PCF/PAP Kindergartens

[smurf]

I went to visit a centre and they told me that no phonics is taught until k1. :?


So what do the children do for pre N and N? :?

[mrswongtuition]

Rockdiva:

hi ! wanted to send my ds to pcf at punggol 303a and saw that they are charging 200 plus for k1 while nursery and k2 are around 120++ . can any experienced parent explain the vast difference in school fees? thanz for the help~

Timing.
Nursery is 3 hours a day. K1/K2 is 4 hours a day and they have computer lessons.
Additional $80 a month for additional 20 hours a month in school. I think it's alright.


Smurf, actually, my boy only PLAYS there. HAHAHA!
I saw that they did some storytelling, crafts and starting to learn to write alphabets (so far completed a to d) for nursery (4yo) class.

And I was quite shocked when I brought him down the other day. Out of 15 kids in his class, only 3 can speak English proficiently, another 4 can speak Chinese proficiently. The rest, can't speak at all.
So can't really blame the teachers for going at a slower pace because there are some who can't even talk.

I did hear the teacher teach them the letter sounds (phonics) when teaching the alphabets though.

[smurf]

Er, do u know what phonics system they use? :?


You mean u put your boy in PCF? Is it good?

You mentioned that some children cannot speack at all, erm, then how do they communicate ha? :?

The centre that I went to dun have expensive fee. Pre N is around $160, k1 and k2 is around $100. I can't remember how much is the fee for nursery. Think between 100 and 160.

Pre N is 2 hrs, nursery is 3 hrs and k1/k2 is 4 hrs.

[Wan]

Not sure abt other branches, but punggol south uses jolly phonics starting from nursery. My girl is learning Sssss… & my K2 is learning th. They start learning grammar at K2. My children are all mandarin speaking at home. They pick up English at PCF

[mrswongtuition]

smurf:

Er, do u know what phonics system they use? :?


You mean u put your boy in PCF? Is it good?

You mentioned that some children cannot speack at all, erm, then how do they communicate ha? :?

The centre that I went to dun have expensive fee. Pre N is around $160, k1 and k2 is around $100. I can't remember how much is the fee for nursery. Think between 100 and 160.

Pre N is 2 hrs, nursery is 3 hrs and k1/k2 is 4 hrs.

How they communicate? CRY lor...
They can follow instructions but can't talk. When others snatch their toy, they don't know how to 'complain' to teacher, so they beat/bite others.
My boy was bitten on 2nd week of school.

I put my boy in PCF for 'entertainment' purposes. Not for education. He goes to another kindy that is way more structured and there's quality teaching.
He goes to PCF in the afternoon to 'play' because he's very bored at home and no one plays with him when I'm having tuition.

The PCF he attends uses Jolly Phonics too. But can tell my boy is quite bored by it because they are only doing letter sounds when he's already doing blending...

But anyway, he loves PCF and calls it his 'play school'.

[smurf]

Ha? Put a child in PCF for playing purpose ha? I'm not sure if I want to do that, coz education also very expensive nowadays...


I thought that PCF is very academic...whereas other schools such church based, pat sch house, etc have more playing stuff...guess I was wrong... :oops:

[mrswongtuition]

smurf:

Ha? Put a child in PCF for playing purpose ha? I'm not sure if I want to do that, coz education also very expensive nowadays...


I thought that PCF is very academic...whereas other schools such church based, pat sch house, etc have more playing stuff...guess I was wrong... :oops:

In his 3 hours there, 15 minutes to settle the kids, 30 minutes tea break, 15 minutes to wash up after tea break, not much time left for meaningful lessons. And they take 1 hour walks around the neighbourhood around 2 -3 times a week, depending on the weather. The teachers will show them things and tell them the names of objects. But with a brood of 15 children, how many are really listening??

Also, I've sat in for a few days and peeped through the windows for a few days, they really do a lot of playing.

& the kids I tutor from PCF, they are K2 and can't even read: This is a dog.

The class size is too big to be effective (15 per class) even though the teachers are really nice and patient.

& I've spoken to the centre principal, she did say that MOE's directive for preschools now is to learn through play. So there's a lot of playing.

So to me, I won't rely on PCF to teach the academics.
We take it more as a 'fun' enrichment for my boy to go and learn some social skills plus get some outdoor fun.

[smurf]

I thought many from PCF went to gifted program in primary schs…thought that because it was very academic…


The class has 15 children, but got 2 teachers right? So the ratio is around 1:8?

[Wan]

smurf:

I thought many from PCF went to gifted program in primary schs...thought that because it was very academic...


The class has 15 children, but got 2 teachers right? So the ratio is around 1:8?

Again, I can't comment on other branches. But I must say my kids' sch does prepare them academically for pri sch. They are quite systematic & follow themetic learning each term. I just need to read with them at home.

They have learning corners for children to build up social skills. My only complaint is lack of Chinese writing practice, but based on other forum mummies, emphasis is to recognise words b4 writing.

On teacher:student ratio, there is a teaching staff & a facilitator (who they call auntie) to a class.

[mrswongtuition]

smurf:

I thought many from PCF went to gifted program in primary schs...thought that because it was very academic...


The class has 15 children, but got 2 teachers right? So the ratio is around 1:8?

From my observation, there is 1 main teacher and the other is assistant teacher only. The assistant teacher does not stay throughout the lesson.

For K1/K2, there's only 1 teacher, no assistant teacher unless there's something they need help in (e.g. outdoor play).

I think those who go into gifted programs are those whose parents teach at home or sent them to other enrichment classes.
Just curious: Where did you get that info from? i.e. \"many from PCF went to gifted program in primary schs\".

I think you need to spare some time to go and observe the different kindies for yourself to have a better understanding.