UPC Child Development Center at USC

My daughter attended from infants through jr. preschool and I couldn’t be happier with our experience at the center. From the dedicated leadership and outstanding teachers to the warm and inviting classrooms, classmates, and parents, our experience has been great. The center has always been a place where I’ve been confident that my daughter matters and where the center director and teachers have gone out of their way to accommodate any special needs she might have. All of her teachers have been bright, caring, and thoughtful. They have managed to teach her routine and structure without stifling an ounce of her free spirit and curiosity. Highly recommended!

It took nearly 2 years on the wait list, starting well before giving birth, before we were able to get our daughter into this center. As the months on the wait list ticked by and we heard all kinds of scary rumors, we wondered if we were making the right choice.
She’s been there almost 2 years now and we are so glad we stuck with this plan rather than going the nanny route or pursuing another daycare option closer to home. She’s had great teachers and classmates. Now that we know they are not standard, we are profoundly grateful for the generous hours (open weekdays 7am-​6pm; the proximity to campus helps us make the most of our workday) and the fact that they provide a hot lunch to all students daily. Above all, we’re thrilled by the socialization the group environment provides, the structured routine, and the ways the teachers encourage the children to develop a sense of independence and mastery.
Every daycare center has things it can improve; fortunately parents of kids at this one – most of whom are teachers and administrators at USC – are organized, collegial, and highly invested in this center’s success.
We have a google group: cclc underscore upc underscore parents at googlegroups dot com.

Two years later, I have to give the center director and teachers credit for turning things around. After sustained parent pressure, USC and CCLC put more resources into the school and now there appears to be sufficient staffing and turnover has diminished. (Sadly, only 2 – 3 teachers remain from the days when USC ran the center directly; the rest have left. Many of the new teachers seem good, however).
My daughter’s classroom (she is now 4) has caring and engaged teachers and she comes home every week telling us about the new things she is learning. CCLC’s corporate-​speak, publicity machine, and propaganda materials are cause for occasional eye-​rolling among parents, but they have brought in some good enrichment activities such as Spanish classes and music. They also do a fun summer program that the kids enjoy.
I am confident that my child is safe and well cared-​for at this center and would recommend it to other USC staff/​faculty looking for childcare. Bonus: according to Department of Public Health data, every child currently at the center is on schedule for their vaccinations, so the risk of catching diseases such as whooping cough or measles is minimal.

My wife and I have two children currently enrolled here. Our first child went through the infant program and is currently in the toddler program. Our second child is currently in infants.
The teachers for our children are thoughtful, caring, and involved. We really appreciate the care and attention their primary teachers show them. When teachers are working in a great team environment, it shows because the energy in the classroom is positive and inviting. We are lucky that both our children are experiencing this right now in their classrooms.
What we also appreciate about our children’s teachers is how they encourage, but don’t force them in their growth. When our eldest was very, very stubbornly transitioning from a bottle to a cup, the primary teacher tried various ways of facilitating that… even singing a song to encourage it. All (both infant and toddler) teachers worked together in helping our eldest child transition, so the move to toddlers could happen seamlessly. And when our child did officially move on to toddlers, the infant teachers did what they do for every child, they had a goodbye party and sang a goodbye song. What a great way to transition and recognize the little one’s milestone! It’s also a nice way for their classmates to say goodbye.
Something to note is the cautionary measures taken to ensure our eldest child’s safety due to severe food allergies. From using a completely separate bottle warmer in infants to the special seating arrangement in toddlers, the teachers really took great care to make sure our child is not exposed to allergens. However, the primary teacher also recognized that sitting away from friends during meals/​snacks is lonely, so it was her suggestion to move our child with friends during meals/​snacks that did not include allergens. This was something we never thought of. Poor kid was so excited to sit with friends. We are grateful it was suggested.
Our second child just started in infants a few months ago and has the same teachers, so we are glad for that. We appreciate how all the teachers know our children are siblings and encourage that relationship when they see each other at the center.
No daycare is perfect; we have had incidents of concern happen. However, teachers and administration work to follow up with us to hear our feedback. They also encourage us to voice any concerns we may have because they know there is always room to do things a little better. The teachers are good about follow up and will set aside time to discuss any concerns.
All in all, we have had a good experience with this center. It’s nice that they have an open door policy so you can visit your child any time and this location is only a 10 min walk away from our work so it works out. Tip: If you plan to use this daycare, there is a long waiting list, so put in your name as soon as you know!

I have one child here. He started while the Center was still owned and operated by USC, and has gone through the transition (outsourcing) to CCLC. I think the other reviewer’s comment that care here is «hit or miss» is apt. Of course it is normal for there to be a range of skills, styles and approaches in any pre-​school, but there does seem to be a problem with staff morale. There is a serious retention issue, with adored and qualified teachers leaving. In this situation, there is bound to be quality control problems.
The director is accessible and experienced, but it seems that she has to work within a large corporate structure that does not allow her to deal effectively with the particular problems of the Center.
All of this is unfortunate because there are many excellent teachers here. My son’s current head teacher is fantastic… she is creative, insightful and has a warm and caring demeanor. It makes me upset to see her have to work within a structure that requires excessive paper work and monitoring. Personally, I would rather have my teacher engage with my child than worry about filling out a clipboard.
Let’s hope that USC and CCLC figure out a solution soon that recognizes the complex demands placed upon childcare workers and adequately rewards them for their dedication to our children.