Bollie Creche Nursery School and After Care Centre

Will not reccomend this school as we had the worst experience with our two year old son. The class he was in had 36 to 38 children with one teacher and one helper. You can imagine this would lead to disaster as toddlers can't vocalize themselves. My son constantly came home with bruises, bite marks and huge bumps on his head. This started at a early stage whilst he was still in the baby class before he was moved to the toddler class. Some cases was reported and others the staff or teacher did not know what happened and they could not give me answers. I never got feedback with regards to my son's progress besides a report at the end of the term. If you ask the teacher how is he doing the answer would be, he's doing "ok". My son would cry and throw a big tantrum from the time he gets collected until we got home. This was a daily occurrence. We never realized how unhappy he was. The principal hides behind her desk in her office and cannot speak to a parent openly. It's always on WhatsApp and she would try and completely push blame onto the parents, never taking any responsibility for your child being in their care for 8 to 9 hours a day. My son was constantly bitten and also started biting. Instead of working with the parent she would constantly blame the parent. My son does not bite at home only at school. She used to send me photos of a child with a bite mark which is completely against the POPI act. She would name these children etc. You cannot send someone pictures of any child and give names. The way she dealt with the situation was actually unlawful and very unprofessional. So much so that she expelled our son. She made comments about us as parents, she ostracised and my son. She made comments about our parenting act. Today my son is thriving, he is the happiest little boy in a happy environment. His entire class consists of 8 happy children. The entire school consists of 38 children with 5 classes. My son runs to his schooling the mornings, he runs to his teacher and he gives her the biggest bear hug every day going to school and when I collect him. It's been almost 3 months and he has not cried throw one tantrum when I collect him. I have open and face to face communication with his teacher and principal every day. I get feedback about his progress, his daily routine, and weekly classes and themes. My son is already using the potty at school, he speaks in a way you can understand and puts full sentences together. He can count and differentiate colors and shapes.
The principal does courses and training about child behaviors so that she can help her kids and work with parents when a problem arises. She does not in any way or form blame the parents and blame the parents for a sudden behavior that occurs in all toddlers and she deals with problem very differently. She will notify a parent of an incident but never post a photo or mention a name. She does not ostracize or vindicate a child. She as well as her teachers are welcoming, loving, helpful and always on premises with the children. Children are never left in the hands of a helper or child minders. Before a bite or slap can happen it is already prevented and the child is not just left on a chair crying. Bollie looks like a great loving school but at the end of the day it was made very clear to us that it's just a business. The classes are too big and teachers are not always with the children. A class of 38 frustrated toddlers can't be left with one child minder. This will end up in disaster. Teachers should be able to give a parent a progress report without a parent having to ask. A principalshpuld not hide in her office behind cameras and a desk and WhatsApp. Until 2 months ago I thought my child was happy. Today I realize how miserable he was. He is a different child, excelling in all areas. He is loved and cuddled, he loves he's class friends and he is doing things now that he could not do two months ago. He has an amazing bond with his teacher which is so refreshing and gives us peace of mind. Please don't be fooled by the pretty pictures on Facebook, Bollie looks great on the outside but trust me it's just a business and children are packed like sardines in classes with too little help. My son was never the problem and he bit at school because he was bitten. He did not get the love and attention he gets now, he was not a happy boy, he was frustrated in that huge class and left to his own devices. How can no one know about a big bloody bite on his back when I asked the question? SURELY he was screaming of pain. How can a teacher just give me cold "ok" when I asked about progress? The best thing that happened to my son was for him to get out of this school, we were doing him a disservice. His new school is amazing and my son is the happiest he has ever been.