Description: The Children's Academy was established in 1981 by Susan Weller, a career educator with over 20 years of experience. Dedicated to the philosophy of Maria Montessori, the Academy's academic goals are to work with the whole child. The children are encouraged by our nurturing staff to reach their own individual potential using their unique gifts.
The Academy employs 8 highly qualified Montessori trained teachers and a French teacher. The teachers provide an environment that respects a child’s individuality, enriches emotional and physical development and addresses the needs of every child.
The Children's Academy is proud of our Parents Association, which works closely with our teachers to make your child's Academy experience an enlightening and enriching one. The Academy encourages parental involvement and welcomes parent participation and visits. The Academy is always open to family visits.
Since 1981, the Children's Academy has grown from a student body of 35 to its present enrollment of 75 students. The student community includes children from Essex and Union counties. Although The Academy is located in Springfield, families come from Maplewood, South Orange, West Orange, Short Hills, Millburn, Livingston, Newark, Union, Summit, New Providence, Berkeley Heights and Mountainside as well as other areas to form the perfect Montessori Community.
The Academy has 3 separate classrooms. The Little Room was developed for pre-primary children, ages 2 1/2 to 3. The Transitional Room is a small nurturing environment for 3 and 4 year olds. The Big Room serves the needs of children 3 to 6 ½ and includes an excellent kindergarten program.
Extended care is available from 7:20 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., as well as Holiday care during school closings.
Please take the time to learn more about Children's Academy. The links at the left are a great place to start and our doors are always open. Visits are always welcome. Appointments are recommended to insure an informative tour
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.
| Date Cited | Date Abated | Regulation Number |
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| 2022-05-06 | 2022-05-13 | 3A:52-5.2(a)(5) |
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The center shall be permitted to obtain a valid fire safety inspection certificate issued by the municipality in which it is located, based on a fire inspection conducted within the preceding 12 months, and submit a copy of the certificate to the Office of Licensing in lieu of a CO or CCO, if the center serves only children 2 ½ years of age or older and is located in a public school building that is used as a public school. Violation Observed: Provide a current fire certificate as required. |
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| 2022-05-06 | 2022-05-13 | 3A:52-5.3(n)(1) |
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Fire prevention requirements are as follows: the center shall conduct fire drills at least once a month, as specified in the NJUFC. The center shall ensure that fire drills are conducted during each session provided at the center and that one fire drill per year is conducted during nap time, if applicable. Violation Observed: Ensure that the center conducts fire drills at least once per month during each session provided at the center, including one fire drill annually that is conducted during nap time. |
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| 2022-05-06 | 2022-05-13 | 3A:52-5.3(l)(1)(iii) |
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Emergency procedure requirements are as follows: the center shall prepare written emergency procedures delineating an alternate indoor location that operates during the same operating hours as the center. The center shall Violation Observed: Update the center's written emergency plans to include an alternate indoor location that operates during the same operating hours as the center. |
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| 2021-12-08 | 2022-02-08 | 3A:52-5.3(i)(8) |
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Environmental condition precautions are as follows: at the time of the initial application, any renewal application, relocation of an existing licensed center, and, as determined by the Office of Licensing, on a case-by-case basis, the facility operator shall submit to the Office of Licensing a Safe Building Interior Certification or other approval issued by the Department of Health that indicates that no further remediation is needed for the interior of the building in which the center is located. Violation Observed: Submit a Safe Building Interior Certification or other approval issued by the DOH. |
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| 2021-12-08 | 3A:52-5.3(i)(8) | |
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Environmental condition precautions are as follows: at the time of the initial application, any renewal application, relocation of an existing licensed center, and, as determined by the Office of Licensing, on a case-by-case basis, the facility operator shall submit to the Office of Licensing a Safe Building Interior Certification or other approval issued by the Department of Health that indicates that no further remediation is needed for the interior of the building in which the center is located. Violation Observed: Submit a Safe Building Interior Certification or other approval issued by the DOH. |
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| 2021-06-28 | 2022-01-12 | 3A:52-4.5(c)(2)(i) |
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The director or his or her designee(s) shall be on the premises at all times when the center is operating and the designee shall not have full-time classroom responsibilities during the times when the director is not present at the center. Violation Observed: Ensure the Director Designee does not have full-time classroom responsibilities when the Director is not present. (Center sent an MOU regarding the Director Designee). |
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| 2021-06-28 | 2021-07-27 | 3A:52-4.6(a) |
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The center shall maintain on file a Staff Records Checklist designated by the Office of Licensing, as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.1(b), indicating that the center has obtained documentation of the applicable staff education and experience, as specified in 3A:52-4.6(b) through (d). Violation Observed: Submit Staff Record's Checklist. |
