early childhood teacher

preschool teacher

kitchen team member

early childhood specialist

nurse

Kensington School

All the staff was great, from teachers to directors to specialists. Unfortunately, the school’s culture and teaching approach did not align with my teaching style. The schools are beautiful from the outside and inside, and they like to keep it that way. There are cameras inside each classroom, as well as the front of the school and playground. Everything is extremely uniformed and micromanaged. A teacher does not have much say in their classroom. All the teachers boards across Kensington Schools have to look the same, you can’t decorate bulletin boards any way you want. You have to use certain assign colors/patterns. You can’t choose which toys/learning activities  you want, there’s a specialist for that. All the lesson plans are given to you, you are told what to teach and there is few wiggle room to put your own twist on it. They have a lot of material one has to incorporate into the classroom for different age groups, too much, I’ve never worked for a corporate school, so this may be the norm. Teachers and children are often moved classrooms. Children are dispersed into either a younger or older classroom , depending on their age. This makes it extremely challenging for the teacher and child. Children do better from routine. Which is never consistent at Kensington. And on top of not having a consistent classroom, you are still expected to execute all the lessons they ask for. You are asked not to step out of ratio, so you have to ask someone to come in so you can go to the restroom, which they don’t always do. Sometimes you are asked to take your lunch break extremely early like 11 am even if you are off 5. They put too much emphasis on teachers’ dress code. You can only wear certain colors (they have a color wheel), no jeans, only solid clothing, no prints. You are “gifted” one jean day a month, and if you are lucky in the spirit of corporate America a pizza party as well. By far, in all my years of being in early education, this is the school I’ve seen with the most teacher overturn. 

This is the third child care center I have worked with in the last 12 years.  I have stayed with Kensington for 6 years (been at two of their schools) because of the setting, resources, awesome coworkers and great families.  The schools and classrooms are beautiful- bright, classrooms with tons of windows, cute furniture etc.
Nearly all the curriculum is provided, as well as classroom needs- you don't have to buy anything yourself, unless you want to add icing to the cake!  
I like the swing towards Project Based Learning recently- even though it requires more "work" on my end- the kids LOVE it!  I love preschoolers- watching them explore and discover new things!  
I am reviewing Kensington because a friend mentioned the negative reviews on here- I was actually pretty surprised to read how snarky people can be- and I felt like I had to post something.  
Is Kensington perfect? No.  Are they trying? Absolutely.  
I've experienced enough child care centers to know that this is among the best.  I even did two community service projects last year with other teachers and people from the main office.  No other place I worked offered stuff like that.  I feel like they are trying to help us build community within our schools and with each other.  I can actually call my coworkers my friends and mean it. 
I haven't had issues with the "office" at all- I had curriculum questions and they were answered immediately and everyone I've come in contact with at the meetings has been nothing but nice.  Unfortunately I think a lot of new teachers come in with expectations that are unrealistic. You are a TEACHER, but in all fairness, it is a child care center- you will serve food, you will clean a little. You may have to be flexible and gasp- take work home on occasion, but that's all part of the job and what will be best for your students.  
Attitude is everything.  Keep it positive and you'll have a positive experience.  It all comes down to the children.  
I plan to stay here for as long as they'll have me!

Overall, I love working at Kensington School! The teachers and families that I get to work with are amazing. Kensington is also passionate about Developmentally Appropriate Practice and they are constantly doing research, innovating, and updating their program and policies with those things in mind. On top of all that, Kensington Schools are BEAUTIFUL! I love working in such a pretty and bright environment.

My favorite part about working at Kensington School is the curriculum. They provide an in-depth, creative, and developmentally appropriate curriculum for each age group. As a teacher, it makes it easy for me to fill my days with fun, educational, and appropriate activities. You are also able to add your own flare and activities to the curriculum based on the needs of your class, which I love!
The hardest part about working at Kensington School is the lack of feedback. We don't receive much constructive criticism or encouragement. It is also easy for communication to get lost between teachers, directors, and the home office-- communication at Kensington isn't streamlined, which can make things confusing sometimes. 

With all that said, we work in a challenging field. It is a challenge to find and retain high-quality teachers, and it is challenging to find centers that will treat high-quality teachers with the respect they deserve. While Kensington School is not perfect, I firmly believe it is one of the best schools that Early Childhood Education has to offer! I wouldn't want to work anywhere else!

I've been teaching since the late '80s and am proud to work for a company that values my experience and education.  I love that I work in a beautiful environment with abundant resources.  There have been a lot of changes in upper management as they have opened more schools but this has only enhanced the schools. They just created a Tinker Lab in one of the rooms and the children love it!  We have SmartBoards, solid curriculum materials and opportunities for advancement.

At most schools I was expected to purchase supplies and materials.  Kensington is happy to purchase supplies and materials - even a very expensive large wooden block set I saw and added to a "wish list"!  Basic supplies (paint, paper, etc.) are always purchased in bulk and available.  Additional materials are purchased for me or reimbursed in a timely manner (less than a week).

The one area that needs improvement is our benefits package.  They do offer health and dental benefits, sick and vacation time,  paid holidays (teacher level and higher), reduced child care for lead teachers and directors and provide paid in-service training.  As someone who does not have young children and does not need insurance (hubby has an excellent policy), I am actually compensated less than others who take advantage of these programs.  I am hopeful that as the organization continues to grow and expand they will make adjustments to this area, as well.

