Warren Parents Open Local Childcare Facility

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ — Local parents Amina and Asanka Gunaratne have two young boys and know all too well about the struggle to find a strong early childhood education program.

“We experienced good programs and not so good ones for our sons,” Amina told Patch. “We thought there has got to be a better solution.”

Taking matters into their own hands, the couple decided to become franchise owners of Primrose Schools and opened a location in Berkeley Heights.

“We wanted a good strong curriculum and environment where kids can be kids and have a love for learning,” Amina said. “We struggled finding that for our own children when they were younger. So we took this opportunity to bring these things to our community.”

Although the couple is celebrating their two year anniversary since opening up, it took about 10 years for them to find the right fit.

The Gunaratnes used to live in Scotch Plains and moved to Warren, but worked in Summit for many years, so they were familiar with the area and the need for “good, quality child care.”

The next step was finding the right program. Primerose offered a strong early childhood education program that would fit all families in the area.

From part-time care to full time, Primrose offers a variety of programs.

Primrose has services starting at infant or 6 weeks all the way to an all-day kindergarten program.

“There is a strong demand for a school full year program as well,” Amina said. “About 400,000 children in New Jersey seek some form of child care as most families have two working parents.”

The full-day kindergarten is very well sought-after and the school also offers summer camp and afterschool activities up to second or third grade.

Being opened for only two years, the school has already earned advanced accreditation as the first school in the east coast with a gold standard in early education.

“It’s a great milestone for us,” Amina said.

Enrollment is open to children from all over the area. Students predominantly come from Berkely Heights and New Providence but also come from Summit, Basking Ridge, Westfield, Scotch Plains and more.

The couple is also looking to expand and open other locations maybe in Basking Ridge and Warren in the future.

The school is located at 246 Springfield Avenue in Berkeley Heights.

For more information call (908) 286-0900 or visit https://www.primroseschools.com/schools/berkeley-heights/ or Facebook.

(Photos provided)

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