The Goddard School

My daughter attended the Goddard school of Hastings on Hudson. We were very impressed with how the daycare was run and the staff was very attentive and friendly. I have another daughter that we are enrolling her once Covid is managed

School is about a year old and it shows. While rooms and toys are new, the staff (both management and teachers) are inexperienced and flustered. They do not have it together yet. The good teachers are leaving/being "stolen" away. They advertise that they are open for business at 7, but if you show up at 7 the teachers are just parking and the classrooms aren't ready. The owner is never ever there before 9 to observe what's going on. When a teacher is absent, you wait outside the dark, cold, unwelcoming classroom until someone finally lets you know and then the child is shuffled somewhere else. No concern is given for a child who is having a difficult time adjusting. As the parent, you're made to feel that you're overreacting / pestering if you call or express concerns. The general sentiment is "it's fine, we're fine, they're fine... stop asking questions." Fine isn't good enough. Fine kind of stunk actually. I pulled mine out after one month of giving it my best shot to make it work, communicate my concerns with the staff, and do my part to address those concerns - which went largely unaddressed. My kids are much happier now in new setting - and thriving again. At this location, they were shrinking into themselves and losing their spark. I even regret the short time they spent there and glad we've moved on.