The Goddard School of Independence - Independence, Ohio

Tari L.

The Goddard School of Independence is an Amazing school ! Working in the infant room has been an absolute pleasure! Our staff here are amazing and truly work hard to ensure a safe and suitable learning environment for all of the children. The parents are amazing and very appreciative for our great nurturing skills .I’d highly recommend anyone who is looking for a great learning environment with dedicated and approachable staff to enroll their little ones here !

Leanne S.

As a teacher in the infant room I can say wholeheartedly that the children and their care and development at this Goddard School are everyone’s number one priority. We work closely with the parents to ensure that their children’s needs are always being met. The staff, parents, and children together create a happy, engaging and fun environment.

Bethany B.

Our experience at Goddard was deeply disappointing and far below our expectations. From the very first week, we received continuous negative feedback about our 16-month-old son, along with daily write-ups for what we consider to be typical toddler behavior. For example, the concerns raised included his one-hour naps, reaching for a teacher’s glasses, tapping other children to initiate play, and being overly friendly with parents at pick-up time. These and many other trivial issues were documented as problems.

As parents, it was disheartening to receive no positive feedback or updates on our son’s learning and development. The teachers were not approachable, and interactions with them were primarily negative. We were even called in for a parent-teacher meeting to discuss these minor behaviors, which we felt was unnecessary. Additionally, we were asked to pick up our son mid-day due to a claim that other children were “trembling in fear” of him, only to find him happily playing with a group of peers when we arrived.

From the start, we felt unfairly targeted. We received stern messages from the directors, such as insisting we label containers (which were already labeled, though they had sent someone else’s unlabeled containers home with us) and informing us that our son’s late arrival due to a doctor’s appointment was disruptive even after we made it clear he would be arriving late. Although there is no set drop-off time, we were repeatedly told he needed to arrive by a specific time.

Ultimately, we felt forced to pull our son from Goddard because we did not feel he was being treated fairly. Their solution to the concerns raised was to isolate him by separating him from the other children, seemingly without reason. This was not the environment we wanted for our son, especially at such a young age.

When we communicated our decision to withdraw him due to feeling bullied into this decision, we requested a full reimbursement of our monthly tuition. However, we were told that they would consider this as our formal disenrollment and that per their policy, only two weeks’ tuition would be refunded, as they require a two-week notice. We felt this policy should not apply in our case, as we were backed into this decision by the circumstances. Additionally, we had incurred lost wages due to the frequent meetings and mid-day pick-ups required by the school. The communication and professionalism from the staff fell far below the standard we would expect from a childcare center.

Kate H.

Our two-year-old daughter seemed eager to start with the enticing brightly colored environment and sea life painted walls but shortly after starting we realized this wasn’t going to be an easy transition. She screamed and cried every time we took her for nearly 4 months. Even when I would attempt to sneak up to the classroom to see if she was enjoying herself in my absence, she was sadly, still sobbing. We were encouraged to enroll her in more than two days a week so she “got used to it quicker” which wasn’t something I was comfortable with so we pulled her out of the program.

I really wanted to like our experience with this school and tried to get involved with any drives or events the school was hosting, unfortunately it just felt more like a big business rather than a warm, familial environment. Teacher turnover seemed rampant and the parents and teachers hardly speak to each other at pickup and drop off. It was very transactional. Our daughter was also moved to another classroom without warning. When I asked if this was standard procedure, I was told it was because I had her out a few weeks around the holidays so they didn’t have the appropriate time to let us know she would be switching rooms and instructors. Correspondence was bleak and I had to ask for updates in the Tadpole app on more than one occasion. The owners and manager were very kind when I brought up concerns—I just wish I didn’t need to. Wasn't terrible, just wasn't what I was expecting out of a daycare service.

Liz D.

We have been sending our two-year-old to the Goddard School of Independence since three months old. The staff and owners at the school have helped our child grow and thrive. As a first-time mom, returning to work and sending my child to childcare was difficult. The transition was seamless, and my child has been well cared for. She is meeting milestones and learning. The teachers have been accommodating and attentive to any special needs or requests that we have needed for our child. Every staff member and teacher we have worked with has been kind, nurturing, and patient. The staff (teachers, director, and owners) are also great at communication and working closely with me to ensure the carry-over of techniques and information from school to home. The environment at Goddard School is exceptional, and I highly recommend it to any parent looking for childcare.

Debbie C.

The teachers and owners are great! My daughter learned so much socially, educationally, & emotionally. They took great care of her. Any incidents were always relayed to us. Staff addressed issues immediately.
There is a sense of community. We even have become friends with other parents.
Also, we are a 2 mom household. We are always nervous about acceptance for my daughter. We were treated with respect & kindness. The staff & owners made us feel welcome & put us at ease.
Ms. Annette was her last teacher & I can't sing her praises enough. She was the perfect balance of nurturing & stearn but respectfully. Great teacher/person. I would pay her to homeschool my daughter she is that amazing!
Goddard was a breath of fresh air compared to the horrible daycare we came from. One of the best decisions we ever made was coming to Goddard. Paula, Bob, and their staff are the best!

Jamie H.

The Goddard School is an EXCELLENT place to work! I come to work feeling happy & excited for each and every day! The families are awesome, the staff is so supportive, and the kids are the best!

Jay Y.

All of our children have attended Goddard School - Independence (over 10 years of interaction with the school) and we couldn’t have had a better experience. Every teacher has had a meaningful impact on the lives of our kids and provided a safe learning environment. The administrative staff are always cheerful, friendly, and professional. Most importantly, our children have been well-prepared academically, emotionally, and socially for kindergarten. Can’t recommend enough Goddard School - Independence.