So it is important that I share my experience for both the families currently at Little Learners, as well as, families looking to enroll there.
Little Learners in Crest Hill was formerly, The Learning Experience which is where I started 12 years ago. I had both of my boys enrolled there. When the owner of the franchise notified us that she was selling to Little Learners, we were sad and weary of what may be replacing it but hearing that all the teachers were staying on with LIttle Learners was a relief because they were great and wonderful people.
Well fast forward a bit to now...and over the past year + we have noticed a SIGNIFICANT turnover in the staff/teachers, the lack and decline of programs and structure, as well as a change in the food menu and overall quality of care there.
First, watching rotating teachers was unnerving and we noticed how it affected the kids. Children need consistency and structure but unfortunately there has been a rotating door in my sons class. We have counted 9 different teachers with some only staying a week or two. We got used to being introduced to a teacher only to find out they were leaving shortly after. The children were exposed to adult conversations of why the school “sucked” which my son shared he overheard. (He’s 5!).
Second, there really wasn’t any consistency in the programs, circle time, and learning they were getting. Teachers were simply just “watching” the kids and ultimately just surviving it seemed and getting through the day. Frustration was always shared when I picked my son up and negative behaviors of the kids became the updates we would receive, instead of what they learned or accomplishments in milestones they had.
The owner Mrs. Melissa, has never been warm or even had the courtesy to greet us whenever she was there. The teachers would share their frustration about her to me at pick up saying things like “she doesn’t address us or even know our names”. The owner frequently comes into the classrooms while teachers are with the children and openly criticize and critique what she sees. Most recently, three teachers shared how tired they are because she is on a “rampage”. We were told that her anger recently is because “the food budget” is way over and she was upset trying to cut costs everywhere. As a parent, to put your trust in someone to watch and help develop your child, having communication openly shared and my child witness such negative behavior and actions was disturbing. Teachers shared they don’t get paid enough to deal with it...which is the high turnover reason). One teacher even openly told me “it’s a joke here...we make $9 /hr which is nothing and we don’t get paid enough to deal with her!”
Now, my son “for religious reasons” does not eat pork. When it was The Learning Experience... pork was not a part of the menu so we never had issues or concerns. When Little Learners came, we communicated the expectation and reiterated the restriction that we have to not serve him anything with pork. The teachers knew him and we were comfortable with knowing they would respect and continue to make sure it wasn’t given to him. For quite a while several years, there was not an issue, until about a month ago, when we were told by the centers director, that the owner Mrs. Melissa, is requesting a letter from a religious entity or a doctor about my son not eating pork, otherwise, in her words “he will eat what everyone else eats”. We were stunned and asked “why”...what changed all of a sudden? Teachers came to us and said they were appalled that the owner is asking us for that... after all we have been there for YEARS at this point with no issue. We refused and asked the owner to call us personally. Well, shocking, the phone never rang and we never had her reach out once after numerous requests. With all of the changes and chaos over the past year, we felt like this was the final straw.
Shortly after...was approached by my sons teacher who tried to reassure me she will never feed him that but wanted me to know that there are other children at the school with a similar religious requests (one being a child in the 2 year old room). The teacher informed me that the owner instructed him to be given pork when it was on the menu because “he won’t even know what he’s eating anyways”!! So they fed him knowing it violated the parents request!!
The owners husband had recently been into the classroom and reprimanded the teachers for the portion size of what the kids were being fed. He even reached his hand in to the food bucket, with no glove or washing it, to give it out so he could limit it. A teacher called him out for a clear health violation and said he just “forgot” to put a glove on!
At this point, we communicated that after preschool graduation we would be leaving. After 12 years of loyalty and watching the transformation for the worse...there was not one care that we were done. During the final week, I went to pick my son up and was approached by ANOTHER new teacher in the classroom who apologized for today and stated how bad she felt. When I asked why, she told me that she was instructed that if pork was on the menu he eats it or he doesn’t eat at all.
So my 5 year old was not fed!!!! The teacher felt bad and said she “snuck him some crackers”!!!
I asked where the owner is and the director said “she’s in Mexico” on vacation. The director said she apologized and she’s not happy either. Her own child (who’s in my sons classroom) only eats certain foods even had a plate taken away and thrown in the garbage by the owner who said “he doesn’t get served anything different either”!
Needless to say, I said he would not return. We have still yet to have the owner call us which I wouldn’t expect at this point. The disgust I have for the lack of care and compassion or even RESPECT for the children and staff...along with the absolutely discrimination and violation to religious requests makes me sick. It’s about the money to the owner. That’s it. She’s in the wrong business because these are children! I would urge anyone looking here or even the other parents to consider elsewhere. There are daycares that actually put the children first rather than their beliefs and money first!
And yes...DCFS has been contacted as well as the state.
