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Gorinka Ornament Daycare Center, Moscow

I've got a friend with a kid in Moscow, and they swear by Gorinka Ornament Daycare Center. This place has a solid rep for providing top-notch care and a super-safe environment for little ones. The value for money is great, especially considering their experienced staff and fun activities - it's a no-brainer for working parents.

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My Honest Review of Gor'nica Uzor'nica Private Garden Network: The Good and the Bad

Name: My Honest Review of Gor'nica Uzor'nica Private Garden Network: The Good and the Bad
Item: Gorinka Ornament Daycare Center, Moscow
Rating: 3
Author: Write1

summarizeEditor's Summary

I was blown away by the glowing reviews on Gor'nica Uzor'nica's website, but my experience was a different story. After a year, we left due to securing a spot in a state-run daycare. I'm sharing my honest review to help others make informed decisions. Gor'nica Uzor'nica's private daycare is definitely easier to get into, but it comes with a hefty price tag - roughly double that of state-run daycares. And if that wasn't enough, they also charge an annual fee equivalent to half a month's payment. With all the necessary information on their website, including a straightforward medical check-up and paperwork, it's hard to deny their organization. However, I have some serious concerns about their contract and payment terms, which I'll get into below. One thing that did impress me was the administration's flexibility and willingness to work with you. They also have video surveillance, which gives me some peace of mind. The caregivers are friendly and seem to genuinely care about the kids. They have regular holidays and activities, which is a nice touch. And, you can leave your kid later than 7 pm, which is convenient for working parents. The food is decent, and they offer a variety of options. But, there are some major red flags. The caregivers live on-site, which can be a bit of a concern for me. The contract is heavily weighted in favor of the daycare, not the parents. The extra activities they offer are pretty lackluster, if you ask me. Some groups are overcrowded, while others are underutilized. And, the bathroom facilities are not separated, which can be a hygiene issue. I've also had some weird issues with their payment system, including unexpected charges. Overall, I'd say it's worth considering other options, like state-run daycares, which may offer more value for money.

settingsSpecifications

KararKötü

Yemek8/10

Kalite4/10

Refund1/10

Ödeme3/10

Kontrat2/10

Eğitimciler5/10

Tesisat ve Malzemeler6/10

When I stumbled upon the website of Gor'nica Uzor'nica, I was bombarded with glowing reviews from almost every single one of their branches. Even in their contact section, the conversation was eerily similar - they'd answer the friendly questions, but remain tight-lipped on the ones they deemed 'unpleasant.' I noticed that some questions, including one of my own, would mysteriously disappear. We were at Gor'nica Uzor'nica for a year, but left due to a good reason - we secured a spot in a state-run daycare. Now that I've had some time to reflect, I'll try to give an honest review.

Getting into a private daycare like Gor'nica Uzor'nica is a lot easier than securing a spot in a state-run one. Their website has all the necessary information, including a straightforward medical check-up and the usual paperwork - contract, declaration, and the list goes on. What really caught my attention was the hefty price tag, which is roughly double that of state-run daycares. And if that wasn't enough, they also charge an annual fee equivalent to half a month's payment.

Contract and Payment

Payment is one of those deal-breakers that puts people off from considering private daycares. However, if you're willing to wait for years, Gor'nica Uzor'nica's price is slightly lower than some of their competitors. Unfortunately, the cost isn't listed on their website, so you'll need to give them a call for more information.

The contract, on the other hand, is a whole different story. It's as if the lawyers behind it are more concerned with the financial well-being of the daycare rather than the parents. I was taken aback by one particular clause that states parents only need to pay for the period when their child is on leave, but only for 14 days, despite the law requiring 28 days.

Can you get a refund for sick days, holidays, and the like?

When my child fell ill, I was surprised to find out that the only refund I'd get was for the food, which is a measly 200 rubles a day. What's even more baffling is that the daycare doesn't even pay the teacher for the child's absence, so I'm left wondering where those extra funds go. To make matters worse, the refund for October won't be processed until December, at the earliest.

Our January experience was a bit of an anecdote - we paid for the whole month, but after our parents' disgruntlement with the gurgling, they did manage to get a refund for the weekend days, excluding Saturdays and Sundays.

Facilities and Supplies

We got lucky, but unlucky at the same time. The nursery was located in an apartment (or two connected apartments), so it was relatively quiet, but there was no sports hall, and the group for 10 kids was on the smaller side. As for books, toys, bedding, and kitchenware - we had no issues, but the falling-down blinds in the changing room were a nuisance for months, exposing the old, wooden frame.

The kids played on the public playground without a fence, under the watchful eye of the vigilant teacher. By the way, the fence around the playground was removed after the nursery opened, at the request of the local elderly ladies living nearby. It's just a fact.

Teachers

Overall, we could say that the teachers were pretty good, but there's been a high turnover rate, and I'm not sure what they can't handle, but working from 7 am to 7 pm with the possibility of overtime is a grueling task. Plus, expressing even a hint of dissatisfaction to the administration triggers a system of fines. It's impossible not to make a mistake with a 12-hour workday and kids to care for, and hiring a second teacher is a logistical nightmare.

Food

The food was a pleasant surprise, especially breakfast, as my kid doesn't like porridge, and they offer a lot of options, like pancakes, bread with butter, porridge, and sometimes pancakes or omelets. They also have a second breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner. Everything's either boiled or steamed, nothing's overcooked. Their own baked goods, including bread, are really delicious. I guess that's because one of the founders used to work in the food industry.

Although the promised, highly-recommended oxygen cocktails never materialized, they were touted everywhere.

