The Akidamy School of Early Learning - Perth

This is not a good or bad review, simply my experiences from having two kids attend.<br><br>Akidamy in Highgate has the best educators, our kids love them, we just know our kids are looked after. The staff that work for Akidamy are excellent, top notch. And they all seem to stay at Akidamy long term, which is the sign of a great workplace.<br><br>It is atm $215 per day per child. In my opinion, it is not worth the cost. BUT, can you put a cost on knowing your child is happy, learning and safe?<br><br>The daycare in Highgate is beautiful, light filled and such a well thought out great space for kids. And our kids always come home dirty, covered in paint, sand and texta - which is awesome as they do a lot of activities.<br><br>Now for the bad...<br>There is absolutely no flexibility for our children and the days they can attend. Must be strictly the same days each week (makes it hard when one child does 3 days at kindy one week, then 2 the next). Other daycares we have just recently enquired about are more than happy to accommodate flexibility for this scenario.<br><br>There was two times earlier this year that they took out directly from our bank accounts (this happened to all attending families) double the amount they were meant to. Once was over the Christmas break where we were told that nothing can be done about this for a week and a half. We even got a strongly worded email / letter from the founder CEO that showed absolutely zero understanding of how this would impact families during the holiday period. I can accept and expect mistakes and errors, but the way it was dealt with by the founders was deplorable. Staff were excellent to deal with on this as well.<br><br>Their invoices are the most confusing document you will ever read. This is not hyperbole. Every single parent asks for an explanation multiple times from their admin teams to understand it. Maybe this is the same at other daycares? But after all of the incidents, over charges, cost increases and services being taken away over time, I just feel uneasy about what we have paid them and have an underlying sense of having been ripped off / conned for the last 3 plus years. I have been back through statements, and have asked the same of their admin team (who by the way are excellent - they too hate the systems they have to work with) but still feel like I've been taken for a ride.<br><br>We were sold on some of the extras that come with attending Akidamy - an Italian teacher to teach the kids a second language, fruit at the end of the day in a fruit bowl for kids to grab on their way out / leaving for home, sign language been taught to name a few, all of which have mysteriously disappeared without a word, while the day rate went from ~$165 to $215. I get cost of living, inflation etc, and I do think the educators / staff deserve more (especially the Akidamy staff) but after all my dealings with the Akidamy, II just get the feeling that staff never saw any of it except for the government mandated ones. I hope my opinion on this is wrong.<br><br>I have more, but this comment is already too long.