Ancaster Forest and Nature School

” I held off on writing this review because I wanted it to be fair, fact-based, and genuinely helpful to other parents. After reflecting on our experience and seeing how well our son has done both before and after attending Ancaster Forest School, I feel it’s important to share this. Ancaster Forest School presents itself as a high-calibre, premium childcare option, and the pricing reflects that. Expectations are set very high. Unfortunately, our experience did not come close to matching those claims. About one month into enrollment, after ongoing concerns, we requested a meeting with management with the clear goal of addressing issues, improving communication, and salvaging the experience. During that meeting, we raised concerns calmly and constructively and were reassured that communication would improve, that issues would be handled more professionally, and that we would be kept informed moving forward. That did not happen. Communication remained inconsistent, last-minute, and dismissive. We repeatedly had to follow up to get clarity on basic matters, and verbal assurances were not reflected in actions. Over time, it became clear that concerns were not being taken seriously. Billing, in particular, was handled poorly and often felt like the primary focus. We were billed for time our son had not attended, and funds were withdrawn despite prior conversations stating adjustments would be made and that we would be contacted before further withdrawals. Even when errors were acknowledged internally, resolving them required repeated follow-ups and escalation. For a centre charging a premium and describing itself as “high calibre,” this level of administrative disorganization was unacceptable. One especially problematic incident was being informed the morning of drop-off that the program would only be running a half day. We received no advance notice. I had to cancel an extremely busy workday at the last minute, yet we were still billed. The impact this caused was largely dismissed, despite it being the result of their internal error. More concerning than the billing and communication issues, however, was our son’s daily experience. Our two-year-old was consistently distressed at this centre. He cried intensely at drop-off and was often crying and upset at pick-up. This was not typical behavior for him. At his previous daycare, he was happy to attend and reluctant to leave. At his current daycare, which he has now attended for roughly two months, he settled in within the first week and is consistently happy, calm, and in a good mood at both drop-off and pick-up. At Ancaster Forest School, his distress was frequently downplayed, and it genuinely felt like we were dropping him off somewhere he dreaded. In hindsight, I regret keeping him there as long as we did. We also routinely picked him up with significant diaper rash and redness, sometimes severe. This has never been an issue at home, at his previous daycare, or at his current one. The contrast is stark. For a program charging a premium and claiming exceptional care, this was deeply concerning. To be clear, this review is not about forest-based programming as a concept. It is about execution, management, communication, and basic standards of care failing to align with the price and the promises made. Our son is now thriving elsewhere at roughly half the cost, with none of the issues we experienced here. I would strongly encourage parents to carefully consider other options before enrolling their child in this program. As a parent, I’m writing this review in the hope that it helps others avoid the negative experience we had. This is not personal, nor is it an attack. It is simply honest feedback based on our firsthand experience. Had we read a review like this when we were considering enrolment, we likely would not have chosen to send our child here. – Julian “

” Great experience at this school so far. Appreciate healthy halal options and the expertise of the teachers. Very high quality program. Love receiving updates on the app and the monthly newsletter is amazing. Most beautiful grounds and love that it’s research based. Feels very professional. We’re very happy with our choice! “

” Our son has been part of Ancaster Forest and Nature School since it opened and we cannot be more thankful of the care and experiences he has received. When we visited other daycare programs in the area, we didn’t feel they aligned with what we wanted for our son. When we found AFNS, we were taken aback by the quality and attention to detail of the program and experiences. We felt it was a community and have really enjoyed getting to know the other families in the program. The food they serve is mostly organic and we love communicating with his teachers though the app and getting daily updates. His educators have all been so kind and caring. The adventures he goes on and the amount of time spent in nature is something we were not able to provide as we both work full-time. It is more expensive than other programs (similar to the local Montessori) but for us, it is not like other programs at all and is worth it!!! We absolutely love that he is learning French and we couldn’t be happier with the choice we made. Our daughter is starting there in January and we couldn’t be more excited for her to join. “

” This review I didn’t think I need to write, but I believe sharing our experience will help other parents make an informed decision. Ancaster Forest School presents itself as a “high calibre” centre, a term the owner personally used, and its certainly looks and sounds absolutely amazing. The handbook, the photos, the location and the philosophy all suggested it would be a wonderful place for our son. Even with the higher cost (about $110 per day plus a $500 enrollment fee), we felt it could be worth the investment. Before this, our son attended another daycare that he absolutely loved. He would run in without saying goodbye and didn’t want to leave at pick up, he was so happy there. Sadly, that daycare closed when the owner went on maternity leave, so we began searching for somewhere that could offer a similar level of joy and comfort for him. Unfortunately, our experience at Ancaster Forest School was very different. From the start, our son cried intensely at both drop off and pick up, the cry is something we had never seen or heard before. Many times, he was hungry and thirsty when I picked him up, and with his skin extremely sore and red, even broken in places from being in a dirty diaper for what appeared to be an extended period of time. Communication was inconsistent, poor and last minute. One morning at drop-off, we were told the program would only run half the day something we had never been informed of in advance which forced my husband to cancel his important workday. When I asked for clarification on the $500 enrollment fee, I was told in writing that it was, quote: “a separate charge, to cover some of the administrative and upkeep costs associated with running a centre of this caliber.” None of the other local centres I contacted charge anything comparable and the explanation felt vague. We also found that management often used passive-aggressive language when communicating, always felt as if they were annoyed with our questions and requests for clear communication. In the end, there was nothing authentic about this place, the experience did not match the image it promotes. The combination of our son’s distress, the gaps in care and the lack of transparency left us deeply disappointed. For parents considering this daycare, I strongly recommend asking detailed questions, requesting all important information in writing and being clear on what you are paying for before enrolling. Everything looks beautiful on the outside. “

” Ancaster Forest and Nature School is one of the best practise licensed childcare choices I have come across! Highly recommend sending your child or consider employment here if you are an Educator. The staff are some of the kindest, most thoughtful, communicative and responsive humans. Plus, you get to hang out with families of deer, wild turkey’s, giant sycamore trees, a choir of song-birds, and all the beautiful elements of nature :) “