The Goddard School

Our daughter had a wonderful experience at The Goddard Rocky Hill. The office staff including Ms. Maria, Alicia, and Harpreet have always been very organized, attentive, and easy to communicate with and the teachers made our daughter's time here exceptional. Ms. Nora, Sumathi, Meghana, and Pushpa fully embody what it means to be excellent teachers. We could genuinely feel how wholeheartedly they care for children, not only for ours but for every child in their classroom. Our daughter initially struggled with the transition to preschool after our move to CT, but her teachers went above and beyond to help her feel comfortable, supported, and confident. Thanks to their patience and love, she has grown so much socially and emotionally. We're very thankful for this amazing team of teachers and recommend this school to any family looking for a nurturing and well-run preschool staffed by people who truly care about the students.

My daughter was there for over a year 2024/2025. Her first classroom was good. Ms Usha and Ms Emily were amazing and clearly called into early childhood; she had just turned a year old. Our 2nd classroom was good enough as well. The teachers were passionate about their work and kind. My daughter was learning a lot from the curriculum but not herself at school which I thought was normal for a 1.5 year old. The last classroom ended horrifically. My 2 year old daughter retreated further into herself at school, didn’t speak much nor act excited much especially in big groups which was completely unlike her at home. 1st, there was an act of unconscious bias on video. It was addressed appropriately and I felt comfortable with the outcome. Then there was an unexplained, unnoticed nickel sized rug burn like injury to the lateral aspect of her eye we discovered when we arrived for pick up. After some hiccups, an ‘investigation’ found they didn’t know what happened. And just when we thought it couldn’t get worse, the final straw. In the last three or so weeks there, when gently corrected at home, like a simple no, she would run into a corner, hide behind something and be in the “brace” position. She also would be emotional when we dropped her off, not wanting to be left there. Completely unlike her. I didn’t want to think the worst, but the ‘brace position’ in a two year old crippled me emotionally as a parent. Her emotional safety was already questionable, now her physical safety was a concern. We moved her to a new school. I was beyond terrified about the move. She immediately became a completely new kid at the new school. Night and day. She is the same kid now at school as she is at home. Her confidence is through the roof, she interacts with other kids, and receives so much positive affirmation and love from her teachers. Her teachers now have advanced education in the early childhood field and are clearly doing their passion work. Goddard is a mixed bag between those who are clearly called into the early childhood profession and those who aren’t. Many teachers at Goddard have advanced degrees in other fields such as engineering, mathematics, and chemistry. While this isn’t a requirement for the job, nor does it impact how good they are at the job, it speaks to passion work. As a newer parent seeking childcare, I’m learning that you have to have passion to care for children. While there, we saw so many staff come and go. Not sure who the poor retention is a reflection on, maybe ownership? The directors were both great, clearly constrained, but passionate about the field. It has taken me months to write this necessary review.

After touring many daycares, my husband and I decided on The Goddard School in Rocky Hill. We could not be more thrilled with that decision. The faculty is warm and welcoming, from the directors, to the teachers, to the kitchen staff. Everyone greets my daughter by name- even teachers who have not had her. I am a teacher myself, so curriculum and learning is something I focus on. They foster a positive and fun learning environment, consistent throughout all of the different classes she has been in. I feel confident and comfortable dropping her off daily, knowing she is safe with them. I HIGHLY recommend Rocky Hill Goddard!

Great experience with the Goddard School of Rocky Hill since my son started in February of this year. He loves his teachers (Ms. Pritha and Ms. Jenna are amazing) and has made many little friends since he started here. He has also learned so much and is always so excited to tell me about his day and everything he did. He also enjoyed the summer program activities very much. We also love that the school brings in the Little Petting Zoo and martial arts as my son loves participating in these programs.

I love this school! My son attended from the time he was 1 until he went to kindergarten! He went to elementary school beyond prepared! I don’t have enough kind things to say about the teachers, owners, and directors!