Pat's Schoolhouse

[camleelaa]

Karl12, that is the correct website. The school should provide you with a free logon.

[Karl12]

Hi jetsetter,

I totally agree with you.
Their study time each day is 1hr 40mins, which is shorter than a normal kindergarden learning hours. I notice that they have music and movement everyday. Do they necessarily have to sing everyday? and of coz daily outdoor activities like cycling, playground,sandplay, waterplay etc
It's no wonder why most kids are happy there.
Compared to other kindergarden/childcare with playground session once a week, pats is a play heaven.

But I believe it's not aroozoo's problem? Probably it's pats overall curriculum. In the past, pats produce a lot of children with good results in primary school. They are the few bilingual preschool back then.

Now, things have change. Every school has improved. Most pre schools teaches both languages now. Curriculum also improve a lot. So much so that some schools are more comprehensive than Pats now. Imagine the biggest chain MFS is more academic focus than Pats now. Downside for MFS is their high teacher student ratio. Their enrichment program like abacas, science, speech and drama are outsourced to professional, which IMO is better. Guess KU is not making any progress after they acquire Pats. They cant be using their old curriculum when the world is constantly improving.

I also send my DS to berries. Coincidentally, all my friends with kids in pats also send their kids to berries. We know we cant rely on Pats alone for chinese as their syllabus lagged behind other pre schools that I have made comparison with.
I am looking at sending my DS to reading program too. Probably I Can Read or something similar. Notice that other kids his age can read simple stories themselves already. But mine still rely on me to read picture book to him.

Talking about I math, just receive an invoice for $107 for I math material.
Surprise that the monthly $1550 we paid to pats doesn't include that.

Btw, are we given the fastrack kids password for the fastrack website? Another mummy here got it from her school. But I don't remember receiving any from aroozoo.

Anyway, :thankyou: for the feedback to Pats. At least now, we will be able to know what our children learn in school.

[kboon2009]

Hi any feedback on jubilee psh please? I’m considering moving my child to jubilee but seeing all the negative feedback on other branches worries me. Has the standard at jubilee dropped too under KU? Thank you.

[Han Seo]

Just relax:

I am rather surprised at the many comments suggesting a drop in the PSH standards. Both DSs were at Claymore and were well prepared for P1 and many of their peers from parents' feedback were also happy and well prepared for P1. Though I must say this was when Pat Koh still owned PSH. That would be at least 5 years ago for DS2.

There are so many variables at work here: the child's cognitive ability, the family environment, the enrichment classes etc. How do you know for sure that the child's improvement is due solely to the effort of the preschool?

[Shey]

Hi,


Any parents have their little one in Serangoon branch this year? Any feedback or changes since the founder has left?

Thanks,

[Khamullotr]

Hi,

Would like to enquire the withdrawal process? If I withdraw this month, can my child be pull out before June. I lost the handbook given during registration. Cannot remember the notice period.
Thanks.

[Karl12]

The English speech and drama for Aroozoo is replaced by PE program. Are they effecting this switch for all centers?


I am surprise that apart from the daily morning outdoor activities, they still have to go under the hot sun in the afternoon for an hour of PE lesson!

[BabyRR]

Yes I’m very surprised too. And am concerned about them exercising under the hot sun. Wonder why they did away with English speech and drama.


Both my kids are at aroozoo, and I’m increasingly wondering if I should switch the younger one since she has a few more preschool years to go…

[breezie80]

I’m surprised and angry too. It seems to be they want to cut resources by taking out the speech n drama. the kids already have outdoor activities. why dun the school just replace some of the outdoor activities with the PE class? that would have made more sense, instead of removing the enrichment lesson.

what kind of quality pre-school education is Pats advocating now? I seriously considering to pull out my kid(s)

[Khamullotr]

Guess for Aroozoo, it makes sense to convert the school to a pre-schooler’s sports center since they they have such a hugh compound. It will be a waste if they keep the children indoor.


Having said that, this is also the reason why I have decided to pull my girl out of Pats as i prefer her to join a preschool with better academic focus instead of outdoor play. I am sure there are parents out there who felt that children should have a fair share of time in the playground at this age. So guess different schools cater to different parents’ needs.

Anyway, during my research on childcare, realise that not only Pat’s has long waiting list, alot of other good schools have long waiting list too. Had actually shortlisted a few and unfortunately I am not able to view all as they have reached their maximum capacity!! In fact, only 1 of my shortlisted preschool have vacancies for K1, and that is because it is a new center for that chain.

Honestly new center is a big question mark since there is no track records for me to consider. Hope that it will deliver its program and my switch out of Pat’s will be a right decision.