Beckstrom Sara J - Sartell MN Group family child care

I 100% agree with other negative reviews of this provider, as we experienced the same behavior from Sara. During the interview, she will claim she has multiple families interested to get your (non-refundable) deposit quicker, only communicates through text and is dismissive in person, gives unsolicited opinions of how you choose to parent and has very nasty and unprofessional communication once it is agreed to discontinue care. She will expect you to religiously abide by her contract, however, she will not abide by her contract as a provider and says it is her "right" as a provider to do so. Sara will tell you what she must legally tell you about the revocation and conditional terms of her license, but there is much more she does not share. I encourage you to do research on https://licensinglookup.dhs.state.mn.us/ and look further into how many parents have taken her and her husband to court for sketchy business practices https://mncourts.gov/Access-Case-Records/MCRO.aspx. It is all public information and very telling. I know childcare is difficult to find, but I encourage you to continue your search and bypass Sara's daycare.

To make a long story short, we liked her enough to pick her up during a snow storm and even pay a full month of daycare for them to take 3 weeks of COVID and their Christmas vacation off during the whole month of December. We wanted to give a 5 week notice and even a bonus, but when tried letting her know we where considering leaving she flipped a switch. She will not talk to you in person by the way and she immediately asked for 4 week notice and said she would no longer transport one of the children to school, which we relied on. She changed the hours of the other kiddo to 7-3:45 (we start work at 7, so not sure how that would have worked. Something about how we slapped her in the face and blah, blah. I have some not very nice text messages from her I wish I could post. We had only been there a year. We did only offer half at leaving first, but oh by the way her contract clearly does state she does NOT have to uphold it and you do. So we paid her the rest since some people are worth the money to not see again and immediately pulled our kids, since we really had no choice. I could care less about her response I’m sure she has her own fictional story in her head she will go by. Your kid will get good care I think, but when you leave just have a new daycare set up for that week since she will treat you like garbage. There is a reason there is no positive reviews on here. Ps even though the kids didn't seem to mind being there, my kids did high five each other when we told them they didn’t have to go back, so do what you like with that info, 

Sara was the first person who replied to me on Facebook when I posted in a daycare group looking for infant child care. I met up with her and she seemed very nice at first, however she pushed us quickly into making a decision because she had other people supposedly interviewing. She made us put down a $920 “non refundable” deposit and gave us the contract to review but did not have to sign and return until after baby is born. We did not sign any forms indicating that the deposit was nonrefundable and stated that it states it on the contract that we had yet to sign. I ended up finding out from a coworker of mine on how poorly she runs her business and how she’s all about the money and that she has a pretty decent court record and horrible daycare reviews. I wish I would have known all of this before I put a deposit down but being a first time parent I didn’t know what to look for. After we retracted our spot with Sara she wanted me to mail her back the contract but wouldn’t give me back my deposit. I told her I was going to keep the contract for my records because according to her it was “legal binding.” She then called me immature because I didn’t want to mail it back. She then told me to never message her again and when I said, “ok maybe see you in court one day,” she started to threaten me by saying “I’d love to see you face to face.” ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE WOMAN TO DO BUSINESS WITH and I wish I would have known about this site and her court record prior to putting down a deposit!

Avoid all she cares about is money yes it is a business but with kids that shouldn't be the main priority. In the matter of hours determined she lied to us straight to our face. Yes she seems great when talking with her but will pressure you into agreeing to join. Another lie is in her response to one of the other reviews. Fact check her and follow your gut. Don't feel pressure since she almost likely she does not have someone else lined up to take the spot if you do not sign right away. We fell for this... Use you instinct when it seems to go it probably is. Sara always has an excuse but there is a reason she is being blocked from almost all daycare facebook groups in the Saint Cloud area. Post in one of them and there are tons of people that will give honest opinions. Not her friends she gives you for a reference. Also do some searching in ND and figure out why her daycare there was forced closed. She also has infant safety infractions here in MN. Do people really change maybe. Who do you trust with your kid.

We experienced all of the negative things others have listed here: unreliable, only cares about money, disregards doctors' advice, aggressive, rude, and she does not abide by her own contract. The two positive reviews listed here are obviously Sara herself, which is a shame that someone has to do that, or is even allowed. I don't understand how she can stay in business with how she treats people, and runs her business. I am regretful that I allowed her to care for my child, and paid her unethical business. As others mentioned, check her out on the county court website and see how many times her and Jamie have had to go to court with families.

