Painted Oak Nature School

UPDATE: Not only has the director shared private information about my child in her Google review reply, but I also have no idea what “behavioral program” she is referring to. As far as meetings, I only had two with his teacher—one on the phone and another in person after everything had already escalated. I had no meetings with the head of the school, nor was I informed of any behavioral program my son was supposedly under. Furthermore, I still have not received any email regarding a refund or reimbursement, despite the ongoing lack of communication on this matter. — We were initially excited about enrolling our child at Painted Oak because of its emphasis on forest school principles, which prioritize child-led learning, resilience, and fostering a connection to nature in an inclusive environment. Our son had already spent two years in a forest school care setting, so this seemed like the perfect transition. However, our experience fell significantly short of these values. Parents of neurodiverse children, particularly boys who are Autism and ADHD (AuDHD) leaning, should approach this program with caution. Our child went from thriving to displaying troublesome behaviors seemingly overnight, yet the school took no accountability for the role they may have played in this shift. Instead of investigating or collaborating to address the situation, they placed full blame on our child, stating he was not a fit for the program. Within just two weeks of raising concerns, the school decided to expel our 4-year-old. This rushed and exclusionary decision felt at odds with forest school principles, which emphasize patience, understanding, and individualized support. As a low-income, single parent, I also feel let down by how the financial aspects were handled. Despite reaching out regarding a refund for our deposit and the unused portion of tuition, the school has yet to respond promptly. This lack of communication has compounded the frustration of an already difficult experience. Much to my surprise, after sharing our experience, I discovered others with similar stories. It seems this is part of a larger trend at Painted Oak. While the school’s reputation appears rosy on the surface, systemic shortcomings are impacting families, particularly those with neurodiverse children. My initial email addressing concerns about my son’s behavior was 3 weeks before they decided he did not belong in their school. Undoubtedly this cutthroat approach contributed to escalating challenges and left him in a persistent fight-or-flight state where he couldn’t regulate or meet behavioral expectations—because he is four. His aggressive behaviors were not intentional or malicious, as his teacher clarified. They were expressions of a child feeling unseen and unsupported in an environment that didn’t meet his emotional needs. While I recognize staff tried to adapt, the abrupt decision to remove him, framed as finding a “better fit,” felt neither collaborative nor supportive. The short timeline and lack of communication sent a devastating message to my child. Remaining in the program would have kept him dysregulated, so I chose to remove him. Since then, he has repeatedly asked if he was “bad” or “not good enough.” That is the lasting impact of how this was handled, reflecting the program’s rigid framework for children who don’t conform. I also feel it’s important to share my experience publicly so other parents can make informed decisions, especially those whose children have neurodiverse needs. I hope this feedback encourages Painted Oak to reflect on its practices and align better with the inclusive values it promotes.