The Goddard School of Jacksonville (Baymeadows/Gate Pkwy) in Jacksonville, Florida, stands out as a modern early learning center where children thrive in a clean, secure environment with a play-based curriculum. The facility boasts a team of dedicated educators who focus on age-appropriate activities, incorporating everything from science experiments to outdoor play, while maintaining consistent communication with parents through a digital app. The school’s warm atmosphere and structured learning approach have earned praise from families, though some reviews note occasional administrative challenges during periods of staff transitions.
Day Care Information
Address
8985 Annie Eliza Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32256
Phone
Reviews
58 Reviews
Day Care Features
Does this day care accept infants?
Yes
Reviews mention children from infant to VPK ages, indicating acceptance of infants.
Reviews:
No reviews found with the keywords: infant
Is this day care considered safe?
Yes
Many reviewers emphasize the safe and nurturing environment, and one mentions robust security measures.
Reviews:
Author: Kate Sager Rating: 5/5 Date: 9/17/2024, 1:47:59 PM Review: The Goddard School of Jacksonville Baymeadows campus is a superior early childhood learning center. My daughter is thriving at this school and learning more each day. She is loved and cared for and I feel safe and happy knowing she is there. The facility is immaculately clean. The teachers and staff are educated, friendly, warm, and inviting. A+ ----- Author: sumit gutgutia Rating: 5/5 Date: 3/9/2024, 4:29:15 AM Review: Thank you for the exceptional care provided to our child. Your dedication, professionalism, and kindness are deeply appreciated. We are grateful for the safe and nurturing environment you create every day. ----- Author: Brittany Gibson Rating: 5/5 Date: 3/8/2024, 2:53:32 AM Review: We love Goddard Baymeadows! Safe, clean, and nurturing. My child brings home new ideas and is learning on a grand scale thanks to awesome teachers, supportive leadership, and technological advances! We love the incorporation of sign, movement, gym, yoga and the diversity of the staff and students. She looks forward to going to daycare everyday. ----- Author: Jessica Nicholson Rating: 5/5 Date: 3/6/2024, 2:01:09 AM Review: UPDATE: Coming up on a year now and this review still remains true! I still recommend The Goddard School to everyone and am very proud to say my daughter attends. In the *almost* year she has been there, she has learned so much and has made so many new friends. She loves going to school every day, and is so excited to see her teachers, which speaks volumes. The Goddard School is one of the top preschools you can send your children to. Our initial tour was great! Everyone was very helpful and very informative. We were very impressed with everything that the school has to offer and how clean and tidy it was kept. Fast forward a year and we had our first day of school! I was very nervous dropping my baby off for the first time, but the front office and the teachers were very reassuring. They follow the schedule you provide them for your baby and go above and beyond in their daily care. You can reach them anytime to check on your child and you also get photos during the day. 3 months later and everything is just as great as it was on our first day. You can tell the teachers really love and care for your child. They still follow any schedules you provide them, and readjust as your baby ages. They spend so much time with the infants, helping them to learn new things. Even teachers I have passed in the hall have always been very friendly. The front office remains professional and informative as well. The facility is always very clean, organized, and safe. I would highly recommend The Goddard School to any family looking for quality care for their infants and toddlers. ----- Author: Laura Rating: 5/5 Date: 3/5/2024, 1:56:37 PM Review: Goddard at Baymeadows has been an exceptional preschool for my little one. From the teachers, the administration and the overall appearance and functionality of the school, I have nothing but 5 stars to give to this establishment. I love the security measures Goddard takes in ensuring that our children remain safe when they are dropped off at school everyday. I love how clean the school and classrooms are. The teachers are wonderful human beings and my little one has learned so much this year to prepare her for kindergarten. Another great thing about Goddard is the amount of fun activities and events that they host and allow the families the opportunity to attend and contribute to the fun. I am so pleased with Goddard and will miss them next year when my little one graduates and goes off to Kindergarten. A+++ Goddard Bay Meadows. ----- Author: Allyson Pearson Rating: 5/5 Date: 3/4/2024, 7:46:09 PM Review: They are very responsive to me and my child. I feel safe sending my child there.
Does this day care follow a specific curriculum?
Yes
The reviews highlight a structured curriculum with age-appropriate activities, including science experiments and various learning clubs.
