[Jurong East/Jurong West] Preschools

[tearss]

kabalevsky:

yup, i'm mainly looking at playgroup type of settings, where the kid just goes to socialise and learn thru some hands on and fun manner. just 2hrs in the morning would do.


lack such type around our vicinity i think. or maybe they are there but i don't fancy most of them except these 3 that i considered more seriously.

Hi,
may i know how old is your child? Where is the summer childcare/preschool?

I spent the past mths sourcing ard..even went to mindchamps or even chiltern house in Mountbatten.. still think that it will be better off to send him to playschool. just that around us there are too many childcares..not many choices for playschool. MMI is just like a childcare, i feel, for the younger ones.

have u been to tara's trial class?

[Kabby]

Hi tearss,

Yes I've spent a lot of time sourcing and visiting different places too. I also concluded that I wanted a playgroup/playschool class instead of childcare. There are many childcare centers here.

Erm, I didn't go to the JW Swim Complex MMI cos that is a childcare. I went to the Jurong West St 52 one. That one is not a childcare. It has playgroup, 2x a week in the mornings for 2h or 1x a week on Sat for 3h i think, and is parent accompanied. I did enjoy it with dd but after a while, I feel that it's time for us to move on to drop-off kind, so that with the 2h, I can go and run errands and do some things without her. I've at least observed and accompanied for several months already, so I think she is ready for drop-off preschool.

I think distance is important too, for a child so young, travelling will tire them out, then they might not learn best by the time they reach the center, hence I still prefer it to be in Jurong West, even though I did check out some in Bt Timah/ Clementi/ Jurong East. I did go to Mountbatten also, but not Mindchamps or Chiltern. I was interested in the Montessori for Children. I passed by Odyssey when I was there. Looks very nice from the outside.

But all these were just more like research trips, don't think I myself like to drive down there everyday and be stuck in jams.

My dd is 20 months old now. Summer Montessori has 2 campuses. One at Boon Lay and one at JW Block 674. You can google it. I did post the website earlier in this link, or maybe in the Montessori thread. I visited and posted a review. But can't remember where I posted now. oops.

Yes, I have also been for Tara trial. I love the place too, very spacious and cheery. I like the openness (the entire length of glass). Dd enjoyed the playdoh session, loved the puzzles and I myself love the portrait painting easels. Not something that other playgroups around here have.

[sean wife]

kabalevsky:

Hi tearss,

Yes I've spent a lot of time sourcing and visiting different places too. I also concluded that I wanted a playgroup/playschool class instead of childcare. There are many childcare centers here.

Erm, I didn't go to the JW Swim Complex MMI cos that is a childcare. I went to the Jurong West St 52 one. That one is not a childcare. It has playgroup, 2x a week in the mornings for 2h or 1x a week on Sat for 3h i think, and is parent accompanied. I did enjoy it with dd but after a while, I feel that it's time for us to move on to drop-off kind, so that with the 2h, I can go and run errands and do some things without her. I've at least observed and accompanied for several months already, so I think she is ready for drop-off preschool.

I think distance is important too, for a child so young, travelling will tire them out, then they might not learn best by the time they reach the center, hence I still prefer it to be in Jurong West, even though I did check out some in Bt Timah/ Clementi/ Jurong East. I did go to Mountbatten also, but not Mindchamps or Chiltern. I was interested in the Montessori for Children. I passed by Odyssey when I was there. Looks very nice from the outside.

But all these were just more like research trips, don't think I myself like to drive down there everyday and be stuck in jams.

My dd is 20 months old now. Summer Montessori has 2 campuses. One at Boon Lay and one at JW Block 674. You can google it. I did post the website earlier in this link, or maybe in the Montessori thread. I visited and posted a review. But can't remember where I posted now. oops.

Yes, I have also been for Tara trial. I love the place too, very spacious and cheery. I like the openness (the entire length of glass). Dd enjoyed the playdoh session, loved the puzzles and I myself love the portrait painting easels. Not something that other playgroups around here have.

Hi,

Does anyone know what are the programs available at your new Boon Lay campus? I am very interested as I stay pretty nearby and have been trying to look for a Montessori kindergarten in the vicinity. I understand that for their JW campus, they only have daily programs for up to 4-years old right? Hopefully they can have daily classes for K1 and K2.

Many thanks.

[tearss]

Hi just a comment do u guys know partial Montessori tends to be better than

Full Montessori? I talked to many including frds from early childhood program n someprincipals.

Thanks, I will chk out summer n Tara.

[Kabby]

Sean Wife,

I think Summer just started in 2011 Jan if I am not wrong. So that's why they started out only with the younger ones. But I think the P or director mentioned during my visit that the new Boon Lay campus will have K1. K2 not sure. Why don't you email or contact them? I think the email is on their blog site.

tearss, I think different parents look for different things. So for some, partial Montessori suit them better but for others, they prefer the pure one.

Summer Montessori and MMi are both not pure Montessori, in my opinion. It depends on how you view the definition of Montessori. If it is to follow and adhere to the principles of Maria Montessori entirely, and follow what she first started in Italy then very very few such schools are like that in Singapore. I think can count on one hand.

MMI and Summer both incorporate and integrate stuff that will \"prepare children for P1 in Singapore\". Which is what parents normally want and thus, that is the main reason why it deviates from the original Montessori.

[sean wife]

Thanks kabalevsky. I have sent them an email…tried to call them but no one seems to be picking it up…

[Kabby]

you're welcome. The director/ owner herself teaches, so usually she replies my email at night. But so far they are quite prompt.


I've actually signed dd up but she'll only start in Jan.

[pinkitty]

tearss:

pinkitty:

Personally I like Tara's environment.. clean and spacious, gd quality toys.. very child-safe.. the teachers are great and my son loved them especially the aunty.. i hate to take him out of Tara but it's just tat he is not learning anything ...

Hi Pinkkitty,
why do you need to withdraw your son from tara? since he is happy and kind of play based. Why makes you say that he is not learning anything? How old is he and where will you be enrolling?

Hi,

Actually, I had been observing tat most of the time he was left to run ard...was looking for more structured program

[tearss]

pinkitty:

tearss:

[quote=\"pinkitty\"]Personally I like Tara's environment.. clean and spacious, gd quality toys.. very child-safe.. the teachers are great and my son loved them especially the aunty.. i hate to take him out of Tara but it's just tat he is not learning anything ...

Hi Pinkkitty,
why do you need to withdraw your son from tara? since he is happy and kind of play based. Why makes you say that he is not learning anything? How old is he and where will you be enrolling?

Hi,

Actually, I had been observing tat most of the time he was left to run ard...was looking for more structured program[/quote]HI Pinky,
I went to visit Tara yesterday and saw 3 ladies managing the kids. It seems more like a play studio for kids to play. I think i will skip Tara.

[Kabby]

I did feel some regret that I skipped over Tara though, cos it’s location is so convenient and it is the most spacious so far. The place gives you a nice cheerful vibe right?


I think being able to drop dd off then go shopping is such an attractive prospect. Then ltr have a snack and pick her up.

Rather than having to rush to another school and then rush to JP anyway to get some shopping or errands done then rush back to the school.

Maybe JP shd go higher up, have more floors and then become an education hub and include more choices for us parents, since the demand is very high here. (OT a bit, the other day was trying the Chef Tony Popcorn and Sticky candy at the atrium food fair and the pushcart owner was telling me the sales at JP very high, so they wanted to rent an actual shop but the waiting list is sooooo long. And rentals are sky high.)

So I think actually JP has room for expansion still. Too many people in JW huh?