Marigold Academy (Former Education Station)

"I truly can’t say enough great things about marigold academy (formerly education station) in Bloomfield. It is such a special, well-rounded daycare with amazing, caring staff, exceptional + big outdoor playground space/toys, and tons of learning and toys inside. I was absolutely blown away with how much my child learned there and felt it was the perfect mix of play + lots of educational learning. My child absolutely thrived at marigold academy and we were SO sad to leave due to moving out of town. The child to teacher ratios are also amazing and small- much better than most other daycares. The staff does so many fun things to keep kids smiling and having fun such as weekly music class, holiday decorations and music, yoga, outdoor play, water play in the summer, etc. I love this place and recommend it so highly!!"

"My two boys went to Education Station/Marigold Academy for the past few years, and I am hugely grateful for the care, guidance and support they both received during their time there. One began at Marigold when we moved to NJ (he was about two years old), and the other joined when he was a wee baby. It proved the right place for the boys, and right for the family too. Below is my take: Hours and location Starting with logistics. The teachers at Marigold Academy put in long hours! The place opens at 7am and closes at 6.30pm, and there’s a few teachers who are there throughout, day-in, day-out. Myself and my wife both work, so those long hours were a God-send. I also commute to NYC, so the location is a big win—it’s about a 3 minute walk to Bloomfield station, and in turn direct trains to NY Penn and Hoboken. As it happens, it’s also pretty good value—Marigold I believe has slightly longer hours than the other day cares in the area, but is a smidgen cheaper. Teachers and care Marigold has a high ratio of teachers to kids, including in the babyroom (located at the back). There’s a bit of turnover of teachers (perhaps not to be unexpected), but the school retains a strong spine of top-quality teachers and managers (Ms Dolly, Ms Stephanie, Ms Christine, and Ms Lynne for the baby room). The owner, Mr Jay, understandably does not have the unique pied-paper qualities of his predecessor (Mr Michael), but has invested in Marigold’s look and facilities, and, I’d argue, there has been a significant uptick in educational quality since his arrival (as evidenced by the fact that my youngest had a good grasp of letters and numbers when he left, whereas my eldest had neither). Final thoughts My children were very happy at Marigold. Indeed, my youngest used to run through the door every morning like he lived there (which, given that he was at Marigold from when he was three months old, arguably he did). The kids get to participate in a huge range of creative activities, marking every holiday and festival (I still have my father’s day “About my dad” fact sheet on the wall above my desk). There’s also water play and other additional outdoor activities in the summer. Of course, there are other daycares across Bloomfield and Montclair, but this one worked perfectly for us."

"My daughter went to Education Station for preschool and she loved it there. They had great teachers and staff. I do now realize after moving how advanced they were in terms of teaching and encouraging students to read, write and learn math at that young age. They exposed them in a fun manner and sent “homework” home as well. We enjoyed our time there."

"My daughter is so happy at ES. She has fun playing and learning, gets tons of outdoor time, does art projects, helps grow things in the garden, and gets all the TLC she needs (which was my biggest concern first sending her during a high-separation-anxiety stage two years ago). Everyone on staff has been wonderful since day 1—cheerful, patient, caring, and consistent, even in these trying pandemic times! I know it costs a bit more than some others in the area, but for staff that treats my daughter as family, and the huge outdoor space, it is worth the difference. I highly recommend this school."

"My daughter was at Education Station (in the toddler 5 class, ages 2-3) for a year. We sadly moved out of Essex County; otherwise, we definitely would have kept her there. The teachers are all so warm, sweet, and energetic. I always felt that they truly cared about my daughter, and made her (and all the other kids) feel loved. They do tons of activities with them (including gardening, water play in the summer, etc) and have an impressive amount of outdoor space to play. Their communication was always easy and smooth, including through the pandemic, and the owner/director is flexible and kind. I can't say enough good things about Education Station! My husband and I are both teachers and we highly recommend Education Station. We feel lucky we found it."