What is the best part of working at the company?
I have been working for Kensington School since 2015 and I can’t say enough good things about it. Kensington has truly become a home a way from home and the people I work with feel more like family. Kensington goes above and beyond for their families, children, and teachers. Kensington understands the importance of early childhood education and that is reflected in every decision they make. They are always learning, growing, and innovating. If you work at Kensington, you will always be on the cutting edge of the newest and best early childhood research. The schools and environments are not only beautiful but designed with the children and developmentally appropriate practice in mind. They provide in-depth curriculum and materials for each age group as well as training and support to all of their teachers. The compensation is competitive and they value promoting from within; the growth opportunities are endless! If you have a passion for early childhood education, Kensington School is the place for you!

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Working in early childhood education is hard work! Eat your Wheaties every morning and be ready to move, change diapers, run, jump and roll around on the floor with these tiny humans! It can be exhausting at times, but so, so worth it!

This is a classic example of how appearances do not always accurately portray reality.  The training program for this company involves three days at their Hinsdale location.  Day one, a trainer reads the handbook to new employees.  Day 2 and 3 are supposed to provide school specific training, such as school policies, curriculum and systems training.  The school is short staffed, so instead, trainees are thrown into rooms to work as aides.

Starting at the school, no further training existed.  The assistant director made promises to come in to help provide guidance on curriculum and systems, but did not.  Instead, leads are left trying to figure out what the curriculum expectations are, manage children with no behavior guidance plans in place, be asked to work over DCFS ratio, and mitigate a lack of supplies.  

The curriculum is outdated and not DAP (loads of worksheets and workbooks, too much seated time).  Inappropriate behaviors are accepted as the norm and directors to not implement behavior plans to help positively guide children.

The pay is above industry standards, but without tools to set staff up to succeed, this school is not the best place for either experienced educators or those new to the field.

When I first entered the doors of Kensington School, I instantly knew this is where I was meant to be. The classic, clean, warm, home like feel made you feel as if you have always been there. I was welcomed with a warm smile and greeting and my interview was perfect. The director and assistant director at the time made me feel like my voice as a teacher mattered and asked me about my experiences as a teacher in other centers, my favorite early childhood story and what I was expecting to gain out of a job at Kensington. I never knew I would have gained as much as I have. 
 Fast forward a year and a half later and I feel the same way as I did when I first walked into Kensington. The owners are by far some of the most generous, kind, and involved individuals I have seen. They care deeply about  their families ,offer a one of a kind education and love/value their staff members. 
The staff and families at my location are amazing, we all work together and know that we are a great team. 
Kensington offers all of the right tools to make your job as a teacher the best is can be, offers fun and exciting inservice trainings, the best family involvement activities and more. 
I am proud to call myself a member of the Kensington Family and am eager to continue to grow with them.

There truly are no words to describe how thankful I am to be part of the Kensington family! I started in January as a TA for the two's room at the South Naperville location and instantly knew that this would be the best decision I could have made. I can not say enough about the incredible kids and their families. Each and every one of them makes you feel appreciated and respected. 

I wish I could put into words how incredible the staff at Kensington is. Everyone is truly on your team and wants you to succeed. The love they have for the kids is truly something special and I can honestly say it's so amazing to witness and be a part of. Our director is such an incredible leader and truly strives to bring out the best in everyone and reach our highest potential. She has encouraged me to continue to build my growth  and become an even better TA and future teacher. I am forever thankful!

After everything that has happened due to Covid-19, we were not quite sure where we would go from here but what I will tell you in Kensington stepped up and truly showed us how much they value us. During dark times, true colors come out and Kensington has never shined brighter. This company isn't just a company, it's truly a family. 

Thank you for loving your teachers <3

Management was awful and treated all their employees terribly. Asking a simple question could get you yelled at. Rooms were often over ratio and teachers were thrown into several rooms despite being told they'd only work in one. Management made promises about many things, raises, benefits, and so on, but then when hired, none of it was true. This place does not care about their employees and they care even less about the children in their care. Many of the teachers I encountered were quite mean to their children. Yelling, putting them in timeouts, and so on, even though Kensington swears up and down they don't do these types of things. They constantly break DCFS regulations and treat their employees terribly. Expect to stay past what the schedule says, even if you have something important to do, like attend college or pick your child up from school. And if you have an emergency, you can forget about trying to leave early. They even had a rule early on when I was there that no one was allowed to call off (everybody did anyway). This is the most stressful job I've ever worked at with the most hostile management I have ever seen. Everybody hated their jobs. Also, the pay is terrible.

When I started working at Kensington I was thrilled. I was so excited to start a new career at such a beautiful school. After about 3 years I learned that the way the school looks is all that they care about and not the well-being of the children. I was only a teacher assistant and was put in rooms over-ratio and by myself. I was given lead teacher tasks and stressed out beyond belief with no support from management. They won’t pay their employees well even though they charge outrageous amounts for children to attend. They are really good at making you feel special in the moment but screwing you in the end. I was promised a position and a raise at their new school in Hinsdale and after the pandemic was let go and yet they hired new teachers during the pandemic. They are cheap and don’t want to pay people who deserve it. If you work here in my opinion you will be nothing but a replacement in the long run. I loved my kids and got a long great with parents. I could keep going but my advice... if you want a great experience as a child care teacher this is not the place.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Early childhood teacher 23 salaries reported	$21.33 per hour
Preschool teacher 4 salaries reported	$21.44 per hour
Kitchen team member 25 salaries reported	$17.60 per hour
Early childhood specialist 2 salaries reported	$20.00 per hour
Nurse 6 salaries reported	$31.17 per hour

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