My daughter started in the toddler room at 16 months. I remember handing her off that first week I wasn't so sure how it was going to go since she was so extremely attached to me and because the head teacher, Miss Eliza didn't seem like a warm and fuzzy sort of person at first.
It was a rough first month for my daughter, but I was very impressed with how the teachers handled her. They were very patient with her (and my daughter can be a handful). My husband would drop her off, and there was always a teacher ready to pick her up and distract her when he left the room. He usually would go to the observation room to watch for 10 minutes before he left, and he was very impressed too. They would hold her and comfort her and try to distract her with toys and books. When they figured out how much she loved books and art, they would be ready with an art project for her ready to go or a book to read on someone's lap. Miraculously they were able to wean her off her beloved blankie.
When I picked her up, her hair would be in a new hairstyle (my husband could never figure out how to do her hair, so I left a supply of hair bands at the school and they would fix her hair for her in the mornings). They handled all of her dietary restrictions (lactose intolerant) and medical issues (had to have medication administered to her through a nebulizer) without any problems. And after I got used to Miss Eliza, I realized that she really does have a soft spot for the kids. They have done a fabulous job of hiring warm and nuturing classroom assistants. Almost all of them are college graduates and many seem to be currently attending night school for child development programs. Even though my daughter has long since graduated from the toddler program, I still chat with the toddler teachers and assistants. Miss Dona, the head teacher for the toddlers is absolutely wonderful -- everything you could hope for in a preschool teacher. The children absolutely LOVE her.
Lunch is provided, which I consider to be a wonderful, wonderful thing to behold.
They took the lead in potty-training her, which was a big relief for me. I just did what they told me to do.
I highly recommend it.