The Grove Academy - Bexley

It’s taken me over a year to write this review, to reflect on the bad experience we had. Firstly I felt very unwelcome.... It’s taken me over a year to write this review, to reflect on the bad experience we had. Firstly I felt very unwelcome. They told me they had an open door policy and was welcome to stay with my 1.5 year old for as long as I wanted until my son felt settled. Then every day that I stayed, I was pressured by a staff member to leave. At the time I was starting to suspect my son might be on the spectrum and have higher needs, although outwardly appeared fine to those who don’t know. I raised this concern (eg - he would need a bit more comfort at the beginning, and need more guidance from the carers) and received the response “he’s fine, normal - nothing to be concerned about at all” (at 3yo, he just received his diagnosis). The staff made me very uncomfortable when I was nearby. They’d stop talking if I was in earshot, and I started to wonder ‘do they have something to hide?’ The staff were also mostly way too young and inexperienced. Not an experienced motherly vibe at all. All up, I stayed for 6 days, about 2-3 hours a day. It took 2 months to do that because on the first day my son contracted Hand Foot and Mouth. On his third day he contracted rhinovirus. And on his fifth day, influenza. I expected that to be honest, starting daycare and all, but what bothered me was that they weren’t even aware that Hand Foot and Mouth was present at the facility. I also witnessed the photo updates they took throughout the day. They never took photos of the children crying (which was about half of the tots at every given moment) and only the ones that they played with for a minute or so first, before taking the photo and moving on. They were very forced photos. The meals also weren’t tracked at all. In fact, we received notifications saying my son had eaten his meal and what he had eaten, when he wasn’t even there on those days. The first time I left my son there, I returned a few hours later to find him strapped into a feeding chair; he was too big for it, and I never restrain him like that. He had been walking for 9 months, it wasn’t necessary, he should have been free to come and go at a table. He was bawling his eyes out, and had been for some time. No food was on his tray, and no staff member in sight. I immediately unrestrained him and lifted him out. Which brings me to his water bottle - I had informed staff he suffered chronic constipation and that his water bottle was medicated, so staff needed to be extra diligent to make sure he was drinking from only his, and also that other kids weren’t unknowingly drinking from my sons and thus ingesting medication. I watched many times as no one monitored that, and other kids drank from his water bottle. I was assured children get extra comfort on their first day away from their parents, but that did not happen. I saw other children’s first days during my time there and they definitely did not get extra comfort either. My son was the only one starting that week. I tested it again the next day - I left my crying son with a staff member, and I left. I walked straight back in to see if they had put him down straight away, and yep they had. It’s important for me to say that there were no other children in need of immediate comfort at that moment. He was standing there tears streaming down his face, without his comfort blanket I’d pointed the staff towards. That was the last straw for me. The Grove failed in nearly every single way. I was taken in by the bells and whistles and the shininess of a new daycare centre and the google reviews. Too late did I find that word of mouth from nearly everyone I’ve spoken to since about The Grove is the exact opposite (including my sons professional therapy team’s warning to steer clear). I can only surmise that the positive reviews here are either by staff, or parents who did not stay to see what I saw. I can see now why on the government rating website the Grove only “meets standards” - I didn’t know beforehand that there are plenty of daycares around that “exceeds standards”. Avoid, avoid, avoid. Read more

Amanda C

Aug, 2024

I recently had the pleasure of visiting The Grove Academy in Bexley, and I absolutely loved the tour. I stopped by unexpectedly, hoping... I recently had the pleasure of visiting The Grove Academy in Bexley, and I absolutely loved the tour. I stopped by unexpectedly, hoping they could show me around their centre, and what unfolded was an amazing experience. The centre director went above and beyond to accommodate my unplanned visit, taking the time to personally guide me through the facilities. The dedication and enthusiasm she displayed were truly impressive. Every member of the staff I encountered was friendly, welcoming, and clearly passionate about their work. The centre itself was immaculate and beautifully presented. Each area was thoughtfully organized and maintained, creating a safe and stimulating environment for the children. The educators seemed genuinely happy and engaged, which is a testament to the positive atmosphere of the centre. The vibe of The Grove Academy is unlike any other childcare service I've encountered. There’s a palpable sense of community and commitment to providing the best care and education for the children. I was so impressed by everything I saw and felt during my visit. I can’t wait for my baby to attend this wonderful centre and experience the same high-quality care and nurturing environment that all my siblings' children have received. The Grove Academy in Bexley comes highly recommended! Read more

Emily S

Jul, 2024