Ann's Preschool & Kindergarten

Ann's daycare is highly praised online, so we were surprised when our experience fell short of expectations. Though probably not the worst option in Tallahassee, it certainly didn't live up to the utopian image painted by its online reviews. The atmosphere often felt tense, with interactions between children and staff feeling more adversarial than nurturing. The kids are constantly in time out, getting snapped at, and often afraid of their teachers. The large mixed-age group setup was chaotic and the "tough love" approach they implement to manage this left us uneasy. Communication is primarily through the director, whose strong personality made it challenging to offer candid feedback or constructive criticism. After a year, we made the decision to move our son to another facility, where the disparity in care became glaringly obvious.

Let me start out by saying how much we LOVE Ann's! We have had both of our children attend Ann's and it's been the most rewarding experience we have ever had. Prior to finding Ann's with our son several years ago, we were in a different childcare facility and it was not a great situation. When we knew it was time to change facilities Ann's was there to pick us up and assist us with a smooth transition and help our little boy right into a new school. Now years later our daughter attends there too. In my opinion, this is the most nurturing environment my children have ever had in a school setting. They truly have a different way of learning at Ann's and it's the best to hear our daughter actually asking me if I will let her stay a little longer at school the next day before I pick her up. The staff is wonderful and are very attentive to the children's needs and they truly do their very best with our kiddos. Also, the director/owner has been there for many many years and is so personable and understanding and we just love her! You can talk to her about anything and she will listen with an open mind and will help you any way she can. All in all, Ann's IS THE BEST and I thank them for all that they have done and will continue to do for our family throughout our time with them!

Hopefully this review will stay and capture the attention of people looking for a good childcare facility… This facility however falls very short of that …. And I’m extremely surprised there is only one review that reflects my exact feelings on the center … If you are looking for a great center keep looking this is not the center for you … the only thing that maybe separates the center from any others is the activities they chaotically do throughout the day …. Which causes major conflict in some circumstances between staff and children … Animosity between the staff and children is felt after a while of your child attending the center, a lot of the staff here are very snappy …. they have a consistent pattern of seeking out disagreements, engaging in arguments, and escalating conflicts in their interactions with children and parents …. I believe this used to be a great center, but no longer with the new management who took over …. The management/owner has a very condescending attitude and if your child doesn’t act like a toy soldier, she will find no problem in kicking your child out even in the middle of their learning … there is no warmth …there is no nurturing … It’s either do what you’re told, get sent to timeout majority of the day, or plan on a ton of phones calls threw out the day …. I believe the staff here use the center as a stepping stone, And the ones that have been there for quite some time show the same behavior as the management very condescending, very cold and very snappy towards children ….. So if your child cannot fall in line believe me this isn’t the center for you and don’t waste your time …. because you’ll end up getting removed, or removing your child and having to look for another center.

My son moved to Ann's Preschool almost 2 years ago. It was easily the best decision we ever made. Miss Alex and her staff are amazing. My little guy has learned so much in the 2-years he has been there. They provide a fun, safe learning environment. I have no doubt in my mind he will be ready for Kindergarten next year.

We have loved our time at Ann's for the past two years. The staff are all very welcoming and attentive. The intimate open classroom setting has allowed exposure to majority/all of the staff and has helped with transitions into the next class. The ability for all of the children to interact during center and outside time has been wonderful for our child. The teachers schedule periodic meetings to discuss your child's progress towards testing milestones and show work they did with the "test". I have always felt welcomed when discussing my child's learning, behavior, eating, potty training, etc and know I could set up a time to discuss. The director, Alex, (and the teachers/assistant teachers) is always willing to chat and let me know how my child's day was. The APPLE accreditation is the cherry on top for this facility and shows how hard they work to provide a wonderful, fulfilling environment for children to grow and learn. I am so grateful we found this little school. We can't wait for our next child to attend and will be sad when our Ann's Preschool days are behind us!

These ladies are fabulous! I was recommended this school by a co-worker of mine whose kids went there 30 years ago… yes 30! My son began going here when he was two and has grown to love everyone here. They care and teach your children as if it were their own. Ms. Alex, the owner, is a gem. She literally saved my son’s life and for that my husband and I extremely thankful. She noticed a change in him that both my husband and I had not and that prompted us to take him to the hospital, in which they found an abnormal mass in his chest that turned out to be cancer. That same day we were taken to Shands in Gainesville and have been here for the last 10 weeks. My son is 5 and won’t be able to go back to school for a while but believe me, once he gets the okay, I hope there will be room for us at Ann’s.

For the past 8 years I have trusted Ann’s preschool to be part of my village and raise my babies. The staff at Ann’s have helped shape my children into the well-rounded persons they have become and will continue to be. With a very healthy mix of free play and guided instruction, the kids are given opportunities for creative and critical thinking, problem solving, taking turns and being patient, learning classroom etiquette, and movement of their bodies to get their wiggles out and keep their mind engaged. A few times a year they put on the CUTEST performances, complete with song, dance, memorized lines, and costumes & hand painted mural backdrops to boot. They sure make for some sweet memories, and really help the kids develop comfort with public speaking. Lunch heat up service is offered (a rare find) and I love that two daily snacks are provided. It’s a very small, intimate setting, which, for my kids, was the perfect segue between 1:1 in-home care and grade school with large classes. My kids have left/will be leaving starting above grade level, with afforded confidence to take on Kindergarten. My older child still loves going back to say hi, and when my youngest leaves for Kindergarten in August, I will be sad for the end of such a meaningful era in our lives. I have developed rapport, camaraderie, and close friendships with the director and some of the staff, and feel ever grateful for the time we have been able to spend at Ann’s. So much love for this place ❤️

My kids and I love Ann’s Preschool! Both of my kids have been fortunate enough to attend and have had an amazing experience from age 2 through VPK. The students are always learning new things in ways that make sense for their little brains and are eager to come home and share what they’ve learned or done. The quarterly plays are not only fun for parents but the kids enjoy showing off what they’ve learned including helping create the back drops used. The easy nudge into public speaking through these plays helped my more shy child go from hiding and being glued to her teacher’s lap to speaking roles delivered with confidence and pride. That same child is now in 2nd grade and reading at an 8th grade level. I can attribute a lot of her success to her time at Ann’s. The small school environment is perfect for providing children a nurturing experience and the kids learn from and help each other building a sense of community for the children. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Ann’s to any parent looking for a loving, learning environment for their little ones.