Bright Horizons Family Solutions Employer Reviews

A typical day at work is non stop hard work,
I learn how to manage children and make them a bit independent
Management are okay
Co-workers are okay
The bending and carrying is the hardest
Getting my weekends, bank holidays, and Christmas week off

A typical day at work would start with welcome parents and children into the center and preparing the day for the children. Breakfast at 9AM with phonics. Snack at 10AM and then free play outdoors. Lunch time at 11:30AM then sleep time for the younger children and outdoor play for the elder children. 2PM wake up time and educational time for all at – more... a circle time.
3:30PM tea time and a free play time or a structured activity. 5pm to 6PM story time and home time for children with handover to the parents.
I learned alot from this job role. I enjoyed completing all my training courses (see above) I really valued the fact that their was training give from this company.
I communicated with my Co workers effectively and soon learnt the art of communication.
The most challenging aspect of this job was settling in children with English as a second language. I overcame this challenge by going on a course for children with English as a second language.
My Co- workers were a good team some could be a little challenging to work with at times but I overcame this by communicating with them alot and calling meetings with my co-workers. This was effective for all the team.
The management was always friendly,it was a very busy center so we rarely had time to speak to the management but we had regular monthly meetings which were great to express our thoughts and progress within the center. – less

I like working with the children at work but I really dont feel like this is the industry I want to work in and I have felt unhappy recently at my job due not feeling like I settled in anywhere. Being bank staff means I am never in any nursery for any length of time so I do not have a chance to make friends with the staff or bond with the children.

As I was only on a work placement for 8 months I can't really say much apart from the staff are generally really lovely, warm and welcoming. Being part of the group for 8 months made me realise how important children are and how important their education is.

I was let go from this place because of my background check. They fired me for something that I was not convicted of and was found not quilty. This is not only unfair, but it is also against the law.

Not a good place to work.

I learned a great deal about teaching and worked with some wonderful people dedicated to ECE.

Workers don't stay long because it is a hard place to work. Management will try to change your schedule all the time. There is not enough staff, and no one stays longer than a year. My happiest day was when I told the manager I was leaving, and she wasn't surprised. It is all empty promises.

There is nothing better then coming in to a job and seeing a child that is happy to see you. I learned that every child is different and that they excelled at their own pace. Management had a lot of favorites but they defiantly ran a tight ship. The hardest part of the job would have to be not being able to comfort a uncomfortable baby. the most rewarding – more... would have to be watching them grow. – less

I read all the bad reviews of this place before working there and thought "oh it can't be that bad." It has been the worst work experience of my life. Administration is unprofessional and causes more problems then solves them. They say they pay competitive wages.. But they don't. I wouldn't suggest anyone - friend or enemy to work for this company. – more... Please don't do what I did by ignoring the warnings. – less

Or, this is a part-time job for a college student, or full time job while pursuing college at night. Good if you prefer to work in management; then you can have the possibility of "moving on up" that ladder.

The work day is long - 9 hours, with an unpaid lunch hour.

Management can send you home early, without pay, if they suddenly fall into ratio – more... when children are picked up early.

They offer benefits, but the commuter subsidy is doesn't exist. Tuition is a one-time small amount, not full tuition, and must be under the approved list. Year-round centers do not have a lot of holidays and it is slow to earn vacation days, and even harder to schedule time off.

Where does the tuition go? Not to anyone lower than management. – less

Working with children ages 3 months to preschool, watching them grow and learning new things

Worked 15 years with Bright Horizons, wonderful growth opportunity. Began career as an afterschool teacher was able to advance to become Director of four different child care centers. Looking to change career path after 20 years in the Early Childhood Education field.

Would not continue working here full time, low pay, no flexibility

A great company to work for while still pursuing your education

BHFS is a great company with high standards. Many centers are NAEYC accredited and have the highest standards in the field with regards to curriculum, parent involvement, safety and values.

Start off my day with coming into my classroom and assiting my co-teacher with sixteen two year olds. We serve breakfast, snack and lunch to the children. We then start our lesson plan and do our activities with our children.

The employees will treat your children well and the children will learn because the staff is determined--but there is often a shortage of coverage and the children get moved from class to class to meet the state mandate.

Bright Horizons charges a lot of money, and parents get sucked into paying for extras but the children do not need "dance" lessons – more... or puppet shows.

More money should go to actually running the center. Caregivers should be given more time to prepare and treated with respect. Complaints fall on deaf ears. – less

my typical work day consist of reading books doing art work and reaching different milstones,and developing excellent self help skills

No matter what you do, it is not enough for management. Even when you love working with children, you can get easily overwhelmed here with company politics and shenanigans. Having attended daycare myself, and continuing to be friends with the owner to this day (independent) I know first hand how to better run a daycare. The staff is treated poorly. – more... This company expects a lot. Preparing is done on your own time, as is training which is repetitive nonsense. This is expensive "yes sir" daycare and if you're lucky to get a teacher who takes the job seriouisly, your chldren will benefit; if not, its merely daycare. Teachers who really try to teach are frowned upon -- better to keep in ratio and drag kids out of class for "specialty, extra paid" things like square dancing and animal shows than to actually allow you to teach your lessons with any continuity. Bright Horizons should be investigated by NAEYC. – less

Lesson plans, Teaching Strategies, Conferences and reassuring the parents their children are well taking care of.