If I could put negative stars, I would! Knowing what I know now, I would never have placed my child in Sara's care. She only cares about the money and, in my opinion, takes advantage of parents who are in a tight spot trying to find child care. She starts out very kind and seems like she cares but when you try to leave, she becomes very aggressive. I wish I could share the text messages from her after I put in the proper written 4 week notice that led to me pulling my child out of her care immediately and not fulfilling the notice. Be careful of her contract too! She sticks to that like glue when it comes to parents following it but does not honor it herself. She changed her hours without the proper length of notice and did not provide a new copy for parents to sign which is written in her contract that she is required to do. Also, My contract that I signed and had a copy of did not have the same pages as hers did regarding a notice and reimbursement of deposit. Very Shady!! She also doesn't send her year end statements out if you have left and tells you to 'figure it out for yourself!' If you politely request that she send it to you. She also doesn't show up to her court appearances but threatens that she is going to and prove you wrong. She hides behind her phone. Do your self a favor and search her name on the county website and you will see all the lawsuits filed against her. I wish I would have done my research more prior to sending my child there. I have heard from multiple other parents that they have had similar situations happen or worst and pulled their children out. I would not recommend Sara Beckstrom to my biggest enemy and I wish I could stop anyone from going to her again! On a happier note, my children are much happier in the daycare that they are at now and thriving not thanks to Sara!

My daughter in law toured this facility as she was struggling to find care at the time. Sara was friendly and personable during the interview and advised that she had another individual interviewing for the slot that night. When asked who would get the slot, she stated it would be whoever provided the $920 deposit first, so she jumped at the opening. I hadn't known all of this until after I offered to watch her child and save some stress and headache to find good care. When she messaged the next day to inform Sara, Sara had stated she had cancelled all other interviews, but good luck. She still tried to cash the deposit check and promised legal action if the payment wasn't released. She was blunt about this being a business and was rude over the phone when they tried to discuss it. Not even 24 hours had transpired between the interview and cancellation, so no services were rendered and a formal contract was never signed. Lesson learned for my daughter in law, but please take time to decide and research this caregiver before handing over a deposit.

She puts on a good impression but money and kids safety is not a priority. I wouldnt keep my kids here for a day sacrafised the almost 1000 deposit with out flinching because she is not a good person or business to have a child at.

Beware of the snake in the grass!! Sara seemed great at our initial meeting, the references she provided were legit. My son seemed to like being at her place. However one day she decided that my children would no longer be in her care... used the excuse of the county pulled her variances but when I called the county my children had entered before the new law and should not have been kicked out! Oh and because they were there for less than a year Sara per her shady contract got to keep my $1000 deposit!! Now as a parent who has no choice but to sign this... never did I see that coming!! She is all about money! That is her bottom line! Now that I am no longer with her... I’ve been struggling to get my yearly receipt from her... she is very rude in her messages or won’t respond at all! Save yourself the hassle and headaches and stay far away from Beckstrom childcare!!! 

Only cares about money and screwing you out of it. Takes multiple days off to which you're still expected to pay. Gives unsolicited advice on your child's health and most of the time is incorrect, but claims she's "never wrong". Save yourself the hassle and trouble and find a different daycare. It's amazing this woman can stay in business.

We have had our child for 3 years at this daycare and when baby is born will be also attending. Her and her husband are wonderful and part of our family. They always come to birthday parties and other children of the daycare's dance and gymnastic recitals. And Helen helps out too and is like grandma to them. They are very professional and contract states everything you need to know. Many people have her mixed up with another provider with same exact name who's daycare is now shut down, I believe it was Sara's sweethearts. New beginnings is not her so not sure why people say such rude stuff. I see a few times when I have dropped off and picked up them caring more and being more concerned about a child then the parent were. They are definitely full of love and would never bring my children anywhere else.

I have had my child with Sara for many years and we absolutely love her! She has had some bad people in the past that would not pay her as she deserves and so they get mad and say negative things. Don't listen to others, see for yourself and how wonderful she is! We love her like family. The kids love her and are always saying what fun they have had.

DO NOT go to this provider. I had a horrible experience with her. She is unprofessional and only after the money. She is very over priced and takes multiple days off. She claims that there are 3 providers there but that is never the case. She does not care about the children in her care whatsoever. I won't speak to my personal experience, but if you are considering letting her watch your children do your research first. Contact the county to get a list of her complaints and negative actions, search her name on the MN courts website, and search for her former and current name on ND courts website. That should be all the information you need to see what kind of a person she is. There have been multiple people that have taken her to civil court because of the horrible practices in her business.

Don't let this rude woman near your children! She closed her doors in North Dakota and apparently many parents had to take her to court to be refunded any prepayments made for daycare services. Lots of negative history!

Used to be new beginnings daycare. Very bad experience!!