The Britleys School, Inc

We’ve sent all three of our children to The Britley’s School, and it has been so much more than just a preschool—it’s truly a cornerstone of our family’s life in DC. Britleys is a place where children are not only cared for, but actively encouraged to be self-sufficient, curious, and confident learners. The teachers treat every child with warmth and respect, while also being deeply committed to their academic and emotional growth. They use the city itself as an extension of the classroom, helping the children learn from the world around them. What makes Britleys even more special is the community it cultivates. The parent network is welcoming, generous, and incredibly supportive—we’ve made some of our closest friendships through this school. The Britleys School is a treasure: a staple of the Southwest community and a truly extraordinary place to have entrusted with our children’s early years.

Our daughter has attended The Britleys School since infancy and we are so happy with the level of care she has received over the past 3+ years. A few notable areas: 1. The teachers are top notch. They are very in tune with the children, highly skilled in early childhood education, and keep the children engaged with age appropriate, practical, interesting activities each and every day. This has been the most important and most exceptional thing about The Britleys for me as these are the lovely humans who are engaging with our children, often spending more time with them than we do as parents. This is evidenced by the fact that many teachers are well tenured with the school and while turnover is understandable, there has been significant continuity with teachers who have been there for years. I feel that I can completely trust them with her care and am extremely grateful for their collective warmth and dedication to the children. 2. Focus on outdoor play and seasonality. I like the fact that they don't have a playground because this encourages daily excursions to local parks, playgrounds, markets and even water play when the weather permits. As we live near the school, we have had the good fortune of observing the kiddos out and about through the years and it's just magical to see how happy the children are to be outdoors. The monthly lesson plans include many activities about the seasons and various cultural events happening throughout the year. I feel that there is focus on helping the children to become global citizens, which we love! 3. Quality. From the teachers, to the lessons, to the special events to the daily meals and snacks provided, you can see the level of effort and investment that goes into everything. We receive weekly and monthly recaps with plenty of helpful information and I feel there is a good balance between communication and allowing the teachers to be fully present with the children throughout the day. I have aways received prompt, respectful, and helpful communication from the owner, Ms. Gloria. 4. Kindness and respect. It has been truly beautiful to witness my daughters' growth and development in the care at Britleys. I give much credit to the school for her lovely manners, ability to easily share with other children, and her ease of being around others. They are doing something truly right as they have created a welcoming environment for the kids where they rarely struggle at the door. It's warm, inviting, fun and engaging. I love that the school is small and that the kids get to interact with all ages at various times while also being grouped by age/class. Somehow, there is a balance between structure and independence and I have truly appreciated that balance. I am so happy we found the Britleys and enrolled our daughter when we did. We have had a great experience and look forward to continuing the partnership!

On the surface, The Britleys School appears to be a nurturing environment for young children. However, our family's experience was disappointing and ultimately led us to withdraw our son after a brief enrollment. Shortly after starting, our 21-month-old son began exhibiting some behavioral challenges, including hitting. We fully acknowledge the need to address this behavior and were actively working with him at home to guide and support him. At the same time, we recognize that behaviors like this can be part of normal toddler development. We had multiple conversations with the school about strategies to support him, and the administration requested a virtual meeting to discuss the matter further. During the meeting, we were taken aback by the way our son was described and by the assumptions made about our family. Rather than working collaboratively to find a constructive solution, the discussion left us feeling blamed and unheard. The language used to describe our child was concerning, and we felt it did not reflect an environment that would nurture and support his growth. Research has shown that disparities exist in how children's behaviors are perceived and addressed, particularly for Black boys. Our experience reinforced these concerns, and we ultimately decided that The Britleys School was not the right fit for our family. We encourage families to carefully evaluate whether the school's approach aligns with their expectations and their child’s needs. Every child deserves an environment where they are seen, valued, and supported.

The Britleys has been the best thing that could have happened for our family. We have had complete peace of mind that our two girls are safe, loved, and always learning something new. They look forward to going to school every day. We have been consistently impressed to see our toddler come home counting in Mandarin, demonstrating new yoga poses, and talking about everything from how magnets work to her "new favorite artist, Van Gogh." We love their dance classes and many special events. The teachers are always engaged, creative, and thoughtful about bringing out each child's strengths. This daycare is truly a gem!

We have had a wonderful experience with The Britley’s at both locations for about 18 months. Our son has flourished there, and has shown passion in reading, counting, dancing, foreign languages, and a variety of social interactions. The staff are engaging and deeply interested in the children's well being. I have personally benefited from their advice and feedback and am grateful that my son has been exposed to yoga and etiquette lessons! It is adorable to watch them apply this knowledge. Gloria and her team put a lot of thought into the instruction and care for the kids and they are very communicative on a range of topics. I wish I had known about Britley’s for my older kid!