Criteria for a Good Childcare Centre

[kopigaogao]

apple79:

Hi thanks for your reply.


I was looking at a CC that a mummy posted that its good and I checked it out online and went past the CC ytd to look from the outside (its already closed). It seems like a nice place. However, I was surprised to read from MCYS website that its licence is only 12 mths. and looking at its licence history, there are even 6 mths licence before although its mainly 12 mths.

And I look at those CC that is much cheaper, their rating is 24 mths.

HI apple 79, i am looking for a reliable cc at Bedok for my son who is turning 20mths next yr. I wonder if a cc's licence is due can they just change their ownership? Because i just found out that this cc has changed their name from Kinderjoy Skoolhouse to Apryl's Joycottage@New Upper Changi and now the new principal told me that they are taking over the ownership and going to change the cc name in Dec again.

I wonder if any mummy has any idea of this cc cos it just puzzled me that how can a cc keep changing thier ownership or name? wil this affect the kids or even their teachers? :shock: :?

[breniece]

Hi.. Anyone can comments on Summer Kids Childcare.. intend to put my son comi next month.. but wondered is the comments good? I only knoe merry kids is not as good as summer kids... Any Comments? :?

[breniece]

schellen:

breniece:

Thinki to put my 2yrs old son at the childcare under playgroup.. viewed the sch.. but wonder is the sch ok? Any comments on this? :?

Hi, I think you should post here for faster feedback: http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=295

thanks a lot

[TheresaChin]

The most important factor is the teacher who is guiding your kids. It is the teacher who would influence you kids the most. The rest are just less important factors.

[littlestardust]

hugeclaw:

hi insider, just a quick update on the case which has finally been settled. After all the drama, the cc has been given a warning letter by MCYS and has paid back my friend 1.5 mth of school fees. Thanks for all of your advice!

But i think this is besides the point. Refund or compensation is one matter...but did the school provide any report/ explanation after investigating into this matter? And how is the matter/ teacher-in-question being dealt with?

It is horrifying to know that our young off springs are at risks of (sexual/ physical/ verbal/ emotional) abuse in a childcare centres!

[kiasu-tweety]

One of the criterias, I feel is that, principal & teachers must be willing & have patience to listen & talk to the parents…

[batbat]

Hi,


I am starting to source around my area (jurong west) for CCC.
It seen many CCC is increasing their fees from $50 & above.

It is a normal for private to increase often than those govt-related (like First Skool and PAP Sparkletots)?

I want to look out for afforable but yet good environment to my baby girl.

Thanks.

[Oppsgal]

Teachers must be patient, food provided must be nutritious and suitable for different age, safety in school, able to let parents know what happen to children if anything happens and interesting programs to suit different age group. On top of that, we have to be able to afford the fees.


Just to share the review of MPA CC at Bedxx Central

Starting, the teachers there seems to keep asking us not to bring our child in not so early and get home early. Reason is the child is too young and might be afraid. Saturday is supposed to be half day, people in CC, said that we should try not to bring our child there on Saturday since still small age. For our case, my child does not cry after about 2 weeks there, but teachers still say don’t bring in too early.

Christmas day eve, we are surprised that the CC is closed full day, whereas the other CC we have noticed operate half a day.

1 month has passed, no food menu put up yet. Asked the assistant teacher, she says the CC does not allow any additional milk intake, must follow with the school timing, even if we want to bring the milk powder for our child. We believe at this age, children have to drink more milk if hungry since cannot eat much during meals. We also noticed that the children there could not take a nap until the nap time has arrived. They are asked to sleep on table. Finally when we received the menu, we are kind of surprise that “Nasi Lemak” and “Lor Mee” are one of those food fed to students there.

For safety there, the main front door seems to left open sometimes by parents when they enter or leave the premises, although there is the note to state that “please close the gate”. Back doors gate is only half the height, so anything could happen if there is someone who wants to kidnap the child. According to the in-charge person, CC needs to leave the back doors open to allow ventilation and the children need to be able to follow instructions to keep safe.

Another month has passed; more things seem to happen to our child this year, not sure is it due to change of form teacher. Scratch is found and the CC informed us. But they could not find the reason. In-charge person says has asked our child (below 2 years old) why got the scratch but get no answer. Our child does not know how to speak in full sentence yet and pronunciation is not well. Next day another scratch is found across the thigh of our child. This time not inform by CC. Maybe they have not notice the scratch. Luckily the scratching incidents disappear after the 2nd scratch is found. Few more days passed, CC called to inform us our child fell down from chair and hit the head. I assume the chair is high and child’s legs unable to touch ground, so falling could have resulted.

Following week after the fall incident, CC teacher again informed us that our child hit the head. When I asked the teacher what happen to the form teacher and why my child is always falling down and bang the head. She told us the form teacher is not there when this happens. Form teacher seems to be always not around when we pick our child up. No communication, no indication in communication book. As a parent, I am pretty upset with such incidents.