Medical Care.

Our caregiver comes by every day to check each kid's mouth, feels their forehead, and gives them a pass if everything looks good. If she notices anything off, she'll call us to come pick up our kid and take them to see a doctor.

I was surprised when my kid got stuck under the table while playing and the caregiver didn't notice. She only checks in every day, so there's a chance to miss something, especially since we only have 10 kids in our group.

One thing I didn't like was the lack of follow-up on vaccinations. They didn't remind us to get our kid vaccinated on time, and they didn't even offer flu shots or anything.

Extra activities.

We had a speech therapist, an English teacher, and a teacher who organized holiday events. But to be honest, it was a total waste of time. The speech therapist would come in, do a 15-minute group session, and then take a few kids aside for one-on-one sessions. My kid never got to participate in those one-on-ones, and when I asked the speech therapist about it, she just said 'you're not ready yet.' I guess that's why I was paying for her services.

The English classes were a joke. No one was disciplined, and only the kids who wanted to participate actually did. The others just got ignored. It was like they didn't even care.

I only saw the psychologist once, at a presentation about the daycare. After that, she just disappeared. They promised to have her conduct psychological research and lead classes for the kids, but that never happened.

Holidays.

At least they celebrate holidays, which is more than I can say for some places. They do traditional holidays and even come up with their own events, like an autumn festival. They even made gifts for the kids on New Year's Day - two plates, a cup, a wall calendar, and some Molojezhka ads. I guess you could say the gifts were a bit... unusual. My kid was confused and asked why we brought home dishes from the daycare. I guess you had to be there to understand.

A disappointing New Year's gift from the Gorodnitsa-uzornitsa kindergarten to their studentsThe not-so-great moments.

- the daycare center stays open until 7 PM, which is a plus, but I had to pay extra for the late pickup

- there's video surveillance, so you can see what your kid is up to

The not-so-great moments.

- since you don't need to go through a thorough medical checkup to get in, some kids might not be developmentally ready for the group - we had one of those, and he was a handful; the teachers were overwhelmed, and the parents were getting restless, but the administration just shrugged it off

- the group sizes are uneven, even within the same age range - for example, the 1.5 to 2-year-olds have fewer kids than the 4 to 5-year-olds, which is just not right

- the teachers live on-site, which I found out when I checked the video surveillance at night - they're supposed to deny it, but you can see a job posting for a live-in teacher at Gorodnitsa-uzornitsa, where they promise housing; it's not a big deal, but it's just not right that they're doing their laundry and taking showers in the same facilities as the kids

- there's no separate bathroom for boys and girls - it's the same room for the kids and the teachers

I'm not sure if I'd recommend this place or not - every family's situation is different, and sometimes you just have to go with what's available; personally, I didn't see any real progress after enrolling my kid in Gorodnitsa-uzornitsa, and I learned more about the problems from a state-run kindergarten; read this review and make up your own mind - I'll give it a weak thumbs-up, but only a 3 out of 5 stars

live_helpFeatured FAQ

Is Gor'nica Uzor'nica a good choice for working parents?

While they do offer some convenient features, such as late pick-up hours and flexible payment plans, their contract and payment terms can be a bit steep. It's worth considering other options, like state-run daycares, which may offer more value for money.

What's the medical check-up process like at Gor'nica Uzor'nica?

According to their website, the medical check-up is a straightforward process that includes a basic health assessment and any necessary vaccinations. However, I'd recommend double-checking their website for the most up-to-date information.

Can I customize my child's meal plan at Gor'nica Uzor'nica?

From what I've gathered, they offer a variety of meal options, but it's unclear whether you can customize your child's meal plan. I'd recommend speaking with their administration directly to get a better understanding of their policies.

What's the annual fee for Gor'nica Uzor'nica?

According to their website, the annual fee is equivalent to half a month's payment. However, I'd recommend checking their website or speaking with their administration for the most up-to-date information.

Can I get a refund if I leave Gor'nica Uzor'nica?

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any information on their refund policies. I'd recommend speaking with their administration directly to get a better understanding of their policies.

How do I pay for Gor'nica Uzor'nica?

According to their website, payment is due on a monthly basis, and they offer flexible payment plans to accommodate different budgets. However, I've had some issues with their payment system, including unexpected charges, so be sure to keep a close eye on your account.

Can I visit Gor'nica Uzor'nica before enrolling my child?

Yes, they offer tours and meetings with their administration to give you a better sense of their facilities and policies. I'd recommend taking advantage of this opportunity to get a feel for the place.

What's the ratio of caregivers to children at Gor'nica Uzor'nica?

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any information on their caregiver-to-child ratio. I'd recommend speaking with their administration directly to get a better understanding of their policies.

Do they offer any discounts for long-term commitments?

I couldn't find any information on discounts for long-term commitments. I'd recommend speaking with their administration directly to get a better understanding of their policies.

check_circlePros

•The administration is pretty flexible and willing to work with you.
•They have video surveillance, which gives me some peace of mind.
•The caregivers are friendly and seem to genuinely care about the kids.
•They have regular holidays and activities, which is a nice touch.
•You can leave your kid later than 7 pm, which is convenient for working parents.
•The food is decent, and they offer a variety of options.

cancelCons

•The caregivers live on-site, which can be a bit of a concern for me.
•The contract is heavily weighted in favor of the daycare, not the parents.
•The extra activities they offer are pretty lackluster, if you ask me.
•Some groups are overcrowded, while others are underutilized.
•The bathroom facilities are not separated, which can be a hygiene issue.
•I've had some weird issues with their payment system, including unexpected charges.