Amy Weir Family Child Care, Chatham

I am an operations manager for a respected employer within the community, and this is my honest, professional, review. This review is not a personal attack on this daycare provider, but rather my personal experience with this child care provider that I feel it necessary to be shared with other parents in the community as they go through the often difficult process of finding child care. My infant daughter was enrolled for less than a year. You will be required to sign a very lengthy contract that has several loophole stipulations, be sure to read carefully. Also note that you may be required to sign ongoing stipulations throughout your contract, which will be presented to you as recommended by her attorney (uncle). You will also find that you will be required to sign a 120 day cancellation policy, meaning, if you choose to leave then you will pay 120 days of child care. This used to be 90 days, but recently changed and we personally refused to sign this addendum. This is essentially unheard of in child care, so be prepared to be stuck with the care you receive or be prepared to pay a few thousand to leave the establishment, you will be reminded of the attorney family member if you so much as mention seeking other child care related to the following issues. Be prepared to leave work early nearly every Friday for appointments that will come up that will require you to have an early pick up. This will likely be same day request for early pick up. On several occasions early pick up requests would come directly to my husband vs. a group message, it seemed that requested early pick up was just for my child and not the other children, but that may be my incorrect perception. Also be prepared for long dramatic text communications related to why early pickups are needed (mostly day of), be prepared to respond empathically, or you will start receiving personal texts requesting response, this might even take place on weekends. You will also need to be sure that you have your child at the child care residence before 8am, or your child will not be fed if he/she is late, I am unsure if this is in the contract or not. One morning I was scheduled for a surgery, and we were leaving our home to take our daughter to daycare on the way to the hospital, around 8:10am, and we received a text saying that our daughter wont be fed because breakfast ends at 8am. The child care provider would often contact my husband directly, leaving me off communications. Also be prepared to have backup child care for last minute days off, sick days, as well as holidays such as presidents day. Also be prepared for two full weeks off during Christmas. On one occasion the child care provider contacted me and my husband requesting advancement of payment for the entire next month, due to financial problems the provider is experiencing. We provided nearly a thousand dollar check as requested for advanced payment for the following month. Also, be sure that your check is in hand at drop off, not pick up, for the week. On one occasion we had to return home after morning drop off because the check was demanded at drop off (we forgot this morning), and it was advised it could not wait until pick up to be given. We had to rush home, get a check, and leave it in the child care providers mailbox as instructed that morning, this was after we provided an advanced months dues. The provider was very transparent regarding personal and financial issues to myself and my husband, often putting us in an awkward position. Lastly, the departure of my daughter from this child care provider was abrupt. During morning drop off it was advised that the daycare provider was providing notice and that our child care would end in 30 days per recommendations of her uncle the attorney. The reason provided was that the provider could not handle not knowing if we would continue child care in the future and if she would get her money for the 90 days if we didnt. Currently 6 weeks pregnant with my third child, this was quite the abrupt notification, however we choose to accept her termination of child care immediately. This child care provider did not seem bothered by my infant daughter never returning and us not having child care lined up. Approximately one month before this occurred my husband was provided a verbal notification that she has signed on another baby and needed to know when we will be leaving, on several occasions, including this one, the child care provider was told that we did not have other care lined up and that we would provide proper notice when or if we did. Last summer another child/family was outed fairly quickly from this child care provider, reasoning seemed unclear, for which the provider stated that she was seeking assistance from her attorney uncle to get the remaining monies. I will say that my daughter seemed to be cared for and did not come home dirty or hungry, but this was absolutely not the most stable child care situation. The child care provider did always seem to be nice and good spirited during pick up and drop offs. Her home is clean and safe. If you are willing to be stuck in a fluid contract that you cannot terminate without having to pay a large amount of money and your employer is okay with you leaving work early most Fridays, then you might be fine in this child care situation. Otherwise, I would be highly cautious of this provider and be sure to ask lots of questions, get references, and not sign anything without taking an adequate amount of time to read it several times over.