Foundations Christian Montessori Academies, Inc.

Do yourself a favor and avoid this school at all costs! I had just moved to town in June and was looking for a pre-k for my child. I was placed on the waitlist (expected for such a late in the year enrollment) and was overjoyed when I received the call in early July that a spot had opened for my child. I was instructed to bring my child for a “shadow day” the second week of July to introduce my child to the teacher and environment and for them to determine what level she was learning at. The school said that that they would provide me with a report afterwards. A few days went by by and I’d heard nothing so I called the office only to be told that the principal (the only apparent administrator at the school) was on vacation for a few weeks. It’s pretty unprofessional to leave work hanging while you go vacation but I would have let that slide. Imagine my surprise when I received an email from the principal a few weeks later simply saying that my child had been placed back on the waitlist. No report about how her shadow day went, no explanation about why she was back on the waitlist when she was already enrolled (I paid the fee) and no apologies or anything from the principal. It was no surprise when I attempted to contact the principal for info and have been completely ignored. So spare yourself and avoid this school at all costs!

We moved to FL from NYC and were initially worried we wouldn't find a school that offered a real education (as opposed to just babysitting / daycare) for our 2 year old that compared to the very expensive, private schools in the northeast. We were thrilled to find Foundation's and the school turned out to be such a blessing to our family during our time in Florida. Their Covid policies were rigorous and no one in my son's class got the virus. The classrooms are big, bright and beautiful and by far the best we found after touring most of the daycares and schools in the area. The student / teacher ratio is low (6:1) and they provide very hands-on instruction to help kids learn independence while also building social skills. There is a real curriculum and they work through skill sets and lessons even at 2 years old, and track progress online so you can see what they're learning. The snacks are healthy and they don't pump them full of sugar. The teachers and staff are just excellent. They really love the kids and communicate clearly and often with parents through daily updates. My son talked about the other students and teachers all the time and we saw him pick up new skills within weeks (dressing himself, potty training, singing new songs etc).  Our son really thrived in the loving, attentive, and stimulating environment and we enjoyed being a part of the Foundation's Family. School administration (Heather) was very nice and easy to work with when we had to withdraw our son mid-year due to an out-of-state move. We can't say enough nice things about the teachers (Krystal, Roxann, Lynn, Megan, Heather, Mr. Nick etc). All were amazing and left such an impact on my son that he still mentions them. We will be forever grateful for such a wonderful first school experience. If you're considering Foundation's don't hesitate! You won't find a better second home for your child where they will grow intellectually, socially and spiritually.

I cannot say enough beautiful things about this school.  From being able to walk my daughter INTO the building in the morning (no bus line horror stories) to the quick "one on one time" at the end of the day at pick up with her teacher... it's so reassuring to have these personal touches and such open lines of communication.

THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL SCHOOL - Foundations is a lot more fun than your average learning facility.  They have tremendous "hands on" & interactive learning environments, cooler lesson plans that really grab the attention of the students, a more loving and nurturing staff - resulting in WHOLE CHILD enrichment and I must say happier kids than other schools.  The focus on fine arts is amazing and the end of the year "show" & Christmas spectacular will MAKE A MOMMY CRY TEARS OF HAPPINESS - seeing her little baby grow and share time with their little friends, doing their own thing, being a big boy or girl for the first time; and, after 7 years of enrollment with the school I have seen many of those moments.

As for some of the unfavorable comments posted here, I feel inspired to respond to them, as the reputation of the school my child attends is of concern to me... Foundations provides - on site after care, holiday "wrap" care, spring break care and summer camp - the number of actual "days fully closed" is MUCH LOWER than most if not all other public & private schools in both Manatee & Sarasota County.  I am so thankful for all the ancillary care that is available to me at Foundations.  The calendar is published annually at the start of the school year - which provides plenty of time for planning for days off.

I find all of the staff to be super at what they do.  They're kind and REAL and honest and LOVING... When my child was 18 months old, the owner helped me identify behaviors in my child that eventually led to a diagnosis and I will forever be grateful for her watchful eyes and caring heart.  Since that time Foundations has been a mainstay in our educational plan.  We started after school care for social interaction and progressed to full enrollment in school several years later - they are flexible and honest with us regarding her educational needs and their abilities to meet and EXCEED THEM.  I continue to have the utmost confidence in Foundations and look forward to many more years with them watching my child happily grow & flourish there.

I was a stay at home mom for 4 years and I absolutely loved it. However, my oldest in particular was very shy, almost painfully shy so I knew that he really needed to be in school around other kids his age. After a lot of research we decided on Foundations Academy and it ended up being the best decision we have made for our kids so far. They absolutely love their school. Every day they rave about all of the fun things they did or about their time they spent in Chapel. Our kids come home happy and excited everyday. And what I truly love is that every staff member knows you and your child by name. Teachers that have not taught your child will know his or her name. At Foundations your child is not just one of many many kids, they are an individual with a name. The entire staff is very helpful, caring, compassionate, patient... I could go on and on. As hard as it was to send my kids to school, Foundations has been a blessing. I believe that the love of learning starts very early on in life and we feel so lucky that they got their start at Foundations.

Arfaras Family

As soon as I walked in to Foundations Academies to tour the facility I knew it was where I would send my son.  The Staff was so nice and so welcoming I immediately felt comfortable leaving my child with them.  The values they teach were what I had been searching for and the precautions they take make a new parent feel safe. The first day they even took the time to call and let me know how he was doing.  Which to any new mom that first day leaving your newborn with someone is terrifying. My son has loved his time with Foundations Academies.  I couldn't have asked for a better school to send him to.  His infant teacher  was phenomenal and his current teacher is just as great.  He loves going to school and I know he is in good hands.  Every single staff member has been great and I know my child is loved and cared for as if he was their own.  Thank you Foundations!

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