DISCOVER THE DIFFERENCE!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Your information states that your prices are competitive. However, when I compare pricing to other local options, your prices are equal to or a bit higher. How do you consider your prices competitive?
A: We price our programs as all-inclusive. Many programs do not include Spanish, music, diapers, wipes or baby food in their pricing - and have additional fees for such features. We believe that all children at Stepping Stones should have equal access to these program features and do not have additional fees for them.
Additionally, we have an on-site chef, and all of our food is wholesome & freshly prepared. To compare apples to apples, you will need to factor all prices together at other centers, and then compare to our price. You will find that we are much lower than other centers in Woodbury.
Q: Are you a chain/franchise?
A: No, we are locally owned and operated. Our owner is a local mom who couldn't find the kind of childcare and preschool for her own children that she would have liked, so she was inspired to create Stepping Stones. Her ideas of what could be different, stimulating and more nurturing are found at Stepping Stones. The building design, student/teacher ratios, classroom set up, highly-qualified teachers, curriculum, and even the colors found on the walls are an expression of her dream to build something unique and desirable for local families.
Q: Are your programs available only to residents of the Stonemill Farms neighborhood?
A: The site of Stepping Stones was picked very specifically. We love the features of being set in the quiet Stonemill Farms neighborhood across from Liberty Ridge Elementary School. However, Stepping Stones is not exclusive to this neighborhood. All of our programs are open to the public, regardless of where they reside.
Q: Will your program academically challenge our preschool child so they are ready for kindergarten?
A: Absolutely! Our preschool curriculum is specifically designed to prepare your child for kindergarten. The curriculum and daily schedules have been developed to prepare your child for Kindergarten. We offer a literacy-based curriculum that supports reading-readiness, math & science activities, and fine arts. Also included in Stepping Stones' tuition are Spanish, music and sign language.
Q: Do you require your students to wear uniforms?
A: No.
Q: Why do you have lower ratios and smaller class sizes compared to other centers in Woodbury?
A: Because Stepping Stones is not franchised, we have been able to structure our program in such a way that focuses all of our time and attention on the children and families instead of the requirements of a corporation. At Stepping Stones, we feel that children are more comfortable and learn better when there are fewer children in the class. Having 14 classrooms allows us to provide a calmer, quieter atmosphere for all age groups.
We also believe that the maximum state required ratios which most Woodbury centers operate at, are not good enough. You will see at Stepping Stones that this is especially important to us in the infant/crawler and waddler/toddler programs. Our infant/crawler rooms have a 1:3 ratio and never more than 6 babies to a room. In our Waddler room (young toddler) our ratios are 1:5 with no more than 10 young toddlers in a room. You will find that most programs have at least 14 children in their young toddler classrooms.
Q: What makes the Stopping Stones Infant program stand out from other centers?
A: First and foremost our class sizes are unlike that of other centers in Woodbury. Our infant/crawler rooms never have more than 6 babies, with a ratio of one teacher for every 3 babies. We have passionate, dedicated infant teachers that spend their days making sure that each child receives they same loving care they would get if they were at home. How a room feels to a child and their parent is very important. That is why our rooms are designed to look and feel like nurseries, with separate sleeping areas from the play area and huge windows for natural light. We also have a screened-in porch specifically for infants/crawlers to spend time enjoying the outdoors. Since we are located in a quiet residential neighborhood, time outdoors means they can enjoying the sounds of nature instead of noisy, busy roads.
Second, Stepping Stones ELC is all inclusive- we provide all brands of formula, Huggies diapers, wipes and Gerber baby foods. This is very important when comparing programs- many centers do not include these in their programs/pricing.
Q: Is your infant staff specially trained?
A: ALL of our infants' staff are trained in Infant First aid/CPR, SIDs, and shaken baby syndrome. We also have a nurse who visits our center every month to keep us updated on any new guidelines or illnesses and to answer any new questions our staff may have.