My older son started at Footsteps in the infant/toddler program (Puma Cubs) when he was about 6 months old. He stayed at Puma Cubs until kindergarten and then moved to the Footsteps aftercare program at Cipriani. His younger brother also started at Puma Cubs as an infant and then moved to the aftercare program at Cipriani. Both boys are currently in the aftercare program at Cipriani and will likely continue in the Ralston aftercare program when they're in middle school.
Having had kids in the Footsteps programs for the past 10+ years, I am very happy with the organization. The staff are great and really care about the kids. Some of my sons’ preschool teachers still ask about them when I see the teachers at various Footsteps events. I appreciate that the staff want to understand the needs and interests of each child and are able to respond to them as individuals.
My sons love the aftercare program at Cipriani. Both of them are learning Mandarin through the Footsteps language specialist. They look forward to Tuesdays when the PE specialists visit and can’t wait until the annual dodgeball tournament in the spring. They also have a great time in the kids’ club activities on Wednesdays. I like that they attend homework club and that the Footsteps teachers are there to assist.
Overall, Footsteps has been an integral part of my sons’ lives and has provided essential support for my family. I consider myself fortunate to live in Belmont and have access to such a great, well-rounded childcare program.
My children have been going to Footsteps since my daughter was in kindergarten. She is now in the 7th grade and attending the Footsteps at RAMS (Ralston) program. My son is in the 5th grade at Redwood Shores and has been attending the Shores Footsteps since he was in kindergarten. My kids enjoy going, they feel comfortable there and I don't feel guilty about being a working mom. They get their homework done at Footsteps so we can enjoy our evening time together. All of the teachers are very caring and it feels like one big family. Getting to be with their classmates for a couple of hours outside of school has really helped them to solidify a lot of their friendships. My kids also attend the Footsteps camps during the summer and ask to go back each year. I am very impressed with the extra attention the kids get with Footsteps various specialty programs (STEM, art, PE, Mandarin). I would recommend this childcare without hesitation.
Hello, I decided to enroll my child in Camp Footsteps this year at Nesbit during summer before he started Kindergarten because he needed care while I worked and he would be attending the Nesbit after school program once school started in the fall. He was in child care already, but the Footsteps curriculum sounded more involved activity-wise and I liked the weekly field trips. Every week was a new theme. He LOVED it. If I picked him up early he was sad. When it was the Fourth of July holiday, he said he wished it was a camp day instead. My house isn't like Disneyland every day, but he has fun at home too so I knew I made a really good choice. He attended Camp Footsteps every week all summer.
Now he attends the after school program at Nesbit from 12:20-6pm daily after Kindergarten. I always try to pick him up closer to 5pm but then I end up waiting around while he plays a game with the teachers or with other children, because he still doesn't want to leave.
His happiness is important, but what is critical to me as a parent is that I don't have worry about my child when he's in the care of the Site Director, Cnotra and her staff. He is safe, he is cared about and cared for, and I can depend of them when I'm working and can't be with him myself.
Hi, Good Morning,
This review is for Nesbit Footsteps Childcare Center. I worked as a teacher at Nesbit for after school program there recently for few months and had a bad experience with the management attitude . Most of the assistant teachers there are students who have no interest in work and avoid being with the kids and used to leave the kids in the yard with me and they used to be in the room with lame excuses and show false concern when they fall or get hurt. Did not help with any acivity of the kids but only go forward with a sugar coated smile to talk to the parents when they come to pick the kids . But even the management is not interested whats going on inside but only concerned with their business. They have no interest in it. They just try to hide it so that parents shouldnt know about it and the HR was so rude that she did'nt even give an opportunity to talk to the Executive Director. They need to hire only students having ECE units or atleast studying Child Development Courses and not any student who come just to make some extra bucks. The problem was mainly related to the kids how they were ignored by few Assistant teachers as they had been studying some courses unrelated with the job they were doing nor had any experience working with kids.
I had a different and unique experience/perspective about the Footsteps staff, being both a teacher and a parent of a child in Nesbit's school age program. First off, Ive got to say Cnotra is the absolute best director and teacher I have ever met in my life. She loves all the kids with her whole heart-like they were her own! She's extremely patient, caring, understanding, gentle yet firm, loving, funny, etc.
Many of the teachers and directors are definitely high quality. They are truly gifted in working with children-specifically the age range they are with for the majority of the day. As the parent, you're able to feel the genuine love, concern, and care that goes into every interaction.... But at the same time, you can spot those individuals who think of the children as cliebts whom we need to help complete their activities. There's no gentle hugs, reassuring words, praises, smiles. Sometimes there's frowns and rough tones. As soon as Mom and Dad show up again that fake smile pops onto their faces again. And then, there's Management. Once they decide they decide they don't like a staff person-teacher, assistant, or whoever (unless you're handicapped in some way and then you're completely babied)-you're completely screwed. The only way to get off the "naughty" list is for them to fabricate stories, including finding "witnesses", turn facts inside out and upside down, and fire the staff individual via phone call while staff person is on lunch.