Next day, in-charged person told my husband that our child is having a tantrum, throw crayons, and try to run off, so fall down. She tells us that there is no “1 to 1 attention”, tells us that teachers are stress for my child is always running about. We have decided that the CC is not suitable to those young children who is running around, and also cannot take instruction, so taking our child off the CC is the best. Activity seems like very routine. Coloring, watching television…

We told the in-charged that we are going to remove our child. She asked that our child is not ready? She allows us to take our child out of CC end of the month and no need serve 1 month notice + refund our deposit.

We are hoping to get our refund on the last day of the month, but in-charged person there said have to wait another month end to get. So I asked for a black-and-white to say that the CC will be returning the refund end of the next month. She seems displease with my request, saying they will sure to refund, is the norm there for refund and said that we have no trust then fine will give us a note and out of their goodwill they already let our child go off earlier without serving the 1 month notice. Why is there so many debating when I have only asked for a letter to say that they will return the refund?

My next question, why is there a need for a higher qualification for teachers to look after toddlers? Having a higher qualification for teachers and charging a higher school fees does not mean children will have a better quality of teachers who have the passion in looking after children.

[ksks3mum]

Oppsgal:

Teachers must be patient, food provided must be nutritious and suitable for different age, safety in school, able to let parents know what happen to children if anything happens and interesting programs to suit different age group. On top of that, we have to be able to afford the fees.


Just to share the review of MPA CC at Bedxx Central

Starting, the teachers there seems to keep asking us not to bring our child in not so early and get home early. Reason is the child is too young and might be afraid. Saturday is supposed to be half day, people in CC, said that we should try not to bring our child there on Saturday since still small age. For our case, my child does not cry after about 2 weeks there, but teachers still say don't bring in too early.

Christmas day eve, we are surprised that the CC is closed full day, whereas the other CC we have noticed operate half a day.

1 month has passed, no food menu put up yet. Asked the assistant teacher, she says the CC does not allow any additional milk intake, must follow with the school timing, even if we want to bring the milk powder for our child. We believe at this age, children have to drink more milk if hungry since cannot eat much during meals. We also noticed that the children there could not take a nap until the nap time has arrived. They are asked to sleep on table. Finally when we received the menu, we are kind of surprise that “Nasi Lemak” and “Lor Mee” are one of those food fed to students there.

For safety there, the main front door seems to left open sometimes by parents when they enter or leave the premises, although there is the note to state that “please close the gate”. Back doors gate is only half the height, so anything could happen if there is someone who wants to kidnap the child. According to the in-charge person, CC needs to leave the back doors open to allow ventilation and the children need to be able to follow instructions to keep safe.

Another month has passed; more things seem to happen to our child this year, not sure is it due to change of form teacher. Scratch is found and the CC informed us. But they could not find the reason. In-charge person says has asked our child (below 2 years old) why got the scratch but get no answer. Our child does not know how to speak in full sentence yet and pronunciation is not well. Next day another scratch is found across the thigh of our child. This time not inform by CC. Maybe they have not notice the scratch. Luckily the scratching incidents disappear after the 2nd scratch is found. Few more days passed, CC called to inform us our child fell down from chair and hit the head. I assume the chair is high and child’s legs unable to touch ground, so falling could have resulted.

Following week after the fall incident, CC teacher again informed us that our child hit the head. When I asked the teacher what happen to the form teacher and why my child is always falling down and bang the head. She told us the form teacher is not there when this happens. Form teacher seems to be always not around when we pick our child up. No communication, no indication in communication book. As a parent, I am pretty upset with such incidents.

Next day, in-charged person told my husband that our child is having a tantrum, throw crayons, and try to run off, so fall down. She tells us that there is no “1 to 1 attention”, tells us that teachers are stress for my child is always running about. We have decided that the CC is not suitable to those young children who is running around, and also cannot take instruction, so taking our child off the CC is the best. Activity seems like very routine. Coloring, watching television...

We told the in-charged that we are going to remove our child. She asked that our child is not ready? She allows us to take our child out of CC end of the month and no need serve 1 month notice + refund our deposit.

We are hoping to get our refund on the last day of the month, but in-charged person there said have to wait another month end to get. So I asked for a black-and-white to say that the CC will be returning the refund end of the next month. She seems displease with my request, saying they will sure to refund, is the norm there for refund and said that we have no trust then fine will give us a note and out of their goodwill they already let our child go off earlier without serving the 1 month notice. Why is there so many debating when I have only asked for a letter to say that they will return the refund?

My next question, why is there a need for a higher qualification for teachers to look after toddlers? Having a higher qualification for teachers and charging a higher school fees does not mean children will have a better quality of teachers who have the passion in looking after children.

[Oppsgal]

Not going to write the full name in case of some lawsuit whatever…


Have to guess what school is that.

Wondering if we parents before enroll our child in CC can ask the teachers to show all their certs, since most childcare are increasing their school fees? We have to pay higher school fees due to certs, won’t it be right to request for the certs to be shown? What if some private CC increase fees just to stay competitive with the rest of the CC, but do not actually have all the teachers having the higher qualification?

Any relevant authorities have sent out people to actually check on the teachers’ certs before allowing the CC to increase the fees?