[Bukit Batok/Chua Chu Kang/Yew Tee] Preschools

[staypositive]

jedamum:

milo66:

He is attending Grace House at Bt Batok. Quite a good sch but price very steep.

Appreciate more comments on Grace House at Bt Batok. TIA.

Hi Jedamum,

Sorry for butting in.. thought I can share my experience on Grace House Kindergarten (GHK)

My ds was there for K1 and K2. Ds was so happy and look forward to go to school everyday.

It was a good change for him, 180 degrees from the childcare he spent his N1 & N2.During his days at the childcare, I had to drag him to the CC every morning as he would cry and tell me that he doesnt want to go. He was just 3 and couldnt verbalised why he didnt want to go. The day I picked him up with bloody cheek and teeth marks on his arm, we just had to pulled him out. Ds is a quiet boy, so we knew he was bullied by some of his more aggressive classmates, this was also confirmed by his teacher. There were a no of occassions when I noticed the kids were left alone in the class with no teacher in sight and I would just hang around longer in the class to make sure everything is alright until the teacher comes back. OK, enough of my ranting on the horrible CC.

Now back to Grace House. Visited a few around Bukit Batok- Just Kids @ blk 159, kindergarten @ Church of St Mary@bt Batok East Ave 2 (already ceased operations) and YWCA@blk 531 before choosing GHK.

A few reasons why GHK was a good choice for us:
1. The facility is a fairly new, clean, airy and bright. Colourful classrooms make you (and the kids, of course) feel like it is a happy place.
2. Teachers, administrators and even the aunties who prepare the food are friendly
3. When I picked up my ds after school, I can always ask the teacher if I'd like some feedback on how he is doing in class. No need to wait for the half-yearly meet-the-parents session
4. If you go to their website, it was mentioned that they are an affiliate of Raffles Pre-school. Not sure what that means. I believe must the curriculum. Quite like the syllabus as I think they prepare the kids well not just for Primary 1 but also in their overall general knowledge.
5. His K1 teacher was able to point out what he should have learnt by N2 (that's when we realised what was sorely lacking in the CC academic-wise) and this gave us ample time to coach him
6. Fees were cheaper $840 per term of 10 weeks vs his previous CC $700+ per month, after subsidy
8. Convenient, walkable distance = good exercise
9. More structured timetable i.e. 1 lesson after another just like P1 timetable, unlike his CC, much of it was idle time

[cafelatte]

I hestitate to comment on this thread as my experience was years ago and may be out-dated.


Tulip Montessori - I like the enivornment but don’t like that they charge Montessori fees but is not a true Montessori school. Mrs Kwan is the sole proprietor so naturally she’ll try her best to make prospective customers/parents feel good. I did not have such a good experience with her when I had to withdraw my child from the center. In the end, I paid full 1 term ie 10 weeks fees but my child only attended 2 weeks. Still heartpain when I think about it now.

[tsh0202]

Anyone has good montessori centre(either childcare or kindergarten) @Choa Chu Kang to recommend?

[jedamum]

staypositive:

It was a good change for him, 180 degrees from the childcare he spent his N1 & N2.During his days at the childcare, I had to drag him to the CC every morning as he would cry and tell me that he doesnt want to go. He was just 3 and couldnt verbalised why he didnt want to go.

Now back to Grace House.

A few reasons why GHK was a good choice for us:
5. His K1 teacher was able to point out what he should have learnt by N2 (that's when we realised what was sorely lacking in the CC academic-wise) and this gave us ample time to coach him
6. Fees were cheaper $840 per term of 10 weeks vs his previous CC $700+ per month, after subsidy
8. Convenient, walkable distance = good exercise
9. More structured timetable i.e. 1 lesson after another just like P1 timetable, unlike his CC, much of it was idle time

your 3 yo can't verbalise yet, so did the teacher feedback on anything?

for $840 per term, how long is the class (is it a CC?)? what are the time slots?
is it inclusive of computer and misc fees? readers are separate right? do they have keyboard incorporated in their music lessons?

my ds2 is currently in BPMCK (another popular church kindie) and we will be relocating next yr. the fees although is comparatively cheaper than Gracehouse, but after adding in the computer fees and bus fare, it is about the same. so still undecisive on whether to change.

thanks for the feedback. seems good.

[buds]

tsh0202:

Anyone has good montessori centre(either childcare or kindergarten) @Choa Chu Kang to recommend?

There's Amazing Star (childcare) and Ichiban (kindergarten).
I've been to the Amazing Star @ Jelapang and it was quite
good. Look see only though, didn't sign up cos a bit far for
me. Ichiban i went to the one @ Hong San... didn like it at
all. Mebbe bad timing.. or teachers' rough day at work, i
dunno. I didn't have a good impression of that centre.

You gotta see for yourself to believe. Have you gone down
to see any tsh0202? Cos different strokes for different folks
reali.. and plus different ppl would have encountered different
reception upon our visits and hence different experiences. JMHO.

Also, how's your budget like?

[TAccs]

I am looking for a childcare for my 4 and 2 yo children.


Just wanna know any feedback on Carpe Diem @ Bt Batok Central ? What are the other recommended ones in Bt Batok pls

[mumtotwo]

Hi, so any feedback on Innate Montessori? The very first comment was on this childcare. I would like to know more abt this centre.


Thanks.

[staypositive]

jedamum:

your 3 yo can't verbalise yet, so did the teacher feedback on anything?


His cc teacher commented that DS is one of the easiest kid to care as he's polite, usually play by himself and will not disturb other kids. However, some of the more naughty ones in the class like to pick on his quietnes, disturb him, snatch his toys away. To top it off, there's a girl in the class that goes around biting other kids

for $840 per term, how long is the class (is it a CC?)? what are the time slots?

3 hours only, kindergarten mode. Not CC. If morning session 830am-1130am. But you can send your kid as early as 8.15am. They will have breakfast, followed by assembly, before starting lesson proper. If you choose afternoon, then I think 1145am-245pm. Am more familiar with the morning one

is it inclusive of computer and misc fees? readers are separate right? do they have keyboard incorporated in their music lessons?

No music lessons/ computer lessons. At the beginning of each term, Parents will be given the syllabus and song sheets for each of the 10 weeks on what the teachers will be covering. DS also went for quite a no of field trips, on average at least 1 per term e.g. pizza factory, coin & notes musuem, philatelic museum, police centre, healthzone, hortpark, etc. Usually these coincide with the theme for the term

my ds2 is currently in BPMCK (another popular church kindie) and we will be relocating next yr. the fees although is comparatively cheaper than Gracehouse, but after adding in the computer fees and bus fare, it is about the same. so still undecisive on whether to change.

If your son enjoys the kindy and it is not too far to travel from your new place, then maybe you might not want to change since he has his friends and teachers there

thanks for the feedback. seems good.

[jedamum]

staypositive,

thanks for your replies. will be dropping by around CNY next yr cos they said have open house.

[VIJAYA KARNANI]

ChiefKiasu:

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/kindergarten/tulip-montessori comes highly recommended by phantom who is sending his son there. It's a bit off in Choa Chu Kang, though, so do consider the distance.

Hi
i read yr posting , you recommend TULIP. I am planning for my son 2 yr 3 mnths.
I will be obilised if you could share yr experience with me .