SW
Solomon Ward
Apr 27, 2025
My son attended Discovery Isle Oceanside for just two months, and that was two months too many. He was only five months old when I enrolled him, and it quickly became obvious this was not a safe or nurturing environment for an infant.
From the start, all the focus was on financial details. During the initial tour, I was only asked about how much I would be paying, what discounts I could get if I enrolled immediately, and which payment method I would use. There was almost no discussion about curriculum, safety, cleanliness, or infant care practices. In hindsight, that should have been the warning sign to walk away.
Throughout his time there, I received very little communication about my son's well-being. Although Discovery Isle promises photo updates and daily reports, in reality I received just seven photo updates across two months. I would not receive any daily reports about feedings, naps, or diaper changes until after pick-up, leaving me completely in the dark during the day.
The infant and toddler rooms are combined, creating a chaotic and overstimulating environment that is inappropriate for young babies. My son routinely got only eight to twelve minutes of nap time during entire days. When I asked staff for help in getting him the rest he needed, I was met with blank stares and no real solutions. Their "nap policy" seemed to be waiting until a baby happened to fall asleep on the floor before moving them to a crib.
Distress among the infants was common. I witnessed babies crying on the floor unattended, stuck between gates, and even saw a teacher accidentally step on a baby’s hand. The staff appeared overwhelmed, exhausted, and spread far too thin to provide appropriate care.
On one occasion, I overheard a staff member gossiping to a new hire about how she "hated" a particular child on the preschool side, setting a negative tone toward a child she had never even met. This is not the kind of environment anyone would want for their child.
Illness was another major issue. The school claims to have a sick policy, but it is not enforced. I routinely saw babies with green mucus, face rashes, and obvious signs of illness allowed to stay simply because they did not have a fever.
They repeatedly mishandled my son's breastmilk bottles, wasting them by letting them leak out. They also consistently used the wrong size diapers, resulting in my son being sent home in soiled clothes. Several labeled items also went missing during his time there.
Perhaps most concerning of all: at no point was I ever asked to provide my son's immunization records or a physician's report. In California, licensed childcare facilities are legally required to verify and maintain up-to-date immunization records for all enrolled children. Discovery Isle completely disregarded this legal requirement, raising serious concerns about what other basic health and safety protocols are not being followed.
When I raised my concerns to the principal, I received no response. It was only after I gave notice of withdrawal that she reached out — not to address any concerns, but to remind me of the 30-day payment policy.
Overall, Discovery Isle Oceanside may be able to meet the needs of older children, but it is absolutely not a safe, clean, or nurturing environment for infants. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this school to any parent, and I would strongly encourage others to look elsewhere for childcare.