Pat's Schoolhouse

[windie]

mtdt:

I shd be starting at Pats whitley in july 2010 for their new nursery class (2006kid). now tat I read windie post, starts to get paranoid again!

Windie - Pls also PM me on your comments for Whitley centre in particular. Thanks.

one observation:
the new pricipal seems to have not much planning.... few questions I post to her all came back with a \"I do not know yet\" as answer! so fustrating!

Question 1:
As my son wld be joining a new nursery class of 6-7kids, thus I asked her wld she be starting all the kids on 1st July or staggered them?
Ans: I do not know yet

Question 2:
As tis is a \"small\" class of 8kids max with 1 teacher (Usual class is 16kids with one eng tr /one chinese tr). What would happen when comes to K1?
(Ultimately I still hope my boy be a normal size class with 1eng tr and 1chi tr, I do believe strongly in the bilingual exposure).
Ans: 1 do not know yet.

ARGH!!!

And also principal is also teaching during the day. Wonder how much time does she really have to oversee the centre/admin etc.

Your observation is quite an accurate reflection of the situation

[myWQ]

I’m considering Pat’s, and realised they take quite some time to reply to my emails. When I called, I didn’t even get to speak to the Principal. Are they so popular that they don’t have time to entertain new enquires?

[DesertWind]

myWQ:

I'm considering Pat's, and realised they take quite some time to reply to my emails. When I called, I didn't even get to speak to the Principal. Are they so popular that they don't have time to entertain new enquires?

Hi myWQ,

I sent emails to quite a number of other CCC and found that NONE replied to my emails! For Pat's, you need to decide which centre you are interested in and call the centre principal herself to enquire. Best time to call seems to be about 2 or 3 pm ie. when most children on half-day has left and staff finished lunch break! Some centres told me straightaway they don't have vacancies for my kid's age group hence need to call other centres and keep trying!

Best regards!
:celebrate:

[myWQ]

DesertWind:

myWQ:

I'm considering Pat's, and realised they take quite some time to reply to my emails. When I called, I didn't even get to speak to the Principal. Are they so popular that they don't have time to entertain new enquires?

Hi myWQ,

I sent emails to quite a number of other CCC and found that NONE replied to my emails! For Pat's, you need to decide which centre you are interested in and call the centre principal herself to enquire. Best time to call seems to be about 2 or 3 pm ie. when most children on half-day has left and staff finished lunch break! Some centres told me straightaway they don't have vacancies for my kid's age group hence need to call other centres and keep trying!

Best regards!
:celebrate:

Hi Desertwind,

Thanks for your feedback. Yes I called the centre I'm interested in directly to enquire. Called them on a few separate occasions and everytime it was either the Principal was not available, on leave, or that she will call me back but never did. Either I very suay or not fated with the principal :lol:

[DesertWind]

myWQ:

Thanks for your feedback. Yes I called the centre I'm interested in directly to enquire. Called them on a few separate occasions and everytime it was either the Principal was not available, on leave, or that she will call me back but never did. Either I very suay or not fated with the principal :lol:

Hi myWQ!
Never say that you are \"suay\", it is the centre that is very \"suay\" to have missed your business! heh...heh... :roll:
Another suggestion, try to call on Saturday morning to talk to the teacher on duty! Do not give up if you are really keen. But having said that, I do believe if really, really, things do not go smoothly, it may be God hinting that this is not the right one so not point \"zhuang ciang\". :stupid:

Go look and shortlist some other CCCs as well and see which one ultimately \"opens up\" to you!

:celebrate:

[butterwaffles]

myWQ:

I'm considering Pat's, and realised they take quite some time to reply to my emails. When I called, I didn't even get to speak to the Principal. Are they so popular that they don't have time to entertain new enquires?

Hmmm. A lady called me the very next day after i sent them an email. She also emailed me pretty detailed information about their timetable, extra programmes and the fees. After that, another lady called on the same day to arrange a time with me for viewing their centre. But the centre i've emailed is the one at Arena, not sure about other centres. Am viewing the place tomorrow...