Reviews:
Author: Grace Miller Rating: 5/5 Date: 12/20/2024, 5:45:26 PM Review: I am thrilled with the care and attention that my sons receive daily at the Goddard School. From the moment they step through the doors, the atmosphere is filled with warmth, positivity, and genuine love for each child. In our many years attending Goddard from infant-VPK, the teachers have gone above and beyond to ensure that my children feel loved and supported in their learning journey. I love the curriculum and the play-based activities that are incorporated into the classroom. Not only are they having fun and enjoying themselves, but they are also learning and growing in so many ways. It's incredible to see how much progress they've made over the years at Goddard. Overall, I couldn't be more satisfied with our experience at Goddard. It's a place where my children are not only receiving a top-notch education but also developing a love for learning that will last a lifetime. Thank you to the amazing teachers and staff for all that you do! ----- Author: Madeline Pfingsten Rating: 5/5 Date: 3/8/2024, 5:51:43 PM Review: My daughter has been at this school for over 2 years now and the teachers and staff are truly amazing. The teachers are so kind, patient and create curriculum that really intrigues little minds. I love to see the pictures sent on school app, of the kids doing different science experiments together – with everyone gathered around, peering eyes curious to see. Every day brings fun new activities and lessons. The early years so important for development and I feel so good about sending my daughter here. Ms. Liz is the absolute best, she is in tune with her kids, if they’re having an off day, etc and truly cares. She and Ms. Cierra make every day fun, always something to look forward too. All the other teachers we have had here have been amazing too. I love the pictures sent through out the day, and the fun events they plan for the whole family to attend. I highly recommend Goddard and would give 10 stars if I could. ----- Author: Shawna Riggs Rating: 5/5 Date: 3/7/2024, 4:47:18 PM Review: Goddard is our absolute favorite daycare! With two kids, ages 2 and 4, we've tried others, but Goddard stands out. The facility is impeccably clean, and the staff is incredibly friendly. Our children have thrived in this nurturing environment, learning so much from their dedicated teachers. What sets Goddard apart is the genuine care and passion of the staff. It's not just a daycare; it's a place where our kids are excited about learning. We appreciate the age-appropriate and engaging curriculum. Goddard has exceeded our expectations, making it the perfect choice for any parent seeking a top-notch daycare experience. Highly recommended! ----- Author: Blake Callahan Rating: 5/5 Date: 3/6/2024, 1:37:58 AM Review: Finding the right childcare center can be a daunting task for any parent, but I'm here to wholeheartedly recommend Goddard at Baymeadows. From our first interaction, we were impressed by the warm and welcoming atmosphere. The staff greeted us with genuine smiles and took the time to answer all our questions patiently. What truly sets Goddard apart is the incredible staff. The teachers are not only qualified and experienced, but they also possess a genuine love and care for the children. They go above and beyond to create a nurturing and stimulating environment where each child feels safe, valued, and empowered to learn and grow. My child still has and treasures a gift that his previous teacher, Mrs. Jasmine, gave to him. Thanks Mrs Jasmine! The curriculum at Goddard is top-notch, offering a variety of age-appropriate activities that cater to different learning styles. From creative play and reading, to music, art, and early sports introductions, the children are constantly engaged and challenged in a fun and interactive way. Additionally, the center prioritizes outdoor play, providing ample space and opportunities for the children to explore and exercise. Communication is another key strength of Goddard. The admins keep us updated on our child's daily activities and progress through regular reports on an app. The app allows us to stay connected throughout the day and receive real-time updates on our child's well-being. Overall, we are incredibly grateful to have found Goddard. We highly recommend this center to any parent seeking exceptional childcare. ----- Author: Haley Stallings Rating: 5/5 Date: 2/6/2024, 4:16:58 AM Review: We love the Goddard School! We just started our daughter here 1 month ago and it has been the smoothest transition. We love Ms Leidy! All of the staff are some welcoming. We also love the curriculum and hands on activities. Our daughter’s vocabulary has increased tremendously this past month already! ----- Author: Childcare Expert Rating: 5/5 Date: 11/22/2023, 1:19:31 PM Review: My family and I love The Goddard School. The administration team is very professional. They keep you updated and involved. We love the curriculum and everything that our son is learning. The teachers are so nice and responsive to any questions you may have. Bringing our son to school knowing he's safe, loved and learning gives us a peaceful mind. ----- Author: Katrina Eleftheropoulos Rating: 5/5 Date: 10/18/2023, 2:35:56 AM Review: This Goddard School has been an absolute saving grace for us. We needed to switch schools as quickly as possible, from another that was a very poor fit for us. Thank God this location had an available spot! My daughter hasn’t been there long, but we can already see what a great school this is. Curriculum seems to be meticulous, well thought out, and very age appropriate (challenging, but not grades ahead, just right), with little homework assignments most nights that are very doable and make sense for what my child needs to learn this year. Love the enriching “clubs” hour at the end of each day! They are always busy and learning but having fun and enjoying it from what I can see so far. The teachers seem to take pride in their work, and show a lot of love and kindness to the littles to make sure their first formative year fosters a love of school and learning. It is such a relief to this Momma-heart to see my daughter genuinely happy at this school already! (This says a lot because she is new there, and typically does not love change and is shy at first, but she is having no issues with this transition - what a relief and it makes my heart so relieved and happy!). I know we made the right decision to move our child here. Thank God for The Goddard School, and thank you Christina for all of your help! … Also of note/FYI - I see zero security issues like another reviewer mentioned. Maybe it used to be but was fixed? All I have seen is top notch security, two security stops before you can go get your child, at two doors that are each locked requiring phone/code to unlock.