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| 2021-06-28 | 2021-09-08 | 3A:52-4.11(a)(1) |
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As a condition of securing a license or Certificate of Life/Safety Approval, the sponsor or sponsor representative shall ensure that a Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) fingerprint background check is completed for himself or herself, and for all staff members at least 18 years of age who are or will be working at the center on a regularly- scheduled basis, to determine whether any such person has been convicted of a crime, as specified in P.L. 2000, c. 77 (N.J.S.A. 30:5B-6.10 to 6.17). The sponsor or sponsor representative and each staff member shall complete the electronic fingerprinting process through the vendor authorized by the State to conduct CHRI background checks through the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Violation Observed: Submit Staff CHRI clearances. |
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| 2021-06-28 | 2021-09-01 | 3A:52-4.10(b)(1) |
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When the center applies for a new or renewal license or Certificate of Life/Safety Approval, the sponsor or sponsor representative shall submit to the Department the completed CARI consent forms for all staff members who are or will be working at the center on a regularly scheduled basis. Within two weeks after a new staff member begins working at the center, the sponsor or sponsor representative shall submit to the Department a completed CARI consent form for the new staff member. Violation Observed: Submit Renewal CARI clearances. |
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| 2021-06-28 | 2021-07-27 | 3A:52-7.9(a)(1) |
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For early childhood programs, the following shall apply: the center shall maintain on file a log of the initial illnesses, symptoms of illness, or diseases that are exhibited by each child while in the center’s care, as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.1(c) and (d). This illness log shall include Violation Observed: Submit Center's Illness Log. |
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| 2021-06-28 | 2021-09-01 | 3A:52-4.5(a)(3)(i)(1) |
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The sponsor or sponsor representative shall designate individuals with the authority and responsibility to develop and implement written policies and procedures for the operation of the center, including a table of organization that illustrates lines of authority, responsibility and communication. Violation Observed: Submit center's Table of Organization with job descriptions. |
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| 2021-06-28 | 2021-07-27 | 3A:52-7.11(a)(1) |
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Each center shall develop a written policy on the management of communicable diseases. This policy shall include the following: the list of illnesses and symptoms of illness for which a child will be separated from the group and possibly sent home, as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.1©. Violation Observed: Submit center's Communicable Disease Policy. |
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| 2021-06-28 | 2021-07-27 | 3A:52-6.8(j)(1) |
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The center shall develop and follow a written policy on the expulsion of children from enrollment at the center. The expulsion policy shall include Violation Observed: Submit center's Expulsion policy. |
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| 2021-06-28 | 2021-07-27 | 3A:52-3.4(a) |
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The sponsor or sponsor representative shall secure comprehensive general liability insurance coverage for the center and shall maintain on file a copy of the insurance policy or documentation of current insurance coverage. Violation Observed: Submit Center's Liability Insurance Certificate. |
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| 2021-06-28 | 2021-07-27 | 3A:52-5.2(a)(5) |
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The center shall be permitted to obtain a valid fire safety inspection certificate issued by the municipality in which it is located, based on a fire inspection conducted within the preceding 12 months, and submit a copy of the certificate to the Office of Licensing in lieu of a CO or CCO, if the center serves only children 2 ½ years of age or older and is located in a public school building that is used as a public school. Violation Observed: Submit Center's Fire Certificate. |
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If you are a provider and you believe any information is incorrect, please contact us. We will research your concern and make corrections accordingly.
Write a review about The Children's Academy. 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.
I am a former parent from this School. The above review from this parent is untrue. My son was in class at the time her child was also there. The child was hitting teachers, running out of class. Her child was kicked out of school due to behavior and this is just a parent who is vindictive and out to get a great school. My son attended the Academy from 2 1/2 til kindergarten and they have been nothing but great. My son has learned so much and I have the Children's Academy to thank for that.
This was not a good school for my child, or really any child. Imaginative play is discouraged by the teachers and children are often reprimanded for using their imaginations in learning and play. The outside equipment is only used in the warmest months of the year. When questioned about this the faculty responds that the school is too focused on academics to allow outside time or imaginative play, which shows a complete lack of understanding of the way pre-schoolers learn. If you go to their website you will see most of the children pictured look bored and unhappy, which is the general attitude of the children in this school. The teachers would rather have quiet children than active or engaged ones. My son attended this school for 2 years, and learned almost nothing. We moved him to a pre-school with fun and toys and he learned to write his name and basic reading skills in under a month.
The student/teacher ratio is also not what they claim. There are over 30 students in the big room. While there are four teachers assigned to this room, two function as administrators also and spend very little time in the classroom.