Cherie Hearts

[kwcllf]

Hi Winth,


To overcome the problem of water not being topped up, we decided to fill up another bottle and exchanged it when we visit them during our lunch time.

It is also more hygienic. Imagine the food particles in the water bottle when they drank the water after their lunch and still they have to drink the same water till the end of the day!!

Also, I don’t like the idea that they poured hot water into the plastic dispensers as this will caused leeching of chemicals into the water. This could cause some serious helath problems, as studies have discovered.

By the way, when your child was at CH HarbourFront, were you allowed to enter the childcare centre to see him/her? Any idea whether CH staff who have children at the centre visit their children during lunch-time. We were told that the staff who have chldren there would not see their children. I am really sceptical about this.

[kwcllf]

Hi Junkfood,


I am wondering whether we could share ours and our children’s experiences in the childcare centre.

As we are all busy working parents, we don’t have the chance to interact with each other and share our thoughts and experiences. I think if more parents can get together or contact each other in whatever way, it can act as a "check & balance" on the childcare centre. This will keep them on the toes.

You can always send me a private message if you feel the open forum may not be the best place to share "sensitive" information.

[winth]

Hi kwcllf, when I was viewing CH@HarbourFront, they said they had a special room built for parents who come visit their children during activities time. Inside the room, is a see-through panel but from the outside of the room, the children will see only a mirror.


Through the room, the Principal there claimed that the parents can see their children and not cause any disturbance to their daily activities. Soon after I enrolled, they said the room is not usable anymore. Don't understand why (back then) but now I think I can understand. Suspect many parents must have commented and feedback negatively about how their children are taken care of. :lol:

Anyway, I didn't have the time to go visit my boy then, so that special facility was not really useful to me.

[ChiefKiasu]

winth:

Hi kwcllf, when I was viewing CH@HarbourFront, they said they had a special room built for parents who come visit their children during activities time. Inside the room, is a see-through panel but from the outside of the room, the children will see only a mirror...

The thing I like about Schoolhouse By The Bay is that parents are welcome to stay in the \"command centre\" which has a one-way mirror to ALL the nursery rooms to view activities in the centre. Such openness creates a high level of trust between parents and the childcare, that parents are free to check and feedback on what is going on in the childcare which would lead to improvements in overall service levels. Yes, it is tedious to set up, and there will always be negative feedback. But isn't that quintessential of an organization which is confident of their practices and is willing to garner real feedback to monitor and improve their own service levels?

Unfortunately, such a practice is in the minority in Singapore. Most childcare services have closed door policies when it comes to allowing parents to monitor their services. Given all the discussions about having more babies and getting women back to the workforce, we should encourage the Government to regulate childcare services so that we can at least be assured of a minimum level of quality of service that we are comfortable with. And transparency should be part of this regulation.

[kwcllf]

Hi Winth & Chief Kiasu,


I totally agree that transparancy is important and if the childcare centre has nothing to hide, they should not be afraid to have parents visiting their children, as long as they do not disturb the classes.

I have spoken to MCYS and they said they do not have regulation pertaining to visitation rights. MCYS said it is best for parents and the centre to work out a mutually agreeable solution. I think this is giving the childcare centres too much leeway. Just like my case, they will cite their organisation rules, security. etc… to prevent us from entering the premises. So what can we do.

Perhaps, all parents with young children attending childcare centres should come together to voice our concerns and "force" MCYS to implement registration to ensure that the childcare centres do not "shortchanged" us.

Anyone has any idea how to go about it?

[kwcllf]

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In my humble opinion, rather than ‘bad-mouthing’ any organisations, since you are not happy with them, i really wonder why you are still there? I always believe when you point finger at someone, one finger is pointed to that person, while 3 fingers are pointing back at you!

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Hi njs,

Glad to hear you are very happy with Cherie Hearts. Hope we can say the same and I will very much to correct your misconception.

It was NEVER our intention to "bad-mouthed" any organisation. Why would I put my children in the centre and "CREATE TROUBLE" and sour the relationship. For your info, the lapses by the childcare centre that I have mentioned are not the only ones. We have tried to "overlook" them initially but if the lapses were repeated, don’t you think it should be addressed?


Of course, we could look for another childcare centre and for your info, it remains an option but will have to wait. Maybe, your children are not in primary school yet and you may not have known that primary schools are having their year-end exams NOW!

