Starling Child Care

Originally I was a parent...then I became an employee. I do not recommed. As a parent the start up process was AMAZING. As a parent I saw a few disgruntled employees but my kids teachers were good. Discipline (or lack of) was a real bad issue in the after school care. \r \r Then I became an employee and saw why there was such a high turnover. To say the staff was treated miserably is an understatement. Some of the staff was good at shielding the kids from the drama but not all. It did affect alot of the children. The director is a very unstable person with quite a few issues. Then I found out through the grapevine the director had been involved in some bad business involving a charity where they ultimately ended up getting charged in court with stealing a car. She paid everyone barely above minimum wage, including a college graduate teacher. Supplies were never provided appropriately. In fact, next time you are there open some of the books and you will see that nearly half of them are torn and missing inside. \r \r She does have NAEYC accreditation but i don't know how. They require certain square footage per child etc etc.and a particular curriculum. She doesn't. Measure the room and count the children. She does not meet most of the minimum standards for accreditation. When NAEYC comes for schedules visits she arranges children accordingly and makes fakes calendars and plans etc. She even had unhealthy age groups mixed together. She had a severely autistic child in attendance and no one was properly trained to help this child. He was left unsupervised and managed to escape his room many times. The teacher couldn't leave the other children to go chase him so it left many teachers in an undesirable and unsafe position. He was well loved and children enjoyed their time with him but again, no one was trained to work with him.\r \r Other things that urked me were things like we were not able to give any of the kids second helpings on meals because there were never enough. The cook never used gloves and I saw her taste test foods all the time by sticking her fingers in them. She would cough while cooking at not cover her mouth. Supplies were low. I had a few times I had to change diapers bare handed as there were no gloves available! The cars/vans for after school care had no air conditioning and she had at one point people driving who did not have a CDL license. The building was old and torn up. The lifeguard when I was there would only show up some times.\r \r I left with my children peacefully and without harm. I did have a balance but relatively low. Then I find out she takes me to court for three times the amount I owed. Come to find out she altered records and presented the court with false information. Thankfully I had old statements and was able to win in court after proving she had been lying. I was making payments on the account and brought it down to less than $100 and the judge gave them the option to continue to let me make payments or enter a judgement....they entered a judgement...after I had already paid almost the entire balance in full. Now they are trying to garnish my wages for $80! Money I had already made arrangements to pay! I found out through other parents that she has done this to them too. I'm not the only one she altered records and took to court.\r \r November 2012 she got word another local daycare was potentially shutting down. She made an investment deal to help keep the ""doors open"" at this daycare only to turn around days later and shut it down completely. She greeted parents at the door by saying ""get your belongings and get out. If you want daycare you need to go to Starling"" which left many parents in the dark and confused. She purposefully eliminated competition.\r \r While you will find some good teachers, I would NOT recommend this daycare for the purpose of bad business! When you walk in that door your children only look like $ signs to her.\r \r more

This place really should be shut down. The director (Donna) puts on a fake display for the parents and for NAEYC. She is very mean to the children and her staff. Children mean nothing to her but money. She lies and she is completely unorganized. She doesn't remember anything she says and couldn't even tell you who your kids are that are that attend her center. The place is dirty. The meals are very slim. She is extremely cheap. The children are not watched well during the day. She has so many kids there for after-school they have to sit in the hallway and front lobby to do their homework. She was open for business until lunch time everyday during the hurricane this year without power at her center or anyway to keep the food fresh. The vans they have for Summer care and to pick the kids up after-school are old and don't have air conditioner. Some of the vans don;t even have seat belts. The turn around is insane. Do yourself and your child a favor and take them somewhere else. Also, call Henrico County police department and ask them how many calls they have had to the center. more

