Bethel Child Development Center 1705 Todds Lane, Hampton, VA 23666

"***They deleted all the bad reviews but I’m here to share my awful experience again.*** Bethel was unfortunately the only daycare with an opening for our son. In the beginning, everything was fine. I was getting prompt email responses, promises of a tour and praises for my husband staying home with our son for the first two years. However, we went to fill out the intake packet and give the deposit and our packet was lost by the woman at the front desk, Kristy. After two weeks and many phone calls from my husband and I, the packet mysteriously appeared and they immediately withdrew their deposit fee. We were never notified when our son was starting or given any information regarding what to bring for his first day. Again we had to make many phone calls and leave messages with no returned calls. Finally, my husband calls again and the director has an attitude. She tells my husband “I just sent your wife the first day information. He will be starting January 3rd.” I check my email religiously - she never emailed. During the phone call my husband asked for a tour and she sighed heavily and said “anyway between 9-2.” At this point we were already skeptical but we had no choice. We were never informed that upon drop off at 0630 he would be upfront with the two to three members of staff until his teacher arrived between 0800 or 0830. Throughout the day, I always had a horrible feeling about leaving our son at Bethel. Something wasn’t right and I just felt it. Every time I picked my son up around 1600-1630 he was screaming and crying heavily, he was covered in dried snot and food. There were also many instances when teachers and staff were getting my son’s name wrong although I corrected them and his name was written on everything. The teachers clearly didn’t care enough to know his name or even wipe his face when I came to pick him up. Since our son had never been to daycare, we expected him to be upset when we dropped him off. However, this never stopped. He wasn’t only crying at drop off or pickup, he was constantly crying throughout the day. One day, he even threw up multiple times from crying so hard and for so long. The day after him crying so heavily, we were contacted that one of his classmates had Covid so they were closing the classroom for two weeks. I picked him up and that same day, my husband was charged for that week of care. The normal charge is $225 but my husband was charged $260. That next day was Friday, we tried to contact the director in regards to why we were charged extra but she wasn’t there and to call back Monday. That night we noticed how our son would dig his nails into us when we held him and was scared we were going to drop him. He would scream and cry if we tried to play with him while holding him, something he had never done before. The only reason for this sudden fear, could only be explained by something happening at daycare. However we will never know how the teachers and staff interacted with our son since he’s nonverbal. Finally, Monday rolled around and again it took multiple calls to eventually reach the director. My husband explained the extra charge and she tried to blame it on the bank, saying they charged a NSF fee, however there was plenty of money in the account. He argued that if the bank charged a NSF fee it would be a separate fee directly to the bank not to the daycare. She continued arguing until finally she said “I’ve refunded you the extra $35.” How could she refund it if the charge didn’t come from them? My husband then brought up our concerns that our son was constantly dirty, upset and being called the wrong name on his paperwork, diapers, etc. she brushed all the concerns off saying “mhmm. Sure. Whatever you say.” We unenrolled him immediately after only two weeks. This daycare is absolutely horrendous. We found a new daycare and from day one he was comfortable and loved. Do NOT send your child(ren) here."

"Great Child care! Unprofessional management."