PolkMoms.com

In light of the recent article of the Church at the Mall closing their childcare, I wanted to post a couple of things about Daycare. First, churches do not have to adhere to the same regulations as a private daycare. They do not fall under DCF juridiction, I learned this from the tv news about the kind molested by the 14 year old recently here in Lakeland. My son goes to Miss Janet's Private School. I can honestly say that each teach there loves their job. They enjoy playing and teaching the children. They have a curriculum designed for each age group and have the children learning from day one in their school. I was very thankful that they worked so well with my son who was a difficult potty training child. I have been fortunate to have such a wonderful experience for daycare with my first try. Thanks Miss Janet's.

I had an experience with a day care/school facility closing out of the blue like that with The Oaks School here in Bartow a few years ago. You had to pay the registration fee, first month tuition plus uniforms. After making the purchase, a few weeks later they school closed with no warning. I actually picked up my child one afternoon & was told that after that day they would no longer be opened.

The school filed bankruptcy & I never did get any reimbursement at all. I know I wasn't the only one in the situation of not only being out lots of money, but scrambling for child care the next day. It was an horrible experience & has made me very hesitate to pay for child care expenses or any other expenses like that in advance.

It killed me because I know someone in the school office had to be aware of the closing & knew the school was in trouble, but continued to take money for a school year that wasn't going to exist.

I've said it before - please don't discount every church daycare because one was bad!

In *most* cases, the religious accreditation process is MORE strict than DCF. It's just a matter of asking the center who they received their accreditation from, and checking their inspection/complain history with that agency.

I really think that every mom here with a child in daycare will tell you something great about their kids' daycare or teacher. Selecting the right school is VERY subjective..... and it's based on each parent's opinion of what is important to them in a child care provider.

Church Daycares do not have to comply/be accredited by DCF, but some do. If you check the list online, there are some, including St. John Neumann (Hayley will start there part-time August 18-gulp!), that are there voluntarily.

I agree with Bizeemomma...don't discount them all. I worked at a Methodist Church in Tallahassee, and their daycare/preschool was also very good.