[wongpohfern]

Don’t go to ridgewood.


I’ve sent my girl there for more than half a year now, and i feel so out of touch with what’s she’s been up to.

When there’s a problem that the teachers can’t solve, they will call us and complain immediately. Simple things like taking too much tissue from the toilet, and stuffs like that.

Worse, the communication book that they claim to be using is purely for complaints only. For a good half a year, i’ve received no constructive feedback, just complaints about how my child is not performing in playgroup. If my child is perfectly bright, and not an underperformer, how can they keep complaining? I don’t even know a single thing that my girl has done well in class. i don’t want her to be growing up in such an environment where teachers only sees her weaknesses.

This is really upsetting for us. We thought the curriculum was brilliant, but unfortunately, the teachers’ standards and love for children is clearly lacking.

[maisy]

myWQ:

I'm considering Pat's, and realised they take quite some time to reply to my emails. When I called, I didn't even get to speak to the Principal. Are they so popular that they don't have time to entertain new enquires?

Are u referring to the one in the East ?

I have similar issues with them early last year ... i called them, was told the in-charge was not around ... didn't even bother to take down my number, asked me to call back.... when i called back for the 3rd time in 2 weeks, they have the cheek to ask me \"were you the one who called to enquire before?\" ...i replied rather curtly : \"yes i called before but i m not sure if you are referring to me since i never get the chance to speak to anyone in details\"

Long story short, i eventually managed to speak with in-charge & arrange for a visit with herself at her convenience. Catch this : On the day i visited, i was greeted by a different lady who merely said the \"in-charge cannot make it as she is busy today\" ??? To think that the appointment was agreed to & set up by her ... but she didn't even think it was important to meet a potential client !!! My heart was then set not to sign up because I can't put my child there where the principal or \"in-charge\" as they call it presents such haphazard attitude ... but to \"entertain the admin staff (since it wasn't her fault)\" i went through the motion by walking around the school compound.

Maybe they are really busy....which even justifies why i shouldn't send my child in cos if they are super busy, their attention for the children will indeed be spreaded very thinly .... which doesn't justify the high fees anymore :0

[DesertWind]

wongpohfern:

When there's a problem that the teachers can't solve, they will call us and complain immediately. Simple things like taking too much tissue from the toilet, and stuffs like that. Worse, the communication book that they claim to be using is purely for complaints only. For a good half a year, i've received no constructive feedback, just complaints about how my child is not performing in playgroup. If my child is perfectly bright, and not an underperformer, how can they keep complaining? I don't even know a single thing that my girl has done well in class. i don't want her to be growing up in such an environment where teachers only sees her weaknesses.

Hi wongpohfern,
Half a year is a long time for a kid to be in a place whereby there are so many complaints from teacher. My DS (who is approaching 3 yo soon) was at his first child-care centre for half-a-year and there was no communication in his communication book (except those administrative like outings and HFMD) or any teachers feedback about how he is doing.

Imagine every morning both my hubby and myself will fetch him to CCC and asked him to say good morning to teachers etc. Can't say they don't have a chance to feedback to us. But after 3 mths, feedback was he was not concentrating in playgroup but we thought nothing of it so left him there for another 3 months. After 6 months, no improvements and teacher told me his eating is messy! :!:

So I made an appointment to go down and talk to the teacher personally. After the talk, I concluded my DS was bored and the environment was not suitable for him. But I already much regretted putting him there because 6 months is a long time for a playgroup kid who is not enjoying himself. I pulled him out after that and go into another centre whereby the teachers can feedback to me in great details what he has been doing.

Perhaps you need to look for alternative whereby your child can be happy. At their age (dunno whether your child can speak already or not) but my DS could not and so when he is bored, he just look everywhere and when he tried to walk around the class, they forced him to sit down. So the 6 months have not been good for him. Children need to be happy and have fun and mobility to grow up healthly!

:celebrate:

[happyhappygirl]

hi,


i am thinking of sending my girl to pats halifax. any comments on their latest facilities & teachers?

any other good recommendations comparable to pats?