Familiar Footsteps

Our child (toddler) went here part time and full time for a little over one year. The facility has a mom and pop feel which was nice. However, we stopped going here for the following reasons:
Cost:
It was fair and below the average, but you get what you pay for…
Accounting:
Rude. Often made billing errors. Would call us demanding money only to realize it was already paid.
Staff:
The facility director had a great demeanor and good customer service. However, this fell short with the teachers. Most were not very friendly. Made little to no effort to greet the parents or kids in the morning. It was uncomfortable dropping my child off, which is why we left.
appearance:
Outside — generally clean, but leave trash stacked up out front. The entrance and exit gates were often left open and unsecured. This was of great concern because the facility is located on a very busy street with traffic often moving at high speeds. I brought this up to staff and gates were secured with better latches but didn’t last long.
Inside — mildew smell in class rooms. Play ground area usually had leaves and general debris.
Parking lot:
Small, cramped and difficult to maneuver in and out of.
Conclusion:
I think the owner and Mgt. mean well, but ultimately there were too many safety concerns for us. There are better daycare /​schools out there, keep looking.

FANTASTIC SCHOOL!
My daughter has been enrolled at Familiar Footsteps since December 2014. Prior to FF, she went to KinderCare for about 4 months. Let me tell you, at KinderCare, it seemed like all they cared about was the weekly tuition and writing up my child for defending herself against an aggressive child who constantly picked on my daughter. Horrible school.
I could tell a HUGE difference in my daughter when she started attending FF. At KinderCare, my daughter was always unhappy. When I picked her up from KC, she would tell me kids pushed her or pinched her and she was ALWAYS hungry. She is a very picky eater and KC only serves a pre-​designated menu for each week. So, my daughter would not eat the food and thus, go hungry all day.
Anyhow, FF serves the kids breakfast, drinks & a snack. All I need to do is bring her lunch every day. At least she is not going hungry. My daughter gets along with all the kids in her class. She loves her teacher, Ms. Cindy. I am VERY happy with FF and I am so glad I decided to enroll my daughter here. All the teachers and aides are very nice and caring. They discipline appropriately and fairly. There are no write ups or discipline slips for parents to sign. They take the time to explain what my child did to get a «time out» and why. When my daughter had a 104 degree temperature, they took very good care of her until I came and picked her up.
The change in my daughter’s behavior and attitude is tremendous. No more tantrums, she is happy when I pick her up and there’s a jumpy house on the kids’ birthdays.
If you are considering enrolling your child here, take my advice, you won’t be sorry!

We are very pleased with our choice of daycare. I have a 17 month old daughter who has been going here since she was 4 months. She LOVES her school, her teachers, and her fellow classmates. She gets super smiley when we pull up and she sees the big yellow fence. When I drop her off, she is excited to stay and play.
Miss Andrea runs the infant room, and she is awesome. She is high energy, fun, and she is passionate about her responsibility. She is always really on top of everything, and she always makes time to talk to me and listen to any concerns I have.
All of the staff members are kind, loving, and friendly. They really listen, care and remember the things I talk to them about. I feel like my daughter is very well taken care of. And I know she is learning a lot.
Some really great things about FF: When I was originally thinking of care for my daughter, I first started looking at in-​home day cares. I’m so glad we chose FF instead. They change all the babies hourly, and as needed on top of that. They do things like school pictures, and they have a big play structure and outdoor area, and they have fun surprises like the occasional petting zoo, etc. There is an accountability that you get when all teachers are holding each other up to a high standard. They are constantly evaluating things and looking for areas they can improve. They are very good at making sure all of the rules and policies are always followed carefully. You can’t get that kind of accountability from in-​home care.

My son went here for half of last year along with my daughter and we just called today to end her enrollment. I don’t often take my daughter or pick her up due to my work schedule, so my husband does. For a while though I’ve been feeling uneasy with the teachers lack of greeting when we enter or leave… either to us or our child. I find it odd that they don’t greet at least a three year old with some kind of warmth or excitement.
What is even more strange, is that the director is awesome and has the personality and attitude you’d expect for an environment full of small children. She is so sweet and friendly and when she is there, greets and interacts with the children as you’d hope when you leave your child somewhere.
Also, the prices changed recently and we were 1 week off with the price increase, but didn’t know it. After 3 weeks we got a note in all CAPS and part of it underlined asking us to pay the $ 15 we missed on week 1. We felt really crappy like they thought we were avoiding paying or something. The lack of communication overall leaves us confused and certainly not in the know with what is happening with our daughter at school. Not once have we received any kind of progress report.
Normally I would bring an issue to someone’s attention in order to allow them the opportunity to change or correct the issue if they felt it were valid. However, the teachers lack of personality isn’t something that is going to change long term. It’s unfortunate because they have a nice set-​up and it was convenient and close to our home.
After researching, our daughter tried another school today and didn’t want to leave. She was so happy and excited to be there. The teachers are friendly and warm and genuinely excited to be there with the kids. I’m excited for her to be happy and safe and cared for the next year and a half till she starts Kindergarten!

Both of my children have attended this preschool since before they were 2 years old. My eldest is now in the first grade, but she aced Kindergarten due to the fantastic pre-​K program that she completed at this school. The staff here have given me the most amazing support over the last 5 years and always treated my kids with love and respect. They helped my children transition from toddlers to little kids, with potty training, learning to write their names and even helping them to give up pacifiers, bottles and much more. I asked the Director about the incident described below and they were very forthcoming about it, there are always two sides to every story and this was such a long time ago now, way before I ever enrolled my children here. I have referred many friends to this school, and will continue to do so. I am sad that this is the last year for my second child, he just started the pre-​k class, but this school has been like my family for so many years. The teachers are dedicated and caring, and my kids have been very happy to attend this school.

Our 4 yr old has gone to Familiar Footsteps since he was 6 months old and now we are sending our lil 5 month old girl. Being a «helicopter Dad» (someone who circles their kid constantly), I was very particular about where we would send our children. From the 1^st day they made me feel at ease and they have done nothing but love my children like their own ever since. They also have done a great job in partnering with us on discipline, potty training, teaching ABC’s & #s and all the other things new parents need help on.

Please, please please… check with licensing before enrolling your child in the preschool portion of this school. My child loves going to preschool. However, my child cried before going to school everyday. She also ran away from this location… YES, went out the front door and left the location. She was three years old, and they didn’t even know she was gone for about 20 mins. No one ever called me to tell me that she left. I lived in the mediterian apts near the freeway. My child ran home. YES, ran all the way down cottle and straight to our apts. No one from the preschool EVER called us. NEVER, no teachers, no owners, NO ONE! The police came knocking on my door, and told me that my child was gone. Thank goodness that she knew how to get home. My child was home with me for 45 mins before the police even came to my house. The police also told me that the school went to look for my child before they called the police.
One of the teachers had to take anger management classes, and was still teaching with the children at the time. Please do your homework before enrolling you child to this school!!! Southside community has a much better preschool program with better pricing and professional teachers! Everything is documented with licensing, please call them to hear ALL the negitives about this school. I would have saved myself a lot of heart ache. Now I feel it’s my job to warn parents about this school and lack of professionalism shown by teachers, directors and owners.