
Karrie you are a poor excuse for a person. Period. You should not be running a center. You're intentions are to make money, NOT care for children!
You dont even take the time to come into classrooms. You dont check on the kids! You dont check on your staff. You make Luke do it all!

57 out of 121 think this review is helpful
Was this review helpful to you?  Yes  No
...
Proud parent of two Apr 26, 2016
I have used this provider for more than 6 months

It's sad to see these reviews from disgruntled past employees. My two kids have been at Lil' Tots for nearly two years and they are THRIVING. I have never had a problem with the staff or management and any concerns that I brought to their attention were addressed appropriately. I would (and have) recommend Lil' Tots to anyone looking for a quality daycare. They are always improving the facility and finding new technologies to implement. The kids are their focus and it's evident every time I walk through the door.

48 out of 116 think this review is helpful
Was this review helpful to you?  Yes  No
...
Melissa Nov 20, 2015

POOR POOR EXCUSE FOR MANAGMENT..
The "owner" is so unprofessional I was literally speechless. Employees were heard jokingly talking about placing kids in closets. I am not an employee however was going to take my children here and quickly discoverd I would NEVER take my children here. I can't believe this place is even open. Poor excuse for a daycare very sad to see. I only put one star because there was no option to put ZERO
- a concerned parent

46 out of 111 think this review is helpful
Was this review helpful to you?  Yes  No
...
Sally Oct 17, 2015

The above reviews are from ex employees who of course are going to say bad things about management in anyway possible because they had to follow rules! We are very picky on who we hire and who we keep employed, every business out there is going to have unhappy employees! I know exactly who these employees are and they gave us lots of attitude on how we run our business. We have only been open a little over a year and our enrollment is full in just about every room! We have over 150 fantastic reviews from parents! Our business is very successful and our families and employees will continue to make that happen! Sorry if the above employees had a bad experience but we will not continue to have employees who don't like to do their job correctly! And our cook is the one who brings all the carts to the rooms for meals the kids would never go without their meals! We have management who is always going around and checking on our rooms and each room has a radio to get a hold of other rooms and management at all times! Lil Tot's is also one of the only 4 centers in Ankeny that earned a QRS rating after only
being open 8 mos and was also voted one of Ankeny's best for 2015! We work very closely with ChildCare Resource and referral consultants to give our families the best care out there!

52 out of 112 think this review is helpful
Was this review helpful to you?  Yes  No
...
former employee Sep 19, 2015
I have used this provider for more than 6 months

I am also a former employee. I left because of poor management. There were always ratio issues and unfair treatment to both the staff and the children. Upon employement, there were no legal background checks, and the interviewing/hiring process was extremely unprofessional. I was not required to get fingerprints done, nor did I have to fill out anty type of application or background check form. The director doesn't know how to manage her own business, and I would NEVER allow for this daycare center to take care of my children due to the amount of highly uneducated staff members that work there. The turnover rate for staff is extremely high. I would not recommend this daycare center to any parent or future employee.

53 out of 120 think this review is helpful
Was this review helpful to you?  Yes  No
...
A former employee Sep 06, 2015

This center is very unprofessional. As seen above the management/owner is defending herself but with lies. MOST of the staff is unqualified. They dont appreciate the ones that are. They dont back their employees and agree with parents about things that are honestly ridiculous. I worked in a one year old room and they added a crib so ONE child could have two naps during the day, throwing off our entire schedule and ratios. I once worked a 10 hour day by myself with four one year olds. I know that in the state of Iowa that 4:1 is the legal ratio but no one brought the children their breakfast, lunch, or snack. Each time I had to take 4 babies all the way to the kitchen and back by myself. Not to mention when I needed to go get milk for bottles. I was checked on once during the day to see if I needed anything. When the state comes in to check on things they move kids around to make sure that they are in ratio. Even if that means moving them up an age group. This place can not get their act together thus the high turnover rate. Some of the women there are very passionate about what they do and GREAT with the kids but with the type of management they are under they will never thrive in the field.

44 out of 106 think this review is helpful
Was this review helpful to you?  Yes  No
...
kindel m Jul 23, 2015
I have used this provider for less than 6 months

very poor managment

45 out of 104 think this review is helpful
Was this review helpful to you?  Yes  No
...
Karrie Berger Feb 02, 2015

The above review was made by an ex-employee who was disciplined for her action towards the kids and staff. So of course she is going to say bad things. We have over 130 parent reviews that are VERY positive. And it is STATE LAW that all employees have a background check along with finger prints in order to work in a Iowa childcare center. I know exactly who this employee is along with her 2 buddies!! We run a very strict daycare and Im sorry if some employees dont like our rules, but we do have parents pride possesions in our care, and we are very picky about who we hire!!!!

50 out of 100 think this review is helpful
Was this review helpful to you?  Yes  No
...
Mvtech Dec 23, 2014

Very unprofessional. Let's just say for all caring moms out there, that I would NEVER trust them with my child or my infant for that matter. "staff member taking an infant with them to use the restroom" Hell No! And "no background checks" " nonqualified staff"

44 out of 99 think this review is helpful
Was this review helpful to you?  Yes  No

Write a review about Ankeny Lil' Tots Daycare & Preschool LLC. Let other families know what’s great, or what could be improved. Please read our brief review guidelines to make your review as helpful as possible.

Review Policy:
ChildcareCenter.us does not actively screen or monitor user reviews, nor do we verify or edit content. Reviews reflect only the opinion of the writer. We ask that users follow our review guidelines. If you see a review that does not reflect these guidelines, you can email us. We will assess the review and decide the appropriate next step. Please note – we will not remove a review simply because it is negative. Providers are welcome to respond to parental reviews, however we ask that they identify themselves as the provider.

Providers in ZIP Code 50021