Tot Spot Child Care

I have been touring a lot of daycares recently, and many of these places have zero reviews online or even on Yelp. So here's one for the place I toured yesterday and walked away thinking that it was "cheap and cheerful." First off several of my husband's co-workers recommended this place as we were looking for a daycare near his work. He works at a school.

I checked out their website which is not the most detailed (lacks pictures, and specific details), but they at least had the prices posted, and a general idea of what was offered for their tution rates. I called to see if I could take a tour clearly stating that I would need to place my child in care in September/August. The receptionsit never told me they did not have availability, and did not anticipate any while I was on the phone (I found out at the end of the tour), and she wasn't really able to answer any of my other questions stating she was "new." She could have put me on hold to get the answer. Anyway this didn't really bother me, as I wanted to tour the place anyway.

When I drove up I noticed that the playgrounds do not have any shade (no trees or awnings are shading the toddler or bigger kid playgrounds). And once I walked into the building I was a bit disturbed that the oly thing separating the reception/entrance area was a half-door, that was wide open and the only person in the front was the receptionist who was on the phone. I had a baby in my hands so I'm sure I didn't look very dangerous, but it did worry me that it looked like I could've just walked right in and there wouldn't be much of a barrier to stop me.

Pros: The staff really did seem very sweet and friendly, the school was older, but clean. Diapers in the infant and one year old room (they share the same room divided by a wooden half-wall) were all labeled and the student to teacher ratios were low. The prices are really low here about 15$ less than what I have observed at daycares in the Waterford Lakes area. Also another plus is that if you need to remove your child for the summer months the assistant director told me they would not charge any tuition during that time.

Cons: The price does not include any breakfast or lunch (just snacks), so parents would need to pack a meal. No sunshade in the playgrounds (my child is VERY fair-skinned), no cameras or webcam service for parents (assistant director did say that they would be installing some soon but only for people in the front desk area to view), I was not shown any examples of curriculum or lesson plans, and at the time of my tour (which was late in the afternoon during their rush-hour) there was no barrier between reception and the rest of the school.

I was looking for a daycare, to be honest, I hadn't decided on one because it was either too costly or the days didn't work for me. When I walked in to that one, I was ready to give up the search. As soon as I walked in, they were very caring and welcoming. They informed me of everything I needed to know and the price was perfect. Of course I assumed there had to be something wrong with Tot spot but my fears disappeared as they talked to me and gave me a tour of this little haven for children. I had bad experiences before and because of it, I decided to enroll my little one but I didn't completely trust that everything would go well. It has been almost a year now and my little one loves going there, she talks about her teacher and what they did, she is always super happy to be going "to school" and actually is a little disappointed on the days she wakes up and doesn't have to go. The staff is amazing, caring and very understanding. You will absolutely love Ms. Liz, I think she is the heart of it all.

Tot spot is the best place the staff is so caring they treat my son as if he was one of their own they treat us parents as family as well from the first day we walked in the door very loving and caring staff through the whole place everyone there is just so wonderful couldn't ask for a better day care I would recommend anybody to put their children in this daycare my son will attend this daycare until he can no longer go my son has came a long ways since he's been there from all the love and help from the staff