[Ang Mo Kio/Bishan/Thomson/Toa Payoh] Preschools

[pandarous]

Hi greenbean2011,


Thanks for your comments.

During my visit to the centre, the teacher and assistant seems quite busy and the children in the playgroup are left with only one aunty. I drove my mother-in-law home after having a brief talk with the teacher, leaving my helper behind with my son. This was observed when the staff did not realize that I have returned to the centre. They seemed a bit under-staff, and the teacher-in-charged keeps running to the office to answer phone calls.

The good points are

1. The class size is relatively small as some of the children do not come in daily.

2. Plenty (really a lot!) of material for the children to play with.

3. They have their own toilet.

The bad points are

1. They don’t screen the children body temperature and cleanse their hands before entering the classroom.

2. The playgroup teachers seem very young and I am not sure are they experienced in handling children with separation anxiety.

3. There was two sessions for the playgroup and we went for the one from 11am-1pm. The small bowls served food for the earlier class are left on top of the shelf at one corner and are easily accessible by the children. My son actually reached out for one because he thought he wanna share food with me. They seem under-staff. (as mentioned above).

I am kind of trusting words of mouth but not sure how beneficially it can be during Serene’s absence. She properly be away for awhile (4-month maternity leaves or so).

We are moving to the vicinity hopefully by the end of this year, right opposite of the centre. Perhaps I would go back again for enrichment courses.

Notes: They don’t have school bus service. Next month, they are raising the fees $10 from $230 to $240, which I feel is reasonable and not expensive.

[DesertWind]

Hi pandarous,


Previously when I visited Totsville Montessori, Serene did mentioned to me that they are an enrichment centre and if kid is going regular kindy/CCC, not to drop this.

So depending on what you are looking for, perhaps you may wish to look for a proper CCC and go to Totsville for enrichment only?
:celebrate:

[greenbean2011]

hi pandarous,


last year when i put my child there (9 am - 11am) for 2 hrs playgroup, there was an assistant there that took children’s temperature and disinfect their hands daily, before entering playgroup class.

chinese teacher lao shi is also always inside the playgroup teaching them chinese nursery songs, rhyme. Kids enjoy themselves so much. for English teacher, it’s either Serene herself teaching, or the young teacher.

this year i stopped going- bec of logistics issue, and had converted my girl to weekend enrichment lessons instead. So not sure if there are changes to the school.

perhaps like what DessertWind suggest, you can consider Totsville for enrichment on weekdays / weekend. Serene’s mobile hp for the school is 84187479

[greenbean2011]

hi pandarous,


there are kids from Newton church kindergarten going to Totsville for enrichment (tuition) in montessori Mathematics / Phonics - esp. from those attending AM session classes, on weekdays (Mon - Fri).

montessori Maths syllabus covers up to Pri 3 school maths syllabus, so Maths is popular. School bus transport can be arranged to fetch kids from Newton kindergarten direct to Totsville montessori.

however from the PM session, fewer kids are seen at Totsville on weekdays … more so on Saturday weekend. Perhaps during weekdays, the kids are tired & sleepy, by the time PM session ends at 3.45 pm.

so whichever kindergarten you send yr child to, you can always consider Totsville for enrichment (tuition).

[phtthp]

anyone has feedback for Little Campus child care centre at Bishan ? is it good ? does the CCC prepare kids well for Primary 1 ?

[phankao]

pandarous:

We are moving to the vicinity hopefully by the end of this year, right opposite of the centre. Perhaps I would go back again for enrichment courses.

Notes: They don't have school bus service. Next month, they are raising the fees $10 from $230 to $240, which I feel is reasonable and not expensive.

Are you looking for childcare or those 3-hour montessori workgroups? My ds3 goes to one near the supermarket. Chinese is outside of the standard 3-hr montessori group though. The principal/teacher is very competent in managing the 10+ group of mixed-age children in the workgroup. Let me know if you are interested and PM me.

[phtthp]

hi phankao,


may i also know the name of this place you introduce ?

[phtthp]

Thanks, phankao for swift PM reply !

[smurf]

phtthp:

anyone has feedback for Little Campus child care centre at Bishan ? is it good ? does the CCC prepare kids well for Primary 1 ?

The little campus has a very long waiting list even though they just started a new pre N class. I'm not sure if it's good though.

Totsville's Serene is a very nice teacher, she has many years of Montessori experience at another popular Montessori school before venturing out on her own. She is very patient and caring towards the kids, and Greenbean is right that her priority is the kids, not $. The workgroup in her sch is taught by her and another Montessori trained teacher. The younger playgroup is been taught by younger teachers who are Montessori trained also. But they do not have as much experience as Serene. Serene will occasionally help out at the playgroup when there are new students joining the playgroup.

[pandarous]

Hi DesertWind,


Thanks for your feedback.

I am looking for playgroup instead of CCC. Anyway, it seems most of the CCCs in this area are full and difficult to get in due to strong demand.

Aside to greenbean2011 and smurf,

Thanks for sharing your experience.
I would definitely consider going back to Totsville for enrichment courses.