Does this day care have monitoring cameras?
Yes
Several reviews mention receiving photos and videos throughout the day via an app, implying monitoring cameras.
Reviews:
No reviews found with the keywords: cameras
Working Hours
- Monday7AM-6PM
- Tuesday7AM-6PM
- Wednesday7AM-6PM
- Thursday7AM-6PM
- Friday7AM-6PM
- SaturdayClosed
- SundayClosed
Latest Reviews
We moved my son from another daycare to Goddard school and I am very happy that I made this change. Kids are involved, teacher are well taking care of learning with fun. Thanks!!
I am thrilled with the care and attention that my sons receive daily at the Goddard School. From the moment they step through the doors, the atmosphere is filled with warmth, positivity, and genuine love for each child. In our many years attending Goddard from infant-VPK, the teachers have gone above and beyond to ensure that my children feel loved and supported in their learning journey. I love the curriculum and the play-based activities that are incorporated into the classroom. Not only are they having fun and enjoying themselves, but they are also learning and growing in so many ways. It's incredible to see how much progress they've made over the years at Goddard. Overall, I couldn't be more satisfied with our experience at Goddard. It's a place where my children are not only receiving a top-notch education but also developing a love for learning that will last a lifetime. Thank you to the amazing teachers and staff for all that you do!
I love having my child attend The Goddard School for so many reasons. The sense of family, along with knowing that my child is loved, safe, and learning, says it all. She has grown tremendously since starting there. She gets so excited in the morning to go to school. ü©∑
Our son was one of the first children at this location when it opened. In those first few years we absolutely loved the tight knit community and attention to detail the staff and directors offered. However as we now enter our child’s third year at the school with numerous staff and leadership turnover we utilize this school more out of convenience than personal choice. There have been several instances of miscommunication from leadership with our family, which has fractured our trust. Even more concerning, is the notable leadership turnover in such a short period of time. Unfortunately there is not a standard practice in place for routine class transitions which allow children of the same age an equal opportunity to access all learning tools which the school prides itself on. It’s extremely disappointing to see such obvious stagnation and regression in our child’s classroom engagement and learning for what appears to be the sake of appeasing incoming families on waitlists or special circumstances. I do hope moving forward the school is able to put in place more concrete class groupings so that all children are afforded an equal opportunity to engage and excel in their pivotal early learning years with the developmentally appropriate materials and tools the school has to offer. We just happened to be one case lost in transition, with no effective resolution. Very disheartening to repeatedly feel unheard and unseen.
I've had my child here for over a year and a half now after a long and exasperating year elsewhere. The teachers here seem genuinely interested in the kids and there's consistency in the day to day routine of activities, but also fun activities to look forward to and participate in. It's nice to be able to see details of what topics and songs/books/activities are going on to try to reinforce the same at home. The front desk is always helpful and friendly. Everything is always clean and a cheerful stimulating environment. I can't say enough good things about this school and look forward to all the new things my daughter will get to do and learn before kindergarten. Even as my daughter has moved up to new classrooms, her previous teachers still say hello and she's excited to see them in the halls. They've all made an impression on her and we're thrilled she has such positive relationships.
I was very put off by the admission process here. I called to inquire about availability. I wasn't looking to place my child immediately, so was ok with a wait. I asked if/when there would be availability and if I could come for a tour. I was given the availability and then told I have to pay to secure a spot. 0 information about a tour or additional program information about that school/class I would be reserving a spot for. It was not warm and inviting. I stopped vetting the school after that. It seemed very focused on money and not on the child. I found a much better fit elsewhere. I also want to note, I toured several places all with waitlists, and this was the only one that acted this way.
The Goddard School of Jacksonville Baymeadows campus is a superior early childhood learning center. My daughter is thriving at this school and learning more each day. She is loved and cared for and I feel safe and happy knowing she is there. The facility is immaculately clean. The teachers and staff are educated, friendly, warm, and inviting. A+
The Goddard School has been an outstanding facility for our daughter. She thrives there so much and is surrounded by a facility that allows her to grow and realize her potential. The staff is so friendly and welcoming. The apps are great and keeps us informed on what they do daily. Love all the pictures and videos. Other schools provide nothing close to your services. My family appreciates and loves Goddard. Thank you.
My little one loves going to school and it’s amazing to see her communicating with us the things she is learning, in just the first week. We can’t wait to see how much she grows throughout the year.