I have a three year old son who has had to switch daycares a few times in his short life due to moves and job changes... I had enrolled him in a nearby daycare (which happened to be run by the same people as his prior daycares) and was so disappointed. For a toddler who was very used to daycares they treated him as if he ""was doing everything wrong!"" His teacher would reprimand him at the end of every school day, telling him ""you didn't play nice with friends today, you don't get a sticker"" and he even told me ""I hate to reprimand him for giving hugs,"" Yes, hugs. I had to pull him out which let us to Starling. \r Not only did Starling offer competitive rates, they offered many activities for my child, including swimming during the summer. On his first day he was all smiles and has been every day since. I have never had an issue with the teachers or directors, they are always very helpful. I had read many horrible reviews about Starling, and was very hesitant to even try it, but I am sure glad we did. \r Every child is different, and will adjust to surroundings in their own way so please keep that in mind when reading reviews and trying to choose a daycare. What didn't work for some people, doesn't mean it won't work for your family. \r The teachers are very attentive to his needs, and encourage his progress with everything. \r Since he has started not only has his attitude changed for the better, (especially in the mornings!) but his vocabulary has improved greatly, and potty training has been more smooth. \r I used to feel horrible about leaving him in a daycare that just didn't ""feel"" right. But, this place really works for us. Thanks for all you do Starling! more

As an employee of a financial group from out-of-town, I make frequent business trips to Richmond. When I first started the travel, I was hesitant to leave my then 1 1/2 year old at home for long periods of time and searched for a care provider in Richmond that would allow me to bring him along. Luckily, a co-worker referenced Starling Child Care. Not many child care failities allow drop-ins with just a phone call notice. I feel very fortunate to have this option. \r As for the care my son receives from the Starling teachers, it is wonderful. I often watch the video montiors to see what new game they are playing and consistently see happy children. When I pick him up he is always excited and has learned something new. He has received nothing but encouragement from the Starling staff. I am now asked each week when I travel back to Richmond if it's time to go to day care. He even references one of his teachers by name now. \r more

I have a three-year-old daughter that attends Starling Child Care facility every week from 7:00am to 5:30pm. I have been completely satisfied with the results that I have seen from the daycare professionals at this school. Not only am I satisfied with the enrichment and care that my daughter receives every week, but I have observed that all the other children are also being attended to and appear to always be kept happy. At the beginning of the year, I will be assuminng a new position at the complany I'm employed at which will require me to work considerably more hourse that I work now. I plan on enrolling my daughter into the school as a full time student and haven't even considered any other childcare facility in the Richmond area, such as the three schools that I pass by on my way to Starling Child Care. I plan on keeping my daughter enrolled for many years to come. more

I am the mother of three children who attend Starling. My children love coming to daycare with the people who take great care of them. This is my children's home away from home. The people who work at Starling are wonderful people, showing care and concern for my children. There are times my children don't even want to leave. That makes me feel good to knwo my children love where they are at. Thanks to the great workers who make this place so wonderful. Pros: Great staff Cons: Just Pros! more

( American Family Childcare )\r Starling Child care puts on a good front to potential parents, but behind the scenes is the reality of children's nightmares !!!\r The Director sees the kids only as dollar bills. She has a hostile temper that is unleashed on staff, children and even occassional visitors - check the records of the number of calls to Henrico Police for responding to the facility.\r The place is unsanitary, filthy floors, a few ripped up old books and Messy toys in the classrooms. \r Check online with Henrico Social Services Licensing for violations are publically listed !\r According to the teachers I knew, the Director does little to provide materials for crafts or fun activities (other than Holidays). The infant room often out of wipes and baby was changed on a cold, hard counter top that had bleach residue that caused a major rash burn ! \r In the toddlers room the children had a very nice European teacher that seemed to care, but she was overwhelmed by the harsh attitude of the director as she regularly replaces the staff (no consistantcy for the children). I found out she only pays $7.50 hrly and only is interested in hiring cheap labor rather than qualified, educated teachers. \r A schedule of daily activities is listed for the parents benefit but rarely followed - honestly the children are mostly in free play, extremely bored with very little educational value unless the individual teacher does something with them. In the toddlers room the children always play with the water in the sink and the teacher can not turn off the water underneath the sink to prevent this AND the worst is a the safety issue of exposed electrical outlets and the children have unplugged the mini refrigerator numerous times - yikes ! The toilets are unclean and smell horrible !\r DO NOT ALLOW YOUR CHILDREN TO ATTEND, IF YOU TRULY LOVE THEM !!!\r \r Pros: Some of the teachers care Cons: Unsanitary, safety issues, the Director is a mean kook more