Elite Learning Academy - Fort Smith, Arkansas

Amanda B

Best set of teachers who really care about the safety and well-being of your child! They are a big family and they include your babies in that family.

Laura Shettleworth

I'm very disappointed with my experience here. The only reason I am giving them two stars instead of one is because of the convenient location and hours. My child was expelled after less than one month of attending here for behavioral issues. He recently tested out of a facility where he was receiving therapies for developmental delays such as speech. I explained ahead of time that he was strong willed and had behavioral issues from time to time that stemmed from frustration of not being able to communicate as well as others and that he also had difficulty transitioning between activities . The first three days at the new school were hard on him. He did not want to nap -they have a two hour nap time and force kids to stay on mat and when they tried to put him in time out because he kept getting up he would back talk and scream at teacher. I talked to my son and punished him at home after a bad day and finally on the third day I started getting positive reports.. I was thrilled he was doing so well and everything was fine until last Thursday my spouse picked him up and the director advised her that he had bit a teacher when she was putting him in time out and if his behavior did not improve they wouldn't be able to keep him. I talked/discplined my son again hoping for the best until I got a call from the center today to pick him up early. When I got there they had an expulsion letter prepared for me and refund check. They claimed he walked up to a student and punched her in the face for no reason and then bit a teacher when they attempted to put him in time out. I explained that my son has hit others children in the past but it was never just something out of the blue for no reason and that something must have set him off (not that it would make it right but usually arguments over toys or defending himself) They were adamant that he had no reason to bother this child and that he went out of his way to walk up to this child and punch her in the face... I m sorry but I am not buying . However, I can say this for certain, when I have picked him up in the afternoons kids are running wild all over the place. They have different rooms divided by partition walls but kids of different age groups are intermingling with each other. The teachers are very sweet but seem super young and inexperienced. They are nice girls and my son seemed to connect with a couple of them but they really didnt seem to have any clue how to deal with children with any behavioral issues. They are constantly getting kids clothes mixed up. I sent him with extra clothes in case of accidents and on two different occasions they sent him home with some other kids clothes on. I never did get his own clothes back. No telling who has them and he has lost at least three pairs of socks. Finally, I understand completely that as a business it is their prerogative who they want to serve but I would think someone who is compassionate about childcare would work actively with parent to help come up with alternative solutions to help a child with special needs. My four year old son may act out but to dismiss him as a safety hazard same day without notice is a little too much. I feel terrible that he hit another child but after all this happening I am realizing that maybe it's for the best and I am hopeful that I will be able to find somewhere to place him that he can benefit from more in the long term but I would not recommend this facility to anyone if they have children with any special needs whatsoever. They do not seem to care at all about dealing with these children or they are too inexperienced to handle these situations.

Rebecca Gasparotto

I wasn't going to post a review but since they were awarded best of the year 2018 I feel that was a titled not deserved and is misleading to other new moms. My experience was from about 3 years ago but I will share a few highlights of the worse I experienced.

My 3 month old, non mobile infant, was coming home on a weekly basis with several bite mark bruises on his arms and hands. This bothered me because infants were not supposed to be mingled with toddlers but for some reason it happened and this teething toddler found a soft squishy chew toy (my son). This went on for about s month or two before the child was expelled.

When my son was a few months older and crawling they were remodeling the office area and since they only had partial walls dividing the areas debri got into the infant area. My son crawled over something that left a gnarly gash in his leg that he still has a scar to this day. When asked what this debris was the workers said they never found it. He was taken to the doctor for a tenenus shot.

He was removed shortly after this incident. I will add that I would make surprise visits on my lunch break and have noted on several occasions up to 12 infants left with one worker who would be standing at the corner of her area talking to another teacher while several of her infants scream cried.

I dont know if it has improved in the 3 years but buyer be warned.

Amy Moore

Very pleased with the care my daughter receives, she has been attending Elite learning Academy for almost a year now since she was about 6 months old. Avery is amazing and it makes going to work easy knowing that she is so well taken care of. I have nothing but good things to say about the staff!!

Stephanie Parrish

Child was fired because their parent has glass packs on his vehicle.

April Geels

Friendly, professional and located in a safe neighborhood.

Hotboii Ghee

Lotti Steward