Criteria for a Good Student Care Service (BASC)

[Luvkid]

Hi buds,


Thanks for sharing. The existing BASC is the BEST CONVENIENT centre liao. It's REAL near his primary school & not too far from home. :roll: There is 1 or 2 located across a street road, which i dun really like especially when there is a need to crosss the road with 1 teacher with handful of students , and when come to rainy day with raincoat or umbrella? Even as early as when he was in K1, i even wanted him to enrol to another BASC which is under operation as the CCC he used to attend during his preschool years. He had been there for 4 years and more or less with the boss & some the previous students from CCC. I found it better for him to adapt with what he is more familiar. After much considering the factor which is SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORT which means an extra expenses. That was about 2 streets away, about 20 mins walk, the bus fee will cost $40 :shock: So, by putting him up at this existing is the BEST CONVENIENT choice for me on top of any unhappiness..... Anyway my main concern is that he is under the centre care in term of meals & revision work without much of my worry.

[buds]

Luvkid:

Hi buds,


Thanks for sharing. The existing BASC is the BEST CONVENIENT centre liao. It's REAL near his primary school & not too far from home. :roll: There is 1 or 2 located across a street road, which i dun really like especially when there is a need to crosss the road with 1 teacher with handful of students , and when come to rainy day with raincoat or umbrella? Even as early as when he was in K1, i even wanted him to enrol to another BASC which is under operation as the CCC he used to attend during his preschool years. He had been there for 4 years and more or less with the boss & some the previous students from CCC. I found it better for him to adapt with what he is more familiar. After much considering the factor which is SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORT which means an extra expenses. That was about 2 streets away, about 20 mins walk, the bus fee will cost $40 :shock: So, by putting him up at this existing is the BEST CONVENIENT choice for me on top of any unhappiness..... Anyway my main concern is that he is under the centre care in term of meals & revision work without much of my worry.

Yep, girl. Good for you.
Least you have the right mentality to stay positive.

Have a fabulous weekend!

[curious_mom]

The student care that my daughter is attending just ensures that she does her homework. They do not give additional work or assessment papers. I am wondering if this is the norm?

[jedamum]

curious_mom:

I am wondering if this is the norm?

some centres provide enrichment while some centres give the kids assessment to work on (be it worksheets or they purchase the books).
bud did some write up http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2557&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0.

[ChiefKiasu]

curious_mom:

The student care that my daughter is attending just ensures that she does her homework. They do not give additional work or assessment papers. I am wondering if this is the norm?

In my opinion, BASCs serve a very important function in Singapore due to the fact that most families have both parents working, and the great focus on academic excellence in Primary school.

BASCs are essentially a substitute for the stay-at-home-parents. As such, the following are important considerations:

Essential requirements:

1. Security
It must be at least as safe as having the children at home, and giving the peace of mind to parents at work that there is some proper supervision of the children.

2. Homework
The service must provide a proper regime of helping the children build up the good habits of completing their school homework before play. The care-givers must go through the homework given to the child by their school and ensure that it is done. This should also include helping the children on their weekly spelling, math mental sums, and tingxie. This can be a life-saver for parents who come home late and can spend quality bonding time with their children instead of being stressed up with having to ensure that their children are keeping up with schoolwork. This also means that you should look for BASCs that cater to a sizeable cohort of students from the same school and classes as your children, as it will allow the care-giver to verify homework, while building camaraderie between the children.

3. Character development
The children may be spending more of their wakeful hours at the BASC than at home. They will also be interacting with other children at various ages. It is important that the care-givers ensure that the interactions are positive and zoom in quickly to nip any instances of bullying or poor social behavior in the bud, because children at this age are extremely impressionable. They must actively encourage children to be helpful to one another, and to participate in team activities.

4. The BASC should be near the school
Beyond Primary 2, the children will be heavily involved in CCA. It may be necessary that the child actually goes to the BASC himself or herself after the CCA.

Nice to have requirements:

1. Web Camera for parents to keep an eye on their children

2. Additional enrichment classes, both academic and non-academic (eg. speed and drama, blading, swimming, basketball, etc). Academic enrichment must not overload the child with additional homework.

3. Value for money (especially during these times)

[curious_mom]

I have been assigning work to my child and marking it at night. Most of the time I end up not being able to go through the mistake with her because it’s so late and both myself and my child are too tired.


If the student care can offer tuition it will be wonderful.

I do agree with the point about CCA; in which most of the time will be spent in school and now I am tearing my hair out trying to figure out how to bring my kid back to the student care next year when she is in P3 and CCA ends in the afternoon. Any advice???

[tph452sg]

Hi All,


Any comments on the BASC inside the school itself.
Anyone has good or bad experience on it.

The Pri Sch that i targeted to send my kid to has a BASC.

:lol:

[curious_mom]

For one; you save on transportation. Every year it’s increasing by $5 !!! In addition; if your kid has CCA; they can just walk back to the student care; it’s within the school so I guess it’s safer.

[Luvkid]

curious_mom:

The student care that my daughter is attending just ensures that she does her homework. They do not give additional work or assessment papers. I am wondering if this is the norm?

Hi curious_mom,

The BASC my boy is attending has been doing the vice versa of yr girls centre. Bcos my boy is in the afternoon seesion, his homework, if there is, will be finished at night. Me so far never missed his homework. Other than asking \"any homework\", i check on his bag personally every night

In the morning, I will send him to BASC for his breakfast at 8.30am, followed by 9am they will start doing ASSEMENT BOOKS (purchased by the centre, we pay for it), some day (beginning of the week) doing English & Chinese Spelling. Around 10 plus, shower time & get change. 11am-Lunch, 11.45am-set off to school. HOW I DARE TO LEAVE THE HOMEWORK to the centre where time is limited??

Have u checked with the centre whether possible to have yr girl doing assesment books (u purchased lah) on top of her homework? She is in the morning session, i guess.

[Luvkid]

tph452sg:

Hi All,


Any comments on the BASC inside the school itself.
Anyone has good or bad experience on it.

The Pri Sch that i targeted to send my kid to has a BASC.

:lol:

Hi tph452sg,

This sounds perfect!!! :celebrate: U can really save all the troubles, like worrying when kids walks over to school, though with teacher around and when there is CCA, no worries of how they get to school or get back to BASC. But wonder if your kid will like to stay in the same environment for the whole day of different curriculum. Can check with the BASC what kind of curriculum they provided. A normal one will provide 2 meals (either breakfast & lunch OR lunch & tea break), guide them on homework, give assement books to do, GIVE not teach huh spelling, shower time. Anyway, putting kids in BASC is allowing us, parents, have a peace in mind when we are at work. At least, we know they are under someone care with meal & homework/assement books done. If the curriculum meets your requirements, why not? Very convenient for sure. Me like convenient, scare MA FUN (trouble), then why have kids huh??

Discuss with your kid if he might like it and if the curriculum meets your requirement. good luck!