Widener University Child Development Center

What this preschool offers is caring staff, who will provide the assistance that young children need. Ongoing communication is kept with the families in order to better understand and help the children. During the school year academics are taught through art, games, and activities. During the summer there is water play and walks around the Widener University campus, which the children really look forward to. Dr. Yoder, the Director, is kind and helpful to everyone, which really sets the atmosphere for the whole school.

Widener CDC provides a nurturing learning environment where young children are happy, and excited about going to school each day. They have the opportunity to explore, play and learn. The teachers and staff members are amazing in providing a supportive caring environment.

The teachers at this school are highly qualified educators from all backgrounds, and give each child at this center the individual attention they need to flourish and develop into elementary students. This center is more than a "daycare", it is a school where each child is taught the necessary information they need to be successful in other schools. Not only are they academically advanced, but they are also given the opportunity to have free play, which allows for crucial social skills to be developed. This is a wonderful place to send your child if you want them to get a quality experience before they even go into elementary school.

My child has been attending the cdc for almost a year now and we are very satisfied with the school. The teachers are always kind and nice and try to make learning rewarding and fun for the kids. The director is dedicated and very caring. I have never had any problems with the staff - they truly are invested in the children. Also, the doors are always locked and they have a monitor and cameras that watch the doors, the playground and surrounding areas. And 24 hr campus safety patrol! Doesn't get better than that! Even though my child is still young, I can already tell that he is being well prepared for his future.

Widener Child Development Center is a school which has low expectations for children. They are preparing children to enter the Chester-Upland School District which is rated 1/10 or it's charter school which is rated 2/10. The staff does not believe in individualize education for a child who might be more advanced. If you take the time to observe other preschools, one would see that what this school offers & what the children are learning academically are inferior to other quality preschools for less money. Staff is condescending. Confidentiality is not upheld. The facility is a modular bldg. in Chester, one of the poorest & dangerous cities. The community is just happy to have a Preschool there regardless of quality. This is more reason that "The Best" should have been provided, not smoke screens. Widener University faculty members may place our kids there for a year but you better believe we are out of there the following year to another preschool where our kids have to "catch up" to the other children. Great Schools & Keystone stars should reconsider the ratings & actually see what is going on for real not just on paper. Mediocrity is not acceptable for young children.