Crossfield Montessori Childcare Ltd. - Crossfield, Alberta

Cheryl H.

My grand twins attended this daycare for approximately 6 months. I want to state upfront that my issue has never been with the front end staff (Although there is a ton of turnover). The event that occurred involved my 3 year old grandson. He had a physical incident with another child in the daycare that was by my grandson's provocation and were told resulted in the other child sustaining an injury. The daycare was apparently very distraught and had told us that 2 staff could not pull my grandson off of the other child (He is 3). I am fully in consideration that this was my grandson's fault. It is the outcome AFTER the fact that I am completely frustrated over. I would never want another family to go through the same thing. The parents were told that the child could no longer attend the daycare. My daughter asked MULTIPLE times for a face to face meeting with the owner of the daycare and were never granted that. They only received a phone call about a week after the incident. Upon multiple requests the daycare would NOT provide the licensing information for contact. The management basically told the parents that the child would be better suited for a place like Renfrew in YYC. There is absolutely NOBODY in that daycare that is certified to ever make such diagnosis. (In fact after this incident my daughter booked sessions with a child phycologist because she wants to be proactive, even though there has never ever been any evidence of autistic behavior in his former day care AND never having been informed of Crossfield Montessori concerns prior to this. The psychologist was stunned that the daycare would give a diagnosis as such and after a couple sessions said there is absolutely no signs of this.) For the last 4 months I have been babysitting my grandson full time because finding alternative childcare is near impossible with waiting lists as long as they are. Had my daughter not had her family to fall back on (my job suffered as a result) she would have lost her job. We were told that we were warned because of the recorded incidents signed upon. When you are picking up your child a staff member will approach you with the utmost sweetness saying that there was an incident such as a push, or a bite, or a hair pull and that they have to notify you and in the same breath say this is totally typical developmental issues that you can just talk to the child over. There was NEVER any sense of urgency about behavior stressed. Just know that you can REFUSE to sign the document presented to you because they will hold it as evidence of no wrong doing. There was never any contact made such a a "3 strike rule". Request face to face meetings with the management to ask for MORE details as to how you can better help the situation. The daycare has absolutely NO policy, procedure or practice in place in dealing with situations like this involving safety planning and because they are a privately owned business they can do whatever they feel like. They completely FAILED a family (and a child) in their lack of communication, lack of sense of urgency and lack of accountability. They are in over their heads and I don't feel that they have adequately trained front end staff. We caught the daycare manager in multiple lies trying to cover their own back (eg...The manager promoted the partnering up of 2 non verbal children and how cute it was watching them play slap tag outside. If my grandson was such a physical threat then why the heck are they encouraging slap tag? There are multiple witnesses to this being truth.) It has been frustrating and heartbreaking to say the least. Your child is just a dollar figure to the management and in the end this is just another "for profit" business. I truly don't want any other parents to experience what we just went through. VERY important Recap: Do NOT sign off on any incident without having more follow up. Hold the daycare more accountable in their actions! They work for YOU, not the other way around.

Crystal M.

My kids love it here and are so well prepared for school. The program is extremely well rounded and includes early instruction of phonics, home reading, STEM projects and experiments, songs and games to teach life skills (like keeping boundaries and how to be a good friend to others), hands on learning, and the list goes on… I truly feel like the staff are people my kids trust and enjoy seeing every day as they take the time to connect and build relationships with them. Highly recommend!

Lindsey S.

My daughter has attended for a year now, in classroom two. She is well cared for and loves going to “school”. While not strictly Montessori, the teachers blend the Montessori style of educating with play based education, music, movement, and lots of outdoor time as weather permits. She is always learning new things and we are so lucky to be part of a village of people who can share the load of caring for a young child. I would be downright exhausted doing it all by myself every day.

While there have been staff changes over the year, even staff that have been short term have been kind and loving to my child. There has always been a few teachers in each room who maintain consistency over the long term. These women are dedicated to the relationships they have built with my daughter and I am so appreciative. She loves her teachers and tells me this regularly.

Communication is definitely a two way street and I’ve never felt that I could not reach out with questions or suggestions. Perhaps it’s an area for growth in the future! As parents we can help encourage the communication we’d like to see by asking questions and taking an active role in talking to/getting to know the teachers when we are doing pickups and drop offs daily.

Thank you Crossfield Montessori staff, we are grateful for all you do!

Jessica H.

We are so grateful to have such a great Montessori in our small town. Our daughter has special needs and they have all gone above and beyond to support and accommodate us. Our daughter has made some lifelong friends and we are so thankful for this.

Nancy B.

I had the pleasure of flying out from Ottawa to look after my granddaughters in Crossfield.
The Montessori Daycare was delightful, the staff warm, generous and extremely helpful.The exterior playground and interior classrooms were clean and well- organized. This, indeed, is a special school!

Zoey S.

I could handle the rotating door of different staff every other week, not knowing their names and at this point not bothering to even pretend to try to remember them.

But what I cannot and will not do is be quiet when my child is being taught that certain foods in her lunch is “not healthy” and shouldn’t be eaten because it will make her sick.

My child is being shamed for the food I choose to feed her and instead of them addressing me directly they are teaching your children that treats are not good and they should feel shame. They are telling our kids that certain foods will make our children sick. My child has every food group in their lunch every single day along side a treat. And for the past several weeks she has come home telling me how her teacher is telling her how she shouldn’t eat her cookie or her Rice Krispie square or what ever I decided to add because it is not healthy and will make her sick.

As someone that grew up with a questionable relationship with food, I refuse to let my child have the same struggles. She leads a very active and healthy lifestyle. A cookie at lunch is the least of their worries. And them having the audacity to even comment on what the children are eating is baffling.

It is shameful how Montessori is able to get away with half the trash they pull only because they are the only daycare facility in crossfield.

The Low reviews before me are not wrong. There is very very very poor communication between the school, the parents and everyone involved. They close on moments notice and then get surprised when parents aren’t happy that they have to find care for their child after being notified via email at 6:30am the same day.

They lose the kids items constantly even if they are clearly labelled. They lack organization, the staff has no idea what is going on at any given time. They have changed their fees without notice and now all of a sudden there is also a yearly fee that “has always been there” but actually wasn’t the past two years.

They make up rules and fees and what they say don’t match what they do. And there is nothing you can do because you can’t afford to take your child out of their care because it’s the only facility with subsidy - I can guarantee you that there will be retaliation towards myself and my child when they see this review.

If there was another subsidized childcare option I’d tell you to go to that one. But unfortunately crossfield is lacking childcare options.

I could go on… but I think I’ve made my point.

Chloe O.

This daycare is such an asset to our small community. The staff is always smiling and extremely helpfull. My little one Absolutely loves going to school in the morning and is always so happy to see me at the end of a wonderful day.
Thank you for all you do.

Shandel H.

Great daycare. Put my child in daycare for her first time. I was the emotional mom but they kept me posted throughout the day with photos and kind words. I'm so happy my daughter is attending. Very professional and friendly staff. Highly recommend!