[Jurong East/Jurong West] Preschools

[tearss]

Hi all,


I visited Tara & Summer after our conversation online…I feel that TARA is more for children below 22months, more of play. I don’t think the 3 teachers/ in charge do teach much, they seem to just oversee the kids. Hmm…for this, i would rather send them to play gym.

Whereas for Summer, both teachers who I talked to were also the directoress for the school. They speak proper english and both are every experienced. They used to teach at two well known childcare/preschools. For K1 / K2, they will transfer them to their new "campus" at Boon Lay. Summer @ JWest will be more for the younger kids.

[Kabby]

How old is yours, tearss? Mine will definitely be at the JW campus instead of Boon Lay.

[pinkitty]

My son will be joining next year… wat about you, Tearss and Kabalevsky?

[Kabby]

yes pinkitty, next yr too. Jan. yours in what class? what timing?

[blithevincent]

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 kabalevsky, why would you say the MMI preschool center is a child care but not a preschool as indicated in the name? I am thinking to send my 18mon old daughter to there. They charge a premium though, 870+ for a working mom.

[tearss]

kabalevsky, mine is coming to 24mths next week. How about all of you?


Kablevsky/Pink kitty: I am enrolling him next week. 3 days for a start. 9am is already full. We will be going for the 11am slot. Hopefully he won’t feel sleepy by then as his nap time is usually 12-12.30pm.

MMI childcare is at the JW swimming complex. MMI preschool is at JW St 50+.

[Kabby]

blithevincent:

Hi kabalevsky, why would you say the MMI preschool center is a child care but not a preschool as indicated in the name? I am thinking to send my 18mon old daughter to there. They charge a premium though, 870+ for a working mom.

I said it (MMI JW Ext) was a childcare center because it operates from 7am to 7pm and the children can be dropped off during that time. Parents do not accompany the kids in class. They have snacks and meals provided by the school and they may shower and nap in school. That means it is a childcare center. During the mornings, they will have lessons. That is the preschool portion. In Singapore, all the childcare centers have lessons too, so when most of us say childcare, it is understood that they have lessons too, just that they offer additional childcare services. The charges should be like you said, $900 or so per month.

The MMI at JW St 52 is an enrichment center, not childcare. The kids go there for short classes of 2-3h only. Or 3.5h maybe for the kindy kids. They don't have childcare services like showering of the kids, lunch and so on. For all the playgroup sessions on Mon/ Wed, Tues/Thurs and Sat, parents accompany the kids. I wanted that because my dd was 18mth then and had never been to school. So i wanted to be with her during class. They charge only $150 per month cos it's just 2h, 2x a week.

However, when she hits 2yo, I'd want to let her attend drop off classes.

Hope this is clearer to you.

[Kabby]

tearss:

kabalevsky, mine is coming to 24mths next week. How about all of you?


Kablevsky/Pink kitty: I am enrolling him next week. 3 days for a start. 9am is already full. We will be going for the 11am slot. Hopefully he won't feel sleepy by then as his nap time is usually 12-12.30pm.

MMI childcare is at the JW swimming complex. MMI preschool is at JW St 50+.

Mine will be 21 mth next week!

I'll be starting in Jan cos she's still bit younger. I think then I'd be going for 11am too! Classmates? Yay! Looking forward to meeting you someday!

[blithevincent]

kabalevsky:

blithevincent:

Hi kabalevsky, why would you say the MMI preschool center is a child care but not a preschool as indicated in the name? I am thinking to send my 18mon old daughter to there. They charge a premium though, 870+ for a working mom.

I said it (MMI JW Ext) was a childcare center because it operates from 7am to 7pm and the children can be dropped off during that time. Parents do not accompany the kids in class. They have snacks and meals provided by the school and they may shower and nap in school. That means it is a childcare center. During the mornings, they will have lessons. That is the preschool portion. In Singapore, all the childcare centers have lessons too, so when most of us say childcare, it is understood that they have lessons too, just that they offer additional childcare services. The charges should be like you said, $900 or so per month.

The MMI at JW St 52 is an enrichment center, not childcare. The kids go there for short classes of 2-3h only. Or 3.5h maybe for the kindy kids. They don't have childcare services like showering of the kids, lunch and so on. For all the playgroup sessions on Mon/ Wed, Tues/Thurs and Sat, parents accompany the kids. I wanted that because my dd was 18mth then and had never been to school. So i wanted to be with her during class. They charge only $150 per month cos it's just 2h, 2x a week.

However, when she hits 2yo, I'd want to let her attend drop off classes.

Hope this is clearer to you.

Thank you so much. Now I get what you mean. Btw, 150 per month for the 2hr playgroup is really worth the money considering it is a montesorri preschool. Is summer providing the same as the one your baby is attending, as I heard they also have 2hr playgroup session for 20mon above babies. Hmmm, seems not much choices out there at JW indeed... Hope more cc or preschools are opening soon to address the overcrowding...

[Kabby]

hi blithevincent,

yes, summer is similar. 2h as well. there are differences of course, the main one for me is that i can drop her off instead of accompany her.