[Woodlands/Admiralty] Preschools

[bugz]

how about Kids IQ at Vista Point? Anyone’s kiddo attending the playgroup there, and how do you find it?

[soursop]

Hi all,


I am a mother that have experience Purple train at Civic center. I must say that although their fees are very ex!, the programme is not bad! Lot's of activities, parental involvement, excursions, weekly updates on your child's progress and the year end concert held at Woodlands regional library hall is to-die-for! What's more is that they have Kindermusik incorporated once a week and Positive Focus class. It's not truly montessori but more like \"montesorri approach\" as what the indian lady (principal) said. My DD was with them for 1 year before I switched her to CCC due to the birth of my second child. So not a bad programe overall and they teach phonics, sandletters, lots of self-directed play...etc.. The principal takes pain to create new ideas and programmes to involve parents like a mother's day tea time with the kids. Chinese programe there is also good..

The negative points are:
- fees very expensive for 3 hour programme ($550)
- excursions, costumes, props are all extra $$$$
- turnover of teachers are quite high
- teachers she hire are not very experienced ones...maybe to keep cost low?
- small and look a bit crowded.
- very cold...brrrr.....

But for convenience and quality, one can consider it....if you are willing to fork out the $$$$....no subsidy claims because it is not a child care. They have a bus transport too which my daughter took...ranges between $80 to $100....

Hope this helps....

[insearch]

Hi,

My family and I have just shifted to Admiralty / Woodlands area. We are in search of a Nursery for our 4 year old. Anyone know of a good nursery programme in that area?

Thanks

[soursop]

I live around this area. There are a couple of kindys that you can check out in Woodlands Mart / Vista Point and Civic Center. Are you looking for full day/ half day?


And there are also some around the HDB blocks…

[leo]

insearch:

Hi,

My family and I have just shifted to Admiralty / Woodlands area. We are in search of a Nursery for our 4 year old. Anyone know of a good nursery programme in that area?

Thanks

are you referring to those 2/3 hrs nursery? There is one called Little Friends at the building next to Admiralty MRT (the one with the foodcourt). Small, but the owner is good with kids...

[insearch]

leo:

insearch:

Hi,

My family and I have just shifted to Admiralty / Woodlands area. We are in search of a Nursery for our 4 year old. Anyone know of a good nursery programme in that area?

Thanks

are you referring to those 2/3 hrs nursery? There is one called Little Friends at the building next to Admiralty MRT (the one with the foodcourt). Small, but the owner is good with kids...

Thanks. Soursop and leo.
I found a pcf at Blk 652 not sure if it is good. Anyone knows about Pcf Kindergarten...

[soursop]

You can go to the pcf outlet and check out their curriculum, usually they are pretty standard across most pcf centers. Teachers are the ones that make the difference. I have a friend that sends his kid to the PCF and he told me that they are more or less worksheet based.

I tend to prefer more hands-on learn by play curriculum which can be found in those private / chain preschools.

I have a neighbour whose kid that attends Little friends, according to him, not bad and teacher-child ratio is low. I went to enquire in 2009 and there's only the principal that was teaching so she wasn't able to do K1 or K2 classes so she only teaches the nursery kids. She has 1 assistant teacher. Found the place a bit small though...

Anyways, you need to set your expections and priorities, go check out some outlets and then you will be able to find one to your liking...most of it anyways...no perfect one though...been searching myself for 5 years!!!! :lol:

[insearch]

Thanks Soursop.


I spoke visited PCF today. The P told me that her centre is pivoting a play-based curriculum. However, it has not scraped away the worksheets because most parents still believe in worksheets.

As for the atmosphere and ambience in the kindergarten, I find it too enclosed without natural light and view of the outside. It is a pity as the kindergarten faces a neighbourhood park. I believe that natural elements can greatly enhance children’s learning.

I’m still considering …

[gonzo]

You could consider the following pre-schools:


[1] High end
The Word - Civics Center
Purple Train - Civics Center

[2] Medium end
Kinderland - Civics Center
MMI - Woodlands St 81

[3] Low end
PCF
Evangel Kindergarten - Woodlands St 81
New Life Kindergarten - Marsiling
Edelweiss Kindergarten - Opp Sembawang Shopping Centre*

* My DD2 goes there and I like the environment - very nurturing. I have had experience with Kinderland for DD1 and was not pleased with the programme and teachers.

I dislike the ones at Admiralty Place since it is too small and there are no proper facilities for kids to play.

:celebrate:

[soursop]

My DD was with Purple train for a year when she was 3. really good programme there with Kindermuzik and Positive Focus class. Lots of field trips and parent participation events. Bus transport available too. However I pulled her out because I wanted her to be more 'independent\" and explore more food options so I sent her to CC at Learning Vision.

The flip side with Purple train is the fees....darn expensive! $550/mth excluding field trips and concerts... also the teacher thurnover tate is very high and mostly not so experienced ones...only the principal is good and she holds the reigns for all the curriculum and the activities there. The chinese seems pretty okay cos I remember my DD having learnt many chinese words after only a few months of lessons.

Heard some review here that Kinderland at Civic used to be better but now std has dropped. Not sure cos haven't tried it...thinking of doing so though.

I'm trying out for MMI at Vista Point for Kindergarten tomorrow for K2 level. The last time I was there, I was totally impressed with the children's std. :celebrate: