Summit Children ' S Program

I was hesitant to enroll my 1 and 3 year old here after seeing the older/negative google reviews. Now that my children have been attending Summit for over a month I want to leave a positive review on how pleased I am with the care my children receive. First and foremost, the teachers are extremely attentive, caring, and patient with the kids. They took their time really getting to know my children’s personalities, and every single teacher in the school knows my children’s names. I really cannot say enough on how nurturing and caring the teachers are. I’m provided with thorough daily updates including pictures and videos on how their day is going, and an overview of how the day went when I pick them up (including funny stories). There are a lot of other benefits besides knowing that my kids are safe and happy in their teachers care… since enrolling a month ago the insectarium came to visit the school, there was a field trip to the aquarium, and they offer a music class and “gym” class with reflex sports on a weekly basis. I’m so glad that I found Summit!! Truly a wonderful, loving, and safe environment for children and their families.

My daughter attended Summit Children's Program full time from 18 months until she entered kindergarten. She was extremely well prepared for school, both socially and academically, from her time at Summit. She enjoyed their nature-based curriculum and developed a great curiosity for the natural world. She has continued in their after school program, and it has been so helpful for our family for an SCP teacher to pick her up everyday from the CW Henry school and walk back to Summit. Ms. Catherine was her teacher when she was 2, and is now a teacher in the after school program - it's so nice to have her caring presence as part of our family's daily experience. My son also started there as a three-year-old, and has transitioned easily from his former daycare. Teachers have been kind and the director, Ms. Lorrie, has been responsive. I appreciate so much that they have continued to provide quality childcare (and an afternoon program for school-aged children) throughout the pandemic with proper safety protocols in place. My son comes home happy everyday, with some new tidbit or song he learned, and is excited to run into his friends around the neighborhood. I'm impressed by how much he is learning and am sure he'll enter kindergarten just as ready as his sister did. We have long counted on Summit as a part of our neighborhood community and will continue to do so for years to come.

Summit Children's Program reflects the Mt. Airy community that it has been part of for decades: it is a diverse and inclusive place where kids and parents of all backgrounds are welcomed. Parents are involved with the program volunteering to organize fun-day fundraisers and sharing their skills on the board that directs the program and in the classrooms with the children. I sent two kids here and was especially happy with the caring, dedicated teachers who are the consistent core to the program and the multiple outdoor play areas and activities the children enjoyed all year round.

This review is based on our experience with a director who is no longer there. I’ve heard things may have improved since her departure. She was incompetent and didn’t take accountability for her mistakes so we pulled our child out for their final year of daycare because of her. I won’t go into the specifics since she’s gone so here are the strong points: *beautiful and large outdoor spaces in the front and back for children to play in. We really miss this in our new daycare *big gym for kids to play in on bad weather days * cozy feel, not overcrowded * nonprofit with a board that can allow you to help shape the organization The Cons: * nonprofit so there was lots of financial upheaval while we were there. Not sure if this has improved with new director * the board was all parents and it was very demanding * some teachers are great and have been there for years. Others were not so great and seemed bored. A lot of turnover with the former director so perhaps this has improved Honestly, check this place out before discounting it. Had the director left sooner, we would have stayed. Summit has a lot of good qualities going for it and I hope they succeed. Check them out!

SCP is a wonderful daycare/preschool committed to children and providing a warm, safe and nurturing environment. I am impressed with their communication and the excellent care that my daughter (and my son!) receive there. The staff is fantastic, the program is thoughtful and the outdoor spaces are incredible. This sweet center is conveniently located by the coop, local elementary school and easy to get to. Check out their nature and play focus and take a tour, the director and the staff are wonderful.