Creme De La Creme

I don’t even know where to begin. My child attended Crème de la Crème for one week In retrospect I now wonder if there is a deeper reason the Houston location is not a part of the actual chain. My only intent in writing this review is to set realistic expectations for an parent considering this institution. Honestly I would like to believe my experience was the exception since In my heart I am an optimist, but I have to be honest.: Crème de la Crème doesn’t live up to its name or even come close. The only reasonable reason I can imagine enrollment is so high is its location and being considered a social status school in Houston.
Before I enrolled my child the director from his previous school warned me «be careful» but I didn’t listen. I went to the tour and I was impressed with the facility. If your child attends this school this is what you are paying for. The way it looks. As I walked around I didn’t see many friendly or smiling faces but I shrugged it off. In fact I told the first person that smiled at me that day «you are the first person I’ve seen smile here». I should have gone with my gut but I didn’t. They sold me on the monitors, the convenience, it looked like my kid could be happy here. And although the teachers looked rough the students seemed happy. Truthfully I relocated unexpectedly for work and my options were limited.
Day 1: monitors not working so I was advised where to take my son. I specifically asked the age ranges of the students for my sons class before enrolling and it seemed the kids were much smaller than what I expected. I learned he was in fact in a different class than what they originally said and had to request he be put with his actual class.
Day 2: showed up monitors not working and told where to go but his teacher wasn’t there. Told his teacher doesn’t come in until 10am. O-​k
Day 3: monitors till not working. No one seems particularly bothered. I am wondering what would happen in case of fire. Arrive at 8:30 once again teacher not there but this time I find out it’s because she is off today and every Wednesday. Then I watch my child taken off to the playground alone because he is the only one in the class. After I voiced my concerns the director was apologetic. She said it was crazy because it was transition week.
Pulled him out Thursday and Friday for a family trip.
Day 4. The following Monday. I showed up and naturally Asked if the monitors were working. Last I asked SNAPPED «yes» as if I was crazy for asking.
At that point I started looking for another school. When I notified them we would be withdrawing and he had a spot in the new school starting the following week they told me they would give me a full refund and that could be his last day.
To sum it up the school looks pretty but pay attention to the people and you will undoubtedly see it for yourself.

My baby is enrolled in the infant program at Crème, and it’s been great so far. It is pricier compared to other daycare centers in the area, but the facility is nice and they have lots of toys and books. Teachers are great (some better than others), but are all nice and friendly. Think this is would be a great afterschool program for kids who are a little older since they will be able to appreciate the facility (looks like disneyland!).
They do no have cameras where parents can log in to see what their child is doing. Crème says it is for safety reasons, but think this would be great if Crème can get a system in place for parents to log on to a secure site and watch their kids (esp, the infant room since this would be the first time parents are sending their babies off to daycare). They do have video cameras in the rooms where you can watch from the front desk area, but not sure how effective this is if you’re a working parent and just want to check up on your kid.

I went on a tour today and was very impressed by the facility and the staff. Very professional and clean. It’s a little more expensive than your average preschool but worth it! They also have a strong education focus with the children and a fantastic outdoor play area. My two year old will be starting here in July.

No my kid doesn’t actually go to this school. The reason I’m leaving a 2 star review is because of the bad experience I had with their front desk just now.
I’m pregnant and have to pee like every hour, we were parked for the Rockets game which didn’t start for another 2 hours, and I really REALLY had to pee. I took my toddler and ran into the closest «store» (I thought it was a store), thinking it was a kid friendly place because of the decorations and kids and parents I saw inside. I’m not familiar with the downtown area and that was the only place open closest to me.
I got to the front desk and explained I’m pregnant and REALLY had to pee, and I was denied to go in. I will always remember that really big lady at the front looking at me, shrugged and just said, «sorry I can’t let you in because your kid doesn’t go here.» I offered to take a tour and maybe consider sending my kid here later and she still said no.
I was on the verge of tears out of pain when a mom walked in and saw me in pain and practically in tears. She told me to follow her immediately despite the front desk, and took me to the bathroom only a few steps away from the front entrance. I was SO grateful for her kindness.
However, I’m really disappointed that the big lady at the front desk denied a very pregnant woman who had a bathroom emergency. I understand it is a preschool and security is important, very important! but special circumstances should be dealt differently.
Update — I wrote this review over a year ago, the front desk lady had just responded to me, making me changing it to one star. Basically she defended herself putting safety of school first (which I completely agree with and support her on that!), but that meant she could not have changed her response despite ANY circumstances?! She called me a hysterical lady who was shouting, which «raised many red flags», seriously? I’m a petite Asian American woman who was holding her 2 year old and obviously pregnant, how BIG of a threat was I? And fine you had to follow rules and keep everyone safe in the school (which always Should be the priority she is right!), there could have been ALTERNATIVES (now I’m shouting), like you or an admin or anyone in the school (a security guard?) accompanying me to the bathroom. You could have taken my driver’s license or purse, or (omg I can’t believe I’m suggesting this but), you could have taken a kid’s potty out? Anything rather than sitting back and telling me to go away! To flat out reject me like that was NOT acceptable.
Again my 1 star review is not toward the quality of this preschool, I have no idea how great/​not great the school is. It is only toward the situation I had run in at the school. I guess if you want your kid to go to a safe school it definitely can be since they don’t allow ANY strangers in, but they may not be that friendly, nice or flexible either because they rejected a pregnant woman without thinking twice or offering any alternatives.