Discovery Years Child Learning Center

TLDR: This center is an unsafe and harmful environment for your children.

Details: This looked to be an incredible facility – and in terms of the building itself – it is. Unfortunately, underneath the pretty façade there is a culture of abuse and a systemic failure to provide the care and love that children need to thrive. There were truly exceptional caregivers at this facility, and there are likely a couple left. But the majority of the caregivers we trusted with our child have left because of the issues below as well as larger more egregious concerns with how the facility was run and the methods and actions of some of the longer-tenured caregivers employed here.

1. We documented abuse of children with video evidence. Children being yanked around the room or forcefully made to do things. We were told this was resolved and "would never happen again." We've confirmed this is not the case. We've also found that the "potty room" in the toddler class is used as a timeout area. Children are often “disciplined” in areas where the teacher knows the cameras cannot see. Each of these is a clear violation of NJ law, besides that this is literal, to the letter of the law, child abuse.

2. We found that potty trained children with regressions (wet underwear during school) were placed in diapers throughout the day without their parents' permission or knowledge and had diapers removed before parents showed up in order to "hide" it from them and make it easier for teachers. This was done upon instruction of the owner of the facility.

3. Staff:child ratios that are set by the state of NJ are not followed (documented multiple times with video and teacher-confirmed evidence). From working in a daycare previously, I believe this is also grounds for loss of license on its own.

4. Our child often came home hungry on days when we purchased lunch from the school. We've brought this up with her teachers and have been told they have to beg to get extra food for the kids. We began sending our child to the school nearly every day with her own lunch because of this. This is besides that when we toured the school we were sold based on "healthy organic food," not hot chocolates, donuts, and hot dogs.

5. We do not think the school is run safely and had made numerous attempts to attempt to get the school to comply with Covid protocols when they were required. Some were followed, some received no response. This isn't as relevant now but just a reflection of leadership priorities and the disregard for parents' concerns (and what is legally and ethically required).

6. We did not receive a single notification of any contagious disease other than Covid. I know that other kids were out sick, and we pulled our child out sick multiple times. It appears never once were other parents informed. This is in violation of the school’s own policy.