PCF/PAP Kindergartens

[butterwaffles]

Charmaine, where do you stay? I reside at Jurong West and the nearer My First Skool branches are bursting to the seams already. I’m now considering Little Wings under PCF (i assumed they are under PCF, since the PAP logo is there) as they offer childcare to K2. My son is 3 months plus now, am looking for a childcare for him to attend when he turns 18 months next year. I am hoping not to have to look for another school when it’s time for him to go N1. Would be good if he can attend the same school until K2 hence i’m here, thou this thread is for the sharing on PCF kindergartens…

[mac_t13.02738hotmail.02738com]

Hi, Charmaine


I was told that their school based programs are not on academic achievements but a play based atmosphere (learn through play). She say only do tracing of alphabet and a little phonics.
She emphasized that kids are there to socializing and making friends at this stage and pick up motor skills that are important to their development. For them to read and understand she says eventually at P2. Rather they want the tots to love learning. The teachers there at least there for 3 years. Of course my concern is that the child will be academically under prepared. They will be having a new premises at Blk 53 next year and the old ones will be solely for activities. Yesterday I went again and looked through the window for nursery class. I saw one Malay Teacher and one Chinese asst aunty sitting there eating biscuit and keep asking the kids to sit down. The kids have no choice but to face them and looked at the teacher eating biscuit. From next year they will have half an hours chinese lesson daily. Both PCF at Blk 54 (3 hrs) & Blk 31(2 hrs) not a good choice but how to choose between these two? May I know your son is at morning session or afternoon session, which time slot? I went Blk 31 yesterday about 11am. The teacher teaching nursery seem quite fierce.

[mac_t13.02738hotmail.02738com]

Hi, Charmaine


I was told that no chinese lesson for nursery at all at Blk 31

[mac_t13.02738hotmail.02738com]

Charmaine_chong:

Hi Mac,


I have visted Magdelene last year. I never asked further because it does not up to my expectation too.

The PCF i have selected also does not meet my expectation. Therefore i rather pay for a cheaper one.

For PCF blk 31, nursery is 2 hours. Nothing much they can do. No homework at all. They have been learning ABC and strokes and very little chinese words.

Chilren learn to draw too. I knew it as my child told me that the teacher taught him how to draw.

Besically the form teacher for nursery, Devi, a Malay is very caring, soft spoken, friendly and helpful if you have any questions or anything needs her to help out.

For academic parts, this school is quite messy at the moment. Teacher turnover is high this year. I heard that this kindergarten prepared them reasonably well in the past.

After changing of principals and teachers this year. All seems changed.

Would you mind what have you found out about PCF Blk 54?

My friend's both kids attended this kindergarten 4 years ago. It wasn't good. Everyday nothing to learn. Nothing to bring to school. So, her both children dont do well in primary 3 and 4 now.

I am not sure what is the changes like. Is it better?

Actually, to me i find that better ask till k2 bcos afterall u don't want to change school if realise only the school is no good.

May I find out with you, which temple u sent your boy to learn chinese?

[mummy of 2]

[email protected]:

For them to read and understand she says eventually at P2. Rather they want the tots to love learning.

I agree that it's impt for them to love learning but they still have to learn something! My son at K1 can read Rigby Literacy books at Early level 1. This is partly because I teach him at home. His school is using the Jolly Phonics system. In Nursery, he has learnt the sounds of all the letters. For K1, they should be learning simple blending.

[Han Seo]

Charmaine,


There are many reasons why a child does not do well academically in primary school. I don’t think the kindergarten experience is the ONLY factor, it is too simplistic. Among them:

1. The child’s learning style
2. The home environment: whether the home environment is supportive in fostering the child’s love for learning; exposure to books and other learning experiences etc.
3. The child’s temperament / personality also plays a part

[butterwaffles]

I’ve did a search but found no post on PCF Jurong (street 42) Blk 404. Any parents have children attending childcare/kindergarten at blk 404?

[Charmaine_chong]

Dear Mac,


For nursery at Blk 31,my child attends 8am to 10 am. They have only 5 chinese students in the class.

I thought the Malay teacher is caring and soft spoken? Not sure whether you refer to the same teacher. The chinese teacher with long hair seems patience too.

We had parenting meet-up this morning. For the past 5 months, the child learnt upper case alphabets, numbers up to 10, tracing alphabets, some math concept like long, short. Some arts and crafts.

I can just say, u have to really think of it carefully what do you want. These are not the ideal school if you want your child to prepare well for primary.

For me, i teach my child at home and do send for enrichment. So i don’t bother much about what is happening in school. But, going forward, i must select a better school.

I will send both my kids to my first skool child care as my maid will end her contract end of the year. The program is much better than both pcf. This is my own observation.

For chinese classic lesson, you may call 9144 7365 to inquiry further. It is good to expose children to chinese classic at young age. Most importantly, parents have to recite with the child together. Take it easy.

My child does not like it but willing to go every week. What i do is recite to him and encourage him to recite. Most of the time he refuse, i just recite.

What he likes is for me reading stories to him. He has longer attention span. He can sit down one hour quietly listen to me reading to him.

I read a parenting book. The writer advise parents to read a lot of books to the child. Most importantly is pointing the words while reading to them.

I do that and we read loads of books every night.

It depends. He is hooked on doraemon lately. So he wanted me to read and repeat the story every night. Faint! What he likes most is the creativity of Doraemon.

Aside of this, i hear that there is a tuition for K1 onwards near our place for chinese and english. Good Comments. However i do not have the contact. Will check it out if you want.

Hope this helps.

[surf]

Hi mummies


any feedback on the PCF at Toa Payoh Blk 157? Cannot seem to find any info after looking thru archive. I called and checked that the monthly fee is $170. Er… does that mean it’s not the premium PCF that some mummies spoke about, that cost like $200++?

[cartoon0512]

surf:

Hi mummies


any feedback on the PCF at Toa Payoh Blk 157? Cannot seem to find any info after looking thru archive. I called and checked that the monthly fee is $170. Er.... does that mean it's not the premium PCF that some mummies spoke about, that cost like $200++?

hee i did ask about this pcf b4 but no1 reply me ...
hmm i've booked next yr class (playgrp) for my gal ... i din go down to the pcf b4 .. norm juz drive pass there ... my mum did the reg for me ...i talked to 1 of the teacher and staff there on the phone b4 and they are very helpful and nice ...
ya, sch fees is $170 ...