I am glad to hear of happy parents who are totally at ease with the childcare centres that they enrolled their children in. Unfortunately, we unlike you, could see quite a number of FLAWS.

Also, from this forum, you could see that other parents do have their grouses. It is not just us "POINTING A FINGER AT OTHERS WITHOUT KNOWING THAT 3 FINGERS ARE POINTING BACK AT OURSELVES. Maybe, many of them prefer to "overlook" them as changing to another childcare centre can be time consuming and disruptive.

Again, when you mentioned that "it is so human to SEE the FLAWS and FORGET the GOOD", do you think the lapses I have brought up are acceptable?

[kwcllf]

quote:

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With regards to the viewing gallery…yes, it is still there, and i’ve always use it to look at my children whenever i went there, even during lunch hours. I was never stopped from using the viewing gallery.
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I wonder how come the viewing gallery was opened to parents initially, then now allowed to use. Now, according to njs, they can use it.

Don’t you think there is alot of flip-flop in policies. I think if the organisation is confident of thier service standards, there is no need to be so paranoid.

[winth]

[quote]HI ALL (especially to kwcllf & winth) [/quote]
Hi njs,

Since it is especially addressed to kwcllf and myself. How can I have the heart not to respond.

It's good to know that the viewing gallery is open to you. Bec the director told me when I enrolled after that, that is not to me and that they are putting it as a store or something. I think the guy (Andy?) even told me that too many parents coming in and out, very disturbing, so we are not allowed to go in anymore.
[quote]Security has NEVER been an issue as their entrance is to the main reception first and then to the childcare. [/quote]Both are glass doors that can be pushed open. (I hope they have changed the door material though) My child managed to open the childcare glass door and then open the main reception glass door to wait for me at the lobby. That is a concern to me, if it is not to you. Then I'm happy for you.
[quote]For my hubby and I and I dare say, even my in-laws, we are more than at ease with our kids at Cherie Hearts. [/quote]I had to get my parents to fetch my boy one evening as I was very busy at work. My parents came down really angry to say that the teachers didn't even bother to look at them or acknowledge that they are here to take their grandson. The point to this is, the teachers didn't even know that they are related to my boy. First time. So, how can they be sure that it is not a stranger coming here to bring boy out?
[quote]In my humble opinion, rather than 'bad-mouthing' any organisations, since you are not happy with them, i really wonder why you are still there? [/quote]I'm no longer there. 3 months and that's it. Do read carefuly before pointing your finger.
[quote]Nice place and environment for my children to study and explore, and both of them LOVE it there.[/quote]It is nicely decorated with webcam and playground and all the space to run around. It is fun. So I agree. I have never mentioned or criticised about the environment for children to study and explore. Do read carefuly before pointing your finger. It is the security issue that I have questions about. (Maybe really let children explore too much already, they are even allowed to get themselves to the lift lobby?)

[big_bird]

I am a parent at the Cherie Hearts at SAF Depot. My wife is a regular contributor to this forum.
Ever since Cherie Hearts Group took over the centre in May, my son is a lot happier and he enjoys going to school. Before deciding to stay on with Cherie Hearts, we had a meeting with the management and staff. We were impressed with their professionalism, and decided to give them a try.
I am glad I make this decision, and not move my son to other childcare centre, as I can see a positive change in him. We have also met with the teacher and supervisor and are pleased with their passion and dedication in caring for my son.

[kwcllf]

Hi big_bird,


Glad to hear that your son is happy and enjoying his time at the centre. I must admit that the environment is quite nice and spacious and this is one reason why we enrolled our children there.

We were also impressed by their "professionalism" at first. But because we I visited the centre almost daily during lunch-time, we were able to see lapses in service standards. When these issues were finally brought up, they felt "pressured" and then things changed. Uncalled for remarks were also made to our child, which I thnik is totally unacceptable.

Now, we are barred from stepping beyond the red wooden gate, citing security and other reasons. However, this is not carried out consistently and we saw a parent wandered into the centre today and go around the compound looking for his child to bring home. I am sure you can imagine how we feel!

There are many more lapses we discovered but I shall not comment too much as I may be wrongly construed as "finding fault" and "having an agenda" against the centre. If anyone wants to find out more, which I did not reveal too much here so far, please drop me a Private Message.

Whatever it is, I think it will be good to keep an "open eye" to ensure children are not short-changed. It will be great also if parents could get to know each other to excahnge info. I am sure this can act as an effective deterrent for any childcare centre.